Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Harb.
Hi Lauren, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For years, I sold vintage home decor, objects and furnishings, but I stumbled into the rug business quite by accident. After a very inspiring trip to Morocco in 2017, I returned home with more rugs than I could fit in my apartment at the time, and I began casually selling them on Instagram to interested friends and acquaintances. I quickly realized there were a lot of Instagram dealers selling home goods, but fewer trusted options for rug sellers, and I moved the business in the textile direction without any regrets.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been smooth at any stage, but I’ve thought of every little bump or frustration as a true lesson for me as a business owner. Most of the time the fact that my rugs are made in and ship from Morocco makes things easy for me, but there are times I really wish I could be there in person to troubleshoot and to build upon connections with the makers. I also love having an online business, but at times wish I could connect more with my customers in person and so I’m always trying to find new ways of making the online buying experience more personal. Ultimately, the struggles help illuminate next steps for me at every stage of the business.
As you know, we’re big fans of Harem Modern . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Harem Modern is an online Moroccan rug business with headquarters in Los Angeles. As a first-generation Palestinian American with roots in Los Angeles and a grandfather who was also in the textile business, I bring a unique combination of tradition and modernity to the Moroccan rug world. We sell super high quality, unique handwoven designs that are one of a kind. Native Amazigh women make these designs by hand using their incredible skill and creativity in a way that can’t be duplicated by large companies or machines. We also offer custom, made to order designs for customers that know exactly what they want but don’t see it on the site.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Success for Harem Modern looks like having happy customers who have had positive experiences with us and would return to shop again and recommend us to their friends and family. We always aim to embody humility, hospitality and patience so that our customers think of us fondly when they see our rugs in their homes or even see us pop up on their social media feeds.
Pricing:
- Rugs are made by hand using very high-quality wool and take up to 4.5 months to make just one large piece. As such they range from under 1k-5.5k depending on size, quality and design.
- We also offer the option to pay in interest-free installments with Affirm.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://haremmodern.com/
- Instagram: @haremmodern
