Antique Rug & Textile Show in San Francisco

A very well received Antique Rug & Textile show will be held in San Francisco between October 15 to 26, 2009. More than 30 dealers from around the world will participate in this unique show.



For more information, please visit:

http://arts.jozan.net/

Jozan Magazine, a very fine and informative rug and textile online magazine is cooperating with this exhibition. I will visit the show and many other rug enthusiasts, scholars and dealers will be there to visit the very fine and unique pieces which will be on display. Those who can, should not miss this opportunity.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085

A Great Oriental Carpet Scholar: Dr. Taher Sabahi

Dr. Taher Sabahi who lives in Torin, Italy is a great Oriental carpet scholar. Sabahi fell in love with rugs 45 years ago. He has written 18 books on different types of rugs and kilims. His latest book on 500 years of rug weaving in Kerman, Iran was published in Italian last year. This book is being translated into English and will be published in late 2009.

Taher Sabahi is the Editor in Chief of a prestigious bio-monthly journal valled Ghereh, (Knots) which is published in Torin, Italy in English, German and Italian.

Dr. Sabahi is planning to come to the U.S. for a series of lectures and presentations. He will visit Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, and Washington D.C.

Here I am posting tow of his pictures. In one picture, Dr. Taher Sabahi is sitting next to me in gray suite.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085

Ardabil Carpet at Los Angeles County Museum of Art LACMA

Later this year, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), will exhibit the famous Ardabil Carpet for a short period of time, in November 2009.

There are two magnificent Persian carpets called the Ardabil Carpets. Their exact origins remain unknown. They are said to have come from a complex of shrines and mosques at Ardabil in North West Iran, the burial place of Shaikh Safi al-Din Ardabily, ancestor of Shah Ismail, founder of the Safavid dynasty. This dynasty ruled Iran from 1501 to 1733. At one end of the Ardabil carpet, a cartouche contains an inscription which dates to 1539/40 AD.

One Ardabil Carpet is in Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The other piece is in Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LACMA.

Here is some preliminary information on the piece which is in Victoria & Albert Museum in London :

Size: 17' 6" x 34' 6" or 5.34 x 10.51 meter

Weft: Un-dyed silk (beige) 3 paired shoots after each row of knots

Warp: Un-dyed silk (beige) 35 threads per square inch
Knot: asymmetrical (Senneh or Farsi); 340 per square. inch
Pile: wool, 10 colors: white, black, green, yellow, three shades of blue, and three shades of red

Purchased in sum of £2000 in March 1893

Unknown to the Victoria & Albert Museum at the time, there was a more finely knotted second Ardabil carpet, which is now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This carpet has lost its borders and part of its central field; a portion of the missing areas are used to repair the carpet owned by the V&A.

The size of the Ardabil Carpet kept at LACMA is 13' 2" x 23' 7" or 4.00 x 7.18 meter.

I will write more on this exciting and one of a kind event later.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085

A Great Oriental Carpet Scholar: Siawosh Azadi

Siawosh Ulrich Azadi is a great and knowledgeable rug scholar who works and lives in Hamburg, Germany. He has written a number of books and numerous articles on different aspects of Persian and oriental carpets and rugs. He has a beautiful rug gallery in Hamburg full of fascinating antique rugs. Oriental carpets and rugs has been his passion for many decades. He has traveled extensively to all rug making locations around the world to gather information on all types of rugs.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085

Rug Cleaning Los Angeles

Lately we have been working on a full color postcard for one of our web sites which is www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com. We designed, printed and mailed the postcard.

Cosmetic Persian Carpet Repair in Los Angeles

Sometimes we have to show off by doing a cosmetic rug repair. What we did on this fringe-less hand knotted Persian Isfahan carpet was one of those instances. The rug was severely damaged and we did re fringing and restoring the carpet as this damage was never happened. The owner who has been a dear friend was very happy with the job.



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

A Rug Tells The Biography of Its Owner

Once in a while we receive rugs which are extremely dirty, stained and full of filth. The owner does not even bother to vacuum it before dropping it off at our rug gallery. This is a fine Persian Tabriz rug in such a condition.



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

Rugs and KISS

Being in love with rugs does not necessarily mean that you should not read or check other topics. I loved the KISS. I am sure you will love it too. Take a look:

http://videomagnetsblog.com/?p=56

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

A Must Read Comment on Rug Sales by RugRag.com

Although new, rugRag.com has become a very informative and active rug web site full of first hand news, information and tips for those who deal with and care about rugs. David Dilmaghani of RugRag.com has sent me a very interesting comment on rug sales and liquidations. It follows:

Dr. Sobhe, these sales are bad. We've been to many similar. It is important people know the best place to shop for a rug is at a rug store with proven integrity.

