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FURNITURE FIRST SELECTS SURYA AS VENDOR OF THE YEAR FOR ACCENTS & ACCESSORIES 6.04.15

Surya has been named Vendor of the Year in the accents and accessories category by Furniture First National Buying Group, a purchasing cooperative comprised of locally-owned retail furniture dealers from across the United States.

The award, which recognizes vendor performance during the past year in several key areas, including service and quality, was presented to Surya during Furniture First’s Symposium held in Nashville earlier this week. Surya was chosen for the award based upon the strength of Furniture First member evaluations and a popular vote.

“We are honored that the members of Furniture First have recognized us with this important distinction,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “At Surya, we are committed to understanding and addressing the needs of independent furniture retailers and their customers to help provide an exceptional home accessories shopping experience. This award is a testament that we are doing the right things in the right ways and we look forward to building upon this valuable partnership moving forward.”

The Vendor of the Year awards were established to highlight quality relationships among the cooperative’s members and suppliers. Furniture First’s 217 members represent 462 retail locations in 47 states and collectively generate $1.7 billion in annual retail sales.

About Furniture First
Founded in 1984 by a small group of independent furniture retailers, Furniture First is a purchasing cooperative made up of locally-owned retail furniture dealers from across the United States. The cooperative works together to leverage purchasing power with leading furniture manufacturers to bring high quality home furnishings at great value to members’ communities. For more information, visit www.furniturefirst.coop.
 

SURYA SELECTED FOR GEORGIA FAST 40 5.19.15

Surya has been named to the 2015 Georgia Fast 40 by ACG Atlanta, the Atlanta Chapter of The Association for Corporate Growth® (ACG), a global professional organization focused on middle-market growth, mergers and acquisitions, and private investment.

Each year, ACG Atlanta honors the top 40 fastest growing middle-market companies in Georgia. To be eligible for the award, companies must be for profit and headquartered in Georgia; have recent year-end revenues ranging from $15 million to $500 million; and demonstrate three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth.

Surya’s incremental expansion into multiple home accessory categories paired with significant investment in marketing and technology tools, extensive inventory and one of the fastest fulfillment rates in the industry, have been instrumental in the company’s year-over-year double digit revenue growth. Surya also continues to attract strong talent to its ranks, adding 100 jobs from 2012 to 2014, doubling its employee head count.

To take advantage of manufacturing efficiencies and provide its customers with shorter lead times, Surya has set a goal of producing 25 percent of its products domestically by 2016. In support of this goal, the company recently introduced a made-to-order rug program based out of its Calhoun location that guarantees shipment of rugs in any size and shape within three weeks, and a U.S.-based made-to-order art program that provides more than 800,000 possible artwork configurations.

“Finding ways to solve our retailer and designer customers’ business challenges has always been our top priority and what drives us to excellence,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “Every day, the Surya team works with one goal in mind: to bring to market innovative new products and solutions that will help our customers effectively compete in the market and build the most successful home accessories business possible. It’s simple, but it works. I would like to thank ACG Atlanta for this important recognition and our customers for their continued support and loyalty.”

The Georgia Fast 40 award is one of several recent honors that Surya has received. Earlier this year, the company was named for the fourth consecutive year to the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing privately-held companies, and Satya Tiwari has been selected as a Southeast region finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award for the second year running.

In 2015, Surya will open a one million square foot state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and distribution center in Cartersville, Ga.—providing a new home for its 300+ employees and bringing an estimated 200 new jobs to the region.

To see the full list of ACG Georgia Fast 40 honorees, visit: www.acg.org/atlanta/acgatlantafast40.aspx.

About ACG Atlanta
ACG Atlanta is the ultimate resource for professionals driving mergers and acquisitions. With more than 700 members and 25+ events per year, ACG brings together the deal-making community, with more than 85% of its members reporting they have done business with fellow members. This results in real returns on investment for middle-market business leaders focused on building companies. Private equity professionals, investment bankers & intermediaries, attorneys, auditors & accountants, lenders, corporate development officers and company leaders make ACG the resource for opportunities, capital and services. To learn more visit www.acg.org/atlanta.
 

SURYA’S SATYA TIWARI NAMED EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR® 2015 FINALIST 5.06.15

Surya President Satya Tiwari has been selected as a finalist in the Family Business Category for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 Award in the Southeast region. This marks the second consecutive year that he has been recognized with this prestigious honor.

