Category Archives: Adam Blog

Adam Carpets are Winners at the International Carpet and Rug Awards 2017

Posted on April 10, 2017 by chris

Adam Carpets had a highly successful evening at the International Carpet and Rug Awards 2017.

The awards were held at Stamford Bridge in the evening of the first day of the Wool Floor Show London. The awards were introduced by Bridgette Kelly from the Campaign for Wool.

Adam Carpets were awarded Best Tufted Commercial Installation for our Avant Bespoke range which was fitted to Bloxwich Golf Club.

Commercial Manager Tony Cook received the award on behalf of the company. “We were delighted to receive this award” said Tony. “The Avant range continues to offer woven style designs at more competitive tufted prices. The fact that we have our own design studio and dyehouse on site enables us to react quickly and efficiently to all enquiries.”

There were a number of special awards during the evening and Adam Carpets were finalists in two other categories: British Wool Carpet Award for Castlemead Twist Platinum and Best Creative Marketing Award for Little Greene collaboration.

Commercial Manager Tony Cook accepts Award

Winning Installation

New Improved Wall Units Ready and Available

Posted on April 10, 2017 by chris

Our wall units have recently gone through a design upgrade. We have taken out hanging samples and replaced them with user friendly pattern books.

The units now also have a shelf which will carry information about the company and British Wool to give the customer a better understanding of Adam Carpets and British Wool. The units now are available in singles allowing more flexibility for our customers. They also come pre-assembled, so no assembly from our team is needed on site meaning less disruption for our customers in store.

The graphics and sample boards have been refreshed with updated colours and messages.

For more information on these new units, please contact your Sales Representative.

It’s Easy to Clean Adam Carpets with WoolSafe’s Stain Guide App

Posted on April 6, 2017 by chris

Steve Bakker

Global Marketing, The WoolSafe Organisation

There is a false perception amongst consumers that wool fibre carpets are problematic to maintain and that spot cleaning is difficult. There is a belief; especially amongst the older generation that once you have your wool carpet cleaned you will be caught in a cycle of cleaning/rapid soiling/re-cleaning.

Although this may have been true in the past it isn’t true any longer, well not if you use WoolSafe Approved Products. You see, all Approved products have undergone soiling tests and have been found not to cause soiling any quicker than plain water.

When it comes to removing spillages from wool carpet, the sooner the spot can be treated the better the chances of successful removal. In the last couple of weeks I have successfully removed half a pint of Guinness (which my 2 year old spilt) and a glass of red wine from a cream loop pile wool carpet with no specialist cleaning equipment, just kitchen roll and a WoolSafe Approved consumer spotter. The reason I was able to get the spillages completely out is because I know what to do, immediately. Unfortunately many carpet owners, retailers and manufacturers don’t. Do you?

It was to address this issue that we developed the WoolSafe Carpet Stain Cleaning Guide App. Always at hand and free to download it is hoped that this excellent tool will help you tackle spills quickly and save you hundreds of pounds in replacement costs while improving your perception of the easy clean properties of wool.

The App gives step by step, easy to follow advice on how to remove most common household spills. At the end of each piece of advice, if you are unsuccessful in removing the stain, you are directed to the search for a WoolSafe Approved Carpet Cleaner.

Along with approved cleaning products WoolSafe Service Providers are also on the App with those nearest to your location displayed on a map with one touch to call, email or visit their website. It is hoped that the App will put you, the carpet owner with a cleaning need, together with WoolSafe Approved Service Providers that know how best to clean them… at the time you need them most!

Remember, no fibre is stain proof and that includes man-made fibres, although polypropylene is hydrophobic it doesn’t release oil based stains well at all. It is much easier to remove oily spots from wool fibre than synthetics.

Guest Blog – Tips to Getting Crayon and Other Nasty Stains out of Carpet

Posted on March 21, 2017 by chris

Our Guest Blog has been written by Tom Masters from California who specialises in cleaning carpets.

Wool is a tricky fabric to get stains removed from but with the right cleaning solutions, you can ensure that those tricky stains do not stay. Wool carpet is formed from a delicate type of fabric, so using the proper cleaning methods is essential when spills and accidents happen. Some products can break down the fibres in the carpet, which is what you’ll want to stay away from when trying to remove stains.

Wet Stain Tips

Wet stains may be easier to remove than dry ones. Use lukewarm water blotted up with a soft rag. If this does not work, a wool stain remover may do the trick. It is important to read the labels on the bottle prior to putting this on wool to ensure that it is made for wool stains and clean up.

