NEW MASS-MARKET RUG VENTURE
TO MANUFACTURE BRAIDED RUGS 
IN RHODE ISLAND AND INDIA

ITM's Brookline collection is a blend of  35% nylon space
dyed yarns and 65%  heathered polypropylene in a
 three-carrier flat braid construction.

CUMBERLAND, RI -- International Textile Manufacturing has been formed here as a braided rug and home textiles resource. Principals in the new company are former executives of Homemaker and Rhody Rugs.

"The company was formed to fill the void in braided rug resources after Homemaker ceased operations," according to Ed Pires, executive vice president of sales and product development.

Officers of the new company include:

• Ron Agrella- president
• Joshua Miller- chief financial officer
• Ed Pires- executive vice president of sales and product development
• Nicole Ryan- director of operations
• Tom Carlos- production and distribution manager

Ron Agrella is also owner of Rhody Rug, a domestic manufacturer of braided rugs. Josh Miller is a former owner of Rhody and current owner of Textile Specialties, a yarn sales company.

Nicole Ryan, Tom Carlos and Ed Pires are former  Homemaker executives.

International Textile Manufacturing has established a manufacturing facility  and distribution center in Cumberland, RI. In addition, ITM has entered into a partnership with an Indian manufacturer. ITM was completely responsible for the design of the Indian facility, the purchase and installation of the machinery, the training of the employees and the implementation of production and QC procedures at the plant in India. "The result is a state of the art facility, with the most advanced  braiding and sewing machinery available today. The facility also includes a sophisticated dye house which processes all of our natural fiber yarns," said Pires.

ITM utilizes the Indian facility to produce both synthetic fiber rugs and the  growing natural fiber category, Pires said. "Between the two facilites, we can literally make anything that is currently available in the market, all at the highest quality level and at very competitive pricing," he said..

" ITM can manufacture and distribute product in a variety of ways. We have the ability to do direct imports to the retailer from India, as well as taking the product in to our U.S. distribution center for shipments to retailers. We can also drop ship directly to the consumer, which works well for catalog and online retailers," he explained.

Current ITM lines made in India include polypropylene, polypropylene chenille, cotton, cotton chenille,  wool, jute and bamboo.

" In the US, where we also have state of the art manufacturing, we produce rugs made from fibers that are not readily available in India, such as space dyed nylon. "
 

ITM is now working with Kea Capel to design four new lines for introduction in the Fall, according to Pires. The lines include a  wool tape braid, wool rectangles , an  indoor/outdoor braid line and a woven fabric space dyed braid.

"All of these new products will be ready for the Fall Home Textiles market in New York," said Pires. During the home textiles market, Sept. 15 to 19. ITM will be showing at a suite in the Carlton Hotel , near the 295 5th Ave. Textile Building.

"We are considering permanent space in both New York and Las Vegas in the future as our growth continues. Thus far , our products have been well received and we currently have placement at a number of retailers and catalogs, including JC Penney and Seventh Avenue, among others.

ITM is also targeting major mass market retailers such as TJ Maxx, specialty catalogs such as LL Bean and Internet retailers such as Rugs USA and Rugs Direct.

ITM pricing is oriented to the value and mid-price tiers. Opening price point on polypropylene, jute and cotton braids are in the $79 to $99 range for 5x8.

Wools and cotton chenille braids with retails in the $149 to $199 range. The recyclable polyester rugs will be in the $199 range. Higher end rugs, such as woven cotton fabric braids, will retail  in the $249 to $299 range.

The company is also making cotton chenille bedspreads  will retail for approximately $79.99 in queen size.

ITM's Westerly collection is a 100% wool flat-braid rug.


Beacon Hill is made of 65% space dyed nylon and 35% polypropylene in a three-carrier flat braid.
 

05.01.08