Many experts say Persian and Oriental rug business will have a tougher time in 2008. What I can do myself to protect my business as a rug dealer and rug lover here in my city, Los Angeles is not to lose hope and work harder, and of course smarter. We should not sit down and wait for a miracle to happen. We should create a miracle. I do not say we should try to create a miracle. We should make the miracle to happen. I believe on our fate train, I am not a passenger. I am the driver.
I have been in Los Angeles for less than 4 years, with a few months of stay in New York City. Before that, I lived in Tehran, where I had a very successful Persian rug business and a very good life. I moved to the States because of the great educational opportunities this country would have for my two sons. I have two great hard working sons. Kash, will turn 16 in March, 2008 (Khashaiar, an ancient Persian king's name = Xerxes) is at the 10th grade at Beverly Hills High School. Hid GPA is 4.0. He is a volunteer homework helper in Beverly Hills Public Library two days a week helping kids who have difficulties with their math, science and other academic subjects. Kash is very sociable. He wants to go to UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) to study information technology. He does not want to go to a community college. He thinks ahead. He wants to give back part of what this great city has given to him. My older son, Ashkan, studies information technolgy at Californian State University Northridge here in Los Angeles for his BS. He is a dedicated young man. Few weeks ago, he established his own company called "ITChair", an information technology company with a very active web site www.ITChair.com w. He does web designing and online marketing. He has made several professional web sites. He is a Microsoft certified expert, eager to learn and progress. He has some certificates, under which are signed by Bill Gates. Ashakn is a great son. He is a member of several non-profit societies. He serves on the board of several of these societies. I always ask his opinions on different subjects to give him the opportunity of expressing himself, and this has worked in letting him step forward. Of course, I have a great wife. Some times when we want to attend a professional meeting and my wife wants to introduce herself, she asks me how she should introduce herself. I tell her to introduce herself as the "Vice President of Expenditure" in my company, as she loves to shop and help other businesses grow!! Besides this, I have so many good American and a few Iranian friends. I have written about myself in other sections of my rug blog and see no need to bore anyone repeating them again here.
So much for that. I do not know why I entered into this subject, but I felt it might be OK to give my readers a brief information on my personal life here in Southern California.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Germany to display Iranian carpets
Germany to display Iranian carpets
A group of skilled Iranian carpet-weavers and designers are slated to participate in the 2008 Domotex Hanover Exhibition in Germany.
Some 30 artists will present unique rugs from different parts of the country along with carpets showcased in last year's international Copenhagen exhibition.
Domotex is the largest international trade fair for Carpets and Floor Coverings, which showcases a wide array of high-quality products.
The 2008 Domotex Hanover Exhibition will run from Jan. 12th to 15th, 2008 in the Hannover Fairgrounds.
Iran is a leading exporter of hand-woven carpets in the world. Persian carpets are highly sought out due to their breathtaking designs.
Source: http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=38205§ionid=351020105
A group of skilled Iranian carpet-weavers and designers are slated to participate in the 2008 Domotex Hanover Exhibition in Germany.
Some 30 artists will present unique rugs from different parts of the country along with carpets showcased in last year's international Copenhagen exhibition.
Domotex is the largest international trade fair for Carpets and Floor Coverings, which showcases a wide array of high-quality products.
The 2008 Domotex Hanover Exhibition will run from Jan. 12th to 15th, 2008 in the Hannover Fairgrounds.
Iran is a leading exporter of hand-woven carpets in the world. Persian carpets are highly sought out due to their breathtaking designs.
Source: http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=38205§ionid=351020105
5 Tips to Starting a Successful Home Décor Business
5 Tips to Starting a Successful Home Décor Business
Business,Interior Design,Small Business
Starting a home décor business should be very easy.  Why?  Because you have already succeeded in making your home look fabulous, why wouldn't you want to help others do the same?  A home décor business is something that is great for someone who has an eye for style, and can imagine how a room will look when it is finally finished.
Follow these five tips and a home décor business will become a reality for you.
1. Choose a Niche:
There are so many options when when it comes to starting a home décor business.  For example, you could work on a room level, and change the look of an entire room, or you could just offer great items that would spruce up any room.  Before you decide what your home décor business will be, you need to carve out a special niche.
2. Be Unique:
One imperative thing you must do is to really specialize yourself, and make your business one of a kind.  For example, if you have an eye for beauty and art, turn that talent into your business. Start a picture home based business.  You could recommend great pictures and artwork for clients' walls, or specify the perfect place to put their existing artwork.
3. Advertise Your Business:
Remember when starting a home décor business that you must effectively advertise your services.  There are many ways to do this, from hiring a firm to doing it yourself.  Home décor is a specialty field, so ask if you can put up advertisements in a home improvement store, or even in your local newspaper.  Also, you may want to give discounts for referrals and repeat customers to attract repeat customers.
4. Fully Commit:
Home décor businesses can take a lot of work, so make sure that you are really committed before you start this business.  Before you start any home business by yourself, be sure you do your research.  Educate yourself about tax laws, insurance, and all of the technicalities before you start your business.  If you aren't sure about any of these, make sure you ask a professional for advice, before you get started.
5. Stay Positive:
Don't get too discouraged if you can't find someone to buy your products or utilize your services in the beginning.  In fact, it may be a couple of months before you get your first client.  Don't get discouraged. Most home décor businesses take a bit of time to build up a client base.
Following these five tips will help you prepare to start a home decor business.  Remember that this should be something that you enjoy doing and are good at. Not everyone is qualified to start a home décor business.
If you are interested in starting a home décor business, there are many to choose from. Visit our Home Décor Directory to find a business today.
We offer extensive business opportunity listings along with rates and reviews.
About the author:
Mindy Benkert is a successful internet marketer and mom devoted to helping home business owners achieve SUCCESS. She is the owner of an extensive Work at Home Directory that gives you the opportunity to Advertise Your Business FREE!
Source: Click here
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Business,Interior Design,Small Business
Starting a home décor business should be very easy.  Why?  Because you have already succeeded in making your home look fabulous, why wouldn't you want to help others do the same?  A home décor business is something that is great for someone who has an eye for style, and can imagine how a room will look when it is finally finished.
Follow these five tips and a home décor business will become a reality for you.
1. Choose a Niche:
There are so many options when when it comes to starting a home décor business.  For example, you could work on a room level, and change the look of an entire room, or you could just offer great items that would spruce up any room.  Before you decide what your home décor business will be, you need to carve out a special niche.
2. Be Unique:
One imperative thing you must do is to really specialize yourself, and make your business one of a kind.  For example, if you have an eye for beauty and art, turn that talent into your business. Start a picture home based business.  You could recommend great pictures and artwork for clients' walls, or specify the perfect place to put their existing artwork.
3. Advertise Your Business:
Remember when starting a home décor business that you must effectively advertise your services.  There are many ways to do this, from hiring a firm to doing it yourself.  Home décor is a specialty field, so ask if you can put up advertisements in a home improvement store, or even in your local newspaper.  Also, you may want to give discounts for referrals and repeat customers to attract repeat customers.
4. Fully Commit:
Home décor businesses can take a lot of work, so make sure that you are really committed before you start this business.  Before you start any home business by yourself, be sure you do your research.  Educate yourself about tax laws, insurance, and all of the technicalities before you start your business.  If you aren't sure about any of these, make sure you ask a professional for advice, before you get started.
5. Stay Positive:
Don't get too discouraged if you can't find someone to buy your products or utilize your services in the beginning.  In fact, it may be a couple of months before you get your first client.  Don't get discouraged. Most home décor businesses take a bit of time to build up a client base.
Following these five tips will help you prepare to start a home decor business.  Remember that this should be something that you enjoy doing and are good at. Not everyone is qualified to start a home décor business.
If you are interested in starting a home décor business, there are many to choose from. Visit our Home Décor Directory to find a business today.
We offer extensive business opportunity listings along with rates and reviews.
About the author:
Mindy Benkert is a successful internet marketer and mom devoted to helping home business owners achieve SUCCESS. She is the owner of an extensive Work at Home Directory that gives you the opportunity to Advertise Your Business FREE!
Source: Click here
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Carol Lee
A visitor called Carol Lee has contacted me and asked a question without leaving her e-mail address. Carol if your read this post, please get back to me.
Thanks,
Khosrow Sobhe
Thanks,
Khosrow Sobhe
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Rug and Carpet Cleaning Tips
The secret to fabulous-looking carpets? It's simple — have a "no-shoes-in-the-
house rule" and vacuum frequently.
Here, Good Housekeeping Institute's home care director, Carolyn Forté, offers advice on how to keep your vacuum and carpets in great shape.
1. What's the difference between a canister and an upright vacuum? A canister vacuum is generally more versatile. Like uprights, canisters handle carpets, but they're also great at cleaning bare floors, vacuuming stairs and sucking up dirt from corners.
