The handmade rug business has always been a significant part of my life. My father, Barry Maher, began importing rugs from Iran when I was child and later opened a retail store, Oriental Rug Associates (ORA), in Chatham, NJ that remained family owned & operated for over 40 years.
During my time at ORA, I sold thousands of rugs to individual customers and the design community. Our rugs have found homes in dozens of states, various countries and prominent businesses and institutions such as The Mohonk Mountain House, Drew University, Keeneland Thoroughbred Race Track & Auction House and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for which we sourced numerous palace-sized, heirloom quality rugs for the home of the President. The handmade rug industry has completely transformed over the past four decades. Today’s high quality rugs are woven in a variety of countries, including India, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Nepal as well as Iran. Styles, designs and colors have shifted from traditional to transitional to contemporary to everything in between while the internet has forever changed the way we shop for handmade rugs.
In an effort to offer our customers the largest selection of inventory at the lowest prices, we have moved our business from a brick and mortar retail store to a unique, customer-centric online service, sourcing high quality handmade rugs for the general public and design trade.