Shaw promises 'surprises'

DALTON, GA. — Six months after creating a new brand and logo, Shaw Living is moving to flush out more of a total-home package with a variety of new product category entries to be announced at the New York Home Textiles Market later this month.

Although the company is not specifying the new product categories or how many it will launch, there will be "big surprises," said division vice president Jeff Meadows.

"We will definitely show new categories that will prove Shaw Living is a one-stop shop for home textiles," he continued. "There will also be new constructions, new yarn systems and new technologies — all for home textiles."

Several of these new ventures are being accomplished through strategic partnerships with other home textiles suppliers — similar to the partnership Shaw Living forged last year with Norcross, Ga.-based Trade Am, which designs and imports accent, area and bath rugs, top-of-bed goods, table linens, decorative pillows and other textiles.

The two companies produce a collaborative program of synthetic area rugs manufactured by Shaw; and woven and chenille throws, decorative pillows and scatter rugs imported from India by Trade Am that targets mass merchants.

As part of this growth, Shaw Living will debut its expanded lines, including the launch of its Bretlin indoor and outdoor mats in a new 7,000-square-foot showroom at 295 Fifth Ave. in New York. The company will also host a celebration party during market.

"It will be our coming-out party," Meadows said. "It will be the first time all of our product can be seen (in our New York showroom) at once."

During the previous market in October — after having acquired bath, accent rug and top-of-bed supplier Georgia Tufters earlier in the year — Shaw Living had two separate showrooms.