Appraisal of Beautiful Rugs That Must Go. Reasonable Negotiable Prices!

I did appraisal of 54 rugs for Hotel Surplus Outlet in Van Nuys. These are beautiful hand made and machine made rugs that start from $100. So if you're looking to buy rugs at reasonable prices contact Charlie at 310-795-1980 or just go there to take the rug of your dream home. These rugs must be sold because a lot of other stuff will be coming in soon so they need the space. These rugs are way cheaper than the rugs in rug stores. Hotel Surplus Outlet works based on volumes and fast turn around not high profits.

Here I am posting some pictures of these rugs.

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
Certified Rug Appraiser (CRA)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Finding The Right Area Rug

A customer just came in today. He wanted to buy an Area Rug, but had no clue what to buy. He knew what size he wanted and had an idea of the color, but he had no clue which rug was right for him. His flooring was dark brown and his couch was brown as well. I suggested that he buys a lighter brown rug. A rug that is too light will show dust and dirt very fast which requires the rug to be cleaned frequently. A rug that is too dark on a dark floor will not stand out. The best solution in a case like this is to go with a rug that has browns with some light colors mix in it. I showed him a piece we had which he really liked. He told me that it would match his room perfectly.

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.RugIdea.com
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
310-770-9085

My Least Favorite Rugs

What is my least favorite Rug? It is not area rug which is also called machine made rug or even hard to clean shag or flokati rugs. It is rather tufted rugs. Why? Because when they're new, they look fine, but after a while, most of them look like a piece of felt with depressed pile. Many of them have cleaning issues. The backing and the backing border strips fell off and dismantle. They get wrinkles in many instances. Many of them smell bad because of the latex backing.

I prefer a medium quality area rug over a good tufted rug. Some dealers or manufacturers call them hand tufted rugs so the customers get the notion and feeling of owning a hand knotted rug. Not very much so.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
310-770-9085

Our Last Sale of the Year 2008

Yesterday afternoon around 4:00 pm, a husband, his wife, and their son probably in his early 30's walked into our rug store looking for a rug. After half an hour and seeing many rugs they selected two area rugs, one 8 x 11 and the other 5 x 8. They wanted to pay with their Discover debit card. We asked if they could pay cash so we could save time and the fee we would have to pay to the merchant's account provider. They said they did not have cash with them but would not mind coming back on Friday with cash. We knew that we should not let them go because there could be a high chance (read RISK) of not returning. We have had cases like this and the customer never returned. We learned from the experience.

They credit card did not go through. We swiped the card again. It did not go through for the second time. The gentleman got his card and called the custoemer service to see what the story was. He said that they had a money in theor account without buying anything yesterday to go over the daily limit which many debit cards have for the protection of the customers. He was waiting on the line for a long time and was transferred to several sections and talked to several people. Finally, they said it was OK and we could charge the credit card again. We did and this time also the card did not work. We called them and received this answer: Please call again on Friday to talk to a representative of the customer service. Don't you expect from a major credit card provider like Discover to hav a live 24/7 customer service personnel to help you if something happens?

The customers, very nice family wanted to leave to return on Friday. We had no intention of letting them go without giving them the rugs. We folded the rugs and wrapped them and gave them the rugs. We wrote down the credit card and their contact information and told them: Happy New Year. We will contact you if we cannot charge your credit card on friday. They left our store happily with smile on their faces. We were happy too to be able to sell two rugs on the new year's eve.

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

The Carpet Industry. How Big Is It Here in the U.S.?

United States and the carpet industry

I was browsing the Internet and I found some interesting statistics that I would like to share with you:

* In 2005, Carpet shipments totaled more than 2 billion square yards or roughly 19 billion square feet. The total amount was almost $14 billion at the factory level.
* 45 percent of the world’s carpet is produced by the United States.
* 85 % of the U.S. carpet is supplied by factories located in Dalton, Georgia.

