Pande Cameron & Co. of New York, Inc., one of  history's most renowned hand-made rug importers, was a Sweeters family business, and Norm started at 14 years of age learning the ropes from the warehouse up.

 

His maternal grandfather - Gunnar Pande - founded Pande Cameron & Co. with his partner, Ernest Cameron, in Seattle, Washington in 1923. Destined to become world-renowned for the quality of it's hand-made rugs-- rugs that to this day grace some of the finest residences in the nation, including the White House-- Pande early on moved the import side of the business to New York City while Cameron headed up the retail division that remained in Seattle.

 

The company rose quickly in the industry by being the distributor of famous Nichols Chinese rugs - hand knotted collections from Tientsin, China - in the U.S.

 

Trade relations with China break off in the 1930s...

 

Pande began wholesaling Persian rugs to retailers around the country until the end of the Second World War. It was in 1946 that he first traveled to India and began negotiations with Obeetee Pvt. LTD. to produce programmed hand knotted rug collections that revolutionized the rug industry. This was the beginning of standardized qualities, designs and colors that could be marketed to retailers nationwide. Stores could display samples and depend on Pande's inventory in New York for supply - a system that still exists today with most rug importing companies.

 

Mr. Pande passed away in 1953, and Norm Jr's father (Pande's son-in-law) - Norm, Sr. - joined the firm in New York. The company was incorporated in 1963 and became Pande Cameron & Co. of New York, Inc. It was at this time that the company launched into the very first national advertising campaign starting in "The New Yorker" magazine and eventually expanded to the country's leading home furnishings magazines. The campaign steered the ultimate consumer directly to retail accounts who featured Pande's rug collections, and a national product branding came to pass - long before branding became the vogue it is today. It was also in the year 1963 that Norm Jr. procured his working papers in NYC and started his career in the shipping department at the company's 295 Fifth Avenue location working school holidays and summer vacations. This was the foundation, the first step, the beginning of Norm's education in the rug business--  from the bottom up.

 

Norman Sweeters Jr. takes over sales at Pande Cameron 

 

After graduating from The New York Military Academy in 1968 and The University of Connecticut in 1972, Norm joined the company in a Sales position with responsibility for New England and the Southeast region. According to Norm, "I thoroughly enjoyed continuing relationships and growing the business. It was surprising how many other third-generation young men were entering the industry at that time - the start of a 'new school' in the rug business, if you will."

 

He made his first of scores of trips to India in 1974. In response to the requests of his retail customers for more diverse and creative products, Norm became immersed in the intracacies of product development - broadening and deepening his expertise even further.

 

Acquisition of The Fritz & LaRue Company

  

In 1986, Pande Cameron purchased the Fritz & LaRue Company - a leading New York rug importer -from the famous O.C.M. company in London. This allowed Norm to engineer the expansion of Pande Cameron's dealer base and broaden the Company's sourcing overseas, while at the same time providing a rich understanding of an even more diverse product universe.

 

Norm enthusiastically accepted the challenge of running and nurturing Fritz & LaRue with the intention of eventually amalgamating it with Pande-- a mission accomplished in 1990.   In conjunction with his expanded responsibilities, he made frequent trips overseas to India, China, Pakistan and Nepal, as well as numerous visits to the O.C.M in London to purchase Persian rugs and products from many other rug producing countries. 

 

Mastercraft Imports, Ltd.: Norm's next big challenge...

 

In 1995 Norm sold his interests in both Pande Cameron and Fritz & LaRue to found another rug import venture from scratch: Mastercraft Imports, Ltd.  It was a brand new entity based in North Carolina specializing in high-end machine made rugs from Belgium, England and France, as well as hand knotted rug collections from India.

 

Mastercraft rose among the import ranks quickly and soon had showrooms in High Point, N.C. and Atlanta, GA., and a nationwide reputation  for first class products was delivered with first class professionalism.

 

Norm accepts an attractive offer from Capel

 

In November, 2003 Norm was approached by the Capel family to take on the position of Managing Director of Imports for Capel, Inc. - one of the largest family-owned rug manufacturers (braided rugs sine 1917) importers and retailers in the United States. In order to enhance their offer, Capel purchased the Mastercraft inventory and integrated many of the Mastercraft product lines into their own offerings.

 

During his more than six years with Capel, Norm was responsible for all the import product brought in for national distribution to their dealer base and company-owned retail stores. He energetically deployed his purchasing expertise in familiar countries such as India, Pakistan and China, as well as strengthening his relationships with manufacturers in Europe. Product development continued to be a strong portion of his responsibilities, so regular personal visits to innumerable vendors around the world was a regular occurence. He also continued to attend world markets such as Domotex in Hannover, Germany, Domotex in Shanghai, Decosit in Belgium and several other venues to stay current with emerging trends, colors and constructions.

 

And now, to the exciting present: You can have access to all Norm's expertise

 

For years, Norm's worldwide colleagues-- as well as his family and friends-- have been encouraging him to make his unique experience, his valuable contacts and his deep, visceral understanding of all aspects of the rug business available to a broader range of clientele:  That is, form his own consulting business.

 

On March 1st, 2010 he decided to do just that: Form Sweeters Consulting, LLC to marry reputable companies, both in the U.S. and abroad-- with reliable, talented, honorable rug manufacturers around the world.

 

Norm's roster of very capable factories is comprehensive; his purpose is to share these strong, successful relationships that he has established overseas with  home furnishings professionals who want to enhance their rug business the best, most effective, most profitable way, taking the quesswork, the uncertainty and the mystery out of the process.

 

"It takes a lifetime of experience, know-how, solid relationships, integrity and responsibilty to make this happen. This is my background, and this is what I have to offer. I look forward to serving many friends in the Industry."

    

 -- Norm Sweeters, Jr.