In addition to the new hanger labels, we will be offering  ’silent videos’ with three monitor options so your customers can get a quick demo of the Ultra-Durable braided rugs while browsing the store. These videos are a great addition to a waterfall rack to bring more attention to the rugs.

Check out the video to see our new display products in action:

So, you’ve got a Facebook page for your shop. Great! Now, what is it doing for you? Setting up a Facebook page is easy – creating an effective, dynamic Facebook page that draws people in and helps expand your customer base is a challenge. There are thousands upon thousands of retail Facebook pages, and the truth is, only a minority of them are an asset to the business, and even fewer are truly effective. So, how do you get your page to work for you? There are lots of tips out there, but we’ve narrowed it down to our top three:

• Forget about Facebook being free. One of Facebook’s big draws for small businesses is that it allows them to network and market without spending a penny — in theory. Yes, it’s free to set up a page, but if you want your page to stand out, you’ll need some eye-catching graphics and photos. Unless you’re a web designer on the side, you might want to consider hiring someone (or a few people) to create your Facebook page, shoot photos, design graphics, and create engaging posts. You can probably use the professional graphics and photos from your official website, which will save money, but whatever you do, don’t scrimp on the visuals. Mobile phone snapshots of your shop and products won’t do. And, once your page is set up, don’t skip placing a Facebook ad. A well-worded, visually appealing Facebook ad will build your following, and can be targeted to your preferred demographic. And, though the ads are not free, they’re much less expensive than traditional advertising.

• Make your posts shareable. Your followers are very unlikely to share an ad for your shop, but they may share an interesting blog post, a pretty picture, or an inspirational saying. If you have a family-run country decor shop, your followers will delight in things like family recipes, anecdotes, and “personal” (but not too personal — think additions to the family, etc.) updates. Coupons and specials can be shareable, too, especially if a code is required to redeem it. Every time one of your followers shares one of your posts, it’s seen by people on their friends list, who may then click to your page and “like” it. Even if they don’t, you’re building and maintaining name recognition.

• Use the Events feature. Holding a demo or workshop in your shop? Is a designer or author visiting? Are you rolling out a brand new line? Create an Event on Facebook and invite all of your followers. Most followers will at least look at the invite, so even if they decline, it makes an impact. The only caveat: Don’t overdo it. There’s a fine line between making your followers feel good about being invited to your events and making them sick of constant invites (which can lead them to “unlike” your page, and you don’t want that). Try to keep invites to about once or twice a month.

   

  Want more tips? Here’s what The Marketing Agents advise:

Pre-booking gets you 25% off list wholesale price and free shipping. 

Jute patterns below are 25% off the Hudson Collection list wholesale price. Country Walk pattern below is 25% off Ultra-Durable Braid list wholesale price.

Pre-booking discounts ends May 31, 2013. These pre-book rugs start shipping Aug 1, 2013.

 Click here to download Pre-Booking order form to fax to 770-934-8887

Or call your order into 770-934-4224 or email to sales@homespicedecor.com

Click here to download a printable version of our new swatches

Nutmeg – Jute	Bunker Hill – Jute	Saddle Run – Jute	Rolling Hills – Jute
Evergreen – Jute	Terra Cotta – Jute	Allentown – Jute	Country Walk – Ultra Durable

Quick contact form :

We also have a new Silent Video for Ultra Durable braided rugs (click here) which we are happy to provide as a DVD or a digital file.

Downloads can be accessed from this webpage (below), or, for anything else email: info@homespicedecor.com

Downloads :

Homespice tags information & ordering sheet

Recommended Video Players : Samsung 19″ or Coby 15″

Request Info:

In the video see what it looks like for some rug display inspiration and also brief glimpses of our leather rugs or a new “multi colored” hooked rug. If you like either of these types of rugs please email junior@homespicedecor.com for more info.

It’s the last thing any retailer who specializes in country home decor want to hear: That the the trend in country decor, which has been strong in recent years, may be on its way out.

First of all, don’t let “Country is dead” predictions alarm you. Unlike some more, well, “trendy” trends, country and primitive styles don’t look dated and out of style after a few years — it’s an old-fashioned style to start with. And, no matter what, everyone is not going to abandon country decor for something ultra-modern. The comfort and nostalgic warmth of country style is timeless, even if it falls from trendsetters’ radar. Even trendsetters tell people to go with what they love over what’s most in fashion. But is country decor actually out of fashion?

We took a look a houzz.com’s 13 Home Design and Decor Trends to Watch for in 2013 for the scoop on home decor trends. A few highlights:

• People want relaxed, livable spaces
• “Antiqued” is still hot — especially brass.
• Rustic floor finishes like bleached and lime-treated are increasingly popular
• Blues and greens are the hot colors
• Downsizing and simplifying are big themes
• DIY-style prints are hot
• Weathered countertops are in 
• Neutrals are the current trend

In other words, home decor isn’t changing dramatically any time soon, and if these are among the big trends of 2013, it doesn’t look like country decor is going anywhere.

Our rugs and accessories are pieces that will last a lifetime — even generations, with proper care. And we’re confident that they’ll be just as desirable in years to come as they are today. ig trends of 2013, it doesn’t look like country decor is going anywhere.

