About Us

MARK GONSENHAUSER

As a third generation rug dealer and a Certified Rug Appraiser by the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA), Mark Gonsenhauser's expertise is unmatched throughout Hampton Roads.

Mark’s experience in all things rugs such as weaving, repairing and rug cleaning goes back to his childhood. He is the second in three generations of Gonsenhauser’s in the rug trade profession.

His hands on experience began as a boy training in his father’s rug store in Cape Town, South Africa, established in 1936.

Mark's continued quest to learn the art of rugs has taken him around the globe - from his father's store in South Africa to the villages of Iran/Persia, and then across Europe, India, China and beyond. and then across Europe where he worked side by side with many famous antique rug dealers.

As a large direct importer he searches for the best prices on the finest rugs by traveling twice a year to rug making countries such as India, Turkey, Morocco, China, Nepal, Pakistan, China and many others.

As a leader in the floor covering industry in the Hampton Roads area and beyond, his goal is to offer unmatched products, customer service and value to his clients. He always says; “I am not interested in being second!” This philosophy is apparent when you visit his Virginia Beach rug store.

From his hands on approach to training the repair artisans, to working with the cleaning technicians to ensure they have the latest equipment, you will always find Mark directly involved with all of his team members.

This direct importer approach has guaranteed an unrivaled selection of Oriental rugs for his customers. His dedication to only the best rugs is just one example of his personal attention to detail and perfection.

He has traveled the globe to study the art of rug weaving - from South Africa to Iran, Switzerland, Germany, India, China and beyond. His hands on experience learning about the art of rugs took him to the rug making villages of Iran/Persia and then across Europe where he worked side by side with many famous antique rug dealers. While his travels as a young man were the cornerstone of his professional knowledge, he’ll tell you that his training really began as a boy working in his father’s rug store in Cape Town, South Africa which was established in 1936.

Mark Gonsenhauser is a Certified Oriental Rug Appraiser by the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA). He is often called upon by universities and colleges, such as Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and Tidewater Community College, to teach about the rug weaving methodologies, techniques, and mystique used in various rug making villages. He has been a guest curator at exhibits at the world renowned Chrysler Museum and supervised the acclaimed exhibition of antique Persian prayer rugs of 17th and 18th century.

OUR TEAM

At Mark Gonsenhauser’s Rug and Carpet Superstore we pride ourselves on having a top notch team of dedicated people who are here to serve you.

Sales and Design Team

Our team of professional sales representatives are not just salespeople, but also design and decorating experts. They are uniquely trained in many areas such as interior design, graphic design, the art of rug weaving, and rug and carpet design and production. This expertise is extremely helpful in educating our customers about rugs and carpet and their knowledge provides you with expert guidance in the buying process. We will help you determine the appropriate size, style and color for your space.

Rug Turners

Our rug turners work every day to turn dozens of stacks of rugs for our customers. With the help of our rug turners, the salespeople are here to help you find the perfect rug for your home or office, even if it is at the bottom of the stack.

Rug Cleaning & Repair Department

Our Rug Cleaning and Repair staff are dedicated to customer satisfaction. Our rug cleaning representatives, delivery drivers, rug cleaning technicians and repair artisans, are here to exceed your expectations and complete your rug cleaning and repair in a timely manner with the utmost care for your rugs.

Office Staff

Our office staff is an integral part of the mechanics of our company. All office functions, from computer operations, website creation and maintenance, advertising, online sales, to placing special orders, are managed by our office team.