Kepple’s Carpet Inc., a family-owned company in Camden County, has filed for bankruptcy
The West Berlin flooring company filed for bankruptcy as the U.S. flooring industry faces rising costs.
Family-owned Kepple’s Carpet Inc., which has served the South Jersey region for more than 30 years, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The West Berlin-based company reported less than $50,000 in assets in its bankruptcy petition filed on July 22. The company could owe up to $500,000 in unsecured creditor claims, the filing shows.
Some of Kepple’s largest outstanding debts include $138,000 across three financing firms, more than $60,000 in state taxes, and over $50,000 owed to Comcast Business, the filing shows.
The company also owes its landlord $29,000 for their sprawling Cushman Avenue showroom featuring floor-to-ceiling carpet and flooring samples.
Chapter 11 allows the company to continue operating under court supervision while it restructures its finances and develops a plan to repay the debt over time.
Neither Kepple’s Carpet nor the company’s bankruptcy attorney returned multiple requests for comment. The large showroom was open for browsing Tuesday morning as signs indicated staff were away on a consultation.
Kepple’s filing comes as the American flooring industry grapples with inflation and tariffs.
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About 70 independent flooring retailers closed their doors in 2025, industry publication Floor Focus reports.
After tariffs were put in place early last year, prices of imported goods rose by about 6.2% relative to the levels predicted by pre-tariff trends, and domestic goods increased by 3.6% between March and October, according to research from the Harvard Business School Pricing Lab.
The price of carpets and other floor coverings increased the most of any industry, data showed, with prices surging by as much as 54.6% for imports.