The Ruggist

Carpet Design Awards (CDA) 2012: The Ruggist Review

2012-02-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

Full Disclosure: I (Red Spruce that is) had a carpet in the shortlisted finals of the competition and that alone was the impetus for attending DOMOTEX 2012. Please keep that in mind as you read.

The CDA's featured 211 Carpets from twenty-six (26) counties entered in ten (10) categories competing in an anonymous selection process that produced the thirty (30) shortlisted finalists - three (3) in each category. It is worth adding that - for those who know rugs - it can only be somewhat anonymous as the signature and iconographic work of some of the entrants was sure to be recognized, but I digress. These thirty (30) finalists had their carpets displayed at the CDA stand in Hall 21 of DOMOTEX where the final judging and selection of the winner took place. We join the story already in progress at this point.

We arrived at DOMOTEX on the morning of Sunday, January 15, 2012 and were meeting the beautiful Raquel Diaz-Downey of COVER/HALI who had once again organized the competition this year. En route to the show my husband asked, "Do you know what she looks like?" to which I replied "No but she'll know who I am." I said this with a smidgen of arrogance, but to be fair COVER has been very kind in its coverage of Red Spruce (and I once wrote a piece for them) and I am sure my name/image is either lauded in their office or serves as the backdrop to their office dart board. In either case, we arrive and within moments Raquel said "Hi" and showed us in.

After a brief tour and explanation of the layout of the show, we bid Raquel good-bye and proceeded to the GoodWeave booth to briefly say hi and to drop our coats. Then it was off to the CDA stand!!

Oh I was in heaven. There was my beautiful carpet. One of thirty (30). I was and am proud. But The Ruggist was not (only) there to bask in the glory of this relative success, he was there to be The Ruggist. And as you've not doubt previously read I promised as a follow up to my review of DOMOTEX 2012, one of the prestigious Carpet Design Awards (CDA). And so as to not disappoint and without further adieu, I present said review:

Since the winners had yet to be announced I took the opportunity to walk the entire stand and write down what we shall call "The Ruggist's CDA Winner's List". Let's see how I compared to the expert judges on the panel, with some verbose comments of course. Oh! before I go on the official list can be found here.

Best Modern Design Superior
The Ruggist Selection: Quandak by Ali Mohammadi
The CDA Winner: Ruby Room by Jenny Jones by Jaipur

CDA Winner: Ruby Room

I was disappointed that the winner "Ruby Room" was so indicative of what passes for good carpet design in this day and age. Sure it is what the masses want to consume, but is it worthy of a design award? I am not convinced. Take some blob-like shapes, layer another unrelated design over top (in this case one that is highly derivative (derivative is my polite way of saying knock-off) of a Lapchi design by the name of "Beaded Curtain") and viola! you've got a new carpet design. **sigh

Best Modern Design Deluxe
The Ruggist Selection: Reflection Sky by Wool and Silk Rugs

The CDA Winner: Reflection Sky by Wool and Silk Rugs

The CDA Winner: Reflection Sky

I first saw the rugs of Wool and Silk at the NYICS in the 2010 or so I think and I've loved them every since. I love the hand of the mixed wool and silk (at the yarn stage). I also happen to think that this winning carpet is simply amazing! It deserved to win because it works on many levels. Not only is it beautiful from a purely aesthetic perspective, but once you know the name and actually see the reflection, the carpet takes on that much more meaning. Simply wonderful.

Jan Kath had also a "carpet" in this category that though ingenious in concept, was in my opinion miscategorized and should have been in the best collection category. In fact, according to Mr. Kath's own marketing, and I quote: "The original basic pattern that inspired this collection..." (emphasis added) His "carpet" was in fact a series of three (3) showing a tonal green and beige Bidgar design in three (3) iterations. The first was a full on Bidgar design. The second, showed the design fading into the beige field, while in the third the design had nearly completed faded into the beige field. How is it that three (3) carpets ended up in this category? Should not it have been in the Collection category? Moreover, if his intent is for us to rethink what it is to be a "carpet", then his comment to me that my carpets are "Too Intellectual" makes me the Noam Chompsky of the rug world.

The Bidjar Trilogy by Jan Kath

Best Traditional Nomadic Design Superior
The Ruggist Selection: Chelhaoui by Blanchete Tapis
The CDA Winner: Haleemi by Ali Mohammadi

Best Traditional Nomadic Design Deluxe
The Ruggist Selection: Noor by Werner Weber Zürich
The CDA Winner: Noor by Werner Weber Zürich

Best Traditional Workshop/Formal Design
The Ruggist Selection: The Better Future by Theo Keller GmbH
The CDA Winner: Cypress by Zollanvari AG

Best Old/Antique Carpet
The Ruggist Selection: Akhnif Kilim by Le Cadeau Berbère
The CDA Winner: Tekke Main Carpet by Foumani Persian Gallery

Best Collection Modern
The Ruggist Selection: Brick Collection by Knots Rugs
The CDA Winner: Jazz Collection by Nexus rugs

One of the Brick Collection

Did I mention I love Knots Rugs, specifically the people at Knots Rugs? Oh yes, in my last post...

Best Collection Traditional
The Ruggist Selection: Casablanca Collection by Reuber Henning
The CDA Winner: The Spanish Design Collection by Ariana Rugs Inc.

The Ruggist Selection: Casablanca Collection

I was glad to see the work of Franziska Reuber (nee Henning) recognized. It, I should also add, was great to see her and Birgit Krah again. Disclaimer: I once did a little work for Reuber Henning back in 2009/2010 and I've been a fan of their carpets since. Had I not been so overly distracted by Red Spruce and my previously mentioned depression, we might still be working together. Moving on though, she has great designs that I hope receive more attention outside of Europe. I mean you North America!

Best Innovation
The Ruggist Selection: Tagged by Jan Kath Design GmbH
The CDA Winner: Tagged by Jan Kath Design GmbH

CDA Winner: Tagged

When I saw this there was no doubt it was the winner and it is quite easy to see why the judges lauded so much praise and adoration on it calling it a "true game changer". Mr. Kath pushed the envelope by taking a wonderfully executed hand knotted carpet design and tufting text on it! That is he treated a finished carpet as the backing material for tufting. The Ruggist is in complete agreement that it is a game changer, however it is sad though that by this time next year every cheap schlocky rug company will be making knock-offs of this concept. In the extreme I envision something gross like a rug depicting the Eiffel Tower with tufted text over top reading: I love New York. (I know the Eiffel Tower is not in NYC. That is my point.) Yes, Mr. Kath truly is an innovator, it is just sad that the resulting product will be crapy "design", riding on the coattails of some real inspiration.

And finally!

Since you generally do not come here for safe commentary, allow me to digress, if only in an exaggerated, passionate, and slightly arrogant manner, (in other words: rant!) as I review the final (but actually first) category of the Carpet Design Awards. I saved this for last as it is the category in which I was entered. Shall we? Let's shall!

Best Studio Artist Design (New in 2012)
The Ruggist Selection: Sand Dollar by Red Spruce (Duh!)
CDA Winner: Prisons by Chevalier édition

The Ruggist's Selection: Sand Dollar

The CDA Winner: Prisons

Oh where to begin. Obviously I wanted to win, who doesn't and in all fairness to Chevalier édition I did say to several colleagues before the announcement of the winners that if I didn't win, I wanted "Prisons" to win, so I cannot be too upset. But...

Really? This is what passes as innovative design in a category specifically designed for small studio producers? Studio producers should, by definition offer more unique and less broadly accepted designs. They should be creative and push the envelope. They can be more than just a rug that will sell. They can be, and are, the rug world equivalent of couture and bespoke, without bastardizing and overextending the terms. They are and should be the avant garde, the vanguard, the artistic and the experimental. That being said, a brightly coloured geometric, wool and silk, cut and loop pile tibetan weave carpet was all of those things. It was innovative and cutting edge design, it was coulture, it was the best: in or around 1998.

*Ring *Ring "Hello?" Oh yeah, It's 2012 calling and they would like you to know that rug design has been there and done that.

"Prisons" won because it is bright and colourful and bight and colourful is having a resurgence of popularity in the broad interior design community (For that we can all be thankful; we all know of my disdain for beige), and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a judging fault. Critical acclaim and recognition should not be based on arbitrary and cyclical fashion whims. No! It should be based on other completely arbitrary and subjective criteria that reward the adventuresome, not the pedestrian.

I know for a fact that at least one of the expert panel of judges found "sand dollar" to be innovative. How do I know this without breaching some form of confidentiality you might ask? Because she said so herself in her own blog. Alix Perrachon (author of "The Decorative Carpet"), seasoned rug buying consultant, and rug expert said, and I quote: "While a minority, there were finalists from North America which take rug design to a new level. I could easily say that about the innovative “Sand Dollar,” an exquisitely designed and executed hooked rug hailing from Nova Scotia’s Red Spruce workshop and yes, it’s actually produced there." End quote as they say when reading aloud.

But alas, Ms. Perrachon's opinion (and that of another judge) was likely swayed (or more accurately as I've been told - outvoted) by the opinions of the other judges - that is, those with an eye more toward saleability and the broad design industry, not just the intellectual pursuits of what makes a great rug design.

In conclusion.

Make no mistake, I am a huge fan and supporter of the Carpet Design Awards, but just like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the awards presented by the CDA are swayed by public opinion, trends, fashion, and frankly: what is popular. Being a shortlisted finalist or a winner is a great honour and has opened up many opportunities for me (and Red Spruce) many of which are still likely untold, and for that I remain grateful.

Like many people though, I long for the day when art and creativity are rewarded on their own merits, not just because it is what the "market demands" or that because it is in the colour: Tangerine Tango.

As always, I appreciate your readership. Thank you and good-bye.

DOMOTEX 2012: The Ruggist Review

2012-02-04T13:00:00.003-04:00

EDIT: Please be advised that this post was changed from its original to correct an error. Thank you to one of my diligent readers for pointing out the error. My apologies go to Theko - whose carpets I erroneously initially attributed to Mischioff - for the oversight.

With apologies to Mr. Baz Luhrmann: Ladies and Gentleman of the known world of rugs (particularly those "non-western, non-white gentlemen" exhibiting at DOMOTEX in Hall 21 at Deutsche Messe): Quit Smoking! If I could offer you but one piece advice, "quit smoking" would be it. The long term benefits of not smoking have been proved by science, whereas the rest of this post has no basis more reliable than my own (very) meandering experience. I will dispense this opinion now. Enjoy!

The Trip!

I've been wanting to go to DOMOTEX for years. Years I say. But for years I've also been putting it off. Mostly because I had never been (trepidation) and, quite frankly, because Hannover (one of the least exciting German cities - let's face it, it is no Berlin) becomes outrageously expensive during the show. This year however proved to be the year to go, because (wait for it, wait for it, self serving plug ahead) one of my carpets (that is to say Red Spruce's Studio Carpets) was a shortlisted finalist in the Inaugural Year of the "Best Studio Artist" category of the Carpet Design Awards (CDA), which for those of you unaware are, to quote their own material, "the ultimate accolade worldwide for handmade carpets, confirming the stature of the winners and shortlisted companies as the leading edge of the rug industry." Or so we are to believe. Regardless of my reason for going really (and skipping past the CDA review as that is a future post) I attended the show, had an amazing time, and saw what - my dear colleagues in the United States who still attend NORS at Americasmart in Atlanta fail to see - is the future of rugs.

It has become somewhat of a tradition for me to award the "honour" of the lead review to a company that really made me stop and say wow, or who personally invited me to their booth, or who bribed me (I'm kidding), or as is most often the case one who had the "je ne sais quoi". That being said, the lead review goes to: (Imagine an envelope being opened) Creative Matters!!

Creative Matters

I've been following Creative Matters from a distance ever since I was first made aware of them when they joined GoodWeave in around 2008. I've marveled at their ability to produce a lot of good quality designs, maintain a great work ethos, and most recently, their willingness to tell some less than ethical elements of the rug world where to go when the later knocked off a Creative Matters design. Though the details of the settlement are confidential, we can assume they were favourable to Creative Matters. Score one for those fighting the good fight as is said. Anyway, I took this opportunity to finally introduce myself to the Creative Matters team and to see their designs for myself. This is how it went (mostly) when The Ruggist (TR) and his husband (NC) walked into the Creative Matters booth and started looking around:

TR to NC: Blah, Blah, Blah, this company is from Toronto. Pretty Designs, Etc, Blah.
NC to TR: Oh Toronto is so boring.
TR to NC: Oh I know it is, but they make some decent looking designs. Plus they just settled a copyright infringement lawsuit.
NC to TR: Oh?
TR to NC: Yea. Some cheap machine made company in Quebec I think was making a schlocky knock off of one of their designs, or so I am to gather.
AW (Woman whom I've never met walks over) to TR and NC: Hello.
TR and NC: Hello! We're just enjoying your beautiful rugs.
AW: Oh these are some of our designs from the "Art Day Collection".
TR: Oh I've been reading about those on facebook. (You too can follow Creative Matters on facebook)
AW: Hi. I'm Abigail (Williams)!
TR: Nice to meet you Abigail, I'm Michael.. (Interrupted by AW)
AW: Oh I know who you are.

And that ladies and gentlemen (who have quit smoking I hope) is how you get the lead review. Flatter the ego of The Ruggist! But I digress. As it turns out Abigail reads "The Ruggist" and well the rest is obvious.

Abigail went on to further explain the concept of the "Art Day Collection" and how it came to be. In short, the entire Creative Matters team gets together in the office several times and year and plays art class. These conceptual images may then go on to become designs in their own right, or might be the basis for a derivative work, or might live out of sight in a dusty binder waiting for the whims of style and fashion to make them desirable. In any event, I love the collaborative nature of this concept and the designs it produces. Overall, I find the colourations they were exhibiting to be a little "neutral" for my taste with a majority of designs highlighted in a colour they call platinum. Platinum however is thankfully not beige (more on this in a minute), and from my understanding of the Toronto market, it is also likely very well suited to their clientele.

Abigail also introduced us to Donna and Carol who are the Directors of Creative Matters (which is celebrating 25 Years in 2012 by the way) and whom I might also add are wonderfully passionate about their work. Creative Matters is a member of GoodWeave and Label STEP, and (with apologies to my friend who is subject to an imminent downgrade) are now my new best Canadian rug friends.

Label STEP

DOMOTEX for me was like the candy store for those kids who get turned loose in them. So much new to see and do and I wanted to take it all in. Another first was finally meeting Reto Aschwanden of Label STEP in person. And just like that aforementioned former best Canadian rug friend, the "swoon" I previously awarded to Jurgen Dahlmanns of RugStar has now been been awarded to Reto. Mr. Aschwanden was most hospitable when we visited his booth, treating us to a wonderful cup of coffee (It was fairly traded, we asked!), explaining Label STEP, and in general discussing the carpet industry.

My swoonful crush on Reto aside, I was really excited to learn more about Label STEP. I truly appreciate and fully agree with their efforts to ensure fair trade throughout the entire distribution chain of rugs and carpets. Equitable (and negotiated, not dictated) treatment for all! If the The Ruggist had a seal of approval and endoursement it would go to Label STEP.

Furthermore and barely related, Herr Ashwanden (for whom English is a second language and who is not as intimately aware of the North American rug industry as The Ruggist) made the following comment to me. To paraphrase: "When I first read your post on beige I did not understand why you went on and on about beige carpets. Then I went to the NYICS and now I understand."

Take that beige!!

GoodWeave

The Ruggist (Centre) and Others

I will not belabour the child-labour issue as you all know where I stand. But I will take a moment to publicly say thank you to my friends at GoodWeave who graciously held our coats during the show. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner out with existing (I cannot say old for various reasons) friends Nina Smith, and Scott Welker and new friend Afghanistan Country Director Fazel Wasit. We also enjoyed several cups of coffee at the GoodWeave booth. Who had better coffee? GoodWeave or Label STEP? Ha! The Ruggist isn't that foolish, but I will tell you it is spelled: S - A - H - A - R.

As always I wish both GoodWeave and Label STEP the best in their continued efforts.

Sahar

I walked into the Sahar pavilion (booth would be a bit of an understatement) and was warmly greeted by Behrouz Sarlak who welcomed us, offered us a seat, and had a staffer conjure up for us what was arguably the best cup of coffee we had at DOMOTEX. To be fair, it was espresso but it was hands down the winner. Before this becomes a blog post about coffee I will move on and say frankly would I expect nothing less from the team of Behrouz Sarlak and Haynes Robinson that has brought us some of the most beautiful carpets produced today.

I've known Haynes since around 2005/2006 and I've always enjoyed working with him. I believe he is one of the great designers producing carpets today. He is not just taking a seemingly random design and making it as a carpet. Rather he intimately understands construction and designs with that in mind. His carpets stand on their own and don't require explanation. They posses great balance of colour and have a supple hand. In short. A+

Mischioff

Our notice of Mischioff came early on day two when my husband and I were just arriving at the show as it opened. As it typical everyone was slowly warming up for the long day ahead. As we walked past the Mischioff booth we saw the following carpet and my heart fell in love.

This wins the "Coveted" Award (as in it is something I covet, not that people seek out this award) presented by The Ruggist. It is no secret I love tartans (plaids) and that I am kind of a pushover for classic designs and patterns, so it should come as no shock that this carpet speaks to me. Checks! Houndsthooth! Tartans! Deconstructed Plaids! And on top of it all, the design is rotated 45 degrees so that the straight lines run on the bias of the warp and weft. It's bright, it's colourful, it's playful and it says "I'm my own person for buying this." And that ladies and gentlemen (have you quit smoking?) is what great (timeless) design is about: self-expression.

I would like to thank Sascha Mischioff for taking the time to show us their rugs.

Theko

Theko was brought to my attention by the ever charming (and British!! - more on this in a bit) David Young of Cover, who pointed out the carpets displayed on the exterior of the Theko booth. The designs were your basic repeating geometrics and florals, but executed in a most interesting way. Constructed using alternating rows of loop and cut pile, the design was only knotted in the cut pile section. This broke up the design and gave it great visual depth. Upon close examination the design was not overly apparent, but as one moved further from the carpet, the overall design emerged. I thought/think this is a great combination of techniques.

Knots Rugs

Have you ever seen "Absolutely Fabulous"? I have, and if I had ever suspected the characters in that show were based on real people my suspicions would have been proven true when I met the two women behind Knots Rugs. With the admission that I find british accents mesmerizing, and with all kidding aside, the lovely Linny Moss and Bonnie Sutton were simply charming. Their rugs are equality as charming and exhibit a great deal of interplay between the designs. Elements from one design are taken and given an exaggerated scale leading to a new design. Though this is apparent when viewed and examined as a collection, individually the carpets still stand upon their own.

Forever Daisy from Knots Rugs

Shout Outs!

DOMOTEX, like ay other trade show, is not just about seeing new product. It is about seeing and being seen. Who's going to the show, and who's not. What is one dealer buying and why? You know: Gossip! I'd like to acknowledge the following people whom I saw at DOMOTEX:

Robin Gray of Robin Gray Design - It was great to see my dear friend Robin and I say thank you for generously allowing us to use the above photo from the GoodWeave booth.

The entire Interior Resources Family - There is nothing like running into friends while you're stuffing your face with a hot dog and beer at a trade show. (I was the one stuffing.)

Michael Pourvakil of Weavers Art - I ran into Michael just as he was grabbing lunch and he was, as always, looking sharp in his signature suit and tie. As Toronto's (and by extension perhaps Canada's) premier rug dealer he is seen at nearly every important rug show because, as his advertising says, "Michael knows rugs..."

Michael Mandapati of Warp and Weft - My apologies to my good and dear friend Michael. I ran into him literally minutes after seeing Mr. Pourvakil and I mistakingly call Mr. Mandapati Mr. Pourvakil. I am still mortified.

Bob Cadry of Cadry's - It is always a pleasure to see our friend from Oz and it was equally as nice to meet his son. I felt a little foolish complaining about being jet lagged to someone who just flew forty-elevety times further than I had, but what can I say.

Rug Star

He might be the current rock star (I am guessing this not so subtle play on words is quite intentional) of the the rug world, and I've been a fan of Jurgen Dahlmanns' designs and advertising for years, but I must say I was a bit disappointed by the inaccessibility of the Rug Star booth and the impervious velvet rope. Full disclosure: I once worked for a company that employed the "velvet rope" and at the time I found it novel and imparting of a certain air of exclusivity. Now in my later years I find it arrogant that any producer of unnecessary and luxury goods (lets face it, no one truly needs a rug) would - at a trade show - present barriers to sale.

It is worth noting however that in principle I do agree with the concept of barriers to sale when dealing with the great unwashed masses (to exaggerate the elitist point), but at a show where the attendees are "qualified" I say welcome them all.

Jan Kath

If Mr. Dahlmanns is the "rock star" of the industry, then Jan Kath is the golden boy. But if you want to know why that is, you'll need to read my next post: The CDA review.

After the CDA awards ceremony I stopped by to congratu..., err say "Hi" to Jan. (I don't want to give anything away.) We exchanged a few words about design and he offered that his bar was our bar. Had we not needed to rush off to dinner with friends, we would have stayed and had one too many! Jan Kath was presenting, as always, a wonderful array of carpets with great design. He really and truly understands designing fashionable carpets.

The Conclusion

For those like me who have, err had, never been to DOMOTEX I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attending this show. At the same time I should say that I may be attending NORS next year so that I can stay abreast of the goings on in Atlanta. But then again, I've kind of dug myself into a hole on that one and maybe I should just stay in it, but I digress.

DOMOTEX is of course not just handmade area rugs. It is hall after hall of everything floors and floorcovering, though for self apparent reasons I focused on handmade. I had the pleasure of meeting the Sales Director of FOXI (The rug underlay with the sexiest name around that is also French!) who as we were finishing our discussion in broken English (on his part) and broken French (on our part) asked what I consider to be the phrase that best sums up the rug industry: How many containers can I put you down for? Oh how I love the rug industry.

And finally ladies and gentlemen, a word of advice from my husband. If you simply cannot go without a smoke, might we suggest using a Camel Brand Smoking Lounge (We don't actually endourse smoking tobacco, it is gross). Otherwise we don't want your smokey carpets.

Actual Camel Brand Smoking Lounge at the Frankfurt Airport.

It has been a pleasure entertaining and informing you today. As our friends at Lufthansa say: Thank you and good-bye.

Merry Christmas! Please don't trip and fall...

2011-12-19T08:00:00.003-04:00

Gloria Gaynor's disco hit "I will survive" has always been somewhat of an anthem for me and my people (and by my people I mean gay men, not coked up club goers from 1978). Within its easy to dance to beat and karaoke prime lyrics I've taken solace many a time when the world has, at least in my own mind, conspired against me, as it once again did this summer. People (and by people I mean society at large not the Soylent Green kind) generally avoid discussing the topic of depression, and I myself would rather it not exist. But it does, and I battle it, and like the Baz Luhrmann song "Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind, the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself." So as it seems as though I'm ahead at the moment, I'd like to announce that, just like the antagonist of Ms. Gaynor's day: I'm back from outerspace. Now for the sake of things more interesting and rug related, let us hope the guests at the "Christmas Party" about which I am going to tell you "will survive" as well.

The Backstory

Fred Connors is what we around here (and be we around here I mean Haligonians, not rug blog writers) like to call "Halifamous". He runs a very successful salon and cafe - FRED (which should be praised for its pioneering gentrification of a neglected area of town that is now quite desirable), he has been on Canadian television as a life coach, and for those of you who wish to add a little urbane quality to him, he is a proponent of urban chicken coops - in defiance of the no so brilliant "leadership" of the fair City of Halifax. He is well known and whether you care for him personally or otherwise he is successful and has done good things for himself and the city.

Deb Nelson is a recent transplant to Halifax from Toronto who opened up a wonderful shop in the North End of town (not too far from FRED I might add). The eponymous "Nelson and Co." shop features a well curated collection of household tchotchke for those with more discerning tastes. She is a well known interior designer in her own right and is a regular guest on "Steven and Chris" the gayest design show in all of the land ever since Christopher Lowell went off air. I like her quite a bit and we share a commonality of both having been featured in "Canadian House and Home" this year. So enough of who the players are. Now for the rug part!

Welcome to my Christmas Party, please don't trip and fall and sue us.

Mister Connors published a broadsheet style Holiday/Christmas guide this year that is, to quote an anonymous friend of mine, "All Fred, all the time!!" It is full of gratuitous photographs of Mister Conners (as it should be), useful holiday tips, and (also as expected) it is full of product placements from companies and vendors he is presumably chummy with such as the aforementioned Nelson and Co. One such product is a rug, as can be seen below in this scanned image from his guide. See if you can find what is wrong in the photo.

Can you still not find what is "wrong"? What if I give you a clue and say it is dangerous!! Better yet I will circle it in bright yellow (for caution)!

There it is! A tasteful runner (from Nelson and Co.) welcoming guests (as Mister Connors suggests) to your festive Holiday/Christmas party, Now I have no problem with temporarily using a rug out of doors to welcome guests, in fact I love the idea as it reminds me of the good old days of the British Empire. I imagine a servant putting out the rug(s) in advance of a lavish weekend hunting party (think Gosford Park), but I digress. The problem is..... Execution.

Execution!

Execution as in "the way things are done" not as in "killing somone" though with the way this runner is loosely and flippantly placed up those steps Mister Connors fails on execution but may succeed in executing some guests. Any runner placed on stairs needs to be fully secured as to not become a tripping hazard. Everyone looking at this photo can tell this was not done and since he is illustrating the concept to presumably not as well informed about rugs as myself (or him for that matter) readers, more caution should be taken so that, wait for it, guests survive your party (or even get in to it for that matter).

Conclusion!

Great Idea, not so great execution (or was it, dum dum dum). This is what happens when you get tips or buy a rug from non-rug people!

Happy Holidays

I'd like to wish all of you my diligent readers a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you may (or may not) celebrate and I look forward to writing more in the New Year. As always, thank you for reading!

Welcome back from a long weekend...

2011-07-04T19:11:00.003-03:00

What a glorious long weekend! I was most fortunate this year, due in no small part to my expat dual American-Canadian status, to be able to enjoy what was essentially the perfect storm of holidays and have a four day holiday weekend. Friday was Canada Day; and Monday was of course Independence Day, both days oddly celebrating the "breaking away" of two countries from the United Kingdom, but each in a profoundly different way. But I digress. The weather was perfect, the food was perfect, the company was perfect. Who could ask for anything more? Toyota!

Those of you who have read "The Ruggist" for any length of time know I am prone to random thoughts, not at all dissimilar to the "Toyota" comment above. Many of you may even suspect me of drinking or being drunk while writing this blog, and while I emphatically deny the later, I have "no official comment" on the former. In fact it is under the influence of some very tasty local craft brewed beer, that the origin of this post began.

Picture it: 2011, Halifax (Dartmouth), Nova Scotia, 00:45 on Saturday, July 2. In the waning hours of Canada day celebrations my husband receives an email and, for whatever reason, begins to read it to me in its entirety. Roughly three-quarters of the way through I get an idea - one which seemed hilarious at the time - to turn this spam email, into a blog post. He thought better judgement would prevail, alas, it has not. So, to welcome you back to the work week I give you the following spam email. I've edited it slightly so that you can fill in the blank (a la madlibs!) with the name of your favourite rug company; the end result of which should be the best rug sales pitch you've read in a long time. Enjoy!

Subject: Good News!

Dear Beloved Sir;

I cannot sleep at night anymore. I am so excited; I have waited for this all my life and this breakthrough which I do not intend to miss. Please I expect that you act very diligent when you are contacted and inform me immediately so I can continue to advice and guide you to successful completion of this our project. You should always get contact with me before responding to any document back to [INSERT RUG COMPANY NAME] when they contact you. I advise always and that you do all that is asked of you immediately and everything will be fine.

Due to the time difference, they may contact you when its night (your time). Please I advice you try to keep alert and don’t sleep heavy throughout the upcoming week until you hear from [INSERT RUG COMPANY NAME] so that you can attend to them if they choose to contact you by telephone. We should be concluding this in a matter of days after a very long struggle on my side. Our roles are reversed now; you will now be the one to feed me daily with the information passed over to you when you have been contacted.

At this crucial stage of this transaction it is important we are on the same page. Please if you have any questions now. Please send them to me via email so that I can answer them and guide you adequately.

Then you have to click the below link and login with your email credentials to view the documents which were secured with your email login for security reasons to ensure that only you can see the documents upon your email login in the space provided please inform me as soon as you view your documents.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YOUR DOCUMENTS: Crime Scene Rug!

Warm regards to you my dear friend and partner,
[INSERT NAME OF FAVOURITE RUG SALESMAN]

Third Annual ICFF Rug Review and More!! (2011)

2011-05-31T12:00:00.003-03:00

Good day fellow denizens of the world we call rugs, and welcome to the end of the Month of May (cue The Arcade Fire). May is a great time of year. Spring is in full bloom, Memorial Day (for those of you in the United States) "officially" kicks off the summer, which much to popular belief, does not officially start for another three (3) weeks, and it is when you will find the birthdays of some of the brightest and best people in the world of rugs. Yes, yes, I am being grandiose, but May is also when you will find the most amazing of furniture (and to a lesser part rug) shows: The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF).

ICFF always falls on or near my birthday (see previous note about birthdays), and with a much needed trip to Ohio to visit my boyhood home (before my mother moves out of it and to see our nephew) on deck, and a strong desire from the household to get to New York, and the need for some contemplation away from home, and to see some Red Spruce investors, and, well you get the point, we planned a grande driving adventure (the details of which I will not bore you with - today) that began in New York City at the Javits Center (currently undergoing a massive renovation, by the by). Join me if you will then, as my husband Nicholas Christie and our dearest of friends Peter Kitchen (both "official" employees of Red Spruce for ICFF purposes) did, for a certified press tour (The Ruggist had press credentials for ICFF!!) of the best/worst ICFF had to offer in rugs and carpets. And with that, the lead mention goes to....

