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By Lissa Wyman

Last month, a Rugnews.com reader approached me at the Las Vegas market and suggested I do a "What If?" column. "What if we didn't have hand tufted rugs?" he asked. "A lot of people complain about how tufted rugs have over-run the market, but if we didn't have them, our industry would not be nearly as large as it is today."

OW USA TO INTRODUCE FIVE COLLECTIONS
AT NY HOME FASHIONS WEEK

DALTON, GA. -- Oriental Weavers USA, Inc. will  introduce five new collections and will expand the Accentuate program at  New York Home Fashions Market Week, March 8 to 12.

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ANDERSON, SC -- Mikala Moller has been named director of marketing and merchandising for Orian Rugs, according to Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

SHAW SPRING PROMOTION
KICKS OFF IN APRIL

DALTON, GA – Shaw Industries is launching its national promotion, Spring is Green as part of its sponsorship of the HGTV Green Home Giveaway. The event will run April 16 to June 7.

ETHAN ALLEN REPORTS
INCREASED SALES

DANBURY, CT – Ethan Allen’s sales for the first two months of 2010, have increased approximately 25% over the prior year, according to Ethan Allen chairman and chief executive officer, Farooq Kathwari.

7 W NEW YORK ANNOUNCES RUG
TENANTS FOR HOME FASHIONS WEEK

NEW YORK – More than 20 rug importers and manufacturers will participate at 7 W New York during Home Fashions Market  March 8 to 12.

PENDERGRASS, GA -- Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 22 for industry veteran Edward Earl "Eddie" Watts. He died Friday, Feb. 19 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center after suffering a heart attack.  He was 73.

LAS VEGAS -- Surfaces 2011 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25 to Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay convention center here.

CAPEL RECEIVES ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD FROM NC STATE UNIVERSITY

TROY, NC – Capel, Inc. was recently honored by the North Carolina State University Industrial Extension Service (IES) as a recipient of the “1B4NC” award for the company’s dedication to sustaining North Carolina’s industry and economic growth. The award was presented in a ceremony held  at Capel’s headquarters on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010, in the same building the Capel family business began in 1917.

HOME DEPOT REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL 2009 EARNINGS; PROVIDES FISCAL 2010 OUTLOOK

ATLANTA – The Home Depot reported sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 of $14.6 billion, a 0.3% decrease from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Total company comparable store sales for the fourth quarter grew 1.2%. Comparable store sales for U.S. stores were down 1.1%.

TRANS-OCEAN AND SHAW LIVING
IN NEW HIGH POINT SHOWROOMS 
ON THIRD FLOOR OF IHFC

By Lissa Wyman

HIGH POINT -- Trans-Ocean Imports, Liora Manne and Shaw Living will open new showrooms on the third floor of High Point's International Home Furnishings Center,  Lee Hershberg, vice president of accessory leasing for IHFC, told Rugnews.com.

RESTORATION INDUSTRY ASSOC. PLANS
POST-CONVENTION TOUR OF DALTON

COLUMBIA, MD – A post-convention tour of Dalton, GA, is on the agenda of the  Restoration Industry Association’s 65^th Annual Convention & Exhibition March 23 to 27, 2010.

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