July Atlanta Market A Major Success
ATLANTA (July 25, 2011) — The world’s largest collection of area rugs brought buyers and sellers together for new lines, designs, innovations and education at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, July 16-20, held in conjunction with the July 14-20 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.
Hand-made, machine-made and antique merchandise from the area rug industry’s most important and respected manufacturers and importers took center stage in Atlanta as exhibitors, retailers, designers and guest speakers explored the latest trends in area rugs, how to use them as a unifying design element and how to maximize profits. Highlighting the Market, and enriching the market experience for buyers and sellers alike, were these featured events:
- Mix-Amize Profits with Area Rugs offered much appreciated insights on pricing tactics and strategies to drive profits. Andy Fried, business consultant at Kennesaw State University, offered practical techniques and tools that focused on rugs but could apply to any product or service. Fried’s talk ensured that attendees will understand that pricing is a powerful profit force and will no longer underutilized and overlooked it. Fried is also a member of the family that founded G. Fried Carpet in 1889, which remains the largest carpet and rug dealer on Long Island.
- Demystifying Area Rugs featured a panel with four of the world’s biggest area rug manufacturers who, in a one-hour session, took the large crowd of designers and retailers through Rugs 101 all the way to a master’s course on the subject. Among the topics covered were terminology and pricing structures as well as how to know if a rug is handmade, if you are buying the right pieces, and if the price point is correct. The panelists were: Wendy Reiss of Kas Oriental Rugs, Inc.; Cameron Capel of Capel Rugs, Inc.; Monte Rathi of Kaleen, Inc.; Stephen Hoberman of Momeni, Inc.; Moderator was Jessie Danielle LaFalce, a consultant to the lifestyle industries and CEO of Vanguard School of Interior Design.
- Design Showcase Tour with Chip Wade led a group through Floors 3-6
showing how area rugs can set the tone for an entire design concept. The HGTV Craftsman and Designer took advantage of the world’s largest area rug collection to provide vital inspiration as well as personally decorating three rooms to illustrate his points.
Buyers were busy at July Atlanta Market.
The AmericasMart Atlanta Area Rug Center houses more than 350,000 square feet of product on four contiguous floors in AmericasMart Building One. The next Atlanta International Area Rug Market® Featuring the National Oriental Rug Show will take place Jan. 12 – Jan. 15, 2012, with Temporary Exhibits taking place Jan. 13 – Jan. 15.
