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Las Vegas Market: A Wave of Hot Products & Brave Buyers, Part 2

By Lisa Vincenti
8/5/2018
LAS VEGAS MARKET: A WAVE OF HOT PRODUCTS & BRAVE BUYERS, PART 2


LAS  VEGAS -- While summer is historically the slower of the semi-annual Las Vegas Market, the recent installment of the show afforded designers and buyer plenty of opportunity to check out the latest area rug fashions.

 

In fact, the market, held from July 29-Aug. 2, confirmed that beige and brown color combinations are once again in ascendancy. While blue and gray continued to be top sellers, many designers and buyers were looking for designs in this alternative neutral and many preferred subdued designs to vivid, bold color combinations, said many Las Vegas market participants. Styles ranged from tonal high-low classic motifs and earthy abstract designs to updated Persian inspired looks. 

 

In addition to being able to check out area rug introductions from the top vendors in the business, the summer market also saw several new showrooms make their debut or existing participants relocating to a new space.

Couristan opened its first Las Vegas showroom, with about 4,500 square feet, to highlight its expanded offerings and commitment to trend leadership in area rugs. Stark Studio Rugs opened the doors of a temporary space to introduce West Coast buyers to its growing range in the category. And California's Caravan Modern opened a new showroom in Building C, where New York's Mastour Galleries opened a second Vegas showroom to showcase its Oushaks, and Saddlemans relocated to a new space to present its cow-hide designs.

 

 
Below, in Part 2 of our exclusive Las Vegas Market report, RugNews.com visits showrooms from Loloi to Trans-Ocean by Liora Manne. And if you haven't seen Part 1 make sure to check out the big news from exhibitors from Amer Rugs to KAS Rugs.

LOLOI
 
Buyer Dawn Lizanich, right, with Biltmore Interiors and Linens in Scottsdale, Arizona, gets the scoop from Justina Blakeney on her latest designs for Loloi.
 
Loloi's enlarged Las Vegas showroom was buzzing with show shoppers checking out its newest introductions. Bohemian style superstar Justina Blakeney was on hand to walk buyers through her three latest area rug collections (Cielo, Cornelia and Silvia) and her new assortment of pillows.
 
For Loloi branded products the new Medusa and Cascade collections have been well received by summer shoppers, said Loloi VP Austin Craley, who added that Loloi had a steady stream of buyers stopping by the showroom to walk the line. He said that Medusa, power-loomed in Turkey of 100 percent polyester, with its palette of up to 16 colors and "great" hand, proved a really attractive value at a $349 MSRP in 5x8.
 
Loloi's new power-loomed Medusa collection was a market hit with its intricate colors and plush hand.
 
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Loloi Rugs, one of four lines carried in the new Urban Chic Showcase, stopped by to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the year-round space with Joanne Tatem of Urban Chic, who does the honors, with Amir Loloi and Cyrus Loloi (left) and Tim Ward of Loloi (far right).
 
MASTOUR GALLERIES
 
International Market Center's Lauren Schmale and Gigi Borgna hold the ribbon as Joseph Mastour cuts it for Mastour Galleries latest Vegas showroom.
 
New York designer studio Mastour Galleries opened its third Las Vegas Market space in Building C (C583) to highlight the company's collection of Oushak rugs, Joseph Mastour told RugNews.com. The company also carved out some space to showcase its growing assortment of contemporary designs, including new wool and hemp looks and leather area rugs.
 
In the foreground a hand-woven, fine angora Oushak area rug is on display in Mastour's new, additional space in Building C.
 
MOMENI
 
Buyer Sara Weaver, who is launching an online retail business called Room Swoon, poses with Momeni's Rachel Fasciani in front of a Cannes collection design.
 
For summer shoppers, Momeni rolled out several new collections and designs not only under its own label but in its popular license programs with designer Erin Gates of the Elements of Style website and with The Novogratz husband and wife design duo. The Novogratz added an entirely new quality with the debut of Topanga, a 100 percent wool flat-woven range of eight designs. The license program also added Indio, a new collection crafted in Momen's Harper collection quality, but with fresh designs and a backing for added stability. The Gates program added the Thompson 5 collection of Mazandaran-styled flatweaves.
 
In addition, the Momeni label introduced the Esme collection of jute and felted wool area rugs, and Shelby, a range of textural traditional patterns. It also expanded some of its top-selling collections, including Harper and Anatolia.
 
Momeni adds five new styles to its popular Anatolia collection and can't keep this pink design in stock.
 
The Novogratz by Momeni added a new construction -- a 100 percent wool flatweave -- to the assortment. Topanga features eight designs and this Swedish-inspired cross design in pink and cream was a hit with buyers.
 
NOURISON
 
A buyer browses Nourison's new Rustic Textures area rug collection of abstract textural designs during Las Vegas Market.
 