2. Which is better — a vacuum with a bag or a bagless vacuum? Neither is better. The Good Housekeeping Institute tests show that both clean equally well. Which you buy depends on personal preference. Bagless cleaners save you the trouble of having to buy extra bags, but they can be messy to empty, and the filters and dust containers must be kept clean. While vacuums with bags keep dust and dirt contained, they are tricky to retrieve an earring or small object
that gets sucked up accidentally.
3. Do more amps mean better cleaning? If you're tempted to buy a model with the highest amps, horsepower or watts, you might want to think again. These numbers are simply measurements of the electrical current used by the motor. A vacuum cleaner's performance depends on airflow, the amount of suction it produces, and other factors including the overall design and attachments.
4. What are all the attachments for? When you're vacuuming pile carpets and rugs, you should use the motorized power nozzle. But when you're cleaning bare floors and walls, it's best to use the wall/floor brush. To get dust out of drawers, heating and air-conditioning vents, and from
under larger appliances, try the crevice tool. For mattresses, upholstered fabrics, curtains and car interiors, use the upholstery attachment. And to remove dust from blinds, lampshades and moldings, use the dusting brush.
5. How often should I vacuum? In an ideal world, an area that has heavy traffic should be vacuumed every day. Butonce or twice a week is more realistic with today's busy lifestyles and certainly enough for areas that aren't often used. For best results, slowly move the vacuum
over the carpet several times, going back and forth and side to side in parallel rows.
6. How many times does a vacuum need to be run over a carpet to get it clean? Generally, you should use as many as seven strokes for high-traffic areas; three or four for lighter ones. If you're fanatical about dirt, consider buying a vacuum with a dirt sensor, which tells you when an area is clean.
7. How often should my vacuum-cleaner bag be changed? If your bag is filled to the indicator line, it's time to change it. Even though some vacuums have "check bag" indicator lights, it's best to check the bag yourself and change it when it's no more than three-quarters full. If you have a pet or you vacuum up fireplace ashes, you may have to change the bag more often. To be on
the safe side, check the dirt level in the bag before each use.
8. How often should I change the filter on my vacuum? You don't have to change the filter as often as the bag. If the filter shows signs of wear, or is excessively dirty or torn, it's time to replace it. HEPA filters — ones that remove most dirt particles — should be changed after six months or after the sixth bag change. The owner's manual will tell you where the filter is located and will have recommendations for your particular model.
9. At what height should my nozzle adjustment be set?
The level you set your nozzle at depends on the height of your carpet. For example, you would use the lowest setting for a low-pile carpet and a higher one for plush carpet. You'll only need to push your vacuum with a moderate amount of effort when you've selected the appropriate level.
10. When do I know it's time to replace the belt on my vacuum? If you think your vacuum isn't cleaning as well as it used to or the brush roll has stopped turning, it may be time to change your belt. First, shut off your vacuum and unplug its cord. It's not difficult to replace the belt as long as you have a screwdriver and a replacement belt. For instructions for your specific vacuum, refer to your owner's manual or call the manufacturer's service center.
11. What should I do if my vacuum cleaner isn't picking up dirt? First, give it a full inspection. To do so, turn the machine off and unplug it. Then, check to see if the belt is worn or broken, or if the roller-brush won't move. Also, look for a full bag or any blockage that might be affecting the power of the machine. Sometimes, new carpet can be a problem because it sheds more fiber and has a tendency to fill bags quickly and clog the air stream. If everything checks out and
your machine still isn't working properly, bring it to a repair shop.
12. How do I vacuum an Oriental rug? Since Oriental rugs can be very fragile, you may have to use extra care when vacuuming them. Still, to keep them in peak condition, they should be cleaned often. If you're using an upright vacuum cleaner, it's best to turn off the agitator brush (if possible). When approaching the fringe, tip up the front slightly and push it completely off the carpet. This cleans the fringe without catching it in the rotating agitator brush. With a canister vacuum, use the bare floor brush for gentler cleaning of the carpet, and use an upholstery attachment for the fringe. Also, don't forget to periodically turn the rug over so you can vacuum its underside.
13. Is it bad for my carpet or vacuum to use powder fresheners? Provided you have a good vacuum, powders shouldn't be a problem. For the best pick-up, start with a clean bag. Since these powders can clog the bag, you'll probably have to change the bag afterward.
house rule" and vacuum frequently.
Here, Good Housekeeping Institute's home care director, Carolyn Forté, offers advice on how to keep your vacuum and carpets in great shape.
1. What's the difference between a canister and an upright vacuum? A canister vacuum is generally more versatile. Like uprights, canisters handle carpets, but they're also great at cleaning bare floors, vacuuming stairs and sucking up dirt from corners.
2. Which is better — a vacuum with a bag or a bagless vacuum? Neither is better. The Good Housekeeping Institute tests show that both clean equally well. Which you buy depends on personal preference. Bagless cleaners save you the trouble of having to buy extra bags, but they can be messy to empty, and the filters and dust containers must be kept clean. While vacuums with bags keep dust and dirt contained, they are tricky to retrieve an earring or small object
that gets sucked up accidentally.
3. Do more amps mean better cleaning? If you're tempted to buy a model with the highest amps, horsepower or watts, you might want to think again. These numbers are simply measurements of the electrical current used by the motor. A vacuum cleaner's performance depends on airflow, the amount of suction it produces, and other factors including the overall design and attachments.
4. What are all the attachments for? When you're vacuuming pile carpets and rugs, you should use the motorized power nozzle. But when you're cleaning bare floors and walls, it's best to use the wall/floor brush. To get dust out of drawers, heating and air-conditioning vents, and from
under larger appliances, try the crevice tool. For mattresses, upholstered fabrics, curtains and car interiors, use the upholstery attachment. And to remove dust from blinds, lampshades and moldings, use the dusting brush.
5. How often should I vacuum? In an ideal world, an area that has heavy traffic should be vacuumed every day. Butonce or twice a week is more realistic with today's busy lifestyles and certainly enough for areas that aren't often used. For best results, slowly move the vacuum
over the carpet several times, going back and forth and side to side in parallel rows.
6. How many times does a vacuum need to be run over a carpet to get it clean? Generally, you should use as many as seven strokes for high-traffic areas; three or four for lighter ones. If you're fanatical about dirt, consider buying a vacuum with a dirt sensor, which tells you when an area is clean.
7. How often should my vacuum-cleaner bag be changed? If your bag is filled to the indicator line, it's time to change it. Even though some vacuums have "check bag" indicator lights, it's best to check the bag yourself and change it when it's no more than three-quarters full. If you have a pet or you vacuum up fireplace ashes, you may have to change the bag more often. To be on
the safe side, check the dirt level in the bag before each use.
8. How often should I change the filter on my vacuum? You don't have to change the filter as often as the bag. If the filter shows signs of wear, or is excessively dirty or torn, it's time to replace it. HEPA filters — ones that remove most dirt particles — should be changed after six months or after the sixth bag change. The owner's manual will tell you where the filter is located and will have recommendations for your particular model.
9. At what height should my nozzle adjustment be set?
The level you set your nozzle at depends on the height of your carpet. For example, you would use the lowest setting for a low-pile carpet and a higher one for plush carpet. You'll only need to push your vacuum with a moderate amount of effort when you've selected the appropriate level.
10. When do I know it's time to replace the belt on my vacuum? If you think your vacuum isn't cleaning as well as it used to or the brush roll has stopped turning, it may be time to change your belt. First, shut off your vacuum and unplug its cord. It's not difficult to replace the belt as long as you have a screwdriver and a replacement belt. For instructions for your specific vacuum, refer to your owner's manual or call the manufacturer's service center.
11. What should I do if my vacuum cleaner isn't picking up dirt? First, give it a full inspection. To do so, turn the machine off and unplug it. Then, check to see if the belt is worn or broken, or if the roller-brush won't move. Also, look for a full bag or any blockage that might be affecting the power of the machine. Sometimes, new carpet can be a problem because it sheds more fiber and has a tendency to fill bags quickly and clog the air stream. If everything checks out and
your machine still isn't working properly, bring it to a repair shop.
12. How do I vacuum an Oriental rug? Since Oriental rugs can be very fragile, you may have to use extra care when vacuuming them. Still, to keep them in peak condition, they should be cleaned often. If you're using an upright vacuum cleaner, it's best to turn off the agitator brush (if possible). When approaching the fringe, tip up the front slightly and push it completely off the carpet. This cleans the fringe without catching it in the rotating agitator brush. With a canister vacuum, use the bare floor brush for gentler cleaning of the carpet, and use an upholstery attachment for the fringe. Also, don't forget to periodically turn the rug over so you can vacuum its underside.
13. Is it bad for my carpet or vacuum to use powder fresheners? Provided you have a good vacuum, powders shouldn't be a problem. For the best pick-up, start with a clean bag. Since these powders can clog the bag, you'll probably have to change the bag afterward.
