2019/11 - Journey to Turkey
Regular price $3,600.00Date: November 1–16, 2019
Location: Turkey
IICRC Continuing Education: 14 credit hours
"Several ARCS members recently had the opportunity to tour the beautiful country of Turkey. This trip was slated to be fast-paced and filled with interesting sights, people and amazing rug industry content. I am happy to report it did not disappoint.
Our trip began in Istanbul which was chock-full of rich history and culture. We toured some amazing sights such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Suleymaniye Mosque. While in Istanbul, we were able to view some wonderful carpet museums with massive collections of some of the world’s oldest & best carpets. The city and people were welcoming, and the hospitality was unmatched.
Next, we departed for Izmir, where our group had the chance to spend some time at ATC (Antique Textile Conservation). ATC is the premier facility for textile restoration work and the breadth of their knowledge is impressive. All kinds of textiles can be found here from important European tapestries to world-class carpets, and even Navajo textiles of the American Southwest. They are being expertly restored at this facility. Our group had the honor of welcoming Ahmet Opcin, one of the owners of ATC, who joined us for the remainder of our time in Turkey. Ahmet was extremely gracious with his time and was an excellent guide. The trip would not have been the same without him and it was such a pleasure to meet him.
While in Izmir we toured the ruins of Ephesus, visited local rug washing facilities, and were welcomed into the manufacturing plant of Ergin Makina. They manufacture equipment for rug washing and were gracious hosts. Our group also had the chance to tour Can Carpet where we saw natural dying of wool & carpet weaving.
Our trip continued to more central Turkey to the cities of Kayseri & Konya. We stayed in the quaint village of Guzelyurt. Here we spent a few nights in rustic bed & breakfasts. The families that operated these homes were unbelievably welcoming and hospitable towards our group. While in this region of Turkey, some of us took the opportunity to enjoy a sunrise hot air balloon tour of the beautiful Cappadocia area; it was quite breathtaking.
In Aksaray, we toured a large wool processing plant that produces machine-spun wool. We were also welcomed into many rug galleries in this same area, where many from the group were able to purchase rugs for their homes and retail businesses.
One highlight was spending some time in Sultanhani which houses the largest Caravanserai in Turkey. The caravanserai served as a roadside inn for ancient travelers and is a great example of 13th century Seljuk architecture. Our group was welcomed to Sultanhani by none other than the mayor himself, Fahri Solak, who also happens to be in the rug business. Our entire group of 18 were welcomed into his office for tea and a generous gift. We toured Fahri’s rug repair workshop & gallery as well as a carpet weaving facility down the street from his office.
At the end of our trip in Kayseri, we had a chance to visit 3 homes of kilim weavers. These women were so gracious, allowing our large group into their homes to see them working. The small looms were set up in family rooms & balconies. It was quite the experience.
Overall, the kindness of the people and sights in Turkey were excellent. The amount of rug industry content was truly spectacular. Many thanks to ATC, Ahmet Opcin, & Robert Mann for making this a trip of a lifetime. I look forward to the next one!"
-Jordan King
Oriental Rug Cleaning
"The ARCS trip to Turkey was one of the best trips of my life. I have traveled most of my life to a wide variety of places and Turkey jumped to my top 5 pretty early on the trip. The sights, sounds, culture, and food of Turkey were enough to make for an incredible trip, but the industry knowledge made it all the better. After being in the rug cleaning industry for 9 years, there is a certain amount of knowledge that one gain from working, classes and conventions, but my understanding of some of the finer points of rugs came through this trip. We were able to watch wool processing, wool dying, rug weaving and knotting, a number of finishing and distressing processes. We were invited into the premier rug and tapestry restoration facility in the world, ATC, where we watched the masters working their crafts. We wheeled and dealt with rug vendors and a rug auction. The information gained on this trip cannot be measured. The other excellent part of the trip was the interesting group of people we traveled with. Everyone was incredibly kind and getting to know everyone made the trip really great. I look forward to the next one!"
-Jennifer Colaco
Oriental Rug Cleaning Co.
