DONN BROWN / Staff

Ali’s Oriental Rugs owner Ali Khorasantchi stands in the showroom of his oriental rug gallery at 6250 Shirley Street.

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There are some questions that just sort of answer themselves. Like, whether or not to go into the family business when the family’s been in that business for more than 175 years.

For Ali Khorasantchi, owner of Ali’s Oriental Rugs, in the Pine Ridge Industrial Park, following in his parents’ footsteps was the natural course, after studying economics at Germany’s Humboldt University.

He came to the U.S. 15 years ago, after decades selling rugs in Germany, bringing a veritable treasure trove of international business savvy to the hot Naples market.

“We have ordered so many rugs over the years that the suppliers take our contracts seriously,” says Khorasantchi, whose hand-knotted inventory comes from places such as Pakistan, Turkey, India, Iran and China. “We have very good connections around the world. Customers still call us from Germany, because they know the quality we offer.”

Khorasantchi says the measure of rug quality is the in the number of knots used – the more the better -- and the type of wool used. The plushest comes from places that evoke visions of craggy mountains and thick green valleys, such as New Zealand and Tibet. And he says that because all-natural vegetable dyes are used to color the rugs, fading from sunlight is not an issue.

As a direct importer, Ali’s can offer wholesale prices to the public and counts decorators and interior designers among their best customers. The wide variety of colors, patterns and sizes helps make the very large inventory even more attractive.

“Customers know our quality is good,” said Khorasantchi, who said his rugs like fine oil painting masterpieces by Rembrandt or Monet. “The patterns are very famous and unique, such as the old-style Peshawar rugs by the masters in Pakistan and Iran, or the simpler contemporary patterns and light colors that complement Florida’s wood or marble floors.”

In addition, Khorasantchi says shoppers appreciate the large variety of size, as well as professional cleaning and repair services.

“They like the odd sizes and that they can choose from as small as a 2x3-foot rug, up to as big as a 20x24-foot rug,” he said.

Traditional medallion and flower patterns abound, with styles from Iranian Isfahan and Ghom weavers seeing high popularity growth.

Khorasantchi visited Naples 15 years ago and loved it enough to relocate here and gain American citizenship.

“It’s a good market for rugs, because there are big houses and rich people here,” he said. “My philosophy of business is to support our customers and be honest, because this industry is difficult. To be honest is the best you can do in business.”