Industry's Top Area Rug Designs Honored At America's Magnificent Carpet Awards In Atlanta

Furniture World Magazine

The area rug industry's top designs were honored by a standing-room only crowd at AMERICASMARTxATLANTA's fifth annual America's Magnificent Carpet Awards, the crowning event of the January 1998 Atlanta International Area Rug Market, featuring the National Oriental Rug Show. All Atlanta International Area Rug Market and National Oriental Rug Show exhibitors were eligible to participate. Entries were limited to one per price category, with no exhibitor entering more than two area rugs. A record 115 area rug entries were submitted. All rugs were displayed during Market in the Gallery of Introductions, a professionally designed gallery located in the Merchandise Mart. More than 1,000 people attended the gala to salute the 1998 America's Magnificent Carpet Awards winners. The winners are: --   xSamad Brothers, Inc. Most Popular Rug by Retailer Vote panel of distinguished industry experts selected all winners, with the exception of the "Most Popular By Retailer Vote" category. This year's judges were Roz Rostigian, Rostigian's, Providence, R.I.; Sam Presnell, The Rug Gallery, Blue Ash, Ohio; Eddie Watts, World of Clothing, Hendersonville, S.C.; and Susan Bradford, Susan Bradford Design, Ltd., Atlanta, Ga. (past-president of A.S.I.D). For several days prior to the awards ceremony buyers visiting the Gallery of Introductions were invited to select their favorite area rug. Each buyer voted once. All of the entries were tallied to determine the winner of the Most Popular By Retailer Vote. "We were delighted by the number of companies who participated in this year's America's Magnificent Carpet Awards," says Chas Sydney, vice president of leasing, AMERICASMARTxATLANTA Area Rugs. "The record number of entries, combined with the support received by thousands of retailers, demonstrates that Atlanta is the area rug industry's home." Among its many relationships with leading national and international business organizations, AMERICASMARTx ATLANTA is a strategic partner with the FTD Association, the world's leading floral products resource; the Oriental Rug Importers Association, the nation's leading oriental rug importers organization; and the Oriental Rug Retailers of America, an association of the nation's top area rug retailers, wholesalers, importers and other service related industries.