“The Floor Show is an important event for us and we work very hard to ensure its success,” said Edel Telenzo Carpets UK’s operations manager Lesley Inman. “We were not disappointed – we kept busy throughout and orders were up on last year.

“We know that we are fortunate that, being in the middle to upper end of the market, we are not being quite so hard hit by effects of the credit crunch. But we take the view that when the going gets tough you just have to get tougher back and work that much harder.

“We made a lot of effort to make sure Harrogate was a success; we had new ranges and our new merchandising to show; and we made sure all our customers were well aware of what we had to offer in advance, with mail shots, our newsletter, Floortalk; PR and advertising – even a competition to attract people to the stand. Our new contract ranges were well received and we also had some new concepts which will be officially launched at Domotex, the response to which was very encouraging.

“Unfortunately some companies just bury their heads in the sand and become very negative when times get harder. It doesn’t help. Even now there are opportunities to be grasped – there’s less money about but on the other hand, we can push the benefits of carpets, especially wool ones, for making houses warmer – and quieter -  as well as being more environmentally friendly, as they’re recyclable and bio-degradable.”

Edel Telenzo says its new lectern and tombola have been enthusiastically received by its customers. Says sales director Philip Hopkins: “We’ve really tried to put ourselves in the retailers’ shoes in the development of this new point of sale support. We know display space is at a premium so we’ve reduced the overall size – but without reducing the actual number of samples that can be displayed. And we’ve aimed for maximum flexibility so now retailers can customise the displays with the ranges they want to promote in their store – not just our choices.”

The lecterns are designed to feature up to 14 samples of a good size - 45sq cm - in a cascade – that’s approximately two collections, each of seven colourways. Further sample books can be stored on the two shelves below the cascade. The units – in a pleasing light oak finish with Edel Telenzo Carpets graphics visibly featured - are designed to sit side by side or back to back – so it’s possible to have more than one in a neat modular arrangement, if required.

For even more flexibility and to display more ranges, the tombola has capacity for up to 60 removable sliders holding either 45sq cm samples or two x 22.5 x 45cm samples – potentially 100 different qualities and/or colourways.  The ability to move samples around easily is particularly good for co-ordinating colours as well. The tombola is on castors for ease of mobility and finished in a combination of light oak and silver with smart branding graphics. Lecterns cost £60; tombolas, £100 – but the costs are refundable on sales of £5,000 net and above.

Edel Telenzo Carpets has appointed Jim Osborne as its first full-time sales rep to cover the East Midlands.

Jim has been in the carpet trade since 1973 and in sales since 1985, working for companies such as Mr Tomkinson and Brockway Carpets. His target is to expand Edel Telenzo’s account base and to strengthen and renew current and former relationships in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northants.

 Says sales director Philip Hopkins: “We’re delighted to welcome such an experienced, fantastically well-connected salesman to our team. Taking on a full-time rep is a new strategy for us  but Jim’s profile, in what is a key territory in the heart of England, is second to none,  so having him on board is an opportunity too good to miss.”

As all Jim’s customers will probably know, when he’s not focusing on floors, he’s pursuing one or other of his two passions – motor cycling and supporting Sheffield Wednesday!

The minimalism - some would say blandness - of home interiors of the past five years is on the wane. More ornate furniture is being seen; along with much bolder colours, patterns and textures in wallcoverings and accessories. Although plain carpets still hold sway, there is a move towards more pattern, more texture and richer colours.

Which is why reaction to Edel Telenzo's new Tube Collection of striped carpets has been so positive. Stripes make a refreshing, eye-catching change in a sea of plains in-store. "Used well in displays, they can really help to sell through the range," says Philip Hopkins, sales director of Edel Telenzo Carpets UK.

The Tube Collection, which fits into the company's Grand Creations collection is a fine gauge loop design in 100% Pure New three-ply Wool, which consists of Jubilee, a broad two-colour stripe design in black and white, brown and white, grey, brown and white, green and white, and sand and white; Mainline, a fine two-colour stripe in black and grey, grey and white, sand and dark brown, brown and beige, and dark and light sand ; and Piccadilly, a multi-stripe which co-ordinates with the other two.

"Even so-called natural tones are becoming stronger," says Philip Hopkins. "Colours such as oranges, browns and reds are coming through, alongside black and white, to complement a big decorating penchant for monochrome / metallic schemes."

Having a heavy duty rating, the range has been aimed at the contract market as well as the interior design and domestic sectors and is available in the usual four and five metre widths. The designs look fantastic in any room but are specifically suited to staircases and to narrower halls and landings, where patterned carpets are more often selected as being more suited than plain to higher traffic.

All Edel Telenzo's carpets are 'recyclable' 'renewable' and 'biodegradable' and steps have been taken to reduce the company's own carbon footprint through energy saving at the production plant.