One recent 80% off sale was held at an otherwise "reputable" department store here in NY two weeks ago. "Retail values" the percentage to be taken off from were completely bogus... On the verge of outrageous and offensive.

Eventually we got the salesman to admit the prices were more than unrealistic. The salesman was adamant 80% off was his best price, but I decided to negotiate:

Within 5 minutes of discussion, I negotiated an additional 22% lower and he offered a pad. Had I pressed harder and offered cash to circumvent credit card fees with no pad, I am sure he would have gone down another 10%. This is a nation wide chain which I have never heard of being willing to negotiate. While I don't like doing this, I wanted to test the water.

After all was said and done, it was not nearly what I would consider "a deal". He kept telling me the rug was a 50-60 year old semi-antique, but it was a brand new (newer than 10 year old) Peshawar with aging wash!

Unfortunately for the public, rarely are there deals to be had with this type of sale. Suggested retail price in our opinion should be what the rug of similar type, quality, condition, origin, design, size and colors have sold for in the past.

Sellers such as the ones above are doing a disservice to the public and industry alike. It's unfair when sellers with integrity who have real sales with real prices marked 50% off to be compared with less reputable sellers such as this.

The article is titled "Mystery Shopping 80% off Rugs" and we have a short video too.

All the best,
David Dilmaghani,
www.RugRag.com

Rug Liquidation 79% Off the Original Price Plus Additional 15% Off!!

I received a letter from a liquidation company which was sent to my home yesterday. The title was: "Final Days! Absolute Emergency Rug Liquidation". It was also mentioned "For the first time since 1898, ... Liquidation Company has been assigned to privately liquidate twenty million dollars worth of rare hand-knotted rugs." The claim goes on and states: "The entire inventory is one-of-a-kind and is marked down absolutely 79% the original ticketed price on sales for absolute emergency liquidation. As a preferred customer, you will ... save additional 15% off starting today."

There is no date for the start and end of the liquidation! Besides, 75% off plus additional 15% because I am so special would come to a total of 94%. This means I only pay 6% of the value and the price of the rug to buy it!! The liquidation will be held in Pasadena, a city some 20 miles north east of Los Angeles. Who are these people? Do they expect potential customers to believe in these big claims?!

What do you think?

DR. Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.Rugidea.com
310-770-9085

The Flowers Carpet: Brussels in Bloom

One million begonia flowers were used to make this 300-meter flower carpet in Brussels. Click here to see the pictures.

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

Tough Times Will Not Stay Forever: The Rug Market Will Improve

Yesterday our repairman and today our dye specialist expressed their serious concerns about the slow rug market. I told them I know it is difficult these days to tackle the expenses, but being worried does not solve any problem. We have to work harder in slow rug market and never lose hope. We also have to work smarter. Tough times will not stay forever. There are many customers who can afford to buy rugs or to pay for the related services, but they are not mentally ready to spend. The customers' confidence is low and as soon as this confidence is restored, they will start spending.

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

A Rug Cross-Sales Technique: What Size of French Fries Would You Like?

Besides producing, importing and selling rugs, we also do rug cleaning, repair, water damage restoration and rug appraisal here in Los Angeles. When a customer gives us a business, we do cross sales by asking if he/she would like to have a rug pad to protect the rug and the floor. In many cases we can convince them that they should invest a little money for this kind of protection.

It is like when you order a hamburger in a fast food restaurant: What Size of French Fries Would You Like?

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

Rug and Carpet Statistics

The U.S Carpet and Rug Mills Industry's Revenue for the Year 2008 Was Approximately $10.6 Billion USD

The industry's revenue for the year 2008 was approximately $10.6 billion USD, with an estimated gross profit of 33.78%. Import was valued at $1.9 billion USD from 102 countries. The industry also exported $1.1 billion USD worth of merchandise to 138 countries. Adding import value to and subtracting export value from the industry's shipment value, the total domestic demand for the industry in 2008 was $11.4 billion USD.