Dallas, Texas
We will visit a number of different cities and villages, meeting people all along the way, including:
- Istanbul - Carpet museums, Aya Sophia, Mosques, wholesale carpet dealers, covered bazaar, markets
- Izmir - private tour of ATC - a premier carpet restoration facility. Ancient ruins of Ephesus, small village carpet production in Seljuk, visit a small neighborhood wash plant.
- Central Anatolia - Aksaray, Guzelyurt, Ilhara Valley with its ancient Christian Churches
- Hot Air Balloon Excursion- additional cost of $150-$200/person, contact Ann Marie for advance registration
- Kayseri - Visit handmade carpet industry facilities scattered around the area.
- Istanbul - back again for more sights, shopping, and great food.
Registration includes lodging, meals (no alcohol), site admission(s) and travel within Turkey.
Registration is double occupancy, single occupancy is an additional fee. Roundtrip airfare to Turkey is not included with registration fee, however group travel will be arranged from Chicago to Istanbul for those interested.
2019/09-21 - Rug TechEd (Las Vegas, NV) Non-Member
Regular price $199.00Date: Sept. 21, 2019
Location: Las Vegas, NV
IICRC Continuing Education: Coming Soon
Name: Rug TechEd brought to you by WoolSafe and The Association of Rug Care Specialists
Brief Description: WoolSafe and ARCS are partnering to bring rug washers from around the world the best educational and technical learning opportunities at The 2019 Fall Experience Event in Las Vegas! From rug cleaning to repairs, we will cover it all. Earn IICRC Credits. Enter to Win some amazing prizes!
Why would someone want to come to this class, what will they learn? Learn a variety of rug related skills from the industry experts, Robert Mann, Randy Hyde, Ruth Travis, and many more. We will cover everything from how to build a rug plant, Rug ID and Intake, Marketing a rug business, How to Clean Viscose, How to work on Color Run, Basic Rug Repairs, shearing, sides and ends, etc. and Rugs and Moths and Mold.
8 a.m. – Registration
8:30 a.m. – Welcome- Ruth Travis, WoolSafe N. America Director & Meg Walker, ARCS President
8:45 a.m. – WoolSafe Research Update- Agnes Zsednai & Steve Bakker
9:30 a.m. – ARCS Update
9:45 a.m. – Sponsorship Spotlight
10:15 a.m. – Break
10:30 a.m. – Building a Rug Plant- Jordan King
11:30 a.m. – Rug Intake- Beginner ID- Scott Ring
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:15 p.m. – Rug Marketing- Scott & Miranda Gwilliam
2:15 p.m. – Viscose- Kash Sobhe
2:45 p.m. – Color Run- Randy Hyde
3:15 p.m. – Break
3:45 p.m. – Demonstrations- Shearing, Tiny Simple Repairs- Robert Mann
4:45 p.m. – Moths & Mold- Jarrod Horton
5:30 p.m. – Closing speeches followed by Beer
Scott & Miranda Gwilliam
RugWorx
www.rugworx.com
Scott Gwilliam; is the Owner, Operator, inspiration and heartbeat of. He has been cleaning carpet for 20+ years and re-sparked his passion for textiles and fibers with professional rug cleaning. He loves to educate other cleaners and Designers and is an IDCEC approved Instructor. He holds a wide array of certifications including Textile Pro and WoolSafe Certified Rug Care Specialist. He spends a lot of time with his wife and their two boys. He LOVES to snow ski, play poker, billiards and golf. He is very passionate, loves what he does and loves all of his clients
Miranda Gwilliam; eased into working for Scott when their boys are little and now works full- time at the Rug Worx facility. She does EVERYTHING from scheduling, billing, customer service, management, networking, marketing to rug deliveries with Scott! She is the Mama Bear at work and at home to their 2 boys: Byron (8) & Brandt (5). She loves running their family biz, connecting with clients and taking her boys to the Zoo.
Jarrod Horton
President of Porter's Carpet Cleaning, Shreveport, LA
www.porterscc.com
Jarrod Horton; Owner of Porter’s Carpet Cleaners in Shreveport, Louisiana.
He became a certified Master Rug Cleaner in 2014, he is also an associate certified entomologists. Although he is relatively new to the rug cleaning industry, he has been battling fabric moths for almost 30 years as the owner of a professional pest control company, Anti-Pest. He will explain some of the biological aspects of the moths we encounter and some of the techniques his company employs to detect, eradicate and repel them from their customer’s fine rugs.
