Area rug, flooring and furniture retailers were honored in Atlanta during the International Area Rug Market's Retailer of the Year Awards held July 14th at the Georgia Aquarium. Presented by AmericasMart and the Oriental Rug Retailers of America, the ceremony recognized leaders who are significantly impacting the industry.

The nominees were selected by AmericasMart area rug exhibitors and were voted on by an independent panel of industry experts. Chas Sydney, senior vice president of area rugs for AmericasMart, said, “The nominees and winners are exceptional players in our industry, and it is because of their dedication and commitment to customers and the industry as a whole that we are able to continue thriving together.”

More than 700 buyers and exhibitors filled the aquarium's Oceans Ballroom to celebrate the winners. The evening's festivities featured a cocktail buffet catered by Wolfgang Puck and a Monte Carlo-themed casino evening. The 2008 Rug Retailer of the Year Awards went to:

Area Rug Specialist — Albed Rug Company, Wayne, Penn. In business for more than 90 years, Albed Rug Company annually donates approximately 50 rugs to support local charities. The company currently stocks more than 6,000 new, used, semi-antique and antique rugs.

Creative Selling — AJA Rugs, La Jolla, Calif. A third generation company, AJA provides a welcoming environment while creating an enjoyable buying experience and has been voted the “Best” for nine straight years by the local ASID community.

Furniture Store — HOM Furniture, established in Minneapolis, Minn., in the early seventies as a gift import business, turned into a waterbed store five years later and then evolved into Total Bedroom stores. From there it became Leather and Oak showrooms, and in 1996 the two entities merged into HOM Furniture, now with 14 locations. HOM's rug departments and galleries range in size from 3,000 to 17,000 square feet with more than 3,000 rugs.

Flooring Store — The Carpet Shop, Augusta, Ga. The Carpet Shop, with four locations in two states, has grown to one of the top 100 in the nation. It is currently celebrating its 50th year in business

Outstanding Merchandising — Elte Carpets, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Elte Carpets was established in Europe in 1919 and continues as a family business. Today, it is one of North America's largest retail companies with a 200,000-sq.-ft. facility and is one of Canada's leading importers of home furnishings.