Mohawk invests in imports

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Mohawk

Sugar Valley, GA

President: Bill Kilbride

Dir. of marketing: Patrick Moyer

Principal businesses: rugs, dec pillows, throws, table linens & kitchen textiles

Mohawk Home, traditionally one of country's largest domestic manufacturers of home textiles, four years ago created a new importing division as a means to compete in the market.

Under its global sourcing division, Mohawk Home imports from India, China, Indonesia, Europe and Latin America.

In India, Mohawk owns its own manufacturing and distribution facility; in other nations, the company has set up its own offices where it works closely with agents.

"We import cotton bath rugs and wool area rugs from India," said Patrick Moyer, director of marketing. "From China we source hand-hooked rugs. Indonesia supplies us with fleece throws that are printed."

Moyer explained that each country offers something specific to Mohawk's needs. In Mexico, for example, Mohawk Home sends one of each of its collections of rugs and fleece throws for its upscale Newmark line to be embroidered and embellished at the facility of one of Mohawk's manufacturing partners.

"We use our partners in Mexico for a very specific couple of things," Moyer explained. "But the bulk of our imports come from Asia. There, people have been weaving forever. They understand the weaving business, whether it's throws or rugs, better than anyone else in the world. Their labor force is readily available, and they can handle large quantities of all types of product, which is what we require."