Carpet Sculpture Training Weblog

My apologies for the downtime.

Turns out my site was vulnerable to one of those nasty trojan viruses and we had to pull it down and scrub it clean. My failure to update to a current version of wordpress (the platform for this site) was the cause. Live and learn. In the end it gave us the motivation to harden up the server and create some shields against all these toadies that like to wreak havoc online.

I’ll be posting some new content soon - several posts in the que - Or subscribe to the RSS feed and I’ll keep you informed as I create new posts. The orange button on top of this page will get you looped into the feed.

Oh… and the theme of this site has been completely revamped. We’ll be tweaking a few things to make it a whole lot better.

As Always,

Russell Webb

In late 2007 we worked on a custom rug project for the Air Force. We recorded a ton of video footage for our online Vaultкомпютри втора употреба area. We’ve clipped a few highlights from this footage and uploaded to Youtube.com.

This was an intricate project that required a lot of hours. We had a blast working on it too. Here are a couple of links to the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRSvCoMeCuk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3EVQvWSKSU

Marketing your products and services to wealthy consumers doesn’t have to be a mystery. Do you have a service that attracts these wealthy buyers? Does your product have the built-in quality factor that this demographic desires? Will your service make them look good?

Here’s a peek into the top three strategies that will get you in the door to some of the wealthiest homes.

1) Be the Expert on the type of product you are selling. You do this by learning all you can about your products, your competitors products and your market. You write articles, speak at functions, and share WHY your product has the exclusive edge. Give your prospects information that convinces them they are getting the best.

[Read more →]

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, the affluent market continues to buy high priced goods during recessive periods. The economic ‘hard times’ do not impact this demographic as hard as it does the middle-class segments. At Mastercraft Carpet Makers we have been through a smaller scale recession during the early 90’s and sailed right through. As we gauge the current pulse of the carpet industry, we can see some nervous tension coming from carpet dealers throughout the country. Just as the housing market has come to a screeching halt, we have seen a direct impact on floorcovering sales and installations, with one clear exception: the affluent market.

This luxury market has grown since the early 90’s. For the last decade, the luxury category has grown anywhere from 20% - 32%. In the U.S. alone, luxury is a $400 billion market. Authorities estimate that it will grow at a rate of 15% a year and will become a $1 trillion market by 2010.

Tapping into this market isn’t difficult.
Yes - you need to be a professional stand-up operation.
Yes - you need to create a good quality product.
Yes - you need to present your products with confidence.
I’ve had a great time dealing with some of these wealthy clients, finding inspiration in their success, and learning HOW they did it. In fact, you will probably make some very important connections as you spin around in these higher finance orbits.

Just for the record, the floorcovering dealers that have diversified their service offerings are the ones who survive tough times like these. The smart ones establish alternative revenue streams. They invest in tools and equipment that will generate additional income. Starting a rug-binding business is one solution. Setting up a rug making workroom is another solution.

Our training programs are designed to accelerate these alternative business start-ups through the learning curve in 30-60 days. Once your rug-workroom foundation is built, then it’s time to start adding as many services as you think you can handle - here’s peek at some of the services that you can offer:

• wall to wall insetting
• corporate logo rugs
• fine art tapestries
• custom carpeted staircases
• custom area rugs
• fabric border rugs
• rug binding: cove base, rugs, etc…

I’ve covered most of these services in separate posts on this blog. I’ve written over 20 articles that are featured on my websites. I’ve created demonstration videos that teach you exactly how to make these amazing rugs. Check out our training programs and get started in an exciting and rewarding career. Call us today at 877-784-5646.

Here’s an insider’s peek at the myriad themes that are available to custom rug fabricators. These themes will always stand the test of time because they are, in essence, timeless. Any student of art history will recognize several recurring themes that are as strong today as they were a thousand years ago.

• Animal print designs

• Floral prints & designs

• Geometric patterns & designs

While these design themes may be timeless, they all have something in common, yes… our unforgettable connection with nature. Each of these design themes are supported by plenty of accessories, fabric selections, and art & sculpture. This makes it a whole lot easier to find or even create rug designs that tie-in with the theme. [Read more →]

By Mark Hunter

Sales is all about closing the deal, and in order to achieve that goal, a purchase price must be agreed upon. All salespeople, at one time or another, have had their price challenged. What do you do when that situation arises? As much as everyone in sales would like to consider themselves “great closers”, in reality, many are sissies when it comes to this important skill. They often boast about never discounting their product, but when they’re suddenly confronted on price, they fold faster than a cheap umbrella on a windy day. [Read more →]

Brand identity is integral to any marketing strategy. A classy looking rug with a corporate logo is another opportunity to create a valuable first impression of the corporate brand name.If you want to make a special statement, then an average logo mat won’t do. This is where the specialty of Custom Rug Fabrication enters the picture.

It’s really not too complicated. Typically the rugs are made from a high quality commercial grade carpet. The logo is then transferred onto a template. This template is then used to create the logo in carpet. The logo colors are carefully selected and then inlaid into the field carpet. If necessary, colors can be matched through the Pantone color matching system. [Read more →]

Excellent quality large scale tapestries can be produced easily using broadloom carpet. Carpet styles can range from lighter weight, commercial grades to heavier plush grades. Often these styles can be blended together to create a more textured tapestry. Here’s a closer look at what’s involved in producing a larger scale tapestry.

Top notch installation crew - Proud of their work

Step One: Design Concepts – The bigger the scale, the easier it is to capture details in a broadloom tapestry. The complexity factor will effect pricing. If there’s a tight budget, then reducing complexity is the easiest way to bring costs down. How many colors are involved? What materials will be used? Costs on large scale wall tapestries can range from several thousand to tens of thousands. [Read more →]

When I got started as a custom rug maker, I admit I was in it for the money and a much needed career change. Since then I’ve had decorative rugs featured in Designer Showcase Homes, Corporate Headquarters of numerous Fortune 500 Companies, and even a Generals office in the Pentagon. It’s been a great ride. But what if you don’t care about all that, maybe you don’t want a career change? What if you’re just looking for a creatively rewarding hobby that’ll blow the socks off your friends or family? Here’s a quick guide to decorative rug making in 5 easy steps.

Step One – Learn the Basics: What’s the best approach to learning how to make a rug? Do some research, identify the different techniques used for rug making. You’ll find basic teaching guides for latch-hook rug making kits that that will tickle Granny Smith’s fancy. If the antiquated latch hook rug-making techniques make you *yawn*, then keep your eyes open for more comprehensive custom rug fabrication programs that are designed for more serious hobbyists and entrepreneurs. [Read more →]

Why make average rugs, when you can make unique rugs that stand out from the crowd?

This is one of the many benefits that you will be offering to your clients. That is, having the ability to integrate a design into any unique shape. Think about it, how cool would it be to make a rug that features a unique shape that most people have never seen before? These shapes can range from the more common shapes like oval, round, and octagonal to the more uncommon free-form or organic shapes. It can be as simple as this example of a Palm leaf breaking out of the standard rectangular shape (center version).

Or as elaborate as a unique geometrical-like shape that you rarely see in a rug design. Something like this design below. [Read more →]