Finalists were evaluated and selected by an independent panel of judges based on their business vision, financial performance, demonstrated leadership in driving innovation and commitment to social responsibility.

Under Satya’s direction, Surya has grown organically from $2.7M in sales in 2004 to $100M during the most recent fiscal year and has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing privately held companies for four years running. In late 2015, Surya will open a one-million-square-foot state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and distribution center – bringing an additional 200 jobs to the North Georgia region.

“When my father, Surya Tiwari, started Surya in 1976, he had a vision to not only provide consumers with beautifully hand-crafted rugs but also to always put his customers first,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “When I joined Surya, I was excited by the challenge of taking the company to the next level. Like my father, I knew that the key was to really listen to customers’ pain points and then find creative ways to help them succeed.”

Since assuming the role of company president in 2004, Satya has systematically extended the Surya line across multiple product categories, quickly bringing to market the latest and most relevant designs backed by substantial inventory. Today, Surya has one of the fastest fulfillment rates in the industry and ships to more than 19,000 U.S. zip codes and 50 countries. Satya continues to invest heavily in marketing, technology and innovative new merchandising programs, all with the goal of providing best-in-class service and solutions that make it possible for independent furniture retailers and designers to compete effectively in the home accessories market.

Added Tiwari, “As consumers become more design savvy and more companies enter the home accessories space, it has become increasingly important for our customers to find ways to differentiate themselves. We will continue to push the envelope to give them all of the tools needed to build a successful home accessories business. It is an honor to be named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of the Year Award and I share this recognition with our customers as well as with the entire Surya team.”

Winners from the Southeast region, which encompasses Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, will be announced at a black-tie awards gala on Wednesday, June 24 at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will be selected from the pool of regional winners and announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Desert, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2015.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.ey.com/US/en/About-us/.
 

SURYA STANDS WITH NEPAL – DONATES $20K TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 4.30.15

Surya has made a donation of $20,000 to the American Red Cross in support of the organization’s relief efforts in Nepal in the wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country last week. Donations were collected from Surya employees and sales reps and matched by Surya.

An estimated eight million people in Nepal have been impacted by the earthquake, with more than 5,500 reported fatalities to date and thousands of families still living out in the open due to loss of their homes or fear of additional damage.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Nepal as they work to rebuild their communities after this devastating event,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “We can only imagine the challenges and uncertainty that lie ahead and wanted to reach out in some small way to help those affected begin the road to recovery. We hope that our customers and vendor partners will also consider donating or helping in any way that they can.”

The American Red Cross has committed $1,000,000 to help provide emergency humanitarian assistance in Nepal and is mobilizing disaster specialists as part of a larger global Red Cross relief response being led by the Nepal Red Cross. In addition to providing recovery planning and telecommunications support, the American Red Cross is lending remote mapping and information management support to help reconnect separated families. Supplies, including non-food items such as tarps, buckets, kitchen sets and blankets, are also being sent to Nepal.

While Surya doesn’t employ weavers in Nepal, the company employs several Nepalese citizens in its Calhoun, Ga., offices. “We are very thankful to Surya and our fellow employees, as well as the Surya sales reps, for their kind generosity,” said Sunil Gurung, staff accountant, Surya. “It means a lot to us and, more importantly, to the millions of people in Nepal who have had their lives forever changed by this unexpected event.”

To find out more about American Red Cross relief efforts in Nepal and to donate, visit http://rdcrss.org/1z2PY5L.

To learn more about Surya’s commitment to social responsibility, visit www.surya.com/social-responsibility.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, visit www.redcross.org.
 

SURYA BRINGS “ART TO LIFE” WITH INNOVATIVE ART MERCHANDISING PROGRAM 4.17.15

Surya is showcasing at High Point Market a progressive new merchandising solution that will help retailers enter the art category with minimal cost and space requirements, as well as grow art sales. The first of its kind solution supports Surya’s recently launched Made to Order Art Program, which enables designers and consumers to choose from 9,000+ curated images in a wide variety of subjects and styles and then specify the medium and frame type to create tailor-made art for shipment within 5 to 7 days.

