Hand-made, machine-made and antique merchandise from some of the area rug industry’s most important and respected manufacturers and importers took center stage in Atlanta as exhibitors, retailers, designers and guest speakers explored the latest trends in area rugs at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, July 16-20.

Highlighting the market were these featured events:

Andy Fried, business consultant at Kennesaw State University, offered practical techniques and tools that focused on rugs withMix-Amize Profits with Area Rugs. Fried’s talk also covered pricing as a powerful profit force.

Demystifying Area Rugsfeatured a panel with area rug manufacturers Kas Oriental Rugs, Capel Rugs, Kaleen and Momeni. Among the topics covered were terminology and pricing structures as well as how to know if a rug is hand-made, whether you are buying the right pieces, and if the price point is correct. The panelists were: Wendy Reiss of Kas Oriental Rugs, Cameron Capel of Capel Rugs, Monte Rathi of Kaleen and Stephen Hoberman of Momeni. The moderator was Jessie Danielle LaFalce, a consultant to the lifestyle industries and ceo of Vanguard School of Interior Design.

Design Showcase Tour with Chip Wadeled a group through Floors 3-6 showing how area rugs can set the tone for an entire design concept. HGTV craftsman and designer Chip Wade personally decorated three rooms to illustrate his points.

The next Atlanta International Area Rug Market, featuring the National Oriental Rug Show, will take place Jan. 12–15, 2012, with temporary exhibits Jan. 13–15.