Learning Opportunities

1. Wednesday, April 19, 2023
1. Registration
2. Welcome Happy Hour: Lobby Lounge (cash bar)
3. Dinner on your own
2. Thursday, April 20, 2023
1. Headshots - We are excited to offer professional headshots free of charge at this year’s convention! A professional photographer will be set up Thursday morning to take your updated photo. Sign up with Jennifer Colaco (jennifer@dallasrugcleaner.com) to take advantage of this great opportunity!
2. Annual ARCS Meeting - Overview of the last year of events, classes, how we are doing financially, thank you to our board members leaving, and the introduction of our new board members and officers.
3. Capital Improvements Panel – Both big and small changes around your wash plant can impact your processes, your finished product and your team. This panel discusses some of the changes made to their facilities including an overview of each project, the cost (both expected and unexpected), the highs, the lows and was it worth it!
4. The Power of Your People – The people answering your phones are either instilling confidence or deterring your customers. How do you convert a lead to a sale? How do you turn a price inquiry into a scheduled pick-up? This talk will cover the importance of the people on your front lines and how they impact your bottom line.  
5. Tangible Marketing - Modern marketing can be incredibly overwhelming. EJ from Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis will help simplify this new age of marketing and offer tangible marketing with social media, short videos, text messaging, and more to gain leads, stay relevant, and in the customer's mind.
6. The Holistic Art of Diné Weaving - The Holistic art of Diné (Navajo) weaving of the T ł 'ízí lání (Manygoats) Clan, Roy will share the traditional processes of weaving, it's traditional methods/uses, and its future of how it continues to evolve. Roy will bring some samples of his family's weavings and his weaving to show the different design elements and their meanings, he will also have a 30-minute showing of the documentary of the Navajo-Churro sheep that he raised titled "A Gift From Talking God", also some slide presentation of his past and current works. He will share appropriate seasonal family stories of how Spiderman gifted his counterpart Spiderwoman how to weave on an upright loom, thus sharing the untold stories of the Male weavers and their role in continuing the evolution of Diné/Navajo Weaving in his family and through the Navajo Nation.
7. Ownership & Transitions – Owning and running a rug cleaning plant are not for the faint of heart. Join us as James Kruse talks about the process of buying DA Burns (Seattle, WA) and what has surprised him along the way.
8. Roundtable Discussion – Get together in small groups with your fellow rug cleaners to discuss a range of relevant topics. We will then join back as a big group and discuss our most interesting finds.
9. Dinner on your own
3. Friday, April 21, 2023
1. Dalworth Rug Cleaning
2. Stanley Steemer - TBD
3. Oriental Rug Cleaning Co. - Plant Tour & Happy Hour
4. Dinner on your own
4. Saturday, April 22, 2023
1. Tour (optional)

1. Wednesday, April 19, 2023
1. Registration
2. Welcome Happy Hour: Lobby Lounge (cash bar)
3. Dinner on your own
2. Thursday, April 20, 2023
1. Headshots - We are excited to offer professional headshots free of charge at this year’s convention! A professional photographer will be set up Thursday morning to take your updated photo. Sign up with Jennifer Colaco (jennifer@dallasrugcleaner.com) to take advantage of this great opportunity!
2. Annual ARCS Meeting - Overview of the last year of events, classes, how we are doing financially, thank you to our board members leaving, and the introduction of our new board members and officers.
3. Capital Improvements Panel – Both big and small changes around your wash plant can impact your processes, your finished product and your team. This panel discusses some of the changes made to their facilities including an overview of each project, the cost (both expected and unexpected), the highs, the lows and was it worth it!
4. The Power of Your People – The people answering your phones are either instilling confidence or deterring your customers. How do you convert a lead to a sale? How do you turn a price inquiry into a scheduled pick-up? This talk will cover the importance of the people on your front lines and how they impact your bottom line.  
5. Tangible Marketing - Modern marketing can be incredibly overwhelming. EJ from Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis will help simplify this new age of marketing and offer tangible marketing with social media, short videos, text messaging, and more to gain leads, stay relevant, and in the customer's mind.
6. The Holistic Art of Diné Weaving - The Holistic art of Diné (Navajo) weaving of the T ł 'ízí lání (Manygoats) Clan, Roy will share the traditional processes of weaving, its traditional methods/uses, and its future of how it continues to evolve. Roy will bring some samples of his family's weavings and his weaving to show the different design elements and their meanings, he will also have a 30-minute showing of the documentary of the Navajo-Churro sheep that he raised titled "A Gift From Talking God", also some slide presentation of his past and current works. He will share appropriate seasonal family stories of how Spiderman gifted his counterpart Spiderwoman how to weave on an upright loom, thus sharing the untold stories of the Male weavers and their role in continuing the evolution of Diné/Navajo Weaving in his family and through the Navajo Nation.
7. Ownership & Transitions – Owning and running a rug cleaning plant are not for the faint of heart. Join us as James Kruse talks about the process of buying DA Burns (Seattle, WA) and what has surprised him along the way.
8. Roundtable Discussion – Get together in small groups with your fellow rug cleaners to discuss a range of relevant topics. We will then join back as a big group and discuss our most interesting finds.
9. Dinner on your own
3. Friday, April 21, 2023
1. Dalworth Rug Cleaning
2. Stanley Steemer - TBD
3. Oriental Rug Cleaning Co.
4. Saturday, April 22, 2023
1. Tour (optional)

