SIMSBURY, CT - International Rug Group, LLC (IRG) formally announced its July 1, 2015 launch as a consultancy offering unique and comprehensive programs of products and services for the home furnishings and rug industries. 

Led by industry veterans Mark Bannon, Larry Hedrick, Eric Rowles and Daniel Webb, IRG also announced it presently operates four full-service rug galleries in Indiana and Ohio in conjunction with Kittle's Furniture. "It's just a smart business move to host the IRG program and team here at Kittle's Furniture," said Kittle's CEO Eric Easter about the new galleries.  "IRG is cutting-edge, relevant and has brought a new level of product and excitement to our business."

"We have four International Rug Group lease rug galleries within Kittle's stores. The first opened in October 2014 and is located in the Kittle's 120,000 square foot flagship store in Indianapolis, explained Hedrick. "We have about 3,000 square feet, and it is a beautiful full service gallery featuring a wide range of products that mirror Kittle's price points. Kittle's is very diverse so we display price points and constructions across the board from machine made synthetics and wool, to tufted and loomed rugs, to the highest quality hand-knotted rugs," he continued.

IRG's second Kittle's location is in a new format Kittle's developed called "Below Market" which opened in December 2014. "This store is also located in Indianapolis and our department is also about 3,000 feet. Below Market features special buys, closeouts, and discontinued rugs, and we have over 800 rugs all hanging on racks in that location," Hedrick told RugNews.com.

In addition, in May 2015, International Rug Group opened two new IRG galleries in Columbus, Ohio at the Kittle's Easton Market and Tuttle Crossing locations. "These are state of the art rug departments with 600 hanging rugs representing over 3,500 SKUs highlighting the best rug vendors in the industry: Karastan, Feizy, Oriental Weavers, Momeni and Chandra, to name a few."

Offering a variety of products and services ranging from licensed in-store rug galleries, rug import and distribution, Web development and e-Commerce solutions to consulting and high impact events for the furniture and rug industry, the IRG management team is built on years of diverse experience which enables the company to offer a multitude of services tailored to support profitability and growth for furniture and rug industry retailers. 

Bannon, IRG president and CEO, brings over 30 years of high-level promotional and retail expertise to the team.  Bannon is joined by industry veterans, Larry Hedrick, who also comes with a 30-year-plus career of rug industry experience including retail, import and wholesale distribution while serving in positions at Mohawk, Karastan, Oriental Weavers and Rizzy Rugs.  IRG Senior V.P. of Sales & New Business Development Eric Rowles also has a life-time career in the furniture and rug industry including Patusan Trading, Stickley Furniture, Hooker Furniture, Boyles Furniture and Planned Furniture Promotions.  Daniel Webb, IRG, senior V.P., Retail Rug Galleries, has decades of industry experience while owning and operating his family retail furniture business, as well as engagements with Stickley Furniture and Lynch Sales Company.

"We are delighted to bring such a diverse and talented team together to serve the ongoing needs of furniture and rug retailers nationwide," said Bannon.  "We offer a unique blend of services, products and programs that are custom-tailored to individual retailers, and designed to support and enhance their sales, operations and profitability.  We adhere to the highest standard of integrity and respect and have tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to serve the industry we cherish."

07.06.15