If it is a deep red, such as wine or other deep colour then you’ll want to try to lift the stain away as soon as possible. These deep colours can soak into the fibres of the wool, causing the stain to stay with time. Once spilled, quickly do the above method to lift any of the stain as quickly as you can. This will give you the best chance of lifting the stain from the carpet and helping to ensure that the natural beauty of your carpet will stay intact.

Dry Stain Tips

Mix one teaspoon of wool detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar into a litre of warm water and mix thoroughly. Let this soak in the spot and then blot with a clean, soft rag.

Chilling the area with ice cubes in a bag before adding the mixture above can help increase the chances of lifting the stain from the carpet.

For stains from crayons, you need to move quickly to ensure the stain will be removed. First, place ice in a bag and gently press it to the area stained. This will help freeze the waxy residue so it won’t melt and make matters worse. Next, gently cover the area with a white cloth and grab your clothing iron. Set the iron to a warm, but not extremely hot temperature as hot temperatures can damage wool carpet, and gently apply pressure to the cloth covering the crayon. Wait a few seconds and lift the cloth to remove the wax. This may need to be done several times to get all the crayon out of the carpet. Once you can see no more wax, use a dry solvent to clean the area once more.

If using any type of detergent, always choose a clear detergent to go with or one like Dawn which has a good reputation for removing grease stains. Anything with dye or colour in it can further stain wool carpets. You want to remove the stains and not add to them when using a detergent mixture.

However, keep in mind that nothing is as effective as using a professional carpet cleaning company. If after exhausting all your options, you may find that not only is the stain still there but you’re unsure of what else to do next. You may want to contact a professional carpet cleaner to guarantee that these stains will be lifted safely. Visit https://www.contractorstoday.com/carpet-cleaners-near-me/ for more information.

Having a clean carpet in the home makes everyone happy. One of the best ways to reduce the amount of stains found on the carpet is to try and prevent them. Trying many solutions can help to reduce the stains that are harder to lift from wool carpets. Always use wool-safe detergents or natural methods to remove stains and prevent further damage to the wool fibres in the carpet.

New Castlemead Twist Photo Shoot

Posted on February 24, 2017 by chris

We are delighted to present our latest images from our most recent photo shoot. The stunning images of our Castlemead Twist range will be released over the next few weeks. These new colours are very important as they have been coordinated with paints from Little Greene and made with Platinum certificate yarn from British Wool.

We hope you like them.

Castlemead Twist CD123 Cool Grey

Castlemead Twist Receives its Platinum Status

Posted on December 5, 2016 by chris

Adam Carpets are extremely proud to have received the Platinum certificate from British Wool which guarantees that the wool content in the Castlemead Twist Plains is 100% British. Castlemead Twist is also the first 2-ply twist carpet to receive this award.

The certificate has been devised by British Wool as a way of establishing the true content of British Wool used in carpets. British Wool is one of the most respected fibres when it comes to making carpets, as it is durable and keeps its appearance for longer.

“This certificate and the process involved in getting it shows that we are committed to ensuring that only the best raw materials are used in our carpets” said Eamonn Prescott of Adam Carpets. “Our customers can sell to their customers with confidence that Castlemead Twist is one the best performing twist pile carpets on the market today.”

Castlemead Twist is Certified Platinum

Adam Carpets Join In Wool Week Celebrations at Wool BnB

Posted on October 12, 2016 by chris

Adam Carpets were delighted to be part of the centrepiece of this years Campaign for Wool ‘Wool Week’ celebrations. A house in the De Beauvoir area of London has been chosen to host a Wool Bed and Breakfast. The whole house has been transformed by renowned designer, Karina Garrick.

Here is the official press release by the Campaign for Wool:

To mark the #WoolWeek celebrations, The Campaign for Wool will be opening the doors to the first ever ‘Wool BnB’, where everything inside, from carpets to cardigans will be made of wool.

The BnB, located in Islington, London, will be welcoming guests to a cosy living room and snug entirely decorated with wool products.

A double bedroom will be fully equipped with luxury wool filled mattresses, pillows, duvets, cosy blankets and nightwear, bringing to the forefront the benefits of wool in aiding a good night’s sleep.

The woolly Study will immerse guests in a wealth of wool knowledge through a floor to ceiling World Wool Map whilst the craft room will give guests a first-hand experience in the joy of making with real sheep’s wool through workshops where you can learn how to knit, weave and create items for the home using this versatile fibre. Not forgetting a sheep’s natural environment, the Wool BnB’s very own Shepherds’ Hut – located in the garden where guests can sit and enjoy getting back to nature.

