Expert Rug Making Programs for Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists

By: Russell Webb

There are literally thousands of rug designs that can be found online. I will show you where to find them and how to convert them into a usable asset for your own rug design collections. Our Secret Vault will also be an important resource for you. The first batch of rug designs that we have created for you is our Designer Series Collection.

We start with a few classic designs and shapes - featured below - and complete the 50 design collection with a more complex design format. These designs can be used as a foundation to launch your own design collection. Your goal should be to build up a comprehensive design collection that you present to your clients.

All of our designs are available in a Portfolio-like display that you can easily add to. The designs are also available in .pdf format so you can quickly and easily download and print out if necessary - right from our Secret Vault. [Read more →]

Excerpts taken from “Top 9 Revenue Streams and Market Research“

Astute market watchers have noticed the continuing exuberance of the luxury marketplace. With Americans getting richer by the hour, the demand for luxury products seems insatiable. Carpet sculpture certainly reflects the definition of ‘luxury’.

The custom rug fabricator who offers a versatile selection of rug designs and has a commitment to quality craftsmanship will prosper in this environment.

“In the last decade it has been the most robust market of perhaps any business sector. If you look at the regular retail mass market, its gross revenue growth over time, the increases have been in the range of 4%-6% annually. 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.

On the consumer side the numbers for the U.S. are staggering. There are 1.2 million households with a net worth of over $5 million, up from 300,000 in 1983. Real household income for the top 20% of households is up 70% in the last 20 years. 215 million people will be over 50 by 2010. As a result, $12 trillion in inheritance will change hands in the next 20 years. The top 5% are richer. In the early 1980s they accounted for 16% of the income earned. Today they account for 27%. The rich are definitely getting richer.” Greg Furman, Founder and Chairman of the Luxury Marketing Council.

This is reassuring when the economy takes a downturn because the luxury market is not so easily swayed by recession. My personal experience when I launched my rug making business in the early 90’s was a prime example. The economy was in a recessive period and I set my focus on the affluent luxury market. I had no problem making sales. Obviously these consumers have the disposable income to make expensive purchases and when there is a problem to be solved, like a needed rug, they will generally make the purchase.

By Russell Webb

Excerpt from our exclusive report: Top 9 Revenue Streams in Custom Rug Fabrication - available only to our trainees

In this report I am revealing the insiders track to marketing your custom rug business. Here you will find dozens of potential markets that I have identified over the years. Some of these markets are untouched at the time of this writing. And yes, eventually there will be some savvy rug fabricators that stake their claims in these markets. Maybe it will be you? I hope so, because there’s a lot of money on the table in these markets, and if you’re ambitious enough to succeed then I believe you deserve some of it.

I can’t stress enough the importance of marketing. It’s really the core skill that any entrepreneur must embrace if they are going to succeed. While the term ‘marketing’ lacks a little luster (after all it’s just a market right?) it’s best to shift your thinking and imagine that it’s the life blood of your business. Understanding how to market yourself, your product and your services is akin to survival. It’s raw, it’s primal and if you don’t learn it, or you think it’s not important, then I assure you that you will struggle.

Struggling is a drag… I’ve been there, done that.

If I can get this one message across then I have been of service. My suggestion is to get cracking and do your homework. Read some good books on marketing yourself. A good place to start is with any of the Guerrilla Marketing books by Jay Levinson. He’ll teach you how to think outside the box so you can swoop around your competitors and get your share of the market. It’s not that difficult because you need to understand that the big companies really don’t know how to be adventurous in their marketing. They generally play it safe and bore the hell out of their audience.

You on the other hand can take decisive action that surprises and generates good will from your prospects. You can be fresh and alive with your marketing. You can show them a face and a personality. After all they’re really buying YOU more than they’re buying a product. The best teacher in marketing that can show you how to be alive and unique is Dan Kennedy, check out his book ‘No BS Direct Marketing’ plus any of his other numerous books on marketing.

Both of these authors have seen it all, they get it. Take them on as your mentors and do what they tell you to do, then take action and market yourself with abandon.

By Russell Webb

When you first get started in this field of carpet sculpture, it may appear that the sculpture part takes some time to master. Think about it this way. As you learn how to use the carver, you will be learning to bevel the designs. With a few weeks of practice you will notice that you can do more with the carver than just bevel. You will begin to create different layers of sculpture within the carpet.

I teach you several bevel cutting techniques that will be the foundation of your sculpture skills. It’s easy once you get into it. Then it gets fun when you start to see the potential of what you can do. It’s literally wide open!

This design is a good example of how we have fun with carpet sculpture. Now imagine what’s possible when you look at all the different combinations of colors and themes that can be captured in a rug design. When you look at it this way you might just get that AHA moment that I felt when I got started.

Is it possible to earn a good living while creating fun projects like this? Absolutely.

