Nourison sets the stage for its accent rug program with new showroom

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/19/2011 1:01:16 PM

Nourison sets the stage for its accent rug program with new showroom

At the New York Market - Set in the new stage that is the company's new showroom here, Nourison presented its full breadth of accent rugs - and then some.

"We love this space," said Paula Paquette, vp of sales. "When people come in and see the high ceilings, the new fixturing, the lighting, it all makes or a more impactful statement on our product."

Whereas the company previously displayed its full line of accent rugs on a single rack across one wall in its former 14th floor showroom, Nourison now occupies prime real estate at 295 Fifth Ave. with the full first floor and basement space on the lobby's south side.

The space also includes two front bay windows, which the company has dressed dramatically for market with its latest wares of novelty accents of brightly-colored butterfly and flower shapes.

"Now we can cater to our full assortment of accent rugs as well as all of our other categories - dec pillows and area rugs," Paquette added. "We're now driving corporate business with this new showroom."

Color and design are the focal point this market in the accent rug segment, as is size. Paquette said that thanks to ample space for new clear Plexiglass fixturing - racks and hangers - as well as large metal waterfall-style racks, the division can present for the first time its area rug dimensions featuring its accent rug designs.

"Our new fixturing allows us to now capture retailers' whole buying assortment versus, say, just kitchen rugs, because they can now see all of the sizes and styles we offer," she explained. "And this also gives us the flexibility to offer them different designs in different constructions."

Rita Karmiol, evp, pointed out two new collections - one higher-end fashion and one utility opening price point.

The fashion rugs are made in India of poly-cotton blends and come in several looks, including wovens and shags. They are priced at $29.99. The new utility rugs - set at $14.99 -- are an expansion into pattern, with new colors and heathered hues, from their solid-colored predecessors.

On the novelty side, new accents include the shaped butterfly and flower, among many other shaped looks, as well as some other new themed styles - such as texting themes - in rectangular that now have value-added features like scalloped edges or round styles for the standard $19.99.