Nov 21, 2013

Where the Area Rug Business Does Business: AmericasMart Leads With Expanded Showrooms, Top Product Resources and Introductions

New and newly expanded area rug showrooms, exclusive product introductions and the acclaimed America’s Magnificent Carpets® Awardsadvance continuing growth for The Atlanta International Area Rug Market® featuring the National Oriental Rug Show Wednesday, January 8 – Saturday, January 11 (Temporaries: Thursday, January 9 – Saturday, January 11).

The area rug industry’s largest Market – staged in partnership with the Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA) in the nation’s premier area rug Marketplace – showcases top designs in an extensive mix of handmade, machine-made and antique product from the largest and most respected names in the area rug business. The January 2014 Market will give retailers and designers advantaged access to increased product resources housed in significantly expanded showrooms, together with a comprehensive educational program presented by Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA).

INTEGRATED COLLECTIONS AND UPDATED SHOWROOMS

The January 2014 Market marks 2013’s growth trend, propelled by significant expansions and new exhibitor introductions across the Market. Sustaining the expansion is thesuccessful integration of AmericasMart’s Home and Rug collections producing more than 60,000 square feet of new integrated showrooms—including new rug showrooms forAzad Rug Corp., Kas, Momeni and Sultanhan and expanded locations for F.J. Kashanian, Kalaty Rug Corp. and Loloi Rugs, who nearly doubled its footprint to a 14,000 square foot showroom on Floor 4.

“There is a lot of excitement around the January 2014 Market in the Rug industry” says Kevin Malkiewicz, vice president of leasing for Home & Rug. “All over the Market, exhibitors are expanding their spaces and improving their showrooms in preparation for the Market.”

The updates are not confined to the physical layout of showrooms; lines also are modifying product collections to meet buyers’ needs. “There will be more product introductions at the January Market than we have seen in a while,” adds Malkiewicz. “Lines that traditionally focused on rugs are expanding their products to include home accents and furniture to better serve buyers who want to source merchandise together. Our indoor rug manufacturers also are adding more outdoor living rugs and product to extend their collections and sales seasons.”

TOP INDUSTRY PROGRAMMING FROM ORRA AND ORIA

A staple of The Atlanta International Area Rug Market® featuring the National Oriental Rug Show each January, industry associations ORRA and ORIA present engaging programming throughout the Market.

Each day of the temporary Market kicks off with the ORIA/ORIA CF January 2014 Rug Auction, supporting the ORIA and the ORIA Charitable Fund. The auction features more than 20 rugs donated by ORIA members that are open for bids on January 9-11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Building 1 Floor 2.

ORRA programming includes:

· The Unique and Antique Rug Forum – CRA forum. Open to all for informal presentation and discussion of unique, antique & unusual Oriental rugs by a panel of experts. Thursday, January 9. 1:30 p.m. Building 1 Floor 4.

· “Walk the Market with Phil” presented by Phil Menendian. Rug buyers are invited to join Menendian for a walk through select showrooms for a more specific and lengthy examination of the rugs that will enhance the educational features of the CRA program. Thursday, January 9. 3 p.m. Building 1 Floor 3.

· Meet and Greet with ORRA Board Members. ORRA’s president, Richard Amatulli, CRA, ORRA membership chairman Rob Leahy and other Board Members share what’s new for ORRA in 2014. Friday, January 10. 10 a.m. Building 1 Floor 4.

· “Knot To Be Missed” presented by Phil Menendian and a panel of rug appraisers. ORRA is continues this popular program geared toward on-going efforts to educate members. Friday, January 10. 10:30 a.m. Building 1 Floor 4.

For a full list of Market events, visit http://www.americasmart.com/home/jan-2014/market-events.

AMERICA’S MAGNIFICENT CARPETS® AWARDS CELEBRATION

AmericasMart again celebrates the best of the best in the home and rug industry at its annual America’s Magnificent Carpets® Awards. This spectacular event will take place on Friday, January 10 at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, just blocks from the AmericasMart campus.

Applications are available now for the coveted awards, which celebrate the creativity, artistry and passion of the rug industry. Winners will be named in the hand hooked/hand tufted, hand knotted, flat weave, machine made and outdoor rugs categories. The application is available online via this link: http://www.americasmart.com/rug/amca-submission

Honored rugs will hang in the Museum of Introductions on Building 1, Floor 4 from January 8 through January 11. On Saturday, January 11 at 10 a.m. buyers are invited to personally view the winning rugs and meet the designers at the Breakfast of Champions.

ABOUT AMERICASMART

AmericasMart Atlanta is the nation’s only global wholesale marketplace housing the world’s single-largest collection of home, gift, area rug and apparel merchandise. The largest of

AmericasMart’s 14 annual Markets and shows, The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and The Atlanta International Area Rug Market in January and July are the ignition switch for global retailing with buyers from every U.S. state and more than 90 countries discovering product in more than 1,400 showrooms and more than 2,500 temporary exhibiting companies.

Located in downtown Atlanta, the AmericasMart complex contains more than seven million square feet of space. It’s a huge global stage on which manufacturers, designers and sales representatives unveil new lines, launch new designs and introduce new categories – all for the benefit of buyers seeking all that is fresh and first in the home, rug, gift and apparel arenas. For more information, please visitwww.AmericasMart.com. Follow us @AmericasMartATL or @AtlantaApparel.