Learning Opportunities

2020 TRADE SHOW HOURS:

- DAY 1: Wednesday, September 9th - 4:00 - 8:00 pm
- DAY 2: Thursday, September 10th - 2:30 - 6:00 pm
- DAY 3: Friday, September 11th - 12:00 - 3:00 pm

ARCS Speakers - Track 5 - Thursday September 10, 2020

ARCS Welcome - How to Handle Flooded Rugs – Scott Ring, Woodard’s Cleaning and Restoration. Many times, rugs are permanently damaged not from a water incident, but from improper handling. Scott will guide you through the best practices for mitigating and restoring wet rugs.

ARCS - Spot Cleaning Rugs 101 – Jordan King. Join the conversation with Jordan King, owner of MasterBlend and operations manager of Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis, as he shares insights on this crucial skill needed to deliver the best results when dealing with area and oriental rugs.

ARCS - Rug Intake & Wholesale Programs – Jennifer Colaco. The most important step in rug cleaning occurs before the actual cleaning process begins. Many common problems, complaints and re-dos can be eliminated if both sales and technicians properly inspect and pre-qualify with the customer. Jennifer works closely in servicing a large base of wholesale customers and shares how this program can be a win-win for you and the wholesaler.

ARCS - Viscose – Kash Sobhe, Rug Ideas. Whether we like it or not, viscose rugs are here to stay. Most often, the problem is not the viscose but the cleaner’s lack of experience, knowledge, finesse, understanding of chemistry and task appropriate cleaning and extraction equipment. Kash Sobhe has perfected methods that will dispel fear, promote confidence and deliver great results.

ARCS - Rug Construction and Why It Matters – Randy Hyde, Renaissance Rug Cleaning. Successful cleaners should understand the importance of rug identification and rug construction as it relates to rug cleaning. Join Randy for a great presentation that will increase your bottom line and enhance your reputation.

Jennifer Vickery Colaco - President
Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., Inc.
www.dallasrugcleaner.com

Jennifer Vickery Colaco; has served on the ARCS Board of Directors since 2017, as member-at-large, Vice President and is now the current president. She is Office Manager at Oriental Rug Cleaning Co. in Dallas, Texas and is the fourth generation of her family to be involved in the flooring business. She is a Certified Rug Specialist and Master Rug Cleaner.

Randy Hyde - Past President
Renaissance Rug Cleaning Inc.
www.renaissancerugs.com

Randy Hyde; Owner of Renaissance Rug Cleaning, Inc. established 1999 in Portland, Oregon. He started in the rug business with Atiyeh Brothers in the late 1980’s. In 1996 Randy accepted a job with rug dealer, author and tribal rug expert James Opie in part to manage the wash plant but also to sell rugs. Randy purchased the cleaning end of the business in 1999 and changed the name to “Renaissance Rug Cleaning”. Today Renaissance provides cleaning and service to most of Portland’s dealers and collectors. From 2015-16 Randy served on the ARCS board of directors and as ARCS President from 2016- to April 2018.

Jordan King - Secretary
Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis
www.Orientalrugcleaningindianapolis.com  

Jordan King; “Jordan is the operations manager at Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis and Sani-Bright Carpet Cleaning. Since joining the business in 2009, Jordan’s passion for service has helped fuel their rapid growth. He is a certified Master Rug Cleaner and holds the CRS designation. Jordan has always had an entrepreneurial spirit; through high school and college, he owned & operated a successful recording studio as well as a lawn care business. He has found the networking, education, and friendships formed through ARCS events & classes to be highly valuable. It continues to give him and his team the edge they need to bring a 5-Star experience to their clients.”

Scott Ring - Treasurer
Woodard Cleaning and Restoration
www.woodard247.com

Scott Ring; Scott started in the cleaning and restoration business in the late 1980s with Woodard Cleaning & Restoration. After working production in the rug plant for approximately 7 years learning the business, he went on to pursue a career in hand-knotted rug sales. He worked in retail sales and importing for 13 years before returning to Woodard to now run their rug operations. Working with a 73-year-old business, he has been able to serve all three generations of ownership. Scott spent the next few years growing the rug business and adding additional decontamination, rug padding and hand-repair services.