Source:
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fb050b/carpet_and_rug_mil

For more information contact:

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
Fax from USA: 646-607-1907
Fax from rest of the world: +353-1-481-1716

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

Flokati Rugs and Carpets Cleaning in Los Angeles

Flokati rugs and carpets have been a part of Greek tradition and culture for many centuries. The Greeks who lived in the high mountains invented the Flokati rugs in the 5th century. They had an easy access to sheep and goats and their wool and hair. They used Flokati rugs as clothing or bedding on the floor to keep them warm in the cold and long winters of the area. The tradition of making Flokati rugs has been continued to the present. Flokati rugs look like Shag rugs with high and soft wool pile. Although Flokati rugs have been traditional Greek floor coverings, many designers today like them and buy them for their clients. Usually young people like Flokati rugs which come in solid colors and mostly in white. Many of our customers in Los Angeles or the neighboring towns bring in their Flokati rugs for cleaning or even repair. With a clean Flokati rug, you can feel the nature and its beauty in your home. We are professional Flokati rug cleaners.

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

Slow Rug Market in Los Angeles

Whenever we receive business and sell rugs, we say the rug market here in Los Angeles is improving and is getting better. When we do not get business and do not sell rugs for a couple of days, we complain and say the market has been very slow!

Yesterday was a very quiet day with no rug sale, no rug cleaning/repair business and surprisingly no phone call at all. Here is my reasons why this was so: Jewish passover, schools spring break, Easter, tax season, and last but not least the recession we are in.

Of course we did not sit idle. When the market is slow, we work harder and try to be more creative. We worked on a 5,000 postcards which will be published and distributed next week. Some of these cards will be mailed and maybe half will be hand delivered to the neighbors. We did this in our rug tent sale in November 2008 and it worked; therefore, we will do it again.

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

Persian New Year, 13 Bedar Sizdah Bedar in Lake Balboa Park Los Angeles

Yesterday, thousands of Iranians in Los Angeles celebrated the 13th day of Spring which was the last day of Persian new year celebration Nowruz and went to the Lake Balboa Park. This was the day of the nature. There was plenty of Persian food, music and dances with many booths which sold Persian goods and services. We met many friends there and had a real good time with them. It started from 10:00 am and lasted until 8:00 pm. Roberto Sooofiani was the organizer of this event and this year Bahman Mojallal and Mohammad Mostashari of the Camden House had joined Roberto to make this one of a kind event more successful.

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

New Types of Shag Rugs We Receive For Cleaning and Repair in Los Angeles

We sometimes receive new types of shag rugs with have thicker and longer piles than the previous generations of them. Here, I am posting a photo of such rug we received for repair. The rug was 8 x 10 and we cut it and made it 7 x 10. It was made in India.

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

Shag Rug Cleaning Los Angeles

Lately we have been receiving new types of shag rugs. These are beautiful and trendy but difficult to maintain and clean. They cannot be cleaned easily with vacuum cleaners and they may have issues when they are professionally cleaned. Here, I am posting photos of a new one we received for cleaning few days ago. This particular shag rug had cotton foundation and cotton pile. We found pencils and quarter coins inside the very long pile.

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

Rug Selling Techniques: The Art of the Elevator Pitch

I was browsing the Internet and I stumbled upon a very good article. I am sure we rug dealers and rug enthusiasts can use this to do more business and sell more rugs or its related services. I like to share this short article with my readers.

The Art of the Elevator Pitch

Carlos Figuera
http://caniwarrior.com/

The elevator pitch is your response when someone casually asks, “What kind of work do you do?” and you give them a brief answer in roughly the time span of an elevator ride. You can have an elevator pitch for job search, marketing your business or pretty much any other situation where you need to get your message out.

The goal is to cause some kind of further action on the part of the listener. Ideally, an opportunity to further discuss your pitch. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs are not prepared when the opportunity arises be it at a wedding reception, alumni lunch or even a chance encounter with a potential investor.

The ideal elevator pitch should be approximately 30 seconds and certainly no longer than 60 seconds. Don't explain your entire business plan. There just isn't time. You need to provide a hook to engage the listener. The first thing out of your mouth should explain the problem you solve. Remember you are not selling the drill, you are selling the hole. Once you have set the hook you can elaborate a little further.

You should constantly refine and practice your elevator pitch but make sure the preparation doesn't smother your enthusiasm for you business or product. Finally, practice in front of a mirror. Tape yourself and let others critique your pitch. It can be a humbling experience but the sting is more than made up for by increased business.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
3190770-9085

A Rug Mistake!!

We hang an area rug on a rack outside of our rug gallery on La Cienega Blvd. every day to attract customers. The day before yesterday, I was the last one who left and closed the doors. I totally forgot to take this rug off and put it inside. When I came to work yesterday, I realized the mistake I had made. The rug was still there hanging on the rack!!Why should I forget to take the rug down and bring it back inside. Was I too busy, or it is because of the AGE?!!! :)

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

How Much Is "www.Rug.com" Worth?

