Above: From left, Independent Carpet Company employees Liam O’Kelly, Simone De Cata, Lynda Baker, Lou De Cata, Kay Hughes and Paul Gardner.By Shaun Inguanzo
A DANDENONG carpet manufacturer is fending off the threat of cheap imported products by opening a direct to public factory outlet.
The Independent Carpet Company has manufactured carpet in Hammond Road for the past 30 years.
But sales manager Paul Gardner said local retailers had begun buying cheaper, imported carpets instead of locally made products to save on costs.
That trend, he said, meant retailers eager to increase their profits often overlooked the products from the Independent Carpet Company.
Mr Gardner said imported carpets were inferior to the quality woollen carpets his company made.
However, he said imports posed a threat to the budget range of carpets made from cheaper materials.
But the Independent Carpet Company is determined not to roll up its operations and admit defeat.
Owner and founder Lou De Cata said his company had just built a modern warehouse adjoining the property from which it planned to sell its carpets direct to the public.
“The problem is (retailers) aren’t selling the cheaper carpets at a lesser price,” Mr De Cata said.
“They’re selling them at a price as if they are locally made.”
As a price comparison, Mr De Cata said an imported product could cost a retailer about a third of the price of a local product.
Mr Gardner said the direct to public outlet would allow Independent Carpet Company to continue manufacturing its range but sell it directly to customers at prices that would match those of imported products at carpet retail stores.
“The lack of support from retailers has left us with no option,” he said. “We are going to go direct to the public and pass on the cost savings of not having a middle man.”
Mr Gardner said the prices weren’t the only reason people should be interested in the new store.
He said the company’s carpet and interior decorating experts – some with two decades of industry experience – would be able to give immediate advice to customers as added value to their carpet purchase.
The company has six carpet manufacturing machines, and can also make custom carpet designs.
Mr Gardner said the grand opening of the Independent Carpet Company store will take place at its 455 Hammond Road, Dandenong, site in early October.
But he said people were welcome to visit the existing showroom before that time.