Warp and Weft
www.warpandweft.com

I've known Michael Mandapati for several years now, having first met him while I was working at Lapchi, and I've always admired his work, and both his personal and design styles. I'm as much of a fan of the concise and simple nature of his company's name as I am of the Kooche's "k" logo. I mean come on "Warp and Weft" what could possibly be more descript? In advertising and merchandising, he always errs on the side of simple, clean lines letting his rugs and carpets speak for themselves. His booth at ICFF was no less simple, no less clean. And the rugs? They speak for themselves: Beautiful. Warp and Weft was showing a stunning geometric piece from their new tufted collection. WAIT! STOP THE IMAGINARY INTERNET BLOG PRESS! Did The Ruggist just say "stunning" and "tufted" in the same sentence? Yes, yes he did. I think we all know that I am generally not a fan of, oh, how do I say this, oh yes: Cheap Tufted Crap. But, and before I upset Mr. Mandapati, the tufted produced by Warp and Weft is not in that category, it is quite simply some of the best I've ever seen. It is not cheap (as a function of price and quality), and it is not crap (as a function of design and everything else). What it is, is impeccably made, beautifully styled, and most importantly in an ever changing marketplace, it is well suited to the needs and demands of his, we can assume, discerning clients. It is also the result of years of hard work and dedication on the part of Mr. Mandapati, which has yielded a superior quality tufted product worthy of his brand, and I for one think he has hit the mark spot on.

Echelon in Gilt by Warp and Weft

Escape Landscape Rug Designs
www.escapelandscaperugdesigns.com

I walked by the booth of Escape Landscape Rug Designs several times before deciding to stop in for a chat. To be frank, I was being a bit cynical and thought to myself "That company name doesn't really roll of the tongue easily...." but I kept being called back by the rugs. So luxuriously textured. So richly coloured. So unique! After about my third pass, I noticed the booth to be free and I stopped in to speak with the woman attending to the booth, and in doing so I had my best 2011 ICFF encounter and the second best rug experience I've ever had at ICFF. (The first being finding the carpets made by Muni two (2) years ago). The rugs created by Ms. Anita Bell are simply amazing, and not to diminish my own "artful and whimsical" Red Spruce work (plug!!), her rugs are truly works of art. I've never seen a better artistic interpretation from inspiration to finished rug as that made by Ms. Bell. Did I mention made by? Oh yes, Ms. Bell makes the rugs herself, by hand, in England. Why? To quote: "It's very hard to get the nuances of colour and design just right when trying to get someone else to make it." Oh if I liked the ladies I would be in love.

Shoreline Rug by Anita Bell - Escape Landscape Rug Design

Ms. Bell's rugs aren't for everyone of course, and there can be great debate whether they are even for the floor. I tend to think of them as wallhangings due to their high degree of texture, and non-trip friendly use of pile heights, but they are amazing, and I, for only the second time in my life, am smitten. Ms. Bell pulls her inspiration from the natural environment, and she does it well, transcending merely reproducing a photograph or an image, her hand and creative mind, working to hand tuft her vision, her interpretation into being. A kindred spirit in Ms. Anita Bell found have I.

Luke Irwin
www.lukeirwin.com

The booth of Luke Irwin was quite open and inviting, the rugs a mix of Persian styled and Nepali. As could be expected given the current craze there were Ikats, and there were abstractions. I entered the booth with Nina Smith-Ackerly of GoodWeave (Yup. That's right. I said it!) and was greeted by the incomparably british Eleanor Horsey. After Nina excused herself and I bid her warm farewells, Ms. Horsey gave me the quick overview of Mr. Irwin's work and of his rugs. I must admit that at first I was rather ho-hum on the entire affair, but then I started looking more closely, and I discovered three (3) of my favorite things about ICFF this year.

Luke Irwin - Self-Titled Marketing Monograph

The first is (and please excuse the poor photo quality) is the Luke Irwin marketing piece given to me by Ms. Bell. This is the kind of attention to detail and impression we should all strive to present to our customers, clients, and those we just pass on the street. I wish I could do so well all the time. This self titled monograph really makes you believe that Mr. Irwin can and will make the perfect rug for you. Plus, he's still of a scale where his boutique, or workshop, or atelier or whatever the en vogue word to use is, is capable of pulling it off without flaw. Or so we can presume.

Morning in Manhattan by Luke Irwin

My second favorite thing was this rug, named: "Morning in Manhattan". I love it because it has Greyhounds (I have a Greyhound named Pebbles!) and because my husband Nicholas loves both Manhattan and Greyhounds, and because of the subtle colour, and because of the amazing deco styling. This is great design, maybe not the most appropriate for rug design, but who cares, I like rugs and I like this design. In fact, if anyone at Luke Irwin is reading this, please give me a call. I might like to buy it!

Stonehenge by Luke Irwin

My third favorite thing (in no order about which you should concern yourselves) was this rug named: "Stonehenge". This is a mostly topical reference to our friend Peter being with us, and this design being strikingly similar to a tattoo he has on the inside of his biceps. It just made me smile and maybe smirk a little. I like it when design crosses the boundaries of media, especially in this context. Imagine a client, one of those people with nothing to do and all do in which to do it. Oh my mistake, there may be a lunch or brunch involved. But anyway, imagine that client, admiring this rug as a thing of beauty. How would they feel about a very similar design being tattooed on someone? I am not one-hundred percent (100%) certain, but I'd enjoy seeing the look on his/her face.

Brief Intermission (w/thoughts on Tibetan Construction)

I think we all know there are too many people who are, or who fancy themselves rug designers, out there trying to make too many rugs (particularly in Nepal of Tibetan construction) of designs that are too similar to one another, and who will never reach appreciable market share (if that is indeed their goal). A smart rug designer would partner with a good company to license their designs and then sit back and be the creative person they are at heart. That is of course, in my humble opinion. That being said, I know that you are starting to think: "All this way into the post and The Ruggist has not said anything overly offensive or critical." Well wait no more!

What can I say here without getting myself sued? Ahh yes.. "Without any reference, implied or explicate, to the following rug company or any other rug company I may or may not have written about in a recent blog post, or furthermore may or may not write about in the future, let it be known that I find the concept and practice of making knockoffs to be most offensive."

Zonas Creative Carpets

www.zonascreativecarpets.com

Zonas Creative Carpets Booth

The rug shown here prominently in the Zonas' booth is, in my, dare I say expert opinion, clearly derivative of at best and a knockoff of at worst, an old (and I will say outmoded) Odegard design named: "Crazy Border". That is all.

Proper Rugs

www.properrugs.com

Colour!! The proper rugs (by the way, I LOVE the name of this company) made by Proper rugs are full of rich hues, great use of contrast, and are quite visually pleasing. They are, to use a Nova Scotiaism - a proper thing.

Mossy Rocks by Proper Rugs

Proper Rugs also gets the 2011 ICFF Jan Kath Commemorative Button Prize for this button:

Seriously though, I like the designs and I like that the story behind the rug is held out for everyone to know, but I'm not so keen on the fact that the company tagline is: "Luxury rugs that tell a story". Saying something is luxury is like saying something is collectable. True luxury items are never marketed as such just as collectables are never mass marketed on television.

Christana Ruhaak
www.christinaruhaak.com

I stopped in to meet Christiana because I was drawn in by their handbraided rugs in rich warm hues. I was more taken in by the fact they are made by a woman in Indiana! Love, love love!

Detail of Braided Rug by Christina Ruhaak

In summary...

Overall I enjoyed ICFF this year and it was very refreshing to see a bit of a changeover in the rug exhibitors. Absent this year were previously perennial favorites emma gardner and amy helfand studio, but then again, ICFF is about buzz and marketing, and as is said, absence makes the heart grow fonder. It was nice to see more english designers making the trip across the pond, and I am particularly keen on the emerging trend of authenticity in production (for reasons obvious).

I had a great time in NYC and at ICFF and got to once again spend my birthday in the city that never sleeps (except from 05:00 to 11:00), and I was able to spend it in great company. I got to visit with many friends and even ran into a colleague from way back in my Ohio days. After ICFF/NYC I spent a lot of time thinking and I'd like to leave you with this:

We're all very fortunate to be able to make and sell beautiful rugs and carpets. We're honoured that people want to and choose to buy and talk about what we make, for our product is a true luxury. From the lowest to the highest of qualities a rug will always remain a treat, a want, an indulgence, because the floor still works without it. To quote some movie dialog: "Do you always make a joke?" "Only about serious things." We may find our work serious, but let us remember to be a bit irreverent and mocking, and boisterous and easy going, and hope that at the end of the day it's not all in vain.

Dirt Carpets and Speaking Engagements!

2011-05-02T10:00:00.001-03:00

A few weeks ago I was sitting keeping my husband company as he enjoyed a refreshing rinse off shower after an afternoon and early evening of taking sweat inducing, and toxin removing, saunas. I know what you are thinking: "The Ruggist sweats if it is over twenty-two (22) celsius (seventy-two (72) fahrenheit), why in the name of all things good and decent would he willingly go into a room that is seventy-five (75) celsius (one hundred sixty-seven (167) fahrenheit)?" Well you are right to ask such things, and truthfully the sauna was not my idea. It was my husband's. And it only took him about eight (8) years of, how does one diplomatically say this, nagging me to get one built. I converted an old farm shed at our cottage into a wonderful wood fired sauna constructed using a reclaimed wood stove from Kijiji, a hearth built of old landscaping bricks from our yard, and cedar sourced from the family wood lots in New Brunswick. All and all, it was locally sourced, and takes a holistic approach to sustainable building. But I am getting way off topic. The point was to be that he got the sauna he always wanted, and I enjoy it more than I could even have possibly imagined. So returning to the story at hand, I was keeping him company and we were talking about various things, including "The Ruggist", which led to the following exchange of dialog:

Me: Maybe The Ruggist should start doing podcasts?

Him: No one wants to hear you ramble on and on like you do.

Me: (Interjecting) What? I'm known for being concise[!]

Him: No you're not! Besides, if someone wants to hear you talk and ramble on about that rug stuff you go on and on about, they can pay to put you on a plane and fly you someplace and then pay to listen.

Me: Oh? I'm joining the speakers circuit now am I?

Him: Might make sense to finally make some money from that blog......

With that, I Michael A.C. Christie, in conjunction with my newly formed production company White Elephant Enterprises present for your consideration: "The Ruggist": Live and Uncensored!" Yes, that's right ladies and gentleman, now you, yes you, can now have me speak live and in person at your next (rug related) event. I do jokes! I wear outlandishly bright green jackets! I drink on stage! I talk seemingly randomly about esoteric topics in the rug industry. I'll even let you pick the topic, but not the commentary!! So if you're in the market for a lively and animated key note speaker, call now! Mention booking code: ITALK4U for a ten percent (10%) discount!

And now for something completely different....

The other day I was walking along the Historic Properties here in my beloved Halifax and as I passed Gallery Page and Strange (an art gallery that I infrequent...) I was drawn to this installation I could see from the street.

Dirt Floor by Cal Lane - Overview

Dirt Floor by Cal Lane - Detail

This is an installation by Cal Lane from her "Dirt Works" series. Her body of work is focused around, for lack of my ability to better describe it, large metal stencils, made from a variety of commonplace and purpose made metal objects. In this case, one of her pieces is used as a stencil to create a wonderful, if not ephemeral carpet made of dirt. I love it. It reminds me of the work of "We Make Carpets" and perhaps in the future Ms. Lane will have a chance to work with the collective. In any event, it caught my eye and I thought you might enjoy!

Why do I do the things I do?

2011-04-20T10:30:00.001-03:00

I started watching a documentary on Netflix the other night. You know, one of those late night I'm sleepy but not quite ready to go to bed yet nights where a good, not so fast paced documentary will push you over the edge from consciousness into dreamland? The documentary was about the use of the "F" bomb, that four letter word that is by many standards considered to be the end all be all of swearing. Amid a huge variety of flowery commentary on the use of the word, including my personal favorite of Sam Donaldson saying "of course I've used it and i'm proud to say that I have", was another tidbit of wisdom. A commentator, whose name I did not pay enough attention to remember said something to the effect of "there was a time when the use of the word was considered the purview of lower uneducated classes, and not something a gentleman would say. Especially in the presence of woman and children." Furthermore he lamented the passing of such times. This reminds me of many a conversation in my own household where my husband reminds me of the very sentiment of the [[name I cannot recall]] commentator, when I use the "F" bomb. Maybe I'm of a lower class and uneducated, or maybe I'm a gentleman, but sometimes - and I will cautiously agree publicly with my husband (ARGH! that is painful!) that infrequent use is best for dramatic effect - sometimes, just sometimes you need to use very strong and potentially offensive language and tone.

With fair warning I caution you that today is one of those days and that if you read further you will be subjected to language and tone that is offensive, depending of course on your perspective. So in the non-abbreviated parlance of the, dare I say, information age...

What the Fuck?

As you no doubt recall last week I posted a letter from Steve Cibor of Tamarian that was in rebuttal to a blog post that spoke somewhat unfavorably of Tamarian and also Mr. Cibor. I posted this cautiously (and with the warning that it was and/or had become a pissing match between the two aforementioned parties) because I was asked by Ryan Higgins of Tamarian to do this, thus allowing a public forum in which they could respond.

Now to be honest I have not always treated Tamarian kindly in my blog posts, and to a small degree I was doing this favor if you will, because I wanted to make some amends. This was my first mistake. (though some could argue starting The Ruggist was the first, but I digress....) My second was posting the response without the usual, how does one say, irreverent commentary, you my dear readers, have come to expect.

Strange Bedfellows...

I believe that I was contacted to post their, err, rebuttal (I am making air quotes with my hands at the moment) because of the credibility of The Ruggist, that is to say, my personal credibility. For you see, credibility, or rather Tamarian's spurious at best credibility as it pertains to the use of child labour is what started this whole, as I'm now branding it, "The Tamarian Affair". They contacted me so that I would post their response, in essence lending them credibility which they so eagerly sought to borrow. Apparently this was not good enough. It is said you have to lay in the bed you make, but to continue a rather bad pun, I will not take it laying down (no comments!)!

For you see on the very same day I graciously posted Mr. Cibor's response, a Tamarian blog appeared miraculously on Wordpress. Its extensive (note eye roll) content can be found here! We, as educated people, can only assume that the powers at be at Tamarian felt The Ruggist had not given them a fair shake. Well boo-fucking-whoo!

What The Ruggist REALLY thinks!

To be frank, I was not overly impressed by Mr. Cibor's response to Ms. Del Vecchio's blog. Amid the layers of baffling them with bullshit links and spurious out of date information Mr. Cibor presents in his supposed defense, he remains contemptuously dismissive (as I am being now of Tamarian) of her concerns and refers to her in a most demeaning manner. At one point in the myriad of information, he does not even use the correct form of your or as he should have used, you're. But these are minor points distracting from what is at the root of my anger and displeasure as I write today.

I provided restrained commentary on "The Tamarian Affair" because I wanted to let you the consumer of internet drivel (this is presumably what Mr. Cibor thinks of the internet blogosphere as it were), decide for yourself whether or not Tamarian's stance on child labour is adequate. Clearly I was supposed to have (from their perspective) lauded praise upon them for their efforts. Well ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I am here to tell you with one hundred percent (100%) certainty, no praise is warranted on my part, and moreover from the eyes of the consumer, there is an appearance of indifference if not complicity to the issue of child labour.

Now of course I have never seen a Tamarian carpet in production so I do not personally know if they use child labour. I've talked at length with Mr. Cibor, Mr. Higgins, and Mr. Ned Baker (who has been and perhaps will still remain a good friend of mine) and I do believe they are well intentioned, and do care for the people of Nepal, and furthermore would not condone the use of child labour. I do however believe they lack any degree of credibility when speaking to the issue thereof. And that is why this post is here, so that The Ruggist can distance himself from the foolish bed he made.

Mr. Cibor's response has an almost World War II era sounding defense of his association with TLC. To paraphrase "We don't know who else TLC does business with and we didn't ask. It's not our business." Well this has to be the most naive business decision since I decided to make carpets in North America. If I wanted to certify my carpets were free of child labour (and I do want to do that. That's right I'm talking to you GoodWeave. Can we get on that?) I would associate myself with an organization that has no fewer than seventy-five (75) participating importers as opposed to what we can gather is one (1). Which has more credibility, or for that matter, the appearance of more credibility? Here's a clue: It's not the organization with one (1).

Furthermore, and this for the record is what really created a high degree of lividity on my part, the newly coined Tamarian blog, which by association with "The Tamarian Affair" is connected, if only loosly and perhaps only in my own mind, to The Ruggist, lacks any credibility, and thusly drags my good name through the muck. If there is going to be any muck on me it is going to be of my own doing! Allow me to explain. I've been writing The Ruggist for going on three (3) years this summer. In that time I have created fifty-three (53) posts, viewed by 3,521 absolutely unique visitors in sixty-six (66) countries, who have managed to leave a grand total of fifty-nine (59) comments. That averages 1.11 comments per post, or comments from 1.67% of my readership.

With that I present what is surely the second miraculous event of "The Tamarian Affair". (Disclaimer: I am no internet or blogging expert, and there is a degree of hyperbole in my tone) Tamarian has achieved with one singular post an estimated readership, based on number of comments, of 838 for one post. I can assure you with 100% certainty that the readership of their blog is not that high, nor given the fact the excessively glowing praise they so eagerly sought from me is present in all but one of their posted comments, that their readership is unbiased. In fact, I will go so far as to say their readership is completely biased. Does Tamarian think people reading unqualified content on the internet are that dumb? Here's a clue: I don't know if they do or not, but I do know they don't care.

Both my displeasure and the displeasure of Ms. Del Vecchio are caused by Tamarian's complete lack of credibility on the issue of child labour and for their contempt of not only her and me, but most importantly the consumer, whomever they may be. Moreover, I feel their attempt to use the credibility of The Ruggist to make their hopelessly inadequate explanation of their stance on child labour somehow valid, has tarnished my reputation and credibility. Obviously I posted that and this post of my own free will, and I walked right into the muck they were creating. It was my mistake and my mistake alone. I don't know that I can extricate myself from the messy bed I've created, but I can sure as hell try.

"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden" - Dolly Parton

Last time I said I may have written myself into never working for another rug company again. This time it may be the case that I have written myself out of a few friendships. If the other parties feel that way, so be it, but let me explain. I don't always agree with my friends. In fact, I'd rather not. If I wanted to sit around having smoke blown up my backside, I'm led to believe from my reading of Dan Savage, that there is an internet dating site somewhere that can provide that service. But I don't want that. No! I want spirited and lively debate and discussion. I want to not always agree, I want to grow and learn, and at the end of the day I want to sit down and have a drink with my dear friends. Sometimes they are right, sometimes I'm right, and more often than not we both are depending on your perspective.

Mr. Higgins knew what he was getting himself into when he contacted me to post Mr. Cibor's response, so I was most displeased by a follow up email I received from him in which he states: "It actually was fair what you wrote, considering your immediate the one-degree of separation to your bosses, right Michael?" I'm not certain whom he thinks my bosses are, or who he is to question my independence. Last time I looked I worked for myself. But if by chance he is referring to some of my clients, whom may happen to share equally as strong views supporting GoodWeave, I would like to ask Tamarian this: "How high do you jump when your best clients come calling?" Given the approach of your "blog", your response to Ms. Del Vecchio, and your generally dismissive response to valid concerns regarding child labour, I gather not very high. What great service[!] I on the other hand have a propensity to jump.

Let's not be naive shall we? We all have vested interests and conflicts. Of course I take into account my business relationships when I write this blog, I'd be foolish not to. So as "The Ruggler" (@theruggler) on Twitter said when I criticized his approach as puerile, you can always "unfollow" me if you don't like what I have to say. By the way, I told "The Ruggler" that though I may not agree with his methods, I do love his madness.

The End

Thank you for reading and as always I hope you enjoy. I apologize for this slight detour from our usual, but think it was worth it. Knowing more about the mindset of an "inimitable rug industry stalwart" as Cover Magazine has called me in preview of their forthcoming feature on me and Red Spruce, is always a good thing.

The Ruggist takes great pride in what he does and though my methods may occasionally offend, our mutual net gain is a better understanding of the world we call rugs. Thank you, and good day!

P.S. In an open letter to those who may support with bias (as I unashamedly do). Please note that if you think someone is making a false statement about your cause, or organization, or what have you, take care to know the difference between libel and slander. You will sound more, dare I say, credible.

Whose Agenda is it anyway?

2011-04-11T09:00:00.000-03:00

Normally this is where I would start off writing a somewhat witty and obscurely connected introduction to the entry you are about to read, but today is no normal day. Today is Sunday. The day of rest in many faith and late night boozing traditions. And while I am neither nursing a hangover nor attending church I am resting, resting my head that is oh so tired and weary after inadvertently wading into a, and you'll pardon the crude expression, pissing match between an Interior Designer and Tamarian. So without belabouring the intro, pull on your Wellington's boys (and girls) and let's try and sort this mess out shall we?

In the beginning...

On Tuesday April 5, 2011 at 19:31 ADT The Ruggist posted a link (to another blog) on his facebook page. (Yes that is right, The Ruggist has a facebook page. You should "like" it as they say. The Ruggist on Facebook) This also automatically updates the Twitter feed of @theruggist which you can follow by clicking here! This referenced blog, as we will soon find out, contains some rather juicy tidbits of potentially libelous internet "writing", but before we get to that, a few more details. Later that evening at about 20:30 I received a text message from someone at Tamarian stating that, and I paraphrase: "it was uncool to post the link", though "uncool" is a direct quote. Furthermore I was asked to remove the link. I ignored the request. About thirty (30) minutes later I received another text which basically said "meh what the hell leave it up it is the information age". From the use of the term "information age" we can now assume Al Gore is working at Tamarian, that has my mobile phone number, and is somehow qualified to judge me as cool or otherwise, but I digress. So that was that.

On the first day...

On Wednesday April 6, 2011 I was off bright and early to install a recently completed Red Spruce carpet for a show at a local art gallery. My mobile phone rang, and as I almost always do when the number isn't in my address book, I ignored the call. Moments later: Voicemail. It was Ryan Higgins of Tamarian asking me to call him back. "What in rug hell does he want?" I thought to myself, and truthfully the only reason I promptly returned his call (normally I would wait until I was back at the studio) was that he said he was calling from the "beige, pale blue, and neutral rug company". At least he knows how to play to my sense of humour, warped as it may be. The short and publishable summary of our call is this:

Ryan: Would you publish a rebuttal to the blog entry you linked to?
Me: If it is interesting and doesn't turn the situation into a pissing match...

On the fifth day...

So here we are on Sunday April 10, 2011 at 09:13 ADT and I am sitting drinking a coffee at my recently moved (into an awesome sunny location) desk, basking in the afterglow of the awesome Pixies concert I attended last night, debating what to do and whether or not I find this entire subject interesting enough to write about. I'm tempted to write "And I don't" and end the entry here and now, but fortunately and knowingly the people at Tamarian know The Ruggist has never written anything so succinct in his public writing history, and thus the post must go on!

So what was that other blog anyway?

Shannon Del Vecchio is an Interior Designer in California who writes a blog about design "inspiration, encouragement, and love". On March 31, 2011 she posted this entry, which I encourage you to read completely for the appropriate background on this situation, but of which I will summarize for you:

1) She or rather her client wanted a rug presumably from Tamarian.
2) She wants her rug to be made without child labour.
3) She is not convinced that Tamarian's "no child labour" certification is adequate.
4) She is convinced GoodWeave's certification is adequate.
5) She is calling Tamarian into question for potential child labour infractions.
6) She thinks Tamarian is "greenwashing" their products.
7) She makes an empty promise to remove her post, assuming Tamarian can meet her definition of legitimate.

Now in case by some divine act Tamarian has been able to satisfy her legitimacy requirement I have taken the liberty of archiving her blog post for perpetual reference. It can be found here. Obviously this post really got Tamarian's goat, and rightly so. In fact, it got is so much that, we will now return to Ryan Higgins' request for me to publish a rebuttal.

Friday April 8, 2011 23:33 ADT

An email from Mr. Higgins arrived in the Gossip inbox of The Ruggist. It contains Tamarian's official response to Ms. Del Vecchio's blog post, as drafted by Steve Cibor. It is a lengthy (though not as lengthy as my writing) three (3) page document that makes reference to several outside links on Google Documents in which Mr. Cibor makes annotated remarks clarifying his side of the story. I will now invite you to read his response here, but before I do can I mention one thing? Never send an easily editable document (such as a word file) to a third party. Always send a PDF. At least make fraudulent editing difficult, but for the record and to clarify, I have not edited the word document I was sent.

I will now summarize Mr. Cibor's rebuttal and position:

1) He says she misquotes or fabricates his reponses to her, and moreover has a degree of documentation to support his position.
2) He passionately defends his and Tamarian's position, again with a degree of documentation.
3) He is using a third party verification to ensure that there is no child labor.
4) He feels he has adequately, and now more than adequately, addressed Ms. Del Vecchio's concerns.

And now the moment we've all been waiting for....

What does The Ruggist think?

It's all buncombe! Plain and Simple. I was asked to wade into this presumably because of my perceived "authority" on rug industry critique, but make no mistake, The Ruggist will not play the part of the fool for anyone. I stated to Mr. Higgins that I would publish Tamarian's rebuttal if it was interesting, addressed the issues at hand, and did not become a pissing match, and while it is most interesting and does address the issues at hand (depending on your perspective) it has indeed become a pissing match. I have chosen to publish it though in the interest of interest. It does make for a good read and a good way to avoid working on Monday.

Ms. Del Vecchio is clearly a displeased (for whatever reason) consumer, and Tamarian (or Stark whom Mr. Cibor has now outed as user of Tamarian's private labeling service) is clearly not satisfying her, if that is indeed possible in this case. At the end of the day she is not a Tamarian (or Stark) customer in the sense that they don't offer what she is looking for. Both parties should realize that and put this situation behind them, and not go on at length interjecting irrelevant facts into the argument.

I encourage everyone to read both Ms. Del Vecchio's blog and Mr. Cibor's response, annotations, and linked documents, and to draw your own conclusions. I have.

Disclosure!

My position on child labour has been very clearly stated in the past: I support GoodWeave and feel they provide verifiable independent third party verification there is no child labour used. Why a company would choose not to go with an established NGO such as GoodWeave is beyond my ability to reason.

Furthermore, I find the timing of the appearance of "The Ruggler" on Twitter (@theruggler), and subsequent interactions which may or may not pertain to this very subject, the specific content of which I will keep confidential as asked, to be most suspect. To "The Ruggler" whomever you are (I don't know but do have my suspicions); I for one and on the record find the anonymous posting and commenting to be most puerile. I may have written my way into never working for another rug company again, but at least my opinions are known and when people are interacting with me they know what to expect.

Oh the twisted web we weave!! (Moan!)

Tamarian's Official Response to Shannon Del Vecchio

2011-04-11T08:00:00.007-03:00

This letter is published here solely as a courtesy to Tamarian and for reference by The Ruggist. Its inclusion here is not an endorsement, tacit, explicate, or otherwise of its content, tone, or opinions. Moreover, The Ruggist reserves the right to remove the letter without cause or notice at his sole discretion.

Also, please note their may be unintended errors in translating the file from word to HTML and I apologize to my readers and to Tamarian in advance.

The open letter...

Blog

n.) Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

Preface: The Accusation

My name is Steve Cibor; I am the owner and founder of Tamarian Carpets. I am addressing you in response to a blog that was posted last week by a decorator named Shannon Del Vecchio, where she offers her opinion on my company, and a company in Nepal that we have contracted since January 2010 called Tibetian Rugs Labour Certification Private Limited (TLC). In the post, she made up quotes from me and makes a plug for Goodweave. Almost all of the information in her blog excluding her own opinion is incorrect or simply fabricated. Since I have never blogged or responded to a blog I thought I should first research what it meant (above).

See shannon's blog and my response (note: my responses to her are indented and in blue italics)

I would like to make one thing very clear, we have never used, nor will we ever tolerate any form of child labor in the production of our rugs. We have never been accused of using child labor, nor has anyone ever seen a child working in the production of our rugs. In Nepal, Tamarian Carpets has and always will be devoted to helping the people of the country and especially the communities involved in the carpet productionî. I used quotations because this is exactly what Nina Smith, the executive director of Goodweave USA, said in an e-mail dated 11-12-2009.

I will inform you to the best of my ability about TLC, and how and why TLC was formed.It all started with a memorandum dated 9-30-2009 that I received from the Oriental Rug Importers Association. This would involve leading rug importers into the USA, Rug Mark India, Goodweave (and staff), a professor of economics, 13 US Senators (and staff), The Department of Labor (and staff), The Secretary of Labor, The Speaker of the House, The Vice President, and The President. And now it also involves Shannon Del Vecchio, a concerned decorator from San Francisco.

1. Child Labor in Nepal

Regarding the memorandum dated 9-30-2009: The contents were in regards to the 9-11-2009 publication of the proposal by the U.S. Department of Labor to include carpets made in Nepal on its list of products that would be effectively barred from the government procurement due to the belief they may have been made with forced or indentured child labor. This began with the Executive Order that was issued in 1999, under Executive Order 13126. It also involved a reference to a 9-25-2009 letter to President Obama, which was signed by 13 Senators. I also received two letters from the Secretary of Labor, one to the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, and the other to Vice President Biden. These reference a report titled The Department of Laborís List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. This all hit me pretty hard; I started doing all sorts of research, calling all the different offices involved to find out more information.

I questioned why have I never seen child labor in the rug industry in Nepal after dozens of visits spread over fifteen years? Am I missing something?

While I have been involved in many projects in Nepal over the years involving hospitals, schools, orphanages, and a handful of others--I felt that I needed to play a bigger role in the targeted area of child labor. I had contacted many of my fellow importers to discuss, and some of us filed our response to the office of Child Labor which was due by 10-12-2009, outlining our first hand experiences.

I then contacted the only organization that I could find which dealt with the issue of child labor in Nepal, Rugmark. I wanted to learn as much as I could about Rugmark which involved many emails, meetings and phone calls. I should point out that they were in the process of rebranding to Goodweave USA. I concurrently received information that they may be doing this illegally. Here is one of the two documents that led to my concern: (Rugmark letter).

From what I saw, this was an organization that covered it all, including but not limited to: the inspection of looms for child labor, certification, schools, and environmental/social programs. At the time, we talked about membership. However, I felt that because I was already involved in many projects in Nepal, I only wanted to participate in their certification process. The last thing I wanted was to switch money I was sending to Nepal for Tamarian-sponsored projects to Goodweave-sponsored projects. Unfortunately, they were not able to allow me to participate in just the certification process; it was all or nothing, a stale mate. Since then, we continued to meet and discuss the possibilities.

