04092014 High Point Market Business Report

High Point Rug Business Report
RUG EXHIBITORS CALL HIGH POINT
ACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE MARKET

By Gary James

 HIGH POINT, NC — Active and productive — that’s how rug vendors described this Spring’s market here as a steady stream of buyers kept many showrooms hopping even before the market’s official opening day on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

With the nation’s rough Winter finally over, producers brought a wide variety of new goods to market aimed at helping retailers generate more sunshine in their sales. Introductions ran the gamut, from luxurious hand-knotted designs in washed, antique looks to zippy geometrics and elegant florals in bright fashion colors as well as subdued neutrals. Rich turquoise, royal and navy blues, on-trend lilacs and orchids, and cool silvers, grays and platinums all played a starring role, either alone or in creative combinations with tones such as orange, yellow and gold. Texture also was important, particularly layered wool and viscose combinations.

Metallic accents, distressed washes and decorative fringe, tassels and beads brought additional visual interest to new designs. And in patterning, circles, medallions, honeycombs and chevrons   all continue to be hot.

CAPEL

Jewel tones were the stars at Capel Rugs this market. Featured toward the rear of this display is Orchid, part of the new Color Harmony collection of bold, on-trend tones; and on the right is Pizazz, a new vividly colored micro-braid collection with a high-low effect.

At Capel Rugs, Allen Robertson, vice president of sales, said buying was strong.  “Our new color stories with our design partners Genevieve Gorder, Kevin O’Brien and the Hable Sisters created a great vibe with our customers. And our Vintage, Pizazz and Color Harmony collections were must-sees.”

Robertson added that the company’s Made-in-America booth in the Suites at Market Square was “very busy.”

In its licensed program, Capel’s introductions included the addition of braided rugs and new, tufted and machine-woven indoor-outdoor designs to the Genevieve Gorder line; new colors to Kevin O’Brien’s Rivera, Ramblas and Tuscan Sun collections; and new hand-knotted designs to the Hable Construction line. In the Capel line, well-received introductions included the gingham-style Nottingham collection; Pizazz, a micro-braided collection in an assortment of hot jewel tones; and Color Harmony, flat-woven designs in a wool/nylon/poly blend in bold, vivid colors. Both Pizazz and Color Harmony are made in Capel’s U.S. facilities.

“This market, retailers seem to be responding to our fresh textures, rich, saturated colors and fashion-forward patterns,” said Mary Clara Capel, director of administration. New zero-pile designs also were drawing attention, she added.

SURYA

Surya expanded its Gemini collection at market with several new designs hand woven in India of 100 percent banana silk, for a lustrous sheen.

At Surya, the watchword for this market’s rug intros was “hand-crafted.” From machine-mades to hand-knots, the company’s new collections all featured hand-crafted elements with a modern twist for an “Etsy-like” homemade appeal, said Kate Stewart, designer.

“We’re incorporating a variety of special details and constructions throughout the line,” said Stewart. “Colors are bright and fresh, and the designs have a hand-crafted feel. Retailers are looking for flowing shapes, natural materials and engaging patterns with a touch of surprise.”

Surya introduced more than a dozen new rug collections this market. Among the well-received collections were new additions to Gemini, hand-woven geo designs made of  banana silk with a medium pile and lustrous sheen; Valentino and Patch, two Scandinavian-influenced designs in natural colors featuring laser-cut felt patterns or stitched felt for additional depth; two watercolor-inspired designs, Aberdine and Nova; Belladonna, a hand-tufted design with tie-dyed accents; Seabrook, a flat weave with solid or space-dyed tape hand-stitched into the patterning; and Seaport, a fresh jute and viscose combination.

In addition, Surya introduced a new bedding program that builds on the success of its Florence Broadhurst line of rugs and pillows. The initial collection includes several of the iconic designer’s popular patterns, including Japanese Floral, Kabuki Fan and Crane motifs.

 â€œWe have been hearing from our customers for a while now that our products are being used within the bedroom setting,” said Satya Tiwari, president. “At the same time, it’s clear that consumers are no longer looking just to decorate one or two rooms within their homes, but instead want to connect multiple rooms to create a harmonious feeling throughout. Our movement into the bedding category will enable retailers and designers to go beyond the living room conversation and engage customers in discussions about their bedroom decor needs.”

FEIZY

The Khitan collection, new from Feizy Rugs, renders tribal-inspired motifs in bamboo silk for an elegant yet exotic statement.