By Russell Webb - This is an excerpt from the Definitive Start-Up Guide

One of the most important rules in sales is to qualify your prospects early in the meeting. I can usually get this accomplished in 10-15 minutes. By then I should have a clear indication that I have a client who meets my criteria.

Prior to arriving at a prospects home or business you will want to start the qualifying process with a phone call. During this courtesy call you would confirm that all decision makers will be present: husband and wife, business partners etc.

When you arrive at a prospects home or business, you should always come prepared. Here’s what I bring to every presentation and why: [Read more →]

By Charlie Cook

“Advertising doesn’t work.” I hear it from my clients all the time. One client was about to file for bankruptcy because she wasn’t getting a good response to her radio ads, and the cost was killing her. But she knew her target market was listening; she knew she needed to get her name out there to generate more business. What should she do?

Owners of small businesses and professionals like yourself realize that to take your business to the next level, you need to get your products and services in front of a larger audience. You want to generate more leads, get more prospects to contact you and buy from you. Advertising is essential but how do you get more out of your advertising dollars? [Read more →]

By Russell Webb

In 2005 we had the good fortune of signing a $105,000.00 contract, and yes, we were dancing on tables that night! Fortunately we had the resources to fulfill the order on schedule, otherwise we would have declined to bid on the project.

This project was going to require a large work space for production. We currently occupy a light industrial space of only 1500 sq ft, which is usually just fine for our needs. But it was woefully inadequate for this beast of a project. Our solution: we reached out to a subcontractor with the necessary space, who we have trained, and quickly made an agreement to make this project fly.

This was one of those corporate client jobs that demanded excellent customer service and a tight deadline.They required 25 large scale rugs - size 25′ diameter. Each rug had a few words (text inlay) and a large oval design element. Simple stuff really. It was just so damn BIG!

Here’s Cathy with a $52,500 deposit check. The deposit easily covered all of the materials and most of the overhead costs. This is a key factor when bidding on projects. We always demand the 50% deposit, and 50% upon completion - this win / win agreement makes everyone equally committed.

In the end, the whole project was successfully completed on schedule. The cost of goods, overhead expenses, and subcontractor fees amounted to approx $60k. We realized a tidy profit of 40k.

This is an example of a material heavy project. We purchased a lot of carpet for this order. Usually in this trade it is more labor heavy, because the labor is where the bulk of our costs are. We’ve had other projects in the high digits where the ratio looked more like 15% material 25% overhead 30% labor 30% profit. These ratios vary with each project sometimes swinging into the 40-50% profit margins.

There are other opportunities out there just like we describe here. These projects can be found in large scale homes via designers, decorators and architects. They can be found in corporate environments i.e., hotels, trade shows, corporate lobbies, and umpteen types of special events.

What does RSS mean?   by Rich Gilcrest

“RSS” stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” If you read a lot of blogs, you probably already know about it. If you don’t, and I know many of the people reading my blog don’t read any others, this information might be new to you. RSS is still fairly new, and not widely seen outside of the blogosphere and news websites. But just about every web publisher in the world is looking for a way to use RSS to give you the information you want. I’m predicting that, three years from now, you will consider your RSS feeds to be just as vital as e-mail.

Read more

By Russell Webb

* Bas-relief - /ˌbɑrɪˈlif, ˌbæs-; ˈbɑrɪˌlif, ˈbæs-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[bah-ri-leef], French for “low relief” is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal creating a sculpture portrayed as a picture. This expression is probably derived from the Italian basso rilievo, the literal translation meaning “low contrast”.

The advances I’ve seen in rug making technologies are nothing short of amazing. Innovative carpet sculptors are now applying ancient Bas-relief sculpture techniques in thick plush broadloom carpet!

This is the ‘creme de la creme‘ of carpet carving and surprisingly straightforward to accomplish. The best way to start is with simple patterns and eventually graduate to more detailed patterns like this piece I carved several years ago.

This technique can be integrated into a rug design in myriad forms. A simple design integrated within the border of a rug is virtually guaranteed to generate that ‘WOW!‘ effect.

Other applications:

• Add relief effects to each corner of the rug. This can be integrated with inlay techniques as well.

• Feature bas relief sculpture as a centerpiece in the field of the rug.

• Create a stunning Fine-Art Broadloom Tapestry

Yes, this technique requires some practice and a little patience, I admit, yet it’s well worth the efforts when you see the results. Your customer comments will be nothing short of amazing… and your swollen head will need occasional deflating from all the compliments… You’ve been warned!

By Budda Oliver

A business plan is basically a formal statement which describes business goals, the strategies for reaching these goals, and the reasons why they are believed to be attainable. A good business plan is a type of road map for you, as well as prospective financiers, lenders, or partners, to have a clear idea and definite direction for your business. [Read more →]