Source:http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/print/0,
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Persian Rugs in Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California
Bowers Museum in Santa Ana California has a very active Persian Arts Council. They have invited me to deliver a lecture on Persian carpets. The Bowers Museum lecture and film program series is designed to enhance the viewer's experience of the exhibits featured in the museum galleries by bringing scholars from around the world to their patrons. The museum programs are varied to meet the interests of the patrons and community. The information on this lecture follows:
Persian Rugs: 2500 Years of Art, Culture and Craftsmanship
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Tent Bands of Central Asia and The Textile Museum Associates of Southern California
I wrote about the tent band presentation in my previous post. It was held in my rug gallery on 1655 South La Cienega Blvd, yesterday, Saturday January 5, 2008. The attendance was very good. Almost all of our seats were occupied. As expected, the lecture by Richard Isacson was well presented and well received. We had refreshments at 10:00 am. Every body chatted and talked with old and new friends. We started the program at 10:30. First, David Ruderman, the president of the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California welcomed everybody and made few little announcements. The Cheri Hunter, the program chair of the TMA/SC introduced the speaker. She also thanked me and my family for hosting the event in our Persian and Oriental rug gallery.
The program was accompanied by a slide show and a powerpoint presentation. My older son, Ashkan is the It Chair and the honorary tech man of the society. He helped Richard Isacson to set up the projector and his Mac computer. Mac computers are wonderful for graphics and some other academic jobs, but are not perfectly compatible with digital projectors and other types of digital equipments. But Ashkan made a way to make it work. It was a very interesting topic and the content of the speech was also well prepared and well presented. The last part, the "Show & Tell" was very interesting. Many people had brought their tent bands from their collections. They showed the tent bands to the crowd and talked about them. Richard Isacson commented about each piece and some of the people from the audience also added comments. Everybody enjoyed the program. It was fun and educational. I will try to post the photos of the event on our website: www.RugIdea.com in a few days. We in Los Angeles are lucky to be a part of this wonderful association which provides us with this unique educational and wonderful forum.
The website of the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California is under final review and it will be up and running in the near future. Then, we will have all the information on the past and future events posted on the website.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
The program was accompanied by a slide show and a powerpoint presentation. My older son, Ashkan is the It Chair and the honorary tech man of the society. He helped Richard Isacson to set up the projector and his Mac computer. Mac computers are wonderful for graphics and some other academic jobs, but are not perfectly compatible with digital projectors and other types of digital equipments. But Ashkan made a way to make it work. It was a very interesting topic and the content of the speech was also well prepared and well presented. The last part, the "Show & Tell" was very interesting. Many people had brought their tent bands from their collections. They showed the tent bands to the crowd and talked about them. Richard Isacson commented about each piece and some of the people from the audience also added comments. Everybody enjoyed the program. It was fun and educational. I will try to post the photos of the event on our website: www.RugIdea.com in a few days. We in Los Angeles are lucky to be a part of this wonderful association which provides us with this unique educational and wonderful forum.
The website of the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California is under final review and it will be up and running in the near future. Then, we will have all the information on the past and future events posted on the website.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, TMA/SC TMASC in Los Angeles
It is Saturday morning in Los Angeles, January 5, 2008. It is exactly 7:30 am and I am at work. I am a member of the Board of the Textile Museum of Southern California, TMA/SC. We will have a lecture and presentation on the Tent Bands of Central Asia in my rug gallery today at 10:30 am. The speaker is Richard Isacson. I wrote about this event in my yesterday's post on my rug weblog. I am at work to do some preparations. We are expecting to have about 40-50 guests. It has been raining since yesterday and this may affect the numbers who may want to attend this presentation. The topic and the lecture is very appealing to Oriental carpet dealers and scholars. I will write more about this event in my next post. Several people will bring their tent bands and similar items for the "show and tell" section we have at the end of the session.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Friday, January 4, 2008
Tent Bands of Central Asia in Los Angeles
Textile Museum Associates of
Southern California TMA/SC
Presents:
Architectural Textiles:
Tent Bands of Central Asia
with
Richard Isaacson
Oriental Carpet Curator and Researcher
Arlington, VA
The trellis tent is a brilliant invention. It has made nomadic life possible across Central Asia for at least one and a half millennia. An important component of its construction is a woven tent band which girdles the lower part of the wooden roof struts. This critical engineering element provides the tension necessary to brace the roof dome against outward collapse under the load of heavy felts and the force of strong steppe winds. Beyond serving a utilitarian function, tent bands are often elaborately decorated. This talk will discuss the history of the tent, the role of tent bands, and include examples made by different Central Asian peoples.
Richard Isaacson is a retired physicist, who has simultaneously pursued a strong interest in art and oriental carpets. He has been active at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, lecturing frequently and serving as a member of the Textile Museum Advisory Council. He is a member of the International Hajji Babas, and was a member of Local Organizing Committee for the 10th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (2003), Washington, DC, in which he also served as the Exhibition Project Manager for the ICOC show Treasures from the Museums of Uzbekistan. Richard was the Guest Curator for the exhibition Architectural Textiles: Tent Bands of Central Asia, at The Textile Museum, Washington, DC, (March 30, 2007 -- August 19, 2007), and was previously a Guest Curator for the exhibition From the Amu Darya to the Potomac: Central Asian Bags from Area Collections (Sept 7, 2001--Feb 24, 2002). He has published in Oriental Rug Review, HALI and Steppe magazines, and has written an exhibition catalogue for Architectural Textiles: Tent Bands of Central Asia, which will be available for sale at the program. Richard invites TMA/SC members to bring examples of Central Asian tent bands from their collections for Show & Tell.
Members: Free Non-Members: $7
When: Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 at 10:00 am
Where: SOBCO International Ltd.
1655 South La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035
Tel. 310-770-9085 Free parking in lot
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Rug Cleaning and repair in Los Angeles
People have had parties for Christmas and the holiday season. They have spilled wine, tea. coffee and other types of drinks on their rugs and bring their rugs for cleaning and possible repair. we are getting busy with professional Oriental rug cleaning. The money we make is not that great, but it brings us traffic, and on the other hand we feel good about serving our customers.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Area Rug, Kashan Rug, and Spot Dyeing in the First Day of the Year 2008
Yesterday, was the January 2nd, the first working day of the year 2008. We had a busy day. A lady came in the morning and looked at few rugs. She asked for a better price and I said since you're my first customer in the new year, I will pay your sales tax and will not charge you 8.25% California sales tax. I will pay it for you. She said she would have to go to Target Store to buy some thing and she would return later. She did return in the afternoon with her husband. They liked two 8x11 rugs but were not sure which one would look nice. I suggested to try both of those rugs at home to see which one looks nicer. She agreed. We took 2 rugs to her place, and she kept the one which had a patina brown one. This was our first sale of the year. Another lady came in and looked at many rugs. She wanted us to put one 5x8 and a 2' 7" x 8 rug away for her to comeback with her husband. I wrote down the information of these two pieces on the back of my business card and gave it to her.
A rug dealer from one of the neighboring towns came in looking for a 10x 14 rug for his customer. He selected a very nice corner medallion burgundy Kashan rug and took it with him. Another rug dealer from Los Angeles who had left a rug for a spot dyeing visited us and saw some of the sample colors we had provided for him. He will return again to see more options.
A couple came in and looked at many rugs. The husband liked the area rugs of lower prices. The wife, a first grade teacher loved our Qashqai hand-knotted rugs made with hand-spun wool and vegetable dye. The lady's taste was good, but they had limited budget. They could not agree on what to buy. I gave them rug books and literature for free with a small gift. They left happy and said they might comeback later.
We received a shipment of rugs from New York. we unpacked and labeled them one by one. These are Belgian area rugs of different sizes.
It was a busy first day of the year.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
A rug dealer from one of the neighboring towns came in looking for a 10x 14 rug for his customer. He selected a very nice corner medallion burgundy Kashan rug and took it with him. Another rug dealer from Los Angeles who had left a rug for a spot dyeing visited us and saw some of the sample colors we had provided for him. He will return again to see more options.
A couple came in and looked at many rugs. The husband liked the area rugs of lower prices. The wife, a first grade teacher loved our Qashqai hand-knotted rugs made with hand-spun wool and vegetable dye. The lady's taste was good, but they had limited budget. They could not agree on what to buy. I gave them rug books and literature for free with a small gift. They left happy and said they might comeback later.
We received a shipment of rugs from New York. we unpacked and labeled them one by one. These are Belgian area rugs of different sizes.
It was a busy first day of the year.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Los Angeles Rug Society (LA Rug Society)
Los Angeles Rug Society can be a fine forum for Persian, Oriental and area rug dealers who do business in Los Angeles and its neighboring cities. It can be educational, cultural, fun and a networking place where experts in the Oriental carpet world can mingle and exchange useful information and ideas. It is one of my plans to establish such an organization in Los Angeles. I should consult with few of my colleagues to see how we can materialize this 2008 resolution. We need a board of directors and after a few meetings, we should start getting members. We can have informal gatherings, lectures, exhibitions, talks, and more. I know that some people may not like the idea, but I am sure if well planned and good implemented, this can bring business as well as education and fun to its members and even non-members who will participate in the events. It is going to be a win-win for all of us, the rug dealers in LA. I will work on this idea and will write more about it. Other smaller cities have rug societies, why not have a good one in Los Angeles. we can surely use the experiences of our colleagues in other cities and states.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Monday, December 31, 2007
Persian, Oreintal, Area Rug Blog, my Rug Master Weblog, and the Year 2007
It is 6:30 pm in Los Angeles and the date is December 31, 2007. The year will reach its end in a few hours. I want to review what I did in this year and put forward few plans for the upcoming year, the 2008.