Also off to a good start in the market’s opening days was Feizy Rugs, which brought out new product in each of its core categories. Popular introductions included Soma, a hand-loomed, monochromatic design with faint color gradations and hand-carved patterns, in  wool pile; Fiona, a dramatic grouping that interprets transitional designs in a bold palette of contrasting neutrals, power loomed in viscose art silk ; Landon, a loop and cut pile design that combines neutral tones with a splash of color, in cotton and viscose art silk, and Khitan, a series of tribal-inspired designs in lustrous bamboo silk with hand carving.

“We have a full slate of appointments — more than we’ve had in several markets — and expect to see all our major customers along with a number of new prospects,” said Dale Sweary, vice president of sales. He added that the company still sees a strong opportunity to increase business with traditional furniture stores. “Some stores may be selling rugs but they’re not focused on the category. Our mission is to show them the potential sales they can generate with quality, fashionable rugs when the category is handled right.”

Feizy is also doing more business with e-commerce retailers, added Leah Feizy, executive vice president. “The key is finding the right partners. We want to make sure that whatever we do online is compatible with our current brick-and-mortar customers.”

LR RESOURCES

This well-received addition to L.R. Resources’ Naturals line combines jute fibers with chenille in a royal blue tone.

At L.R. Resources, several new collections drew an enthusiastic response from retailers, said Mike Thompson, national sales manager. They included Antigua, a machine-made range of traditional and transitional designs; Oushak, Turkish-looking designs in hand-spun wool with Persian knots, in four colors; Nisha, a hand-knotted sari rayon art silk design in traditional and transitional styling with vibrant colors; and new additions to the Naturals collection, which combines jute and chenille with a secondary back for stability.

“Our Naturals collection started with a handful of designs a few years ago and has grown to include 21 patterns now,” said Thompson. “By combining the jute with chenille, we create a natural story as well as a color story. It’s a custom look at an affordable price.” A typical 9 by 12 design in the collection retails for $899.

“We expect to have a very good year,” said Thompson. “Our new products from the Fall market are all selling well, and our January introductions will be hitting retail soon.”

At the July markets, L.R. Resources plans to introduce new pillows and poufs to coordinate with its Naturals line

AMER RUGS

This hand-knotted Oushak design, part of Amer’s Ariana collection, features a subtle light blue pattern for an antique look.

At Amer Rugs, this market’s hits included Pearl, a hand-knotted design in New Zealand wool and silk; and an Oushak addition to the Ariana collection featuring a dense, plush, low-pile construction and antiqued look.

In addition to higher-end products, the company  was also spotlighting its new “good-better” products at market, said Bart Gilleland, director of operations. “We've taken our fashion looks and translated them into constructions that hit the more popular price points. This has expanded our distribution with a number of major players, including national chains, regional big-box stores and e-commerce specialists.”

Amer’s “good” assortment runs from $199 to $499 retail, he said.

Amer is able to deliver such sharp price points because it owns its own production facilities in India, explained Tanuj Gupta, president. “We can offer larger retailers who buy containers the opportunity to hit a very promotional price point and still maintain an attractive profit margin,” he said. “We take advantage of our own internal efficiencies with these products and pass those savings along to our customers.”

 LOLOI

Loloi expanded its juvenile-oriented offering with Juniper, a colorful collection of sophisticated yet playful patterns such as zigzags, diamonds and florals.

At Loloi, the introduction of five new collections generated a steady stream of traffic through the showroom as early as Friday. One big hit with retailers was Edge, a collection of earthy, tactile designs hand-woven in India of alternating strips of leather and jute in four neutral colors. Available for immediate shipping, the collection offers a strong value with a retail price point of $249 for a 5 x 8.

“We’ve already placed a lot of orders for Edge,” said Austin Craley, vice president of sales. “It’s a new and exciting approach to the natural category and the material mix is very fashion forward. Retailers also really liked that this product is available to ship right away, so they can use it in their Spring promotions.”

Also gaining good placements for Loloi were Dawson, a sophisticated, textural collection of plush, tonal designs in New Zealand wool with a touch of viscose for shine, in platinum, slate, silver and champagne; Goodwin, a power-loomed 100% polypropylene collection with big, bold graphic patterns and densely packed yarns; Juniper, a sophisticated juvenile collection in power-loomed, 100% polypropylene, blending vivid colors with playful patterns such as zigzags, diamonds and florals, and Vincent, a hand-knotted collection in 100 percent Indian wool with an antique washing process and muted color ways.