Nourison's high-profile ground floor Building C showroom at Las Vegas Market offered interior designers and rug dealers plenty of fresh area rugs to browse, ranging from new designs in its 3-D-like Prismatic collection to jewel-tone colored cowhides to the updated tribal area rug looks of the new Jewel collection. Prismatic, which debuted several new contemporary designs, including some water-color-influenced ones, continued to be a lure for shoppers seeking up-to-date looks with a thick pile, carved details and subtle sheen. Also well received was the vibrant, Bohemian spirited Ankara Global collection, and the rich classic Persian motifs of the new power-loomed, low profile Jewel collection, which also has a subtle sheen. 
 
Licensed programs with Calvin Klein and Barclay Butera also were grown this summer, with Butera adding three new tonal collections (Kenya, Interlock and Texture).
 
Nourison updates its cowhide selection with a new range of glamorous jewel-toned designs.
 
Nourison's latest Prismatic collection designs were popular with Las Vegas shoppers, including this water-color inspired look (PRS15).
 
ORIAN

Cotton Tail, Orian's top-selling quality, is a woven micro-polyester shag shown in Vegas in myriad transitional designs, including Geo Diamond Blue Natural, pictured.

According to Brandon Culpepper, Orian chief revenue officer, the company's best seller is Cotton Tail, "a very heavy, very durable" woven micro-polyester shag. "This is the first rug like this made in America and it has been hugely successful." The Cotton Tail quality is offered inOrian and as well as Jennifer Adams Home licensed collections.


Buyers also gravitated to the new Cloud 9 collection, a soft touch polypropylene line premiering in Vegas with 16 designs following a successful soft launch in Atlanta with eight initial patterns. With a palette of sophisticated neutrals, the rugs are "so soft buyers say the yarn looks like a really nice polyester," Culpepper said. A premiering step up line for Orian is the Adagio collection, unveiled at summer markets in a new creel and new construction. A market hit in Vegas, Adagio rugs are made of polypropylene and include warm color palettes and abstract and geometric patterns.

 

 

On "Cloud 9" with buyer response to this super-soft collection in Atlanta, Orian expands the Cloud 9 range to 16 designs in Las Vegas.

ORIENTAL WEAVERS
 
Las Vegas Market shoppers line up to browse Oriental Weavers' six new collections premiering at the show, plus line extensions to several best-selling collections.

Oriental Weavers debuted Formations in 100 percent viscose, its first collection in that fiber, expanding the brand's offerings to furniture stores and higher-end area rug retailers. The mostly abstract designs are made to shed less, said Angie Shook, director of marketing. "We use a longer bamboo strand, and we're twisting it tighter. Normally viscose rugs are made from shorter strands that tend to pull out because it's such a fine fiber."

There was plenty more to see at OW across the price point spectrum, with eye-popping displays ranging from outdoor rugs folded in the shape of beach umbrellas, to colorful lavishly detailed Boho designs in the new Toscana, Mantra and Polaris collections. Each display signaled the company's strength in the category and weave construction, and highlighted the compatibility between collections.

Oriental Weavers premieres Formations, a viscose line developed specifically to avoid shedding, in lustrous multi-level abstract designs machine-woven to emulate hand-carved hand-knots.

Displays at OW showcased compatibility between collections for coordination in open spaces. Making the case in a spice-toned story are Mantra rugs on the wall and floor, with Loft Shag (left roll), and Montage (abstract roll in foreground right) with tall Atlas roll.

RIZZY HOME

Connie Post of Connie Post Affordable Design gives her seal of approval to Rizzy Home's Steve Roan for the new decorative pillows launched to coordinate with her rugs for Rizzy.

At Las Vegas Market, Rizzy premiered three new collections based off the hit Gossamer collection, which is power-loomed of New Zealand wool. The new collections -- Artistry, Finesse and Impressions -- shared the spotlight with Chelsea, a popular choice for retailers at last month's Atlanta rug market, and once again a bestseller in Vegas (read full story). 
 
Vegas buyers loved the colorful new for 2018 Connie Post area rug collection -- many furniture stores opting for full galleries featuring the entire line. The licensing program added coordinating pillows to the retail design guru's art-inspired rugs. The Donnie Osmond Home collection was another market favorite, now with fully coordinating rugs, pillows and bedding.

The Chelsea collection, a Vegas bestseller for Rizzy Home, is machine-made of shrink polyester and viscose, giving a carved look to the intricate abstract patterns.
 
SADDLEMANS

IMC's Lauren Schmale and Lee Hershberg flank Lance Nolder and Lindsay Maier of Saddlemans (center) at the ribbon cutting for their new showroom (C453) filled with hand-crafted cowhide designs.  
 
Saddlemans' big hit in Vegas was a line of cowhides in unique patterns and larger sizes, from 6.5-7 feet wide up to 8 feet long -- all in natural colors.  "We call them 'designer hides' and they are really different -- for designers wanting something a little bit more extraordinary. Whether it's size or pattern, or whatnot, we take them out of stock and set them aside for designers.  It's working out really well," says company founder Lance Nolder. 
 