I worked very hard, seven days a week, and probably around 12 hours a day. I provided excellent services to my customers who wanted to buy or sell rugs, do Oriental carpet cleaning, repair, restoration, and appraisal. I delivered lectures and tried to educate my customers. And I did all this with joy and love. More than anybody else, I loved what I did myself. Although it was financially very difficult for me, it was gratifying to see that my sales doubled in 2007 compared with the year before. The secret was extremely hard work and first class customer service. Many of my customers in this year were repeat customers. They understand and prreciate customized and flexible services.
And my plan for the next year is to double my sales compared with 2007! Impossible? Not. I will make it happen by another round of hard work, good planning and first grade customer services. I learned a lot from my customers and others and by reading, attending professional shows, participating in different meeting and professional events. I will continue to do so, and even more.
I wish everybody a happy and prosperous year, full of love and passion. I year without bas and sad news. A year, without war and killing. Let us pray for that. I celebrate this new year with my family and friends. It is always good to celebrate other cultures and religions' celebrations. this will foster love and mutual understanding. This is my last post on my weblog for the year 2007.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
I worked very hard, seven days a week, and probably around 12 hours a day. I provided excellent services to my customers who wanted to buy or sell rugs, do Oriental carpet cleaning, repair, restoration, and appraisal. I delivered lectures and tried to educate my customers. And I did all this with joy and love. More than anybody else, I loved what I did myself. Although it was financially very difficult for me, it was gratifying to see that my sales doubled in 2007 compared with the year before. The secret was extremely hard work and first class customer service. Many of my customers in this year were repeat customers. They understand and prreciate customized and flexible services.
And my plan for the next year is to double my sales compared with 2007! Impossible? Not. I will make it happen by another round of hard work, good planning and first grade customer services. I learned a lot from my customers and others and by reading, attending professional shows, participating in different meeting and professional events. I will continue to do so, and even more.
I wish everybody a happy and prosperous year, full of love and passion. I year without bas and sad news. A year, without war and killing. Let us pray for that. I celebrate this new year with my family and friends. It is always good to celebrate other cultures and religions' celebrations. this will foster love and mutual understanding. This is my last post on my weblog for the year 2007.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Oriental Rug Blogs and Aatracting More Traffic To My Rug Master Web Log
I was looking for a way to attract more traffic to my rug blog. I found this article which I enjoyed reading. An Oriental carpet blog may not have that many readers, but this article may help to find more visitors and readers to such Persian, Oriental and area rug blogs. It is simple but useful. I like to share it with my readers.
How to get regular traffic
If content is the king of a site, traffic is the queen. Traffic is the key to success for a publishers. It is not difficult to attract visitors to your site for the first time. You may place your URL in the forum, Yahoo answer, email or in bulletin board. It is basic instinct of people to visit a new site. So at the first phage you may get good number of traffic. But after a certain period of time your traffic may decrease day by day. The reason is that people are not willing to visit a site which is boring. If you are able to convert your visitors as constant traffic, your success is not far ahead. It is natural that traffic may overflowed into your site for a short period of time. It is due to search engine ranking or by getting to dig homepage or by any means. Grasp the opportunity. Do something so that your visitors turn into your regular traffic. How can you increase the number of regular visitors?
1.Be Unique, informative and creative: Be creative and write unique content. Your article must contain useful information. Elaborate your writing but don't deceive your visitors. Try to fulfill the expectation of your traffic for which they are exploring your site.
2. Regular posting: Post regularly with new and interesting contents so that your visitors feel interest to come back to your blog. Most of the popular bogs are updated regularly with new contents. If you write on part basis such as Part-I then Part-II your visitors certainly wait for the next part.
3. Simple Designing: Have you visited this blog earlier? You may remember that this blog was incorporated with images. But I have removed images. Because I have experienced that image affected my traffic. Actually people do not prefer the site which takes much time to upload. If you upload your site with many images, it may take more time to open, consequently visitors will skip to other sites for information and you will loose your traffic. So don't upload your site with unnecessary images.
4. Limited words: Your content should not too big or too small. Content with 400 to 500 words limit is ideal for a site. Don't be repetitive. Write your content with simple sentences and appropriate density of key words. Make your content interesting and keep it away from boring. If visitors feel interest in your blog they certainly will return and subscribe your feed to keep touch with your blog.
5. Relevant links to other sites: Provide link to other relevant and good quality sites so that your visitors may be benefited. If you are able to provide links to sites for updated and relevant information, people will use your site for updating their knowledge.
6.Promote your RSS Feed : You should keep an active link after every post with few words such as subscribe this blog or like that. Good number of people may subscribe your blog.
Source: http://blogrns.blogspot.com/
In a separate post, I will do a wrap of my rug blog for the year 2007 as it is the last day of the year.
Khosrow Sobhewww.RugIdea.com
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Afghan carpets to go on display at major trade shows
Afghan carpets to go on display at major trade shows
KABUL: Various varieties of carpets, recognised around the world as a symbol of Afghan culture, tradition and civilisation, will go on display at three major international trade shows this winter.
The US Agency and International Development (USAID) said Afghan traders would attend for the first time the South Asian Commodity Fair in Beijing, China, from December 28 to 30 and at the Domotex trade show in Hanover, Germany, from January 12 to 15, 2008.
For the second time, they will visit the United States. This year, they will attend a show in Las Vegas from January 28 - February 1, 2008. A number of high ranking Afghan government officials will also be present at the events, the agency added..
The annual trade shows host carpet producers from all over the world. Afghanistan will be an active participant, presenting its elegant handmade carpets and building relationships with international exporters from all over the world.
On the importance of the fairs for the economic growth of the carpet sector, Suleiman Fatimi, CEO of Export Promotion Agency, said: Participation in these trade shows will support and encourage the promotion of the Afghan carpet industry, and will boost Afghan traders. The shows will help establish linkages to new markets and customers around the world.
Twenty-eight industry representatives will first visit Beijing. China is increasingly becoming an important business destination for Afghanistan, both for exporters and importers, remarked Bryan Rhodes, the Chief of Party for USAIDs Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development project.
We are pleased to support emerging Afghan entrepreneurs in strengthening trade ties with one of the worlds most important economies, added Rhodes.
The Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA) is coordinating the projects in conjunction with the Afghan Carpet Exporters Association, the Association of Afghan Carpet Weavers, and the Federation of the Afghan Women Entrepreneurs. Germanys GTZ is also providing technical support.
Source: www.carpetour.net
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
KABUL: Various varieties of carpets, recognised around the world as a symbol of Afghan culture, tradition and civilisation, will go on display at three major international trade shows this winter.
The US Agency and International Development (USAID) said Afghan traders would attend for the first time the South Asian Commodity Fair in Beijing, China, from December 28 to 30 and at the Domotex trade show in Hanover, Germany, from January 12 to 15, 2008.
For the second time, they will visit the United States. This year, they will attend a show in Las Vegas from January 28 - February 1, 2008. A number of high ranking Afghan government officials will also be present at the events, the agency added..
The annual trade shows host carpet producers from all over the world. Afghanistan will be an active participant, presenting its elegant handmade carpets and building relationships with international exporters from all over the world.
On the importance of the fairs for the economic growth of the carpet sector, Suleiman Fatimi, CEO of Export Promotion Agency, said: Participation in these trade shows will support and encourage the promotion of the Afghan carpet industry, and will boost Afghan traders. The shows will help establish linkages to new markets and customers around the world.
Twenty-eight industry representatives will first visit Beijing. China is increasingly becoming an important business destination for Afghanistan, both for exporters and importers, remarked Bryan Rhodes, the Chief of Party for USAIDs Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development project.
We are pleased to support emerging Afghan entrepreneurs in strengthening trade ties with one of the worlds most important economies, added Rhodes.
The Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA) is coordinating the projects in conjunction with the Afghan Carpet Exporters Association, the Association of Afghan Carpet Weavers, and the Federation of the Afghan Women Entrepreneurs. Germanys GTZ is also providing technical support.
Source: www.carpetour.net
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Rug Blogs, Rug Master and Oriental Carpets
It is good to have a rug blog. During the past few weeks that I have had my rug blog, I have received several e-mails encouraging me to go ahead with my blog. There are very few rug blogs on the Internet and those few are not updated. I try to write few posts per week. Persian, Oriental and area rugs have a big market in the world and in the US, but very few rug dealers like to write about rugs. They either cannot or do not want to write about rugs and how they do business. I believe we live in a wonderful era when tons of information is at our fingers' tips. Why not use it and why not contribute to it?