During this time, Nina introduced me a person doing onsite research in Nepal in regards to child labor, a man in the trenches. We spoke a few times about on the topic and I gathered as much info as he was willing to give. Since his research would end up being submitted to the US Government he had to be careful with what he said. Fine, I just wanted to be pointed in the right direction. Even though I chose
not to work with Rugmark/Goodweave, I still needed to see how I could ensure that there was absolutely no child labor being used in the production of our rugs. He suggested that a third party company
should be inspecting the factories, and we both agreed that the third party should not be connected to an NGO.

2. Full Disclosure Regarding the Conception of TLC

Was I involved with the conception of TLC? Yes.

Was I the first importer to sign up and fill out an application and to contract their services? Yes.
Did I have a pre-determined agenda when I went to Nepal to find a third party inspector? Yes.
Was my goal to do something that would help put an end to child labor in Nepal? Yes.
Did I want to prove to my clients that I am doing everything in my power to show to them we

do not use child labor? Yes.

Did I feel that our industry needed other options for a no-child-labor certification? Yes.
Did I think that that it may cause waves with some NGOís or individuals? NO.

I thought that doing anything was better than doing nothing at all. I thought doing something to help put an end to child labor was a good thing.

The conception of TLC took place while I was in Nepal during late November of 2009. I met with many NGO's, exporters, manufactures and suppliers to discuss child labor. A few of us gathered many times, with the goal to find a local businessperson who might be well suited to start a company whose sole purpose was to check factories--a true third party with no other agenda than to check looms and factories for evidence of child labor. It was expected they would charge a fee for their service. The name at the top of the list was Tenzing Wangdu, a young Tibetan man who is well connected in Nepal. He has over ten years of experience in the manufacturing of Tibetan Rugs as an overseas production manager. He left in 2007 to go onto other ventures, and has since worked for the United States Embassy in Nepal (for over two years), opened a cafe, and works with Tibetan youth (18-25) to find employment. We approached him and told him about our ideas. We were excited to hear he would love the opportunity to not only help wipe out any form of child labor, but to start another business that would give him a venue to put more local Tibetans to work.

At the time we felt his mission should be:

-Randomly inspect factories for child labor for children under the age of 16.

-Ensure there was no forced or bonded labor.

-Ensure workers were being paid a fair wage, and had safe and health working conditions.

-Each factory or location should be inspected at least once a month and report any violation to the manufacture as well as the importer.

-Remove the child from the factory and try to get them to go to school.

-Hold the manufacture and importer responsible and charge a hefty fine and have the rug destroyed.

-To have no bias or connection to any NGO or non-profit and to charge basic fee for inspections just like a building inspector.

Tenzing went to work on this. He filed for papers with the Government of Nepal Ministry of Finance inland Revenue Department and with the Ministry of Industries Office of the Company of Registrar. Any of us that has had any workings with the Nepal Government knows its not like it is here, you can't just go down and file a form and become a legitimate company like you can in the U.S., this process took him until January 2010. But he did it, and we signed a contract, paid our fees and he started inspecting each and every loom. For the record no evidence child labor has yet to been found.

3. Responding to Shannon's Concerns

Current facts: Nepal has a total of eight inspectors for child labor and two of them are designated to the carpet industry, Rugmark has three and we just added one more. That's a good thing, right?

Is there more work to be done in Nepal? Yes, and the ball is in motion. We are moving in the right direction.

Americans want to make sure that when we buy a product that it is made responsibly. We are known for aggressively voicing our American opinions, morals and ideals on other countries--mostly Third World (which Nepal is). If we expect other countries to conform to our standards, we should also let them go after the American Dream. You should be able to start a company for the right reasons and not be cut off at the knees when you are in the start-up phase.

Shannon the decorator, you feel that because TLC is a young company that has no web site or brochures it is not a reputable company. I would like to inform you that when I started working with the manufacturer of my rugs over ten years ago, he was just starting a business. He had no clients, and little experience. He was formerly a monk, and a thangka painter. I liked him, and took his word that he was going to do what he said he would (just the same way TLC started). Last year he received an award from the government of Nepal and was the third largest single manufacture in the country. He still has no web site, no brochure, no other client but Tamarian. Would you say the same of him? Would you have written the same about him ten years ago when he was starting out? Would you have written the same of me because I was using this no name manufacturer?

When I spoke with you on the phone you requested documentation from my company about another independent company (located in the Third World on the opposite side of the globe). You said if you did not have it in 24 hours you would post a negative blog. You also sent me an e-mail dated 3-30-11, which I responded to the same day, and then with the proof you requested within 48 hours. Here it is again in case you misplaced it. Sorry for the delay, Nepal had power outages. Its very common there. After I responded to your request, you responded with an odd email. You stated I appreciate you sending over these documents but they still don't answer my primary question, which is this: What exactly does the TLC label mean for consumers?

It's odd only because you never asked me in our original conversations, and after reading your e-mail, I was told about your blog. I read it, and there you questioned us to the world. But you were not concerned with my response. Also, at no time did you disclose the address of your blog. So here it is, the answer you were looking for:

The label means that this rug has been manufactured in a factory/loom that is inspected for child labor. And it certifies that the rug was made CHILD LABOR FREE.

Conclusion *For Shannon* but Open to the Public:

If you would like detailed answers to the questions from your second e-mail, see my answers. You also might like to revisit our email chain. Since I cannot publicly respond to your blog on your site *um, convenient*, you can see my remarks which address the erroneous information you posted.

I want to thank anybody that has taken the time to read this as I felt it was necessary to set the record straight. I also wanted to share with everyone a report funded by the United States Department of Labor, Independent Final Evaluation of the Brighter Futures Program Combating Child Labor Through Education in Nepal, Phase II. Note: Page 9 states ìSectors experiencing the greatest reduction are the carpet factories (child labor is said to be minimal).

Respectfully,

Steven T. Cibor

Hypocrisy! It's not just for the common folk....

2011-02-21T11:41:00.008-04:00

Today The Ruggist comes to you with his head hung low in shame, for you see, I've had a revelation. Two weekends ago I was doing some much needed work around the house and unrolled one of our rugs that had just come back from the cleaners. "Oh this looks great!" I said, marveling that most of the stains from the water leak had been removed. "No need to have it overdyed after all" At this point, my husband dutifully points out "For someone who goes on and on about beige rugs is it not a bit ironic that you have one?" There was a brief moment of silence. "*@$#^!!" I said "I'll be damned!" And so there you have it. The Ruggist is a closeted beige rug lover. But in my defense, I, um, bought it when I was younger and didn't know better. Yes! Yes! That's it!!

*Sigh* The truth of the matter is that I do love my beige rug. It was my second rug purchase. It is a Nima Quality 8x10 rug from Odegard of the design "Desert". It has and continues to serve me well, having survived countless pet urine encounters, and now a massive water leak. A true testiment to quality construction. It can be seen below!

But we've not come here today to belabor beige rugs or to subject you to my, oh, self-described but in actuality not so esoteric, taste in this particular rug. We've come here today so that I may publicly say that even though I complain about the lack of colour in rugs, Beige is in fact a colour. Furthermore to my dear friend Ryan Higgins at Tamarian (said with the long a) I say "Mea Culpa".

Speaking of Ryan. Did you know his birthday is fast approaching? He is going to be the same age as The Ruggist if only for a few brief months, and he would like a birthday present! He has asked all of his friends (including presumably me if I am the "fill-in-the-blank blogger guy") to give him a present and for us to ask our friends to give him a present as well! What does he want?" To quote....

"For my birthday, there is nothing more I would like to do than pass on what has so graciously been provided to me...a comfortable life." Well said Mr. Higgins. I for one always remember that we are so very lucky to be able to worry about such trivial things as beige rugs. That triviality is the very reason I treat work and life so irreverently. He then continues...

"I have all that stuff I need, so to make me happy, please send a donation to charity:water. Water is the building block of life. As a Pisces, I need water to survive, but wait--so does everyone! 100% of your (tax deductible) donation will go to providing clean drinking H2O to people who do not have access and suffer for it. $5000 builds a well, and over the last 2 years I have personally donated $2500. One well provides drinking water [for] hundreds of people! Instead of waiting another 2 years to meet my goal of one well, I am asking you to help me expedite the process, and tack on a little extra for good measure.

A few side notes…I went to high school with the founder, Scott and he has done a selfless and amazing job throughout the last few years in creating a model to help those in the world who have the least. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and PS, if you’re not sure how much you can donate, consider how much may have been spent in one night of drinking with the Higgler…I’m not asking for THAT much, but just consider it. Also, consider forwarding this on to other charitable minded individuals as yourselves. Thanks so much!"

I think we can all give a little to help Ryan with his birthday wish, don't you? Donate today by following this link: http://mycharitywater.org/thehiggler

Thank you for reading and be sure to tell Ryan that the blogger guy sent you.

Cheers,

Michael Christie

If you're going to San Francisco.....

2011-02-08T12:00:00.050-04:00

Happy New Year! Though I do not personally celebrate Chinese New Year, it seems my blog does and so with that, and the fortuitous timing of my recent trip to San Francisco corresponding with said new year, I welcome you to another glorious year of The Ruggist! Of course you are right to point out that we are off to a slow start this year, in fact you can say we've been downright lackadaisical in general about posting/writing. This has no doubt left you, my forlorn reader wondering what has been going on in the world of rugs. Well no more! So with only moderate sincerity, I ask that you forgive me for my lapses as I forgive you for yours and suggest that we now focus on the topic at hand: San Francisco.

Warning: This post begins with some ramblings about my personal travels and goings on. If you'd like the "real" story, skip to the bottom and read about floordesign.

Red Spruce Collection for Odegard (The Opening Shameless Plug)

I had the pleasure of traveling to San Francisco the first week of February so that I could join Stephanie Odegard in launching, amongst other things, Red Spruce in the Odegard San Francisco Showroom. I will, without shame, say the events of the week were great, the hospitality of Ms. Odegard, Dana Greason (and her husband Sam) and Ed Valenzuela was so kind, and that my Red Spruce Collection was very well received by those in the know. Maybe it is because there is a special affinity for authenticity in San Francisco, or maybe it is because we have a special affinity for colours other than beige. Either way, thank you to Odegard and to San Francisco for your support of Red Spruce.

Invitation for the launch featuring Hallo Metok. Designed by Odegard made by Red Spruce

Getting closer to the point but not quite there.

Timing as they say is everything. Which reminds me of that wonderfully written scene in The King's Speech where the Duke of York says something to the effect of "...timing is not my strong suit." Now while my stellar advertising salesman from Cover David Young may also be English, he has no stammer, and in fact has a decent sense of timing. He very astutely put together that both I and Hali/Cover Publisher Sebastian Ghandchi would in fact be in the same city at the same time and he set us on a path to meet. Thus I had the distinct pleasure of enjoying what, when I write my autobiography, will be called "The power lunch of leading rug writers at the world famous Greens Restaurant". (Please note that the unwarranted arrogance and name dropping is intentional.)

During the conversation we discussed, as is often discussed when I am present (See this Post of The Ruggist) topics that for reasons varied I am told not to repeat or quote. (Apparently the reputation of this blog needs some fine tuning, but I digress.) In fact, this time I was specifically and only half jokingly asked if I was recording the conversation. I was not. Now as fate would have it, on our flight home (our, as my soon to be quoted husband accompanied me on this trip) I was passing time flipping through the Skymall Catalog (of dubious products) and noticed this Ruggist must have product. Now if you know me, you know I love my glasses. My many many pairs of glasses. I figure with my well known penchant for "interesting" eyewear I should easily be able to wear these to my next meeting without fear of being caught. I mean, they are so unobtrusive and stylish.

Look for The Ruggist wearing these the next time you see me!

At this point you must be asking yourself. What for the sake of God (in his/her various forms and incarnations) is he going on about? Is there a point? When will he get there? Soon I promise.

floordesign (promise fulfilled)

As I was called to San Francisco for work, I decided to also include a little play (something I learned from Kerry Smith of Lapchi. Work hard, but enjoy life along the way.) but also to include a little Ruggist research and so I called upon my dear friend Patrick Aaron at floordesign. Though he knew I was coming he didn't know when exactly (The Ruggist did not make an appointment) and I swaggered through the door on a warm tuesday afternoon announcing myself quite mater of factly to his exceptionally good phone screener/receptionist Emilia. And with that Patrick descended the stairs like (insert any movie reference you would like here) and greeted me warmly. "Ahhh. So good to be in San Francisco." I thought.

Now Patrick and I go way back. Back to the days when I worked with Lapchi and was merchandising the hell out of the best showrooms in the country with Lapchi samples and carpets. AtelierLapchi the project was so called at the time, and while the vision has changed (as they always do) the intent and goal was achieved. To this day I'm not one hundred percent certain if I was asked to work with floordesign because they were jumping on the Lapchi/AtelierLapchi bandwagon or because, quite bluntly, if you are going to have to send someone to San Francisco, you might as well send the gay guy. No matter the reason, Patrick and I became fast friends and I always enjoy my time with him and his showroom staff. Though I've said it privately for years, I will now publicly (and maybe a bit to the consternation of Mr. Aaron) announce that floordesign is "the gayest rug showroom in all of the United States". End quote. This should not come as a shock to anyone. It is a fact of life. They're located in San Francisco and they sell to the design industry. It's the perfect storm of gayness. But I digress. I'm not here to talk about how there really is no place like San Francisco and that I (and my husband) aspire to "winter" (as a verb) there. No I'm here to talk about rugs and the selling of rugs. I know, who would have thought that.

Let's begin with the official endorsement that I am sure (note eye roll) Mr. Aaron will be using in his forthcoming marketing material. "If I were going to buy a rug or carpet in San Francisco that was not made by Odegard or Red Spruce (wow! notice the subtlety) I would buy it from floordesign."

All facetiousness aside floordesign is truly not only the most efficiently and smoothly run multiple line rug showroom in the United States, they also have some of the best sales and support staff I've ever met. On top of that they carry a great selection of rugs and carpets (and broadloom) from two dominant names in the world of rugs: Lapchi and Tufenkian. Patrick, the CEO, not the President as his dateable to the 1980's name plate on his desk might suggest) is no fool. He has a discerning eye for rugs, is a shrewd buyer, and is a rarity in the work of rugs in that he, oh how does one say, oh yes, pays his bills on time. He and all of his staff have a genuine concern for the success of the company, and I've never in my many visits, seen a client go unattended. They just do it to steal from Nike, and I, for what it is worth, think they could start selling courses on how to run a showroom. So in case you've missed it: They do it, and they do it well.

However.... Mr. Aaron's desk nameplate is/was not the only element of floordesign that was dateable or moreover in this case dated. For all of their personal knowhow (a huge portion of sales), the inside (but oddly not the outside which has always remained fresh) of their showroom was, as a dear designer friend of theirs who recently offered a complimentary consultation to help makeover their showroom pointed out "stuck in the eighties". As this story was retold to me by Patrick, I listened intently looking around trying to remember what it had previously looked like. When he finished with ..."eighties" I said what any self respecting opinionated highly-regarded irreverent homosexual rug blogger would say "Did she mean 1880's or 1980's?" (my people, as we joke, have a way with sarcasm). Patrick was only mildly amused. So, what does an eighties era rug showroom look like? With some digging I was able to find this photo.

Armando Villesenor (Formerly of Lapchi) speaks at the Launch of AtelierLapchi at floordesign.

You'll note The Ruggist (before there was) seated at the far right. Circa Spring 2007

View of the same wall. Repainted and with fewer rugs hanging which cluttered the wall.

The transformation is of course striking. If you'd like to see more photos of the "refreshing" you can find floordesign on facebook here. Now of course I would like to be self-serving and claim that Patrick was prompted to paint and refresh his showroom due to my previous writings (Click on me!!), but this is of course not the case. Patrick, like every other businessman who has been successful over the long term, surrounds himself with good people who give good advice. Do you always want to hear it? Of course not. Is it necessary? Absolutely! I tip my hat to the fine people of floordesign, and wish them continued success.

floordesign footnote

I really wish I had been wearing the aforementioned sunglasses when I took the opportunity to show Patrick a study of the handwork carpets Red Spruce makes. Was he impressed by the quality and texture? Yes. Do I wish you could all see the look on his face when I told him the pricing? Yes. Sadly, the sunglasses order was not even a glimmer in my eye at that point.

Quotable

"The Ruggist is lovable but infuriating." so said Nicholas Christie, husband of The Ruggist, to which the Ruggist replied, "Hahah. I think the people at [[Name of Rug Company Redacted]] would agree with you on the infuriating part.

Why? Why? Why? The conclusion and point! (Notice the Colour: Thank you Pantone)

Find your niche large or small and excel. Listen to advice and take action, and above all, enjoy what you do. Just do what you do and do it well. All of this of course, unless you write a rug blog. Then just phone it in like The Black Eyed Peas' remake of "(I've had) The Time of My Life". That remake is like the rug below, and they are both like a train wreck. You cannot help but look and listen in horror. Speaking of horror, do you know what is horrible about the rug industry? Lack of originality. Oh I am not saying there isn't any original work, far from that actually. But what I am saying is that there is way too much unoriginal work. Take for example this carpet (As seen in an unnamed retail showroom in San Francisco). It is newly woven rug of a design intended to mimic the look of true patchwork carpets. Really? That is just laziness and ignores the virtues of patchwork carpets both from a design and from a re-use perspective. Whomever makes these carpets and whomever sells them really needs to put some thought into their lack of design integrity, not unlike the Black Eyed Peas and whomever consumes their, err, um, music as of late.

This is just lazy design!

As always thank you for reading! Please tell your friends, enemies or frenemies about The Ruggist.

SALE EXTENDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND! EVERYTHING (STILL) MUST GO!

2010-11-01T10:00:00.002-03:00

Hello again, Hello! The last post on The Ruggist caused quite a stir and though it elicited several responses, most disappointingly as of yet, is that there are none from anyone who was offended. Then again, how can you offend the offensive? But I digress.

I was really inspired by the aforementioned rugnews.com editorial and the associated comments. As such The Ruggist has some new rules, but before we get to those, I'd like to share the following email I received before I decided on, and implemented, the new rules. I've asked the author for permission to post it, so, here you go:

Hi Michael,

I enjoyed your last post. As a retailer we deal with the low-budget rug auction all the time. There are two auction houses in Houston that do a similar business to the auction that you discussed. Additionally we contend with scores of no-rent dealers who partner with furniture stores in town and literally sell out of a truck the most dreadful rugs that you can imagine. For years I reassured myself that they were not selling to “my customer” as “my customer” was far too sophisticated to buy a rug from the van-man, until I got a call from a designer (“my customer”) who advised her client to buy one of these rugs. It was a new Turkish piece, sold as an “antique Oushak” and the knots were falling out of it. The pile was completely unstable and the rug could not be repaired for less than what was paid for it and so I advised her to take it back for a refund or exchange. But of course she could not take it back because the van-man had long since gone.

As furious as I am with the van-man, I do agree that he has a right to conduct business and I do not think that dealers like him damage the industry for the rest of us. I thoroughly believe that the market will correct for people like the van-man and even though bottom feeding dealers like him may take some business in the short run, in the end you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Bad business moves by such dealers eventually create opportunities for an honest dealer that stands behind the product that he/she sells.

All the best,
Ryan [Reitmeyer]
Carol Piper Rugs

I think Ryan makes some very positive and constructive points, especially about knowing, or not, your customer, and about looking for and capitalizing on opportunities found. Thanks Ryan.

And now for those new (pesky) Ruggist rules as of November 1, 2010.

1) No Anonymous comment posting. If you post a comment it MUST be attributed or it will not be accepted. (I already moderate comments to avoid spam.) If you would like to have your thoughts shared and remain anonymous, you must email me directly and request to remain anonymous. You must request anonymity to receive it.

2) The Ruggist now reserves the right to publish the content and/or author/sender of any email directed to any and all email addresses under the domain "theruggist.com", unless, as per rule one (1), anonymity is requested.

3) Don't swear too much in your comments.

4) Don't take life to seriously. We've got but one to live (according to my beliefs) and in the end it might as well have been fun. No regrets and the like.

**End Rules**

As always, thanks for reading!

TODAY ONLY! EVERYTHING MUST GO! NO (REASONABLE) OFFER REFUSED!

2010-10-29T08:00:00.003-03:00

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey, one that begins with The Ruggist going on record and saying that Lissa Wyman of rugnews.com deserves the praise and adulation of everyone in the World of Rugs who believes in, as is said, "fighting the good fight" for her recent editorial titled: A Disgrace in High Point Auction of Oriental Rugs, the full text of which can be read by following the link to the Rug News website, and then ends with, as is often the case, The Ruggist offending someone.

Reading not only Ms. Wyman's words, but also those of the anonymous and otherwise commenters to her story inspired me to: 1) Make sure that more people know about her editorial, and B) Add my own take on the situation. Why? Because I love sticking my nose into things where some argue it might not belong.

Disgraceful Indeed!

This is the image that accompanies Ms. Wyman's editorial, and although I don't know her personally I would swear we must be kindred spirits. Whom other than The Ruggist would make a public comment such as: "First, the shoddiness of the advertising and the shabby building housing the auction..."? We now know the answer!

We also know that Ms. Wyman is brave for taking on what is the ugly unwashed underbelly of the World of Rugs and that her remarks, as is evidenced by the comments posted to her editorial, have certainly hit a nerve, none more so that with a self described "retired old man" in the form of Steve Lackey. But first, I'd like to highlight this passage from the editorial:

"I didn't bother going to the auction because I've been to enough similar events to know it would make my skin crawl. But I can almost bet that the no one there had any idea about the provenance of any of the rugs at that auction. I can also bet that the colors were drab and muddy and the patterns had gone out of style somewhere back in the 80's." - Lissa Wyman

This is journalism gold, and although the return of 1980's styling and colouration is at hand, the point made could not be any more on the mark.

Oy! The Comments.

Before I get off on a tangent here I want to say that everyone reading this should read the entire Rug News editorial and also all the comments posted to it. The discussion brings up many valid points, and those of Mr. Lackey tend to best address the main issues therein. His poignant comments regarding importers assuming too many leases and showrooms, thus driving up overhead, and by extension prices should ring home with everyone in the industry. Why must there be a showroom in Atlanta, Highpoint, New York and Las Vegas? Furthermore he is correct that "Buyers aren't stupid (or at least shouldn't be) and if the auction's rugs are not worthy, they won't be bought.", but in defense of Ms. Wyman's point, I will argue that consumers (as a mass mob) are, err, stupid is too strong a word, are "easily influenced by negative perceptions and media reports and tend to purchase (as a whole) in an uneducated manner" to say in a very nuanced fashion. Our industry suffers from the misdeeds committed by its unscrupulous members (yes I am obviously biased against this type of auction/sale as well) and for those of us, to restate, fighting the good fight, we should endeavor to self-regulate, as Mr. Lackey is again correct that "We don't need a nanny state where the government tells the rug industry how to conduct their business." Amen to that!

But wait!

Mr. lackey continues in his comment: "If anybody should be outraged it is the consumer for the way they have been treated by the rug industry. It is hard to feel sorry for the vendors/retailers that engage in price-fixing and collusion in order to screw the consumer and maintain their margins. Yeah, I know they like to call it MAP and claim it is ethical and legal, but come on: "A rose by any other name ....." How dare vendors try to dictate to retailers how they should run their businesses, what prices to charge and what kind of advertising they are permitted to do."

Say what? He wants the government to allow people to sell cheap (as an expression of price and quality), disgusting, outmoded, unserviceable, rugs at whatever low price they see fit, and stay out of managing the rug business, yet within the same paragraph bemoans that fact that (and this is a presumption of his intent) vendors who make and sell, quality, stylish, long wearing, rugs at a variety of price points (low to ultra high) can and often do dictate to retailers how they run their business. Which one does he, and indeed do we want? Governmentally regulated prices or industry "regulated" prices. I am not certain if Mr. Lackey is aware but there is no claim of legality. Minimum Advertised Price (MAP as he calls it) is legal in most circumstances, at least within the Untied States. The United States Supreme Court, in a ruling viewed as exceptionally pro-business, removed the 1911 flat ban on pricing agreements in a 2007 ruling, covered very well here in the New York Times.

"How dare vendors...?" he asks. They dare because they can. They dare because it is an agreement. Don't like it? Don't agree to it. If I (vendor), as a maker of awesome (or obscure as they were recently called. I think it was meant as an insult, but I take it as a compliment.) rugs, premised on quality, authenticity, and reputation, want to sell my wares to you (retailer), with conditions on their resale, you, as the retailer are free to choose to or not to agree to this. Want to sell my rugs? Agree to it. Don't want to? Don't agree to it. Likewise, the supposedly outraged consumer, is free to buy a rug from either the me/you channel, or from those purportedly unscrupulous rug auctions. If the consumer is indeed outraged, their spending habits should fix the problem.

By keeping the government out of price regulation, we as an industry must accept this type of sale with its downward price spiral and unflattering image problem (the bad), with the MAPS, preserved margins, and exclusive image (the good) practiced by those of us "fighting the good fight". Profit, to quote a former colleague and former friend, is not a bad word, and unfortunately for Mr. Lackey you can't have your cake and eat it too.

And another comment!

This one comes to us from anonymous, who writes:

"Steve, what exactly is an "Avid Rug Hobbyist"? Obviously you don't have a real paying job, since you have so much time on your hands to sit down and write all of the garbage that you seem ot think of. Grow up already, and find a real job so that you can leave the Rug Industry alone! We are an industry that is struggling with many issues, we surely don't need crass comments from someone like you. If you have nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut!"

Oh Mr, or Ms Anonymous. Let me educate you about a few things that might help you address some of the (rug) issues you are struggling with. Mr. Lackey has already grown up and indeed does not have a paying job. His website says he's retired, and if you'd bothered to research that you would have known that as I do. Being retired does give him, presumably a lot of free time, unless of course he golfs, in which case he spends it all being frustrated. What is an "Avid Rug Hobbyist"? it might just have been your next customer whom you've now offended. Opinions, whether you agree with them or not, from within the industry or, more importantly from consumers are never "garbage" and referring to them as such is a tool of a weak mind. Crass comments cause real dialog, which will lead to real solutions to the issues the rug industry faces, and dictating that someone "keeps their mouth shut" and only say nice things, reminds of of a very rude phone call I received when I first started writing The Ruggist. When you resort to insult as opposed to debate, you've already lost. Finally Mr. Anonymous, exactly from whom should we hear crass comments?

The point(s)...

Do not interpret my endorsement of Lissa Wyman's editorial, nor my obviously biased and negative opinion of this type of rug sale/auction as a carte blanche dismissal of discounted rug sales. Moving inventory is a necessity, but as with all things it is in execution. As previously discussed, many companies do it the right way, while topically and obviously many do not.

Ms. Wyman is right to say that "...no one there had any idea about the provenance of any of the rugs at that auction." and for the buyer (dealer or consumer) it comes down to what they are comfortable with. By analogy, do want to buy a stolen (I'm not implying the rugs are stolen, just illustrating a lack of provenance) used Yugo from a car dealer who wont be there next week, or do you want to buy a brand new VW from the Autostadt? I prefer the later, but we still need ways to move the former.

Love it or hate it, this is the crazy world we call rugs. Austin Craley of Momeni sums it up well "...an anonymous responder telling him [Mr. Lackey] that if he has "nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut" unfortunately is not going to help make our industry stronger. Debating differing viewpoints on the other hand will."

The Ruggist, that is me, Michael A.C. Christie, tips his hat and salutes Lissa Wyman, Steve Lackey, Austin Craley and everyone else who has "actually grow[n] a pair" and speaks their mind and attaches their name to their opinions liked or otherwise.

As always, thank you for reading. Be sure to join us next time as we name the names of the people who emailed or rang telling people like me to shut my mouth.

NYICS 2010 Rug and Carpet Review + Bonus Material!

2010-10-14T13:00:00.002-03:00

Good day and welcome! I would like to preface this post by saying that this year's NYICS was the absolute most fun I've ever had at a rug market, baring the late saturday night adventures of the January 2002 Atlanta Market. "Semper Fi!" as they say. My continued encounters with existing friends, long lost relatives, new friends, and fleeting meetings with apparently former friends made for an exciting two days. We laughed, we laughed some more, we tried to figure out how "The Ruggist" could make money, and oh, I almost forgot we looked at: rugs. How could I forget about the rugs? There were a lot. More than twice as many than last year, and that is a great sign! Shall we then?

The featured lead review goes to: Tamarian

Situated prominently along the main aisle right off the elevators it would be hard to miss the expansive booth of Tamarian, but that alone is not why they get lead review. If you will allow me: They get the lead review because my dear friend Ned Baker has once again jumped ship and switched rug companies, this time going to, obviously, Tamarian. Fortunately for Mr. Baker he got off the last ship before it sank (more on this later). So to settle what I am to understand it a bet: Yes. Tamarian will get better coverage on The Ruggist. For now at least. But back to the rugs....

After a "difference of opinions" with the management of Tamarian over my characterization of their use of samples in the Winter 2009 Issue of Cover, it was nice to be welcomed into their booth and to discuss, at tedious length (similar to this blog post), that characterization. For the record, I offer the following correction:

"My Winter 2009 Cover Article "Simply the Best" suffers from a bit of ambiguity, in that the reader could be mislead into believing that Lapchi was making samples before Tamarian, which obviously cannot be the case as Tamarian existed before Lapchi. Moreover, it should be noted that Tamarian differs greatly from Lapchi by offering a very comprehensive stocking program in conjunction with their samples." End correction. In the end, my use of the word "pioneered" (in the article) was incorrect, and perhaps the Lord Cybor and the Vavasour Higgins and the Vassal Baker know that The Ruggist takes word choice very seriously, and so were easily able to sway me. That may be the case, but I still stand by the fact Lapchi took sampling to the forefront of rugs sales (at least pre Great Recession). That is a fact, as is the fact that Tamarian has a great stocking program that has benefited them during (and post) the Great Recession. I wonder if someone will complaint I said Lapchi too much? Probably.

But the rugs! Everyone should know I am not a fan of neutral rugs, it is just not who I am, but I'm no fool either. A good forty to sixty percent (40-60%) of broadloom sales (depending on whom you ask) is in some form of beige-ish neutral, and it is no leap of deduction to say this translates to rugs as well. Tamarian offers a wide range of designs, presented in a palate that, well quite frankly, sells. Obviously you can customize it, but sometimes at the end of the day you and your customer just want something from stock, and chances are, it might happen to be beige. Well then we know whose been getting those sales don't we? Facetiousness aside, Tamarian is a successful company, with a dedicated and hard working staff, who sell, ship and deliver the rugs and carpets customers want to buy. As Ned Baker says: "Those who like to sell rugs, sell beige rugs". It pains The Ruggist's heart to nod in tacit agreement.

