FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25th 2005

Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company Awarded With 2005 Design Defined Honor At International Home & Housewares Show

CHICAGO (March 25, 2005) -- The International Housewares Association awarded Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company, formerly Home Plus America, with its inaugural Designed Defined honor at the recent 2005 International Homes & Housewares Show. In total, twenty-four companies were selected as honorees from a field of more than 300, with Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company the only floor covering company selected. The products were judged by a team of designers, experienced practitioners, and educators from the University of Illinois-Chicago's Interdisciplinary Product Development Program. "What we saw on the floor was a renewed enthusiasm for the promise of quality design in new product launches," said Steven Melamed, head of the UIC Interdisciplinary Product Development Program and Principal of Tres Design Group, a Chicago-based industrial design firm.

Products were evaluated on five standard design criteria:
• Innovation – How is the design new and unique?
• Aesthetics – How does the appearance enhance the product?
• User – How does the design solution benefit the user?
• Environment – How is the product ecologically responsible?
• Impact – How did or might the product impact the market and the company’s business?

"It is an honor to be recognized by the International Housewares Association," said Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company president, Darryl Gold. "Our customers have really responded to our Anji Mountain Bamboo Rugs since their introduction, and this award helps to validate that we have something pretty unique and special to offer here."

Available in both indoor and patent pending indoor-outdoor styles, in 18 sizes and over 40 patterns, with custom sizing available, Anji Mountain Bamboo Rugs are made from 100% Anji Mountain bamboo and are manufactured in the remote Anji Mountains of southeastern China. The Anji Mountains are home to the widest variety of bamboo species and are universally recognized as the source of the world’s finest bamboo products. Anji Mountain Bamboo Rugs are attractive and durable, easy to clean, ecologically friendly, and are a beautiful compliment to all types of existing flooring.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. is America’s leading source for fine quality natural fiber rugs, including bamboo, sisal and sea grass. Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. offers container programs as well as domestic warehouse programs, and with distribution facilities located in Plano, Illinois, thousands of units are available for immediate domestic shipment. For more information, contact Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. at 888.344.5004 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

EDITOR’S NOTE. Product images are available upon request.