ATLANTA -- The Atlanta International Area Rug Market not only welcomes the return of several vendors, but also the premier of Atlanta market newcomers, including Long Island, N.Y.-based Orientalist Home (Building 1, 2-714) and Brooklyn's Namo Rugs (Building 2, 1-421).
Returning to Atlanta after an absence are Bokara Rugs (Building 1, 3-D7), Louis De Poortere (Building 1, 3-E1), Marcella Fine Rugs (Building 1, 4-E6), M.A. Trading (Building 1, 5-E3), and S&H Rugs (Building 1, 2-912). While Colorfields, a sister brand to Company C adds a new location for its growing mid-priced line (Building 1, 5-E6), and Surya (Building 1, 11-A1) and Linon (Building 1, 6-G4) both expand their spaces at market -- a show of the growing importance of the Atlanta market to their businesses.
Connecting with Customers
Bokara returns to Atlanta after customers' requests, showcasing its popular contemporary offering (shown Canvas Art Select new design).
"Our decision to exhibit once again in AmericasMart was in response to requests from many of our customers," says Bokara founder Jan Soleimani. "As our customer base has grown across the country, many of them are not able to visit us regularly in New York or at our new Secaucus, N.J., offices and showroom. And as our product line was expanded, especially with exciting new contemporary offerings, Atlanta provides a perfect venue to make sure these customers can get an early look at the full range of our designs."
Among the rugs Bokara will showcase in Atlanta will be their Canvas Art Select collection (
read full story), and some traditional and European styles as well. Bokara, which recently doubled the size of its warehouse in New Jersey to 100,000 square feet, will also be open for the July Atlanta market and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
M.A. Trading reacquaints buyers with its products, including its first indoor-outdoor line Solana, shown, and holds a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.
Likewise, M.A. Trading (MAT), which operates a factory in India, took a break from Atlanta and now returns to introduce buyers to its newest products, including an indoor-outdoor range called Solana under its MAT Orange brand.
"M.A. Trading is returning to Atlanta this year because we want buyers from around the world to see and feel our high-quality handmade rugs," the company's Brian Kern tells RugNews.com. "We are introducing two new leather rug lines, Gau and Rio. We also will have samples of our new Lux Hide line of sheepskin rugs for the upper-end market. These are all made in our factory in India."
M.A. Trading will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony in its showroom on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m.
New Jersey-based S&H Rugs comes back to Atlanta, after a walk of the market last year showed signs of improved foot traffic, says James Arjmand, with S&H, who notes the company will be presenting many new Mamluks and other updated traditional rugs, in addition to rolling out new colors and designs in its modern range.
S&H returns to Atlanta showcasing its updated classic designs and fresh modern rugs. A new Mamluk design with an all-silk pile shown.
Belgian rug and broadloom manufacturer Louis De Poortere returns to market with little fanfare. "Louis De Poortere has operated a showroom on and off at the AmericasMart since 1984," says Thierry Flamant, vice president of sales America . "We have always experienced great success with our rugs, runners and broadloom there. We owe it to our dealers to be permanently present at the premiere rugs venue in America."
Company C and Surya Get Room to Grow
Company C's sister company, Colorfields, debuts a stand-alone location this year during Atlanta market. The New Hampshire-based design and manufacturing brand will use the additional showroom to highlight Colorfield's assortment of rugs, from hooked wool rugs in traditional patterns to tufted options in modern geometrics.
"With approachable price points, Colorfields appeals to customers from millennials to down-sizing empty nesters with an eye for design, quality and value," says Company C co-founder Walter Chapin. "We are passionate about the new relationships we are building with mid-priced leading regional furniture and rug stores.We are most proud of our ability to deliver, including shipping in-stock items within 48 hours, and providing private label design and production solutions to retailers."
Similarly, Surya, which now bills itself as a one-stop shop for coordinated home accessories, is giving itself more room to work with. "We've added approximately 3,000 square feet to our AmericasMart showroom to better showcase the breadth and depth of our offering across all categories, while also enhancing the showroom experience for our customers," states the company.