These were the statistics that the Carpet and Rug Institute has gathered for wall to wall carpeting. I could not find any reliable statistics on hand knotted rugs, but based on my other findings from here and there, the sales volume of hand knotted rugs including tufted and area rugs might amount to $1 billion per year.

I would love to see the information and statistics other experts and scholars have gathered.

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

You Have to Compromise to Buy a Rug When You Have Limitations

"I don't want to spent a lot of money. I want a good quality rug with good material, desired size, with colors to match the interior design of my room and color combination of my furniture"!!

This is what I hear these days from many customers. Is it really possible to find such a rug? When you have money, size, color, design and many other limitations, lady, you have to compromise and lose something to buy your desired rugs. You only want to spend few hundred dollars and yet expect so much. That is not possible.

When these customers who do not want to spend a lot of money to buy a rug are directed towards area machine made rugs, they say what is the material of this rug and when they hear nylon or polypropylene, they ask for wool or another types of material. Is it possible to pay for a Volkswagen and get a Mercedes? Of course not. What do you say to these customers?

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

Rug Tent sale and Our Third Day, A Busy Day

It was Sunday today, the third and the final day of our Rug Tent Sale. It was the busiest day of the sale. We were busy from around the noon, up to 8:00 pm. I got home around 9:30 pm. We received several rugs and kilims for cleaning and repair. We also sold few area rugs and several other hand knotted Persian rugs and two tapestries. We sold few hand knotted Qashqai rugs made with hand spun wool and natural dye.

We all got tired today, but since the sale was a success, it was OK. Our customers were also very happy to find good deals.

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

Area Rugs on Sale and Our Best Sellers

Some of our customers have dogs or kids and do not want to spend a lot of money to buy a Persian, or Oriental rug. They look for medium quality area rug to cover a surface. We have a collection consisting of several colors which we sell $69 per piece for a 5 x 8 feet. We do not make that much money on these items, but we make our customers happy and they go home with the kind of area rug they like. We carry high end area rugs as well, but the photos posted here are for the medium quality area rugs, on sale for $69.

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

Rug Blog Rug Blogs Are Not Updated!

Some times I look for other rug blogs to read and study on the Internet. I do not find them updated. Why? The publishers do not have time, or since the Oriental, Persian and area rugs market is slow, they do not have the feeling to write. I do not have the answer. I will try to write if I have something to say and if my time permits.

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

Oriental Rugs Classic Traditional Designs Versus Modern Contemporary Designs

Today, I studied the statistics of the design of the rugs I sold in 2007. I did not have the data available based on the types of the rugs: area rugs (machine made), hand knotted or hand tufted rugs. But overall, 78% of the designs of the rugs we sold in 2007 were traditional designs compared with 22% modern.

By traditional design, I mean classic designs such as corner medallion, central medallion, overall, vase, hunting, boteh/paisley, and many other designs which have been in existence for generations, with rich histories behind them. By modern designs, I mean non-traditional, non-classic designs and those which have come into existence only recently . In many cases , younger customers bought traditional designs, but older customers did not usually buy modern designs.

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

Rug Blogs: Rug Customers Do Not Know What Kind of Rugs They Are Looking For!

Yesterday, a lady came in and said she was looking for a green runner. We showed her many pieces of green runners, but she happily left with a pair of 8' x 2' 3" Beige (Creme) runners. Some of rug customers do not exactly know what they are looking for.

It was while ago when a couple came in looking for a 10 x 10 feet silk rug. After two hours and messing every thing up in our rug store, they ended up liking and buying a hand-knotted Persian Sarouk rug. The wife was so excited she said she could not wait to get home!

I have had many old customers who bought modern design Persian or Oriental rugs and young customers buying classic and traditional design hand made Oriental or Persian carpets!

