Fine rugs and decorative items
** Drinks & Hors d’oeuvres **
Check out Abrash Gallerie owner, Tuba Gokoglu, at the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Event! We’re proud to support such great causes. This year, we donated a few items from our Gallerie to the silent auction which helped to raise money for the Society.
On Tuesday, December 4th, we celebrated 7 years in business with loyal customers and friends. It was great to see such support for a small business. We are lucky to have shared our successes with all of you, and we look forward to continuing to do so!
In October, store owner, Tuba Gokoglu, was contacted by Cleveland Business Connects (CBC) Magazine regarding a profile they were interested in doing on Abrash Gallerie. As a Northeast Ohio female entrepreneur who hails from Turkey, they believed that Gokoglu’s story would be a great match for their section on diversity/minority owned businesses. When freelance writer, Doug Guth, showed up for the interview with Gokoglu, little did he realize the rich history Gokoglu came to the table with. The two spoke about everything from Gokoglu’s move from Turkey to Northeast Ohio, to her transition from the banking industry to oriental rugs, to her family’s contribution to the business, and the growth and success of the gallerie. The ultimate outcome of the article is a great representation of what Abrash Gallerie is, and hopes to continue being.
To read the full article, click here.
On July 6th, The Washington Post published an article titled “The magic of carpet shopping in Istanbul” which described, in my view, a realistic and accurate carpet-shopping experience in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul’s number 1 place to go for carpets galore. I wanted to share this article as well as some of my thoughts with you.
Every time I travel to Istanbul it is a must for me to stop by the Grand Bazaar. I love the experience of browsing, shopping, or even pretending to be a customer to buy a rug. (I also cannot skip visiting Erol Kazanci, owner of Shirvan mentioned in the Washington Post article, both for doing business and admiring his outstanding collection.) The store-owners are all in front of the entrance of their shop waiting to pull you in. They speak every language you can think of. Somehow, they first start with English when they see me, it must be my talent in acting like a tourist 
. I never give away the fact that I am fluent in Turkish and I know the carpet business inside out. I always go into the store with an open mind to see how I will be treated. Will they give me a correct story of the quality of the weaving, construction of the carpet, whether the dyes are natural or chemical, or will they tell me the actual country where the carpet was made with its associated workmanship? Will they quote a reasonable price relative to my assessment, understanding the fact that “fair price” is a subjective judgment? Unfortunately, much more often than not, I end up having to leave with a disappointment. As a member of the Turkish-American diaspora, I do my share of patriotic contribution by eventually telling them, in Turkish, that their old-fashioned ways may hurt them in the long run in an increasingly globalized economy.
So here are some words of wisdom 
. In my personal opinion, on an apples-to-apples basis, it is safer and cheaper to buy in the U.S. than in the Grand Bazaar, and your best bargain will most likely be in Cleveland, a city with a very low cost of living. Enjoy the Washington Post article!
Since the beginning of the year, we have been busy with buying new merchandise, working on projects with our customers, participating in design shows, and collaborating with Northeast Ohio’s interior designers.
We are proud to be a part of the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Interior Design Showcase which opened last weekend and will go through May 13th. The Showcase is free with Garden Admission.
It is a spectacular display of home designs inspired by botanical themes and put together by top designers in Northeast Ohio. You can see Abrash Gallerie’s beautiful, unique carpets and accessories presented in three separate vignettes: Deborah Smith Interiors, Jorge Castillo Design, and In Design.
This is a good time to visit the Cleveland Botanical Gardens to enjoy the spring flowers in full bloom and check out the fascinating display of rooms. You never know, you might get inspired and go home with some unique ideas for your space! Abrash always welcomes the opportunity to turn your dreams into reality….
A Bed of Roses, a creation of designer Deborah Smith and Abrash
currently on display at the Showcase.
Abrash Gallerie is happy to celebrate a decade in business by launching a new online store! Excellence in customer service has always been our pride, and we hope that this new addition will make your shopping experience a bit more convenient.
Creating a home-like environment for our deserving customers is a pleasure. Now, it’s time to bring our gallerie to your lap, or should I say laptop , to save you some time in your hectic life. The online store will make your holiday shopping much easier this year. We are uploading new items and categories continuously, so check back often and expect to be surprised each time.
We are always happy to see smiling faces in our gallerie, and we are committed to making your online experience just as pleasant. Come and join us for our decennial celebration, in person or virtually. Thank you for visiting us!
Warmest wishes,
Tuba Gokoglu, owner
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