cmi Accessorizes For Market

At the New York Market —Braided-texture rug manufacturer Colonial Mills Inc. (cmi) has added to its offerings six new accessory items and a more user-friendly Rug Sample Center, both designed to maximize retail sales opportunities.

These additions debut this week during the New York Home Textiles Market.

The new accessories — which are designed to coordinate with the company's area rug lines — include a floor pillow, utility basket, hamper with lid, waste basket, nesting bowls and tote bag.

The new Rug Sample Center is intended to be used as a tool to help retailers show to shoppers cmi's full range of design and color options for its products.

The system occupies a 15-square-foot space and can display up to 32 styles “and, literally, millions of color/design options,” explained Donald Scarlata, president and CEO, cmi.

Free merchandising aids offered with the Rug Sample Center include style story cards, a full-color catalog with a custom design section, a yarn pom of all available yarns and fabrics, promotional stickers, hang tags and rug style name labels.

“We like to talk with customers about their needs and then try and respond by producing appropriate braided-texture products as well as displays,” Scarlata said. “With our expanded accessory line and more comprehensive Rug Sample Center, we're marketing our products at the retail level like never before.”