After coming out of bankruptcy a few years ago, ABC Carpet & Home has improved the brand by combining the “integrity, soul, and legacy” of its past with new revisions.
Among the many steps the 127-year-old shop has made are growing its e-commerce business, updating popular categories, and focusing on growth.
Vice President of e-Commerce and Merchandising Suki LaBarre claims that ABC has been increasing its online presence over time. “E-commerce is essential to our entire merchandising strategy because it lets us replicate the magic of our in-store assortment ten times over and make it available to customers outside of New York City,” the spokesperson stated.
Weekly changes are made to the internet channel, which LaBarre described as “becoming a larger piece of the pie each quarter.” E-commerce accounted for about 10% of the company’s revenue last year. We are pacing at 15% this year and heading toward conventional 30%,” she noted, indicating that this is consistent with other multichannel businesses.
The retailer has invested in new technologies to support its online operations, including 3-D color and fabric renderings for upholstery, view-in-room capabilities, and quick-ship carpet customisation. There are now multiple large touchscreens in the 888 Broadway store to promote interaction between in-store and online buying.

Along with its success online, LaBarre said ABC’s sales were up 12% year-over-year in 2023 and are likely to expand by 12% to 15% this year, although no total sales figure was revealed. Brooklyn is home to ABC’s outlet store in addition to its flagship location.
According to LaBarre, the corporation is still figuring out how to strike a balance between its current image and its historical reputation. It is “testing different approaches and seeing what sticks.” Our selection is influenced by color, uniqueness, and a spirit of exploration. We want our customers to be inspired and feel like they are stumbling upon the perfect item that they can’t live without.”
ABC went back to its roots and concentrated more on the rug sector after being acquired by 888 Capital Partners in 2021 after going bankrupt, but that is also changing.
According to LaBarre, carpets account for around half of the area. She added, “Carpet and rugs have and will always play the most dominant role in our assortment.” It is the most robust and competitive collection we have. With regard to our unique rugs, no one else on the market can match our size, variety, quality, and accessibility.
Nevertheless, she claimed that house furnishings and décor “play a large and very important role in serving the customer and maintaining the vibrancy and magic of the brand.” “We have several exclusive furniture collections launching this year, both new and reintroductions for years past.”
For example, the business put 140 new furniture pieces—including modern, vintage, and outdoor pieces—online in July. Exclusive brands that ABC has introduced include Pooky, a UK-based company that sells lights and shades.
When it comes to the blend of brands and ABC’s own products, LaBarre noted, “it’s all in the mix.” Pointing to “elite brands” like Missoni and bedding brand Signoria Firenze, “cult classics” like tabletop brands Astier and Ginori, emerging ones like Pooky and ABC’s proprietary rugs and own-label Cobble Hill chairs, sofas, and beds, she said, “I believe all of it is required to keep the assortment interesting.” “Everything is required to create an inspiring lifestyle and shopping experience,” she stated.
The selection of products offered by ABC Carpet also includes bed and bath, cookware, presents, and dining pieces from the house-designed abcDNA collection. Additionally, the jewelry line is growing to include pieces from up-and-coming designers as well as traditional pieces.
ABC Carpet & Home used to occupy four levels, but currently it only occupies roughly 30,000 square feet on the main floor and lower level. Plans are in place to add 10,000 square feet when the mezzanine level is reopened.
The mezzanine is “being fashioned as a beautiful showroom to showcase our oversize and antique rug collections, an expanded bedding assortment, and the reintroduction of mattresses, even though it is still a work in progress,” LaBarre said. Additionally, it will serve as a design studio for commerce and interior design projects, as well as custom rug
LaBarre announced that ABC will work with Naturepedic on mattresses, emphasizing the company’s focus on creating designs for “health-conscious consumers” that include natural latex and certified organic cotton.
As for future plans, LaBarre said ABC hopes to grow its retail presence at some point — no date yet — by entering the Los Angeles and Miami markets. Regarding her target cities, she stated, “Miami and LA, like New York City, all share vibrant cultures, offering diverse art scenes, music, and cuisine that attract style-conscious consumers.”