Nourison, Rodeo and J. Mish Win WONZ Competition

Atlanta, GA, February 16, 2007--Surfaces 2007 proved to be a tremendous success for the 35 Brand partners showing in the Wools of New Zealand area. Rising synthetic prices, coupled with a growing interest in natural products and innovative styling, are creating new opportunities for wool carpets and rugs. Many retailers attending Surfaces took advantage of these opportunities by raising their commitment to wool.

They also flocked to Wools of New Zealand’s booth, anxious to participate in the annual Fashion Dynamics competition. The contest, which awards the creativity of Wools of New Zealand’s Brand partners by allowing retailers to vote on their favorite wool introductions, attracted over 400 retailers who cast votes for Best Overall Product (tufted and woven) and Best Color Line from a selection of 39 products.

Judging took place over a two-day period with votes tallied on the eve of the second day and awards presented to the first- and second-place winners. The top two winners in each category were:

Best Overall Woven

First Place: Biltmore by Nourison

Runner Up: Contessa by Silver Creek

Best Overall Tufted Product

First Place: San Francisco by Rodeo

Runner Up: Tatami by Luzern

Best Color Line

First Place: Sequence by J. Mish

Runner Up: Diodonis by Naid

“We see real opportunity in the wool market and have invested in a 500,000 square foot manufacturing plant to meet our production plans,” says Alex Peykar, president of Nourison.  “At this facility, we are creating a diverse range of carpets, like Biltmore, that meet the high standards of the Wools of New Zealand Brand while offering exceptional value. We were pleased to learn that retailers share our excitement and are honored that they voted Biltmore as the Best Overall Woven in Wools of New Zealand’s Fashion Dynamics competition.”

“This is the second year in a row that we’ve received the Best Overall Tufted award and we couldn’t be more pleased,” adds Carmen Murray, president of Rodeo Carpet Mills. “People really responded to the unique texture and subtle highlights of San Francisco. We had numerous retailers say they had seen it on the floor of Wools of New Zealand’s booth, voted for it in the Fashion Dynamics competition, and now wanted to buy it. There is no greater compliment.”

“It is nice to see people responding favorably to color,” explains Jack Mishkin, president of J. Mish. “People are looking to express themselves through color and want shades that add a personal touch while complementing today’s interior styles. We are pleased that retailers voiced their agreement by choosing Sequence for Best Color Line.”