Your Industrial Park Neighbors: Carpets of New Zealand

Benicia Patch periodically profiles businesses in the Industrial Park. Following are excerpts from an interview with Malcolm Sims, vice president of operations at

How long has Carpets of New Zealand been in the Industrial Park?
We’ve been at this location since 1999. Our rug outlet store here offers great values to the public at 40 to 60 percent off.

What are the benefits of your Industrial Park location? 
This space allows us to focus on our wholesale business. We work with retailers across America. 

Which items are your most popular?
We offer high-end 100 percent wool carpets. Our most popular is typically a beige-colored wall-to-wall. In our outlet store, we  have rolls, short ends, seconds and area rugs, many designer patterns. We also have llama and cowhide.

How do you get the word out that you are in the Industrial Park?
We have advertised in the SF Chronicle. Now, most of our business is word-of-mouth. For example, wool carpets are known for durability; a father came in because he wanted to match a piece ( originally from his home) that he was giving to his daughter.

Many people don't think of carpet as a sustainable product. Can you tell me about that?
We are currently involved in a project with Nord Vineyards in Napa Valley called “Grass to Glass.” Since wool is a natural product —biodegradable — used carpet is laid face-down between the vines. It fertilizes the soil, provides a moisture barrier, weed blocker and prevents erosion. This used carpet would have ended up in a landfill.

Anything else you would like your Benicia neighbors to know?
Many of our carpets are unique, unusual, since we also serve the design market.