Noonoo adds 70 items to catalog

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 8/6/2001 12:00:00 AM

SECAUCUS, NJ —

Noonoo Rug Company, based here, recently launched its strongest effort to enhance its offerings of hand-knotted rugs with 70 new additions to its catalog, said Eugene Newman, president.

The new additions include:

• 40 from India, bringing the total to 80 designs within nine collections;

• 19 from Pakistan, bringing the total to 108 designs within 12 collections;

• 11 from Nepal, bringing the total to 37 designs within three collections.

"This is a major, major update for us," Newman said. "The last time we updated our catalog was about a year ago, and that time we only added 15 new rugs."

Newman explained that the reason Noonoo has become more aggressive about introducing new designs is three-fold: the emergence of the handmade rug industry as more fashion-oriented over the past 5 to 6 years; the broader range in taste levels of area rug buyers; and the weak economy.

"We anticipate a slowdown in the economy. So by having a wider variety of rugs for buyers to choose from, we hope to offset that," Newman added.

Each new rug is available in five or more sizes. Price points range from $1,300 to $5,500. Noonoo is targeting mid-tier to upscale department stores with these new introductions.