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Rug Insider Magazine
News for the Rug and Carpet Professional 
Rug Insider's InAntiques kicked off 2023 with a look at various segments of the area rug industry, running the gamut from high end hand-knotted antique rugs to more economically priced machine-made and tufted rugs. Regardless of which end of the price spectrum one is looking at, an increasingly important decision for buyers and sellers has become not just what type of rugs they want to what locations they want to buy them from.
Fall markets were back in a big way for the area rug industry in mid-September 2022, as two shows made big waves in New York and New Jersey. Cover Connect returned for its second iteration at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City from September 11 – 13. The Rug Show took place at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey from September 14 – 16. Both shows were heavily attended and were a great way to kick off the fall selling season, following a downturn in the last couple of years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here is a roundup of what a few of the exhibitors had to say about the state of the industry, what their companies are up to, and how the market looks this fall.
Customization trends are carving new business opportunities for the carpet category.
Broadloom is enjoying a comeback, but in a different way—thanks largely to renewed interest from designers and more customization-craving consumers. Wall-to-wall carpet is tapping into relevance and resourcefulness in the form of made-to-order area rugs and runners for stairs, halls and entryways.
“Today, everyone wants customization in every aspect of their home and in their home furnishings,” noted Christine Zampaglione, Senior Director of Marketing, Stanton. “Customization is the way of the future in broadloom.”
How do you do new Oushak? Companies featured in our Fall 2022 style focus told us: It’s in the design refresh, the quality, the knot, the yarn, and the COLOR. Using phrases such as a fusion of modern and classic—you get the idea.
Barclay Butera talks with Rug Insider's Alex Milstein about the inspiration behind his new book and his new Jaipur Living rug designs. Barclay Butera has built his name in the industry not only as an interior designer and founder of his own company and brand, but as a true collaborative partner to several well-known home furnishings brands like Lexington Home Brands, Castelle, Nourison, and Jaipur Living.
In the summer issue of Rug Insider Magazine, the InFOCUS feature spotlighted the red rugs of today. When thinking of red rugs though, perhaps the first rug style to come to mind would be the red colors found in Antique Persian Sarouk carpets, which in many ways, are the true definition of the Classic Red Rug.
In this article, we will be exploring the history of antique Persian Sarouk Rugs, as well as some of the most prevalent variations of the Classic Sarouk Carpet, and what differentiates one type from another.
RUG INSIDER caught up with several of your favorite HPMKT stars for an Insider’s look at what’s in store for Fall Market 2022 introductions and events.
David Samad, co-founder of the venerable wholesale rug firm, Samad, has been in the area rug industry his entire life. And while he hates to admit it, his 47 years in the business make him an industry veteran.
But rugs aren’t Samad’s whole life.
In 1994, David signed up to run the New York City Marathon in honor of Simon Banilevi, a dear friend of his who had lost his fight to cancer the year before. When it came time to run in November of ‘94, he completed the 26.2-mile feat—Samad‘s first marathon and the longest distance he‘d run to date.
“If you’d asked me to sign a waiver at the end of the race to say that was the first and last marathon I‘d ever do, I would have signed on the dotted line,” Samad says.
2004 HONOLULU — 2015 MELBOURNE — 2019 CANBERRA
But now, 28 years later, he‘s completed 82 marathons in 18 states across the U.S. and in 10 different countries around the world.
It became more of a challenge for Samad, and he wanted more. That led him to London, and eventually India, Australia, France, Israel, Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada.
“It was intriguing, and I started getting very serious about it,” he says. “I started running four to five marathons a year. And actually in 1995, I ran my personal best—3 hours, 21 minutes and 34 seconds.”
So, is he crazy?
“It’s just one of those personal challenges that I think I want to keep doing as long as I can,” Samad says. “Although I have to say it’s not getting any easier.”
While Samad is personally interested, he also says marathons have intrigued the minds of many people all over the world and have become a nice healthy hobby. He says that it became a personal goal for him and one that he loved accomplishing simply for himself.
With a diagnosis of Asthma in his twenties, running, as his doctor told him was the best thing he can do.
“In a way it’s been the best medicine for me, to keep my lungs healthy,” Samad says. And when I see my pulmonologist he says I’m defying what someone in my condition should actually be, and it‘s an amazing thing. So honestly, it’s for my own good.”
He also says there’s a connection between the rug industry and marathons.
“Marathoners say the race begins at mile 20 and endurance is key. Like the rug business, It’s not a race, it’s a journey.“
“There’‘s an old saying that seasoned marathoners say: the race begins at mile 20 and endurance is key,” Samad explains. “In many ways, I equate that to owning our own business and the ethic behind that. Like the rug business, the marathon is not a race, it’s a journey. It’s all about competing, and you want to do it right, but at the end of the day, it’s more about showing up! Am I ever going to win a marathon? Certainly not. But again, it’s a courageous thing to do to just compete—it is precious.”
Is there an ultimate goal Samad has in mind? “My goal is just to do one at a time, just get one more under my belt and keep crossing the finishing line with a smile on my face, it’s a long road but a really rewarding one.”
David is married to his lovely wife Johanna and they have three children and one grandson.