Randy Hyde
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
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.”
Robert Mann
Robert Mann Rugs, Inc.
www.mannrugs.com
Robert Mann; In February of 1978, I began a career in the rug business as an apprentice restorer working for an Iranian man named Hamid Sharifzadeh. I had traveled extensively in rug producing countries and somehow it all made sense. Working mostly for rug stores and dealers we did basic repairs. When rugs were too dirty to repair as is, we would clean them in the bath tub or out in the driveway. It was an exciting time.
Based in Boulder, the business grew slowly. In January 1982 I opened a wash plant and restoration studio in a shop front at 32nd Avenue and Lowell in North Denver. I hired two employees.
In 1984 we moved to a large warehouse on Walnut Street, and moved again in 2009 to a bigger space on Race Ct. just north of the Denver Stockyards complex. With a staff of twenty, we had become a small business.
A Denver County plan to redevelop the Stock Yards has caused us to prepare for yet another move. In mid-2018 we will move into a new Denver facility near 56th and Pecos. Our new home will be a 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility for rug cleaning and restoration.
Scott Ring
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 then 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
Rug Ideas
www.rugideas.com
Kash Sobhe; is a 3rd generation rug expert. His late grandfather started their family business in Iran in 1953, over 66 years ago. His father, Dr. Kay, is a second-generation rug expert with over 50 years of dedication to the industry. Kash and his family moved to the U.S. about 16 years ago where they decided to continue their passion for rugs in Los Angeles. As 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.
Ruth Travis
Woolsafe Organization
www.WoolSafe.org
Ruth Travis; Ruth Travis holds a BS degree in Textiles and has over 30 years of experience in maintenance, restoration and inspection of carpet, rugs and upholstery.
In 1988, Ruth and her partner, Ginger started their fiber care service in Chattanooga, Tennessee where she performed fabric cleaning, protection, and inspection and color correction services for her clients, interior designers and carpet mills.
In 1995 she opened a retail rug store, The Rug Exchange. After selling her share of the business to her partner in 2001, Ruth shifted her focus to training and instructing others in the fiber care industry through the IICRC. She was the IICRC President from 2006 to 2008.
In 2008 Ruth became the Director of the WoolSafe Program in North America. In that capacity, she offers the on-line Fiber Care Specialist course and maintains the WoolSafe North America Directory of Service Providers.
Ruth is an IICRC-Approved Instructor for Rug Cleaning and Color Repair, Master Rug Cleaner and ARCS Certified Rug Specialist. She is also a Carpet Inspector specializing in cleaning related issues and color correction. Most recently she worked as a consultant for Chase Carpet and Rug Care in Denver where she oversaw their rug cleaning operation.
Megan Walker-ARCS President
Aladdin Cleaning & Restoration
www.aladdincleans.com
Meg Walker; is Vice President of Aladdin Cleaning & Restoration in San Antonio, Texas. Upon graduation from Texas Christian University in 2004, Meg began her career at Aladdin in accounting, marketing and HR. In 2016 she graduated from the Master Rug Cleaner Program. Meg is the current President of the Board for the Association of Rug Care Specialists.
Dr. Agness Zsednai MD
Woolsafe Organization
www.WoolSafe.org
Dr. Agness Zsednai MD; is a research chemist; she was educated in Hungary, and got her degree in Chemistry at the University of Szeged. She started work at the Department of Colloid and Surface Chemistry at the same University, teaching undergraduates and doing research work. She obtained her doctoral degree in colloid chemistry.
She joined The WoolSafe Organisation in 2002 and has been responsible for the testing of carpet cleaning and maintenance chemicals under the WoolSafe certification programme. She has also conducted research into the soiling and cleaning of wool carpets and the effect of the various maintenance chemicals on wool and synthetic carpets.
She has been the Managing Director of The WoolSafe Organisation since August 2010.
2019/05 - ARCS Annual Convention (Indianapolis, IN)
Regular price $650.00Join us for our 9th Annual Convention in Indianapolis! This year’s conference is the premier rug care industry event and the perfect occasion to fine tune your rug cleaning business. We have an entire day focused on the business of rug cleaning—specifically, new rug trends and new strategies to increase revenue.
