High Point, N.C.—Judging by the interested looks on attendees’ faces, the energy generated in the showrooms, and the addition of many new exhibition spaces, one would think the overall atmosphere at this fall’s International Home Furnishings Market was nothing but positive. Although the anxiety of the last few seasons— with the worldwide terrorist threats and the war in Iraq—was not as evident, there is an underlying uneasiness in the industry shaping the way retailers shop this market. According to Market Press, Chinese manufacturers have gained 41% of the $2.9 billion wood furniture market in the U.S.

North Carolina companies claim China has illegally dumped goods into markets at artificially low prices to drive competitors out of business. In support of their claim is the fact that North Carolina has lost 16,000 jobs, and more than 40 furniture factories in the state have closed. Such was the concern that notables Bob Timber-lake, who markets a successful lifestyle line of home furnishings, including area rugs, and Richard Petty of NASCAR fame, who endorses a therapeutic line of bedding, threw their support behind the American Furniture Manufacturers Committee for Legal Trade during the market. Committee members include Vaughan-Bassett, Century, Stanley and Hooker. Timberlake said it was time to take a stand, “I won’t approve anything for my company from overseas.”

He further pointed out that he is attempting to save 1,250 jobs at the factory that is producing his line of furnishings. During the market, Timberlake introduced a Made in America theme. “It’s a small stand for us.” Industry leaders came to the market optimistically looking for a sign that the industry is bouncing back, but the situation is considered “iffy.” Pat Norton, La-Z-Boy chairman, said, “It’s not panic, but consumer confidence has to go in the other direction for some time. As an industry, we are going through a very difficult time.” Despite uncertainties in the air, Jerry Epperson, analyst with Mann, Armistead & Epperson, contends that there is more new product available to retailers than he has seen in five years. As such, retailers who visited the market came looking for new ideas.

Though not much was new in area rugs, Kea Capel—of the Capel Rugs family—made a splash with her independently formed Kea Inc. line of brightly colored and inventively constructed rugs. Kea Capel teamed with Homemaker Industries to bring “a freshness to braided rugs.” The line includes indoor/outdoor products, rectangles, numerous wide and narrow stripes, heavy wools, and print fabric and solid combinations. Many are color coordinated. There are also some rugs with felted appliqués on braided backgrounds. Kea Capel said she started her business “to provide retailers with more design solutions.” With so much emphasis on imports, Leon Capel, president of Capel Rugs, expressed that braided rugs are uniquely American. “They are part of our heritage.”

For its part, Capel introduced a line of casual floor coverings aimed at the juvenile segment of the marketplace. Called Capel Kidz, the line includes new braided rug styles: one called Soft Step, which is a super-soft rectangular cotton chenille and fabric combination designed especially for babies in the crawling stages, and Pep Rally, which is a rectangular cotton chenille braid in kid approved colors, including “girlfriend,” “blue jeans,” “all star” and “spring break.” New grown-up braids are bolder in color. Chenille construction styles are Crocus, Daffodil and Gemstone. Colors for Crocus are blue, green and lilac; for Daffodil, shades of yellow, blue, peach, and green, and for Gemstone, vibrant jewel tones. The 6X9-ft. rugs in the collection retail for $399.

Company C. kept with its tradition of providing an array of colorful introductions. New tufted rugs included Garden Damask and Dominica, while new hooked rugs included Jaco-bean, Alpine Sweater and Meandering Vine. A collection of colorful jute rugs was also introduced in three distinct patterns—Houndstooth, Basketweave and Herringbone. “Our rug designs are bursting with all the vivid shades of a spring garden,” said Christine Chapin, brand merchandiser and design lead for Company C. “Pinks, greens, blues, yellows and corals are all color touchstones with our new tufted designs, while our new hooked rugs feature deeper colors and stronger tones.” Color, in fact, is a way some exhibitors chose to differentiate instead of creating entirely new product.

Trend Forecaster Michelle Lamb, who closely watches color’s impact on the home furnishings industry, said “vibrant hues are updating traditional patterns, pinks are warming products, and ‘neon-flavored’ brights are on the ‘watch list.’” Also new in rugs was a line by Woolrich, a com pany established in 1830 in central Pennsylvania. There are three, distinct collections of these wool and machine-woven, 100% heat-set olefin area rugs to fit into lifestyle lines called Rustic Cabin, Urban Retreat and Traditional Living. Patterns were pulled from historical company design archives, such as a buffalo check from 1850. This pattern has a checkerboard configuration and is offered in eight classic colors, including the original black and red combination as well as a fresh green color way. The collections offer 30 designs in seven sizes ranging from 2X4-ft. to an oversized 10X13-ft.