Quality	Uniqueness	Service	Low Prices

My Personal Blogs

Update: 10/15/11

BIG NEWS:  I'm having my first and only sale ever!!!

REASON FOR BUSINESS CLOSURE:
Move Back To Germany.
The reason for my liquidation sale and subsequent business closure is that we have decided to move back to Europe to be closer to our main Persian rug wholesale business in Hamburg, Germany. With the passing of my father in 2009, I have had to get more involved in our family's wholesale business in Germany and as much as we enjoy living here in Colorado, I feel that my presence at our main Persian rug business takes priority.
In addition, the US import embargo on Persian rugs allows me to sell my remaining rugs, but I can not import any new ones and I feel a bit like a fish out of water.  My plan was to wait out the embargo, but at the end I feel it is necessary to return to our family business in Germany, and hopefully someday hand the keys over to the next generation.

Discounts of up to 40% below Competitor's Listed Sale Prices:
I checked out the prices of every Persian rug business that has rugs listed on their website to make sure that my prices are in fact lower.
Most rug websites and retail stores don't carry the high end Persian rugs I offer and the ones that do have priced them for much more. Unlike other businesses that promise great savings, I actually want you to shop and compare so that you can see for yourself that my prices and selection are rarely ever matched. This is the first sale I have ever had and it will also be my last one.

Personal Note To My Many Friends & Clients:
When I first started my website over 12 years ago, I simply wanted to share my insights and passion about Persian rugs along with lots of relevant information.  I never had the intentions of actually selling any rugs and it was the input of so many folks that convinced me to offer some of the fine Persian rugs that you have seen over the years. It was your encouragement and support that got me to where I am today and I truly want to thank you.
Running an internet business means that I rarely ever get to meet my clients in person and yet I feel that I have made many new friendships all over the world.  I cannot put in words alone how grateful I am for your support and kindness.  So many of you have given me tips on how to expand (improve) my website, shared your personal experiences, and simply called to say hello.
As I end this chapter of my life and start a new one, please note of one very important thing.  Germany and Ireland also offer Internet services and while I may be moving, I will still only be a few keystrokes and phone calls away.

Take care,
Mike

Update: 10/1/11

BIG NEWS:  1 Year Anniversary of US Import Embargo!!!

Back in September of 2010, the US administration enacted an import embargo on all Iranian product including Persian rugs. Since a year has now gone by, I thought I share with you some of my own and my client's experiences.

• The embargo is very strongly enforced!!!
  Since the import embargo took effect last year, I have been receiving literally hundreds of calls and e-mails from folks who had their rug confiscated by customs. Thanks to my website ranking high when folks search online for information about the Persian rug embargo, I'm busier than ever....I contacted the US customs in Washington and at this time the embargo is effects all imports of Persian rugs, commercial and personal. Again, all Persian rugs in the US prior to the embargo can be sold, but you can not bring in any more Persian rugs since the embargo took effect. If your Persian rug got impounded, I don't know how to help you and I can only advice you to contact the US customs office near you.....

• How has the embargo effected the Persian rug industry??
  Honestly, not much!! The US was never a huge Persian rug market and right now there is a huge demand coming from Asia (China) and South America (Brazil). Instead of shipping the rugs here, the rugs are being sold to other countries and the prices are still going up.

• Wholesale prices are up 20% since last year and production is down!
  It is now official. The Iranian government has for the first time admitted that the rug production of high end Persian rugs is down over 60% since 1995 and will likely not come back anytime soon. Due to huge increases in industrial manufacturing in Iran courtesy of Chinese companies, more Iranian are working in factories and offices instead of making rugs. The lower quality rugs are still readily produced, but the high end Persian rugs have seen a huge decrease in production.

Take care,
Mike

Update: 8/23/10

BIG NEWS:  Rug Embargo coming soon!!!

In June of 2010, the US government announced that it will introduce a total trade embargo against all Iranian products effective 9/28/10. After that date, no more Iranian made products will be allowed into the US and that of course includes the high end Persian rugs that you see in my website.

As a result of the embargo, I spent a couple of weeks in July overseas purchasing as many rugs as I could muster and have more than doubled my inventory. I have been receiving a lot of questions and e-mails from folks wanting to know what is going to happen once the embargo takes effect and here are the basics:

• It is perfectly fine to purchase Iranian made Persian rugs as long as the rugs are already in the US. The embargo only means that you can not purchase or import them from overseas.