Recognizing that the art category traditionally has been difficult to shop and that most retail locations have limited floor space, Surya turned to technology to develop a solution that is easy to set up and enables consumers to view artwork in a variety of configurations within a small footprint area. The result was the Art Gallery Merchandising Program, an interactive retail solution that offers several versatile options, including:
 

• Art Gallery Set – Consists of 10 individual artwork pieces featuring the same image printed on all available materials for placement on a retail wall wherever space is available.
• Wall Display – Showcases 6 to 10 different pieces of artwork printed on a variety of materials and in different orientations. Available in four sizes – ranging from 8 to 20 feet in width – and includes a choice of curated packages, including Contemporary, Transitional, Coastal and a Combination package that features a mix of artwork styles.
• Art Gallery Panel – Features two vertical panels that display a single image printed on multiple substrates – including canvas, paper, acrylic, metal and wood – along with several popular framing options. Can be used standalone or to augment the medium, large and extra large wall displays.

SURYA TO ANNOUNCE WINNER OF SURYA REWARDS INDIA TRIP AT SPRING MARKET CELEBRATION 4.15.15

Surya will announce at its showroom celebration on Sunday, April 19, the winner of two round-trip air tickets to India plus a three-night stay in Varanasi and tour of the factory where many Surya products are handcrafted by artisans using centuries old techniques. Surya customers who were enrolled in the Surya Rewards program during the most recent award year (April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015) and reached the Gold, Platinum or Diamond reward level are automatically entered to win.

Now in its second year, the Surya Rewards program enables customers to earn points for all Surya purchases. Available reward currencies include Surya Points, which are redeemable for Surya products, as well as other popular currencies such as airline miles, hotel points and gift card points.

Customers can also elect to donate a portion of their awards to Akshaya Patra, the world’s largest NGO-run school lunch program and an organization that Surya actively supports. During the past year, a number of Surya customers donated rewards to Akshaya Patra – providing 700 school children living in rural Indian villages with a daily nutritious lunch for an entire year.

“As we celebrate the one year anniversary of Surya Rewards, we are thrilled that so many customers are actively participating in the program,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “We truly appreciate our loyal customers and are glad to be able to offer a program with such a broad selection of reward options. We look forward to sending one lucky customer to India to witness the rug creation process firsthand.”

A randomly selected winner will be announced by Satya Tiwari at the commencement of Surya’s market celebration, which kicks off at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening in the brand’s flagship showroom at Showplace 4100.

To learn more about Surya Rewards, visit www.suryarewards.com.
 

SURYA RELEASES SPRING 2015 CATALOG 4.14.15

Surya's spring 2015 catalog is now available in print, online and ‘on the go’ via Surya’s free iPad® app. The 750+-page catalog showcases more than 7,000 coordinating home accessories – including rugs, pillows, throws, wall decor, accent furniture, lighting, decorative accents and bedding – and features a new section devoted to the brand’s made to order programs.

Highlighting Surya’s extensive range of customization options, the ‘made to order’ section includes the Made to Order Art Program, which offers over one million possible art work configurations, and the Cut and Sew Rug Program, which enables customers to specify a rug in any shape or size for shipment within three weeks. A selection of made to order poufs and pillows, all handcrafted in the USA, is also featured.

“We are constantly seeking ways to simplify the design process and enrich the customer experience,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “In this catalog, we wanted to emphasize not only our expansive product offering but also our growing customization options. With our new made to order programs, it’s possible to achieve almost any conceivable look within a living space – imagination is the only limit.”

Other noteworthy additions include a significantly enhanced bedding section that spotlights more than 50 new designs available across an array of aesthetics and price points. Artfully styled bedding shots include insets of product details for ease of viewing. The outdoor section has also been expanded to include recently introduced outdoor lighting, mirror and decorative accent categories, along with outdoor rugs, pillows and poufs in an assortment of colors, materials, styles and constructions.

To correspond with the release of the catalog, Surya has announced price reductions for a large selection of products across all categories, including 720+ rug designs, 650+ pillow designs and 220+ lamp options. These reductions are a direct result of increased operational efficiencies in Surya’s supply chain.

Added Tiwari, “Our operations team has been working very closely with our vendors to optimize costs, and we are excited to be able to pass along to our customers a number of price decreases across all of our home accessory categories while providing the same high quality products for which the Surya brand is known.”

