More Oriental Rug Notes by Barry O'Connell

Kim Esber Rugs State College Pa

When I first started putting rug information on the Internet the first person to post on my discussion board was Kim Esber. I know Kim Esber and trust him.

Sometimes Kim is so up front that it seems like it is Kim, Kim, Kim! Other times I barely hear a word from him. That is the way that he is when he has something to say he speaks and other times he is quiet. That is the way Kim is in business, solid, honest, and reliable.

I remember a number of years ago Kim decided to try something very unusual in selling Oriental Rugs. Most dealers mark them up with the intent to mark them down as part of the sales pitch. I am aware of one dealer in new Persian rugs who marks everything up 1000% then takes 65 to 80% off. Kim decided to go with one price and cut out the haggling. Unless you really know rugs it is easy to feel you might have gotten skinned. You might feel pretty good about buying a $10,000 rug for 65% off ($3,500) as long as you do not know it only cost $1,000. With Kim you avoid the worry.

I wish I could find the pictures I had of some of the Persian Rugs that I have seen at Esber's. I travel to Iran and know many of the rug producers there. It takes taste and discernment to select the new Iranian rugs which will appeal to the US market and market knowledge to buy them at a price point that works in State College Pa. I have told the producers that a good bit of what they make will not work in the US market. But there are great rugs to be found if you know where to shop. Kim regularly calls me from New York or Atlanta or Philadelphia on one of his many buying trips. Kim sells more than just Persian Carpets Here we are with Denise Kruc the rep of Woven Legends. George Jevremovic is one of the fathers of the Natural Dye Renaissance and he started Woven Legends. They make environmentally friendly, better quality rugs that are a benefit to the women who weave them. Kim sells a lot of their rugs.

Here we are with Denise Kruc the rep of Woven Legends.

Kim Esber is an old fashioned Rug Man. He is of the old school of selling good rugs and giving great service. He is also a University trained Designer which gives him a far broader scope than most dealers. After all he is not selling a commodity like chemicals he is selling rugs and they have to look good in your home when he is done. Life is too short to live with rugs bought on price alone.

I recently attended a seminar on cleaning Oriental rugs hosted by Kim Esber. I wrote about it in:

Rug Cleaning Seminar At Esber Rug

Kim had really built up his cleaning business. Esber's have cleaned rugs for years but Kim now has trucks picking up and delivering rugs over a 5 state area. Kim emphasizes the full service aspect of his business. Rugs are made in third world countries and face hazards like fire, floods, children and pet stains when they get over here. With his advanced carpet cleaning facility and his repair department Kim can take care of rugs before and after the sale.

Here is a link to my old page Notes on Kim Esber. It is out of date but the stuff on his Dad is still interesting.

More Oriental Rug Notes by Barry O'Connell