Double-U Tee Ef?!

It's not the Oscars.

I know that many of you are sad to see the passing of award's season. Most of us however are so far removed from the rarefied and ephemeral world of celebrity that we have never even considered, if only in the remotest sense, that we have any chance of winning an Emmy, or a Grammy, or an Oscar or a Tony, or like Tracy Jordan the much more elusive EGOT. In its stead we labour relentlessly to make great carpets with the ultimate prize being a satisfied client/customer and the close of a sale.

Of course it is true that both Domotex and ORIA (in conjunction with the much maligned by me AmericasMart) both present awards for "Best of...." and I myself have written about the best of something as well (notice the subtle shameless plug). These awards and distinctions honour what should be honoured; that is superior achievement. Like the Nobel Prize, but with less money, press coverage, and one could argue prestige. Dubious achievement is likewise rewarded by the Ignobel, and with that....

The Prize!

Ladies and Gentleman, Meine Damen und Herren, Mesdames et Messieurs (if you are reading this on NBC they edit out foreign language, just ask them about the Olympics) I am pleased to announce the creation of "The Ruggist's Award for Dubious Achievement in the Carpet Arts" also known more colloquially as "The Ghastly". As the name implies, the prize acknowledges and rewards the company or individual who has worked to improve the world of rugs through innovation (of any form) that is of an uncertain, unclear or questionable nature.

The inaugural winner will receive (should they choose to contact me to claim the prize) the meticulously crafted trophy consisting of something I've yet to create bearing "The Ruggist" logo and badge along with the inscription: "De gustibus non est disputandum" - roughly translated to "There is no disputing about tastes." or "There is no accounting for taste."

So without further adieu I present the err um "Carpet" that has won.

The Winner

'Barenjager (Bear Hunter)' by Lise Lefebvre (2009)

This was brought to my attention by my good friend who writes the blog Bacon Gravy. She first spotted it on Apartment Therapy. Some quick digging on the site reveals the object of distinction is an art piece created by Lise Lefebvre (2009) and entitled 'Barenjager (Bear Hunter)'. It is currently being offered by the 360see Gallery in Chicago. On the site you will also find that Ms. Lefebvre has previously created a similar piece from an old Dutch blanket. Unfortunately for her the Ghastly is only award for carpets and rugs.

Art for the sake of art.

I feel compelled to write an endless number of jokes about this piece, but then again in debating that I am also compelled to somehow justify this piece, and in the end that is exactly what it is: A piece. "Of what?" you may ask, and that is a very good question. It is a piece or work of art, and as that, it undoubtably succeeds. It causes us to think, to question, to comment and to be uncomfortable. It does what art is supposed to do. As a carpet (and how it is judged for "The Ghastly") it fails miserably and has thus succeeding in wining as it were.

Commentary.

I am not certain exactly how offensive this is as a carpet. How many bears are up in arms that the honour of their fallen brethren who grace innumerable cottage and cabin floors has now been disgraced? How many skilled artisan weavers are up in arms seeing the destruction of what was presumably an at least serviceable carpet? How many rug commentators are rambling on about something so trivial? Just like the Tootsie Roll Pop, the world may never know.

After seeing Barenjager I feel as though it is the morning after an all night bender with the sweet honey liquor of the same name. And while the pulsing nausea inducing headache is the same, I do not have joy of the memories of the drunken escapades, nor will a greasy breakfast help. No dear readers, it is not going to be that kind of day.

Could there be any other conclusion?

This is an epic failure as a carpet, but it does cause us to think about juxtaposition and how we can innovate our perhaps tired designs and techniques. How to take what we know and make it succeed by being relevant today. I strongly believe in combining the old with the new, but as with all things, it is in the execution. I cannot get the vision of an elegant madder red persian bear wondering the woods, being shot and turned into a floor covering, out of my head. The picture of that, as it is said, is worth a thousand words, and that particular picture tells you a thousand times over: "No!"

