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High Point, Show Events

Nourison's Alex Peykar Inducted into American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame

Nourison's Alex Peykar makes history as the area rug industry's first member of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, with festivities honoring Peykar and fellow inductees, Erie Sauder and Jeffrey Seaman.

Carol Tisch
10/25/2023
Alex Peykar accepting his Hall of Fame Affie Award
Alex Peykar of Nourison accepts his Affie Hall of Fame award from Caroline Hipple, president of Norwalk Furniture
and board chairman for the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, and David Santiago, brand ambassador
and founder of Casa Santi. 

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- It was a family affair with dozens of Peykar family members on hand as Alexander "Alex" Peykar, co-founder and co-chairman of Nourison Home, was inducted into the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame and received the prestigious Affie Award on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, at a celebration dinner honoring inductees at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons.

The 2023 inductees -- Peykar; the late Erie J. Sauder, founder and chairman of Sauder Woodworking; and Jeffrey Seaman, co-founder and CEO of Rooms To Go -- bring the total number of Hall of Fame members to 134. Each was honored with an Affie Award, featuring a flame plated in 18 kt. gold and circled by a metal infinity band on a black marble stand. The Affie flame symbolizes the enduring spirit of the home furnishings industry and the energy required to achieve the accomplishments, innovation and leadership of each Hall of Fame member.

Throughout the day-long festivities, Peykar reiterated that Nourison’s success and the award itself -- the first ever to be presented to a member of the area rug industry -- also belonged to his brothers, Paul, Steven, and Edmond. “I accept this honor not solely on my behalf, but also on behalf of my brothers and my family. I've been extraordinarily fortunate to have the unwavering support and inspiration of my family throughout my journey,” he said in his acceptance speech (see full text below) at a gala celebration dinner to honor the inductees at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons.

Peykar was cheered when he said, “Any and all of these accomplishments would not have been possible without my brothers. However, I'll take full credit for the best decision I ever made in my life - marrying my beloved wife Mina on Nov. 30, 1974. Not many can claim to have their roommate, best friend, and the best mother in the world all in one, as their better half. Mina, Thank you for your support throughout all these years. I love you dearly.”

With all the glamour of the Oscar Awards, the festivities began at noon at the impressive, modernistic new headquarters of the American Home Furnishings Association at 311 S. Hamilton Street in High Point. Here. attendees got to preview a special Nourison exhibition, The Origin of Rug Design, which was unveiled on opening day of the fall 2023 market and will be on show for six months. The exhibit features a collection of rare, hand-painted “art plates” once used to assist in the creation of intricate, hand-woven rug designs.


Alex Peykar takes the stage to thank his family, colleagues and co-workers at the gala Hall of Fame awards induction dinner.


Mina Peykar (standing center) and family members cheer Alex Peykar's induction into the American
Home Furnishings Hall of Fame as he takes the stage.


Alex Peykar walks the red carpet on his way to accept his Hall of Fame Affie Award. Standing at right, brother and
Nourison founding partner Paul Peykar, cheers him on.


A special video presentation was prepared by each Hall of Fame inductee’s company, here a clip of Alex and Steven Peykar.

At the afternoon pinning ceremony, the inductees were each honored with their Affie pin, a custom-designed, gold, black enamel and diamond lapel pin to commemorate their honor. Alex Peykar was pinned by Michael Amini, chairman and CEO of AICO/Amini Innovations Corp., who was inducted in 2022. The late Erie J. Sauder, founder and chairman of Sauder Woodworking, whose pin was accepted by his grandson, Kevin Sauder, president and CEO of Sauder Woodworking Co., was pinned by Art DeFehr, Palliser Furniture, inducted in 2016. Jeffrey Seaman, co-founder and CEO of Rooms To Go was pinned by Kevin O’Connor, Samson Marketing, inducted in 2012.


Alexander Peykar, co-founder and co-chairman of Nourison Home, is pinned by Michael Amini, chairman and CEO
of AICO/Amini Innovations Corp., inducted in 2022.


Accepting their glass bricks are 2023 Hall of Fame winners, Alex Peykar, left, Kevin Sauder (accepting for Erie Sauder) 
with Steve Rusing, and Jeffrey Seaman with Karen McNeill Pond.

Next, the inductees were presented with personalized glass bricks, which were given as a symbol of the permanent bricks that will later be installed in the Hall of Fame’s new Walk of Fame. Presentations were made to Alex Peykar by Michael Amini; to Kevin Sauder on behalf of the late Erie Sauder by Steve Rusing, Board 1st vice president and executive vice president, and president of US sales at Tempur Sealy International; and to Jeffrey Seaman of Rooms to Go by Karen McNeill Pond, board president and CEO of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.
 