The new catalog will be mailed to customers later this week and can be accessed digitally now at www.surya.com/ecatalog/. Market attendees can also pick up a copy of the catalog during High Point Market at the Surya showroom – Showplace 4100 – which will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Click here to access high res images of the catalog.
 

SURYA TO LAUNCH RUG DESIGNS BY ABSTRACT PAINTER ROBERT LANGFORD AT HIGH POINT MARKET 4.09.15

Surya has collaborated with North Carolina-based abstract artist Robert Langford to create a vibrant new collection of hand-knotted wool rugs. Based on Langford’s fluid and expressive painting style, the dynamic designs explore color, movement and composition – and are intended to infuse living spaces with a sense of spontaneity and possibility.

Nature and its evolving stages are a focus for Langford, who transitioned from an early career in commercial real estate to become a painter full time in 2000. His rug designs for Surya reflect the boundless energy, fluidity of form and constant shifting inherent in the natural world.

“I believe that art is discovery, both for the artist and for the person who experiences it,” said Robert Langford, artist. “In my designs, colors come together and move apart, finding shape and pattern in some places, only to challenge that order in others. I seek to create a powerful, visceral reaction in the viewer and like the idea that someone who has one of my rugs in their home will see and feel something new each time they encounter it.”

Equally at home in a residential or commercial setting, the collection, named Brought to Light, features six distinctive options in a mix of warm and cool palettes.

“We were drawn to Robert Langford’s evocative use of color and balance,” said Lynne Meredith, vice president of Product Development, Surya. “His flowing abstract paintings translate beautifully into high-end hand knots skillfully crafted by our Surya artisans. Each transformative design creates an exquisite art piece for the floor.” 

Added Langford, “Surya truly values originality in design, allowing artists to create pieces that are authentically their own. I am honored to have the chance to work alongside Surya’s product development team to interpret my work into rugs that will, hopefully, connect with something deeper within the viewer while also bringing art into the living space in an unexpected way.”

Market attendees are invited to view Langford’s rug collection at Surya’s flagship showroom – Showplace 4100 – which will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Surya is also hosting several educational and social events and will serve a complimentary catered breakfast and lunch each day, along with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails each evening. For a list of events, visit www.surya.com/market-events.

View the new introductions.

About Robert Langford
Carolinas-based artist Robert Langford has been fascinated by the concepts of color field, action and abstract impressionism for most of his adult life. His earliest impressions of color and texture come from his East Texas upbringing, where he learned to appreciate the beauty of wide-open landscapes. Though he spent his early career in commercial real estate, Langford continued to educate himself about art and transitioned to painting full time in 2000. He has an extensive list of group and solo exhibits across the country and has been featured at Pippin Contemporary in Santa Fe and at Alan Simmons Art + Design in Dallas, as well as at the Red Dot Art Fair in Manhattan’s Soho district and Red Dot Art Fair/Art Basel events in Miami. To learn more, visit www.robertlangfordstudio.com.
 

SURYA EXPANDS DWELLSTUDIO PARTNERSHIP WITH INTRODUCTION OF NEW RUG COLLECTIONS 4.07.15

Surya will unveil at High Point Market a selection of new rug offerings from design house DwellStudio. Building upon the success of the initial DwellStudio rug launch last October, the additions feature new hand-knotted and hand-woven options in a broader spectrum of colorways, including sophisticated neutrals and rich shades of blue and gray.

Comprised of DwellStudio’s signature mix of geometric, decorative and ethnic motifs, the latest designs include bold, graphic flatweaves, Moroccan inspired shags and luxe hand-knotted patterns that have been washed multiple times to make them soft and luxuriant. Highlights include:
 

• Lenox – An overscaled chevron motif in a mix of bold and delicate lines is paired with an elegantly understated palette, imbuing this Tibetan hand-knotted collection with an air of modern sophistication.

• Riad – Rustic, artisanal and richly textured describe this plush, hand-knotted shag collection featuring a global-inspired motif that has been partially “erased” for a look of lived-in comfort.
• Rivington – This dynamic collection of flatweave designs, which debuted last October, has been significantly expanded to include an array of distinctive graphic motifs with a very hip, energetic feel.
• Stanton – Hand-knotted of wool and cotton, this inspired collection artfully merges fresh geometric motifs and softly muted hues for a dimensional look that is at once classic and contemporary.