If 2020 forced area rug companies to think outside the box (while stuck inside a quarantine box, so to speak), then 2021 added polish to their newfound dexterity.It took plenty of coordination for category players to juggle last year's myriad challenges: supply chain woes in the form of soaring costs for containers and long shipping delays; low labor retention; competition for raw materials; tight margins; and higher operational expenses across the board.So, how did the industry manage to move ahead and generate a 2 increase that resulted in $5.65 billion in total retail sales?Everyone found their own method. Maples Rugs began converting its entire fiber operation to polyester from polypropylene and nylon. Natco Home continued expanding its domestic manufacturing. Nourison ramped up its custom services. And Mohawk Home touted its automation and innovation, to name a few.
展开▼
