Atlanta—This July, the Atlanta International Area Rug Market second floor Temporaries have extended its hours—inviting the industry’s most respected and sought after buyers and exhibitors to better share in the excitement and purchasing power of Atlanta’s Area Rug Market, scheduled to run from July 18 to 21. For the first time ever, the Area Rug Market Temporaries exhibit will open its doors to buyers and sellers on Thursday, July 18 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. To celebrate this grand opening, complimentary beverages will be provided to all buyers and exhibitors throughout the evening. On Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20, it’s business as usual from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sunday, July 21 provides yet another day of shopping as the Area Rug Temporaries remain open through 3 p.m. “Our customers—both the buyer and exhibitor—have long requested this change,” said Chas Sydney, vice president of leasing for The Area Rug Center, home of the nation’s largest area rug collection. “We are also looking forward to acquainting the traditional gift and home furnishings buyer with the cross merchandising possibilities which abound with-in The Area Rug Center.

By extending the market hours of our temporary exhibitors, it creates yet another opportunity for buyers to explore the magical world of area rugs. “We have been able to accommodate the temporary exhibitors by shifting our gift show up a day,” he explained. “It’s something we would have liked to have done sooner. We think it will be a definite plus for the market, as buyers seem to be getting to the show earlier and earlier all the time. This change gives the temporaries a good shot at some of the key retailers.” Americasmart•Atlanta Area Rug Market exhibitors are solidly behind the new dates. Ramin Mobayen, owner of Mobayen, believes “the potential for cross over between area rug and gift and home furnishings buyers is exciting.” Sayeed Hasanzadah, a principal of Merrifield Oriental Rugs, agreed with Mobayen and said, the “extended market hours are better for everyone involved—it is truly a win-win situation.” For more information on the July 2002 Atlanta International Area Rug Market Temporaries, call 404/220-2213.

Delos Opens Doors In other news, Delos announced the opening of its permanent show-room at the Americasmart (showroom #3-E-1). Delos deals in the creation and importing of fine rugs to the United States and Canada and is currently in the process of establishing warehousing in Georgia. At 104 years old, one of Europe’s most prestigious and well-established producers of fine rugs, B&C (Van den Brink & Campman) has given Delos exclusive distribution rights for all its cataloged products, in varied sizes and designs in the United States and Canada. Delos will warehouse eight proven collections from B&C, with 12 more collections available by special order as well as a dependable and expansive custom knotted rug program. The collections to be stocked in the United States by Delos are sophisticated Nepalese hand-knotted, fine hand-tufted, and fashion-forward Axminsters made from 100% New Zealand Wool, with retail prices for a 6X9-ft. product ranging from $399 to $1,799.

Delos, a growing company in the rug business, noted Sydney, will be working directly with B&C’s design staff to assist in the continued development of products designed and colored for the North American market. With almost 30 years combined experience in retailing, manufacturing and importing of area rugs, Delos is owned by Ivan and Celeste Phillips, both of whom have extensive sourcing, sales and marketing backgrounds as well as domestic and international knowledge of the market. They will be expanding their product selections and categories creating a one-stop source for the retailer.

Capel, Mohawk Extend Leases Also, Capel and Mohawk Home, two of the area rug industry’s top manufacturers, have each made a new commitment to the continued growth of Americasmart’s Area Rug Center. Capel, located on the sixth floor, 6-F-6, and Mohawk Home (floor six, 6-A-2) have renewed and extended their presence at Americasmart•Atlanta with the signing of long-term lease agreements. “Capel is an invaluable Americasmart exhibitor,” said Sydney. Capel, the oldest rug tenant in the building, has had a presence in the Mart since the facility opened in 1961. “Capel is recognized by industry peers as a leader and innovator. Its reputation and dedication to the longevity of the industry is unsurpassed.”

Leon Capel, executive director of the area rug mill, said, “We’ve chosen to extend our presence for many reasons. Americas-mart attracts the world’s most important retailers; more importantly however, it works to establish and maintain relationships with these retailers—dealers from the world’s largest floor covering and furniture stores, chain/department stores, home improvement centers and designers, to the smallest specialty boutique. Ameri-casmart’s commitment to the area rug buyer and seller is enviable.” “Mohawk Home has become one of the dominant forces in the home textiles and flooring industry,” said Jeff Portman, president and COO of AMC, Americasmart’s parent company. “Its extensive product lines continue to set industry trends and the retailers of the world have come to expect the very best from Mohawk.

Its commitment to Americasmart assures the retailer that the industry’s most diverse and best selection of area rugs are found only in Atlanta…and only at Americasmart.” “The decision to extend our partnership with Americas-mart was an easy one,” said Bill Kilbride, CEO of Mohawk Home, an Americasmart exhibitor for 20 years. “Mohawk and Ameri casmart have each built reputations based on value, service, quality and innovation. It’s a win-win situation.” “Mohawk and Capel are two of the stalwarts of this business in both the handmade and machine-made categories,” said Sydney. “These agreements show our commitment to the industry and means Capel and Mohawk are going to be around for their customers for a long time in the best market in the country. Both companies are behind us and agree with what we are trying to do for the business. This means their showrooms here are valuable to them and they ex pect them to be very valuable to them in the future, maybe even more so.

“While there’s a lot of concern and controversy regarding other markets in this industry,” concluded Sydney, “such is not the case with the Atlanta Rug Market.” Education Day Finally, on July 19, education al seminars for the summer show include: “Selling Strategies in An Ever-Changing Fashion Business” by Lissa Wyman, editor of RugNews.com from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the fourth floor (4-G-7); “Iranian Rug Production” by Tom Atiyeh of Atiyeh Interna tional, sponsored by the Orien tal Rug Retailers of America (ORRA) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the first floor (meeting room B); “Tips for an ORRA-Certified Appraisal” by Phil Menendian from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., also on the first floor (meeting room B); “ORRA General Membership Meeting” from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first floor (meeting room B), and “Certified Appraisal Exam/Re-Certification Program,” from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor (meeting room B). For general information on Americasmart•Atlanta, call 800/ 285-6278.