The Atlanta International Area Rug Market from July 16-20, held in conjunction with the July 14-20 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, featured hand-made, machine-made and antique merchandise from some of the area rug industry’s most important and respected manufacturers and importers.

Featured events included:

Mix-Amize Profits with Area Rugs, which offered insights on pricing tactics and strategies to drive profits. Andy Fried, business consultant at Kennesaw State University, offered practical techniques and tools that focused on rugs but could apply to any product or service. Fried is also a member of the family that founded G. Fried Carpet in 1889, which remains the largest carpet and rug dealer on Long Island.

Demystifying Area Rugs featured a panel with four area rug manufacturers who, in a one-hour session. Among the topics covered were terminology and pricing structures as well as how to know if a rug is hand-made, if you are buying the right pieces, and if the price point is correct. The panelists were: Wendy Reiss of Kas Oriental Rugs, Inc.; Cameron Capel of Capel Rugs, Inc.; Monte Rathi  of Kaleen, Inc.; Stephen Hoberman of Momeni, Inc.; Moderator was Jessie Danielle LaFalce, a consultant to the lifestyle industries and CEO of Vanguard School of Interior Design.

Design Showcase Tour with Chip Wade led a group through Floors 3-6 showing how area rugs can set the tone for an entire design concept. The HGTV Craftsman and Designer personally decorated three rooms to illustrate his points.

The next Atlanta International Area Rug Market® Featuring the National Oriental Rug Show will take place Jan. 12–15, 2012, with Temporary Exhibits taking place Jan. 13–15.