Beaulieu Canada re-enters area rug business
By Lissa Wyman -- Furniture Today, August 25, 2008
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Broadloom carpet source Beaulieu Canada is re-entering the rug business and has hired Paul Jesson as vice president of its new Area Rug Division, according to Karel Vercruyssen, CEO of Beaulieu Canada.
Jesson was president of Beaulieu’s former area rug business from 1983 to 1999. He left Beaulieu to join Korhani and later Springs Inds. in Canada, which acquired Beaulieu’s North American rug manufacturing facilities in 2002. Springs subsequently sold the operation, and it was closed.
After leaving Springs, Jesson formed Heritage Textiles, a sales agency and consulting firm.
“When this opportunity came to renew Beaulieu’s involvement with the rug business, I jumped at it,” Jesson told Furniture/Today. “I have very passionate feelings for this business and this company.”
He said the company’s immediate priority is to establish a marketing and manufacturing team in Canada.
Jesson said the new Beaulieu Area Rug Division will be involved with both scatter rugs and room-size rugs. The company currently has tufting and printing manufacturing capability in Canada.
“We do not have weaving facilities in North America, but the parent company in Belgium has extensive weaving capacity,” he said.
Initially, Beaulieu Canada will market rugs in Canada, but long term, the company also plans to sell in the U.S. market, Jesson said. Beaulieu Canada’s rug lines will be oriented to the value and mid-level price points, he added.
