Persian Carpet Grand Exhibition in Tehran Aug. 23-29, 2008

The 17th Persian Carpet Grand Exhibition will be held in Tehran Permanent Exhibition Ground from Aug. 23rd to 29th, 2008. More than 400 exhibitors from all over Iran will put their latest produced rugs and kilims on display.

Persian rugs of different styles, village, tribal, city workshops, old and antique will be presented to the rug lovers who gather in Tehran from around the world. This will be a unique opportunity for those who want to buy Persian rugs first hand and save.

You can also get to know the Persian carpet making process by attending many free natural dyeing, and weaving workshops and scholarly forums during this one-week
one of a kind event.

Many types of handicrafts related to handmade carpets will be displayed in the 17th Persian Carpet Grand Exhibition and various cultural programs will represent different regions of Iran.

For visa, please fill out the application form
(http://www.daftar.org/forms/visas/101.pdf) and fallow the instruction indicated on the application or refer to www.daftar.org for more details. For hotel, travel related assistance, or more information, please contact:

Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
1655 South La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Tel. 310-770-9085
Fax 310-860-0462

Bokhara Pakistan Rug, Antique Persian Senneh Rug

It was Sunday today and our rug gallery was a mess. I had a long day at the Bowers Museum yesterday. We brought back our rugs and other stuff we had taken for that one-day event and put them in the store without organizing them. While I was busy putting everything back at its place, a customer who had called me in the morning to make sure I would be in, stopped by and brought in a 9 x 12 feet Pakistani Bokhara which needed cleaning and selvages repair. She said they were in the process of remodeling their home therefore are not sure if they would keep the rug or not. They asked me to first send the rug for cleaning before they know if they would want the repair.

Before they left, another customer who had called me two nights ago showed up with a very fine and antique Persian Senneh rug which needed cleaning, selvage and fringe repair. She also brought in a Varni kilim for cleaning. This beautiful Senneh carpet has a very strange design, few cats, dogs and other small animals probably mice. Couple of other customers also walked in and looked for area rugs. One of them was not sure about the size and said she would measure the room and comeback. The other customer took few photos of two rugs, one area rug and the other a tufted rug to see if they match the interior design of her house.

I went home at around five pm.

Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

Why Should We Buy Old and Antique Persian and Oriental Rugs?

Why Should We Buy Old and Antique Rugs?

Because:

1- Old and Antique Persian and Oriental rugs are scarce, and the demand for them is much greater than the supply. Therefore, these rugs appreciate in value as the time goes by.

2- We can use and enjoy them, while we can invest in them. There are many other kinds of investment that cannot be used in our daily lives. For example, we cannot use our coins, stamps, bonds and stocks. But we can use and enjoy our beautiful old and antique rugs.

3- Antique rugs are surely making a strong comeback and making their presence felt in the extremely competitive rug market.

4- Possessing antique rugs is a matter of pride for the owners. It took the care and maintenance by generations to preserve their beloved old and antique rugs. And why not? After all, their antique rug still shines bright amidst the cacophony of modern day rugs.

5- Antique rugs present us with an opportunity to connect with history.

6- Antique rugs are never out of style. They do not come and go with fashion and trends.

Khosrow Sobhe

www.RugIdea.com

310-770-9085

Rug Blogs Reveal My Business Secrets

This morning I thought to myself that I write everything about my business as regards with what I sell, how many pieces I sell, how many rugs and what I receive for cleaning and repair and many other details about my business. This can be read by my colleagues and competitors. Then I told myself, rug dealers are busy selling rugs and counting their money. They do not have time or they are not in a mood to read a rug blog. And if they read, what can they get out of my Oriental rug blog? So I should not wary myself and keep my mind busy about what they might think or do.

So let me write about my day. A customer, a lady bought two 5 x 8 area rugs, one runner, 2' 2" x 8 and one 4 x 6 area rug and paid with her credit card and left. She was student at Santa Monica College here in Los Angeles. Another man bought a 4 x 6 area rug, and while I was gone to my bank, one piece of 5 x 8 area rug was sold to another customer. I visited a rug dealer in Beverly Hills. He is a collector and dealer of fine Persian old, antique and fine rugs. In the morning, a dealer from a neighboring town brought an old Kashan rug for cleaning and repair. Several other customers also walked in separately but did not buy any rugs. Few of them said they would return in the near future. Before closing the store, I sold two pieces Persian hand knotted rugs, one a fine Gabbeh, and another one, a 2 x 3 Persian Varamin rug, both made with hand spun wool and natural dye to a couple who were looking for simple design rugs.

Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085