The second day is dedicated to touring three different rug cleaning facilities, all smaller in volume, incredibly successful and offering a variety of services. This conference is the best opportunity to network with the best and brightest rug cleaners from across the nation and find new and inventive ways to handle rug cleaning, customer care and find great business solutions.
Don’t miss this chance to advance your rug knowledge, make new connections, catch up with old friends and meet industry experts. We look forward to seeing you there!
IICRC Continuing Education: 12 credit hours
May 1, Wednesday – Arrival - Registration and Cocktails in the Hotel Bar 5pm-7pm
5:00-7:00 p.m. Registration Desk, Lobby Foyer
5:00-7:00 p.m. Welcome Cocktail Reception, Lobby Lounge
May 2, Thursday-Business Meeting
- 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast - ( Meet and Greet your Associate members ), Regency Ballroom E
- 9:00 a.m. Annual Board Meeting – Meg Walker, ARCS President, Regency Ballroom E
- 9:30 a.m. Simple Ways to Increase Revenues- Jennifer Colaco, Oriental Rug Cleaning Co. Dallas, TX
Revenues got you down? Increase add on sales by training your team to look, listen and ask a few key questions."
- 10:00 a.m. Coffee Break
- 10:15 a.m. Rug Cleaning Equipment: An American History Lesson- Tom Monahan, Centrum Force
- 11:00 a.m. Associate Member Presentations
- 11:30 a.m Hands on Shearing- Demonstration - Randy Hyde, Renaissance Rug Cleaning, Portland, OR
Interested in shearing, but not sure it’s worth the investment? Test out the Oster Hand Clippers!
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch, Studio Lounge
- 1:00 p.m. Turkish Rug Production- Robert Mann, Robert Mann Rugs, Denver, CO
- 1:45 p.m. Wholesale Rug Cleaning- Ellen Amirkhan, Oriental Rug Cleaning Co. Dallas, TX
Learn how the competition can work to increase your revenues by setting up a profitable wholesale rug cleaning program.
- 2:30 p.m. Break
- 2:45 p.m. Satellite Locations- Brian Hanna, Hagopian Rugs, Detroit, MI
With 8 drop off locations and several Dry Cleaning partners Hagopian has cornered the market!
- 3:30 p.m. Slide Show - The worst rugs, issues, experiences
- 4:15 p.m. Closing Remarks and Adjournment
- 4:30 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting (Board members only)
Dinner on your own
May 3, Friday-Plant Tours
- 9:00 a.m. Catch the Motor Coach to Heirloom
- 9:30 a.m. Tour Heirloom - Hosted by David Sweet
- 11:30 a.m. Catch Motor Coach
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30 p.m. Catch Motor Coach to Lagenwalter
- 2:00 p.m. Tour Lagenwalter- Hosted by Mitch & Jennifer Mauck
- 3:00 p.m. Catch Motor Coach to Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis
- 3:30 p.m. Tour Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis- Hosted by Tom and Jordan King
- 5:30 p.m. Catch Motor Coach to the hotel
May 4, Saturday- (Optional Day)
- 9:30 a.m. Meet in lobby - Walk over to Monument Circle
- 10 a.m. Guided Walking Tour of Monument Circle (1 hour tour)
- 12 noon Meet in lobby - Catch Motor Coach - Indy Brew Bus and lunch
- 3 p.m.
Conference Ends...
You are on your own. Indianapolis!
Megan Walker, ARCS President
Aladdin Cleaning & Restoration
Vice President of Aladdin Cleaning & Restoration in San Antonio, Texas. Upon graduation from Texas Christian University in 2004, Meg began her career at Aladdin in accounting, marketing and HR. In 2016 she graduated from the Master Rug Cleaner Program. Meg is the current President of the Board for the Association of Rug Care Specialists.
Tom Monahan-Rug Cleaning Equipment: An American History Lesson
www.centrumforce.com
Over 41 years in the business. In 1977 my cleaning companies were founded. I still continue to own and operate an on-location carpet and furniture cleaning service, along with an in-plant rug washing operation.