The Tools of Rug Identification – Grouped in a linear and methodical progression, students learn how to read a rug’s construction to identify its origins. Material progresses from easily discernible traits to more nuanced variations using the most commonly encountered area rugs as teaching material. Students come away knowing the covered material as well as how to advance their skills outside of class.

Survey of hand­-tufted, machine­-made, and specialty rugs

Hand­-knotted Rugs – a brief history, nomenclature and introduction to structure, the tools of rug ID

• Persian rugs

• Copies of Persian rugs

• Designer rugs

• Flat-weaves

Overview of Cleaning Process

• Review of the steps in a “best practice” rug cleaning as outlined in ARCS’ Industry Guide & Recommended Practice for Rug Cleaning

Rug Intake

• Pre­-inspection and documentation, inventory control & pre­wash stabilization 

About Rugs & Fibers

• A review of the most commonly encountered rug fibers and construction techniques and what their implications are for the cleaning process.                                                      

About Soils & Cleaning

• Review of the types of soils found in rugs  What are they? How do they accumulate?

Rug Washing

• Getting our hands dirty cleaning the host plants inventory.   Topics will include:

  • How to generate a cleaning plan

  • How all the host’s “toys” work and how to scale the operation up and down to meet the demands of each student

  • What to do if a rug starts to go south

Drying Theory

• Discussion of drying theory and its effects on the cleaning process.

Results

• Evaluating results and discussing the next steps.  Discussion, how clean is clean enough?  weighing risks vs rewards.

Finishing Processes

• A survey of the non­-wash processes that go into a rug cleaning

  • Grooming

  • Fringe Correction

  • Post­-wash treatments

  • Cosmetic Touchups

• Checkout procedures

  • Recording and reporting results

Spotting techniques

• A discussion of the techniques for removing common spots such as rust, paint, wax, etc.

Discoloration Remediation

• How the products work and how they differ from spotters.

• Risks and how to manage them

• Discussion and demonstrations of common applications and techniques

  • Urine Stain removal

  • Floor Stripping of Dye

  • Dry stripping of Dye

Review Test - Don’t worry, it isn’t graded

ARCS’s “Practical Dye Removal for the Rug Washer” course is a good primer on a complex subject. Ben did a great job explaining the principals and practical application of the most commonly encountered bleaches used in our industry. Those applications were then demonstrated at work in multiple real-world scenarios, not just “ideal” situations. Balancing risk versus reward, Mr. Knause walked students through an experienced professional’s thought process and approach to each problem. Participants were then given ample opportunity to practice with each product under the watch of an experienced cleaner, allowing them to get a better handle on the use of each type of product. This class will shorten the learning curve of anyone getting into color correction and is a must-attend course for any experienced cleaner who wants to know more about the subject.
Armen Dohanian - Oriental Rug Cleaning Co.

The Tools of Rug Identification – Grouped in a linear and methodical progression, students learn how to read a rug’s construction to identify its origins. Material progresses from easily discernible traits to more nuanced variations using the most commonly encountered area rugs as teaching material. Students come away knowing the covered material as well as how to advance their skills outside of class.

Survey of hand­-tufted, machine­-made, and specialty rugs

Hand­-knotted Rugs – a brief history, nomenclature and introduction to structure, the tools of rug ID

• Persian rugs

• Copies of Persian rugs

• Designer rugs

• Flat-weaves

Overview of Cleaning Process

• Review of the steps in a “best practice” rug cleaning as outlined in ARCS’ Industry Guide & Recommended Practice for Rug Cleaning

Rug Intake

• Pre­-inspection and documentation, inventory control & pre­wash stabilization 

About Rugs & Fibers

• A review of the most commonly encountered rug fibers and construction techniques and what their implications are for the cleaning process.                                                      

About Soils & Cleaning

• Review of the types of soils found in rugs  What are they? How do they accumulate?

Rug Washing

• Getting our hands dirty cleaning the host plants inventory.   Topics will include:

  • How to generate a cleaning plan

  • How all the host’s “toys” work and how to scale the operation up and down to meet the demands of each student

  • What to do if a rug starts to go south

Drying Theory

• Discussion of drying theory and its effects on the cleaning process.