I do my homework and try to write about my every day life which is very much related to textiles, rugs, art, and culture.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
I do my homework and try to write about my every day life which is very much related to textiles, rugs, art, and culture.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Rugs and Holiday Season
At this time of the year, when there is only few days left from the year 2007, it is unlikely to sell rugs, since people are usually busy doing other kind of jobs and planning. But we rug dealers never lose hopes. In the morning, a customer called me from Texas and talked about possible purchase of two Persian Nain rugs. She called me in the afternoon after talking with her husband and gave me her credit card information so I could go ahead and charge her credit card. I did that and will send these two hand knotted Persian rugs by UPS tomorrow. She will probably have these pieces by the new year.
This maybe the last sale of the year, but who knows, we may sell other rugs in the 2-3 days left before we are in 2008!!
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
This maybe the last sale of the year, but who knows, we may sell other rugs in the 2-3 days left before we are in 2008!!
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Selling Few Nain and Afghan Rugs
I have been busy during the past few days with holidays, Christmas, remodeling, and redecoration of our store. I sold a very nice Afghan wool on wool runner to a customer. A colleague, a rug dealer came in and wanted few pieces of our Qashqai Collection rugs which are our own production made with hand spun wool and vegetable dye. Another colleague gave us an Indian rug for color fixing and dyeing work. I also sold one Persian Nain rug to a walk-in customer. A lady came in and bought 5 door mats. We do not make money on our door mats, but they catch the attention of the drivers and the people who pass by our rug gallery on the very busy La Cienega Blvd.
As usual, we have been busy with rug repair, appraisal, cleaning, and stain removal.
I have been invited by the Oriental Rug Retailers of America to talk about an antique Persian rug in the Atlanta Rug Show which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia (01-17-2008 to 01-20-2008). They have also invited me to have a lecture in the July Atlanta Rug Show (07-13-2008 t0 07-16-2008). This organization has around 300 members all of whom are rug retailers from different cities around the U.S.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
As usual, we have been busy with rug repair, appraisal, cleaning, and stain removal.
I have been invited by the Oriental Rug Retailers of America to talk about an antique Persian rug in the Atlanta Rug Show which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia (01-17-2008 to 01-20-2008). They have also invited me to have a lecture in the July Atlanta Rug Show (07-13-2008 t0 07-16-2008). This organization has around 300 members all of whom are rug retailers from different cities around the U.S.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Persian carpet to be promoted
Persian carpet to be promoted
Iran is to introduce Persian carpet to the world.
Iran will make an appraisal of hand-woven carpets in a bid to restore the reputation of its carpet industry in domestic and foreign markets.
“Iran's hand-woven carpets have long enjoyed a very high reputation in the world. We must take steps toward introducing the Persian carpet more effectively to attract customers to its artistic value,” said Houshang Fakher, vice-chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines.
“The hand-woven Persian carpet needs more and better advertising to ensure its successful introduction to its international customers, as well as recapturing the first place it had long held in the world market”, he added.
To this end, national and international exhibits to introduce the country's age-old art of weaving exquisite carpets must be held on a regular basis and with adequate preparations, he noted.The hand-woven Persian carpet has always been viewed as an essential part of Persian art and culture, dating back many centuries and represting one of the most outstanding symbols of the country's cultural and artistic traditions.
Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=36053§ionid=351020105
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Iran is to introduce Persian carpet to the world.
Iran will make an appraisal of hand-woven carpets in a bid to restore the reputation of its carpet industry in domestic and foreign markets.
“Iran's hand-woven carpets have long enjoyed a very high reputation in the world. We must take steps toward introducing the Persian carpet more effectively to attract customers to its artistic value,” said Houshang Fakher, vice-chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines.
“The hand-woven Persian carpet needs more and better advertising to ensure its successful introduction to its international customers, as well as recapturing the first place it had long held in the world market”, he added.
To this end, national and international exhibits to introduce the country's age-old art of weaving exquisite carpets must be held on a regular basis and with adequate preparations, he noted.The hand-woven Persian carpet has always been viewed as an essential part of Persian art and culture, dating back many centuries and represting one of the most outstanding symbols of the country's cultural and artistic traditions.
Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=36053§ionid=351020105
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Friday, December 21, 2007
PANTONE SELECTS COLOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2008
Pantone 18-3943 Blue Iris
CARLSTADT, NJ – Blue Iris, a balanced blue-purple, has been projected as the color for the year for 2008 by Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color and provider of color standards for the design industries. The Pantone number is 18-3943 .
"From a color forecasting perspective, we have chosen Pantone 18-3943 Blue Iris as the color of the year, as it best represents color direction in 2008 for fashion, cosmetics and home products," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
"As a reflection of the times, Blue Iris brings together the dependable aspect of blue, underscored by a strong, soul-searching purple cast. Emotionally, it is anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic. Look for it artfully combined with deeper plums, red-browns, yellow-greens, grapes and grays." Blue Iris is one of the 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of eco-friendly paint.
Pantone Inc. has been providing design professionals with paint products and services for more than 45 years. Pantone paints, created in partnership with Fine Paints of Europe, contain no fillers. They are formulated using high quality pigments, oils and resins.
Source: www.rugnews.com
Pantone 18-3943 Blue Iris
CARLSTADT, NJ – Blue Iris, a balanced blue-purple, has been projected as the color for the year for 2008 by Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color and provider of color standards for the design industries. The Pantone number is 18-3943 .
"From a color forecasting perspective, we have chosen Pantone 18-3943 Blue Iris as the color of the year, as it best represents color direction in 2008 for fashion, cosmetics and home products," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
"As a reflection of the times, Blue Iris brings together the dependable aspect of blue, underscored by a strong, soul-searching purple cast. Emotionally, it is anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic. Look for it artfully combined with deeper plums, red-browns, yellow-greens, grapes and grays." Blue Iris is one of the 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of eco-friendly paint.
Pantone Inc. has been providing design professionals with paint products and services for more than 45 years. Pantone paints, created in partnership with Fine Paints of Europe, contain no fillers. They are formulated using high quality pigments, oils and resins.
Source: www.rugnews.com
Going Out of Business and Rug Racks
A rug dealer from down town Los Angeles contacted me few days ago and said he is going out of business and would like to sell his area rug racks. I made an appointment and went to see the racks. He was there for a year but since the rug business has been very slow, he wanted to close down the store and sell the rug racks. We bargained and reached an agreement. He had three racks, each one had 20 arms which would hold forty 5 x 8 (feet) rugs. He also had three bed type frames over which he placed piles and stacks of the rugs he had. I bought all of them, rented a truck and transferred every thing to our rug gallery. This has made our shop a mess since a couple of days ago and we have been busy redecorating and remolding our rug store to fit in all the racks and the frames. It has been a lot of work and it is not finished yet. Meanwhile, during the past three days, we sold several small and medium Persian and area rugs. As usual, we have been busy with rug cleaning and repair, and also several rug appraisals.
At this time of the year, people are usually busy with last minute shopping and do not buy rugs, with maybe few exception. But we have to work hard, and plan ahead to make 2008 a very busy and prosperous year. We can make it if we want it and go for it.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
At this time of the year, people are usually busy with last minute shopping and do not buy rugs, with maybe few exception. But we have to work hard, and plan ahead to make 2008 a very busy and prosperous year. We can make it if we want it and go for it.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Selling Few Indian Rugs
We went to deliver one Indian rug which was left with us for cleaning. This customer had given us several rugs for cleaning and had wanted few small rugs. Last week, we delivered the cleaned rugs and left several small pieces with them to see and think about. This time we took several more Indian small rugs. They did not want to keep the Persian rugs, but liked few small pieces of Indian rugs which looked cute at their beautiful house.
During the day, nothing special happened. In the afternoon, I went to an event which was held at James Bridges Cinema in UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) to celebrate the 800th birthday of Rumi, Moulana, the Iranian sofi, poet and the great philosopher. I could not buy the ticket online, since it was sold out. When I got to the box office, I was also told that the event was sold out. The organizer of the event saw me and said why did not you tell me you would like to attend the event and I said I did not think it would be a sold out event. Anyhow, I met several friends in the lobby and chated with them, but had no luck to get in. There was also a presentation of a wonderful documentary made by Farzin Rezaeian, another friend who has made a documentary named, "Iran: Seven Faces of a Civilization". Besides this, the Lian Ensemble also was going to preform a live program. It was a great event, but I missed it. A friend who had come from Washington D.C. offered to give me his ticket, but I did not accept. I returned home.
