Trans-Ocean Scores in Atlanta with Outdoor, Heads to Las Vegas with Machine-Made Debuts

Taking a different tack than other rug companies showing in Atlanta, Trans-Ocean capitalizes on traffic from both gift and outdoor living buyers swarming the fourth floor temporaries, and also books appointments with rug buyers from brick and mortar and e-commerce channels. 

 

Indeed, when RugNews.com visited, the expansive booth was brimming with customers -- including interior designers drawn to the company's broad selection of all-weather mats as well as novelty and outdoor-safe rugs and pillows. "We have shown in the garden area at Atlanta for the past few years and that market is geared mainly towards our partners in the independent and gift segments, while Las Vegas is still where we meet most of our larger customers," explained Stephen Hoberman, vice president of business development.

The company expected a good turnout at both summer markets, Hoberman said. "We're optimistic: we've worked very hard to constantly update the assortment, and we're very eager to see how customers respond. The market schedule is so frequent that it's hard to compare summer market to summer market. Instead, we look at it as several product introduction cycles ago.  In that sense, it should be very exciting as the product assortment is totally updated."

 

Asked about first half sales, Hoberman said Trans-Ocean has had a very positive first half of the year.  "Overall, it has been very successful and we are fortunate that we've had some real growth.  We hope to keep the momentum going as we continue to update the assortment and try to work with our key customers to improve our partnership."

As for product, Hoberman says buyers are looking for updated traditional area rugs. "There is a lot of interest in classic designs but in new colors, especially mixing in some bold colors.  There is also a strong response to any items that feature a special texture like a high-low effect or a super-soft touch.  We've worked to expand our assortment with this in mind and feel we have a good mix," he added.

 

"This year we focused on expanding our line of machine-made indoor and indoor/outdoor collections and have several new ones we're very proud of.  At summer markets, we're showcasing all of the new collections in both segments, with a focus on high fashion, but affordable designs."  Some of the best of these debut collections are Cove, Lotus and Horizon, Hoberman said, explaining that all three feature blended materials and variety of textures.

"We are particularly excited for our new machine-made collections, and expect them to do resonate with buyers this summer.  We've worked to expand this segment of our assortment and have some of the most exciting products in the industry," Hoberman said.  "Liora Manne [Trans-Ocean's designer] has created an exceptional look - a hand-knotted look -- in the machine-made Lotus collection."   

 

 

Cove 

 

Above, and shown in detail below, multi-levels of loop create varying textures in the new Cove performance collection by Trans-Ocean.

The machine-made Lotus collection by Trans-Ocean mimics classic hand-knotted designs.

From the new Bergen collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean, style 6207-47 in cobblestone grey.

Featuring Liora Manne's signature high-end mosaic look is this new Horizon collection design.

The dramatic tropical floral from Trans-Ocean's Marina collection showcases Liora Manne's flare for color.