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

Hand Knotted Persian Gabbeh Rug, Area Rugs, Los Angeles Getting Cold

Usually I come to work around 8:00 to 8:15 am every day. On my store and on the Internet, I have posted 9:00 am as the start of my work, but I get to my work earlier. Today, a gentleman stopped by right after I opened my rug gallery and bought a 4 x 6 hand knotted Persian Gabbeh rug made with hand spun wool and natural dye.

During the past couple of days, we also sold one Afshar kilim, a flat weave with no pile and few area rugs. We also picked up and delivered few rugs for cleaning and repair. We have a repairman on site who does the repair and stain removal. We also do water damage and color run and color bleeding restoration. I work with three other repairmen when we are busy with more work load.

It has been cold in Los Angeles these days and it rained last night. You fell the spring, but should have a jacket and sweater with you not to get cold.

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

Rug Market in Los Angeles

Our rug market here in Los Angeles has moved a little bit since a couple of days ago. We have sold several area rugs and one 4 x 6 Persian Nain rug. It has not been great, but at least we saw some customers who came in and left happy with rugs.

People are not ready to buy expensive rugs yet, but what can we do at this difficult time. We should work harder and smarter.

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

Indian Rug Cleaning For a Customer From West Lake Los Angeles

Last Sunday, a couple brought an Indian 8 x 10 rug for cleaning. They had come from West lake, a city close to Los Angeles. There were some little stains on the borders and I did not promise those stains be removed by regular cleaning. After the rug was returned from cleaning, the stains were still there. I paid $25 to our repairman to remove those stubborn stains. The spots were taken care of. The husband and wife came in today to pick up their rug after they called and made sure they could get the rug. I showed the rug and pointed the place of the removed spots and said if you're happy with the job, pay me $25 more which is my cost and I do not want to charge you more. They did not want to pay. They took their rug and left. They had paid the original cleaning cost upfront. I blamed myself and made a decision. I should be tougher at the beginning and if the customer is not ready to pay the price, I should call and tell them that there would be an extra charge for stain removal. Some of the customers do not appreciate what you do and there is no sense giving them what they do not appreciate.

We sold few pieces of area rugs and runners, but overall, the past few days have been very slow in regard with sales. It was Sunday today and I stayed at work until 5:45 pm.

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

Oriental Rug Market Los Angeles and Tax Season, Shaw Area Rugs

During the past few days, our rug business has been relatively slow and quiet. It might be because of the tax season. On the other hand, oil price has hit the $110/barrel and this has set the record and the price of gas at almost $4/gallon reduces the purchasing power of the people. These and other economic reasons and variables make people want to spend less. All this will affect the rug market weather it is area rug or hand knotted rug. People have less money and want spend less.

Of course the rug market has not been totally dead. We have sold a few pieces and were busy with cleaning and repair. But it has not been great. During the past couple of days, I have been busy working on my business tax and I have to submit all the numbers and documents to my CPA by tomorrow around noon.

Yesterday, I had an appointment with a representative of Shaw Floors and Shaw Living. She had visited me in our rug gallery and had shown me few samples. I wanted to see more samples so we met at 9:00 am in a showroom on the 5th floor in Los Angeles Mart, LA Mart. The showroom was big, but full of accessories and everything was visible but area rugs. I went inside and asked for the sales rep. and she showed up in a minute and guided me to the back of the showroom where they had only few pieces on few racks. Frankly I had expected a huge showroom full of racks and rugs. The variety did not look great to me. The prices also seemed expensive. In addition to the already high prices, there will be shipping costs added to the prices which will make it difficult to complete. I have to thing about this and I may want to go ahead and order a small shipment but I have to see.

It is 6:30 pm and I have to go home. I leave the writing for another time probably tomorrow.

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

Rug Master, Rug Blog, A Busy Sunday in Los Angeles

Today was Sunday. I went to work at 11:00 am. Couple of customers brought Indian and Persian Tabriz hand made rugs for cleaning. One of our repairmen repaired four rugs brought by a rug importer. They needed some minor repairs for the damages done in transportation. Few customers also walked in and bought few pieces of rugs. We also picked up two rugs for cleaning from a customer's home. We delivered a big 12 x 16 Nepal rug to a customer's home in Encino, north of Los Angeles after we closed our store at 5:00 pm. Like every other week, we worked 7 days this week as well.