Results

• Evaluating results and discussing the next steps.  Discussion, how clean is clean enough?  weighing risks vs rewards.

Finishing Processes

• A survey of the non­-wash processes that go into a rug cleaning

  • Grooming

  • Fringe Correction

  • Post­-wash treatments

  • Cosmetic Touchups

• Checkout procedures

  • Recording and reporting results

Spotting techniques

• A discussion of the techniques for removing common spots such as rust, paint, wax, etc.

Discoloration Remediation

• How the products work and how they differ from spotters.

• Risks and how to manage them

• Discussion and demonstrations of common applications and techniques

  • Urine Stain removal

  • Floor Stripping of Dye

  • Dry stripping of Dye

Review Test - Don’t worry, it isn’t graded

ARCS’s “Practical Dye Removal for the Rug Washer” course is a good primer on a complex subject. Ben did a great job explaining the principals and practical application of the most commonly encountered bleaches used in our industry. Those applications were then demonstrated at work in multiple real-world scenarios, not just “ideal” situations. Balancing risk versus reward, Mr. Knause walked students through an experienced professional’s thought process and approach to each problem. Participants were then given ample opportunity to practice with each product under the watch of an experienced cleaner, allowing them to get a better handle on the use of each type of product. This class will shorten the learning curve of anyone getting into color correction and is a must-attend course for any experienced cleaner who wants to know more about the subject.
Armen Dohanian - Oriental Rug Cleaning Co.

This class consists of two 2-hour sessions and will cover all of the important steps that can make or break your customer experience:

• Learn about your company and what you offer
• Elevator Pitch
• Common Pre-Inspection Conditions
• Terminology: How to Convey Technical Explanations in Layman’s Terms
• Help new customers navigate the rug cleaning process
• How to Make Repeat Customers Continue to Feel Valued
• THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCUMENTATION
• Managing Customer Expectations
• Dealing with Complaints
• Proper Phone Etiquette
• Proper In-Person Etiquette
• Inter-Office Communication

Jennifer Colaco: joined Oriental Rug Cleaning in Dallas, Texas as office manager in 2010, becoming the fourth generation of her family to be involved in the flooring business. Prior to this, she worked in textile project management. Jennifer is Vice-President on the Association of Rug Care Specialist Board (ARCS), a Certified Rug Specialist, and Master Rug Cleaner.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Jennifer and has spent the majority of her professional career interfacing with customers. Her focus on delivering excellent customer practices for her team led her to create and teach “Effective Communications for Rug Cleaners”, currently offered through ARCS.

This class consists of two 2-hour sessions and will cover all of the important steps that can make or break your customer experience:

• Learn about your company and what you offer 
• Elevator Pitch 
• Common Pre-Inspection Conditions 
• Terminology: How to Convey Technical Explanations in Layman’s Terms 
• Help new customers navigate the rug cleaning process 
• How to Make Repeat Customers Continue to Feel Valued 
• THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCUMENTATION 
• Managing Customer Expectations 
• Dealing with Complaints 
• Proper Phone Etiquette 
• Proper In-Person Etiquette 
• Inter-Office Communication

Jennifer Colaco: joined Oriental Rug Cleaning in Dallas, Texas as office manager in 2010, becoming the fourth generation of her family to be involved in the flooring business. Prior to this, she worked in textile project management. Jennifer is Vice-President on the Association of Rug Care Specialist Board (ARCS), a Certified Rug Specialist, and Master Rug Cleaner.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Jennifer and has spent the majority of her professional career interfacing with customers. Her focus on delivering excellent customer practices for her team led her to create and teach “Effective Communications for Rug Cleaners”, currently offered through ARCS.

Session One – The Cleaning Process

Reviews the basic steps in a “best-practice” rug cleaning, why we do them and some of the most common prevailing methods in application today. While pros and cons of each method are discussed, editorial content is kept out.

• Pre-cleaning Inspection – Why some consider it the most important step in rug cleaning and some of the most common conditions encountered in area rugs.
• Dry soil removal – Why it’s important and ways to do it.
• Washing – From dry cleaning methods to full saturation washing. Each method is discussed covering the why and how as well as the pros and cons.
• Drying – Surveying the most common methods in use today
• Finishing processes – Grooming, browning correction, color correction, etc.

Session Two – Fibers and Chemistry

Covers the basics of the most common fibers and chemicals encountered in area rug care. Topics are discussed generically, avoiding favoritism and bias.