How much would you pay to buy "www.Rug.com"? Would it bring you a lot of business if you had such a domain name and web site? Interested? Then read this:

Top 10 Most Expensive Domain Names!

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

Rug Cleaning, Rug Cleaners Los Angeles

Today, I was busy making a video on rug cleaning, rug cleaners in Los Angeles.

Khosrow Sobhe

Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)

www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com

310-770-9085

Carpet Concert and Persian Rugs in Los Angeles: A Sold Out Event

A second sold out Carpet Concert was held at Craft & Folk Art Museum here in Los Angeles last night. Rowan Storm performed vocal and played dayereh and Daff (framed drum). Morteza Yadollahi played Persian tar and tanbur and Faraz Minooei played santur. It was a lovely evening. It was read on the flyer:

Leave your shoes and cares at the door ... Lounge on beautiful handmade carpets ... Be transported into the mystical realm of Persian music!

At the beginning, Maryna Hrushetska the Director of the Museum welcomed every body and then Rowan briefly talked about the program. The event began at 7:00 pm after the reception of Persian sweet, tea and appetizers which were provided downstairs in the front yard of the museum.

Rowan sang few songs and several poems of Khayam, a very famous Iranian poet. This lady is full of energy and love.

Holly Jerger worked tirelessly on the past and this program. Several other staff and volunteers also worked hard to make this event a success. We thank them all. By providing the carpets, I played a very small and tiny part in this wonderful event. I had many guests probably around 20, all of whom enjoyed the concert.

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

A Busy Day at My Rug Gallery in Los Angeles

It was Wednesday today and I was very busy at work. I sold a couple of rugs and received few rugs for cleaning and repair. I got home at 7:00 pm and had a small dinner then went to gym.

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

Nowruz Persian New Year

Today is March 20, 2009 the first day of Spring and beginning of Persian new year. We celebrate Nowruz which means "new day" and go to family and friends' homes to visit them and spend some time with them. We have lots of tea, sweet and fruits.

I came to work at 12:00 pm and am going home now at 5:15 pm to visit few friends. It was a quiet day at work.



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

Bijar Bidjar Rugs Los Angeles

In our latest rug shipment from Tehran, we received a unique small Bijar rug with a very unusual design. The size is 25 by 32 inches and the design is dragon and phoenix.

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

Largest Sand carpet in the World

Several Iranian artists made the biggest sand carpet in the world on the beach of Hormoz Island on the Persian Gulf.

Source: http://www.carpetour.net/fa/index.asp

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

Silk Rug From Qum Iran and Online Help

A gentleman contacted me by e-mail and said he had a silk rug and needed some information on this rug. Below, you can read what I wrote to him and what he wrote back.

"The foundation and pile of this rug is natural silk. The inscription reads "Qum, Naami". Qum is the name of a city in Iran very famous for fine silk rugs. The history of rug making in Qum does not go over a century. Naami is the name of the weaver. It is worth between $3,500 to $4,000. Its value will appreciate by the passage of time if you keep this rug.

Regards,
Khosrow Sobhe"

"Dr. Sobhe

I don't know how to thank you for your kind gesture. That was very very generous of you to help me with this.

It seems like I should keep it, based on your email, being that it will appreciate.
You seem to be a man of great knowledge in this industry.

Again my deepest thanks go out to you.

Kareem"

I did what I am supposed to do.
Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

Rug Cleaning Los Angeles

Rug cleaning in Los Angeles is very competitive. The customers are also very diverse. Some look for deals, while others look for quality rug cleaning in Los Angeles. There are number of customers who look for both good quality of carpet cleaning and reasonable prices.

What we do is maintaining a balance between these three types. If the customer is a repeat customer or if the rug needs repair or color restoration, then we make a deal and give the customer a discount so he/she can easily pay for the cost.

There have been some customers who Google rug cleaning in Los Angeles and found us and gave us the cleaning job. They were happy with the quality of the work and the service and bought rugs from our gallery as well. The reverse has been also true; we have had customers who bought rugs from our Los Angeles rug gallery and gave us rug cleaning jobs.

There are a number of wall to wall carpet cleaners who claim that they do rug cleaning in Los Angeles. It may be cheaper to hire them but since they do not know rugs and they use so many strong chemicals to only steam clean the rugs, they make the customers unhappy. Often these unhappy customers then come to us for a professional rug cleaning.

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