HIGH POINT, N.C. — When designer Whitney Atkinson founded her weighted rug company, Wugs, she had big plans for expansion. Created as a solution to outdoor rugs that blew away or curled up in windy conditions, Wugs quickly grew to include two other product lines—Willows weighted pillows and Woufs weighted poufs.
Though she had plenty of great ideas, Atkinson didn’t have the distribution and marketing network that a larger, more established company could provide. But earlier this year, Atkinson joined forces with venerable outdoor furnishings maker Telescope Casual, who became the accessory brand’s exclusive distributor.
We recently caught up with Atkinson to find out why Telescope was the right fit for her company and what’s next for the brand.
CNN: What made Telescope Casual the right partner for Wugs?
WA: The decision became clear the moment I walked into Telescope Casual Furniture’s showroom. There was an energy there—warm, intentional, family-oriented—that set them apart from any other potential partner. Getting to know their management and sales team only confirmed what I felt walking through the door. I felt like I had known them for years, and from the very first conversation, I felt completely at home. What sealed it completely was the moment they included my family in our partnership contract signing. That gesture said everything and meant the world to me.
CNN: How has working with their team helped you expand your business?
WA: As a small business, my reach only goes so far. Telescope Casual Furniture brings more than 120 years in the industry and a seasoned, nationwide sales team that opens doors I simply couldn’t open on my own. I can’t be everywhere at once, but they can. Having that kind of established presence and expertise behind Wugs means my products are being represented in rooms and conversations that would have taken me years to access independently. It also gives Wugs a level of recognition in the industry that would have taken years to achieve on my own. When you’re aligned with a name that has that kind of legacy and respect, people take notice, and that changes everything for a growing brand.
CNN: Why is having a presence at High Point Market so important for Wugs?
WA: Our products are made for designers, and High Point is the biggest stage in the world for that audience. There is no bigger platform to showcase what we do. If the design industry has a Super Bowl, this is it, and having a presence here means Wugs is in the room where it matters most. But this market is different. Instead of going from showroom to showroom hoping for a moment of someone’s time, I have a home with Telescope.
CNN: What can market attendees expect to see from Wugs, Willows and Woufs?
WA: Wugs offers the only engineered weighted outdoor rugs and pillows in the market. Our Willows weighted pillows are now available in more than 300 Sunbrella fabrics, so the design possibilities are virtually endless. And we’re especially excited to introduce our newest addition: Woufs weighted outdoor poufs. They’re the perfect finishing touch for any outdoor space, doubling as extra seating or a side table. They’re functional, beautiful and also come in more than 300 coordinating fabrics.
CNN: What’s next for the brand?
WA: Right now, we are fully stepping into this new chapter with Telescope Casual Furniture, and the momentum from that partnership alone is exciting. But we’re not stopping there. Wugs is continuing to grow our size offerings and develop additional weighted products that solve real outdoor living problems. The category we’re building is bigger than one product line.
The sky truly is the limit. Our products are a natural fit for designers, hospitality, commercial spaces, residential homeowners and Airbnb owners—anyone who wants to elevate their outdoor space with something functional and beautiful. My focus is on continuing to spread the Wugs name, expanding our reach, developing new products and staying open to whatever doors this journey unlocks next.
Wugs, Willows and Woufs will be on display at High Point Market in the Telescope Casual showroom, Showplace 1800. The showroom will host a celebration of the brand partnership on April 27, 5-7 p.m.
