LAS VEGAS -- Area rug and broadloom players hailed the 2020 International Surface Event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center as one of the best shows in recent history.
RugNews.com continues its Surfaces coverage with in Part 2 of this special report. (Make sure you didn't miss Part 1.)
MOMENI
Patrick Malone, vice president of sales, broadloom, shows Surfaces visitors Momeni's five new textured wool broadloom collections in classic designs.
At Momeni's Surfaces space, Patrick Malone, vice president of sales said the show was excellent. "We've had a lot of great traffic; it's been very busy," he said, noting that a big draw was the company's prominent display of a new program of five hand loomed wool broadloom collections in a range of popular textures. "We're now sourcing from Belgium --these are all classics, and each is launching in four neutral colors," Malone said.
The Lemieux et Cie collection by Momeni gives Surfaces shoppers a sophisticated new range of flatweave rugs.
Momeni also showcased its Lemieux et Cie licensing program in collaboration with designer Christiane Lemieux. "We're showing 50 SKUs of knotted flatweaves and cool over-tufts to the trade showrooms that come here and didn't see it in High Point last fall," he explained.
Momeni's point of sale broadloom display opens to swatch cards for the new hand-loomed Pebbles and Pulse collections, both in 100 percent wool.
In addition, the company introduced more than a dozen new broadloom collections at Surfaces -- all marketed for both cut and sew rugs fabricated to order by Momeni and for wall to wall installation. "We do a huge business in custom rugs," Malone said, "and we are getting a great response to the quality design and colors of these new lines." The debut collections ranged from the Canterbury collection, a natural wool cut and loop with striations, to Chevron a handmade flatweave crafted of wool and fine polyester, and Pebbles, a soft all loop pile texture in hand-loomed wool.
Momeni introduces the textural Chevron collection broadloom, which is hand loomed of wool and fine polyester.
NOURISON
Andrew Peykar, Gerard O'Keefe, vice president of sales, Henry Scott and Jeff Edwards of Carpet One by Henry in Greensboro and Winston Salem, North Carolina, with Bob Tucci of Nourison
"We are providing broadloom that no one else has: different lines and most hand-loomed because that's where the growth is in decorative business," Andrew Peykar, Nourison president, told RugNews.com at the company's busy Surfaces booth. In the handloom category, new collections that resonated with buyers included the flatweave Pasadena and the new Roc Striae, both part of the debuting Craftworks by Nourison program.
Fashion forward broadlooms collections Pasadena (above) and Roc Striae (below) are part of Nourison's new Craftworks range.
The new Craftworks broadloom and custom rug program includes hand-crafted styles made of fine raw materials, with machine-serged, hand-sewn or coordinating wide binding finishing options. The program allows for large custom rugs up to 15-feet wide.
Also shown was Wherever Sisal, a hand-woven, indoor-outdoor collection made of UV stabilized polypropylene, with a coordinating outdoor 3-inch binding for rugs. "This is a departure for us, this is different," said Don Karlin, director of broadloom sales. "These rugs are meant to go with sofas and love seats that are in the backyard patio area. Our feeling is, if they spent $1,500 for a sofa, we have a rug that goes nicely with that."
At Surfaces, Nourison touted Wherever Sisal, a hand-woven, indoor-outdoor collection made of UV stabilized polypropylene, with a coordinating outdoor 3-inch binding for rugs.
Karlin said the fabrication business is flourishing. "A big part of our business today is fabrication. Cuts used to be in the 20s (foot range), and now are in the teens - that is one trend we are seeing."
STARK/PRESTIGE MILLS
With its wall display and new programs Express and Essentials programs Stark Studio Rugs division was a big hit at The International Surface Event.
While Stark's Prestige Mills broadloom was listed as the official exhibitor at Surfaces 2020, the company's new Stark Studio Rugs division was a big hit at the show. Peter Feldman, president of Prestige Mills, said Surfaces continues to be a good show for the carpet and rug supplier.
"Surfaces went well," confirmed Taylor van Der Mandele, Stark's VP of rug operations. "We were able to see many of our top dealers from across the country. This is the advantage of Stark Studio Rugs sharing a space with Prestige Mills. We have many crossover clients," van Der Mandele said, noting that top sellers at Surfaces were the Tinley collection and Stark Studio Rugs Express collection." In addition, the recently launched Stark Studio Rugs Essentials, which includes 12 collections of affordable, entry-level in-stock rugs, with next day shipping will be a focus of 2020 growth, she said. Essentials include Wilton-woven, hand-knot wool rugs and flatweave rugs.
Peter Feldman, president of Prestige Mills, said Surfaces continues to be a good show for the broadloom and Stark Studio Rugs division.