1. Think Outdoors: Whether you have a country decor shop or a furniture-focused shop, spring is the time to show your customers that you can accommodate their outdoor decorating needs as well as their interior needs. Our indoor/outdoor Ultra-Durable rugs can transform a drab patio into a stylish oasis, ready for spring ans summer entertaining. 

2. Target Summer Homes: The cottage on the lake, the beach house, the cabin in the mountains — if your customers have a summer getaway home, they’ll be eager to spruce it up for the season with some new touches. New textiles are a great way to freshen up a seasonal abode.

3. Remember the “Staycation” Crowd: Most of your customers probably don’t have summer homes, but they’ll want to make the most of the warm seasons by making their humble home a little brighter. In addition to outdoor patio decor, offer fun and affordable accessories like throw pillows in spring and summer hues.

In Bloom (Mustard) – 12×12″

In Bloom (Orange) – 12×12″

5. Don’t Forget Spring Cleaning: Now is the time of year to not only deep clean, but assess what needs replacing in the home. High-quality Homespice products ensure that they won’t need replacing for generations, if properly cared for, and your customers will come back to buy more for other parts of the house. And, as a bonus, our Ultra-Durables are famously easy to clean.

Here is a transcript of the video for the hearing impaired:

Hi Everybody! Welcome  to our Homespice Video blog. We’re here to talk to you a little bit of our Braided rugs. Now, braided rugs  were invented over 300 yrs ago in America. It’s actually one the few original American rug art forms and that’s the one of the great things I like about Braided rugs. Perhaps why they go so well with all the decor around here. So if you are going to make a braided rug; We were sitting in India – you know I grew up in India, my parents factories’ are in India and that’s where all the rugs come from. So, we were sitting in India and were like – how do we make the perfect Braided rug and we didn’t really know how to do it. So we went to North Carolina where there are quite a few a rug manufactures and actually one of the largest textiles schools in the world – the NC State school of Textiles is right there. And we hired a rocket scientist. So since its hard to believe, but YES he consider himself a rocket scientist and he had worked with NASA on the ‘Mission to Mars’ program using Braiding and his name was Dr.Ali Al Sheikh. He had PHD in Braiding and he was a Doctor of Braiding. And he said that if you want to make the perfect braided rug you have to start with the perfect Braid, so he went about teaching us their right tension between each of the three strand you see here rugs got three strands when they come off from the spools they have to have the right amount of tension. Also if these three aren’t cut of the same width and use the same density of material,  your braid won’t be straight – it will curve a bit of course very important if you are braiding a tube that will go on a satelite that’s going to Mars, but we use the same techniques and technology that we learnt from him to make these rugs and that’s probably only one of the reasons why people when they own our braided rugs they are so happy with them 5 years, 7 years, 10 years down the line.  It is a testament to how well they are made but it all starts when you make a braided rug using the right braid. 

Our new floral  pillow designs introduced in January and February have certainly become very popular. With a striking combination of hooked designs across a wool flannel background and richly textured felt appliqué blossoms, these primitive blooms really “pop” and just beg to be picked up and admired.

These beauties come in a variety of sizes ranging from 10×10″, 12×12″ or 12×16″. Just the right size to add a touch of warmth to almost any room.

 If you didn’t get a chance to see them in person yet, take a look below. Just click on the photo to see a close up. Put your order in now.

Antique Maple – 12×12″	Sunny Sentiments – 12×12″	Tulips – 12×12″
Flower Bulbs – 12×12″	Flower Bulbs – 12×16″	Forget-Me-Not – 12×16″
In Bloom (Blue) – 12×12″	In Bloom (Mustard) – 12×12″	In Bloom (Orange) – 12×12″
In Bloom (Gold) – 12×12″	Stargazer (Black) – 12×12″	Stargazer (Brown) – 12×12″
Sunny Sentiments – 12×12″	Tres Flores – 10×10″	A Garden of Flowers

In This video, Junior, the owner discusses how our rugs are different. 

Here is a transcript of the video for the hearing impaired:

“ Hi guys, Junior here. I am going to be talking to you about our braided rugs and just what goes into the quality that might not meet the eyes. So what I have got with me is one of our place mats. It’s a 15″ round place mat – it’s one of our stain proof ones – the ultra durable. And I’m just gonna come closer and show you, If you look at this mat, there is no end to it. Just keep looking, It keep’s going , keeps going, keeps going, keeps going  and I have gone around at least once now and as you can see there is no end to it. Now, if you buy some of the braided rugs out in the market, they will often have what is called a ‘tail’. So how do we make a rug that never ends – but it does have a start.

So, the secret you’ll often find is actually hidden and our tail is right here. it’s one level inside and when we put the last round, around the product right here, its attached by hand and then the final pieces of the  braids are brought close enough that things are hand braided in and then stitched. So u can just imagine the amount of time it takes us to finish each one of these when we hand braid in the stitches and sorry all the yarns and then stitch it – Just to make one finished piece for you. So that’s what you get when you buy a Homespice product, our braided rugs. You know we do all these details that it wouldn’t be apparent to you, when you look at them in a store but our approach is ‘ how can we make something that you love even more after you owned it for a day and you love it even more after you’ve owned it for a week’. If you talk to people who have owned our products for 3 years, 5 years, 7 years – the longer they own it, the more they enjoy it. So just a little tit bit about where is the tail.”