BONUS: Carol Piper and Ryan Reitmeyer.

Quoting Ned Baker reminded me of my encounter with Carol and Ryan. I know them by way of their passionate love of Red Spruce and the wonderful carpets we make (shameless but relevant plug), but this may well have only been my second time meeting them. Ryan should be an acknowledged up and coming rug expert if he is not already, and Carol is an established dealer with a discerning eye known for her taste. I'd tell you what she thinks of rugs, or coffee, or monday mornings, but every time she turned to talk to me she began with: "Don't quote me on this." That happens more and more often these days, and unlike other journalists, I follow that maxim. Maybe Ned should have told me not to quote him....

Critical Rug Review: Bravin Lee Programs.

Bravin Lee is a partnership that sees artist's designs from various media made into limited edition rugs in runs of fifteen or twenty it seems to be. While this concept is neither new or innovative, nor quite frankly really tends to increases the salability of the rug, it does give the end user something nice to talk about during parties. One rug in particular caught my eye because of its very strong geometric design. I must have walked by and stared at in about four times before I went into the booth to examine it more closely. The design called to me because of my irrational and innate love of most things geometric. It was further endeared to it when the woman in the booth told me it was a "James Siena"; she must have known I love accredited work. But then she said seven words that made me want to cry, "It is based on the Fibonacci number...." to which I emphatically said in a superior tone "No it's not" and then she continued "Oh yes we counted it out many times" and not wanting to be one to argue in public I let it go. Until now.

(The Ruggist Illustration on Left, Bravin Lee "Nine Constant Windows" on Right)

I will fully concede this design was most certainly inspired by the Fibonacci number, but it is not based or derived from it, and this is why. First off, the Fibonacci number or sequence if you will yields the "golden rectangle" which has proportions in the vicinity of 1:1.61803399. As you can see in the illustration above (their rug on the right, my like-coloured illustration on the left) their rug is more "square" than the correct proportions as illustrated by me. Furthmore, all of the sub elements of a Fibonacci rectangle are squares (as is required to build the proportions, and is a function of the sequence itself) not rectangles as in their design. I've been studying their design now for four (4) days and while there seems to be a pattern of "halfing" the larger elements to produce the next smaller, or doubling the smaller to produce the next larger, this alternating rectangle-square motif is not fibonacci.

I think what really got my goat as they say though, is that this rug is being presented as based on the fibonacci number, when it in fact it completely disregards the historical, mathematical, and aesthetic importance the number has played on proportion. Architecture is no stranger to the proportions, and many argue (some would say incorrectly) neither is nature. Regardless of the intentions, this rug fails to pay homage to the number on which it is supposedly based, but in the spirit of an art gallery producing rugs, it has me upset and talking, and isn't that what good art is about?

BONUS: Talk about picking a fight!

Not being one to shy (to much) away from controversy, I was paralyzed and awe struck on the sunday night of the show when at the Hotel Ganzevoort Park a fight nearly broke out between two presumably equally drunk rug dealers. I'm not gonna name names (I don't even know the one.), but I think the eminent fisticuffs were the result of unrequited affection toward a lady. What happened to the good old days in Atlanta when drunken rug dealers just hired a, as we used to say in german class: "fraulein von der nacht"?

Kooches

I am sure Tom Demarco is wondering what he did to deserve placement on the heels of that last sentence, but I can assure you it was nothing more than making beautiful carpets, and having wonderful staff. What can I say about his carpets other than I am a fan, and not in that lame Mandarin Oriental Hotel advertising campaign way either. Though his designs are subtle and his colourations most often monochromatic, they do not lack colour, imagination, or vibrance. Great blues, oranges, and browns abound and his ability to produce a flatweave and a pile carpet that are nearly indiscernible at twenty meters, still amazes me. A special welcome goes out to Daniel Tillman who recently joined with Kooches in capacity as salesman. Daniel it turns out is a distant cousin of mine (more on this in the next blog) through marriage, and has become one of the most avid readers of "The Ruggist".

BONUS: AmericasMART Stalkers

Q: Why does the NYICS allow salesman from other shows to walk the floor?

A: It makes even the most aggressive rug dealer look mild.

Wool & Silk Rugs

Eponymously named, Wool & Silk Rugs produces simply that: Rugs made of wool and silk. The owner, Erbil Tezcan and his quite capable assistant (if that is the right title, she was seductively vague in describing her position) Andrea Moomjy exhibited a bold and colourful collection of Tibetan weave rugs that easily caught my eye, as I too am a victim of "What's New? Syndrome". And while he told me to not tell everyone, I feel there is no privilege as it were, as it is an integral feature of his product, which he has surely told to many of his now twenty some odd dealers. So, what is it? Blended wool and silk, but not, as I've been schooled, by plying together at the yarn stage, but rather by intermixing at the carding stage. Is this technically achievable? They were first told no, but worked to make it happen. I consulted a (knowledgeable) friend who also had never heard of this, but then again, if you told me in 1992, that I could download music to my iPhone via the Internet, I would have said "Whaaaaaat?". Regardless, the strong use of colour paired with a great texture and visual appeal makes for beautiful rugs. I wish all the best to Erbil!

Hossein Rezvani

Speaking of colour. Wow! Beautiful rugs made in Iran that unfortunately we won't be seeing in the United States any time soon, due to the pending Iranian embargo. It is a shame as well. With bold saturated colours and appealing non traditional designs, their carpets speak to someone who is not afraid to make a statement. In fact, I'd own one.

BONUS: Iranian Rug Embargo

The Ruggist writes about whatever he wants because there are no advertisers to answer to. At the end of the day, The Ruggist is just an opinionated rug dealer like everyone else. Ok, not like everyone else, but you get the point. What gets read though is another story. The Iranian rug embargo is of true importance to the industry, yet on the day I posted the article, only fifty-four (54) people read my post, whereas on the day I wrote about a certain rug brand's new midwestern showroom 142 people read the post. Clearly gossip sells, now if only I was selling something. Fortunately not all is lost, as the Iranian Embargo post is doing quiet well with follow up readership, but it does go to show what people like to read. And, not being one to disappoint....

I've previously offended the people at Rug Insider by deriding them for calling certain designs of New Moon "old", and with fair warning I am about to once again cause a kerfuffle if for no other reason than to draw attention to pressing concerns within the industry. The "Embargo Fever" article in the Fall 2010 Issue of Rug Insider fails miserably in its attempt to address the embargo because: 1) It interviews only a very defined demographic of insiders (clearly the target audience of the publication and its advertising base as well), who 2) Present nearly identical stock answers to identical questions, that 3) Fail to tell a narrative or take a definitive editorial stance, and that 4) Sheds a little light into why rugs sales are suffering so much. To quote Djalal Mohammadi of Tepp Team USA "I have enough inventory for a couple of years". And that, pardon my expression, shitload of years old stale inventory and ignorance of the realities of contemporary consumer habits is, my dear readers, the reason sales of traditionally styled rugs have been loosing ground to modern design.

BONUS: Foreign Language F.Y.I.

If you want to have a private conversion in a foreign language in front of someone, you should be sure the third party doesn't know the language.

Ariana

One of a kind rugs that make The Ruggist swoon! "Waiiiiiiiit" you say. "Why is it that The Ruggist likes neutral, predominately beige traditionally styled rugs from Ariana, but at the same time derides other manufacturers for producing products of similar aesthetic value?" Because Ariana just gets it right. The paring of traditional design and design elements, presented in a neutral palate, executed with near flawless quality on a one of a kind basis. This embodies the best of what rug production used to, and should be! Quality and rugs aside, I just love watching what I call "The Unveiling" If you don't know what I'm talking about you need to get out of your little hole in the wall rug showroom and join the big boys at rug market. Yes that statement was arrogant and full of ego, and if you've ever watched "The Unveiling" you know that Ariana's sales approach is comprised of three parts: 1) Beautiful Rugs 2) Circus like atmosphere and, you'll pardon the language again, 3) Pissing Match. Even if they didn't make great rugs, I'd come for the spectacle of it all.

Shout Outs!

This concludes our "regularly" scheduled NYICS review. I would however like to take a moment to briefly mention a few other people and companies whom I saw at NYICS and what, if anything, made them stand out.

Art Beyond Borders - One of a kind, handwoven tapestries in modern designs. Great colour!

Haynes Robinson / Rug Alliance Zurich - The unimaginably beautiful and layered designs of Sahar. Now available sample sized!

Lapchi - New designs, new colourations, and a steady traffic flow. Sasha is still as charming and personable as ever.

New Moon - Noticeably absent was J.D. Kurtz, but his lovely daughters held down the booth.

The New England Collection - Great product bases on historic North American designs. Thumps up!

Robin Gray - Great looking rugs presented by such a passionate staff. They've recently open a new larger home showroom in Santa Fe.

Woven Legends - Beautiful rugs as always. If you're tired of the stale Iranian goods referenced above, buy something from Woven Legends.

Zollanvari - Great Iranian Gabbeh's. At least if they've stockpiled these they wont look stale.

SUPER BONUS: Halvai closure!

As you may have heard, Bill Ward's Havlai closed up both his expansive Soho showroom, and from what we gather, operations in general. The Ruggist had avoided reporting of the pending demise of The SS Halvai for quite come time, as gentleman don't kick when others are down, but from our understanding even the rats were running from the water. As mentioned previously, Ned Baker narrowly escaped aboard the Super Luxury Yacht that is the SS Tamarian and is now sailing in the calm and lucrative waters off the moon drenched shores of Beigelandia.

Reports have it that Mr. Ward has not left the rug business and is now heading up rug and carpet production at Lillian August, which is further supported by the former Halvai website suggesting webgoers visit Lillian August dot com.

As always, thanks for reading.

Editorial Note: This post was edited on October 22, 2010 to correct the spelling of Ryan Higgins' last name. I apologize for the error.

The Ruggist Update: NYICS and Other Rug Blogs

2010-09-09T10:00:00.004-03:00

"He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which." - Douglas Adams

Welcome to the inaugural post of "The Ruggist" since our dramatic makeover. The old, thrown together in an afternoon without much thought banner has now been replaced with a new, thrown together in an evening banner, albeit one that had a wee bit more thought put into it. Two years ago, who knew that an idea to share my opinions to pass a slow summer would: 1) Still be going. 2) Still be interesting to me. and 3) Still attracts attention. Yay! So there it is, a brand new look that is is a bit more, oh how does one say: BRANDED! That's right - after my highly critical post of July 28, 2010 I was looking at "The Ruggist" and thought to myself: "I'm such a hypocrite." - and since no one else has called me out on it, I am going to admit that I too was guilty of not paying attention to my brand. Well problem corrected (mostly), though I still have a few issues to work out with my web hosting company.

The New Look!

Just yesterday I was discussing with my dear friend Crystal, who if you are in the Halifax area makes the most tasty cakes (though not to be confused with Tastykakes). Check her out here: gateauxrose. Hmmm. Cake. Anyway, we were discussing logos and branding and how even the simplest of logos reflect a great deal of thought and work. Ever so quickly; the new logo was "designed" and we are using that term very loosely, to reflect the personality of The Ruggist. The font is one based directly on my handwriting, and of course the woven section (a future badge?) represents the foundation of rugs, and it is intentionally graphic to allow ease of recolouring and printing as needed. The website colours have been changed to reflect that "old timey" blueprint feel. Does anyone even remember, blue blueprints? Anyway, that's it! Onward...

NYICS

I've said it before and I'll say it again, New York is where it is at. This year's NYICS, which runs from this Sunday, September 12, 2010 until Tuesday, September 14, 2010 is set to be a, and I"m quoting "smorgasbord" of carpet importers/wholesalers. As much as I love Dennis Dodds: Smorgasbord!? Really? I'm glad the circumstances did not allow me to exhibit this year, as I would be right pissed if I my company was described as being part of smorgasbord. **Sigh. Veritable Swedish buffets aside, Dennis has put together a great show, with over thirty (30) exhibitors , which is over a doubling from last year. Kudos to him and to all the exhibitors. Perhaps the optimistic sales mood will continue. I'm looking forward to seeing him and all of the vendors, who may, or may not, welcome me into their booths. Speaking of seeing vendors (notice this very subtle segue)....

The Ruggist is now on Twitter and Facebook

"Saying what we think gives us a wider conversational range than saying what we know." - Cullen Hightower

That's right! Irreverent critical commentary, shot right from the hip, as is said. Little to no editing, just straight thoughts and musings that you can read to pass your day. And wait, there is more! The Ruggist will be posting, live as it happens (wait isn't that how twitter always works!?) reports from NYICS. Find out which importers have great new product, and are wearing the best outfits, and who just gave me the evil eye. Ok. Ok. I'm not writing about all of those things.... Or am I? Oh. We're also on Facebook. You can use the links below to follow and to become a fan!

The Ruggist on Twitter and/or The Ruggist on Facebook

And finally....

Several years ago I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Edgar Hagopian, patriarch of the Detroit rug family of the same name of course. The take away message I still recall to this day? "Move next door to your competitors and make it easy for your customers to shop around, they are doing it anyway." I love, love, love this advice. Competition in the "world of rugs" is such a interesting thing. Pricing, quality and all the other things set aside mean nothing next to the style of the rug and the answer to the question: "Does the customer like it?" Well, if you're reading my blog you must like it, no? Or maybe you read it because you are a "journalistic" masochist. In either case, The Ruggist will leave you with a annotated listing of other rug blogs! Oh! If I've missed a blog you like, send it to me and I'll add it!

Enjoy and thank you for reading!

The Other Blogs!

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. - George Bernard Shaw

Rugmaster

I love the name!

Under Cover Rug Lover

I also love this name! This is a good blog in the sense of what a blog should do. It gives us an idea of the personality of the writer.

Also as a footnote: Rugmaster vs Under Cover Rug Lover. You decide!

Carol Piper Rugs

Written by the very personable Ryan Reitmeyer, this blogs offer a glimpse into the in depth knowledge he possesses.

Lapchi

Focused information providing an in depth look into Lapchi's designs, and various other company ephemera.

Rug Design Blog

This is the blog "The Ruggist" reads, err read. I wish she would resume posting. Excellent commentary on rug design. The author is also a world of rugs veteran.

Cover

Timely snippets of information designed to lure us into buying their Magazine, which I do.

Classic Rug

Chronicles the work and studio life of Barbara Barrran.

"Embargo On!"

2010-08-30T10:30:00.006-03:00

Did you ever see "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome"?

Due to my father's love of bad sci-fi action films (which I unfortunately inherited) I watched this movie an estimated 2,345 times during my formative teenage years. For those not familiar, the movie takes place in a post apocalyptic society, and more specifically in a town, if you will, run entirely on the energy produced from a pig (Sus domestica) excrement methane plant. Stop right there! (Thanks Meatloaf.) I am not going to compare any rugs or carpets to pig excrement even though we all know there are many worthy candidates, but I am going to continue with this tenuous intro. One of the antagonists is a man named "Master" who with the assistance of his much larger/stronger/less intelligent muscle named "Blaster" enjoys a monopolistic control of the supply of energy to the town, much to the consternation of the fascist leader played by the lovely and scantily clad Tina Turner. His main weapon of choice? Well in his very own words: "Embargo on!"

The short(ish) explanation: A Game of Fools

The short - and I'm actually keeping it short after editing out the much longer version - is that I did vote for Barack Obama during the last United States Presidential Election (A constitutional perk afforded to expatriates along with taxation. Can't tax us if you don't let us vote.). And while I am generally supportive of most Democratic Party initiatives (not to be confused with democracy), Mr. Obama like nearly every United States' President before him is making a blunder in thinking that economic sanctions are going to foment the political change in Iran desired by The West. It's just not the case. It hasn't worked in Cuba or North Korea nor is it going to work in Iran. Why? The United States' post World War II "sphere of influence" policies, have led to free trade, globalization, and to the creation of people (both jointly and severally) who are, in what is the root of all of this, masters at: Capitalism. There are simply just too many people and countries for there not to be someone, somewhere willing to sell goods in defiance of the United States' embargo, in search of the proverbial almighty dollar.

Add in the real tragedy of the suffering of the impoverished, oppressed populations of the embargoed countries, who are truly powerless to change or overthrow their governments (as is this not a goal of the embargo?), and the reasons for the failures of embargoes become even clearer.

But what does this have to do with rugs?

I thought you were "The Ruggist" not Henry Kissinger.

Well! "Embargo On" might just have been shouted by Mr. Obama when he imposed the new economic sanctions on Iran that are due to take effect this fall specifically on September 29, 2010. This means that any and all Iranian origin carpets and rugs that are to legally enter the United States must be cleared and entered into the country by September 28, 2010. This was reported in Rug News on July 1, 2010 in the following article: Rug News Article from 2010 which also has some lively and somewhat bigoted comments, that I recommend reading. After that date, even shipments from third countries (as I understand it) of Iranian origin carpets will be banned. And this my dear readers is a shame.

Commentary

The previous Iranian embargo (as discussed nicely in this Rug News Article from 2007) only real effect on carpet production in Iran was to freeze it in design time relative to the United States' tastes and fashion whims. As Rug News states "the United States moved on" and indeed so did much of The West. Innumerable companies were and are profiting from the shift in taste that saw first the rise of Chinese 90 Line Sculpted, Sino-Persian Reproductions, then Indo-Persian Reproductions, and then the dominant force of the Industry today: Tibetan. Who knows what styling would have been like had the last embargo not taken place? I don't, but I do know that in the decade since the embargo was lifted, Iranian production was working to adapt to Western Style (which is of course no longer willing to accept a Tabriz as the end all be all of rug design thanks perhaps to that original embargo), and what beautiful carpets (from my admittedly American and Western influenced eye) we were just starting to see! Sahar from Haynes Robinson, the Gabbeh's from Zollanvari, and the Modern Contemporary from Orley Shabahang are all examples of great modern design executed by, what many argue, are the finest weavers in the world. For many people and for reasons unknown and/or so innumerable I will not even think of getting into them, the cache of owning an Iranian rug still trumps that of other countries.

I and any manufacturer not making in Iran, knows this embargo is good for our business as it removes competition in an already overcrowded market. But in the high minded world of good design, art, and the quest for beauty, the United States' market is losing a valuable contributor, a worthy competitor, and moreover its place as dominant tastemaker. Politics and business aside, the loss of these rugs and carpets from the United States' market is just another step down the path of mediocrity and homogeny of design for America.

So where will the rugs go? Depending on the length of the embargo, which as one Rug News Commentator noted is likely to drag on for a while, the rugs and carpets will (because trading partners will be found and black markets will redevelop) undoubtably continue to be made and continue to be consumed, just not within the United States (at least legally). Thirteen (13) years from now the aesthetic will have changed, just as it did during the last embargo, but the times, as the song goes, they are a changin'. If I was making rugs in Iran I would turn my sights on Asia. Two (2) plus billion people with economies that are growing at breakneck speed, are poised to become massive consumers, and by extension thereof, the new style and tastemakers.

Conclusion:

The loss of American influence over the styling of rugs from Iran is of course trivial to the concerns of the world, but is nonetheless a tragedy in the ephemeral world of design. It is true that the American market will continue as it did previously, and that "What's New?" will still be the battle cry of the design industry. If and when the embargo is lifted, perhaps the style won't directly suit America's tastes, and perhaps for the well being of the weavers of Iran it won't need to either.

As always, thank you for reading.

Footnote:

The promised interview is still in the works, but I'm not good at them so it is proving to be quite difficult!

Whom are we?

2010-07-28T17:00:00.004-03:00

"Whom are we to judge?" - Unnamed colleague/acquaintance of "The Ruggist"*

The answer to that question is just as complicated and convoluted as the business of design - and by extension the critique thereof - is highly subjective, highly personal, and fraught with anxiety causing potentially dramatic and/or career altering repercussions. Indeed every time I write a post on "The Ruggist" I think to myself: "What am I saying?", "Whom am I (potentially) offending?", and "Does anyone really care?"

The "We" who judge can be the Consumer, the Maker, the Critic; both collectively and severally. It can be the pluralis maiestatis bestowed by the grace of god to Marie Antoinette, and it can be the lowly "we" of those peasants who were tired of eating cake. (Note: It is widely disputed that Marie Antoinette actually said "Let them eat cake!", but for our purposes it works.) The power of any "we" who judges is derived from those who choose to believe what is said, rightly or wrongly, keeping in mind of course right and wrong are often, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately for Her Majesty, the peasants weren't so trusting.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye." - Miss Piggy, US Muppet and Pig

Like Miss Piggy, the "we" of me, myself and I, along with most anyone else on the planet tends to think of our own opinions as being right, with others deserving of the aforementioned black eye. And so, keeping that in mind as "we" pass judgement today: Whom am I to judge? I am The Ruggist, reviled in some circles, lauded in others, chronicling (and commenting on) the truths of the rug industry one opinionated comment at a time, sometimes with a black eye. Enjoy!

The short(er) setup!

I was recently made aware of the opening of Lapchi's latest corporate showroom named in keeping with their style AtelierLapchi Cleveland. "Cleveland?" you ask. "Yes!" I say, "and let me tell you what I think of the new AtelierLapchi Cleveland?

In short: What the hell are they doing?**

I'm not going to dwell at length on this as I am sure this post is going to be controversial enough (oh whom am I kidding, being concise is not one of my talents), but the first and most obvious "what the hell?" moment comes from the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words". To make this easier I'm providing photos.

AtelierLapchi: Los Angeles***

AtelierLapchi: Chicago***

AtelierLapchi: Cleveland***

I've been called an expert (is that because people read this drivel?), and though I will argue I am far from an expert in anything, I will concede to being opinionated and vocal. That being the case, let's sing a song shall we? One of these things is not like the other.... The point of my highly irreverent and puerile treatment of this subject is that quite frankly, you don't have to be an expert (or even an adult) to understand similarity and by extension the singularly most important invention of American Marketing, Retail, and Merchandizing prowess: Branding. To quote myself (wow! that is arrogant eh?) "...regardless of which showroom you are in, your senses tell you that all of the wonderful previous... ...experiences that you have had are about to be repeated." - "Simply the Best" Cover, Winter 2009. In short, consistently delivered (positive) customer experiences translate to repeat sales. And the experience is everything, not just the product. Just ask Starbucks and Les Wexner. When I walk by or into or just look at the images of AtelierLapchi Cleveland, the look immediate tells me my experience is about to be different from my previous Lapchi experiences, and that my dear readers is in a rather condescending manner a "no no".

Editorial Note: It appears that Lapchi may be fully aware of this disconnect as if you visit their website you find not a wonderfully produced image of the Cleveland showroom (as you find with Chicago and Los Angeles) but in its stead a stock advertising image of one of their rugs.

My, isn't he bitchy?

Yes, but I'm also the beholder, black eyed or otherwise, and in this case I'm hedging to bet I'm right about the branding faux pas (amongst others I am committing in the post). The real question we need to ask though is not "What the hell?" but "Why the hell?

"Why the hell?"

Lapchi has chosen to open a corporate showroom in Cleveland for reasons unknown to us. Oh sure, I could have called them and tried to find out more info, but that would take away from "The Ruggist's" lack of credibility and moved us a little too close to being an "actual" journalist. I prefer instead to remain as an overly aware consumer as it were, rambling on at my whimsy. So... Why?

1) Obviously they want to piss off New Yorkers. Nothing says we value the trend setting opinions of the United States' largest (and arguably most internationally connected) rug market like a list of showrooms that reads: "Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland" [!] Notice my use of the sarcasm mark. Now, rumor has it that Lapchi is finally attempting to move into the New York market in a larger way, but after so many years of neglect will New Yorkers embrace them? Only if they can get a cab.

2) Cleveland Rocks!

Ok. Ok. More seriously...

3) Great Market they wanted to keep. I know from my own experience at the company that was "Classic Oriental Rugs" (the former Lapchi dealer in Cleveland which also curiously enough occupied the same space Lapchi now occupies), that the market truly embraced Lapchi. When Classic closed, Lapchi was left scrambling to keep those sales (assuming there were any in this financial climate). Perhaps Classic didn't even close? Perhaps is was a metamorphosis into AtelierLapchi. The phone numbers didn't' even change.

4) In case you hadn't noticed I've taken a rather aggressive and critical position in this post, but I will give credit where credit is due. Kerry Smith and the entire Lapchi management team are very intelligent and capable businessmen. "We" can be assured that whatever the reason behind this move, the numbers as it were make sense. More telling of their plans though is that they've appeared to retain several non-competing lines of rugs from manufactures other than Lapchi in this new Atelier. Is this a patent admission that for all of Lapchi's strengths, its product cannot be everything to everybody? Maybe, maybe not, but their methods may well be.

5) Clearance centre. Many companies have clearance centres. For that matter, any company with inventory should have one (or a system in place) as a means to manage, oh how does one politely say, less desirable inventory. Odegard has one in Long Island City. Tufenkian has one Online and as I recall in Portland, Oregon. (By the by: The Ruggist is gaining credibility. We are now on the Tufenkian Media email distribution list. They are auctioning a Barbara Barry rug on ebay as of today!) Is this the case for Lapchi in Cleveland? (see ** footnote).

The summary of this flippant post.

Aside from being passionate about rugs, and moreover quality rugs, I am a product and creature of American origin. I love Brand names, widely known or otherwise. Our (speaking of the high end of the rug industry) consumers are no different. While it is true there are relatively few rug companies whose names are true Brands. The caché , once laboriously obtained, must then also be carefully maintained. Consumers after all, are fickle. Reflecting on Lapchi's current, and no doubt carefully crafted tagline: "Modern Carpet Culture", I am left to wonder exactly what culture they are cultivating in Cleveland.

So, what is Lapchi doing in Cleveland? My bet is on making money, and regardless of how poorly I or anyone else thinks this reflects on a broader marketing and branding strategy, the fact remains that in Lapchi's defense, the likelihood of any Lapchi client from Chicago, or especially Los Angeles (they are too busy trying to be the West Coast New York), wondering into the new AtelierLapchi Cleveland is quite remote. The consistently delivered positive message I so laboriously defend may not need to exist (for a rug showroom) on a Nationwide level, but rather only on a regional or local level. While I don't agree with this from a Branding viewpoint (for large importers) I can see the merits from a continuing sales (in local markets) standpoint, and from the later's position Lapchi scored a perfect Ten (10). Same Location, Same Staff, Same Phone Number. Same Interior. The customer likely didn't even notice the change. Hmmm. Maybe I do need to have the black eye?

Once again, thank you for reading. Join us next time as "The Ruggist" blogs our first interview!

Footnotes:

*I recently sent a solicitous email to rug dealers regarding Red Spruce, which was of course promoting the line and inviting those who received the email to become dealers. Did you not get the email? It might be that I don't have your email address, or it might be that I don't know of you, or it might be that you are in North Platte, Nebraska. In any case, if you think you might be interested, you can download the Informational Brochure for perusal at your leisure. But anyway I am getting off topic, and being highly self promoting. In the follow up from that email I was contacted by an acquaintance/colleague of mine from the world of rugs who was interested in learning more. In the course of our conversation my aversion to beige carpets once again surfaced at which point said colleague remarked: "Whom are we to judge?" And so I started thinking.

** To clarify some points and provide full disclosure. I have chosen to write about this particular topic due to my rather intimate knowledge of the Cleveland market, and the showroom that we will be studying. I was the Manager of Classic Oriental Rugs, and more to the point of this article, I painted the walls in the showroom the colours they remain today, five (5) years later. Moreover, during my time at Lapchi I actively pursued scenarios involving the purchase of the Cleveland location for Lapchi as use as a clearance center. And also! I recently returned from NYC where I was told by a Ruggist Confidant (ask for your own Ruggist Confidant Identifying Lapel Pin) that many people think I am a front man for Lapchi due to my praise of their innovation of samples as a sales method. This is simply not the case, but they did innovate the use of samples, this much is certain. Though perhaps that is a concept (in its current form) that has run its course.

*** The photos are not used with permission, but were obtained from publicly available sources and fall under Fair Use permissions of United States, Canadian and International Copyright Conventions.

ICFF 2010 - Thoughts and (Re)views

2010-06-08T12:00:00.006-03:00

"The best thing about ICFF in 2010 was watching the paint dry." - Michael A.C. Christie

Exaggeration aside, and acknowledging that it was not actually the best thing about ICFF, I feel that a non rug related mention needs to go to Valspar Paint for their booth concept I am calling "The Obelisk". Not since the opening scenes of 2001: A Space Odyssey have so many humanoids stood around staring in marvel at a large smooth rectangular object, in this case a wall. And while I am 100% certain this wall has no powers of stellar origin, it was able to captivate the crowds as a small cadre of "models who paint" repainted the wall every two (2) hours or so. Polite Applause.

And now: Rug Reviews and other Ephemera with the headlining mention and lead review going to.... (Drum roll please...)

Tania Johnson Design

www.taniajohnsondesign.com

Now before any of the other exhibitors get their feathers all up in a ruffle with such absurdly arrogant statements as "My booth was better." or "How could you have overlooked me?" I am going to come clean and flatly state that Ms. Johnson gets top billing because: a) her booth was located next to the Valspar Booth, and would not that have been a nice transition had I chosen to take that route, and 2) She emailed "The Ruggist" and personally invited me to come by.

Ms. Johnson's rugs and carpets are available made to order and are, in general, abstractions and interpretations of her photography. She works with a fair amount of layering of elements, and has a keen sense of colour and balance. Production is GoodWeave Certified and is of the caliber one would expect coming out of Nepal. Overall her rugs are well designed and executede and contining the aesthetic development of the "Tibetan" rug as a class.

Speaking of "layering".... If ever there was a solid identifiable trend in handmade rugs the current would be layering. Layering of elements, of motifs, of colour, of whatever. As long as it is in layers. End side note.

Jan Kath

www.jan-kath.com

Oh Swoon! I'll leave it for you to decide wether or not I mean the rugs or Mr. Kath himself; that is a "secret" I will leave as such for now. What I will tell you and it is by all means no secret, is that I have been a fan of Jan Kath's carpets and bordering on more so, his advertising since I first received the "Wonderland" Brochure in the mail many years ago. I still have it and I still think it is a great piece of marketing. I would buy ten (10) of the red rug in the field with Puss and Boots if only the man in the boots came along as well. But I digress...