Fenestration. It's not just a fancy word for windows...

This just in!

Okay, technically this is not "just in", rather it came to me immediately on the heals of a previous housekeeping post full of announcements. Thus it was not included therein and so is now honoured with its own full attention post. Whoot!

Back Story

I've known the owners and staff of Interior Resources going back to January of 2006, and, as with most people I maintain contact with, I find them to be most hospitable, warm and friendly. They remind me of my former employer in Ohio, for whom, had fate not whisked me off to foreign lands, I would most likely still be working. When I'm in their Dallas, Texas, United States showroom, I always feel, in the Scandinavian way, warm and cozy.

I spent a week consulting with them last fall, and amongst a variety of topics was a discussion of their curb appeal. They had already decided to replace the former facade and so my opinion (about the windows) was more confirmatory in nature than anything else. In the photo below, you can see the now complete renovation.

Commentary

While we are not blessed with an Architectural Digestian "Before and After" photo spread, I will attempt to describe just how much better the new fenestration is over the old. The current plane of windows is at the front edge of the building, whereas the former windows were set back about eight to ten feet (8-10ft) from that edge. The wall (with open space instead of windows) can be seen between the rugs in the photo above. In place of the new glass was a series of false decorative columns. The result was a dimly lit and dark overhang that shaded the undersized windows and prevented any real display of merchandise to the external viewer. This was not ugly architecturally, and the curb appeal of the building was fine, but in short, it provided no merchandizing space for product, and thus potential clients driving past the building were left to wonder what exactly it was that Interior Resources sold.

By removing the former decorative columns and glass, adding ample lighting with new glass installed in line with the front of the building, the facade has been brilliantly transformed, and more importantly now showcases the product of Interior Resources. Driving by the building, especially at night, passing clients have no doubt what they can find within. It now says "We have beautiful (subject to your personal taste of course) rugs within" whereas the former said "business park".

Sidenote!

Shown in the windows are carpets and rugs from "The Jane Waggoner Collection", which is a line of self titled tibetan weave carpets designed by a local Dallas designer. Quoting the marketing literature...

"Jane's inspiration began while traveling to Barcelona last summer [2009]. The Moorish motifs of the spanish tiles she saw became her muse for custom rug designs. In collaboration with our art department at Interior Resources, rug patterns and colorways were created for the Jane Waggoner collection. We proudly represent the 100 knot Tibetan wool line exclusively in our showroom. Let Jane's rugs be the life of your client's room!"

Conclusion

To quote Mel Brooks (as I love to do): "Merchandising; where the real money from the movie is made." If people don't know what you do or what you sell, how do you expect them to buy from you?

"We're in a Fashion business!" is a line uttered by my former coworker Drew Carlson (now with Lapchi, by way of Asmara and The Rug Source in Denver), in response to the often utilitarian, bland, and grey wishes of our former employer. A "business park" aesthetic is fine if you're selling paper, but not if you're selling style. And while failure and success have many factors, I can assure you that with the exterior appearance of a sketchy office supply company, a certain unnamed now defunct rug retailer in southern Florida had more than an uphill battle getting customers through the door.

Retailers, in particular American Retailers understand this premise better than most. It's the reason Abercrombie and Fitch smells and looks the way it does, it's the reason a Subway restaurant has a distinctive smell, and it's why, to quote more or less (lots of quotes this time, eh?) the late Patrick Swayze in "Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar", "If you want them to know there is steak for dinner you have to let them hear it sizzle!".

Am I being over the top? Maybe, but I can assure you that merchandizing and the strong emotions accompanying it, are very powerful sales tools. Don't believe me? Ask yourself: "Why are their candy bars at the cash?", and: "Why is it that you get that warm cozy feeling when you catch a whiff of a rug showroom?"

Editorial Edition

This was added after the original post and comes courtesy of one of our readers (not anyone at Interior Resources either). The before!!