floor covering marketing group, and will be their exclusive dealer in Bermuda.

"We will be able to use the massive buying power of the Abbey chain to supply carpet and related products from all the major manufacturers at very realistic prices -- we will do for the carpet industry in Bermuda what True Value and Ace have done for hardware in Bermuda,'' said Reeves owner Mr. Peter Shrubb in a release.

Abbey Carpet has over 365 partnerships in the US and the Caribbean and has installed carpet in over two million households.

"They buy over $500 million worth of products a year and it is this volume of business that ensures Abbey and its partnerships receive rock bottom prices,'' he said.

Mr. Shrubb said the partnership arrangement should reduce costs "by "eliminating the middle man'' he said. Reeves, by being part of the Abbey buying group, can deal directly with most carpet manufacturers in the US. "We are very selective about the stores that join Abbey (and) Reeves Carpet is a perfect fit,'' said Mr. Jonathan Trivers, president of Abbey Carpet.

The franchise agreement between Reeves and Abbey was reached in August after the US company came to Bermuda in search of a partner to join the group. The partnership was completed for an undisclosed amount.

Reeves has also acquired new products like Bruce hardwood floors, a line of ceramic and marble tiles and a window treatment and fabrications line, to complement the existing carpet business.