This year marked the first ICFF for Jan Kath and also inaugurated a North American partnership with Cadry's (of Florence Broadhurst renown in North America, more below) that has the still ever lovely Jessica Cadry representing Jan Kath in North America. This is an extension of their continued Australian partnership, and given the strength of Jan Kath's designs and Candry's know how, I am sure it is to be a success.

Of note is the "radideluxe" collection featuring a great melding of traditional and modern designs.. wait for it... layered together, which come to life and are accentuated with breathtaking colour. The concept reminds me of Haynes Robinson's approach with the current Sahar Colleciton (also layering), though the finished aesthetics are quite distinct.

Though I did not spend a lot of time with Mr. Kath, I was impressed by his passion for and commitment to quality. Given the current state of workmanship and production in Nepal, it is impressive he is able to produce the quality of carpets he was showing. Rumor has it he personally approves each weaver.

The finally swoon worthy comment comes from Mr. Kath's sense of humor. These are the pins that were being passed out at his booth. I love the cheeky "Important Customer", but my heart belongs to "HANDTUFT? - no thanks". With apologies to all of my friends who make handtufted, this pin is (caution extreme language ahead) ...fucking awesome! Another rumor is that the design is inspired by the signs in Germany that warn of radiation. Swoon indeed!

Amy Helfand

www.amyhelfand.com

Perennial ICFF exhibitor Amy Helfand returned this year, renewed, refreshed, and invigorated with a conceptual booth that goes to the heart of what ICFF is supposed to be about: Marketing. Now located out of the relative slums of the last aisle, her booth showed her new "Garland Rugs" which are derivative works of her collection shown at last years ICFF. The booth also featured sculpture by Ms. Helfand, and I personally find the true artistic process evident in both her work and her booth to be quite refreshing. "Garland" continues the silhouetted play with the ubiquitous Tibetan Prayer Flag, and is reflective of Ms. Helfand's itinerant rug styling.

Emma Gardner

www.emmagardnerdesign.com

No visit to ICFF would be complete for The Ruggist (I love being in the third person.) without a stop to see Emma Gardner. I am unsure if there is a finer rug marketing team on the planet, as this year Ms. Gardner kept a conspicuously limited and structured schedule of appearances at her booth. Talk about creating demand. Hats off!

This year also saw the introduction of "emma at home" which transitions the handtufted work of Ms. Gardner to Chandra rugs, allowing the designs to compete at a very accessible price point. For readers of dwell, the rugs can now be yours. This also allows Ms. Gardner to best focus her impressive design skills to the appropriate medium, which I am predicting will lead to ever better designs in both handtufted (no thanks!) and handknotted.

As always, I enjoyed a lively and entertaining conversation with Patrick McDarrah which ended with The Ruggist complaining (again) of the lack of truly good multi-line rug showrooms in New York City. Where are the small producers supposed to show?

Bennett Bean

www.bennettbeanstudio.com

Swoon again! This time though it is not in lust after rugs (though his rugs are lustworthy) or perhaps after the namesake of the company, at least not in the way you might expect, though I do adore Bennett Bean. He is the man I want to be in however many years age difference is between my age and his. He is an accomplished potter and artist and creates some of the most visually stunning and complex (and also layered) designs of anyone showing at ICFF. Like Amy Helfand's they really are art. But that is not why I want to be him. I want to be him because he enjoys life, is superbly witty, does what he loves (presumably making at least some money at it), and he has a beautiful, creative and intelligent collaborator/assistant in the form of Elizabeth Rand. Who wouldn't want that?

I really enjoyed a brochure created by Bennett and Elizabeth (I can call them that because we do dinner together just for fun.). Entitled "We Design", the brochure illustrates through photography and some carefully scripted notes the Bennett Bean design process and makes you want to buy one of his rugs because you will feel as though you are part of the artistic/design process and that your rug will be unique to you. Which it will be!

Malena B

www.maleneb.com

It is said that perception is reality, and due to my perceived expertise in god only knows what, I came to know Gary Shafran, EVP of Malena B and then by way of a dinner invitation (which I of course accepted) I met the vibrant Malena Barnett (the name behind the said "b").

Her rugs are a refreshing departure from the expected, no.. ordinary, no...normal, no.... hmmm. I am not sure what they depart from but they are unique. They don't blend in like the rugs of some unnamed large producers, and they fill, if Ms. B will forgive me, a certain more literal multi-ethnic aesthetic that is severely lacking in North American rugs. By example, the rug featured prominently at the back of her booth (see below) is inspired by a henna painting on her hands she received while traveling in India (if i've got the story correct), or she was at Lilith Fair in 1998, and I am hoping it is the former. Either way, she is in touch with some broader ethnic and cultural considerations, which I find quite welcome.

(l to r) Michael A.C. Christie and Malena B at ICFF

Malena (I can call her that, we are Facebook friends) is also hilarious! We enjoyed a wonderful meal of [[insert any food name here it doesn't matter]] but the real treat other than her lively personality was dessert. As everyone knows NYC (and indeed the Western World) is in the midst of an irrational obsession with cupcakes and Malena knows where the best are to be found. Thanks Malena and thanks to Butter Lane.

Liza Phillips

www.lizaphillipsdesign.com

Lisa Phillips was and is still best known to The Ruggist as the designer behind Alto Steps. I finally took the opportunity ICFF affords to introduce myself and express my approval - though no one should hinge anything on my approval or disapproval - of the concept and the designs. I love (as we should all know by now) the marriage of the old (concept of stair treads) with the new (execution of concept). I'm glad to see she is still making this and I wish her continued success.

Oh! In case you are wondering... Yes there is a method (mildly adhesive non-slip padding) that prevents the treads from slipping on the stairs and it comes with the set.

Indi-B

www.indib.com

Cute. Whimsical. Childlike. Maybe not the way most companies would like their designs to be classed, but for a company that set out to create rugs for children's environments that are well designed (without being childish) and affordable priced (as children's rugs should be), I hope they take it as the most sincere compliment. Beyond their children's rugs is a collection of carpets based on silhouettes that play with the use of positive and negative space through bold colourations. The entire line is handtufted in India, and as is fitting for children's rugs are certified free of child labour by: GoodWeave.

GoodWeave

www.goodweave.org

Gratuitous and - as some people will call it - self-serving* GoodWeave mention. You know, the organization that ensures there is no illegal child labour in rug production. I'll spare you the lengthy version this time, but support this group. Failure do to any meaningful thing to prevent child labour due to methodology, politics, or ego is tantamount to complicity with the use of child labour.

Really? Really? Where is his Visa?

While I am being slightly (understatement) sanctimonious, I would like to mention this merely as food for thought. New York City has played host to ICFF every year for the last twenty (20) or so years, each time welcoming visitors (exhibitors and attendees alike) from around the globe. After all, it is The International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Until of course this year, when a young Iranian man was denied a visa, for reasons we can assume are related to the national security of the United States. Of course this is not the first time a visa has been denied, and as an expatriate American I can appreciate, sympathize with, and even understand the unique American perspective, but I can also assure everyone that there are far greater threats to American style freedom, than a designer from Iran.

Florence Broadhurst

www.florencerugs.com.au

Now for the "more below" on Florence Broadhurst. First launched in the United States at last year's ICFF, the Florence Broadhurst Collection of rugs expanded this year to include more designs licensed from the estate of the late - and prolific - designer Florence Broadhurst.

Not since Lapchi first hit the rug scene (makes it sound all rock and roll) has there been so much buzz about a collection. Many of The Ruggist Confidants (ask for your own Ruggist Confidant Identifying Lapel Pin), have asked me about the collection, and they (the rugs) are generating quite the PR buzz in some cities. I can't quite tell if their approach is Trade-Only or a Retail mix, nor have I asked, but regardless I find the rugs to be as fresh today, as Lapchi was in 2005/2006. Amidst a large sea of mediocrity of design, the rugs in the Florence Broadhurst Collection strike a chord that resonates with those seeking a rug that is more than just a pedestrian monochromatic beige floral. I guess we know what I think of beige florals now don't we? The real question to ask, and this is true of any rug/designer/company, is: Will the collection prove to have the elusive staying power that blesses so few in the rug industry? Only time will tell.

Rug Art

www.rug-art.net

Last year I did a rather exhaustive review of rug exhibitors at ICFF, and while I am making no such attempt to do as such this year, I do feel as though the final mention should go to someone whom I overlooked last year. Vidal and Segal Sasson at Rug Art. I made several attempts to stop by Rug Art's booth this year but was unable to find a time (I tried at least eight to ten (8-10) times) when Mr. Sasson was not engaged by someone in the booth. I think this speaks highly of their appeal and so while I will/can not directly comment on their rugs, I'll ask them to accept my apologies for last year's oversight and wish them more of their continued appearant success.

Novel Once, Not Thrice.

Overall the rug designs at ICFF this year showed a lot of innovation which is more than I can say for many of the other exhibitors. To those showing the same product you've shown the last three years, please remember that ICFF is about marketing and new product and innovation, not about resting on your laurels, unless of course you are Herman Miller and you are selling the work of George Nelson. For your information: You're not. If something you've shown before has been featured in: 1) More than three (3) shelter magazines. and 2) A curated museum exhibit on modern design. and 3) Is recognizable to someone not in your industry, it is time for something new.

As always, thank you for reading.

*Of course this blog is self-serving. It's a blog. Not the New York Times.

Double-U Tee Ef?!

2010-03-29T09:00:00.005-03:00

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...

2010-03-08T12:00:00.008-04:00

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!!

Announcements! Just like in High School only more relevant.

2010-02-08T07:30:00.013-04:00

Announcements! The mere utterance of that word takes me back to my early teenage years when I would spend the summers volunteering with the local park district and Boy Scout Council where I would teach, of all things, Forestry! Each morning of Day Camp (for the younger not quite yet Boy Scouts) all would gather around the flag pole for the raising of the flag. The Camp Director would ceremoniously walk to the centre of the parade ground and with a megaphone proceed to announce the forthcoming announcements with the phrase: "And now for some announcements!" This would always cause the young scouts, who reveled in mocking adults, to sing a little ditty, the exact wording of which escapes me but had something to do with "being talked to death". Well not unlike that camp director I come before you to the centre of my self created forum to do some housekeeping. So, imagining me standing before you with a megaphone (I like to picture myself more with a vintage chrome microphone and a big band)....

"Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Winter is always a flurry of activity in the world of rugs, and as can be expected much is going on. Each of these items deserves a mention but not necessarily a full post edition of "The Ruggist". With that, I give you a collection of announcements of varying degrees of pertinence and relevance to the broad world of rugs.

Dates and Location for the 2010 NYICS Announced.

According the Dennis Dodds the New York International Carpet Show will take place from September 12 to 14, 2010 and once again will be at 7 West 34th Street in Mid-Town Manhattan. This year's show looks to build upon the relative success of last year's by once again offering convenient weekend dates, a great location, and a "Designer Day Luncheon". Mr. Dodds can be quoted in saying that he "is convinced that reliable suppliers of high-end handmade designer-quality goods need more interaction with interior designers and specifying architects for their upscale hospitality, commercial and residential projects. This is a huge financial opportunity for leading carpetmakers, he says, that is going virtually untapped." I know that several other known and not so well known names in the rug industry agree with Mr. Dodds, now if only we could figure out how to directly engage those designers with a high degree of efficacy. Anyone interested in exhibiting can contact Dennis Dodds directly at: nyics1@juno.com

Red Spruce featured in Exhibit at Carol Piper Rugs.

A blog post just isn't a blog post without some sort of overt self-serving plug now is it? By way a somewhat circular and quasi-incestuous network of mutual friends, I came to be in contact with Ryan Reitmeyer at Carol Piper Rugs in Houston, Texas. While we share a mutual love of most things carpet and rug related (he more so with older carpets, myself more so with newer carpets) we also discovered we share a passion for just plain great rugs! So with that, and a gracious invitation extended by him to participate in their Hooked Rug Exhibit taking place this month, Red Spruce packed up some rugs and sent them off to Texas! The exhibit runs through the end of February. A press release of the event can be found Here.

"The Ruggist" adds contributors.

For about twenty months now the opinions and articles on The Ruggist have been solely from Michael A.C. Christie, that is to say more directly, from my point of view. After pondering many of the comments I have received from my readers, I decided that The Ruggist needs to have a little more substance as it were. Thusly, I am pleased to announce that The Ruggist is adding contributing writers to broaden its repertoire of witty repartee. Now just in case you are concerned about content, I can assure that this will in no way detract from what you've come to expect from The Ruggist. In fact, I promise you this will actually add valuable insight into a wider variety of topics (related to rugs of course) from people who have expertise in areas I am lacking. I can also promise you the commentary will still be truthful (as The Ruggist always has been), and occasionally controversial, maybe even bordering on scandalous. Above all it will be fun, damnit! If you are by chance interested in contributing. Drop me an email at: inbox@theruggist.com

Look for the first guest installment soon(ish).

Toronto Interior Design Show (IDS)

I recently attended (for the first time) the Interior Design Show (IDS) in Toronto and I must report that I am generally left feeling quite underwhelmed by the show as a whole. Maybe the hype (from friends and colleagues) had built it up too much in my mind, and instead of being struck in awe by the presumed Centre of Canadian Design and its version of ICFF, I was in its stead left feeling as though I had gone to the local (Toronto) home show, albeit one pumped up on steroids. And while Toronto is most certainly not alone (you know who you are you varied cities and their respective design communities) in being more than guilty of the forthcoming sin, I apparently stumbled into the Canadian heartland of all black clothing and boring eyewear. For the love of god people, we're in the design industry, let's show some colour and style. But I digress. There were of course standout rugs and carpets from several companies, such as....

Weavers Art

There is no denying Michael Pourvakil is the dominant name in higher end handwoven rugs in Toronto, and thus Ontario, and thus Canada, and moreover, as was recently promoted in an article in COVER, he really knows how to run a showroom. This positioning has served him (and his wonderfully talented and diverse staff) quite well over the years and will, I am sure, serve them many years into the future. Furthermore Michael knows how to promote himself to his target audience and thus, partnering with Azure brought forth his latest promotion at this year's IDS: The bumptiously named "ERA" Collection.

ERA (a backronym for "Evolution in Rug Artistry") is a collection rug designs that have been selected by way of a design competition. This inaugural year's selection of ten (10) rug designs brings together the self described best of Canadian design and translates those designs into rugs. And while I could argue that Mr. Pourvakil does not have a corner on the best of rug design in Canada (There is after all, Zoë Luyendijk Studio, Bev Hisey, and Red Spruce to name a few who are Canadian and producing equally great (if not better) design.), I will not (or did I?) and instead address the highlights of the Collection. My favorite piece was the Une Affaire de Coeur by Katherine Morley, which makes a statement about the love hate politics of Quebec and The Rest of Canada relations. The design is rendered in a beautifully saturated red

hue, and is stunning in it's simplicity.

Image Courtesy of Weavers Art.

The true standout in terms of innovation though, is Zipper by Jennifer Fong. A neutral paleted plain field rug that is woven in two pieces and, yes, held together with a giant zipper. Practical? I don't know. Innovative? You bet. Cool as %^$##&@? Hell ya. It's off the cheese wheel! In contrast, Bone by Alison Milne seems to be much too derivative of (and perhaps even too identical) to the rug designs of Amy Helfand, leaving me to wonder how it can be a new "best" of. I think if I would want a design in this aesthetic (which I do) I would just purchase from Ms. Helfand, otherwise my lustful admiration for her work/aesthetic would be left unrequited. Lake Ontario by Joy and Ed is a superb example of technical dyeing and weaving, soothing and inviting. Finally Tartan by Clayton Budd, left me feeling as though it could have been better. As many of you know, I have a fascination with Tartans, and moreover their successful execution when translated into rugs and carpets. This tartan excels in its bold embrace of scale, but is lacking in both technical execution (e.g. production) and in its correct use of colour in the tartan itself. Overall though, the ERA Collection is and was "the most design we saw at IDS" to quote Red Spruce Director, Nicholas Christie, if only from the perspective of rugs.

Weavers Art Anecdote

While in Toronto we accepted the separate invitations of Catherine, Dawn and Michael to attend the Modern Weave party on Friday night. The ERA Collection's launch also served as a silent auction and fundraiser for, among other things: Good Weave. I had a great time at the party, and after intoxicatingly dismissing a slightly abrupt bar tender who inquired if I had an invitation, proceeded to chat it up with the GoodWeave girls as they are now known. Maybe he asked for an invitation because I was wearing too much colour for Toronto?

Image Courtesy of Weavers Art/GoodWeave

Michael A.C. Christie, Red Spruce Creative Director (left)

seen chatting with April Thompson, GoodWeave (centre)

and Nicholas Christie, Red Spruce (right). He is stressing the

importance of increasing the geographic reach of GoodWeave licensing.

Lastly, I will add that his showrooms have a posted motivational reminder for the staff that begins: "Be the expert!" or as another well known rug purveyor would say "Fake it until you make it."

Amala

Have you ever walked into a place and had a feeling? A strange feeling? A feeling that just wouldn't go away unless you started asking questions? I have, and so I asked. "These are made in Nepal?" I inquired of the lovely woman (clearly of non european decent). "Yes they are.. They are made by my fathers company in Nepal...." she began, and a fascinating conversion ensued. Great Quality. Great Construction. Wonderful Traditional Tibetan Designs. Available in Toronto at Amala.

Honourable mention to: Bev Hisey

As a footnote I want to say it was once again a pleasure to see Bev Hisey. We ran into her during the opening night party of IDS, and as always she was a delight. I first met Ms. Hisey during ICFF in say 2008 and we started up a conversation, both being residents of Canada and all. "Oh I love Nova Scotia" she said (as many people d0), "maybe I'll stop and visit next time we are out there" see concluded (again, as many people say). Well, to date, she is the only one to visit! Good follow through. Her textiles are pretty cool too.

Wrap up!

Not being one to be concise by any means, I am known to talk too much! So before you are indeed "talked" to death. I bid you adieu and cordially invite you to return for the next installment of "The Ruggist.

Cheers!

Red Spruce announces Participation in Special Hooked Rug Exhibit.

2010-02-01T10:00:00.002-04:00

For Immediate Release
February 1, 2010

Halifax, NS and Houston, TX – Exhibits aren’t just for Museums. In the world of upmarket carpets and rugs, showrooms are increasing incorporating exhibits as a means of educating their customers, and exposing them to new rarefied products. Red Spruce is pleased to announce it has been invited to participate in an ongoing exhibit of Contemporary Hooked Rugs taking place this month at Carol Piper Rugs in Houston, Texas. The Exhibit runs through February 26, 2010.

A special selection of Red Spruce Studies (small samples) featuring designs from artists Keith Bentley, Andrew Quon, Anna Stowe, Michael A.C. Christie and John Kurtz, will be on display along with the aptly named “bluecollar”; a full sized rug in a patchwork design made from repurposed woollen shirts and skirts of North American origin.

Other carpets and rugs in the exhibit include pieces from Weavers Guild and The New England Collection. The later is inspired from extant antique hooked rugs originating from the American North East and Canadian Maritimes.

“I was thrilled when Ryan [Reitmeyer] called and asked us to participate” says Michael Christie, Creative Director of Red Spruce. Red Spruce is one of a few makers of hand-made rugs and carpets who produce in North America, and source the majority of their raw materials from North American as well.

“The texture [of the Red Spruce Handwork quality] is totally amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.” says Ryan Reitmeyer of Carol Piper Rugs. “This is such an authentic product that when I was first introduced to Red Spruce I immediately thought of including it in our exhibit.”

Carol Piper Rugs is a Houston, Texas showroom renown for their selection of Antique and Contemporary Carpets, and their ability to source and/or design the perfect rug. Paired with the best makers of the day, their staff’s strong textile, weaving, art and carpet industry background has been the foundation of their success for over thirty years. www.carolpiperrugs.com

Red Spruce. Makers of Handwork Rugs and Carpets from Nova Scotia. Designed by Local, Canadian, and American artists and designers, handmade in Canada of the finest materials. Available ready-made or made-to-order. Commissions of original work and exemplary pieces are also accepted. www.redspruce.ca

For further INFORMATION, IMAGES, or to arrange an INTERVIEW, contact:
Michael Christie at 01 902 482 0460 or homeoffice@redspruce.ca
Ryan Reitmeyer at 01 713 524 2442 or info@carolpiperrugs.com

Nepal Carpet Industry Petition...

2010-01-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

It's always nice to get mail, electronic or otherwise, and this post was inspired by a forwarded email I received from Limor Goren at Odegard, who suggested I might be interested in the topic: The Nepal Carpet Industry Petition. For those of you not familiar with the Petition, I invite you to read it in its entirety: Here. The petition provides some background to the industry and then lays out a proposed course of action for the Nepali government to take. Without repeating the petition verbatim, I will say that I am in support of the goals of the petition and encourage you to sign it in support, that is of course if you agree me, the other signers, and others of good sense. Of course "We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are several points of the Petition I would like to highlight and discuss, if for no other reason than they are the parts that interest me.

"A standardization of quality certifications with incentives to increase the percentage of rugs being made with a traditional Tibetan construction and utilizing hand spun yarns and the highest quality long staple wool, thereby increasing and protecting the value of the Nepali carpet brand. Certification standards should be put into place to distinguish the traditional pieces using crossed knot construction and hand spun yarns from the non-traditional pieces using a non-crossed knot construction and/or machine spun yarn."

At first read I want to say that I feel this has no place in the Government, but considering most industries (rug included) are never going to be forthright with their customers, it may just be the case that regulatory intervention is required. (Wow! I've been hanging out with too many socialists.) Without reopening my now closed debate on this subject (crossed vs uncrossed), I think the labeling aspect of this proposal is entirely fair, and is ultimately of benefit not only to producers and importers, but to the consumer. Over the years I've spoken informally to many of the people and companies who produce, what the petition calls "non-traditional" pieces, and in an almost universal defense, they attempt to defuse the practice of non-disclosure by saying the customer "doesn't care", and I tend to agree, that to this point they have not. Everything is cyclical however, and as I have been forecasting a return to quality and true value, this clear delineation between traditional and non (acknowledging both have a valid place in the world) is ever so timely.

"A reworking of the labor unions’ relationship with the factories to ensure that the labor union activities and demands are responsible towards the workers and lead to the betterment of the industry, working conditions, and employment standards. The current thuggery and politicization of a select number of labor unions is reinforcing counterproductive activities that weaken and damage the industry and the working conditions of its employees."

I cannot personally attest to the state of Weaving Unions in Nepal, but I can tell you that while Unions (in any industry) have their benefits, they too have their pitfalls. As a past resident of Akron, Ohio I can tell you that the reason there are no longer any tire factories in Akron is that Unions routinely demanded higher and higher wages from the Rubber Companies until such time that they were forced to close due to simple economics of profitability. Fair wages: Yes. Crippling to the company wages: No. Everyone (Person, Government, Union, Trade Group, et cetera) looks out for their own interests and survival, it is a basic instinct. Without proper oversight (from the members) and reasonable management, the very people who are supposed to be helped, can be hindered. A seventy percent (70%) reduction in weaving capacity in Nepal hardly seems beneficial to the now jobless weavers.

"An increase in the government’s export promotion policies, meant to help this industry win market share from the increasing number of machine made and lower quality carpet manufactures. This should include tax incentives for exporters, government backed funding structures for exporters, producers and suppliers, government promotion of the “Nepali Carpet” brand, and assistance to address environmental and labor issues damaging not only the industry but also its reputation abroad. Export incentives should have a direct and positive impact on the industry’s sales and national revenue derived from the industry."

Downward price pressures due either to machine-made or low quality hand-made carpets is always going to be a concern, and in fact, based on a completely unscientific anecdotally based analysis of consumerism, I think the growth in both of those markets is just really starting. A shrinking middle class is pushing more and more consumers to spend less, and thus, targeting these consumers makes good business sense, if you are in that line of work. On the other hand, the high end will always be there (unless there is a French style revolution, but even then the wealth came back.....) it may just be that it is smaller, and as I have mentioned, more quality driven. While this is a continuation of my belief in "return to quality", the top of the market has always been about quality, as an extension of price or otherwise.

As for the branding of Nepali Carpets, I think this is great, and quite frankly placing a fee/tax on the rights to the brand, could self fund the initiatives set forth in the petition. Put some legislation into effect, protect that name and have a system not unlike that of the French Appellation d’origine contrôlée. Everyone knows Champagne is from France, wether they buy it or not.

"The strengthening of government policy and enforcement to combat and diminish the use of child labor in the industry."

Until this is tackled on a global/regional basis, the negative implications to those on the front lines selling rugs are hard to overcome. The salesmen (generally) just wants to make the sale, and the consumer just wants a carpet. That is not to say however that this should not be done. Of course this should be done. No illegal child labour should ever be employed. It's just that simple. Tackling the global and/or regional problems has to start somewhere, and it starts locally (in Nepal) and locally (in say, Chicago or wherever you are), each of us doing our respective part. Salesman need to correctly educate their customers and only sell new production rugs made without illegal child labour. Likewise, countries and manufactures have to move past the false and temporary promise of economic growth that illegal labour provides.

Broadly it is important for all interested parties to remember that rug production is a viable economic development avenue for Nepal. Just as it is foolish to support and prop up failing and outmoded businesses, it is foolish to try and promote development that is not in line with the realities of the locality. High tech, by example, is not an option for Nepal at the moment (nor for many other places, even some in the West), so we should not venture down that current road to nowhere.

Now, as I've apparently been known to do when provided a forum, I am going to plug something: GoodWeave. The emerging progressive standards GoodWeave plans to implement can play a supportive role to many of the later goals above, as well as others found in the petition.

Finally, I would like to add a philosophical end to this post. Too often, in the name of progress (from the Western perspective) we allow once glorious and beautiful crafts and skills to fall away to the memory of history. Preserving traditional skills is just as important as innovation and progress. Striking the balance is always the hard part. Just because something can be done less expensively and faster, does not mean it should be done. There is always a cheaper way, but that doesn't mean it is the right way.

Moving production from one country to the next is merely avoiding the root problems. To paraphrase (perhaps inappropriately) ....we choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Failing to support, foster and encourage sustainable growth will only continue the loss of skills, the cycle of poverty and the continued exploitation of developing economies by The West. (One could argue this is true at home here in the West as well. What do we actually make anymore?) I for one think we can do better.

Online Retailing vs Brink and Mortar. A follow up.

2010-01-26T10:34:00.011-04:00

In a second (odd how few people ever promote that something is the second...), the Ruggist again answers a question that was posed by an anonymous (although we find out part of his name in the signature) reader in a comment on the last post which dealt with Online Retailing.

Here is the background and question:

"Anonymous said...

Hi Michael,

I am also a retailer for the last 37 years, not a purist of only high end design rugs and carpet , but sell the whole range. This is a new reality for us brick and motar stores. We are being used by many but not all rug consumers. The point I am making to the consumer is if you are using us in order to buy on line after, please give us an oportunity to match the deal. I believe in the golden rule treat others as you would want to be treated. I would like to relate a recent incident. As you may do also we sign out our rugs and samples before you buy, this customer took home several pieces than returned them droping them off, to our receptionist that he bought them some where else cheaper, not a thank you or any remorse just straight forward. I got wind of this and decided to call him just before Christmas, I identified my self and told him, I wanted to know why he didn't even give us a shot at matching the price. He was furious that I had even called him how dare me, and he would never buy from us again, I almost laughed because if he came in again I would not sell him. I don't liked to be used. He angrly told me we had, had our chance to sell him and we were greedy and our price was a rip off. We didn't deserve a oportunity, and he was mad that I challenged him. He then slamed the phone in my ear.

Wow! Was I out of line? I am curios your comments...Sam the rug man"

So, do I think Sam was out of line? It depends. Was this a long term customer of Sam's or was it a first time buyer? Is it retail or trade-only? (I am guessing retail.) Before I answer thought, I'd like to broaden our thoughts on this, so let me recount for you a similar situation I once encountered.

This was likely in 2004 or 2005 and took place at Classic Oriental Rugs, a trade-only showroom located in Cleveland, Ohio. A new to us designer (client or customer if you will) came into the showroom and was first met by the very lovely and ever so polite Mary Ann Barrett. Now as I recall, Mary Ann knew of this designer (which was often the case as Mary Ann has an encyclopedic knowledge of Cleveland families and people) and started chatting with her about her needs. By the time I (as the salesman) was introduced into the situation (I think I had been out on an appointment) several criteria had been established: 1) Urgent need (By a certain not too distant date). and 2) Definite Size (9x12). Then, with my guidance we determined: 3) We offered a suitable, although not "perfect" carpet, that would need to be ordered. The 9x12 was on backorder for about eight (8) to ten (10) weeks which only left about a two (2) week margin of error for her must have by date. We provided her with a quote, stressing the importance of ordering immediately if she wanted to minimize chances of missing the date. She then took the information and went on her way. It should be noted that we would typically conduct a follow up on this visit in five (5) to ten (10) days.

About a week passed and she returned to the showroom, asking first of course if there "Was anything new that she should see?" I politely (if I had had my coffee) told here there was not, and she then acquiesced and ordered the previously discussed rug. A "Special Order Agreement" was drafted and sent via fax (at her request) to her office. The next morning the signed agreement, and deposit via credit card were found waiting for us in the fax machine. The Agreement broadly stated that the designer was ordering a rug, the rug was non-returnable and the deposit was non-refundable. Basic language that attempts to lock the order down. Later that day the rug was ordered with our supplier, and it was of course still on back order, and the delivery, due to the designer's one week delay was now even tighter. But, I knew the supplier well and trusted their information (which one cannot always do). We provided this information to the client, who said "thank you" and mentioned she was departing for Florida for vacation.

Three (3) days later the phone rings. "Hi, this is Dolly Decorina (not her real name) and I'd like to cancel my order for the rug" she says to the junior salesman, who explains to her that the order is not cancelable (as detailed the agreement). A lively conversation ensues, and she is asked to hold to speak with me, the senior salesman and manager.

Once on the phone she proceeds to tell me she has found the "perfect" rug while in Florida and they have it in stock. She repeats her desire to cancel the order, and I again mention that it is not cancelable. Quoting Ohio business law, she then reminds me that all contracts in Ohio are subject to a three (3) day grace period (which I knew), and that if I didn't cancel her order and refund her money she would report us. Of course by this point I am fuming! To defuse the situation, I ask her to hold while I pull her order and look over the details. "I may have to call the Owner" I add. I put her on hold. Of course I have no real intention of calling the owner, but it sounds good, and putting her on hold gave me a chance to review her order and to think in a slightly more calm manner.

