Georgia Tufters teams with Joy & Jake

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 4/15/2002 12:00:00 AM

AT THE NEW YORK MARKET —

Bath and accent rug and top-of-bed manufacturer and importer Georgia Tufters has partnered with licensed property Joy & Jake to produce a line of 100 percent nylon bath and olefin and cotton accent rugs as well as 100 percent cotton tufted chenille bedspreads.

The partnership's initial collection will be Passports, a destination-themed coordinated bedding, bath and rug products package. Georgia Tufters' Passports products will come in up to four different styles that complement the collection's design.

For Joy & Jake, the partnership represents the property's second licensing deal — the first was forged in December with bedding and towel manufacturer and importer J.R. United, based in North Miami, Florida.

"We like their energy and creativity," David Record, vp, national sales manager, Georgia Tufters, told Home Textiles Today. "They are very focused on developing their brand and utilizing their creative spin on established items, such as bed-in-a-bag, in the marketplace."

Georgia Tufters' product line for Joy & Jake is currently made domestically at facilities at its Calhoun, GA, headquarters, Record said.

As for the future of the partnership, the two companies are working on more programs.

"It's an ongoing process," Record said. "We're developing for multiple patterns, looks and collections — some of which are completed and others that are still being developed."