• After 9/28/10 the rug sellers will no longer be able to import Persian rugs made in Iran unless they try to smuggle them in like they did during the last embargo from 1986 through 1999.

• As to what will happen to the prices of the rugs, that is unknown at this stage. If the embargo last for a short time, let say less than 2 years, you should see very little of change from what you see right now since there is plenty of supply already in the US. Many Persian rug sellers like myself purchased a lot of rugs to keep us going for a while. On the other hand, if the embargo drags on like it did in the past, you will see steady price increases as the supply dwindles.

• At this time, you will probably notice a 10-20% increase in the prices of rugs due to the fact that many rug sellers had to buy large quantities of rugs on credit, which adds to the cost of the rugs.

• The recession has hammered the Persian rug business like most home furnishing businesses and many rug stores have either downsized, closed their doors, or slashed their prices to keep afloat. Only time will tell how the embargo will shape the Persian rug business in the US.

• I will update this post again in about 6 months after I get a better feel from what is happening. As always, feel free to let me know if you got any questions and best wishes.

Take care,
Mike

Update: 8/10/09

Same old thing, different day!!
Had already got a e-mails from folks wanting to know what is happening with the rug prices in 2009, so here it goes.
I spend a couple of weeks overseas in July and the bottom line is that the prices have come down a bit compared to 2008, but not as much as I had expected. With the global recession taking a big bite out of the rug industry, I had every expectation to see a big price drop, which has not happened thanks to a slowdown in the rug production. There are simply a lot less rugs being made (especially the high end ones) and even though the demand has dropped off significantly, the economic and political situation in Iran does not allow for the big drop in prices. The prices have dropped about 10-15% in the last year, but that is mainly due to the rise in the US dollar.

Take care,
Mike

Update: 12/1/08

Finally, some good news!!
Once again, I want to share with you my latest findings after returning from my trip overseas.
Since 2003, the prices of Persian rugs have more than doubled and there is finally some good news to report, which I have been hoping for some time now.  With the current global economies fallen of the cliffs, our US dollar seems to have come back to life,  which has had a direct impact on the prices of Persian rugs.  For the first time in 5 years, I have been able to lower my prices by around 15% and I am hopeful that this trend will not reverse.

Please note though that the lower prices are mainly due to the rise in the US dollar and not the slowdown in the varies economies.  Even though the Persian rug market as a whole has slowed down, so has the rug production in Iran and their inflation of around 25% is still keeping up the prices.  My plan is to travel overseas again in 4 months and by then I should have a better picture of whether the price reduction is temporary or permanent.

Take care,
Mike

Update: 1/7/08

One word sums it all up: UGLY!!!
Got back from my trip a couple of days and as always, I'm completely jet-lagged.
Last year, I thought I had seen it all and once again I have been completely wrong about the prices of the high quality Persian rugs, especially the Tabriz and Qom pieces. In 2007, the Tabriz and Qom rugs have gone up in price about 30%, yes, that is 30%. Nain and Isfahan rugs have gone up about 10%. The main problem continues to be the high inflation in Iran, officially at 15% but in reality closer to 25%, and the continued weakness of our US dollar.

The prices in Tabriz and Qom are going up higher simply because more and more folks are giving up the rug business altogether. In places like Khoj, which is a small village where the Mahi (fish) design Tabriz rugs are made, the production is now about half of what it was just 5 years ago and as a result, the prices are just shooting up. The same is happening in Qom as well.  Prices in Nain and Isfahan are going up, but due to their traditional designs, there are still plenty of rugs to choose from, and therefor the prices will not climb as quickly.

My goal was to purchase about 30-40 rugs and I only ended up with 17 instead. I will be going overseas again in a few months and will update you again as soon as I return. Take a look at the 3 Tabriz rugs further down and you can see how the prices have changed.

Below is an much more detailed article about the overall situation and I will update this page again after my next trip.

Take care,
Mike

Update: 4/17/07

Got back from my trip overseas last week and just recovered from a bad case of a cold and jet-lag. The price of Persian rugs is still going up and it appears that the inflation rate in Iran is stabilizing at around 15%, but the weak dollar is having a huge impact as it has for last 3 years. As of mid April, the US dollar is approaching a new record low against the Euro and it is already at a 15 year low against the English Pound and many other currency. Do not expect any relief any time soon.

Below is an much more detailed article about the overall situation and I will update this page again after my next trip.

Take care,
Mike