Now here is the important part! While I had not physically viewed her fax until the morning of say the 4th, it was in fact dated and received by our fax machine on the 3rd. She was now calling us on the 7th. Thus, technically, it was outside of the three (3) day window to rescind a contract. Also, because of who I had ordered the rug from and its backorder status, I knew canceling would not be too much of a concern. I retuned to the phone.

"Okay Dolly, we'll cancel the order and refund your deposit" I say. "Oh thank you she says. The next time I am looking for a rug I will definitely come to you." she replies. "Actually" I retort "please don't bother. We've built our business on being a resource for repeat customers who value our relationship. I don't think we are a good fit." She replies with stunned silence at first. "Okay, well thank you for canceling the order" she once again says. "You're welcome, enjoy the rest of your vacation. Good-bye." I say hanging up the phone.

Quick Analysis of the Situation:

Both of these narratives hinge around customer satisfaction. In the first, the customer is looking for a better price, in the second the customer is looking for a rug better suited to the situation. While in both cases the customer ends up being satisfied, the showroom is left, in the end, without a sale. What was done wrong? What was done right?

In Sam's case, the mistake was made upon the return of the samples. Assuming he has a retail showroom, then and only then was the moment to ask the customer for more details about where he found the product online for less money. Once the customer leaves after returning the samples from the "free/home trial period" their obligation to the showroom ends. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Sam is fully in the right to question the customer, but not after the fact.

Sam's customer is also in the wrong for not asking Sam for a better price. He is clearly getting a valuable service from Sam (being able to the see the samples) and he should have given Sam the chance to meet the price. Also, stating that Sam was "greedy and his price was a rip off" does show ignorance on the part of the customer. Sam has retail overhead that has to be paid for somehow.

Sam's customer also states that "he would never buy from" Sam again. While unknown to us, the important thing to know is: Has that customer purchased before? I am guessing he has not. Retail customers love to use the empty promise of future sales, holding them out as if they were a carrot on a stick.

In my case, one could argue (although I don't) that telling the customer not to return was not the appropriate business decision, and indeed it may not have been. I could have been, gasp!, wrong. However! Given we had been serving the Cleveland design community for almost ten (10) years, and this was the first time she had come to us, I am pretty certain I wasn't giving up any real business.

I was also in the right to refund the customer and cancel the order. She didn't want it, and I'd have spent too much time and effort trying to collect the balance due, et cetera. She was happy (until I told her not to return) and in the end, we were better off for it.

We could also fault Dolly for canceling the order, but then again, she was hesitant on the style of the rug from the beginning. Perhaps a better salesman (better than me at the time) would have suggested that the rug was not suited for her and sent her on her way. I learned that you can't be everything to everybody from a former colleague when we worked at Classic Oriental Rugs together. I should have remembered that the morning I accepted her order.

The take away message:

In editing this post I realized that so many of us can relate to the basic premise of this scenario, that the number of sharable stories could fill a not so small volume of anecdotes. The number of exact permutations being almost immeasurable. The "correct" resolution to the perceived problem however is not always clear cut (of course) nor is it going to be the same for every showroom (retail or trade) and so, what can we conclude:

While I have not verified this personally, I am to understand that the customer service motto of The Walt Disney Company is: "The customer may not always be right, but they are still the customer." In both of these examples the customer ended up with what they wanted, but were left with a negative impression of the showroom. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" advises never making a person feel small or inferior to you, even if you are in fact the one in the right. Sam should have just let the situation be since he had not seen the customer when the samples were returned, and I should have refunded the money (which I did) but been gracious and told Dolly I looked forward to seeing her again and better meeting her wants.

In the end, both Sam and I burned a bridge. It is (mostly) clear Sam was fully aware of the bridge he was burning, whereas I on the other hand am not as certain on my decision. Always make sure you are off the bridge and you never want to to go back before you strike the match. By the way, always and never are two words you should always remember to never use.

Online Rug Retailing Dot Com

2010-01-14T18:00:00.002-04:00

In a first for The Ruggist, I am writing a post based on a question posed by one of my readers, which goes....

"Hey Ruggist, I've been searching around for the perfect rug and stumbled onto this site [[WEBSITE NAME REDACTED]] their selection is unworldly and the rug arrived quickly, if I didn't like it (which I do) I could even return it free of charge. I was curious on "the ruggist"s take on buying rugs online."

**Note: The website mentioned can be found in the comments section of This post.

As mentioned in my last post, one should always be a little suspect of the source of information and I myself am reading this question over and over wondering if it is nothing more than an advertisement for this web-based rug purveyor. With respect to the questioner, we are going to dissect the question to try and determine if it is an advertisement but also to set up the answer to the true question of "What is The Ruggist's take on buying rugs online?"

Dissection

1) "...I've been searching around for the perfect rug..." Where have you been searching? And I don't mean this facetiously. Were you looking at local retail stores and were unhappy with the selection/service, and thus went online? Or have you scoured the internet and determined this is the best site? Or is this just an advertising setup, illustrating that no matter how far and wide someone is to look anywhere, this website is the end all be all of rug selection.

2) "unworldly selection" Presumably, the writer is an astronaut (or extra terrestrial) who shops for rugs in space and thus can truthfully attest to the nature of this company's selection or it is again an advertising setup or is is both an advertising setup and poor word choice.

3) "return it free of charge" I really want to know more about this. Did you still have to pay for the shipping etc?

I had written everything prior to this before January 14, 2010 at 3:30PM AST when presumably, the same anonymous poster added a secondary comment, one that has subsequently been deleted by me, which read to the effect: "thanks have you had a chance to check out the site I recommended?" It also contained a link to the previously mentioned online rug retailer.

Now I am a huge fan of many things, and will endorse companies and products I love until everyone I know is tired of hearing about them, but gratuitously plugging a website twice in the same post, reeks of shameless self promotion and propaganda, and any doubts I had that the first comment was nothing more than an advertisement for the again aforementioned online rug retailer, have now been set aside and I am firmly in the camp that whomever the poster was, he/she is most certainly somehow affiliated with the website. Furthermore, if there is going to be any shameless plugging and dissemination of propaganda done on this blog it is going to be done by me. Get your own damn blog!

Shall we now focus on the completely valid question at hand that was attempting (albeit poorly) to surreptitiously advertise on my blog? Let us!

Online Rug Retailing: The Final Frontier

As with most of my opinions, you will find my take on Online Rug Retailing to be measured and most carefully worded to avoid offending those I do not wish to offend. So, let me be clear: Online rug retailing (of the sort mentioned in the original question) has its place in the industry, a place relegated to the lower-middle and low end, and has little to no place in the upper-middle, high and luxury end of the market. An extension of this is obviously to answer the posted query with another question: What type of rug are you looking for?

The search for the "perfect rug" as the poster states is a common problem heard daily by every rug salesman I know. Factoring in price, style and time constraints, the definition of perfect is as varied as the number of excuses as to why a rug fitting all the customer prescribed criteria is somehow: "Not quite what I am looking for." Thus, when considering whether or not you should buy a rug online you must ask yourself if you actually know what you are looking for. Assuming that you know that, we can determine if online rug retailing is for you.

Examples of when you should use an Online Retailer:

Mediocre quality, low cost used or new Iranian (or any other country of origin quite frankly) goods: By all means yes. Go to eBay. Search for Heriz (it's not likely even a real Heriz). Find one you like and buy it. Who cares if you can't return it, or aren't 100% pleased with the colours. It likely only cost you ~$1000(USD) for a 9x12, which is not a bad price! On top of that, the rug is also most likely totally serviceable for what it is. There is such a tremendous glut of goods that fall into this category that those holding them in inventory should look to divest themselves of them via online retailing, and those looking to get into an entry level hand-made rug should take advantage of the opportunity and buy!

As long as the retailer has a good return policy (as in the case of our example "returns free of charge"), I say go for it when you are looking at anything machine-made and also anything priced under say ~$3000(USD) for a 9x12. As anyone who has shopped at a lower end (where these products fall) retail rug store can tell you, the salesmen therein are often cousins of used car salesmen and you can spare yourself the headache and frustration by clicking away at home.

I could continue and make up countless arbitrary categories, but the truth is, in both of these categories the main criteria is one of quality/price. If what you are looking for is of a quality that is reflected by a low price, then by all means buy online.

All of this of course assumes you are comfortable shopping online. If you want to see, touch, feel and experience the rug before you buy it, then by all means, go to your local rug retailer, reputable or otherwise, find a salesman, and buy from them. For you see, when shopping at the lower end, to find what you are looking for, you may not be at the best shoppe in town, but that does not mean the salesperson's time is not valuable.

Back to the Brick and Mortar

If on the other hand, what you are looking for does not fall into the exceptionally broad category of low quality and low price point as briefly described above, I, without hesitation, suggest, encourage, implore, demand and dare I say command, that you visit your local reputable rug purveyor.

There should be no illusions here however. I am a huge proponent of supporting small business and shopping locally, and cannot personally stand the exploitation of small businesses. If you are going to go into a local retailer and consume the salesman's time, and find "the perfect rug", do not then attempt to buy it online and cut the salesman out of his commission. To do so would place you in the company of the other fine folks who lament the passing of local stores and mom and pop retailers, yet foment their demise by favoring big box stores, choosing to go to Macy's look at a Karastan carpet, and then find it cheaper online. As I alluded to just two paragraphs before, a salesman's time is valuable, and the needless wasting of his or her time as described in this scenario is just plain unnecessary and unwarranted.

The Conclusion

I must admit that I have been exceptionally blessed in my rug career, and have not had to suffer the, what many would call indecency, of selling low end rugs in many many years. But I do acknowledge the need for their existence and realize that even saying so makes me sound more than slightly elitist. HRH The Price of Wales was once overheard (unfortunately for him) saying that "people should know their place". More broadly, we should know what kind of ruggie, or salesman we are, and likewise we should know what kind of consumer we are, and act accordingly.

The Shameless Plug and Propaganda!

"The Ruggist" is Michael A.C. Christie, who writes and produces this blog because it is just another venue to promote himself. Speaking of which, have you heard of Red Spruce?

Only time will tell if he is acting accordingly.

Welcome to 2010... Sorry (giggle) I missed you in Atlanta.

2010-01-08T06:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to 2010! (For those of you wondering how it should be read, the CBC's official style guide apparently has it as "twenty-ten") As the new year begins I realize that I had been rather remiss in posting to "The Ruggist" in 2009, and so, along with FINALLY stopping biting my nails, I am hereby making a resolution to post more frequently so that you are kept most up to date on the ramblings of, to steal a phrase, "your trusted source" for information from the world of rugs. So with the caveat that you should always question how trustworthy any source is, I present:

The Sort of Year in Review 2009, with brief musings on Metro Market Week and the NYICS or The Especially Opinionated Edition of The Ruggist featuring an annoying Christmas Letter and Many Random Thoughts and Interjections

We begin today with an apology. In a previous post I promised a review of Metro Market Week and the NYICS. That review has obviously not come to pass, and if by near improbable chance someone has been sitting out there holding their breath awaiting my review, I strongly urge you to start breathing again. There simply is not going to be a proper review, as 1) the timeliness has long since passed and 2) I wasn't inspired to write much of anything.

As I rambled on about in my last post, I like to write about things which inspire me. Inspiration comes in many forms though. A well crafted cocktail, sumptuous materials, brilliant marketing, that attractive man (or woman if that is your fancy) across the room, and of course, almost without need of mention: Great Carpets. And that is my dilemma. What to do when inspiration doesn't strike? In my case: Nothing. I do nothing. I think it is better to produce nothing than to produce inferior or mediocre product. Now, I am the first to admit that not all (if any) of my posts are superior in the Pulitzer sense, but some are more well read than others, and some are more informative, but they all reflect my personality and certainly my opinions. Since that is the intent of my blog, I am thusly pleased with the results.

How do I measure those results? Why in completely arbitrary and non-scientific ways, thank you for asking. My sources (sounds scandalous) tell me that during a year end survey, "The Ruggist" was named, by a single respondent, as the single best blog source for information about the rug industry. With such highly qualified endoursements as those, I am considering a movie deal.

Speaking of endoursements I would like to offer the following (which includes highlights of what was to be my MMW/NYICS review):

NYICS and Dennis Dodds

There is no harder working man in the rug business than Dennis Dodds and commendations need to go out to him for the change in venue for the NYCIS. While the number of exhibitors was down, I think the quality of the exhibitors was up and there are just not enough nice things that can be said about the new venue. Better lighting, better ceiling height, better facilities, and, and, and!, it was not stiflingly hot and stuffy like the Armoury. Thanks for the change Dennis and I hope to see you in the same spot next year.

Lapchi

Now as everyone (yes I assume all of you know all about me, am assumption now confirmed by some email I received*) knows I formerly worked for Lapchi and as with all past relationships there is a little bit of Love/Hate. You know, where you Hate to Love them, but also Love to Hate them? But Hate is such a harsh word. Let's just say I keep a critical eye and move on.

Lapchi deserves credit for both returning to the NYICS, and for putting on a great display of colour. In the face of the, err, economy, it was wonderful to see that Lapchi has continued to push product development and colour. This is an acknowledged nod to the fact that their carpets are a fashion oriented product and as such, must stay with trends. As I earlier stated, on the whole there wasn't much inspiration, and this was due to the fact of many companies presenting the same product. Lapchi, while not alone in showing new things (also Kooches, New Moon, Sahar), their presence at the entrance of the show, helped set the mood. Great work!

Siberian Carpet Company

Wow! Just stunning. Traditional craft, made the traditional ways, made in traditional styles (that last part is most daring), all that make you want to stare and touch and covet. These rugs are not for everyone, but they are beautiful none the less. I met Managing Director, Elizaveta Kondratyeva during the show and you can see and hear her passion when she talks about her rugs and her homeland. And while my Russian is non-existent and her English was marginal, I enjoyed my time in her booth and particularly the juxtaposition of old carpets against the new. More info can be found Here.

Halvai

After my last mention of Halvai (See this post of The Ruggist), many of you might be left wondering if those men, in particular Bill Ward, are crazy! I say yes they are crazy; crazy smart. As a brief intro, Halvai's rugs and carpets are simply amazing and beautiful, and suffice it to say I am a fan, but what I really want to talk about is the Halvai showroom.

I was honoured to have been invited into the space that would become the Halvai SoHo showroom by Bill during its construction phase. Seeing the transformation (only partial in my case) from before to after, visually tells an amazing story, and it is why Architectural Diges loves to feature before and after photography. During this year's market, Halvai hosted a joint (no pun intended) party with Tamarian, and this is where the space Mr. Ward developed really shines. Not so much in that it was purpose built to make Tamarian's, or Halvai's, or anyones rugs or furniture look good, but in the fact that the space was not overbuilt and has the flexibility to quickly change and adapt for the particular occasion, allowing it to make anything and everything look good. The space shines because it serves as the understated (if not grand) backdrop to those beautiful rugs. Hats off to Mr. Ward and to his continued success.

A Funny Story, if You Have a Dark Sense of Humour.

I was speaking with my friend Cyndi Janetzko (shameless GoodWeave plug) just before Christmas, and I wished her "Happy Holidays." Now in general I hate saying Happy Holidays, as it is a huge cop out. I'm Christian, I celebrate Christmas and I should say: Merry Christmas. I am fully cognizant however, that many of my rug world colleagues are, to borrow and inverse some culturalisms are: Not. Of course, I mean they are Jewish, whereas, as previously stated, I am not. Many people are slightly shocked to learn that I am not Jewish. In fact, I was once at a dinner with Stephanie Odegard and many of my best clients, and I declined to eat some of the olive appetizers, prompting the woman to my left (Not Ms. Odegard) to say " You're not Jewish are you?" Needless to say, I've tried very hard over the years to be aware of peoples beliefs and pass on my best wishes appropriately. Anyway, during/after my conversation with Mr. Janetzko, there was much musing that I should keep a list of Jews/Christians so I know what to say. Can you imagine such a list on my office wall? I think the resulting laughter is quite obvious, if only in a dark way. So! Look at the time! Speaking of Christmas, I'd like to share with you the letter I wrote to Santa this year. Sadly, my wishes were not granted.

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good boy, err, man this year. In fact, I have refrained from airing dirty laundry (only because there is too much of my own dirty laundry about), have remained focused on the positive, and have tried (somewhat successfully) to avoid using "The Ruggist" as an outlet for shamelessly promoting Red Spruce (damnit!). I've also praised The Rug Company, Delinear, and Jan Kath for their advertising, and avoided pointing out the lack of creativity in other advertising (damnit again!) So you see Santa, I am quite deserving of the present for which I am about to ask. I first saw this gift in the Winter 2009 Issue of Cover: Modern Carpets and Textiles for Interiors, and Santa, if you are listening/reading this, I promise you that I will be an extra good man in 2010 if you being me something from Rug Star. It's/She's/He's all I want for Christmas.

Merry Christmas,

P.S. I've included a copy for your reference to avoid any confusion.

P.S.S. Jurgen is you are reading this, Call Me. *wink

The Quick Year in Review and my Opinion

Frankly and boldly my dear readers I think we can all agree (impossible!!) that to say "As a whole, last year's market (both MMW/NYICS and the entire world of rugs) was just not that inspired." is an understatement of epic proportions. Of course there were some great carpets made, and some crafting marketing, and some innovative, if not old school, survival methods employed to weather what was arguably the worst year for rug sales in recent memory, but as a whole (and as a generalization), the year was a bastion of negativity. As much as it pains me to write this, it is a reflection of the (note painful expression on face) economy. Moving past 2009, the economy sucked, but is now improving. Luxury goods purveyors have suffered due to in my opinion over expansion and reliance on aspirational wealth as opposed to actual wealth. Custom still reigns supreme, but I think the search for true quality and uniqueness is on the rise. Sales have been for the most part flat, but major dealers are reporting "decent" years all things considered. Sales from stock have been a saving grace amongst many. Many brands are suffering and I am sure "churn" will take its toll on a few in 2010, allowing many companies to once again thrive, and allow others to grow from obscurity into prominence. If I only knew which ones would do each, I could sell the info and retire. Things are looking up, but we must remember that the rug market as a whole is over saturated with too much of the same. And finally, as I've been predicting for years, based on my theory of fashion cycles being generational in length (20-30 years) the eighties are about to descend upon us in a fury! Just ask Pantone about the Colour of the Year!

Red Spruce: The shameless plug.

Since the arrival of my Christmas gift from Santa was somehow delayed, I must get in one last plug, so.... Whilst it was not the most financially lucrative year (this is a another understatement of cosmic proportions) for me personally, it has been an exciting year in the development of my love of carpets, design, and the like. As you may already know (or are about to learn) I have started a company named Red Spruce. We are the makers of authentic handwork rugs and carpets from Nova Scotia. That's right. We make them in Nova Scotia. By hand. Not using needlepunch or any other shortcut method. But by hand, using time honoured hand-hooking techniques. I could ramble on (as we all know) but suffice it to say we are growing, and have garnered a bit of media attention already. Outside of the local Nova Scotia press, you can find Red Spruce mentioned in Modern Carpet and Textiles (now Cover) and in Azure. We had a launch show at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax and a United States debut with New Moon in Delaware. All of these articles and events can be found summarized at the Red Spruce website, linked above. Finally, before you ask, Wait! I won't say Red Spruce' carpets are expensive, but you know the adage if you have to ask you cannot afford it. It applies. There are inherent costs of making carpets in North America, but those same costs impart significant intrinsic value. Our carpets are most certainly not for the everyman. And we would not have it any other way.

*The Email I Received.

Since I am finalizing this post as some of the World of Rugs descends on Atlanta for NORS, I am say 98% certain that the re-launch issue of Cover is about to become widely distributed. In it you will find an article I wrote which is titled: "Simply the Best - North America". Spoiler Alert: While I don't give away the article, there are allusions to its content. If you want to read the article, go acquire a copy of the magazine. We should all support print media, before it goes the way of the dinosaurs, but I digress.

The point is that my assumption that "everyone" knows I worked for Lapchi has now been confirmed by the author of a Love/Hate email, which I was copied on. I would like to offer an obviously one sided response to this email, an excerpt of which follows, removing identifying details:

"...I also think it is unfair that you allowed the author to name Lapchi the one leader in custom, without looking at the myriad factors that go into producing a custom rug and ultimately ending with customer satisfaction.

While I appreciate that most of your author’s knowledge and views lie in Lapchi’s sight because of previous employment history, I do not feel it is fair that a forum was given to plug their line, or Goodweave for that matter, ahead of any other company.

We [[NAME REDACTED]] kindly request previous knowledge of printing any article by this author, or any other opinion article which may intentionally or not, lay unsubstantiated self-serving claims to the superiority of any manufacturer over another. We simply will choose not to put our advertising dollars into those particular issues."

My Clarification:

While obviously I have been shaped by my work with Lapchi, I have also been shaped by the other eight (8) rug or rug related companies I have worked for or with. I have learned much from each of them, and hopefully left something positive in my wake as well. We are all shaped by our work be it varied or otherwise. Everything any one person or company does is intentionally self-serving, and those denying they have an agenda (good, bad or unknown) are not being forthright. Just as the email he/she wrote clearly supports her/his company, so does my authorship of the Cover article, and the posting of this information serve mine. Sir Winston Churchill stated that "The reserve of modern assertions is sometimes pushed to extremes, in which the fear of being contradicted leads the writer to strip himself of almost all sense and meaning." I hope to boldly assert my opinions, welcome being contradicted, and hope and pray that forums for expression are always available, be they in print or online (maybe like a blog). Sometimes I am wrong and sometimes I am right but inarguably I know with certainty that, "If you can find something everyone agrees on, it's wrong." - Mo Udall

In the same manner that the author intends to advance his/her position I am intending to advance mine, and neither one of us should think badly of the other for doing as such. I greatly respect the work of the author of this email and that of his/her company, and I hope to once again enjoy an end of the day sportsmanlike congratulatory drink with her/him again. My treat (It's a deduction!)

Outrageous Claims made by Halvai!

2009-11-17T19:30:00.001-04:00

During this year's NYICS and Metro Market Week I ran into Kerry Smith of Lapchi. One of the topics of discussion was this blog and why, he asked, I didn't sell advertising. Now, I could go on about wanting to maintain the aesthetic purity of my blog, and not wanting to have to deal with the opinions of those advertising on my blog (and perhaps playing paid favorites), but in short, I don't do it because I don't want this blog to become an obligation. I write a post when I feel inspired to do as such. If I had advertisers, I would be subject to a publication schedule, billing, and god knows what else, and I truthfully feel my writing would not be as good, as it would be, uninspired.

However! I would like to call attention to a beautiful piece of inspired writing, brought to us by Bill Ward and Edward (Ned) Baker of Halvai. Wait? Ned Baker? Yes! Read On.

This is the verbatim press release sent by Halvai:

HALVAI MAKES LATE SEASON EXECUTIVE DEAL

In a stunning late season deal, Halvai Inc. has picked up newly minted free agent, Ned Baker. Star bullshit-artist NED BAKER will bring his mastery of fantasy baseball and bending the very fabric of time and space, as well as carpet trickery, to head up sales and wholesale propaganda efforts at the New York based purveyor.

Bill Ward was quoted as saying, "Ned will fix his gaze upon the rug-deficient masses and extract non-negotiable forms of currency and serve our efforts in plotting carpet world domination... In fact, we fully expect a 7.0 magnitude earthquake as a direct result of this new hire."

Ned Baker continued, "Wait... what??"

If he doesn't find you first, Ned Baker can be reached at Ned.Baker@halvai.com or at 212-796-0606.

Following several drinks, Baker was later overheard saying to himself, "First I would like to thank a certain Jewish carpenter who has been a real rock throughout the free agency period, secondly, thanks Joe (The Plumber) (and if you could finish caulking the bathtub that would be great). Finally, I want to thank my parents for spending hundreds of thousands on my private education so I could sell colored sheep hair."

In the spirit of criticism, and the fact that Ned is a good friend of mine, I offer the following.

Surely Mr. Ward must have been duped. While I myself have been drunk, amongst other things, with Ned on many occasions I have yet to witness any bending of the fabric of time and space itself on his part, and moreover, is it not redundant to say time and space as they are in fact one and the same. Clearly the staff of Halvai are not astrophysicists. As far as his supposed mastery of fantasy baseball, I myself would like to have an independent outside auditor confirm his results, and I would like to see the original documents from this season for verification. Furthermore, as Ned hails from Philadelphia (or some ex urban local thereabouts), we can only assume that even if he was a master of the sun and the moon and the stars, he would, just as the Phillies, screw it up when it comes time to ink the deal. Ouch! Propaganda indeed!

The Ruggist, in all honesty, wishes Edward the very best in his new position at Halvai, and hey since you've read this far, why not pick up your phone, give him a call, and order a rug from him. Beanie Babies are now accepted as payment.

Au revoir RugMark... Hello GoodWeave!

2009-10-16T14:15:00.004-03:00

Part I

Introduction

In sitting down to write this post I was and still am concerned with the correct tone and approach to take. While many of you are undoubtably aware of my long standing public support and championing of the RugMark Foundation and their efforts to eliminate child labour in the hand-made rug and carpet industry, others of you are likewise without a doubt equally unaware. Being supportive though does not mean writing with blinded praise. During Metro Market Week (look for a review of that in my next post!) I had the pleasure of running into a former colleague who commented: "I read your blog. You seem to get a few jabs in at us now and again". To which I replied and she agreed "I take jabs at everyone." I like to think I offer a (mostly) objective approach to my writing, such that when my personal feelings do get in the way, you as the reader respect the credibility of my opinions, knowing I am not merely kowtowing to the whims of those I support.

My writing about this topic (in a supportive way) then should not come as any surprise. But what good is a narrative without a surprise, or a twist, or something gossipy? So with that, I give you my commentary on the rebranding of the RugMark certification label to: GoodWeave.

A brief Summary

RugMark has been, and continues to be the preeminent international non-profit working to eliminate illegal child labour in the carpet industry. The rebranding into GoodWeave - which is predicated by the fact that there was an impetus from many interested parties (consumers, importers and manufacturers) to expand the label beyond illegal child labour, and thus as follows from the forthcoming difficulties, the need to re-brand - was announced earlier this year to industry, and slowly rolled out publicly over this past summer. This rebranding will allow RugMark to focus not only on illegal child labour, but to expand the certification to include various other social and environmental concerns. To quote Nina Smith, Executive Director of The RugMark Foundation: "The new GoodWeave certification and label represents a holistic approach."

The often not understood premise.

The short (for the sake of expedience) version is quite simple, and truthfully something I myself did not understand until becoming more involved with the RugMark Foundation (the foundation name is remaining the same) in or around 2005 and my subsequent meeting of RugMark founder and human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi. GoodWeave (nee RugMark) is an economic solution to a human problem. The moneys paid on certified carpets, ultimately by the end consumer, are used to fund programs to improve the lives of those who make the carpets, and help break the cycle of poverty and indentured servitude. This is not to say that the goal is to take people away from carpet weaving, but rather to allow children to be children and then to learn valuable job skills (of their own choosing) at appropriate ages, within the confines of international and national laws. That was the original and still applicable premise, RugMark's original reason for being, and is still the core mission. This same premise - of monies paid by the end consumer funding programs - is now, with the GoodWeave label, being extended to include socially and environmentally responsible programs as well.

Relevance and Timing

So why the rebranding now? Without digressing too far into a rambling commentary into what the New York Times has referred to as "churn", suffice it to say that there are businesses that fail only to be replaced by businesses that do nearly the exact same thing, but just happen to succeed by remaining that much more relevant to contemporary needs and wants. In order to avoid failure, one must remain relevant, this is why the change to the GoodWeave label is now taking place.

Examining the state of consumerism, environmentalism and any other of the various "isms" I or you would care to mention, it is obvious that just as there is no one single root cause of any mentionable problem, this is also no panacea. Illegal child labour, unfair labour wages and disrespect for the environment are not unconnected. Neither are the solutions to these problems. Consumers (and thus smart businesses) are not blind to this fact and their spending habits increasingly reflect this enlightened if not newfound approach to living. The rebranding of GoodWeave, and the subsequent expansion of the certification, is RugMark's response to these demands and will not only allow the organization to remain relevant and by extension to continue to be successful, but to also grow beyond its current scope into potentially more success.

The GoodWeave Label and its Meaning.

The founding of RugMark and the meaning of the original label was one that assured there was no illegal child labour. Expanding that label to mean more was just not practical, as it is easy to imagine, dealing between multiple countries, with multiple goals, various cultural differences and different legal environments is not a job for the faint of heart, and posed excessive cultural and legal obstacles. It was simply just easier to create a new brand. Starting this past summer, carpets bearing the new GoodWeave label, which is the physical representation of the massive rebranding effort, began appearing in the United States and Europe. As it is today, the GoodWeave label means the exact same thing as the old RugMark label meant (and still means) yesterday: No illegal child labour. The alluded to changes though in both the new brand and interaction between countries lay the foundation for future expansion. One I personally feel is beneficial to us all. What will this expansion look like?

Partly out of design and partly because the new system is now part of ISEAL, the certification is a progressive standard that can be adapted to the specific needs of the country at hand. So for instance in Nepal, where air pollution from open wood fires used for dyeing is a major concern, transitioning to cleaner contained wood fires, or even gas fires would be an improvement and thus qualify for certification (This of course, is when GoodWeave starts work on environmental concerns). Contrasting that with the environmental concerns associated with dyeing in say North America (something of concern for my company Red Spruce) where the de facto standard is electric or gas, perhaps certification would include the use of solar heating or other low emission sources. Furthermore, returning the the "holistic" approach, it should be obvious to most people that illegal child labour is not a concern in my own production, and thus if and/or when GoodWeave certification does come to North American production, the focus will need to be on environmental and social concerns, not child labour. Red Spruce carpets bearing the GoodWeave label (N.B. Red Spruce does intend to license when this becomes an option.) will have technically conformed to slightly different geographically specific standards than those made by say Lapchi or Odegard - who are likewise working to improve the conditions in which carpets are made - in Nepal, but the holistic approach to bettering a host of problems remains the same. Now these are just my examples, and as I understand it, environmental and social standards are at least a year away, but the comparison and concerns are accurate and illustrate how the new GoodWeave certification is accommodating to the specific needs of a region, and is poised for continued growth and success. Something I and many others are looking forward to.

A quick mid post pseudo wrap up.