Capping the afternoon presentation, each inductee unveiled his photo on the Wall of Fame at the new headquarters.


Alex Peykar is joined by his wife Mina, children Jonathan, Bita and Joanna, and their families for his Pinning Ceremony,
part of his induction into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. 


Andrew Peykar, Jordan Peykar, Paul Peykar, Michelle Golden, Maggie Peykar-Hakimi, Robert Hakimi, and Emily
Irgang at the pinning ceremony.

READ THE TRANSCRIPT OF ALEX PEYKAR'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BELOW:

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame,

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Karen McNeill and the esteemed members of the executive board for their unwavering commitment to preserving the prestige of this institution.

I would also like to congratulate Jeff Seaman and the family of Erie Sauder.

Today, I stand before you, deeply humbled, as this moment stands as one of the most significant experiences of my life.

I accept this honor not solely on my behalf, but also on behalf of my brothers and my family. I've been extraordinarily fortunate to have the unwavering support and inspiration of my family throughout my journey.

In many ways, it feels as if I've had two birthdays. The second, on January 14, 1964, marked my entry into the United States, a true rebirth. I joined my brother Paul, who had already paved the way for our family's American dream. His guidance, unrelenting support, and the job he secured for me set me on this extraordinary path.

My younger brother Steven joined us in 1967 at the age of 12. While he often flatters me by saying he's learned everything from me, I must admit that I've learned just as much from him, and I continue to learn from him to this day.

My brother Edmond joined us in 1969, after spending three years in England, gaining invaluable business experience.

During my high school and college years, I worked in restaurants, starting as a busboy and gradually working my way up to more significant responsibilities. Every day was a source of joy, as I felt a sense of accomplishment propelling me toward my aspirations.

Following college in 1970, I embarked on a career as a project engineer in an electrical company. To be a good electrical engineer, you must agree that all electrical wires have a positive and a negative. My problem was that I could not accept anything negative and I only wanted two positives. That didn’t work, so I decided to exit that profession.

In the latter part of 1971 I called my brothers at their new 2,000 square-foot carpet store and I told them that I would like to join them. Paul told me “you’re crazy because you’re making a lot more money than we are taking home.” Having heard that, I gave my notice of departure. I joined my brothers and took a sizable cut in my income, with pleasure.

By mid- 70s we transitioned from selling carpets to area rugs, driven by an unrelenting pursuit of filling market voids. Creating new products with innovative designs, colors and constructions became my passion which continues today.

In 1980, my brothers and I established Noury & Sons, wholesalers of area rugs, proudly carrying our father's name, Noury. We exited our retail operation, passing the torch to our sister Mahnaz and her family, who maintained and upheld the great reputation we had established.

Our roles in the family business naturally evolved, and we complemented each other seamlessly. While Edmond, Steven, and I traveled to India and China, Paul managed our offices and the financial side, often suffering on the golf course with the bankers to keep us afloat.

Our chemistry has always been rooted in mutual respect, an avoidance of dwelling on past mistakes, a commitment to staying positive, and placing family and unity above wealth.

Any and all of these accomplishments would not have been possible without my brothers. However, I'll take full credit for the best decision I ever made in my life - marrying my beloved wife Mina on November 30, 1974. Not many can claim to have their roommate, best friend, and the best mother in the world all in one, as their better half.

Mina, Thank you for your support throughout all these years. I love you dearly.

We've been blessed with three wonderful children—Bita, Joanna, and Jonathan—and their amazing spouses. They have enriched our lives with ten cherished grandchildren whom we adore. They are all here tonight, except the youngest, who is just two years old.

Nourison's success is profoundly indebted to our dedicated co-workers, who have become an integral part of our extended family. We would never have achieved our success without their loyalty and dedication. Many of them are here tonight, and I wholeheartedly thank each and every one of them.

Credit is also due to our incredibly loyal retailers, many of whom have become some of our best friends. We would never have gotten to this point without their support.

My brothers and I have cultivated a culture within our family that's passed down through generations. Our children have assumed vital roles in Nourison; my nephew, Andrew, currently serves as our president and is doing an incredible job. My son, Jonathan, and my other nephew, Eric oversee our hospitality and e-commerce divisions.

It fills me with immense pride to witness the fourth generation, represented by Andrew's son, Jordan, who may, sooner or later, be the one we all report to.

I am profoundly grateful to be living the American dream, and I firmly believe that opportunities in this great nation remain boundless. It's never too late to chase a dream that leads to the destination you desire.

In closing, I say, God bless America, and thank you all for joining me on this incredible journey.
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