Today, Sunday Dec. 16th, was also a slow and quiet day. I went to a friend's Italian restaurant in Culver City with my older son and had a wonderful brunch. We had a nice time. Other family members did not want to join us. At work, we met few customers, non of whom looked serious rug buyers. A customer came in and picked up his rug which was left with us for cleaning.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
During the day, nothing special happened. In the afternoon, I went to an event which was held at James Bridges Cinema in UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) to celebrate the 800th birthday of Rumi, Moulana, the Iranian sofi, poet and the great philosopher. I could not buy the ticket online, since it was sold out. When I got to the box office, I was also told that the event was sold out. The organizer of the event saw me and said why did not you tell me you would like to attend the event and I said I did not think it would be a sold out event. Anyhow, I met several friends in the lobby and chated with them, but had no luck to get in. There was also a presentation of a wonderful documentary made by Farzin Rezaeian, another friend who has made a documentary named, "Iran: Seven Faces of a Civilization". Besides this, the Lian Ensemble also was going to preform a live program. It was a great event, but I missed it. A friend who had come from Washington D.C. offered to give me his ticket, but I did not accept. I returned home.
Today, Sunday Dec. 16th, was also a slow and quiet day. I went to a friend's Italian restaurant in Culver City with my older son and had a wonderful brunch. We had a nice time. Other family members did not want to join us. At work, we met few customers, non of whom looked serious rug buyers. A customer came in and picked up his rug which was left with us for cleaning.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Afghan and Indian Rugs
A customer called in and later walked into our rug gallery. She had several rugs to sell. Two Indian silk rugs, two typical Pakistani rugs, old designs, and two Afghan rugs, wool on wool. We will take professional photos of each rug and will post them on our website with all the technical information. We have a special section for pieces like these which are for sale by our customers. We post them on our "Market Place" section of our web site.
In the afternoon, I went to an Oriental rug store which wants to close down. The owner has many Persian rugs that he wants to sell. I took a general look at the rugs which were from Tabriz, Bidjar, Nain, qum, and etc. He wants to sell all these pieces at once with a bulk price, without specifically mentioning the price on each piece. The rugs are not the tastes of the average American customers and may take a long time before some one can sell them. I returned to my rug gallery. While I was out, my son sold a runner and a small rug to a walk in customer.
Our repairman was busy today working on stain removal of a pair of Tabriz rugs. The lady who brought these two pieces few days ago, had washed them at home. All the colors had ran and bleed. The rugs were messed up. They will be OK after we work on them and remove the bleedings.
Today, I was mostly busy preparing and mailing many greeting cards to our customers and friends. It is nice to be remembered by receiving a beautiful card. Christmas is the best time of the year, as many people celebrate it around the world. It is good to be happy and make others happy.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
In the afternoon, I went to an Oriental rug store which wants to close down. The owner has many Persian rugs that he wants to sell. I took a general look at the rugs which were from Tabriz, Bidjar, Nain, qum, and etc. He wants to sell all these pieces at once with a bulk price, without specifically mentioning the price on each piece. The rugs are not the tastes of the average American customers and may take a long time before some one can sell them. I returned to my rug gallery. While I was out, my son sold a runner and a small rug to a walk in customer.
Our repairman was busy today working on stain removal of a pair of Tabriz rugs. The lady who brought these two pieces few days ago, had washed them at home. All the colors had ran and bleed. The rugs were messed up. They will be OK after we work on them and remove the bleedings.
Today, I was mostly busy preparing and mailing many greeting cards to our customers and friends. It is nice to be remembered by receiving a beautiful card. Christmas is the best time of the year, as many people celebrate it around the world. It is good to be happy and make others happy.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Rug Cleaning and Sale
A customer who had taken three rugs to try at home returned two of them and kept a 40 radj fine Ivory Mashad rug. Few customers brought their rugs for cleaning. A lady brought in a rug for cleaning and said I want to have this area rug cleaned. I said this is not an area rug; it is hand made. She said no it is area rug and a friend has give this rug to me for free. I said maybe she/he did not know what this rug was. Otherwise this guy would not have given it to you for free. This dark blue 5 x 8 rug is from Tabriz, Iran and is worth around $750. She could not believe it. She was so happy when she left our store. I suggested to have the fringes repaired and she agreed.
A lady came in today to our rug gallery and said if it would be ok to buy a Turkish rug when somebody is in Turkey as a tourist. I said I do not recommend it specially if you spend more than a couple of hundred dollars. Because you do not know rugs and there is a chance you buy a fake rug. There are for example Chinese silk rugs made in China which maybe sold as Hereke Turkish rugs which are very fine rugs, but how can you tell the difference. Thaen I talked to her and gave her some literature, among which a "Rug Buying Tips". She read part of it and appreciated. I post that tip here in case some one would like to take a look at it:
Rug Buying Tips
Dr. Khosrow Sobhe
info@RugIdea.com
1- If you do not know Oriental rug, try to know your Oriental rug dealer.
The dealer should be knowledgeable and should not insist in selling you a rug. You as a customer should not feel you are under pressure. The rug dealer should provide you with the right information, based on which you can make a sound and informative decision. Choosing the right store and the right dealer is the most important job in your rug buying process.
2- When you buy a Persian or Oriental rug, ask the dealer to write down on the invoice whatever he claims the rug to be. For example "Hand knotted Persian rug with vegetable dye and hand-spun wool". Ask him to give you a copy of his printed return policy. This should be simple and clear and not with many preconditions.
3- Never trust "Going Out of Business" rug stores or traveling auctions. In many cases, "Retirement Sales", TV and the Internet auctions by unknown sellers are also not trustable.
4- Do not trust those who claim to give you 80% off. Think for a moment. How is it possible to buy a hand knotted (or handmade) rug and pay only 20% of what it is worth? Why should somebody do this favor to you?
5- Material of the rug you would like to buy is very important. Wool is the best material for pile. Silk pile is luxurious, but is not good for high traffic areas of your home. The warp (foundation of the rug) can be cotton, wool or silk. Usually, tribal rugs are made of wool warp. Machine made and area rugs may look beautiful, but there maybe some health issues and concerns with them compared with hand knotted rugs which use natural fibers such as cotton, wool and silk.
6- To make sure a silk rug is real, take a little piece of the fringe (warp) and burn it. If it leaves a little stem, it is silk, if it disintegrates, it is not real and is probably rayon or other synthetics. Some dealers refer to rayon in the rug industry as "artificial silk", or worse "art silk". In either case, it is not silk. A lot of Silk rugs from India, China, and Pakistan are not real silk so make sure you know what you are buying. A reputable rug dealer should always tell you clearly what material a rug is made with.
7- Choosing the right size is very important. Make sure to measure your room correctly before referring to any rug store. Try to get standard size rug compared with odd sizes. The usual standard sizes in foot are: 3 x 5, 5 x 8,
6 x 9, 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 10 x 14, and 12 x 15. The standard width for runners of any length is 2' 6", although there are other widths as well
8- Color is another important factor in selecting a rug. Many buyers would like the color of the rug match with the wall, furniture, draperies, and other items surrounding it. Light colors make the room look bigger.
9- Design of a rug is a matter of taste. Some people like busier designs while other may prefer less crowded designs with more open field. In classical and traditional rugs, there is a medallion in the center with a corner medallion (1/4 of a medallion) in each corner. Another design group is overall with no center medallion while there are big flowers and motives. This design is more popular than the classical designs with medallions. Persian rugs have a vast collection of designs which can satisfy many different types of customers.
10- Price is also another important factor which you should consider. There is no one formula based on which you can determine the price of a hand knotted rug. Variables such as size, origin, quality of the wool and dye, density of the knots, material, age and … are important factors. As mentioned earlier, if you find a reputable dealer who is an active member of several professional societies and associations and has knowledge of the rug, you are probably in a much safer hands.
11- We at RugIdea.com will be happy to give you free advice on your rug buying journey. Please give us a call at 310-770-9085 from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm PST, California time!!
Hope you like these tips which have been gathered based on my many years of experience and what I have learned from others in the Oriental carpet world.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
A lady came in today to our rug gallery and said if it would be ok to buy a Turkish rug when somebody is in Turkey as a tourist. I said I do not recommend it specially if you spend more than a couple of hundred dollars. Because you do not know rugs and there is a chance you buy a fake rug. There are for example Chinese silk rugs made in China which maybe sold as Hereke Turkish rugs which are very fine rugs, but how can you tell the difference. Thaen I talked to her and gave her some literature, among which a "Rug Buying Tips". She read part of it and appreciated. I post that tip here in case some one would like to take a look at it:
Rug Buying Tips
Dr. Khosrow Sobhe
info@RugIdea.com
1- If you do not know Oriental rug, try to know your Oriental rug dealer.
The dealer should be knowledgeable and should not insist in selling you a rug. You as a customer should not feel you are under pressure. The rug dealer should provide you with the right information, based on which you can make a sound and informative decision. Choosing the right store and the right dealer is the most important job in your rug buying process.
2- When you buy a Persian or Oriental rug, ask the dealer to write down on the invoice whatever he claims the rug to be. For example "Hand knotted Persian rug with vegetable dye and hand-spun wool". Ask him to give you a copy of his printed return policy. This should be simple and clear and not with many preconditions.
