Burlington takes shape with new rug category

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 10/12/2001 12:00:00 AM

MONTICELLO, AR —

Burlington Rug Corp. is entering a new category at the New York Home Textiles market — shaped rugs.

Made here at the factory headquarters in Arkansas, the shaped rugs are made of 100 percent tufted olefin.

"This plant has never done this before, and we've got to broaden our appeal," said Brian Ballingall, vp, Canada division, and spokesman for the company. "Part of broadening our appeal is to move into shapes."

The shaped rugs line is divided into an adult collection and a tweener collection. Shapes for the adult collection are octagons, squares, rounds, ovals and oblongs. Shapes for the tweener collection include circles, stars, squares and half-circles.

All the rugs are available in two sizes — 21" x 34" and 28" x 48", with varying price points. For the adult collection, they are $12.99 and $19.99. For tweeners, the price points are $19.99 and $39.99.

The shapes line caters to mass retail stores, Ballingall said. "We tried to use bright fashion colors for the tweener collection and traditional looks like burgundy, navy and hunter green for the adult collection," Ballingall said.

In terms of style, all the adult collection rugs are two-toned and feature a medallion design at the center.

The new line will be introduced officially by Robert Devlin, vp of product development and management and creator of the line, at Burlington Rug Corp.'s showroom, suite 1009 at 295 Fifth Ave.