In 2017 he became Director of Cleaning Services at Woodard, overseeing rug, residential & commercial location cleaning. With over 25 years of textile cleaning & retail sales experience, he says he has been blessed to have several mentors to help him figure things out along the way. Working at Woodard, their core purpose is to help people get back to their lives. The challenge and the privilege to serve others, both team members and customers is what motivates him daily. Scott is on his second term on the board of directors with the Association of Rug Care Specialist and has completed the Master Rug Cleaner certification.

Kash Sobhe - Director at Large
Rug Ideas
www.rugideas.com

Kash Sobhe; Kash is the 3rd generation in his family business, Rug Ideas. He is the FIRST and ONLY Certified Master Rug Cleaner in the entire greater Los Angeles area. Kash is also a WoolSafe Certified Fiber Care Specialist and a Certified Color Restoration Specialist. He has grown up caring for rugs and will continue the family business. He graduated in Business Marketing from California State University Northridge.

Monday 
Armen:                 Cleaning Chemistry         2 hours 
Ellen:                    Machine-Made Rugs      1.5 hours 
Lunch 
Ellen:                    Review 

a) History of Oriental Rugs 
b) Dyes 
c) What is an Oriental Rug 
d) Four Categories of Oriental Rugs/Traditional Persian 
e) Where Oriental Rugs Get Their Names 
f)  Construction 
g) Knots and Grading Systems 
h) End Finishes 
i)  Side Finishes 
j)  Chemical Wash 
k) Design Components 
h) Dating Rugs 
i)  Components of Identification/Technical Analysis

Countries Producing Oriental Rugs 
a) Iran:  Heriz, Sarouk, Kashan, Kerman, Mahal, Tabriz, Meshed, Joshagan, Serab, Bijar, silk rugs

TUESDAY 
a)  Finish Persian rugs from Monday 
b)  Six Persian single-wefted rugs:  Hamadan, Malayer, Senneh, Bakhtiari, Karaja, Lillihan 
c)  Tribal Rugs: Baluch, Turkoman, Bakhtiari, Afshar, Shiraz 

WEDNESDAY     
Countries Producing Oriental Rugs, con’t 
a)  Afghanistan 
b)  China 
c)  India 
d)  Pakistan 
e)  Romania 
f)  Tibetan 
g)  Turkish

THURSDAY 
Countries Producing Oriental Rugs, con’t   (if necessary) 
Caucasian and Navajo Rugs 
Hands-On Technical Analysis—divide into groups 
Appraisals—Power Point

FRIDAY                 
Review for written test 
Practice rug Identification in the plant with rugs not previously seen 
Mock Rug Identification test 
Questions, Answers, Problems

SATURDAY 
9AM-12PM 
Written test 
Hands-On Identification Test

Ellen Amirkhan: Ellen Amirkhan is a graduate of Texas Woman's University with a Bachelor of Science degree and Southern Methodist University with a Master of Liberal Arts degree. She is President of Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., Inc., in Dallas, Texas, a business started by her grandfather in 1911 that specialized in cleaning, repairing, appraising, and selling oriental rugs.

A past president of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) - now the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) - Ellen develops and teaches oriental rug schools for the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and other recognized groups across the United States and England, and is a co-developer of the Master Rug Cleaner Program.

In addition, she consults and serves as an expert witness for the legal profession. Ellen holds the designations of Certified Appraiser of Oriental Rugs from the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA) and Certified Rug Specialist (CRS) from the Association of Rug Care Specialists (ARCS).

Ellen's awards include the RIA Dr. Steven Spivak Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Textile Industry, The ASCR Helen Bradley Distinguished Service Award and The North Texas Chapter of the International Society of Appraisers (NTISA) Ellen Amirkhan Distinguished Service Award.

Robert Mann: Robert owns and operates Robert Mann Rugs Inc. in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1978, RMR Inc. provides cleaning and repair services to retail and wholesale clients throughout the United States, as well as outsourced restorations services provided by its sister company, ATC, in Izmir , Turkey. Robert spent for over 25 years working as a technical consultant in modern rug productions in nearly all the major rug producing countries.

Ellen Amirkhan and Robert Mann are truly world class individuals who love this industry and are working hard to help others continue to grow their own passion for rugs.

Chuck Koshgarian, Koshgarian Rug Cleaning

Don't miss out on this course! It will only be available every other year, you don't want to spend the next 2 years wishing you would've jumped on board sooner!

Jordan King, Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis

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.