Article: HOOKED LINES SINKING? RETAILERS SAY CURRENT DESIGNS AND THE POPULARITY OF TUFTED RUGS HAVE HURT SALES.(Brief Article)

NEW YORK-According to suppliers, room-size hooked rugs continue to grow, but retailers say sales are sluggish at best.

Retailers blame the decline on the rising popularity of hand-tufted rugs, a low perception of quality by the consumer and stale designs.

"I sold 250 hooked rugs in 2000, and 220 in 2001," said Sam Presnell, owner of The Rug Gallery in Blue Ash, Ohio. He attributed the drop in sales to "boring stuff."

But he said, "I'm beginning to see better quality. I was impressed with KAS' Winslow collection."

Less-than-desired performance has made Hagopian World of Rugs in Birmingham, Mich., drop the category almost entirely. ...

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