One of the highlights of the trade show year, the New York International Carpet Show (NYICS) is a catalyst for business in hand-made carpets at the high-end. Several importers report an improvement in sales of smart looking, fresh goods with higher price points. And custom work is showing good activity. Buyers sourcing ravishing new designs, stylish collections, and custom capabilities for the Fall season will find them here. NYICS has become a destination.
Show hours are 9–6 on Sunday and Monday, September 9th and 10th, and 9-5 on Tuesday, the 11th. Mark your calendars now. The location is 7 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001.
This is the show’s 8th consecutive year and the last two have been sold out. Influential players in the industry point to NYICS as being positioned to play a key role in the future of this business. In September, the huge New York Home Fashions Market runs the same week. NYICS and 7West will cross-market the two shows to boost buyer traffic.
Dennis Dodds, Founder and Owner of the show, is also an architect and an internationally recognized collector of antique carpets. He doesn’t hold back his enthusiasm for an emerging Renaissance in the handmade carpet field. “Beautiful carpets are an essential foundation in residential, office and hospitality interiors. They establish a ‘signature’ look and are basic tools in the hands of creative consumers, designers and architects.”
Buyers will find a wide range of exciting contemporary, transitional and top quality traditional carpets. Exemplary antique Oriental carpets, many oversized, are also featured by specialist dealers. Dodds gives all the credit to his exhibitors: “Our artisan carpetmakers face the challenges of the future. They confront uncertainty with innovative ideas and confidence.” New approaches to carpet design, texture and color motivate buyers. Fresh looks, masterful craftsmanship, and good value sell, he adds.
NYICS’ convenient location at the prestigious 7 West Showrooms creates an anchor in the middle of New York City during Fall Market Week. The upscale, stylish building is directly across the street from the iconic Empire State Building, steps to fashionable 5th Avenue, and just two blocks from the traditional Oriental Carpet District. “It’s a good fit that elevates the brands of our vendors and extends our reach into a larger and more varied pool of buyers,” according to Dodds.
The show focuses on the art of fine carpets, as well as the business, by presenting them in a handsome gallery environment. “We’re not a large show, but NYICS is a high-profile boutique trade event that serves a need at a critical time of the business year.”
The mingling of exhibitors, buyers from the home fashions sector, specialty retail and design showrooms, interior designers and architects creates a unique atmosphere at NYICS. “Trade shows stimulate business.” says Dodds.
There is no substitute, he adds, for the prestige and potential of meeting customers and doing business in the heart of New York City. The location and the timing are ideal. And these stunning, design-driven carpets steal the show!