DALTON, Ga.-Shaw Living has realigned its residential sales team—which handles the flooring specialty, rug specialty and furniture retail channels—under Shaw Industries’ Tuftex - Carpets of California, for what the company said will be “improved synergy at retail through the Tuftex dedicated sales team.” Tuftex distributes Shaw’s premier broadloom products.
The sales team handling the mass market and home center channels for Shaw Living are not affected, and will still be lead by Jeff Brown, division vice president, the company said.
With the new alignment, Shaw Living is back in the custom rug category and debuted the program at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market last week. Any Tuftex broadloom product can now be made into area rugs in custom sizes and designs, and with fabricated borders, within two to three weeks. The customer receives a deck board with samples when he buys a 6-by-9 rug, and an online custom calculator can compute the cost, said Kim Barta, brand manager. One of Tuftex’s new products for the year, and shown at the Atlanta market, was Bling, a nylon product with polyester accents and in 24 colors.
“We are so excited about this market season and opportunities for 2013—wonderful new products, custom capabilities, the Tuftex alignment and dedicated sales team. Together this puts the wheel in motion for a successful 2013 with the industry’s best product and sales team,” said Jim Curtin, Shaw Living’s vice president of sales.
John Godwin, executive vice president of residential sales, said, “The alignment allows Shaw Living to greatly diversify our custom rug offerings while also expanding the Tuftex sales footprint. The exceptional Tuftex sales team is looking forward to taking on this important endeavor and further growing the success of Shaw Living.”