Oscar Isberian Rugs

What Oscar Isberian Rugs does

Oscar Isberian Rugs is a fourth-generation (or more accurately, family-business on its third generation of Tatosian ownership) Chicagoland specialty retailer founded in 1920 by Oscar Isberian and his brother Megerditch Tatosian, originally operating with eight rugs and a wheeled cart from Wilmette, Illinois. The company sources, sells, restores, and cleans handwoven Oriental rugs and high-end broadloom carpeting, with an inventory exceeding 9,000 rugs across categories including Moroccan, flatweave, mosaic, antique, and overdied styles sourced globally. Operations are anchored by three physical showrooms in Chicago, Evanston, and Highland Park, with no online sales channel; the company explicitly emphasizes in-person consultation and white-glove service.

The core product portfolio spans handcrafted area rugs priced from clearance discounts up to $35,000 for high-end items, broadloom carpeting from premium brands including Prestige Mills, Rosecore, and Fabrica, custom rug production with six customization services (resizing, broadloom-to-rug transformation, custom designs, tufted customization, handmade artisan rugs, and staircase/hallway solutions), and a full suite of care services including a 6-step cleaning process, museum-quality restoration, expert appraisals, and Scotch-Guard-style fiber protection. Underlying technology is rooted in traditional handweaving craft, master weaver expertise, and proprietary restoration processes including color dyeing/tuning, custom two-story drying infrastructure, and yarn sourcing for authentic repair. The company has been recognized as Rug Retailer of the Year seven times across its century of operations.

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time retail sales (handmade rugs, broadloom carpeting, custom commissions) and professional services (cleaning, restoration, installation, appraisal, fiber protection). Go-to-market is sales-led and showroom-based, with a dedicated trade program offering exclusive pricing, sample libraries, and dedicated specialists to interior designers and architects including Dual Concept Design, Studio Pesch, Dan Rak Design Group, Tom Stringer Partners, and Navy Black Studio. The customer base spans discerning homeowners (primary), interior designers and architects (primary trade channel), corporate and commercial clients (wall-to-wall installations), and institutional buyers including museums and government projects (notably the Obama Presidential Center and Glessner House historic preservation). Distribution is exclusively through physical retail and direct trade sales, with no online transactional channel.

Name

Oscar Isberian Rugs

Legal name

Oscar Isberian Rugs Inc.

Website

https://isberian.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oscar Isberian Rugs is a century-old, family-owned Chicagoland specialty retailer that sources, sells, restores, and cleans handwoven Oriental rugs and high-end broadloom carpeting through three showrooms, a dedicated interior designer trade program, and custom rug production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oriental Rug Retail

NAICS

Floor Covering Retailers (449121), Home Furnishings Retailers (44912)

SIC

Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700), Carpets & Rugs (2273)

akta.pro primary industry

Rugs & Doormats Retail (Area Rugs, Runners, Entry Mats) (CRAIALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carpet & Area Rug Flooring Retail (CRAIAGAE), Rug Cleaning (Area Rugs & Runners) (HSAJAJAA)

Keywords

• Handwoven oriental rugs
• Broadloom carpet retail
• Custom rug design
• Rug cleaning restoration
• Antique rug appraisals

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Handmade Area Rugs: One-time sale of handwoven Oriental rugs, area rugs, and custom-designed handmade rugs sourced globally.
2. Broadloom Carpeting Sales: Sale of high-end wall-to-wall broadloom carpeting including luxury brands such as Prestige Mills, Rosecore, and Fabrica.
3. Custom Rug Services: Custom rug design and production, including resizing, transforming broadloom into area rugs, tufted rug customization, and custom handmade rug creation.
4. Rug Cleaning & Restoration: Professional cleaning, restoration, appraisals, fiber protection (Scotch-Guard), moth deterrent, deodorization, and rug padding services.
5. Carpet Installation: Professional installation services for residential and commercial carpeting, including site measuring and seamless installation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Oscar Isberian Rugs is a family-owned retailer that sells handcrafted Oriental and area rugs sourced globally and high-end broadloom carpeting through three Chicagoland showrooms. The company complements its rug and carpet retail with custom rug design/resizing, professional installation, and a full suite of rug care services including museum-quality restoration, a proprietary 6-step cleaning process, appraisals, and Scotch-Guard fiber protection.

