NEW YORK --The Rug Show New York held annually at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is proving to be a favorite among dealers and designers looking for high-end designs.
In fact, many exhibitors at the 2019 edition reported improved foot traffic, and several surveyed attendees said they are foregoing Atlanta market in favor of the New York show, citing the convenience of seeing a wide variety of rug exhibitors under one roof, and better timing prior to the key holiday selling season. What's more, Rug Show shoppers noted that several of the area rug vendors they used to visit in Atlanta no longer participate in that show.
"I have been going to The Rug Show since he first show," Hope Bass, co-owner of Carpet Impressions, a McClean, Virginia to the trade showroom told RugNews.com while browing the Knots & Co. booth. "I love the New York show. We used to go to Atlanta for years until everyone started coming here."
Discussing the "Power of the Rug" are seminar panelists (from left) designer Drew McGukin, Bonnie Sutton of Knots Rugs, Rachel Fasciani of Momeni, Taylor van der Mandele of Stark Studio Rugs, designers Charles Pavarini III and Keith Baltimore, and Lucy Upward of Cover magazine.
Victor Khalafi, buyer at Gabberts Furniture, based in Coons Rapids, Minnesota, attends multiple markets in the U.S. and also travels to rug centers in locations such as India and Pakistan but still shops the Rug Show at Javits. "It's important because in New York I see a lot of local importers and not all of them show in Atlanta and Vegas. Also we get a different exposure here that we may not see at other domestic shows." Khalafi noted that he was looking for contemporary area rugs, but was also shopping traditional.
Eileen Hampshire, owner of Sarasota, Florida showroom, Art to Walk On, who shops the show regularly, said, "I love this show and met with some new people. I also like having the Antique Pavilion put in the show -- it's pretty handy." In fact, Rug Show marketing director Katherine Hicks reported an increase in attendance by antique carpet collectors and buyers because of the addition of the antique lounge and pavilion at the 2019 edition.
In Part 1 of RugNews.com's exclusive Rug Show New York roundup we cover the people who made the show a success. Don't miss Part 2, to find out who stopped by the booths of companies from Lapchi to Zollanvari, read Part 2 here.
AMER RUGS
Anabel Valez-Perconti of Anabel's Oriental Rugs in Louisville, Kentucky, poses with Raj Choudhary of Amer Rugs with a wool and raw silk Dazzle collection rug as backdrop.
ANADOL RUG CO.
Erhan Abi of Nezirhan and Tevfik Askin of Bazaar catch up with Ummi Gunturk and Suat Izmirli of Anadol Rugs at the Rug Show 2019.
ART RESOURCES
Max Moussavi of Art Resources meets with Jennifer Chused, Chused and Co., a New York-based interior design firm.
AZAD USA
Meeting up at the Rug Show 2019 are Jamal Kazemian of Jamal's Rug Collection, Akbar Azad of Azad USA, and George Haroonian of Rug Warehouse & More in Los Angeles.
BANU HOME
Thierry Flamant and Ed Arnold of Banu Home pose with Anna Concha of Woven Designs, Imran Dhedhi and Alex Kimia of Banu Home, at the rug importer's busy Rug Show booth.
CARAVAN RUG CORP.
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Roz Rustigian of Rustigian Rugs in Providence, Rhode Island, with Jay Nehouray of Caravan Modern.
Jay Nehouray of Caravan in front of a new Hess collection rug at the Rug Show with Beth Assaf, Rug Chic of Mandeville, Louisiana and Mois Refoua of Caravan Rug Corp.
CREATIVE TOUCH
Baki Ildiz of Creative Touch Rugs shows off his newest designer licensed rugs to Victor Mashihi, president of Chevy Chase Design Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
FRENCH ACCENTS
Renee Cocke of Krimsa Fine Rugs & Decor in San Francisco (left) and Elizabeth Vehko of Shaver-Ramsey Fine Rugs in Denver flank FAR's Aaron Tousi with Jeorge Rodriguez and Alfonso Milz of Shaver-Ramsey behind them.
HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)
Greg Jordt, David Harounian, and David Grasse of HRI, take time out for a photo with Harris Cohen of Country Carpet and daughter Alexandra Cohen, Diana Samuels and Lee Harounian of HRI.
H.O.C.
Eileen Hampshire and John Hampshire of Art to Walk on in Sarasota, Florida, pose with Fabi Hens of H.O.C. Design in front of a design purchased by the retailer in an ice blue colorway.
Alicia Ann Parsons and Philip Amin of Carpet Impressions, a to the trade showroom in McLean, Virginia, with Zubair Mohamed of Knot & Co.
KNOTS RUGS
At Knots Rugs' Rug Show debut, Linny Moss and Bonnie Sutton of Knots Rugs pose with John Kababian of Kababian's Oriental Rugs, Sara Bopp of Knots Rugs and Peggy Kababian, Kababian's Oriental Rugs in front one of the retailer's favorite design, At the End of the Day by artist George Morton Clark.