Some Bright Spots


2237 Mon, 08/10/2009 - 1:22pm

By Andrea Lillo
The hesitancy of consumers to buy home furnishings led to a five percent drop in the rug sales for 2008, which totaled $4.42 billion.
The economy has changed people’s shopping habits, and now consumers wait longer to purchase products and/or look for the cheapest price possible.
While some manufacturers cite areas such as outdoor/indoor rugs, the high-end market, and the interior design business as strengths in this economy, they have also responded to retailers’ call for lower-priced product to tempt consumers to buy.

Optimism, Realism Mix for 2009


2237 Fri, 02/13/2009 - 2:00pm

By Andrea Lillo
As companies prepare for a tough start to 2009, rug manufacturers still remain optimistic about how this category could perform later this year, with some thinking business could pick up eventually.
But they are also realistic, and say the retail environment is challenging. Consumers are still wary about spending, and the floor coverings priced at the lower end are the drivers now, vendors said.

Casual Lives Lead to Relaxed Designs


2237 Fri, 02/13/2009 - 1:59pm

By Andrea Lillo
The informal entertaining and living trends of the home have resulted in more options for the floor.
Designs—even if they are traditional—are cleaned up, and shapes mirror what’s happening in furniture.

State of Economy Expected to Be a Hot Market Topic


2237 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 2:34pm

HIGH POINT, N.C.–The universal topic of the economy is naturally expected to be at the forefront of business conversations this week.
While pressure from sources such as oil prices and the housing market are beginning to sound redundant, there is no avoiding their impact on this category and the home furnishings segment as a whole, and executives don’t anticipate much change until at least the fourth quarter.

Ready to Get Off the Mat


2237 Wed, 02/20/2008 - 4:56pm

By Jennifer Quail
NEW YORK–It should come as no surprise to anyone in the floor covering industry to see numbers that were flat for the year. The very fact they didn’t turn out worse should bring a collective sigh of relief.
Topics such as the presidential election, the price of oil and the housing market topped the list of culprits contributing to the slow market of the past year and its expected continuance for at least another few quarters.