A new label with the same meaning for now, that in the coming year(s) will expand to include other social and environmental concerns. A good strategic move for RugMark that will allow GoodWeave to bring more carpets (eventually) into the certification regime. And just as in politics, if you don't vote, your voice isn't heard, consider letting RugMark know what you think of the new certification(s), speak up and most importantly: Join! (If you can.)

More into at: www.goodweave.org

Part II: And now for some writing that may or may not be added in a seemingly random manner just for something interesting to read.

Design notes on the new label.

To many, it seems that the now former RugMark label was just starting to become a strong brand in and of itself, and could have succeeded for years to come. I do tend to agree with that statement, assuming child labour is your only issue and if you were somehow able to eliminate the sixth opinion from the interactions between all of the various countries in which the organization operates. Since those two things are obviously not the case, and given all the aforementioned reasons, the new GoodWeave label was christened....

It is said that you cannot please everyone, and that is most certainly the case regarding the broad world of rugs, again referring to the reasons for the branding change, but now also in reference to the label itself! Many people objected to the design of the former label (I myself having once been told by an individual that the label was essentially atrocious, that he/she would not include it in their advertising, and that given his/her design/experience with a certain unnamed large multinational, he/she had offered to redesign the label for RugMark). To that, and to everyone else who didn't like the old design, or who, like myself aren't huge fans of the design of the new label, I say: Let's get over ourselves shall we?

Of course no single design is going to please everyone, and if it did it would be the most boring homogenous, and likely beige coloured true atrocity on the planet. Moreover none of us would have rug companies as there would be that "one beige rug" everyone buys. I know this is hyperbole, but do you see my point?

I myself, much the same way as that just mentioned he/she didn't care for the old label, don't necessarily care for the design of the new label. I find the human shaped knot, while very clever and straightforward in meaning, to be a bit derivative of, and not nearly as elegant as the Kooches "k". I also find the legal constraints placed on the colouration of the logo in use to be rather restrictive on good design. Those two things being said however, I 100% support the use of the new logo according to the style guide and encourage everyone else to do so as well. The true work to be done here is in promoting the label and the work it funds, not in being designistas, (myself included) as it were.

A quote, not necessarily intended for here, but applicable none the less.

"A lot of people who have the mindset and the heart to do socially responsible work put that first. But you have to make money or you can't do this stuff. You have to start with the making-money part and make sure you've got that down. Then just never lose that sense of importance that is has to contribute to something better." - James Tufenkian, as quoted in the September 2009 issue of Metropolis.

Well said Mr. Tufenkian. I don't think anyone involved in GoodWeave or any other like oriented organization would disagree on premise (I don't), and furthermore, just as Mr. Tufenkian's ultimate goal with his company was/is to do good, so should be the goal of any start-up company, and the planning to do as such should be included from the very beginning. So how does one then (in the context of the world of rugs) go about making money to do good? The same way we always have: By selling rugs for a profit. With the best way to do as such being, as mentioned somewhere amongst my rambling in this post, to remain relevant and also by association, competitive.

A quick digression: During the Industry Briefing given by GoodWeave during Metro Market Week, they announced that the rugs and carpets concessionaire for Macy's (perhaps you've heard of them) has joined with GoodWeave and that in the not too distant future, GoodWeave certified carpets will begin to appear in Macy's branded department stores across the United States. This is going to bring the GoodWeave (and former RugMark) labels out of the rarified air in which it is often cast by detractors, and into the living rooms of those breathing more mundane, pedestrian air as it were. To steal an annoying phrase from the media: From Wall Street into Main Street. This broadening of GoodWeave's visibility and reach will strengthen the brand and thus lend more credibility to all certified products. End quick digression.

Remaining competitive though (and by reverse association relevant to consumers) is no easy task. Factors measurable and innumerable influence the whims of consumers, who chose or chose not to purchase, often for reasons unknown. In the context of GoodWeave (and elsewhere), I am going to argue that you can know one thing for certain. Consumers are comparing your product to other products which they consider to be in the same class. That being said, would it not make sense to ensure that whenever possible your product is easily perceived as equivalent if not better than your competitors?

A conclusion of sorts and an open appeal.

Perception is reality and consumers do not perceive self monitored or self administered programs to be as effective as independent certifications. If GoodWeave certifies a rug from Company X, and yours isn't, you've started out behind in the sales game, regardless of your own efforts.

With all of this very longwinded post having been said, I invite anyone who is not currently a licensed GoodWeave importer to join, if for no other reason than to remain competitive, and I encourage The RugMark Foundation to expand GoodWeave certification into other countries (such as say Canada *wink) so that the monies paid from the successes and fortunes of all participating rug companies, regardless of geography, can go back to doing the work of good, where it is most needed.

Footnotes, Comments and Vacations...

2009-09-04T15:42:00.004-03:00

As a (second) final note to my last post (See this post of The Ruggist) and heeding to the very correct comments posted thereafter, I give you the following quote from the late George Carlin: "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy."

As Labour Day is about to pass and high vacation season is now almost officially over, I would like, if I may, to share with you a little insight into what "vacation" looks like for The Ruggist. Many of my readers and certainly more of my friends must surely be imagining me lounging on a sunny beach somewhere with throngs of scantily clad men frolicking about, whereas drunken escapades spilling from one bar to the next, must likewise come to mind for others, and we must not forget what is now my blatantly apparent weak german ability (think Liz Lemon and kaufen vs. verkaufen) as I tried to order drinks in Schöneberg.

So what does vacation actually look like? Typically due to my, how does one politely say, um, frugalness, vacation is almost always mixed with work, so skipping over the actual vacation portion of my summer vacation, I will now recant the work portion and the wonderful rug dealers and importers I visited July 26-Aug 3, 2009, while in and en route to Berlin, Germany.

The Layover: Amy Helfand

I adore the rugs of Amy Helfand, her aesthetic and the way in which she combines life, art and rugs, without becoming all consumed (as I tend to) by the rugs them self. I first met Amy in the spring of 2008, did a little bit of consulting work for her and have maintained a friendship with her ever since. Who can forget that crazy Belgian Beer bar in the Village, complete with cockroaches during ICFF 2008? I can't, nor can she as she still whispers under her breath "Why did I let him pick a place?"

Our trip to Berlin involved a twelve (12) hour layover, so with that in mind I emailed Amy and we made arrangements to spend the day with her and her husband Mike at their home and her studio in Brooklyn. What a great day! The highlight was seeing Amy's new (to me) studio. Situated in Red Hook with great view overlooking the water, I don't think there is a nicer studio to be had. Ok maybe if there was air conditioning, but it is an old converted warehouse for goodness sake. Also, this was a harbinger for Berlin. After a great brunch Nicholas and I visited the studio, via a walking tour guided by Amy, and spent a few hours there talking "rug shop" as people say. We then retired to the comfortably shaded confines of her backyard and enjoyed a sampling of beers selected by Mike. Skillfully so, I might add. A few hours, a few litres of beer, and lots of fun times later, Nicholas and I caught the subway back to JFK and onto Berlin.

The visit over I was and am left to ponder my envy for her lifestyle. She manages to produce rugs and carpets that are graphic and layered, with bold and saturated colours that are quite eye catching and of exceptional quality; all while balancing family life, studio time, vacation, and a casual relaxed lifestyle. Ahhhh... that however is not my destiny, or is it?

Berlin Part 1: ReuberHenning

Anyone with more than one (1) months experience in the world of rugs (ok in business in general) must acknowledge the near ubiquity of schmooozing, and (specifically to rugs) the historic serving of Tea that formerly accompanied the sale and purchase of a rug. That being said however, we must also acknowledge that modern networking, as it has come to be called, is how things really get done. It is also how I came to know the fine people at ReuberHenning.

I met Thorsten Reuber while I was in New York for ICFF 2009. From our what was to have been a brief four (4) hour meeting, it was decided that I would travel to Berlin to see their product and to meet the design force behind the company: Franziska Reuber (nee Henning). That is how I came to know ReuberHenning, which, by the way, is correctly pronounced "roy-ber-henn-ing" almost as if it is one word, and why we went to Berlin.

I spent an afternoon in the studio of ReuberHenning with Franziska describing her rugs to me, showing me the colours, the quality, the inspiration and basically their reason for being. The designs are fanciful, conveying a sense wonderment at the world. Beautifully coloured, they are sophisticated and strike a balance between bold artistic statement and subtle elegance. I find most, if not all of the designs quite appealing.

Beyond the rugs though, as it was vacation, I (or we) were treated to a wonderful Berlin experience by our hosts Thorsten and Franziska. From a lovely welcoming dinner early in the week, to the afternoon coffee and sweets during our last meeting, to the final dinner in the Beergarten before our departure. They are consummate hosts, and in what seems to be an emerging trend, another spousal paring of success in the rug industry.

A final note on ReuberHenning: The highlight for me was seeing some of Franziska's early rug designs (which had been made in Iran) that grace the floors of their flat. It's rare to see the before, and I feel quite honored to have been able to do as such.

Berlin Part 2: Rug Star

You seemingly cannot open the pages of any trade magazine and not see a reference to Rug Star by Jürgen Dahlmanns. His designs, like those of Ms. Helfand are an explosion of saturated colour, rich with creative uses of texture and materials; a bold artistic statement woven into being. I had never seen his rugs in person before, so, as the opportunity had presented itself, I called upon his Berlin showroom.

Nestled in a American expatriate enclave and SoHo-esque district in the former East Berlin, Rug Star's showroom is intimate and friendly, following the traditional stacks approach to rug merchandising. On display during my visit was a collection of drawings done in support of the RugMark Foundation (currently in the midst of a major re-branding as GoodWeave, look for more information on this coming soon) which as I was told, they intend to have travel to each of their showrooms. Also on display were some exceptionally unusual rugs of persian origin. So intensely coloured were they, that they could only feel comfortably at home next to rugs not unlike those of Rug Star.

I had tried to arrange a meeting with Herr Dahlmanns through a mutual acquaintance, unfortunately on my visit he was away on business. I certainly hope to meet him in the future as I can only imagine his personality to be as interesting as his rugs.

ThomasWild

In the very same neighborhood as Rug Star is the gallery of ThomasWild. A boutique specializing in rugs of what I would call exotic origin, it was really a visual treat. They carry predominantly historic textiles and fragments as well as carpets and kelims, again vintage in nature. I did however notice one carpet from Jan Kath on display, striking a very appealing contrast with the more patterned older rugs.

Conclusion(?)

This was my first trip outside of North America and in an acknowledgement of the sage observations of Kerry Smith on my youthful wisdom, traveling does really broaden ones perspectives. As an expatriate myself, the view of the World from inside the United States is certainly distinct from the view from inside, but there are universal truths.

Ever since men began traveling, wares from away have been more prized for reasons varied and often arbitrary, than those produced locally; exotic is always better. Notwithstanding the trend to buy local, goods possessing a certain degree of natural scarcity and difficulty in procurement (originally due to geographic disparity, but not necessarily so now) will always be more desired by those "in the know".

As Noam Chomsky observed, Public Relations (PR) is a creation of Post War America. American PR, marketing and advertising have for years sought to sell rugs (and everything else) as "European" in style, as if those Europeans were somehow more stylish. Regardless of the truth in that statement, I can tell you that Europeans, in that same American way, try to sell goods as "American" in style. Exotic is always more desirable.

This trip also provided me insight and clear definition to my own personal style. I truly love the juxtaposition between the new and the old, the paring of modern and time honored, the embrace of the contemporary with deference to the past. Berlin as a city, Rug Star, and ThomasWild, all mix the two beautifully. So do all the other rug companies I most admire.

Crossed vs. Uncrossed.. Another Solution

2009-08-20T15:38:00.004-03:00

It's the debate that some people (myself included) won't let go away. It's the debate with no real winners or losers. It's the debate about debating the sixth opinion (see this post of The Ruggist). It's the debate that even may or not be a debate. In fact, I'll go on record to say it's no longer a debate, more of a boxing match between equally, yet differently talented, boxers. So with that, I give you: Crossed vs. Uncrossed: The definitive battle. (Until the next one).

Why?

I must admit that this topic is growing a bit tiring, but the issues behind it, of quality, authenticity, honesty, and truth in construction will always endure. The reason I have chosen to write about this again is that I recently received an email that discusses this very issue. This email was sent from a manufacturer to an importer (and then forwarded to me for my opinion) who had inquired about the difference, and the manufactuere goes on at length (not as lengthy as I tend to) debating the pros and cons of crossed vs. uncrossed, touching on many of the same points I first mentioned here. There is however a grand departure from the middle of the road where many rug dealers (and myself) tend to publicly position themselves. The email concludes with, and this is a direct quote: "You can't notice a major difference from out [sic] (from the surface), unless you pull some knots. But cross(ed) is the proper way, no doubt about it." GASP!

In a subsequent email still discussing the topic, further clarification regarding time and durability, was sought by the importer to which they received this reply, again quoting with clarification edits: "Cross(ed) weaving will take more time. On an 8'x10' rug, we estimate 2 more weeks. (10-12 weeks and no more). The life span depends on traffic and care of the rug. The inner structure will hold things intact for longer. I can not give much estimation though. It will last much longer also in the good shape (maintaining its shape) and not deform(ing) easily." GASP! GASP!

I will add that I received permission of the parties involved before publishing this information, although I have chosen to leave out names and companies.

So now what?

I am sure this is not the first such exchange, nor certainly is it to be the last, but it does begin to draw the proverbial line does it not? A definitive statement from a manufacturer stating that crossed is the "proper way" whatever that means. What does that mean anyway?

The "proper way".

To me, the proper way means to be doing things the best way, the way that ensures the aforementioned issues of quality, authenticity, honesty, and truth in construction are held in the highest regard and adhered to without question. That is the proper way. The question of what is the best, is of course where the debate continues. We can ask what is the best quality of wool, cotton, hemp, the best knot, best country of origin et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseam, ad infinitum, all because of the sixth opinion.

My sixth opinion and inspiration.

This email exchange and a book I am currently reading have inspired me to do several things, most of which I won't bore you with. However I will share this one, a public opinion on crossed vs. uncrossed. So here, presented in its own section for clarity is my official public statement.

Official Public Statement

Acknowledging that there are merits varied and undeniable to uncrossed weaving, the decision to purchase any rug or carpet should be one in which the consumer is fully informed, and fully appreciates the value (in either crossed or uncrossed) they are receiving. Importers, retailers, showrooms owners, et cetera, have a moral and ethical responsibility to disclose the construction method(s) they use. Those who fail to disclose the true construction behind their product simply aren't being truthful to the consumer, whereas more perversely those who present patent falsehoods about their product's quality such as "Oh our quality is exactly the same as, say, [[INSERT CROSSED WOVEN COMPANY NAME HERE]]" when in fact it is not, are committing fraud.

Furthermore I do feel that uncrossed construction has a place in the industry. Many segments of our combined consumer demographics do not need or more importantly want a rug that will last, for what is in essence, forever. Uncrossed weaving is most highly suited to this, catering to those who desire carpets decorative in nature, who do not intend to keep the rug or carpet forever, and who are looking to remain at what should be, a lower price point than crossed weaving.

Crossed weaving on the other hand appeals to a different demographic. One who is purchasing the rug or carpet, not on its decorative merits alone (as they still exist) but on the design, which in the eye of the beholder and critics is perhaps more timeless as it were. Timelessness implies longevity and thus a more durable weaving technique, such as crossed weaving must be employed, or we would forgo the ability to enjoy the carpet "forever".

As an importer/manufacturer/showroom owner, ask yourself: What kind of carpet are you selling? What kind does the consumer want? Are you selling decorative carpets that cater to a specific modern aesthetic and culture of redecorating and replacement? Or, in its stead are you selling carpets of a more enduring aesthetic, targeted toward those who intend to pass the carpet down to the next generation? Whichever it is, there is a suitable obvious construction method for each situation.

As for me....

The difference can best be described by simile. Crossed woven carpets are like the Sunbeam Toaster Model T-9 designed and debuted for the 1939 New York World's Fair. Uncrossed carpets are like the plastic toaster you find on the shelf at any Wal-mart today. Both make toast, but the 1939 model can and does still make toast. (I know this for a fact as I own one.) I doubt in seventy (70) years the plastic model will be doing the same. When given the choice between crossed and uncrossed carpets, the crossed woven ones are the antiques of the future.

That being said, currently I own both uncrossed (from Lapchi) and crossed (from Odegard) woven rugs and carpets. Some will presumably last forever and be the antiques of the future, while others will likewise presumably wear out sooner and be discarded as times change.

Now if only I could figure out which ones have the most enduring designs...

**Footnote: This post does not in any way attempt to draw comparisons between other methods of construction other than Tibetan Weave Crossed and Uncrossed. Comparing flatweaves, soumacs, hooked, needlepoint, et cetera to these two techniques is simply not a valid comparison.

**Footnote Two: This post was edited on August 21, 2009 to clarify some minor points.

All that glitters is not gold at AmericasMart.

2009-07-15T10:20:00.000-03:00

This just in from AmericasMart.

The two images above were received by me as a registered attendee of NORS at AmericasMart. The gold jewelry photo is from an advertisement for a company at AmericasMart that is buying gold jewelry (6S-343B if you are interested), and the other is (obviously) for a company that turns photos into "paintings". Prior to the merging of the gift and rug shows I did not receive such a wide range of advertisements, but now they seem to come daily in the weeks leading up to the show.

The take away message...

Ladies and gentlemen, rug dealers young and old, far and wide, if you value the long term success of your business, I implore you to read what I am about to write with earnest attention.

"Success is based on knowing your customer and catering to their needs. You can not however be all things to all people. If your customer is the type of person who purchases "paintings" made from photographs or sells gold jewelry indiscreetly at a trade show then by all means continue to attend and purchase rugs from AmericasMart. If on the other hand your customers would do neither of these things (or at least use such a high level of discretion as to afford them near perfect secrecy in doing so) then I suggest..." Well I think we know what I was going to suggest.

This is a time of great uncertainty as to where and in what form the next great rug market will be. Clearly, and in defense of AmericasMart, I think they know their customer quite well and are aggressively targeting them, but it is also clear that the truly upmarket rug (and by extension customer) is not to be found amongst their demographic.

Disclaimer

It should be noted that no judgment as to the merits of the companies represented above has been made, only a brief discussion of their demographic, which is apparent in their advertising.

Thank you for reading.

Nova Scotia Rug Hooking Craft embraces a new Aesthetic and New Direction

2009-07-06T09:51:00.004-03:00

PRESS RELASE

JULY 6, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nova Scotia Rug Hooking Craft embraces a new Aesthetic and New Direction.

Dartmouth, NS – It’s been said before, but you’ve never seen hooked rugs like these (unless of course you’ve been offered a sneak preview!). Red Spruce is pleased to announce and confirm that its Debut Collection will be shown in its entirety at the previously announced opening on July 17, 2009 during a gala at Argyle Fine Art, in the Historic Properties on the Halifax waterfront. The opening will be from seven to nine (7-9) in the evening, and feature twenty-two (22) designs that comprise the collection to date. Guests will be able to meet the artists, designers, and hookers behind the work, and have the opportunity to try their own hand at making a rug.

The collection features the work of local and international artists: Anna Stowe, Kimberly Vallis, Andrew Quon, Brandt Eisner, Nick Brunt. Robin Gray, Keith Bentley, and Jared Betts.

Local entrepreneur and self-described ruggist Michael Christie has combined his passion for handmade rugs with the native Nova Scotian craft of rug hooking to create carpets of unique and extraordinary beauty, what he calls “Handwork Rugs and Carpets”.

“When I look at what we are making compared to the low quality rugs from southeast Asia that are sold as hooked rugs, it just didn’t seem fair (to the artists, designers, hookers, or the rugs themselves) to call our wares hooked rugs, and so the term “Handwork” was born. It’s borrowed from the German “handwerk”, meaning literally “handicraft”, which truthfully sums up what we do.”

Beyond craft though, every carpet made by Red Spruce is a fully attributed work of art. Each hand involved, be it of the artist/designer, the grapher, the dyemaster, or most importantly the rug hooker, contributes to the aesthetic beauty of the finished carpet. And while the unique and modern designs of Red Spruce are not ordinarily seen in hooked rugs, it is just this juxtaposition of the new with the time honoured, that creates carpets and rugs of inimitable character.

Red Spruce. Makers of Handwork Rugs and Carpets from Nova Scotia. Designed by Local, Canadian, and American artists and designers, handmade in Canada, made without Child Labour, available ready-made or made-to-order. Commissions of exemplary pieces are also accepted. www.redspruce.ca

For further INFORMATION, IMAGES, or to arrange an INTERVIEW, contact:

Michael Christie at 01 902 482 0460 or homeoffice@redspruce.ca

An unexpected(?) showroom result...

2009-06-04T11:38:00.001-03:00

Over the years I've been in many a rug showroom. Early on my capacity was that of the porter/salesman/manager and in later years I've been fortunate enough (depending on your perspective) to be the sales representative/account manager/consultant. Throughout all of these situations, in all of these showrooms varied, I've seen a lot. Some are what I consider to be one of the best run showrooms in the country, such as floordesign in San Francisco. Others such as The Rug Source in Denver, Rugs by Robinson in Atlanta, and J.Asher in Washington, DC offer a superiorly rounded selection, well tailored to their respective markets. All of these, and the many other successful showrooms not named herein, share common traits as well. Superior service, knowledgeable, friendly and capable staff, and a commitment to always move forward, showing new designs and textures in what is a fashion driven market. A final commonality is, generally speaking, generous amounts of space in a commercial setting. The reasons of course are apparently obvious: Rugs take up space. To show them, you simply must have floor space to open the rug for the dramatic reveal. While I am not arguing against the reveal (in fact I am going to further support it) nor against open floor space, I am going to suggest that a rug showroom can and should do more with considerably less show space than is the current norm.

A little background...

For the last while now I've been working with Robin Gray Design. Of the varied projects I worked on with them was the establishment of a home showroom. Through a sometimes frustrating process (isn't the search for suitable space always that way?) a decision was made with my urging to re-invent Ms. Gray's then existing office space, into a rug studio as it has been styled.

Why was there hesitation you may ask? Well the space is an old home, with comparatively small rooms and low ceilings. Not your typical rug showroom. Of course, Robin Gray Designs is no ordinary rug company, creating "rugs less ordinary" as the byline goes. The transformation from house to architecture studio to rug studio is no less ordinary. In fact, I'd say it has exceeded expectations all around and can now be viewed as the prototypical rug studio/showroom/gallery.

On May 1, 2009, I was involved in the opening gala at Robin Gray Design's newly re-invented showroom/studio/gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico along with Robin Gray of course, Nedret Gurler, Nina Smith of RugMark, and a host of guests that totaled around ninety (90) for the evening. The reaction of the admittedly non-ruggie crowd was that of amazement of what can be done with a small space. So.....what did they see? This is the studio...

Now gentle reader, it is easy to say "Those people who like it aren't rug dealers. What can they possibly know about how a rug showroom should look?" While indeed they are not rug dealers, I would point out that Kerry Smith of Lapchi was not a rug dealer before Lapchi, yet the showroom model he promotes certainly seems to have a small following. Beyond that though, regardless of the background of any of the opinion spouters (myself included) everyone is or has the potential to be your biggest asset: A Customer. That notwithstanding however, the point of this post is about the use of small space, not about listening to customers, so my digression aside, back to the space.

The space and what I think of it.

Clearly we've established I think the space turned out great and works well, so what is left to discuss? The why of course. First off, by limiting the number of rugs shown at any one given time the showroom has the discretion to shape the first impression of the visiting customer. Furthermore, for a skilled salesman or saleswoman this narrowing allows complete control over what product is shown. By listening to the customer, the salesman can direct which rugs can be brought from the back and shown, best satisfying the particular needs and wants of that customer, in what is often a heightened dramatic reveal. This is not a new technique, rather one borrowed from another well known company in the rug industry, whom we can assume borrowed it from high end fashion, whom we can assume borrowed it from elsewhere. Perhaps a very savvy rug dealer? Regardless, the results are the same. A superior experience.

This brings me to another feature of the showroom. Near copious amounts of space. "Wait" you say! "Aren't you arguing against copious amounts of space? You said you were". On the contrary, I am arguing against copious (must be my word of the day) amounts of show space. The argument in support of a lot of space still holds. Rugs do take up a lot of room. But in my version the generous space is allocated behind the scenes, where the clutter and dust and other accoutrements of rugs sales live, as is often the case, in near chaos. Just ask yourself. Have you ever seen a cash register at Tiffany?

It's a wrap!

I truly do like the space that Robin designed for her new Studio. With a stunning first impression (to the customer) and the necessary support spaces (kitchen, bathrooms, storage, office) hidden behind the scenes, I think she is poised to set the trend of showrooms of the future (to borrow a phrase). Furthermore with her refreshing aesthetic, variety of construction options, and multiple price points, I think she has more to offer rug showrooms than many have yet realized.

Cheers to Robin!

ICFF Rug Review... And more!

2009-05-28T11:32:00.001-03:00

While I have previously expressed my opinions on the merits (and demerits) of various shows, I've yet to share my views on ICFF (the International Contemporary Furniture Fair), held annually in New York City. One could easily guess that I am a fan of the show, simply because it is in New York City, but there are of course other reasons, not the least of which is that you can see the best of contemporary design, often before it's written about in the magazines. Suffice it to say, the show is not rug centric, yet many progressive, or should I say fashion forward rug companies do choose to exhibit. In short, if you are serious about making or selling contemporary rugs (not in the bastardized style sense a but in the actual time sense) it's worth attending and/or exhibiting. So before this gets too long as it often does, here is what I saw and thought...

The Ruggist's 2009 ICFF Review.

GAN

GAN (Gandia Blasco USA) won the ICFF Editors Award (See Interior Design) for Carpet and Flooring for its Mangas Carpet by Patricia Urquiola. Prior to the announcement of this award though, I had already decided to write about GAN for what they had done at the show. Just as New Moon provides their catalog on a DVD, GAN had produced their catalog and pricelist on CD in PDF format. I like this concept for many reasons. It's easy to pick-up and carry around, it is less bulky than a catalog, it's compact (like the "C" in CD) and to the purpose of the disk, it gets the images and info out there to presumably at some point sell some product. Of course, one can argue about the pros and cons of indiscriminate image dissemination but by putting product into the public domain, it is something we must all face, and even with the added problem of inconsistent colour rendering I still think it's a good thing in concept. The carpet which won the award however, is not included in the pricelist, and while it is true they had no way of knowing in advance what would win, does it not make sense to include everything you are showing? Now for the carpet....

What do you think I think of this rug? Some people might not hazard a guess, or guess that I dislike it. In fact, I love many things about it. That it is made of wool and it incorporates a variety of textures both visual and tactile, and that the palate is colourful yet subdued and the irregular shape adds interest to what could have potentially been a pedestrian striped rug. While the shape won't appeal to everyone, it is very appropriate for those living in more modern settings, or even an airy sea side cottage. Overall, even not knowing the price (which may better in this case) I think it is a nice rug, one definitely different from what we typically expect, and worthy as as successor to last years winner: Amy Helfand.

Classic Rug Collection

Having just praised the CD/DVD catalog, I feel I must expound upon the concept just a little more as commentary on another ICFF exhibitor. The success of anything is in the execution thereof, but unfortunately for Classic Rug Collection, there is a fault in execution and I don't know what their collection looks like. They provided a CD, presumably of images et cetera, but in a 3in CD format. For those of us with a slot loading computer (iBook and iMac in my case) the drive will not accept such a small CD. So with the execution off, and as I don't care enough to chase down a CD drive capable of reading the CD, I have nothing further to add. Hardly the result they were looking for I am to guess.

Amy Helfand

As mentioned, Amy (See Amy Helfand) was last year's winner of the carpet and flooring award and she continues her aesthetic this year by showing beautifully coloured, large scale graphic designs inspired by her trip to Nepal last spring. While they are interpretations of some of her photography, they are hardly literal, and only after I pointed out the elements to my husband was he aware of them. This is great design. I thoroughly enjoy rugs that keep you guessing and "learning" more about them every time you look at them. Thus, when the purchaser of one of Ms. Helfand's rugs makes the discovery on their own, it will be grand! (As a disclaimer I did not discover the elements myself, but had read about them in her pre-show literature.) Her rugs are made by a top quality Nepali producer and are worthy of a look for those who appreciate modern design.

Florence Broadhurst

Florence Broadhurst Handmade Rugs are brought to us by Cadry's of Australia. I had the honour of meeting several members of the Cadry family (who still run the business) including Bob Cadry and Jessica Cadry. They are both a delight and I must add that it was so nice to meet someone (Jessica) in my age range in the rug business. The line is represented exclusively in the USA by Ali Nikrooz who formerly represented Stile BK, and are designs licensed from the estate of Ms. Broadhurst, a prolific Aussie designer of noted wallpaper fame, who was mysteriously murdered in 1977. If you know anything of current rugs trends: Wallpaper/Fabric Design + Rugs + Intrigue = Success!

I was treated to a full tour of the line (apparently due to my Ruggist "fame", see note below...) and it is quite fresh and a throwback to a bygone era. Namely the 1980's. I am not in anyway saying the collection is dated though, in fact quite the opposite. It is on the cusp, the leading edge of the grand return to the glam styling of the 19080's but with a sophisticated glamorous component reflective of the origins of the designs. Sweeping florals and curvilinear designs, brightly coloured and optimistic, perfectly suited for the soon to be post recession market of, I am guessing, ostentatious consumption, at least for the moneyed class. The line is currently available in LA and I noticed a salesperson from a well known and resepcted east coast dealer in their booth, so attention is being paid. Overall I like the collection and I think the Cadry's and Mr. Nikrooz will do the namesake justice with their entrée into the United States' market.

MUNI Carpets

This is my standout favorite of the show. MUNI Carpets is an interesting pairing of a Japanese Company with traditional Chinese production and design. In fact, the tagline on their booth banner promoted that they are "Bringing back Traditional Chinese Carpets". Aesthetically, and perhaps as a detriment to their broad appreciation, they are using traditional Chinese motifs and designs reminiscent of rugs we've all seen and sold before. I am quite unsure of the wide acceptance of Chinoiserie in this day and age, and following, their target market must be small. Why then are they my favorites? In one word: Quality. I could try and describe it, but that will not do their carpets justice. They are simply the best made carpets that were exhibited at ICFF this year, and furthermore are high ranking in the world of rugs at large. Great wool, excellent attention to detail in the finishing, and rich inviting colours. The solid field 3x5 they exhibited was an inviting pool of cool green grey that has all the merits, and thus is superior in my mind, of full spectrum colour. Honestly, I may be biased because what I am doing with Red Spruce has some parallels to MUNI, but at the same time, maybe MUNI is a little bit ahead of the curve. If the Florence Broadhurst Collection is timely, in a few years Chinoiserie will return.

