Oriental Weavers of America Celebrates Seven Successful Years

Furniture World Magazine

Oriental Weavers of America would like to announce the celebration of seven successful years of operation and thank all their customers for continued support. During the seven years OWA has been operating, they have gained more than 20% of the domestic rug business and recorded double-digit growth each year. The company has continued to increase their place in the market by consistently providing superior products and maintaining competitive price structures. Oriental Weavers of America is a customer-driven, employee-oriented company with high ethical standards. Mohamed Farid, president and CEO of Oriental Weavers, created OWA around a foundation of innovation and a reputation of being one step ahead of the competition. When the company opened in 1994, OWA introduced two collections, Dalton and Cairo. Cairo was the first 8-color 2-ply heat set product to hit the United States market and revolutionized the industry by changing the face of machine-made rugs. This quality catapulted the collection to immediate stardom with fashion, color and design never seen before at its price range. Along with the standard sizes, the company offered a roll runner cut program. In 1995, OWA opened showrooms in Atlanta and High Point, N.C., and launched three new collections: Amoun, Renaissance and Ramses. The company also underwent equipment and building expansions. The first 15-color sidewoven product to be introduced in the United States was the Alexandria Collection, launched in 1996. Three additional collections were also introduced, bringing the total number of constructions created since the 1994 inception of the company to nine. OWA received numerous awards for all their hard work in 1997. The company received first place awards in service, quality and design and was presented with the "Magnificent Carpet" award during the winter Atlanta market. They also received a "Best New Vendor" award. Also in 1997, the New York showroom was opened and two more collections were debuted: Jungle Garden and Cleopatra, the first 10-color machine-woven product in the United States. Claire Murray became a licensed partner, combining her design brilliance and unprecedented style with OWA’s reputation as the leading machine-made rug manufacturer. Due to the company’s fantastic growth, they were also able to double their weaving capacities and began transmitting purchase orders electronically through EDI. In 1998, the company completed and opened their West Coast Distribution Center. They, once again, celebrated first place awards in service, design and quality and received an "Advertising Excellence" award for the Cleopatra Collection. Introduced during the winter market in Atlanta was the Cashmere Collection. This product was woven with plush pile and made from 100% heat-set olefin sheared three times, resulting in an amazingly smooth finish. 1999 was a sensational year to remember at OWA. An amazing eight collections, approximately 500 patterns, were introduced during seven markets. Again, the company earned first places in service, design and quality and was named the Home Depot "Partner of the Year." OWA had outgrown the showroom they were occupying in Atlanta and were able to move into a larger one. Once again, they expanded their Dalton – based Distribution Center and opened a new Finishing department separate from the main building. Claire Murray once again joined forces with OWA in 2000 to produce a light-hearted, affordable new line of rugs geared towards juveniles. A licensing partnership with Bob Mackie was unveiled in January at the AmericasMart in Atlanta. Mackie, renowned for dressing the most beautiful women in the fashion and entertainment worlds, attended the July market in Atlanta to further promote his stunning line of opulent area rugs. A partnership with the Benedictine Heritage also flourished. The 10-color designs that made up the Benedictine Collection were based on ancient tapestries, paintings and wall hangings from monasteries. The royalties from this collection were and continue to be used to build schools in underprivileged countries. Continuing to reinforce their reputation as a leader in the industry, OWA installed the first 12-color looms to weave the Chairman Collection, a patent-pending yarn system created by Farid himself. The yarn system combined just the right blend of nylon and polypropylene to give this premium collection a luxurious gleam and easy-care durability. Two other collections were introduced in January at the 2000 Atlanta market: Venice and an updated Nile. OWA opened their Canadian showroom after announcing they had formed an agreement with Minster Interiors Inc. Minster Interiors, based out of Toronto, became the sole distributor of OWA products. The partnership was a step towards the company’s long-term plan of expanding their global business and laying a solid foundation for building further growth. 2000 brought with it receipt of such awards as a "Commitment to Excellence" and a "Vendor Appreciation." OWA was again named the Home Depot "Partner of the Year" and received awards for service, quality and design. Internally, the company’s safety record had improved 44% over the previous year. OWA doubled the size of their High Point showroom, allowing them to feature 240 rugs during the show. Increased growth led to the acquisition of two new looms and an additional 30,000 square foot expansion. Already in 2001, the company has experienced enormous growth. OWA is in the process of building a new Dalton-based Distribution Center, which has an expected fall completion date. The company has jumped headfirst onto the worldwide web with the launch of their web site, www.owarug.com. In January, OWA announced an agreement with "The Christopher Lowell Show". Lowell, known as cable television’s irrepressible do-it-yourself decorator, was recently presented the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Service Show host. He can be seen on Discovery Channel, one of the United States’ two largest cable networks, servicing 78.1 million households across the nation. The hour-long show provides inexpensive, innovative interior design tips, while grabbing the audiences’ attention with its honest approach and style. Lowell celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of his viewers. OWA is excited about what 2001 will bring, and want customers to know they appreciate past support and look forward to continuing to build stronger relationships.