Now under the auspices of IMC, but retaining its valuable brand name equity, AmericasMart is invested in the rug sector, Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers, told members of ORIA (Oriental Rug Importers Association) at last week's market. And while exhibitors proffered mixed reviews of show attendance in the rug category, Maricich announced at a Friday press conference several initiatives to enhance all three of its markets -- for retailers and exhibitors.
As you check out our exclusive tour of 21 area rug showrooms, you'll find a solid range of important buyers and designers eager to get a first look at the newest intros of the year. Parties and events by Amer, Jaipur Living, Loloi, Safavieh and Surya lured show shoppers to rug floors -- but the biggest surprise was the non-stop traffic at Trans-Ocean's Building 2 showroom in the Temporaries, which was packed with an assortment of gift, rug specialty, and general home retailers.
Sanjay Purohit of Amer, left, Safi Kaskas and Samer Kaskas of Kaskas Oriental Rugs in Austin, Texas, with Amer's Raj Choudhary and Anupriya Choudhary.
Kendyll Short, Janelle Nelems and Brittany Kennedy of JKN Design Services in Hardeeville, South Carolina, with Michael Campa of Amer Rugs.
ANADOL
Eloise Alterman and Wendy Alterman of Home & Garden Shop in Troy, Michigan, with Ummi Gunturk of Anadol Rug & Home.
CREATIVE TOUCH
Mary Collett and Kathy Hank of Rectangles in Traverse City, Michigan, with Baki Ildiz of Creative Touch Rugs.
FJ KASHANIAN
Jonathan Kashanian of F.J. Kashanian poses with a market shopper interested in the Pristine rug from the Modern Luxury collection, handmade in India using wool and silk blends.
FRENCH ACCENTS
Danny Shafiian of French Accents with David Truett of Truett Fine Carpets & Rugs in Dallas.
HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)
From left: Diana Samuels and Greg Jordt of Harounian Rugs International, David Buffington of Brentwood Interiors in Nashville, and Lee Harounian of HRI.
JAIPUR LIVING
Jaipur Living director of national sales, Teresa Roberts, with market attendee James Underwood.
Jaipur Living account manager Kim McElroy, left, with Cindi Jones and Paula Underwood of Savvy Shoestring Interiors in Helena, Alabama.
JAUNTY
Karen Plaehn of Jaunty with Rebekah Wallace and John Hanna of J&K Home Furnishings in Little River, South Carolina, and Kami Navid of Jaunty.
KALEEN
Blake Dennard of Kaleen, left, with Kay Geer and Miles Elliott of Plow & Hearth in Madison, Wisconsin, and Kaleen's Monte Rathi.
LOLOI
Cyrus Loloi of Loloi Rugs with Claire Veilleaux and Gill Veilleux of Floor Systems in Lisbon, Maine.
New Loloi licensor Anna Bond, designer of Rifle Paper Co., left, with Andrea Bruschheit of Hoopla & Fuss in Marietta, Georgia.
LR RESOURCES
Mike Thompson of LR Resources, left, with Kelli Burton of Holden McRae in Birmingham, Alabama, Wanda Lanzi of LR Resources and Jennifer Campisi of Holden McRae.
MOMENI
Ray Ehsani, left, and Paula Johnston of Momeni and Edmond Hagopian of Hagopian World of Rugs in Novi, Michigan, pose in front of a one of a kind rug at Momeni's showroom.
NOURISON
Niko Papadopoulos, Geneva Seeger, and Kathryn Sergenian, all of Sergenian Rugs in Madison, Wisconsin, with William Barlage of Nourison.
Kathy Huddleston, Sarah Hays, and John Trott of Trott & Company in Birmingham, Alabama, with Mike Wolf of Nourison.
SAFAVIEH
Christa Oseback and Morgan Yates of Bed Bath & Beyond with Jody Shapiro at Safavieh's new AmericasMart showroom.
SURYA
Satya Tiyari of Surya with Isabel Candelaria and Nikka Bochniak of Earth & Images in Scottsdale, Arizona.
TAMARIAN
From left: Chris Saliga of Tamarian, Maria Wahab of LGI Oriental Rugs in Houston, Ned Baker and Tim Fenhagen of Tamarian.
TRANS-OCEAN BY LIORA MANNE
Debbie Church, left, and Amy Pitcher of Horrocks Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan, shop for novelty rugs with Dean Smith of Trans-Ocean.