3- Never trust "Going Out of Business" rug stores or traveling auctions. In many cases, "Retirement Sales", TV and the Internet auctions by unknown sellers are also not trustable.
4- Do not trust those who claim to give you 80% off. Think for a moment. How is it possible to buy a hand knotted (or handmade) rug and pay only 20% of what it is worth? Why should somebody do this favor to you?
5- Material of the rug you would like to buy is very important. Wool is the best material for pile. Silk pile is luxurious, but is not good for high traffic areas of your home. The warp (foundation of the rug) can be cotton, wool or silk. Usually, tribal rugs are made of wool warp. Machine made and area rugs may look beautiful, but there maybe some health issues and concerns with them compared with hand knotted rugs which use natural fibers such as cotton, wool and silk.
6- To make sure a silk rug is real, take a little piece of the fringe (warp) and burn it. If it leaves a little stem, it is silk, if it disintegrates, it is not real and is probably rayon or other synthetics. Some dealers refer to rayon in the rug industry as "artificial silk", or worse "art silk". In either case, it is not silk. A lot of Silk rugs from India, China, and Pakistan are not real silk so make sure you know what you are buying. A reputable rug dealer should always tell you clearly what material a rug is made with.
7- Choosing the right size is very important. Make sure to measure your room correctly before referring to any rug store. Try to get standard size rug compared with odd sizes. The usual standard sizes in foot are: 3 x 5, 5 x 8,
6 x 9, 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 10 x 14, and 12 x 15. The standard width for runners of any length is 2' 6", although there are other widths as well
8- Color is another important factor in selecting a rug. Many buyers would like the color of the rug match with the wall, furniture, draperies, and other items surrounding it. Light colors make the room look bigger.
9- Design of a rug is a matter of taste. Some people like busier designs while other may prefer less crowded designs with more open field. In classical and traditional rugs, there is a medallion in the center with a corner medallion (1/4 of a medallion) in each corner. Another design group is overall with no center medallion while there are big flowers and motives. This design is more popular than the classical designs with medallions. Persian rugs have a vast collection of designs which can satisfy many different types of customers.
10- Price is also another important factor which you should consider. There is no one formula based on which you can determine the price of a hand knotted rug. Variables such as size, origin, quality of the wool and dye, density of the knots, material, age and … are important factors. As mentioned earlier, if you find a reputable dealer who is an active member of several professional societies and associations and has knowledge of the rug, you are probably in a much safer hands.
11- We at RugIdea.com will be happy to give you free advice on your rug buying journey. Please give us a call at 310-770-9085 from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm PST, California time!!
Hope you like these tips which have been gathered based on my many years of experience and what I have learned from others in the Oriental carpet world.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Persians Are Back!
This evening when I was browsing the Internet, I happened to see this note by Emmett Eiland. I liked it and would like to share it with you.
ORIENTAL RUG ZINE
by Emmett Eiland
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On hands and knees we poured over new Kermans as fine as the best old ones and new Baktiaris with natural dyes - all with wonderful wool.
But the colors were another matter. Naturally dyed they were, but attractive? Maybe not. Certain very bright colors were not commercially acceptable or pleasing to us personally. Worse, when Natasha, a model of good manners, spoke gently about her concerns about the rugs' colors, one of the Persians took her words personally and bristled. That's a bad sign..
And price. Those rugs were expensive! Our impression is that some Iranian rug manufacturers have an exaggerated notion of American wealth. It is true that some Americans will pay "anything" for the right carpet, but it really does have to be right - and those wealthy few for whom money is no problem are likely to bring in a team of designers to confirm the "rightness" of the colors. The rugs we saw were not quite right, and we have reason to believe that they are the very cream of the Persian crop.
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Another Busy Day With Rug Cleaning and Selling Two Sarouk Rugs
Yesterday was Saturday and a very busy day. We had an appointment with a customer at 10:00 am and delivered 8 rugs we had picked up last week for cleaning and repair. We delivered all the rugs except one Indian silk little runner which had the bleeding and color run problem. We had to wash it few times and it was not dry by the time we delivered other rugs. All the rugs needed padding which we provided and tailored. The customer was happy with the service.
In the afternoon, a couple came in and selected two Sarouk rugs and a very fine Mashad rug to take home to see which one they would like. They will keep two of these three Persian carpets. They also picked up an Indian silk rug they had with us for cleaning. They also gave us another Indian hand knotted wool rug for cleaning. When they left, the whole store was a mess. It took us a couple of hours of work to put back every thing in order. Here, I post a photo of one of the fine Sarouks which is in old and traditional Qazvin carpet design.
After this couple left, a customer which had called earlier came in and brought two Tabriz fine rugs, a pair. She had washed these rugs at home and all the colors ran and bleed. We assured her that this problem could be taken care of. She left the rug with us. It was a busy day!
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
In the afternoon, a couple came in and selected two Sarouk rugs and a very fine Mashad rug to take home to see which one they would like. They will keep two of these three Persian carpets. They also picked up an Indian silk rug they had with us for cleaning. They also gave us another Indian hand knotted wool rug for cleaning. When they left, the whole store was a mess. It took us a couple of hours of work to put back every thing in order. Here, I post a photo of one of the fine Sarouks which is in old and traditional Qazvin carpet design.
After this couple left, a customer which had called earlier came in and brought two Tabriz fine rugs, a pair. She had washed these rugs at home and all the colors ran and bleed. We assured her that this problem could be taken care of. She left the rug with us. It was a busy day!
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Kerman Rugs
More than any other carpets, I have seen Kerman rugs in the homes of my customers here in and around Los Angeles. I went to a customer's house last night to pick up two rugs she had for cleaning. One was an old Kerman rug which belonged to her parents. She wanted to sell this beautiful light green or turquise color Kerman rug, 9 x12 (9 m2) and I suggested that she keeps it and use it at her house. She accepted my professional advice. Below, I mention a little information on Kerman and its rugs. The sources are the "Wikipedia", and spongobongo.com
"It is believed, that
Carpet weaving is one of the main industries of the city, and the carpets produced there are renowned internationally. Carpet weaving is a very old tradition in
"Marco Polo praised the carpets of
In the older carpets the all cotton foundations have a depressed foundation with the first and third wefts rigid and the second sinuous. This has caused some to incorrectly attribute the Vase and Sanguszko carpets to
Khosrow Sobhw
www.RugIdea.com
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Old and Antique Persian and Oriental Rugs
I was browsing the Internet and I read a report on old and antique Persian and Oriental rug and why their value appreciates and increases over the time. I would like to share this report with you.
Oriental Rugs: What Creates Value?
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, a woman named Susan discussed two oriental rugs that her grandparents had bought in 1931 for the exact same price: $2,000. One of the rugs, a very large Serapi, was woven in the late 19th century in northwest Persia, present-day Iran. In a little over 100 years this rug has appreciated twentyfold, to a retail value of $40,000. However, the other rug, a small Turkish Hereke prayer rug, has appreciated to only $6,000, which means its worth hasn't even kept pace with inflation.
"What happens to the value of an oriental rug over time is in many ways no different than what happens to any antique or collectible," Peter says. "Supply and demand, and the effects of fashion, play major roles." Susan's two rugs serve as prime examples.
Quality Matters
Quality of craftsmanship — or lack of it — has also played a role in the Hereke's lackluster appreciation in value. The red dye used in the pattern was of poor quality and has bled into the rug's lighter colors. Peter also notes that the rug is not actually made of silk, as was claimed, but instead is woven from treated cotton.
In the 1950s and 1960s for about $500 you could purchase a 9x12-foot Persian Bidjar carpet made in 1920. That same rug, if kept in good condition, is worth about $10,000 today.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/highlights/2003/hotsprings/hotsprings_follow1.html
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
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In Hot Springs, Arkansas, a woman named Susan discussed two oriental rugs that her grandparents had bought in 1931 for the exact same price: $2,000. One of the rugs, a very large Serapi, was woven in the late 19th century in northwest Persia, present-day Iran. In a little over 100 years this rug has appreciated twentyfold, to a retail value of $40,000. However, the other rug, a small Turkish Hereke prayer rug, has appreciated to only $6,000, which means its worth hasn't even kept pace with inflation.
What happened? Why does one old oriental rug soar in value over the years, while another one, just as old, stagnates in value?
We took these questions to Peter Pap, the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW rug expert who evaluated the two Hot Springs rugs. He says the differential in the appreciation of these two rugs, and of oriental rugs in general, is closely related to each rug's respective quality. He's quick to add, though, that the worth of a rug at any given time is also tied to cycles of the market and trends in people's taste.
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First, Authenticity
Older Hereke rugs — and other Turkish prayer rugs similar to the one Susan showed in Hot Springs — were in great demand during the first few decades of the 1900s, Peter says. This fact inflated their value at the time. The keen market in turn inspired ever more exaggerated sales pitches — a factor Peter says likely played a part in the grandparents' purchase.
