Harounian Receives AMC President’s Award
Harounian Rugs International chief executive officer David Harounian has received the coveted President’s Award, which is conferred at the sole discretion of the AmericasMart Atlanta president and chief operating officer as the highest honor bestowed upon an individual in recognition of supreme professional and personal accomplishment. The President’s Award was personally presented to Mr. Harounian January 16 on the stage of the 2012 America’s Magnificent Carpets Awards event by AmericasMart president and chief operating officer Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., who created and designed the Award, which is fabricated in crystal by the acclaimed Frabel Studio in Atlanta. Mr. Harounian was elected to receive the 2012 President’s Award in honor of his selfless service and leadership within the U.S. area rug industry, most notably evidenced by his tenure as the longest-serving president of the Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA). During his ORIA presidency and afterward, Harounian established for the benefit of the children of rug weavers some of the first schools and classes in the “rug belt” of India and in the rug-producing regions of Pakistan. The schools, which were developed in collaboration with Harounian’s brother Lee, and later supported by ORIA and AmericasMart parent AMC, Inc., created vital educational resources and advantages which otherwise would have been non-existent. “David’s mark on the area rug industry is indelible and without peer,” notes Portman. “His vision and leadership within ORIA, and across the rug community at large, set the standard for integrity, stability and business advancement, all of which continue today,” Portman adds. The AmericasMart President’s Award is highly selective and conferred only on occasions and in settings of extraordinary accomplishment. The 2012 President’s Award marks the third presentation from its inception in 2003. Previous recipients are Lucille J. Laufer, ORIA executive director, and Karl Goldberg, immediate past president of the AmericasMart Atlanta Home Furnishings and Gift Advisory...
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. 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....
RUG INDUSTRY VETERAN CHAS SYDNEY TO RETIRE
ATLANTA (July 21, 2011)—AMC veteran Chas Sydney, who has led the AmericasMart Atlanta area rug franchise and its predecessors for more than three decades, retires from his position as senior vice president today, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., president and chief operating officer of AmericasMart Atlanta and its AMC, Inc. parent entity. Sydney’s retirement coincides with the conclusion of the July 2011 Atlanta International Area Rug Market and Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and marks the completion of a successful 31-year tenure in which he led the area rug business through a succession of advances. “We were a very different company in 1980 when Chas first signed on. And we are a much better company today because of his incredible sales skills, his customer service commitment and his long, hard work over these last three decades,” notes Portman. “We would not be in the rug business today, let alone be the nation’s number-one area rug marketplace, if it were not for Chas Sydney,” Portman adds. “When you truly love what you do, how hard you work or how long you work doesn’t matter,” says Sydney. “What matters is what you’ve accomplished, the differences you’ve made and what you leave. I want to thank AMC and the Portman family for giving me the opportunity to do my best for many years. It’s been a great run.” Sydney leaves an area rug product center well positioned for continuing growth with more than more than 350,000 square feet of space on floors three through six in AmericasMart Building One. Kevin Malkiewicz, AMC’s newest vice president, assumes all Area Rug Center leasing and management responsibilities at Sydney’s departure. Mike Turnbull, AMC senior vice president for strategic relations, will continue in his role as area rug industry liaison with chief responsibility for sustaining the Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA)—AmericasMart Atlanta alliance. “Kevin has helped lead our area rug and home furnishings business for more than 12 years. He is well prepared for this role and will undoubtedly reinforce AmericasMart’s commitment to the Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA), the rug business at AMC and the continued unparalleled customer service to the area rug industry,” notes Sydney. Going forward, Sydney will work with AMC as consultant on a variety of initiatives. In his retirement, he will spend time with his family and pursue the projects and hobbies he now...
HGTV DESIGNER WADE OFFERS INSIGHTS AT JULY ATLANTA MARKET
ATLANTA (June 20, 2011) –- HGTV Craftsman and Designer Chip Wade helped designers and retailers attending the July 13—20 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and July 16—19 Atlanta International Area Rug Market gain fresh new perspectives on how area rugs can be used to inspire great designs and improve bottom lines. The world’s largest collection of area rugs played a starring role at Market and in Wade’s presentation to a large audience looking for design inspirations. Wade’s focus was on the whole-home design, with great rugs, furniture, accessories and linens coming together for one powerful statement. His presentation showcased product across the AmericasMart home furnishings merchandise mix, including the Area Rug Center, which houses 350,000 square feet of product from the most important names in the area rug business. Wade designed and decorated several rooms to illustrate the beauty and versatility of area rugs and how area rugs can set the entire design concept for a room. He escorted a large group of retailers and designers through AmericasMart showrooms to point out how AmericasMart has offers a wide variety of rug, furnishings and accents to meet any design...
LEGENDARY BAND FOREIGNER HEADLINES ICON HONORS 2011 CELEBRATION IN EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE CONCERT
ATLANTA (June 16, 2011) — AmericasMart Atlanta announced that FOREIGNER—with six multi-platinum albums driven by 16 Top-30 hits—will headline the 2011 ICON HONORS celebration in an exclusive private performance highlighting the event. The concert date is Thursday, July 14, 2011, at Marriott Marquis Atlanta in conjunction with the July 2011 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. More than 30 years after releasing its first platinum album, Foreigner’s music continues to resonate worldwide across generations. The band has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide featuring hits such as Feels Like The First Time, Cold As Ice, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Hot Blooded, Urgent, I Want to Know What Love Is and Juke Box Hero. The concert Venue will be ICON HONORS 2011, the most anticipated and important night in the home and gift industry—celebrating global innovation and the superior achievements of top retailers, manufacturers, sales agencies and service providers across the landscape. General-admission tickets are now available to all Market attendees for on-line purchase here:...
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