In 2007, my partner and I, Co-Founded Centrum Force. Centrum Force, as an international company, designs, builds and sells rug washing equipment for the industry. In 2012, our company purchased the world renown MOR Time Saving Company that has it’s beginning in 1949.
This acquisition secured Centrum Force as the #1 rug washing equipment manufacturer in the world. My small company, Area Rug Cleaning Company, was privileged to be one of the founding members for the Association or Rug Care Specialists that launched in 2011.I.I.C.R.C. Master Textile CleanerMaster Rug Cleaning SpecialistThe last 11 years, I have been a consultant for setting up rug plants.
Jennifer Colaco-Simple Ways to Increase Revenues
Oriental Rug Cleaning Co. Dallas, TX
www.dallasrugcleaner.com
Jennifer 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.
Robert Mann-Turkish Rug Production, lead into Turkey Trip
Robert Mann
Robert Mann Rugs, Inc.
www.mannrugs.com
In February of 1978, I began a career in the rug business as an apprentice restorer working for an Iranian man named Hamid Sharifzadeh.
I had travelled extensively in rug producing countries and somehow it all made senseWorking mostly for rug stores and dealers we did basic repairs. When rugs were too dirty to repair as is, we would clean them in the bath tub or out in the driveway. It was an exciting time.Based in Boulder, the business grew slowly. In January 1982 I opened a wash plant and restoration studio in a shop front at 32nd Avenue and Lowell in North Denver. I hired two employees.
In 1984 we moved to a large warehouse on Walnut Street, and moved again in 2009 to a bigger space on Race Ct. just north of the Denver Stockyards complex. With a staff of twenty we had become a small business.A Denver County plan to redevelop the Stock Yards has caused us to prepare for yet another move. In mid-2018 we will move into a new Denver facility near 56th and Pecos. Our new home will be a 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility for rug cleaning and restoration.
Randy Hyde-Hands-On Shearing Demonstration
Randy Hyde
Renaissance Rug Cleaning Inc.
www.renaissancerugs.com
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.
Brian Hanna-Satellite Locations/Dry Cleaning Partners/Referral Partners
Hagopian Cleaning Services
originalhagopian.com
Ellen Amirkhan-Wholesale Rug Cleaning
Ellen Amirkhan: Since 1980, Ellen Amirkhan has served as president of Oriental Rug Cleaning Co. in Dallas, Texas, a business started by her grandfather in 1911 that specializes in cleaning, repairing, appraising and selling oriental rugs.
A Past President of RIA, Ellen holds the designations of Certified Rug Specialist and Certified Oriental Rug Appraiser through the International Society of Appraisers. She is a co-developer of the Master Rug Cleaner Program, co-author of A Comprehensive Guide to Oriental and Specialty Rug Cleaning and serves as an expert witness for the legal profession.
Heirloom Rug Cleaning
5858 Thunderbird Road
Indianapolis, IN 46236
317.723.8215
www.heirloomrugcleaning.com
Tour 5/3, 9:30am –11:30am
Langenwalter
4521 W. 99th St
Carmel, IN 46077
317.876.9944
www.any-spot.com
Tour 5/3 - 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Langenwalter has been in business since 1995. Serving over 25,000 residential and commercial customers we provide carpet cleaning, odor and stain removal, rug and upholstery cleaning as well as 24 hour emergency water restoration service. We are very excited to see everyone here in Indy this May!
Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis
4349 W. 96th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46268
317.334.1910
www.Orientalrugcleaningindianapolis.com
Tour 5/3- 3:30pm -5: 30pm
Oriental Rug Cleaning of Indianapolis has been providing expert rug care to the Indianapolis area since 2008. Being a part of the family of brands, RG Decor & Sani-Bright, we offer our clients a broad range of products and services. From in-plant & on-location cleaning services to our 10,000 square foot retail showroom full of beautiful area rugs, flooring, custom furniture, & home decor. Through RG Decor we also offer complete design services with our degreed interior designers. We are excited to host ARCS Annual Convention attendees for an afternoon Garden Party and a complete tour of our service and retail facilities. We look forward to seeing all of you in Indianapolis!
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Hyatt Regency Hotel
One South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
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Room Rate $169 + tax
1-888-591-1234
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