Also unique, said Nolder, are the company's new programmed leather woven rugs. "It's a luxury item for people who want it now. They don't want to wait - that's our society. Probably 80 percent of designers are wanting off sizes like 12x14. The sky's the limit on these for price point." 
 
Oversized hides and metallic-inflected designs grabbed designers' attention at the new Saddlemans showroom in Las Vegas.
 
SAFAVIEH
 
Safavieh's fourth-generation execs pose in front of debuting Lauren Ralph Lauren flatweave stripe designs at Las Vegas Market. From left are Brandon Yaraghi, Kevin Yaraghi, Jacqui Yaraghi, Andrew Yaraghi, Ashley Yaraghi, Tiffany Yaraghi and Darioush Yaraghi.
 
At Las Vegas Market, Safavieh introduced new area rugs in a broad range of weaves and lifestyle looks, and expanded its total home furnishings portfolio with the addition of top of bed, a new category for the company. A big hit with buyers was the launch of Lauren Ralph Lauren area rugs, with a full rollout planned for High Point Market this fall. 
 
The company also reports thumbs up from buyers for the machine-woven Bokhara collection in 100 percent polypropylene. Featuring a new twist on classic designs and updated Boho-inspired colors, the line is offered in six standard sizes and two runners.
 
Las Vegas Market shoppers were excited about the rich colors and Boho style of Safavieh's premiering power-loomed Bokhara collection.
 
STARK STUDIO RUGS
 
Steve Codella and Taylor van der Mandele introduce Las Vegas Market shoppers to the new Stark Studio Rugs brand in a temporary space in Building C. Shown, Rhythm
 
Stark Studio Rugs, the new wholesale area rug brand from Stark, debuted its new updated lines to dealers walking the Vegas show at a temporary space in Building C -- it is currently waiting for a permanent location.
 
"We are trying to capture the West Coast dealers and retail accounts because right now all our showrooms are on the East Coast," said Taylor van der Mandele. Stark Studio Rugs, which now has about 30 collections in its catalog, showcased its latest line extensions and van der Mandele reports popular looks at Stark during market included the hand-knotted Sharlimar II, featuring textural abstract looks, made of bamboo silk, cotton and wool, and the Nepalese hand-knotted Rivington range. The company also showcased its new Chroma shag, made of pure silk in Nepal, and Woodland, an earthy collection, which received a line extension. "Organic looks are doing really well for us and we are introducing more of those into our line," she said.
 
Stark Studio Rugs can't keep this Shalimar II design in stock, especially in the sand drift colorway.
 
TAYSE RUGS
 
Jorge Ricardo Palau Blanco, and Mariana Vega Ruiz of Mexican retailer Kabah Muebles Mexicanos at Tayse's showroom eyeing Tivoli collection rugs during Vegas market.
 
Tayse added to several of its popular collections for summer shoppers at Las Vegas Market. The company's successful Deco collection, a polypropylene range with jute backing, was grown and now includes about 30 designs. "Deco is one of our best-selling rug collections -- we introduced it three years ago," said Tayse's Laila Bohac, who added that the company's new global designs of the subtle indoor-outdoor Serenity collection performed well too. "More subtle designs seem to be selling better for us than the bright colors," she explained.
 
Still a constant favorite for Las Vegas shoppers is the company's Nature collection of lodge- and cabin-inspired looks. Bohac noted that several of their clients attend the market just so they can take a look at Tayse's newest looks in the category.
 
A perennial favorite, Tayse's Nature collection rugs draws a loyal crowd of buyers to Las Vegas Market to see what's new.
 
TRANS-OCEAN BY LIORA MANNE
 
Designer Liora Manne poses in front of her Reef Border design from the Trans-Ocean Riviera collection, a Las Vegas Market top seller, now heading to Casual Market Chicago.
 
Designer Liora Manne created quite a buzz with several Las Vegas Market intros for Trans-Ocean, and among the top sellers were the Calais collection's Vintage Floral design shown in seven colorways, and Brocade in beige and ivory.  "You're talking about million dollar looks in a $150-dollar rug," said Trans-Ocean's Stephen Hoberman. The line is cross-woven on a cotton backing, which gives the new rugs a cotton fringe, and the ability to be rolled by length or width. "This has been our best-selling category for this season. Different customers tell me that this is the best value in the rug industry right now."
 
Building on its success in the indoor-outdoor category, Trans-Ocean steps up from three-color to five-color designs in the debuting Riviera collection. "The reaction has been amazing," Hoberman said. "This will probably be our most important rug going forward for next year."
 
The Calais collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean won buyers' hearts, and their favorite was the Vintage Floral design in the denim colorway. 
trans-ocean ad spot hri rugs