Tomorrow is Monday and the first day of a new week. Will something extraordinary happen? Will several customers walk in and buy many rugs? Who knows? We keep working hard with lots of hopes.

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

Area Rug, Tufted Rug, and Tapestry

It was a slow day in regard with selling rugs. I only sold a 4 x 6 area rug, one tufted rug and a 24 x 48 inches tapestry. Several customers came in to our rug gallery and none of them looked serious. Some of them said they might return, but who knows.

I had a meeting with the representative of a very big floor covering and area rug producing company. We are supposed to meet again next week. I am considering to become one of their dealers if this is to my company's benefit. I have to see. As usual, we did some rug repair for a couple of the customers.

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

Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, TMA/SC TMASC Board meeting

It was Saturday yesterday and we had board meeting in the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, TMASC in the home of a board member. We started at 9:30 am and finished at 1:30 pm. Several reports like the membership, the treasurer, web master, and few other reports were submitted and approved. The website and the new brochure of the society were also talked about. Our membership has gone up because of many good and interesting programs we have had. The board will meet again in three months.

While I was at the meeting, our store was very busy and several rugs were sold and two customers had brought in several rugs for cleaning and repair.

Today, Sunday, it was a slower day compared with yesterday. We sold only four pieces of area rugs. A lady called me and asked about our working hours. I said we would be open till 5:00 pm. She said we would be there in your store in one hour. They later came in with two kids, one boy and a very cute girl. They were from Redondo Beach, a city south of Los Angeles close to the ocean.They were looking for a 9x12 feet rug. They liked an Indian Agra rug with Ivory background and black border. The husband was willing to buy it5 and take it home, but the wife said they should do more research. The price I gave them was a good deal and I doubt if they can find such a rug with such a price. They may return.

Tomorrow will be Monday, and the beginning of a new week, full of hope.

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

Persian Rugs

Persian Rugs Are Symbolic With Magical Quality and Prosperity

As many people know there are many different types of rugs that you can buy. There is one type of rug that is symbolic with prosperity. This is the famed rugs of Persia, or as we call them Persian rugs. Now even though you can’t use these carpets to fly anywhere they still have a magical quality about them. As you lay one of these Persian rugs in your home you will be able to see the intricate beauty that is one of the key elements about these rugs.

Now even though many people like to own Persian rugs they simply aren’t too sure if they can afford to have these magnificent specimens in their homes. As a result of this they may look for inferior rugs that claim to possess all of the beauty and quality of Persian rugs without their price. Buying a rug like this will only cheat you of the experience of having a richly woven Persian rug in your home.

While there are many very expensive Persian rugs for sale you can still find high quality Persian rugs that can fit your budget and these still look nice. The main thing that you will need to see is that you are buying a good quality rug. You should also see the size and shape of the rug that you want to have in your home.

As there are so many color shades and shapes on the Persian rugs, you should decide what are the complementary colors and main colors that you want your new rug to have. This way you can match your new Persian rug to your existing furniture. The other way that you can choose a gorgeous Persian rug for your home is to start with some pictures of Persian rugs that catch your eye and an empty room.

With the pictures you can see what shade your walls should be like and if you want a wooden floor. You can even see if your Persian rugs would look great on a fully carpeted floor in a neutral shade. From here you can also decide on the theme that you want this room to have. Once you have your room furnishings decided on you need to see what size Persian rugs you wan to buy.

This is important since many times you will find Persian rugs that are like miniature carpets. There is no real problem if you would like to have an area rug sized Persian rug or even larger. This way you can get the excellence of Persian carpets minus the high price. You also have the added bonus of being able to take your Persian rug with you when you move house.

Source: http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm/215675?articleid=215675