AMERICASMART'S INTEGRATION OF HOME AND RUG SECTORS MIRRORS
RETAIL BUYING PATTERNS AND VENDOR EXPANSIONS
"Rug
manufacturers are expanding their market and product
lines and are also bringing more designers into the rug
arena."
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Kevin Malkiewicz
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ATLANTA -
The push by AmericasMart to integrate the rug and home decor
sectors continues to gain traction and is "creating a new dynamic as
more home interior buyers are finding their way to the rug showrooms,"
says Kevin Malkiewicz, Vice President of Leasing, Home & Rug, at
AmericasMart. In an exclusive pre-market interview with Rugnews.com
Malkiewicz said the integration is a "natural as more rug manufacturers
are getting into throws, pillows and furniture while more furniture and
home accents manufacturers are adding rugs to their collections."
Malkiewicz cited Georgia-based Surya and Jaipur Rugs and Port
Washington, N.Y.-based Safavieh as examples of rug manufacturers that
have branched out into furniture, lighting, and home accessories. "Rug
manufacturers are expanding their market and product lines and are also
bringing more designers into the rug arena. Overall, the melding of the
two product categories is helping both segments and we expect to see
more of that in the future," he said.
Further
helping the traffic flow is the sixth-floor bridge that connects all
three buildings at AmericasMart. Opened in January, the bridge provides
one continuous route and access to all product categories: rugs,
furniture, accessories, gifts, tabletop, textiles and linens and fashion
apparel and accessories. "It has changed the traffic flow and different
buyers are coming on to the traditional rug floors and, frankly, more
rug buyers are venturing out into the other floors and showrooms," he
said.
The July
market should benefit from a vibrant market in January 2015. "We kicked
off the year strong and we expect the second half to be as good, if not
better," he said. "The economy is strong so we’re very optimistic."
New and
Expanded Showrooms
Fueling
that optimism is the expansion of several showrooms. The 12,000 square
feet showroom left vacant by the withdrawal of Shaw from the area rug
segment last year has been leased and will be split evenly between Rizzy
Home and Golden Oldies, a vintage decorative accessories and furniture
company. The Rizzy Home showroom (6-C-8) is another example of a rug
company integrating its rugs and home textile products.
"We have
new lines being introduced and new designers and several showrooms have
expanded or relocated," Malkiewicz said. Among those are Radici USA,
which moved to the third floor and Kashee & Sons, which doubled its
space on the fourth floor. Harounian Rugs International moved from the
sixth floor to the fifth and completely renovated the showroom.
"We're
very excited and expect the July market to post very strong sales,"
Malkiewicz said.
07.07.15
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