The Campaign for Wool brand partners will kit out the whole house including a wool-kin wardrobe showcasing iconic wool pieces from prestigious brands across luxury, fashion, interiors and craft. Under one roof, The Campaign for Wool will demonstrate how living with wool can be beneficial from head to toe, ceiling to floor and everything in between.

The ‘Wool BnB: Living with wool’, will launch officially for ‘Wool Week’, during which media and public are invited to visit the BnB to learn more about wool as a fibre and take part in workshop evenings, interactive talks, film screenings and a wool styling session by Karina Garrick who has directed, curated and styled the project. Woolly overnight stays will be available exclusively following Wool Week and we’ll be offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience living with wool first hand.

Here are some of the images we took on the preview evening on the 11th October.

Wool BnB

Our Pure Brit! carpet, part of the master bedroom

More Pure Brit on the lower stairs

and ewe too xx

GUEST POST – Care and Maintenance by Allfloors, Glasgow

Posted on October 6, 2016 by chris

Care and maintenance of carpets: The good, the bad and the ridiculously easy

Time and time again, customers approach me with the same question; ‘Are carpets really that difficult to keep clean?’ I’ve stopped trying to convince them with a rehearsed sales pitch, and have instead resorted to showing them pictures of my home. Despite the fact that I have 3 dogs and 4 young children running around, almost every room in the house is carpeted (and nowhere is ‘out of bounds’). Stranger still, the carpets are cream, and there are no stains or noticeable marks on them. Usually these pictures are enough to convince my customers that keeping carpets clean is a doddle, and that they have nothing to be scared of.

With so many different products and tools readily available for carpets, you no longer require professional assistance to keep your carpet safe from stains – if you act quickly. Even if you don’t have the latest gadgets at your disposal, most accidents can be dealt with using a cloth, warm water and a steady hand.

However, I won’t pretend that carpets will suit every household. If you like to practice weightlifting or fire breathing in your front room, then I’d suggest you look elsewhere. But for most of us, carpets are a perfectly suitable and surprisingly versatile flooring choice that can be cleaned and maintained very easily. I’ve outlined a few tips that homeowners can use to keep their carpet looking great, which you can read through below:

Product recommendations

Before you head to the shops and start filling your basket with every carpet cleaning product you find, you need to make sure that the products you’re choosing are actually suitable for the type of carpet that you have. For example, wool carpets will react completely differently to certain cleaning products compared to how synthetic fibre carpets will react. Choosing the wrong product won’t just mean it’ll be ineffective, it could actually end up damaging your carpet. But for the most part, it’s fairly straightforward to choose the correct products – just read the labels carefully.

Carpet shampoo is a must for anyone who wants to keep their carpet clean, but again you’ll need to ensure that you’re choosing the right type of shampoo for your carpet. As well as shampoo, grease remover is also a useful product to keep handy for removing spot stains, and is safe to use on most carpets.

Dealing with different types of stains

Although there are countless ways that your carpet could become stained, most of these stains can be handled with similar products and methods. In many cases, partially soaking a cloth in warm water and gently dabbing the affected area is the most effective method, but stubborn stains may require special products like shampoo or stain remover. However, regardless of what type of stain you’re dealing with, there are a few tips that can be applied in any scenario.

Firstly, always ensure that you avoid making the stain too wet. Many people think that this would make the stain easier to remove, but instead it simply gives the stain more chance to spread across the carpet. Another point to keep in mind is that you should dab the stain instead of rubbing it. Gentle dabbing is still effective, and won’t run the risk of spreading the stain further across the carpet or even possibly causing visible damage.

If you’ve dabbed the stain for a while and it’s still slightly visible, it’s fine to gently brush the stain in the direction of the pile, starting from the edges and brushing towards the centre. Personally, I use a toothbrush for this. Coffee, wine, juice and even urine can all be handled with a touch of diluted carpet shampoo and a good technique (and a good toothbrush!).

Important Points

We’ve ran through our best tips for keeping your carpets clean, but we’ll highlight the most important points here:

Avoid rubbing and making the carpet overly wet when cleaning. Many people seem to think that the harder you scrub, the easier the stain will be to remove, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

When gently brushing the remaining traces of the stain, always work from the edges of the stain towards the middle. This will help you to avoid spreading the stain further across the carpet.

Once the spill/stain has been dealt with, try to dry the area as quickly as you can. You could use paper towels for this purpose, or even a hairdryer if you’re feeling impatient (however avoid overheating the carpet as it could cause damage).

