We are entering Fall 2024, with the sweltering summer heat behind us and the welcome return of more temperate weather. This comes along with the annual return of kids to school and of the workforce to a full-time schedule. For those of us in the area rug industry, the arrival of the Fall season also brings with it the return of our clients and colleagues from their summer vacations, the return to a jam-packed schedule of showroomsits, appointments, and product introductions, and perhaps most significantly, the return of the much-anticipated Fall Rug Market Shows.
The Fall Markets are led by two major rug shows in the New York-New Jersey area, The Rug Show (TRS) in Secaucus, New Jersey, and Cover Connect New York (CCNY) in Midtown Manhattan. In the past, these two shows ran concurrently where this year TRS runs from September 7 – 9, and CCNY runs one week later, September 14 – 16.
This is a major change within the area rug world, as in past years there was more time pressure to catch both shows, as they shared the same three days. Some attendees would go to the New York show in the morning, and the New Jersey show in the afternoon, or vice versa, or would go to one show one day, and the other show the next day.
Now, with the two shows taking place on subsequent weekends, there might be a more relaxed pace in which attendees can browse the many offerings of each show and have a more thorough visit with the top-notch exhibitors displaying their latest and most exciting rugs.
Busy show floor at The Rug Show
The Rug Show | September 7 – 9
Up first, TRS has been one of the top trade shows in the rug industry for over a decade. 2024 will mark the third consecutive year for The Rug Show at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. The airy exposition space will host a curated list of exhibitors this year, including such rug industry standouts as Afghan Bazar Rugs Inc., Alpine Rug, Andkhuy Rugs, Anwar Rugs, Art Resources, Farshchi Inc., Kehkashan Rugs, Neman International, Satar Carpet, Turkish Rug Company, and Turquoise Mountain.
Tamarian at Cover Connect NY
Cover Connect New York | September 14 – 16
In its fourth year, CCNY will take place across two buildings, with its show floor spanning between two neighboring venues on West 18th Street, at both the Metropolitan Pavilion and the Altman Building. The show is open to industry professionals and includes such top companies as Amer Rugs, Anadol Rugs, Asha Carpets, Asia Minor Carpets, Battilossi, Bespoke Tibetan Carpets, Caravan, Creative Matters, Creative Touch, Design Materials Inc., Eliko Rug Gallery, French Accents, Harounian Rugs International, Izza Berber, Jade Industries Inc., Jaipur Living, Kirkit Rugs, Knot & Co., Knots Rugs, Label STEP, Lapchi, Lila Valadan, Momeni, New Moon, Pampas Leather, Paulig, Rebel Carpets, Rug & Kilim, Rug Icon, S&H Rugs, Samad Rugs, Sergio Mannino Studio, Stark Studio Rugs, Sumaq Alpaca, Tamarian, Tibet Rug Company, Tissage, Wendy Morrison Design, Wool & Silk, and Zollanvari. Just added this week are Akhavan Farstchi, Satar Carpet, and Banu Home!
The Cover Connect trade show, organized by the UK-based HALI and Cover Magazines, has also expanded to Las Vegas, where it appeared alongside the SURFACES trade show earlier this year.
This year, more so than in the past, rug insiders know it’s not a question of whether to attend either the New Jersey show OR the New York show, as it is now much easier to attend BOTH the New Jersey show AND the New York show. Both will have great rugs and carpets on display, and the exhibitors in each of the shows are sure to bring their freshest and most exciting product offerings for the Fall Markets, which is the unofficial kickoff of the area rug trade’s selling season.
We hope to see you all at both shows, as we will be in attendance, checking out what our rug industry colleagues have on display, and seeing how each one organizes their exhibition space in as distinct and visually arresting a way as possible.
Both shows will also be having their annual cocktail receptions, along with free registration for members of the trade, and discounted hotel accommodations available.
The Rug Show | therugshow.com
Cover Connect New York | thecoverconnect.com
Rodney Hakim is a contributing editor to Rug Insider Magazine and a principal at PGNY.
