Pad expands sales team in Germany

Pad is further strengthening its sales organisation in Germany and will welcome two experienced industry professionals at the beginning of 2026. Tina van Dort will take over responsibility for Bavaria, while Stephanie Gerstenberger will cover Hesse as well as parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.

Ikea Opens First Store in New Zealand

Ikea continues its international growth strategy and officially opened its first location in New Zealand on 4 December. The 34,000-square-metre store in Auckland is complemented by a nationwide online offering and 29 collection points to ensure seamless omnichannel coverage.

Pad Drives Expansion: New Partner in Canada

Bavarian designer label Pad is driving forward its global growth strategy and will enter the Canadian market in early 2026. The company has appointed the renowned agency Design Home Gift & Paper Inc. as its new distribution partner to strengthen its footprint in the modern home textiles sector across North America.

Pantone reveals “Color of the Year 2026”: Cloud Dancer

Pantone has announced its Color of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer. The subtle white shade is meant to evoke calm, clarity and quiet reflection – a deliberate counterbalance to an increasingly loud and fast-paced world. It follows the warm brown tone Mocca Mousse from 2025, which expressed the desire for comfort and reassurance.

50th India Carpet Expo in April 2026

The Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) will hold the 50th edition of the India Carpet Expo from 11–14 April 2026 at the NSIC Exhibition Complex in New Delhi. Around 250 manufacturers and exporters from major Indian production centres such as Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Jaipur, Agra, Panipat and Srinagar are expected to attend.

Jysk Germany: Sales up 5%

Jysk Germany increased its sales by more than 5% in the 2025 financial year, reaching EUR 1.297 bn and setting another record. Higher customer footfall and continued investments in the store network supported growth: more than 100 additional branches were converted to the “Store Concept 3.0”, and seven new stores opened. Internationally, Jysk continued its expansion as well.

Hammer Raumstylisten: Schrems takes over as Managing Director

At the newly formed Hammer Raumstylisten, Rainer Schrems has taken over as Managing Director. He succeeds Carolin Neffe and Christoph Wackerbauer from the Brüder Schlau Group. Schrems also serves as Managing Director of Lenau Holding, the sole shareholder of Hammer Raumstylisten.

EUCA opts for continuity on the board

At its Annual General Meeting, the EUCA importers’ association confirmed its board for another term. Re-elected were Dr. Ali Ipektchi, Jens-Peter Höge, Ali Razavi, Djavid Mohammadi, Amir Tahbaz and Christoph Ziereis. Tobias Graebener did not stand for re-election.

Domotex reinvents itself

Domotex 2026 will present itself in a fundamentally new form from 19–22 January – and this particularly affects the segment of area rugs. With a registration level of over 90 % and the shift to a biennial cycle, the trade fair is repositioning itself strategically and placing a stronger focus on holistic interior finishing than ever before. In the official digital press conference, the product group of area rugs was not mentioned, and the current exhibitor list shows that rug suppliers will only be represented in a smaller area, concentrated in Hall 23.

@Hometex Winter: Key Buyers on Site

Expectations exceeded: That is the conclusion of @Hometex Winter, which opened its doors in Bad Salzuflen from 19–20 November. Alongside the traditional bedding segment, this year’s event once again placed a focus on area rugs as well as a versatile offering of fabrics and curtains. Despite the challenging market environment, around 900 trade visitors attended, including many key buyers for home textiles and rugs.