"All the Mystique with none of the Mystery"
In the finest traditions of early Canadian traders, the McCulloch family consisting of Angus and his wife Maria and brother Malcolm, opened Canadian Rug Traders in the Byward Market, Ottawa in January, 1997. Their love for, and extensive knowledge of oriental rugs is evident, and questions about the origins, materials, dyes and weaving of each of the hundreds of rugs on display will be cheerfully answered! For the past 13 years the store and its owners have continued to offer impeccable service and expertise enhancing the city of Ottawa one home at a time.
ANGUS MCCULLOCH was born in Canada and moved to England with his parents in the early 60's. After studying at the City University in London, he joined Harrods Department Store where he rose through the ranks to gain extensive buying and management experience in carpets, textiles and home furnishings. While at Harrods he was awarded the prestigious Sir Ralph Perring Scholarship to study retail furnishings in North America. His thesis won him the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers Master's Prize which was presented to him by the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House at a dinner in his honour. After Harrods, Angus became a buyer of oriental rugs and textiles for a group of department stores in Britain. He has traveled extensively to China, India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey developing business contacts (and friends) throughout the world's rug trade.
Angus met his wife MARIA while he was at Harrods. Maria has accompanied Angus on many of his worldwide buying trips and works alongside him at the store. These buying trips together have opened up the male dominated world of oriental rugs. Wives of the producers get the chance to come out and meet Maria which would obviously not happen if Angus traveled alone. Together they continue to discover and enjoy the many marvels of the world.
MALCOLM left Ottawa in '59 to attend the Royal Canadian Naval College in Esquimalt, B.C. As a naval officer he flew anti-submarine bombers from the aircraft carrier Bonaventure. Later, he spent 18 years as a pilot for Air Canada. In 1984, Malcolm and his sailboat "Muscade" left to fulfill a lifelong dream of navigating the Seven Seas. Since then, Malcolm has been traveling the world both on his boat and by more traditional methods. His travels have included many high altitude trekking expeditions in the Himalayas, the Karakoram Mountains, the Andes and Mount Kilamanjoro, to name just a few. He has spent summers sailing in Portugal, Spain, France, Corsica, Italy and Greece and now owns a barge on the French canal system.
Care and Fair... For Children's Welfare
Canadian Rug Traders is the first North American member of this Association, founded in Europe, for action against child labour. This means that all of our rugs imported from India and Pakistan are slave and bonded child labour free. In addition, we also pay back to the Association a percentage of our imports from these areas to finance existing and new care projects such as schools and clinics to better the lives of children in these areas.