DALLAS—The Association of Rug Care Specialists (ARCS) has been formed by influential members of the rug care community. Dedicated to advancing the art and science of rug care, educating rug care professionals, raising consumer awareness about quality rug care and cultivating relationships with leaders in rug care-related industries, the international organization will be temporarily headquartered here.
“An association specifically dedicated to this segment of the flooring industry has been needed for some time,” said long-time rug care expert Ken Adams. “ARCS was founded to promote and foster the highest standards of professionalism and technical proficiency in rug care and ensure that we develop the next generation of leaders for this industry.”
Membership in ARCS is open to any firm which cleans, repairs, services or otherwise maintains area rugs as long as 95% of the work is done at the member’s cleaning facilities and not subcontracted. Associate memberships are available to appraisers, dealers, designers, consultants and others with a vested interest in rug care. A membership committee is actively recruiting voting and associate members for the new association.
ARCS held its first board meeting in November, when its first slate of officers was elected, and include:
• President: Bill Foulds, Deep Eddy Rug and Carpet Cleaning, Austin, Tex.
• Vice president: Thea Sand, Emmanuel’s Rug and Upholstery Cleaners, Seattle
• Secretary: Phil Ziegler, Ziegler Preservation Cleaning Specialists, Danbury, Conn.
• Treasurer: Armen Dohanian, III, Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., Dallas
• Advisory committee liaison: Tim Horrigan, Horrigan Cleaners, Gardner, Mass.
ARCS’ officers and board are currently developing an educational curriculum that addresses key issues such as rug identification and highly specialized techniques in spot and stain removal. “The courses will be taught by some of the most experienced rug cleaners in the industry,” Adams said. “The initial list of technical courses will be announced soon.” ARCS is also evaluating options for providing business management courses to its members.
In addition to the technical courses, two educational events have been scheduled for the coming year. The first is a two-day plant tour and roundtable discussion in Austin, Tex., April 29 and 30.
A four- or five-day tour of the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico is also on the calendar for November.
Several founding members of ARCS are former presidents of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) and have been named to an advisory committee to help guide the new organization.
For more, call 512.452.9916.