 Loloi also drew attention with a new assortment of one-of-a-kinds personally selected on overseas buying trips by Amir Loloi, founder and CEO, as well as 50 new designs in its expanding pillow collection.

One-of-a-kinds and coordinating products like pillows give rug retailers “an additional incentive to come in and see what’s new,” said Craley.

A full-line resource, Loloi has been strengthening its presence lately at the high end with new offerings like this market’s Vincent collection, which is priced at $3,499 for a 6 x 9. “Retailers didn’t used to look at us as a high-end resource,” said Craley. “But that’s changing.”

Loloi expects to have “a fantastic 2014” across its entire business, from promotional  products on up, Craley added. “We’re known for our color, texture and value, and it’s those qualities that are driving our business forward.”

Loloi celebrated its 10th anniversary during market with a party on Sunday night, featuring live music. The company also held a meet-and-greet event on Monday with designer and TV personality Dann Foley. Launched at the October market, Foley’s Palm Springs collection of indoor-outdoor designs features bold colors and patterns hand-hooked in China of 100% polypropylene.

RIZZY HOME

The Eden Harbor collection, shown here in an unusual blush pink version, generated kudos for Rizzy Home.

Also enjoying a strong market was Rizzy Home, which brought out a half-dozen new collections at this Spring’s event. Popular introductions included Eden Harbor, a collection of hand-tufted designs featuring loop pile wool and cut-pile viscose for an interesting high-low effect; La Maison, a collection of vintage-inspired hand knots in herbal-washed, hand-spun New Zealand wool with fashion-forward colorations; and Bennington, a collection of 15 machine-made, power-loomed designs in heat-set polypropylene in geometric and traditional patterns with fashion-neutral colors.

“We’re very excited about the reaction we’re getting to all our new designs,” said Teresa Parris, creative and visual manager of Rizzy Home. We’ve introduced everything from hand-knotted and hand-tufted designs to looped and cut wool and viscose combinations, and we’re drawing a positive response across the board.”

This market, Rizzy Home offered each of its new collections in two color ranges — a soft, neutral palette and a bright color palette. Each range featured fashion colors designed to correlate with the company’s other textile categories, which include bedding, pillows, poufs and throws.

“It’s been a very good market for us,” said Parris. “Our retailers’ business in our categories is on the grow, and we’ve seen a good mix of both furniture stores and dedicated rug specialists here looking for new products to create excitement. We’re attracting new clients and also deepening our relationships with existing customers.”

Parrris added that Rizzy Home’s program approach, offering an assortment of textiles across a variety of categories, continues to gain the company new floor space. “Retailers like that all of these products are designed to work together, because that makes it easy for the consumer to create the look they want.”

TAYSE

Tayse Rugs’ new Capri collection of boldly patterned transitional designs resulted in strong placements, particularly among e-commerce customers.

At Tayse Rugs, two new transitional collections — Deco and Capri — drew the attention of retailers this market, especially e-commerce merchants looking for high-value styles that would have strong visual appeal for online shoppers. Deco, priced at $149 for a 5 x 8, features 27 designs. Capri, priced at $199 for a 5 x 8 with a slightly higher pile, includes 16 designs.

“Retailers liked the fashionable colors and the sharp value of both designs,” said Laila Bohac, e-commerce manager. “We think these collections will do really well online because the images are so striking. The better the image looks online, the easier it is to sell.”

Bohac said that Tayse currently does about 20% of its business online, with sales in this channel continuing to grow steadily.

“It’s been a good market for us. Customers like our new colors and designs. Several of our accounts do ‘flash’ sales on a daily basis and they think these new collections will be a good fit for those sorts of promotions, she said.”

ALLIYAH

Alliyah expanded its Amreh collection with this eye-catching modern floral in a pink color way, priced at $249 retail for a 5 x 8.

Also doing well with the e-commerce crowd this market was Alliyah Rugs. Its featured introduction was a new modern floral in a pink colorway. Part of the Amreh collection, the Indian-made wool design is priced at $249 retail for a 5 x 8.

“We’re seeing all of our key e-commerce customers we had hoped to see,” said Zubair Alam, president. “We have ongoing programs with a number of the major players, who look to us for high-quality, high-value designs in modern and contemporary styling.”

This market, Alliyah also expanded its accent furniture program. New items included a series of butterfly chairs in leather with decorative stitching details on the frame edges.

 ED NOTE: Gary James is a North Carolina free-lance writer. He was formerly a senior editor for Furniture Today.

 04.9.14