The original paperwork from the interior designer who sold the Hereke rug lists it as a "semi-antique," a term used to refer to objects that are more than 50 years old, but not yet 100 years old — the minimum age for a bona fide "antique." But Peter says that this rug was not in fact a late 19th-century specimen; rather, it was a copy made no more than 20 years before Susan's grandparents purchased it.
"They were definitely misled, and they overpaid for the prayer rug," Peter says.
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Quality of craftsmanship — or lack of it — has also played a role in the Hereke's lackluster appreciation in value. The red dye used in the pattern was of poor quality and has bled into the rug's lighter colors. Peter also notes that the rug is not actually made of silk, as was claimed, but instead is woven from treated cotton.
On the other hand there is the second rug, a Serapi, which Peter spotted in a photograph that Susan showed him of the St. Louis penthouse that her grandparents lived in. But how can Peter tell from the picture that this rug is a winner? Serapis, he explains, only started being made late in the first decade of the 1900s; in the 1930s, this type of rug hadn't been around long enough, nor become popular enough, for rug makers to begin producing copies for sale. That's why Peter doesn't have misgivings about its authenticity. And Susan reports that the Serapi is still in excellent condition. A wealthy collector, her grandfather even built a special museum-like room in St. Louis to house his rugs. So Peter feels comfortable that his $40,000 estimate is accurate provided the Serapi has continued to be well cared for.
"While large Persian carpets with primitive geometric designs were relatively inexpensive at the time this was bought, they are now one of the most desirable types," Pap says.
So the first — unsurprising — lesson illustrated by Susan's two rugs is that quality matters in oriental rugs. But what may be a more important lesson, even for collectors of fine hand-made oriental carpets, is that the market is fickle.
Fickle Market
Peter says that in the 1950s, oriental rugs lost their allure when buyers began to develop a preference for the color beige, as well as for wall-to-wall carpeting. Peter knows old-timers in the antiques business who had to dump the oriental rugs they bought as parts of complete estates. "One of my mentors in the business would drive from Washington in his Volkswagen Beetle to New England with $200 and be able to fill the car with antique rugs purchased at antiques shops," Peter says.
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Prices for Turkoman tribal rugs and saddlebags, however, which collectors eagerly sought in the 1970s, have moved in the other direction over the last 10 years. "Now collectors are only looking for the masterpieces to round out their collections," Peter says. "And there isn't a second wave of younger collectors to support the entry-level pieces, so the prices have dropped in value."
In addition to changing patterns of demand, changes in the supply of oriental rugs have also affected the prices of mid-century rugs. As part of the renaissance in oriental rugs over the last 20 years, rug makers have begun to use quality natural dyes again and have created vibrant designs that borrow from 19th-century patterns.
"These rugs now make many of the semi-antique rugs look stiff in design and have caused that market to come down in price," Peter explains. "Any rugs whose designs and colors evolved to meet current taste in the West after World War II are bound to experience drops in demand and therefore price."
So perhaps the ultimate lesson in all these up-and-down swings is to buy what you like and treasure what you have. "Investment should not be your number-one requirement with a rug," Peter says. "An oriental rug, if it's cared for, will last a hundred years or more. You don't want to discount the value of something that can be used for a lifetime."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/highlights/2003/hotsprings/hotsprings_follow1.html
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Rug Cleaning and repair
Yesterday was Monday and a busy day. We picked up several rugs from two customers' homes. One of them was a very fine big Mashad rug which had water damage and we had to extract the water first and then try to make it dry by spreading it under the son and using a strong and heavy duty lower and fan before it was washed. we also received few other big rugs and a long runner for repair and cleaning. Making few phone calls, reading and responding to e-mails was another job that I did today. In the evening, I attended a weekly meeting in a restaurant in Beverly hills. We have networking, dinner, two 5-minutes speeches and one keynote speaker. A question and answer follows the speech. This is a gathering of Iranian entrepreneurs.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Rug Cleaning, Sarouk Rug, and an Opera Singer!
We went to a customer's house yesterday morning, Saturday Dec. 1st and picked up several rugs for cleaning and repair. They were mostly rugs from India, and Pakistan. These customers, a husband and a wife, both physicians, had just returned from India and had brought several Indian Kashmir silk rug with them. They needed rug pads for all their rugs, but since these rugs are not in standard sizes, we are supposed to cut and tailor the rug pads and under lays to fit the rugs.
In the afternoon, a couple came into our rug gallery looking for a 9 x 12 Persian silk rug. This husband and wife after one hour, ended up leaving with a beautiful ca 8 x 10 Sarouk rug made by Iran Carpet Company with a touch of silk. They had brought a burgundy Indian silk rug, a piece of travertine tile and a cushion to match their color with the color of the rug they would like the rug. After seeing many rugs, they liked an Ivory Sarouk rug. The wife had a rug book to use as a guide. I showed her the section on Sarouk rugs. They left their silk Indian rug with us for cleaning. They will comeback in a week to pick this rug up. When these couple were seeing different rugs, I showed them few Indian Jaipur rugs with the size they were looking, but the lady did not want to look at them at all and said I want a piece of art, and these are not the type that I am looking for.
Today, which was Sunday, I was at work and after I received a phone call from a customer, I went to his house to take a closer look at few of his rugs which need cleaning and repair. We talked about the kind of repair these rugs would need. We will probably pick these rugs up tomorrow. These are all old and antique Persian rugs.
In the afternoon, a lady came in and said where are your Mashad Saber rugs about which you have posted some literature on your website. She had come from Orange County, a place some 45 miles south of Los Angeles. I showed her the pair and mentioned that these beautiful museum quality rugs have 9,000,000 knots each and it took four years for each piece to make. Then she examined few other Qum silk and Isfahan rugs we had. She was looking for a Persian rug with hunting design. She could not find what she was looking for. She gave us her contact information in case if we find anything close to what she want, we can call her.
A designer with her client came in with two pillows looking for a 9 x 12 rug. They could not find any thing close to what they were looking for. Before they leave, I showed them few Indian rugs we have. These rugs are hand knotted with wool pile. The customer said, I do not like these rug. They look like area rugs. They left. Few other people also came in looking for area rugs, but none of them looked serious.
I came home around 6:00 pm. After a light dinner and chatting with my family, I browsed different TV channels. There was a wonderful program on channel 8, KOCE. I loved this program. It was showcasing a blind Italian opera male singer, Andrea Bocelli. What a wonderful and glorious voice?!. You can easily meditate with his songs and send your sole to cruise the sky!! This TV channel featured one of his concerts in an open air place called Tuscany in Italy. Thousands of people attended this concert. Andrea Bocelli has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide!
Well I guess I wrote more than what I wanted. Now is the time to say good bye.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.rugIdea.com
In the afternoon, a couple came into our rug gallery looking for a 9 x 12 Persian silk rug. This husband and wife after one hour, ended up leaving with a beautiful ca 8 x 10 Sarouk rug made by Iran Carpet Company with a touch of silk. They had brought a burgundy Indian silk rug, a piece of travertine tile and a cushion to match their color with the color of the rug they would like the rug. After seeing many rugs, they liked an Ivory Sarouk rug. The wife had a rug book to use as a guide. I showed her the section on Sarouk rugs. They left their silk Indian rug with us for cleaning. They will comeback in a week to pick this rug up. When these couple were seeing different rugs, I showed them few Indian Jaipur rugs with the size they were looking, but the lady did not want to look at them at all and said I want a piece of art, and these are not the type that I am looking for.
Today, which was Sunday, I was at work and after I received a phone call from a customer, I went to his house to take a closer look at few of his rugs which need cleaning and repair. We talked about the kind of repair these rugs would need. We will probably pick these rugs up tomorrow. These are all old and antique Persian rugs.
In the afternoon, a lady came in and said where are your Mashad Saber rugs about which you have posted some literature on your website. She had come from Orange County, a place some 45 miles south of Los Angeles. I showed her the pair and mentioned that these beautiful museum quality rugs have 9,000,000 knots each and it took four years for each piece to make. Then she examined few other Qum silk and Isfahan rugs we had. She was looking for a Persian rug with hunting design. She could not find what she was looking for. She gave us her contact information in case if we find anything close to what she want, we can call her.
A designer with her client came in with two pillows looking for a 9 x 12 rug. They could not find any thing close to what they were looking for. Before they leave, I showed them few Indian rugs we have. These rugs are hand knotted with wool pile. The customer said, I do not like these rug. They look like area rugs. They left. Few other people also came in looking for area rugs, but none of them looked serious.
I came home around 6:00 pm. After a light dinner and chatting with my family, I browsed different TV channels. There was a wonderful program on channel 8, KOCE. I loved this program. It was showcasing a blind Italian opera male singer, Andrea Bocelli. What a wonderful and glorious voice?!. You can easily meditate with his songs and send your sole to cruise the sky!! This TV channel featured one of his concerts in an open air place called Tuscany in Italy. Thousands of people attended this concert. Andrea Bocelli has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide!
Well I guess I wrote more than what I wanted. Now is the time to say good bye.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.rugIdea.com
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