The total Canadian market for carpets and rugs is estimated at over $4.5 billion in 2014. As residential construction and housing markets recover from the recession, floor covering stores have returned to positive growth projected at 2.4% over the next five years (2014-2019). Carpets and rugs represent half of business sales for the over 1,777 floor covering stores located across Canada. In addition to specialty stores, mass merchandisers and home improvement stores have aggressively entered this market, offering unprecedented product selection to Canadian consumers. While price competition has increased for computer-made carpets and rugs, opportunities also exist for high-end handmade carpets, with style preferences ranging from traditional to modern depending on the consumer. Canadian imports of carpets and rugs reached a five year high in 2013 at a total of $873 million. The United States represents a large portion of these imports, however many developing countries have reached top ten supplier status, including Egypt, Turkey and Nepal. Exporters must meet Canada’s strict regulations for flammability and may be eligible for certification by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus programme.