Product overview

Oscar Isberian Rugs operates as a traditional Oriental rug and carpet retailer offering a curated portfolio of handwoven rugs and high-end broadloom carpeting. The core product lineup centers on handcrafted rugs including Moroccan, Leather & Hide, Flatweave, Mosaic, Antique, and Overdyed styles sourced from global artisan communities. Complementary services include custom rug creation (resizing, design, tufted customization), professional carpet installation, and a full suite of care services: cleaning, appraisals, fiber protection, and museum-quality restoration. Premium rug pads and custom staircase solutions extend the offering. The company serves discerning homeowners, interior designers, and corporate clients through three Chicagoland showrooms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handwoven Rugs
• Custom Area Rugs
• Broadloom Carpeting
• Custom Staircase Carpets
• Rug Cleaning Services
• Rug Appraisals
• Fiber Protection
• Custom Rug Restoration
• Premium Rug Pads
• Collector's Gallery (Rare Antiques)
• Clearance Rugs
• New Arrivals Inventory

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prestige MillscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey carpet brand partner whose products are available through Oscar Isberian Rugs showrooms. Prestige Mills is a major high-end carpet manufacturer.
• RosecorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey carpet brand partner available in Oscar Isberian Rugs showrooms. Rosecore is a luxury carpet brand.
• FabricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey carpet brand partner available through Oscar Isberian Rugs showrooms. Fabrica is a premium carpet brand.
• Continua InteriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design firm collaborated on the Obama Presidential Center rug installation project. Oscar Isberian provided professional rug steaming and installation services.
• Elson GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Obama Presidential Center interior preparation project alongside Continua Interiors.
• ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOscar Isberian Rugs hosts ASID Board meetings and participates in ASID events and holiday parties, supporting the interior design professional community.
• River North Design DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated on the RNDD Color Discussion event with JC Licht and LIASON, hosting design professionals at the Kinzie Street showroom.
• Designs with DignityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable partner for the annual Carpets for a Cause event, which features one-of-a-kind rugs created by top designers with proceeds supporting the nonprofit.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stark: Founded 1948 in New York as a luxury carpet and rug retailer/manufacturer serving designers and architects. Comparable product mix (broadloom and area rugs), direct trade program, white-glove installation, and custom offerings — the most established direct peer in the luxury rug/carpet category.
• ABC Carpet & Home: Iconic New York luxury home furnishings destination with a deep curated rug program and full home offering. Comparable curated handmade rug assortment and designer client base, though operated at much larger scale and broader category.
• Doris Leslie Blau: New York City-based luxury handmade antique and contemporary rug retailer founded 1965. Directly comparable to Oscar Isberian: same vintage handmade Oriental and antique rug focus, designer/trade program, custom and restoration services, and high-end clientele.
• The Rug Company: Global luxury handmade rug retailer and designer with showrooms in London, New York, and Los Angeles. Comparable designer collaborations, high-end custom handmade rugs, and architectural projects that position Oscar Isberian similarly in the premium handmade category.
• Mansour Modern: Los Angeles-based luxury rug retailer offering antique, vintage, and custom handmade rugs to designers and collectors. Closely comparable curation model, designer trade program, and global artisan sourcing — a geographically complementary direct peer.
• Apadana Fine Rugs: Specialist retailer of high-end antique, vintage, and contemporary handmade Oriental rugs with a restoration and cleaning offering. Directly analogous business model: handwoven/antique inventory, cleaning/restoration services, and a designer trade clientele.

Broad incumbents

• RH (Restoration Hardware): Large publicly traded luxury home furnishings retailer with galleries, broad rug assortment, and interior design services. Not a specialist rug competitor but a broader incumbent in the same premium home furnishings category that competes for the same customer wallet.
• Crate & Barrel: Northbrook, Illinois-based broad home furnishings retailer offering an entry-to-mid luxury rug program across its stores and online. Comparable Chicago-area roots and overlap in the area rug category, though far broader in scope and lower price-point focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oscar Isberian Rugs