Homefires expands Carefree, Jellybean 

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/22/2007 12:41:00 PM

Atlanta – Accent rug supplier Homefires will be serving a heartier helping of new Carefree branded rugs than ever before, come the New Year, with 40 new designs by various artists.

Made in China and manufactured using many of the same techniques employed in making wool accent rugs, the machine washable acrylic Carefree rugs are set to debut in January during the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Show.

Homefires vp of merchandising Renee Ringstad told HTT this introduction is “a big one.” She said, “We’ve never introduced this many at once. We came up with so many because of the growth Carefree has had plus we just had a lot of great new designs to work with from many great artists.”

Artists who created some of the new Carefree rugs include: Jennifer Brinley, who contributed 11 designs such as the black-and-white French rooster Devereaux pattern and the Espresso design for latte lovers; David Carter Brown, whose design motifs here include the whimsical Outhouses Under the Moon; and B.J. Lantz, creator of the Tropical Cooler pattern of swaying palm trees alongside poolside drinks.

In related news, Homefires’ sister company, Home Comfort, will launch 50 new designs in January for its growing Jellybean-branded collection of indoor/outdoor synthetic rugs.

Ringstad said the indoor/outdoor rugs are resistant to fading and mildew and added they are lightweight, “so they dry quickly. As we say in our slogan, they wash better than your jeans.”

A variety of artists created the designs for the latest Jellybean offerings. To name a few: Yellow Tulips is by Amy Biggers; Surf Bug was created by Michelle Killman; and Ladybug on Flower is by Robin Roderick, a newcomer to Home Comfort.