Reuber Henning

Reuber Henning has yet to exhibit at ICFF as they are a relative newcomer to the United States market and the world of rugs at large, but I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Thorsten Reuber for an afternoon meeting in the lobby of my hotel, the newly minted ACE NY. I was taken in by not only their sophisticated carpet designs, but also their overall style, and in what seems to be a theme this year, the exuberance of youth. The carpets are of a quality we have come to expect in high-end names and the designs are quite unique, different and very livable. In fact, I want to live in their photography. The cover of their (well designed and produced) brochure has the viewer looking out through the open doors of a beautiful country estate, bicycle on the ready, off to explore the world. This is the life to which many aspire...

Bennett Bean Studio

Bennett Bean and his collaborator Elizabeth Rand put on a great exhibit this year. The complexity of his designs paired with the copious use of silk create carpets of a truly distinct look. If I had to compare them to others in the marketplace I would immediately name Zoë Luyendijk and CariniLang. After a wonderful conversation with the two of them I am confident that they will become one of the goto people for artist commissioned rugs and carpets.

Also, I would like to praise them for their efforts to re-use an often neglected dirty little secret of the rug industry. Rug samples. No matter the size, there are hundreds/thousands of neglected, rejected, and sometimes downright hideously ugly samples sitting around gathering dust. Whether the result of failed projects or product development these samples just accumulate, and in the case of some companies, accumulate in the face of a paralyzing inability or unwillingness to do anything with them. Well not at Bennett Bean! They took some samples (presumably of origins previously described) cut them into little 2in x 2in squares and attached company info to the back creating wonderfully tactile business cards. These are even better than the CD/DVD because you get to touch the product, and due to the fact it is only 4 sqin, you can't see how bad the design may have been. Huzzah!

emma gardner design

It was, as always, a pleasure to see Patrick and Emma. They are both always so hospitable, and really know how to market their product line. Yes that is right, product line, not just rugs! ICFF saw the debut of the prototype cases from the Wendell Castle Collection that feature the designs of Emma Gardner. Although I didn't get a chance to discus them in too much detail, and case goods are entirely not my speciality, they looked great and have a sleek lacquer finish, that in a nod to my lovable mother, looks easy to keep clean.

Returning to rugs because at least I (pretend to?) know what I am talking about when referencing them, I must say I am please to see the apparent trend away from tufted into hand-knotted for Ms. Gardner. Why am I such the rug snob?

rug fanatic

Just as I am personally guilty of violating the cardinal rule about information on websites, so is rug fanatic, with just a placeholder. Their production is all tufted and is of New Zealand wool, the classic entry point for a rug company of this aesthetic. I didn't get to speak with the actual fanatic herself as she was not tending the booth while I was there, but I do like the look of her designs, and find the saturated colours a nice break from the slightly green cast that has persisted for the last few years. Also, she gets points for saying: "Modern rugs", and I think she could excel by bringing nice designs and colours into a lower price point.

The Ruggist Fame

A little shameless self serving promotion if you will. An anonymous source at ICFF very kindly introduced me to some associates while I was at the show. "This is Michael Christie" so it began, the speaker very emphatic in what was being said, "The Ruggist. He writes a blog on rugs and carpets, and is the number two (2) goto guy in the country for all things rugs, he also owns a company, Red Spruce that is making...." Thinking to myself, "Number two?", speaking I responded very gratefully "Thank you". The speaker continued "Whenever we need anything we call **NAME OMITTED** first then Michael..."

Thanks to the unnamed speaker for the compliment, and to quote my beloved former neighbor who is in her eighties. "Don't worry Michael, you can outlive the problems..." I don't know how old "Number One" is, but I am guessing she/he has a few years on me.

Which reminds me. It was my birthday during ICFF, as it has been the last several years and I enjoyed spending it working and not making a big fuss. Thanks to Ned Baker for the two Hendrick's and Tonic Lunch and for the super styling Tyvek wallet. Referencing the quote above, as I always tell Ned when he says "That's a good idea", I remind him that I have one month's more experience than him.

In conclusion...

Just like the swallows to San Juan Capistrano, contemporary furnishings to NYC signal the rebirth of spring and the hopeful anticipation of summer. ICFF was smaller this year, but the quality of both the product and the attendee was higher. A little winnowing of chaff as it were. The mood was positive and expectant of good things to come. Remember the post recession eighties?

Footnote!

Speaking of post recession eighties. The surest sign yet of a return to decadence ala the 1980's was the finish offered up by Kohler for kitchen and bath fixtures: Polished or Brushed Gold (Kohler Vibrante PVD).

Red Spruce Signs New Artist

2009-04-02T08:20:00.003-03:00

Press Release

For Immediate Release

April 2, 2009

Red Spruce Announces Licensing Agreement with Noted Halifax Area Artist

Halifax, NS - Contemporary and Modern design comes to authentic hand-hooked rugs. Red Spruce is pleased to announce that artist Anna Stowe will be designing a series of carpets and rugs for the Halifax based company. She joins Andrew Quon of Neeto Design, Artist Jared Betts of NSCAD, Robin Gray of Robin Gray Design, Artist Brandt Eisner, and Photographer Kimberly Vallis amongst others, whose designs are already in Red Spruce’s Collection.

The Collection will be shown in its entirety at the previously announced début of Red Spruce on June 19, 2009 during a private gala at Argyle Fine Art in the Historic Properties in Downtown Halifax.

“I first heard of Red Spruce through (fellow designer) Brandt (Eisner), and was immediately drawn to the concept. The graphic nature of my work translates well in the technique, and seeing my designs come to life in a local craft is really exciting.” says Anna Stowe about her involvement with Red Spruce.

Red Spruce’s artist and designer attributed collection features a breadth of styles that illustrate the creative and technical abilities of Nova Scotia Hooked Rugs and the artisan Hookers who make them. By combining the local craft with his passion for handmade rugs, local entrepreneur and self-described ruggist Michael Christie - Owner of Red Spruce – is creating rugs and carpets of unique and extraordinary beauty with inimitable character.

artist / designer / illustrator, Anna Stowe, works from her home studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Between client work, commissions and running her own business, she is currently exploring printmaking and children's illustration. A portfolio of her work can be found online at www.STOdesigns.com

Red Spruce. Ruggists. Makers of authentic hand-hooked rugs and carpets. Designed by Local, Canadian, and American artists and designers, handmade in Canada, made without Child Labour, available ready-made or made-to-order. Commissions of exemplary pieces are also accepted. To become involved as an artist/designer, rug hooker, or otherwise, or to receive an invitation to the premier please visit www.redspruce.ca

For further INFORMATION, IMAGES, or to arrange an INTERVIEW, contact:Michael Christie at 01 902 482 0460 or homeoffice@redspruce.ca

Shocking Headline attracts Readers to Homosexuals' Rugs.

2009-03-25T11:20:00.005-03:00

This week is a low impact week for me. As I write this, I am mentally preparing for an important meeting at the end of the week and I do not want to re-read my notes again. I am using my favorite technique to prepare, that is: If you don't know it by now, you aren't going to know it. What better way to not re-read them, than to write a blog entry? Here is a review of recent activities, travels, and thoughts.

The Hajji Baba Club

I recently attended a meeting of this venerable club of rug collectors by way of an invitation from my associate Sheridan Black at Custom Cool. I would like to publicly thank her and the rest of the "Hajjis", as they are known, for their hospitality. While not discounting the pleasantries of schmoozing, cocktail hour, and dinner, the evening's highlight was a presentation by Raoul "Mike" Tschebull, in which he offered his contemporary view of old caucasian rugs.

The standout, light-bulb moment of the evening was his hypothesis that the negative space created in felt carpets (of the period) can and did spawn the creation of new design elements in woven or knotted carpets. Is he right? He certainly makes a compelling case, and his recognized authority on the subject at hand lends further credibility, and so I would be inclined to say he is. Regardless of your thoughts though, a critical and creative eye put to any design is sure to bring inspiration and the development of new designs. Furthermore, another point he made on more than one occasion during his presentation was that without veritable documentation, there is no way for any of us to know exactly what was going on in the past, and to extrapolate, to do so is merely an academic exercise. Not to say that there is anything wrong with that, but sometimes we all may need a reminder of exactly that.

Note: Mr. Tschebull is the second of the two mentioned unnamed authorities in my last blog post (Found Here!). I did not wish to tarnish his name by including it directly in the last rant, err post.

Quality for the sake of quality.

I am currently reading a book entitled "The Craftsman" by Richard Sennett. While I have yet to get that far into it (why do people talk to you on a plane when you are clearly trying to read?), I feel compelled to share. As part of a three book series, this installment focuses on the individual craftsman, and the premise that an individual should do a task and do it well if for nothing else the sake of doing the task well.

Obviously, this perked my ears! "This sounds just like my premise of making great carpets for the sake of making great carpets" I thought to myself, before driving across town to find the one copy still in stock. Of course, I am not the first person to think this way, and I lay no claim to the concept, however I do subscribe to it. While I have no idea how the book will relate (if at all), it started me thinking. Who makes great carpets? and moreover, What makes a carpet great? While I have answers to my own questions, I am not about to share the names in the former publicly. Are you fracking crazy? (That's for my friends who are now lamenting the loss of their TV show...) The later however I will now address, and you can theorize...

Makings of a Great Carpet (Circa 2009 - Applicable to New Construction Only)

Reliance on superior materials. The carpet or rug must be made of durable, renewable, natural materials. A short list includes: Wool, Silk, Linen, Cotton, Nettle, Hemp, Cashmere.... I will acknowledge that cotton could be classed as non-renewable, depending on how environmental you are. Also, what dyes are used? Are they environmentally friendly and/or long lasting? Resistance to running and crocking?

Equity in production. Is each person or entity involved in the production earning fair and appropriate compensation for their tasks? Everyone involved is entitled to make money and profit is not a bad word, however, proportional distribution of said profits is important.

Design, and integrity of design. The manufacturer/importer must be using their own designs, or designs they have right to use, and furthermore the design(s) should stand on it own, and also not as part of a larger whole. This rules out custom rugs that only look good in the environment for which they were created.

Serviceability and wear. Can the rug be repaired? Easily cleaned? How durable compared to other rugs? Basically, is the rug going to last?

Proportions. While you could consider this part of the design, I wanted to separate it as it own. Does the shape of the rug (and its proportions) relate well to the design. This is HIGHLY subjective, but a critical point.

Resources, their availability, and their use. Does the production of the carpet make best use of the available resources? Re-use of materials? Cradle to grave planning? How much waste is generated in the production of the rug, not just of raw materials, but also in electricity, fuel and the like. Are the waste materials diverted, to be repurposed or recycled?

Use of best methods. Does the construction use the best construction methods available for the type of rug? Best is broadly classed as the most enduring or historic techniques. Innovation is permitted provided it can be verified as an improvement.

Craftsmanship and attention to detail. Is it well made? Is it finished properly? How does it compare to other rugs made by the same manufacturer/importer (consistency)?

Execution of colour. As previously stated (See here) colour is what gets your attention, so for a great rug to be, the colouration has to be brilliant, well thought out, attractive, enduring, and with just a touch of poison. I could argue this would rule out beige, but for those rare cases where beige is executed well, I will allow it.

Taking the nine (9) criteria into account then, we can judge if a rug is truly a great rug. Of course, keeping in mind the concluding sentences of my last blog post.

Of note...

I mentally debated for about thirty (30) seconds before deciding to comment on an advertisement I recently saw, deciding that if a company puts something in print, in a distributed publication (regardless of the number distributed), whose audience is not bound by confidentiality, that it is fair game. Therefore! I give you...

"Rugs Designed By Homosexuals"

While perusing and ogling the Winter 2008/09 Issue of Butt Magazine (Butt. This link contains nude imagery of men. You've been warned.) About a third of the way into the magazine, there one finds a right-hand side advertisement for Delinear Rugs. No images of rugs, Pink copy (by nature of the colour of the paper), set against a plain matte black background. The company logotype is horizontally centered about two-thirds of the way up the page, with the tagline "Rugs Designed By Homosexuals" underneath. In the upper left corner, near the fold, you can find very limited contact info and a website address. Some will say that the ad can't possibly sell rugs with no images of them, but to understand the advertisement is to understand the magazine, and its target audience. Something the people at Delinear clearly do understand. This ad is simply brilliant, and I hope they get lots of response to it. For those of you who know me, this now ranks up with Jan Kath's Wunderland brochure as best rug advertisement (ever?). Brava! (And I do mean brava for those in San Francisco. *grin)

Cheers!

The March Report or: What you need to know of semi-random thoughts...

2009-03-20T13:56:00.002-03:00

This post started as a simple friendly response to a common question, and turned into personal rant that is a bit harsh. As is said "If you aren't offending someone, you're not doing it right", so here it is, semi-edited for content. Enjoy!

Answers on request....

I was recently asked (by an unnamed associate**) to answer this question posed by the creator of the Friends of RugMark Group on Facebook (Click me for the link...If you're on Facebook):

"Does anyone have expertise whom can offer the advantages to buying antique, vs semi-antique. vs contemporary pieces in regard to work equity and forced labor? It is difficult to determine as a layman."

I was honoured to be thought of as apparently possessing this exact expertise! Furthermore, having been recently influenced by an episode of the popular television program "House", I find myself missing the part of the brain that would normally filter what I am about to write, so the answer is:

Technically the answer to the question is simply: Yes. But I digress...

The primary advantage of purchasing a contemporary carpet (as it relates to this question), particularly one whose provenance is without question, is that you can eliminate any uncertainty regarding work equity and forced labour. One such way of assuring there is no forced or illegal labour is of course by purchasing a RugMark labeled carpet, being cognizant that detractors of RugMark will argue their system is not perfect and indeed no system is. The other way to assure yourself (with 100% certainty) is to weave a carpet yourself.

In an antique carpet you have no such guarantee or assurance. Given the age of an antique carpet (100 years plus) however, we must factor in appreciation of an object that has survived for such a period, and the related benefits of reuse and preservation (both as an object of value and of artistic merit) when purchasing such a carpet.

Take for instance an exaggerated example of the great pyramids. These were without doubt made using slave labour, yet we as a society still choose to appreciate their grandeur. At the same time, we no longer use forced labour in construction (as a generalization) and as an individual you can assure none is used in the construction of the project with which you are involved. (Perhaps by building it yourself?) The point is obviously that as society progresses, expectations and acceptable practices change.

Returning then to carpets. Was the antique carpet made with what we would now consider unethical labour practices? Yes. No. Maybe. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Is it still worthy of appreciation? That is for the eye of the beholder to answer, but in all likelihood it should be appreciated. There is no way of knowing for certain what labour conditions (or any other) were like when the carpet was made (the point of "not knowing" is commonly made by respected, as of yet, unnamed** authorities on the past), but at the same time we need to consider that during the time it was made, the practices may have been widely accepted. This is of course contrasted with the use of illegal and forced labour now, when there is wide agreement that it is not acceptable to use such labour. To make a long story short (too late): That was then and this is now. Applying our current thoughts is anachronistic and thus not applicable. So, the answer is not as easy as black and white. I would advise primarily that you trust the dealer from whom you purchase and ask many questions. If they are not willing to engage in active and straightforward dialog and/or you aren't comfortable, do not purchase from them.

And I just cannot resist, while I'm at it...

As I was reading the aforementioned question, I was struck by several things the author of which writes, both in the question itself and in other places on the Facebook group.

1) "Semi-antique" Right or wrong I hate, hate, hate this term. Have I used it in the past? Yes, when I was a much younger, a more naive man, and my employer strongly sanctioned its use. I'm at least 1% wiser now, and admit this was a "youthful transgression" (among others), and no longer subscribe to its use. Actually, I will go further to say it should not be used. This is a ploy by salesmen and saleswomen (who may or may not be related to used car salesmen) to lend greater provenance to a potentially otherwise lack luster rug or carpet. What they want to say is that the rug is Old and Used, but not yet old enough to be antique. The problem is that old and used aren't appealing (as we know from a previous post of on The Ruggist) and are not as valuable, whereas Antique and derivatives thereof seemingly are. It's the difference between shopping at a thrift store and buying at an auction house, where in theory you could find the exact same item. I think as another birthday approaches I may call myself semi-forty, whatever that is.

2) "How many of us have a really nice rug (or desire a really nice hand knotted rug) but can't be sure if child labor was utilized to complete the complex knots that only tiny fingers can perform?"

Seriously? Seriously? Where to start? How about with a proof:

Given: Only tiny fingers can complete complex knots.

Given: Really nice rugs (presumably) have complex knots.

And: Children have tiny fingers.

Therefore: Really nice rugs are made with tiny fingers, and thus by children.

So using the statement of "facts" in the question itself, the answer is that you can be sure that only child labour was used. There is no other answer. Now to be fair, I am being a complete and total ass. The major flaw is that the question wants to ask "How to be sure... ...about child labour?" and for that, see the long winded answer above, but instead the author makes the assumption that only tiny fingers can make complex (tiny?) knots, and thus the answer can only be as above.

Continuing, there is another assumption that a "really nice rug" somehow has to be complex and made with tiny knots. Kudos to those who make and sell such rugs for brainwashing consumers. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying those rugs are not really nice, I am saying that there are other rugs that are just as equally nice, that employ knotting or weaving techniques not nearly as complex and tiny.

Furthermore, the "tiny fingers make tiny knots" argument has been used for years in an attempt to justify child labour in rugs; topically those that are both Old and Used, and Antique. This is often uttered by the same salesmen and saleswomen who sell semi-antique carpets. It is a failure to frankly and accurately answer the question (as I attempted in the first part of this post), and is an old bad argument that doesn't hold water as they say.

This conclusion brought to you by the ^#$%^$#&#*$@# Ruggist.

Reading this you'd think I have a personal issue with the author of those questions, but I can assure you I do not, nor do I even know him. The questions he asks have been uttered by many people seeking to know more about the rugs they purchase. They have formulated these questions based on previously received information (from those same used car salesman-esque salesmen and saleswomen from whom they are again purchasing). The answers they've received however are often at best inaccurate, at worst patent falsehoods, and due to the number of this class of sales force, they will seemingly continue to exist in perpetuity.

The author is fully correct to say that as a laymen it is hard to know if the answers you are receiving are truthful, and to "know" what you are getting yourself into. The issue of knowing however is not confined to the layman. As I once read "Put five rug experts in a room, and you get six opinions."

With that, I leave you my sixth opinion.

**Referencing unnamed sources makes you a real Journalist.

The Ruggist has a Sexy Romp with Language.

2009-02-21T09:15:00.021-04:00

My last post ended with a reference to comedic timing, and depending on if you find me humorous or just plain laughable some would say I have a decent sense of that timing. Irregardless (Which many argue is not a "real" word rather a combination or regardless and irrespective, and following English convention would mean "without regardless, a double negative, so actually meaning "with regard". More on this later!) of what you think, any self-respecting Rug Dealer, Ruggy (or Ruggie), Rug Salesman, Porter, Floor Technician, Expeditor, Rug Saleswoman, Rug Salesperson (why must English remove gender specific nouns?), National Sales Director, Owner, Rug Historian, Creative Director or as I read this morning Grande Fromage, ad nauseam, worth their weight in a pile of wool dust has had to endure countless musings of clever customers (and coworkers, now known as CeCe), all of which have been uttered so widely and geographically disparate that we must assume CeCe (singular in case, plural in meaning) are actually a special sub-species of human possessing a collective consciousness of indecision. Yes that is one sentence.

So now, I present for your review, a collection of my favorite musings. I invite any reader be they Rug Dealer, Ruggy (or Ruggie), Rug Salesman, Porter, Floor Technician, Expeditor, Rug Saleswoman, Rug Salesperson (why must English remove gender specific nouns?), National Sales Director, Owner, Rug Historian, Creative Director or as I read this morning Grande Fromage, ad nauseam or CeCe or just a hapless soul who googled the term "peanut butter recall" to chime in with any of their favorites by adding them as comments. Maybe one day, we'll publish a book! This introduction is much too long, so without further:

"You'll need to sharpen your pencil on that price."

This is for my friend Ned Baker, who claims this is his favorite line. First. Who still uses pencils? Second. The only difference a sharp pencil would make is in legibility. Third. Just say you want a better price. Geeze! I say respond with "We use pens."

"I bet you don't have to go to the gym."

For anyone who has ever flipped piles or stacks of rugs for a Customer, and wanted to utter back "Clearly you don't go to the gym either...."

"I don't have an 8x10, can you use a 9x12?" or

"I don't have that rug in an 8x10 but I have something very similar...."

This is for... well you know who you are.

"I'm looking for something Berry coloured."

Do people not realize there are Blueberries (Actually purple), Raspberries (Red), Gooseberries (Mostly Green), et cetera.? Yes I know you mean Red, but come on.

"I'll know it when I see it."

See what? You don't even know what size you want. (See below)

"I need to go home and measure."

Measure what? I thought you'd know it when you saw it.

"I'm looking for a living room rug."

Does anyone know how to tell the difference between a living room and dining room rug?

"Will this fade in the sun?"

Rugs should apparently, over every other home furnishing, be somehow impervious to the sun.

"Do you have any of those TIE BET TAN rugs?" (Said while looking directly at one.)

Thank you dumbed down design magazines for "educating" consumers.

"I'm allergic to Wool."

Oddly no-one ever seems to notice they are in a showroom full of this potentially fatal allergen until they are told the rugs are made of wool.

"Do you have something that looks like this, but is less expensive?"

No. No we don't.

**Intermission**

Act 1 of this post was focused on the first Ce in CeCe, "Customers" and now while we await to hear from the second Ce, "Coworkers" in Act 2, I will continue on my rambling irregardless to the interruption of the flow of the post.

Wikipedia (the source for all Internet knowledge, true or otherwise) has this to say about irregardless, and my basic thought on this subject is to: USE THE CORRECT WORD. Ever since I was introduced to a Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms by the most wonderful lady (and she is a lady) Mary Ann Barrett of Classic Oriental Rugs I've been striving to use the correct word in my writing and speech. Sometimes I fail, but that leads to improvement, no? Anyway, regardless of these thoughts, or irrespective of these thoughts, the lights are dimming and the curtain is going up....

"I was born at night, but not last night"

For my former co-worker Andrew (Drew) Carlson, from whom I learned a lot. I still love this line. All the best to him at Rug Source in Denver.

"It's the latest trend in Europe."

This is my personal favorite line to use when in sales mode.

"That is off the cheese wheel."

I think this still lacks an official definition and standard of use, and most certainly will pose problems when trying to translate into other languages, but such is the case of all idioms. I propose usage such as: "Sales are down so low they've dropped right off the cheese wheel" or, when referencing a positive shift in sales "Sales are right off the cheese wheel" which I like better. I think "off the cheese wheel" should always have a positive connotation.

In conclusion...

Completely ignoring my intermission and theatrical metaphor in the middle of this post (yes I know, by acknowledging the metaphor I've not ignored it) we find ourselves here at the end of my less than concise post. What is my point this time? I had not set out with one in mind, rather only to bring some levity to otherwise dark economic times. If we think positively then positive things will happen, and the converse is true as well. However, when I reached the end I realized there was a point after all.

Presuming readers add their own musings to this list, we will find that all of us, whether we are a Rug Dealer, Ruggy (or Ruggie), Rug Salesman, Porter, Floor Technician, Expeditor, Rug Saleswoman, Rug Salesperson (why must English remove gender specific nouns?), National Sales Director, Owner, Rug Historian, Creative Director or as I read this morning Grande Fromage, or Ruggist, or anything your heart can imagine, are in this together and share the same problems and joys. When I worked in a showroom I thought I knew it all, then I went to work for an importer and saw the other side of the coin. I still don't know it all, but I now know that everyone has their own agenda, and by fitting those often competing agendas together we can accomplish great things.

Cheers!

Why the timing just wasn't right for NORS, Domotex, and Surfaces.

2009-02-10T10:20:00.019-04:00

Welcome back faithful [sic] readers of The Ruggist! After a near two month hiatus leaving the world of rugs wondering what I could possibly be doing, I have returned to blogging so as not to leave everyone in despair. Furthermore, I'd hate for people to think that I have abandoned this blog, when in fact I haven't. There have been other, more pressing concerns afoot, which we'll get into later. So without further digressions, let's begin. Ooops! First though, a warning. This story is a bit winding, but it does get to a point. I promise.

Introduction

December's post was only half hearted as I was in the midst of tending to what has become an all encompassing project. Red Spruce. (You can see the website here, or for the press release you can click here.) The short version is that through a chance meeting and a long feasibility study I have launched my own rug company. Some would say this was inevitable, but for me it is the natural progression of anyone who is creative and in the rug business. Hmm, that is inevitable isn't it?. Of course, this begs to ask "What is Red Spruce?".

Red Spruce

Red Spruce (fully Red Spruce Limited et L'Épinette Rouge Limitée aux francais, we are in Canada, eh?) is according to my own marketing "The premier maker of authentic hand-hooked rugs and carpets." To expand on this. What Red Spruce makes are fully attributed, artist designed Nova Scotia hand-hooked rugs and carpets, made in North America, made without child labour, that are some of the most sustainable rugs (and carpets) around. All wool (or wool and cashmere if you'd like) construction, linen foundations, colour variations not easily achieved in knotted carpets, commissioning options rivaling the best, and a unique aesthetic that marries the modern and contemporary with the time honoured. All of this in a luxury product for which there are few if any justifiable competitors.

What am I talking about "more pressing matters"?

It dawned on me last December that the time was right to strike. To either sink or swim. To take a gamble, and not jump the shark. So I started writing the business plan. And writing. And writing. Then some spreadsheets, et cetera. By the time my weather aborted Amsterdam vacation rolled around (we ended up in NYC instead, and looked for a runner at the Odegard Warehouse) the business plan stretched on for many pages, and a course was charted.

On top of this is my parallel work with Robin Gray Design, where we (Robin Gray, Nedret Gürler, and myself) are working to expand their dealer network. In fact, I should welcome Regency Royale as a Robin Gray Design dealer, and remind everyone to check out Robin Gray Design (see link above) and contact Robin if you'd like to become a dealer. Finally, please join us on Friday, May 1, 2009 as we celebrate the Grand Opening of Robin's new showroom in Santa, Fe, New Mexico.

So, with those two items, and my part time work in architectural salvage, I've been busy.

NORS, Domotex, and Surfaces.

In the time span of six (6) weeks you will find three of the most important rug shows of the year, and due to the previously mentioned time consuming events, and the personal advise I received from a well known veteran of the rug industry, I skipped them all this year. So critics of mine will say how can I write about the rug industry if I don't go to the shows? First I will say "I was just too busy and there was not enough return on investment(ROI) in it for me this year. That is why the timing was wrong. For me." and second "Because I choose to (write)"

Get to the point already.

Is there a point? Most certainly. And it is about timing. The recession looms large in everyone's mind and everyone is looking for ways to save money. But it is not just about saving money. It is about looking at what you are doing, figuring out how to do it better, for fewer resources, so that you will still be around in better times. In a nutshell: increasing your return on investment. For me, the timing to get maximum ROI on attending the markets was just not here this year. My time was and is better spent, building a company so that in the future recovered (or recovering) world markets we'll be ready to introduce our products.

For the rest of the rug industry, I think the timing is right to be attending markets, and to be buying, and to be advertising, all selectively of course. Sitting by waiting for the recession to end will only prolong it for everyone. Focusing efforts where there is maximum ROI, and not forgoing developing rug trends will speed your recovery. Furthermore, and everyone who knows me knows this is a pet peeve of mine: Manage your inventory (but not by forcing it on anyone, but by incentivizing them to take it.) The timing may not be right to sell any overstock now, but in the absence of sales, a look at how to manage your inventory for the future would make excellent use of the time(ing).

In conclusion.

It is - just as it always should be - a good time to invest in your future. What will you and your company be doing in future years. Will you be trying the same nearly broken model? Will you embrace new ways of doing things? Will you own your own rug company? Will you invest in another? Regardless of what is done, it'll be done when the time is right. For just as in (successful) comedy, timing is everything.

Red Spruce Press Release - 05/02/09

2009-02-10T07:15:00.004-04:00

PRESS RELEASE - February 5, 2009 -FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Company to Introduce Artist Designed Nova Scotia Hooked Rugs to Global Marketplace

Halifax, NS – You’ve seen hooked rugs before, but never like these. Red Spruce Limited is pleased to announce it is starting production of its inaugural collection of handcrafted artist designed hooked rugs. The collection will be débuted June 19, 2009 during a private gala at Argyle Fine Art in the Historic Properties in Downtown Halifax.

Halifax entrepreneur and self-described ruggist Michael Christie has combined his passion for handmade rugs with the native Nova Scotian craft of rug hooking to create carpets of unique and extraordinary beauty.

In fact, every carpet made by Red Spruce is a fully attributed work of art. Each hand involved, be it of the artist/designer, the grapher, the dyemaster, or most importantly the rug hooker, contributes to the aesthetic beauty of the finished carpet. And while the unique and modern designs of Red Spruce are not ordinarily seen in hooked rugs, it is just this juxtaposition of the new with the time honoured, that creates carpets and rugs of inimitable character.

This peerless combination has a worldwide upmarket appeal and is the reason Red Spruce has embarked on exporting a Maritimes craft to the world. Although few in the rug industry have seen samples, those already in the know are talking.

“What we’re trying to accomplish with Red Spruce, represents a culmination of all of that can and should be done the right way, that is to say, correctly in the making of rugs and carpets.” says Michael Christie, Owner and Creative Director of Red Spruce Limited. “We say we’re the premier maker of carpets of uncompromised quality and integrity; hopefully our clients judge that to be the case.”

Red Spruce carpets are designed by Canadian and American artists and designers, handmade in Canada, made without Child Labour, and can be purchased ready-made or made-to-order. Commissions of exemplary pieces are also accepted.

Red Spruce Limited is a Nova Scotia based and owned company, makers of authentic hand-hooked rugs and carpets. To become involved as an artist/designer, rug hooker, or otherwise, or to receive an invitation to the premier please contact Michael Christie at 01 902 482 0460 or via email at homeoffice@redspuce.ca

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For further INFORMATION, IMAGES, or to arrange an INTERVIEW, contact:

Michael Christie at 01 902 482 0460 or homeoffice@redspruce.ca