Custom Rugs - Is there a market?

[neato]

Do you think there would be a market these days for custom rugs and logo rugs?

This is an idea I've been toying with for a while. I actually ended up purchasing all of the tools and equipment to start making these a while back. But the idea fell by the wayside as I got involved in other projects.

Below are some examples of rugs made with the method I'm going to use. These aren't mine, just examples. These rugs are hand made, one of a kind inlayed designs, not the mass produced printed mats that you see in convenience stores and fast food restaurants. These will be made with high quality plush nylon or wool carpet.

I'm thinking there may be a market in trade shows, high end businesses, boats and boat docks.

Anyway, I'd love some feedback. I just want to know if this is something worth pursuing. If it seems like there could be a market, I'd like to advertise for these here on Signs101.

To give you and idea on cost, these would run anywhere from $20-$65 per square foot, depending on design complexity.

 

[SD&F]

I really think those look well made and custom to order. The problem would be that you would need to be visible in quite a few places to sell them unless you mailed them. The issue of shipping would then come in. Good luck.....

 

[rfulford]

Trade show and exhibit companies usually need at least one of these per show. The average size is at least 10'x8'.

 

[neato]

Thanks for your comments Sarah. I would like to market these logo rugs nationwide with an internet presence. So they would be custom ordered and shipped.

 

[neato]

Trade show and exhibit companies usually need at least one of these per show. The average size is at least 10'x8'.

I was wondering about this. I was at a local home show over the weekend and noticed that even there, many booths had nice rugs, and some had custom rugs in the company colors and saw at least one with a logo in it.

So maybe trade show companies should be my target market...

 

[CanuckSigns]

Those look like really high end stuff, I'm used to seeing the dye-sub carpets at most trade shows, these look much better than them!

I've never gotten asked about carpets before so i'm not sure how they would sell or what the end user would be expecting to pay.

 

[CS-SignSupply-TT]

Check out these websites: http://logomats.com/ http://guardianmats.com/ http://fanmats.com/default.aspx?sID=f64d3e3b2967427581b632a831182af3&cid=home

 

[CheapVehicleWrap]

I remember these showing up in high end households here about 15 years ago, but only for a short time. A friend serviced (and still does) the high end handmade oriental rug market out here and I remember being very curious of how they were made (still am).

 

[neato]

Check out these websites: http://logomats.com/ http://guardianmats.com/ http://fanmats.com/default.aspx?sID=f64d3e3b2967427581b632a831182af3&cid=home

These are all mass produced entry mats. I'm more interested in doing the high-end, one of a kind inlay/carved stuff. The rugs I offer will be more geared toward trade shows, homes, and high-end businesses.

Not that I'm stuck up or anything.

 

[SD&F]

If you have everything you need, you should go ahead and establish some web presence. It can't hurt. The easiest thing to do, in my opinion would be to go on EBAY and put your reserve in (where you can make money) and show pictures like what you have shown us. At the same time set up on the web. You can atleast get a feel and ebay reaches alot of people even in everyday searches.

 

[neato]

Good idea Sarah. I thought about making a couple generic rugs to see if there would be a market on ebay or etsy

 

[FireSprint.com]

I would come up with some art specifications, a retail prices sell sheet and a wholesale price sheet and start offering them to signs101 members with a merchant membership.

Make them easy to sell and you will!

 

[xxaxx]

Also, almost every apartment community uses the logo mats at the entrance to their leasing offices, they are used to the mass produced cheaper variety, but it wouldn't hurt to start aiming at some of the higher end communities that don't mind spending the cash.

 

[rjssigns]

A friend of mine used to do the inlaid, hand carved one off rugs when he lived in Upper Michigan. He made a mint on them in the middle of nowhere!
Then he moved, got married, kids, house, mortgage...no time for rugs. In fact I am not sure where he is anymore. I wish I did. Could always twist his arm for a good client.