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 WOOLS OF NEW ZEALAND SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS
RECEIVE A TRIP OF LIFETIME

Wools of New Zealand sweepstakes winners (left to right): Premier Partner Store Owner, Steve Lewis of Lewis Floor & Home, Chicago, IL; Premier Partner Wool Specialist, Brett Hemphill, Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets, Costa Mesa, CA; and agent, Dean Dodson, Folsom, CA.

MARIETTA, GA, February 3, 2011—As winners of a Wools of New Zealand sweepstakes, three lucky Wools of New Zealand partners—a Premier Partner store owner, Premier Partner Wool Specialist and a mill agent/sales representative—will travel to New Zealand for ten-day vacations in 2011.

"The sweepstakes contest was held in coordination with the launch of our Premier Partner program," says Hallie Cobb, Training and Marketing Director for Wools of New Zealand. "Our Premier Partners are an exclusive community of luxury leaders who are passionate about wool. We wanted to give them a chance to experience the wonders of New Zealand and to visit the farms where the wool is grown. It is an incredible opportunity that we are excited to share with the winners. Each will travel to New Zealand on different dates, but will get the opportunity to visit a sheep farm during their stay.”

Wools of New Zealand held three separate sweepstakes drawings. Premier Partner storeowners, whose entire sales staff completed the Wool College to become Wool Specialists, were entered into one drawing. Premier Partner "Wool Specialists" earned a sweepstakes entry for every 25 square yards of Wools of New Zealand brand carpet and rugs sold. Agents/Sales representatives that assisted with the Wools of New Zealand Premier Partner and Wool Benefit System program were also entered in a sweepstakes drawing.

Drawings were held on December 15. Winners were: Premier Partner Store Owner, Steve Lewis of Lewis Floor & Home, Chicago, IL; Premier Partner Wool Specialist, Brett Hemphill, Hemphills Rugs & Carpets, Costa Mesa, CA; Agent, Dean Dodson, Folsom, CA.

While working with and selling carpet and rugs branded by Wools of New Zealand has been rewarding in itself, the winners are excited to be planning trips to New Zealand. “I had all my salespeople do the on-line training after I did it, because I thought that the training was excellent and would be valuable. Never did I consider the trip component…but I am thrilled to be able to go to New Zealand, states Steve Lewis. “Over the past 15 years, our wool sales have exploded and represent almost 20 percent of our soft surface sales. Continuing education and the environmental component of the Wools of New Zealand program are very beneficial to our company. Wools of New Zealand represents the best wool manufacturers and I am looking forward to visiting some of the farms that supply the wool, which is made into carpet."

"I am thrilled to have won this drawing,” stresses Brett Hemphill. “Hemphill's Rugs & Carpets sold a lot of wool carpet during this past year and looks forward to offering our clients great wool carpet and rug selections in 2011. We appreciate the support that Wools of New Zealand has given, not to just us, but the floor covering industry as a whole."

“What a wonderful surprise! My wife, Janice, and I are very excited about winning the New Zealand Trip,” says Dean Dodson. “Wools of New Zealand makes it very easy to be excited…and I try to pass that enthusiasm on to all my customers. People like to feel good about what they do, and selling wool carpet and rugs has a feel good story. Wool is the best choice, both mentally, (it makes sense) and physically (it feels good). I believe this story is only going to get better!"

The sweepstakes followed the Wool for a Better World sales event held in November 2010 in which participating Mill Partners offered Premium Partner stores a minimum of 10 percent off wholesale prices for Wools of New Zealand brand products during the promotion. As a result of the Wool for a Better World Sales event, Wools of New Zealand donated $5,000 to Shear Joy, which enabled the donation of 42 sheep to needy families worldwide.

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Wools of New Zealand
PO Box 669273
Marietta, GA  30062
Contact: Elise Demboski
Executive Director, North America
770-649-7699
elise@woolcarpetnz.com