If you’ve followed all of our advice above and the stain/spillage is still clearly visible, contact professional cleaners immediately.

For more information about dealing with common types of spills and stains, take a look at our free carpet cleaning guide on our carpets page( http://allfloorsglasgow.co.uk/our-carpets/)

Hopefully this guide has helped to clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding the cleaning and maintenance of carpets. Don’t be afraid to have this incredibly versatile and attractive flooring option in your home!

Max Robinson works for Allfloors Glasgow (http://allfloorsglasgow.co.uk/our-carpets/), a carpet and flooring company based in Glasgow.

Fine Worcester Twist – The New Millennium Years

Posted on June 20, 2016 by chris

Tony Hardwick (former Sales Director) and Hilary Terry (former Designer) were very much involved in the expansion of Fine Worcester Twist during the years 2000-2008. Tony had joined Adam Carpets in 1995 from Georgian Carpets. He was due to take over from long standing Sales Director, Jim Bennett, who would take up a consultant style role in 1997. Hilary Terry started with Adam Carpets in 1983, following Jim Bennett from Quayles. They both remained with the company until their retirements in 2010 and 2014 respectively.

Q. Tony, you arrived at Adam Carpets in 1995, what were your initial thoughts of Fine Worcester Twist and when did you decide that the range needed more colours?

TH: I knew the reputation that Fine Worcester had developed for its quality. I came from Georgian where we had an awful lot of colours that we made to order. Given that Adam Carpets also had their own dye house, Jim and I felt that more colours was the obvious way to go. We introduced four in 1997 and it snowballed from there.

Q. By 1998, the range had double in size to 40. How much pressure did that put on stocks?

TH: I remember David Adam and I discussing the stock situation and at that time when we launched the new colours we kept 5m wide carpet in stock and made the 4m as orders came in. That doesn’t sound ideal, but the fact was we could turn the stock around very quickly.

Q. The new millennium came and another 12 colours were introduced. By now the range was at 47, was there an optimum number of colours you were working to?

TH: No, not really. We were actually being slowed down by the sizes of the tombola drums available! Initially Fine Worcester was on a single drum, every time we introduced new colours, new drums had to go with them. When we hit 50 colours, that was when we introduced the side stickers with the numbers.

Q. The range finally finished at 65 in 2002. That meant 45 colours had been added in just six years. What made the range stop at 65?

TH: That’s back to the drums again. The drum size was now so big, it was impractical for it to go any bigger. By now though the colourbank was so good, it really didn’t need any more additions in terms of numbers.

Q. The range grew so quickly, how were the new colours decided upon?

Hilary: Initially it would be Jim and I, latterly Tony also played a major role. I remember samples, trials, colours right across the showroom. We rejected far more than we ever put in.

Q. Some of the colours from the early 2000’s were very bright or stark. This was at a time when naturals were popular. What was the thinking behind these colours?

Hilary: Fine Worcester and Adam Carpets have never followed others. We always developed our own colours based on our research. We knew some of the colours such as Aubergine, would be short-term. We also thought that they would ‘liven up’ the range. That always worked as those were the colours retailers talked about.

Q. Could you sum up your thoughts about Fine Worcester Twist and its 25 years?

TH: I think its strength, other than colour, is that it doesn’t look like a twist. The yarn is so fine it has an almost velvet finish. That alone stands it out from the crowd.

Hilary: Fine Worcester was so easy to colour because of the quality of the yarn. It just takes any colour so well. It’s brilliant that it has been around for 25 years. It will go on for a lot longer yet.

Our thanks to Tony and Hilary for their time and insight into Fine Worcester. Next month we will have part 1 of a two part interview with current Sales Director, Eamonn Prescott, and current Designer, Kelly Butler and the research behind the latest ten colours and the hugely successful ‘Hugo & Ella’ marketing campaign.

Hilary Terry, the designer behind the most famous colourbank in the carpet industry. Pictured here with Tony Hardwick and Jim Bennett, both former Sales Directors at Jim’s retirement dinner.

Celebrating 25 Years of Fine Worcester Twist – Largest Single Installation

Posted on June 20, 2016 by chris

Our recent appearance at The Buying Group Show saw us unveil a large pop-up display all about Fine Worcester. One of the facts that was there was that the largest single installation of Fine Worcester Twist took place in 2006, when 2,996 sq/m was installed into the new Swedish Parliament building in Stockholm.

Some of you asked whether we had any images of the carpet in situ. We are happy to oblige.