Lexmark Carpet History

Company History 

Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, Lexmark Carpet Mills, Inc is a leading manufacturer of carpets for the hospitality segment of the commercial market.
Founded in 1993, Lexmark supplies carpeting to both mid-tier and high-end hotels for use in public areas and guestrooms. Lexmark’s fully integrated manufacturing capabilities, state-of–the-art equipment and unsurpassed customer service have enabled Lexmark to rapidly gain market share. Lexmark was ranked as the 12th largest specified carpet manufacturer by Floor Focus magazine which includes the corporate, retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, and government segments within the specified commercial sector. Within the hospitality sector, Lexmark is the largest producer of guest room carpets.

Company Milestones 

1993- Lexmark was founded in September.

1994- Purchased first tufting machine.

1996- Purchased commission tufting operation and building on Callahan Road.

1997- Building addition and 3 twisters and 1 heat set tunnel.

1998- Purchased first Colortec machine for over $1MM( first such machine in the U.S.)

2001- Purchased first Neumag extrusion line.

2003- Purchased a commission twisting and heat set operation and building on Kraft Drive.

2004- Building addition on Kraft Drive and installation of second Neumag extrusion line.

2006- Building addition on Kraft Drive and installation of third Neumag extrusion line.

2008- Purchased two 1/10 ga. single end servo scroll tufting machines from Tuftco.

2009- Building addition on Kraft Drive that put all phases of manufacturing and corporate headquarters under one roof.

Vertical Integration

Lexmark’s integrated extrusion capabilities generate competitive advantages through significant cost savings, enhanced customization, and industry-leading delivery speed. Lexmark’s ability to produce its own yarn supply reduces the need to maintain large amounts of inventory and enables Lexmark to react quickly to produce yarns in custom and standard running line colors.

In house yarn extrusion, yarn processing, and tufting has lead to substantial cost saving which has been passed on to our customers through lower prices. The combination of service, styling, quality, and pricing has lead to Lexmark becoming a market leader in the hospitality carpet market.

The Lexmark Difference

Lexmark combines large company manufacturing capabilities with a small company focus on customer satisfaction. Lexmark has built the company on a foundation based on reliability and quality. We have long-standing relationships with a diverse customer base, in fact 9 out of our top 10 accounts have been with us for more than 7 years. Our team has vast experience in the hospitality industry and is always available to help our customers with any issues and offer solutions.

Lexmark has a very extensive standard running line product offering that allows our customers a wide selection of product.

The hospitality carpet market is design driven and custom products are a large portion of Lexmark’s sales. Customization can be a simple as changing color placement or as complex as interpreting a hand sketched design into a carpet pattern. Lexmark understands that custom products are a very important part of the business and we have committed ourselves to make the custom process as painless as possible. Our turn around time to produce a custom sample is 3-5 working days.

Lexmark recently launched a redesigned webpage and we have added a user friendly custom design section using technology developed by Tricycle. The Tricycle technology allows the designer to choose patterns, change colors and view the carpet in a virtual room setting. This design system will allow the customer to receive a simulated carpet strike off within 24-48 hours. 

National Programs

Lexmark has relationships with most major hotel brands and our products have been approved for virtually every brand. Some of the national programs that we have standardized room décor packages include

Choice Hotels

Best Western

Marriott

Wyndham

La Quinta through our FF&E supply companies

Stacy Garcia

Lexmark dominates the mid-level or limited service segment of the hospitality carpet market and felt that we need more exposure in the high end designer market. To gain more of the high end design driven market Lexmark signed a license agreement with Stacy Garcia.

Stacy is a well know designer in the hospitality industry that has a reputation for being on the leading edge of patterns and colorations. Lexmark produces a collection of Stacy Garcia Carpets that is aimed at the designer market. The collaboration with Stacy has given Lexmark exposure to Stacy’s high end designer base customers. We are expecting more designer/high end business as we expand our contacts, not only for the SG products but our Lexmark products as well.

Health Care

Lexmark has recently launched a Health Care division that will produce carpet that will target the assisted living / senior living market. The basic construction of the product is very similar to hospitality carpet and the preferred yarn is the same solution dyed nylon we currently produce and use in our hospitality products.

The demographics show that the assisted living/senior living will continue to grow as baby boomers reach retirement age and Lexmark is positioning itself to become a major supplier to this niche market.