Rochester, N.Y.—The Rochester Rug Sculpting and Vocational Programs (RRSVP) have opened for business.

“We are pleased to announce the scheduled opening, as of March 1st, of our carpet installing and carpet sculpting school in Rochester, N.Y.,” said Geoffrey Howe, sculptor/mentor. “We’ve also formed a strategic alliance with FloorBiz.com as our platform for showcasing our products and services.

“RRSVP plans to galvanize the flooring industry by offering the first entry level carpet installation course with an added module of carpet sculpting instruction therefore making our graduates immediately employable,” he explained. “We are offering a unique service to the industry, providing training and certification in carpet installation, broadloom sculpting and custom rugs. RRSVP has dynamic new information, strategies and marketing methods that will double any mechanic’s current salary.

“Normally,” he continued, “there are no after-market sales after you install a carpet. With this training, you can ‘sell’ to the homowner an upgraded customized addition to her present, existing installed wall-to-wall carpet (i.e., add borders, replicate upholstery, wallpaper, china patterns, family crests and monograms, etc.), you are only limited by your imagination, or your client’s.

“While most homeowners replace their carpets every five to 10 years,” Howe added, “this training can upgrade their current carpeting by hiding stains, damage, uneven wear, etc., with an inserted customized sculptured piece.

“In addition,” he said, “we supply rug manufacturing tools, networking, support, referrals, Web sites, products and supplies to the installers.”

Howe will be teaching the installing segment with help from Eric Larson, owner of Caliber Floors, a carpet installation business in Marion, Iowa. Larson is a member of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) and is certified through Residential II and Commercial II. He is also author of The Carpet Installation Training Handbook. This manual will be used in the training.

The cost is $5,000 per student for the entry level certification of “Qualified Carpet Installation Apprentice Associate,” and also for the Carpet Sculpting module which will include area rug fabricating.

For the Carpet Installation module, students get the Qualified Carpet Installation Apprentice Associate certificate and, for a limited time only, several tools of the trade including an Orcon Magnum kicker (valued at $300), if they sign up with deposit before March 15th, and Larson’s book.

“The student completing the Carpet Sculpting module receives a certificate of ‘Qualified Carpet Sculptor and Area Rug Fabricator’ certificate plus each student receives a hooked hot knife, pounce wheel, a copy of Larson’s book and their completed projects displayed on our
Web sites, www.RRSVP.com and www.IMAKERUGS.com,” he added.

For the Installing module, there will be five classes starting in May with up to four students in each class. There will be nine classes starting in April for the Sculpting module, which will also have up to four students in each class.

The complete syllabus for both classes can be viewed at www.RRSVP.com and www.IMAKERUGS.com.
“We are targeting entry level students with specific attention to the following groups: veterans, native Americans, minorities and ‘at risk’ youth,” concluded Howe, “as well as those seeking a second income, or a new skill.”

For more on RRSVP, call 585/865-4289.
—Louis Iannaco