Couristan Celebrating 95 Years of Business

Fort Lee, NJ, February 17, 2021-Couristan is celebrating its 95th year as a family-owned and -operated company.

Currently, the business has a global presence, under the leadership of brothers George G. Couri, chairman, and Ronald J. Couri, president and CEO.

Founded in 1926 by brothers Basil J. Couri and George J. Couri and appropriately named “Couri Brothers,” the company began its humble beginnings in New York City by importing fine handmade area rugs from Persia. According to Ron Couri, the CEO and President of Couristan, Inc., importing area rugs from Persia was a difficult task. As a child, he would listen to his father and uncle tell stories of their travel adventures. The journey began by ship to England, then a second vessel to the continent. Once in Europe, they would board the Orient Express and then drive through the desert to Persia. The entire trip took 32 days.

The first area rugs the company imported were Sparta Rugs from Smyrna, an ancient city that is now part of Turkey. Right from the start, the company began affixing Couristan trademark labels to the back of each and every rug it imported. This mark was composed from the family’s surname Couri and the frequently used suffix stan, referring to the region of small weaving villages from where the rugs were imported.

The trusted Couristan name and its high-end floorcovering designs became widely popular and by 1927 the company began broadened its horizons rapidly by importing handmade area rugs from India. Shortly thereafter, it incorporated under the name Couristan, Inc.