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CAPEL CELEBRATES 90TH ANNIVERSARY
WITH GALA HIGH POINT PARTY
Capel family members Blanche, Jesse, Leon and Arron Capel are joined by Bob Timberlake, second right. Timberlake is a long-time licensing partner with Capel, Inc., and second-generation friend of the family.
By Lissa Wyman
HIGH POINT, NC - Friends, customers and business partners gathered at Capel's High Point showroom last week to kick off the 90th Anniversary celebration of Capel, Inc., one of the country's oldest continuously operating rug companies.
Speeches and toasts were the order of the day as second and third generation family members hosted festivities at Capel's Market Square showroom.
The company was founded in March 1917, by A. Leon Capel, Sr. At that time, the 17 year-old entrepreneur started a business to manufacture Gee-Haw plow lines for farmers. A few months later, Capel realized that Henry Ford's mechanical mule - the tractor - would result in the premature end of the fledgling business.
The enterprising young man decided to switch products and he struck on the idea of braiding fabric into rugs rather than plow lines. There was nothing new about braided rugs at that time, but Capel was the first to use yarn rather than rags, which resulted in a vast improvement in terms of both looks and maintenance. Capel's New Departure rugs sold for 69 cents at that time.
In the 1950's, the founder's sons A. Leon Capel, Jr., Jesse, and Arron joined the company and under their stewardship, the company has expanded into licensed products and retailing. Still known as the leading manufacturer of braided rugs, Capel began importing rugs in 1963.
Today, the company makes braided rugs at its Troy, NC headquarters, indoor-outdoor rugs in Dalton, GA., and imports machine made, hand knotted and hand tufted rugs from all over the world.
Signing on with Bob Timberlake over a decade ago, Capel was one of the first rug companies to become involved with licensing. Today the company has multiple licensing partnerships with such companies as Bob Timberlake, Colonial Williamsburg and Biltmore Estates.
In the early 1990's, Capel was one of the first rug companies to develop gallery programs for furniture stores. In the late 1990's, Capel began opening both company-owned and franchised retail stores. The latest retail unit was opened last week, when Jeff Sperber opened an 8,000 sq. ft. Capel Store within his 250,000 sq. ft. Huck Finn furniture complex in Albany, NY.
The first third generation family member entered the business in 1981, when Mary Clara Capel joined the company. Today, third generation managers include Mary Clara Capel, Ron Capel, Richard Capel and Cameron Capel.
The three Capel brothers have been semi-retired for the past two years. Bruce Hric is now chief executive officer of the company. Capel employees approximately 450 people.
"In the past 90 years, Capel has endured the wrath of war, depression, fire and hurricane,€VbCrLf noted Leon Capel. "Throughout our history we have risen to the challenge of change in the market place, and we are stronger than ever. We are looking forward to another 90 years.€VbCrLf
Bruce Hric, recently named ceo of Capel, Inc., with Leon Capel, a company principal.
Jeff Sperber, president of Huck Finn, Inc. in Albany, NY, was one of the retail customers on hand for the Capel 90th anniversary party. The Huck Finn store recently opened an 8,500 sq. ft. Capel store within his 250,000 sq. ft. furniture operation.
4.03.07
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