LR Home's Criss Cross collection is a top choice at The Rug Rack for its moderate price point and ease of
coordinating with hand-knotted rugs.
SPECIAL REPORT -- Flooring retailers are optimistic about the prospects for a strong rug business in 2024, a sentiment bolstered in part by an increase in custom/fabricated rug sales fueled by the growth of hard surfaces.
RugNews.com asked several dealers to discuss the upcoming year and to identify their best sellers from the class of 2023.
Baker Bros, Phoenix
Phil Koufidakis, president
Phil Koufidakis, president
of Baker Bros, told RugNews, “My expectations are for an increase in custom products/fabricated rugs. Customers are looking for larger size and more specific sizes than ever before, so we are finding ourselves doing more special order than ever before. It used to be our rug sales were 70 percent off the rack; now it is likely closer to 50 percent. In addition, 8x11 used to be a [highly sought after] size, but now customers are looking for even bigger.”
Best seller: Baker Bros's best-selling rug is Dalyn's Calisa, made of wool and crafted in India. Each Calisa is built to last with a tough 3/8-inch flat pile. “Dalyn Calisa continues to do well both in finished sizes and custom sizes,” Koufidakis said.
Baker Bros's best-selling rug is Dalyn's Calisa, crafted of wool in India, performs well in stocked and custom sizes.
The Carpet Exchange, Denver
Bruce Odette, president/CEO
“Historically the demand for area rug sales is closely tied to homeowners continuing to invest in home remodel," Bruce Odette, president/CEO, said. "We see the market in 2024 holding its own, as the consumer is investing in fixing up their space versus moving and incurring a much higher interest rate. Area rugs are a great way to add style and comfort without doing a major renovation.”
Best sellers: Roxy collection by Kas, and Theory by Loloi. Roxy is a super soft plush rug featuring trendy points of blues and neutrals. The abstract designs are machine woven of the softest polyester with a thin pile height. Theory is a power-loomed polypropylene and polyester, taupe/gray in color with a transitional, abstract design. “The construction is made for high-traffic areas with the comfort of a soft, plush pile,” Odette said. “The grays and blues are dominating our best-selling rugs overall.”
A top seller at Carpet Exchange is Kas' super soft Roxy collection, trendy points of blues and neutrals.
Carpet Exchange reports that Theory from Loloi is among its top collections.
CarpetSourceUSA, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Don Lovato, owner
“We have seen a surge of business with custom rugs fabricated from broadloom, which has become a greater area of emphasis. It’s absolutely a growing part of our business, and a good margin business. I am expecting big things in 2024.”
Best seller: Vintage Grace from Karastan is a Kashmere nylon style that adds a sophisticated texture with its soft cut and loop pile. Itsdistinctive tone-on-tone basket weave style comes in fashion-forward neutrals and grays as well as jewel tone accents. “People like it because it is not too bold; it has a nice pattern to it,” Lovato said.
Karastan's Vintage Grace collection is a hit with buyers at CarpetSourceUSA.
Hadinger Flooring, Naples, Florida
Susan Hadinger, CEO
“We are expecting rug sales in 2024 to be strong. Our selection is a big draw for our customers. We have the largest inventory of rugs in our area, and we work hard to stay on the cutting edge of new designs. We carry everything from machine-made rugs to hand knotted, with our sweet spot being the mid-range hand-tufted rugs. We have five dedicated area rug salespeople who are experts; they work with clients individually to design their spaces. Being near the coast, blues and greens are always popular colors and the transitional patterns continue to outsell traditional.
Best sellers: Colorful rug - Jaipur Living's Genesis (Style: GES270). Genesis offers an attractive display of navy, aqua and beige hues highlighted by the luxe blend of wool and viscose.
‘Spider web’ rug from Jaunty's Soho (Style: SO-38) collection. This high-quality hand tufted wool rug is combined with rich silk-like viscose yarn to create a unique product.
A Hadinger top seller hails from Jaipur Livings Genesis collection of wool and viscose rugs. Shown, GES27
A Hadinger customer favorite is Jaunty's hand-tufted SOHO design SO38, crafted of wool with shimmery accents.
The Rug Rack, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Miriam Thompson, owner
“The expectations and hope we have for The Rug Rack in 2024 are for consumers to realize shopping local is key to the survival of brick-and-mortar stores. For the consumer to have a positive outcome when it comes to decorating her home, understanding the color and quality of the product can only be achieved when seeing and touching products in person. We are hoping for increased foot traffic for 2024 with new streaming advertising that we recently put in place.”
Best Seller: Criss Cross 82200IGE Ivory/Greige from LR Home in a 9x12. “This rug does not have bold features; however, the subtleness and neutral colors coordinate nicely when paired with the hand-knotted rugs we sell,” Thompson said. “It is a moderate price point, so when the larger dollars are spent on the hand-knotted rug, the Criss Cross rug fits the bill in style and budget.”
LR Home's Criss Cross rug (82200IGE) is a hit for its understated design and attainable price point.
Ted’s Floors & Beyond, Anniston, Alabama
Ron Hurley, president/COO
“We have stepped up our commitment by selling custom rugs for rooms and staircases. When customers find what look they want they are willing to spend whatever it takes. Custom rugs is a growing part of our business. We now have a room in the back where we do the serging for customers.”
Best seller: Stanton’s Ripplewater in desert, a face-to-face woven available in five colors that can be ordered as a custom rug. “Stanton has the most unique looks I’ve ever seen,” Hurley said. “This one has a metallic sheen to it, a look that I have yet to see duplicated.”
Stanton's Ripplewater Desert, with a metallic sheen, is available as a custom love and has become a favorite at Ted's Floors.