Fibers

• Wool – Why it is the most common rug fiber. How we go from sheep to rug yarn.
• Cotton – Production and application
• Silk – It’s advantages, disadvantages and production
• Bast Fibers – production and uses
• Plastics – Nylon, Olefin, etc.
• Rayon – production and it’s many other names

Chemistry

• Soil – most common types, how they accumulate and implications for cleaning
• Solvents – Polar and Non-polar, volatile and non-volatile and applications for cleaning
• Detergents – what they are and how they work
• The PH scale – What it is, why it’s important and the general PH of specific substances
• Sinner circle

Session Three – Rug ID – Tufted Rugs

A general discussion of tufted rugs and their specific cleaning needs and concerns is followed by a survey of the most common types of tufted rugs encountered, how to identify them and their specific cleaning needs and concerns.

• Tufted rugs – What they are and how they differ from other area rugs
• Tufted rugs made in China
• Tufted rugs made in India
• Custom-tufted rugs
• Machine-tufted rugs

Session Four – Rug ID – Non-tufted rugs

Picks up where we left off. We start with Machine-made rugs and cover how to tell them from hand-made rugs. While hand-made rug ID is not discussed, students are introduced to the basics of where they are made, different construction techniques and the terminology used, building a foundation for future classes. We wrap up with a discussion of some of the most common specialty rugs you will encounter.

• Wilton construction – both traditional and face-to-face variants
• Axminster – both tradition and the Karastan® variants
• Hand-made – piled and non-piled construction, terminology and how to tell them from machine-made rugs
• Specialty rugs – Skins, Shags, craft rugs, etc.

Armen Dohanian: A fourth-generation rug cleaner, Armen's family owns a 100 + year old rug cleaning and restoration business in Boston, Massachusetts. Involved in rug cleaning from an early age, Armen is currently vice­-president of operations at the Oriental Rug Cleaning Company in Dallas, TX, a 103 year old, “full­-service” rug cleaning and restoration company. Mr. Dohanian is an ARCS Certified Rug Specialist (CRS), a certified Master Rug Cleaner and a Woolsafe North America "Fiber Care Specialist" as well as a member of the International Society of Appraisers.

Session One – The Cleaning Process

Reviews the basic steps in a “best-practice” rug cleaning, why we do them and some of the most common prevailing methods in application today. While pros and cons of each method are discussed, editorial content is kept out.

• Pre-cleaning Inspection – Why some consider it the most important step in rug cleaning and some of the most common conditions encountered in area rugs.
• Dry soil removal – Why it’s important and ways to do it.
• Washing – From dry cleaning methods to full saturation washing. Each method is discussed covering the why and how as well as the pros and cons.
• Drying – Surveying the most common methods in use today
• Finishing processes – Grooming, browning correction, color correction, etc.

Session Two – Fibers and Chemistry

Covers the basics of the most common fibers and chemicals encountered in area rug care. Topics are discussed generically, avoiding favoritism and bias.

Fibers

• Wool – Why it is the most common rug fiber. How we go from sheep to rug yarn.
• Cotton – Production and application
• Silk – It’s advantages, disadvantages and production
• Bast Fibers – production and uses
• Plastics – Nylon, Olefin, etc.
• Rayon – production and it’s many other names

Chemistry

• Soil – most common types, how they accumulate and implications for cleaning
• Solvents – Polar and Non-polar, volatile and non-volatile and applications for cleaning
• Detergents – what they are and how they work
• The PH scale – What it is, why it’s important and the general PH of specific substances
• Sinner circle

Session Three – Rug ID – Tufted Rugs

A general discussion of tufted rugs and their specific cleaning needs and concerns is followed by a survey of the most common types of tufted rugs encountered, how to identify them and their specific cleaning needs and concerns.

• Tufted rugs – What they are and how they differ from other area rugs
• Tufted rugs made in China
• Tufted rugs made in India
• Custom-tufted rugs
• Machine-tufted rugs

Session Four – Rug ID – Non-tufted rugs

Picks up where we left off. We start with Machine-made rugs and cover how to tell them from hand-made rugs. While hand-made rug ID is not discussed, students are introduced to the basics of where they are made, different construction techniques and the terminology used, building a foundation for future classes. We wrap up with a discussion of some of the most common specialty rugs you will encounter.

• Wilton construction – both traditional and face-to-face variants
• Axminster – both tradition and the Karastan® variants
• Hand-made – piled and non-piled construction, terminology and how to tell them from machine-made rugs
• Specialty rugs – Skins, Shags, craft rugs, etc.

Armen Dohanian: A fourth-generation rug cleaner, Armen's family owns a 100 + year old rug cleaning and restoration business in Boston, Massachusetts. Involved in rug cleaning from an early age, Armen is currently vice­-president of operations at the Oriental Rug Cleaning Company in Dallas, TX, a 103 year old, “full­-service” rug cleaning and restoration company. Mr. Dohanian is an ARCS Certified Rug Specialist (CRS), a certified Master Rug Cleaner and a Woolsafe North America "Fiber Care Specialist" as well as a member of the International Society of Appraisers.