Meet Jeff Meurs: “I love Marbella and Mondays!”

Jeff Meurs of Marbella Carpets

Jeff Meurs has been living in Marbella for 12 years and considers himself a true Marbellí. Owner of Marbella Carpets, the Coast’s leading carpet and rug store, we talked to Jeff about his passion for carpets and Marbella…

What brought you to the Costa del Sol?

I have worked in the world of carpets for over 36 years. Back in my native country Belgium I had my own business, which worked closely with the famous Grutman Carpets brand. Of course, Grutman Carpets was also situated here in Marbella for many years and so when my own business closed, Mrs Grutman asked me to join her team.

I worked eight years managing the Grutman Carpets Golden Mile store and then in 2008 when Francine Grutman retired I took over the store, launching Marbella Carpets as it’s known today.

Have you seen many changes to Marbella over the years?

Marbella is a wonderful place, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else on the Coast, or indeed in the world. But although I feel like a true Marbellí, I still feel that 12 years isn’t enough to be able to comment on the Marbella of yesteryear compared to today.

I do notice that the area has become much more accessible and affordable for everyone. It is no longer classed as a private resort only catering for the rich, famous and blue blood clientele. Now Marbella is open to families, business commuters and I notice a younger market of home buyers.

What’s your favourite part of the day?

On Saturday’s we are open until 2pm and it’s nice to think that I have the rest of the weekend to enjoy. But, if I am honest, I get a bigger buzz when we open up shop at 10am on a Monday morning. I love Monday’s, we are crazy busy, but it’s a positive stress.

Do you travel a lot to manufacturers and to seek new product?

There was a time when you would have to travel the world to meet the master weavers and carpet companies and to see the manufacturing in process, the product and the environment in which the weavers worked. But in the last 25 years, with the introduction of the internet, the need to visit the production sites has diminished.

Plus now carpet makers send agents to see you with samples and the emphasis on the carpet industry has completely shifted to Europe; it’s where it’s at. The most prestigious carpet fair in the industry, Domotex, is held in Germany and so now we don’t have to travel outside of Europe to find the best carpets in the world.

In your view what’s the most beautiful carpet in the world?

Every so often you find a carpet that will astound you with its beauty. It’s like discovering a long-lost treasure. I have a carpet at the moment, which was designed and produced by one of the master weavers of Iran; its design is revolutionary and its beauty is completely spectacular; a field of colour, of vivid green grass, bejewelled with thousands of flowers; birds and foxes darting in amongst them. It really is a work of art.

And a piece like this is easy to sell?

Yes, it’s often easier to sell an expensive carpet like this, because we have collector clients all over the world, just waiting to get the chance to secure such a piece for their collection.

I am interested to know what was the most expensive carpet ever sold in history, do you know?

One of the most expensive and certainly the largest carpet ever to be created was commissioned by the Diwan of the Royal Court of Sultanate of Oman, which was to cover the entire floor of the main praying hall of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

It was created by the Iran Carpet Company who were contracted to produce the largest hand-made carpet in history. It ended up being four times larger than the previous largest carpet! The carpet has been nicknamed The Carpet of Wonder, it took more than 600 weaver women three years to finish the masterpiece. It weighs in at an astounding 22 tonnes, covers 4300m2 of floor space – it’s bigger than a football stadium and contains 1.7 billion knots. I am gobsmackingly impressed at this point!

Favourite restaurant?

Definitely Zozoi in Marbella Old Town. It’s a Belgian restaurant; an institution in the old town and I always enjoy the food and the atmosphere.

What do you love most about Spanish culture?

The thing I love most, I also hate the most; if that’s possible? Living in Spain has taught me to be more laid-back, not to stress out about things that are out of your control. But at the same time this mentality often frustrates me! So I accept this way of life and I live to its rule to a certain point, but there are moments, for example, when you go the bank at 11h and everyone is out at breakfast, then I just can’t understand it.

What does 2013 hold in store for you?

The year has started positively and we have some fantastic projects happening over the next few months. We are working on furnishing a 2000m2 house in Moscow with carpets, a hotel in Morocco and another special home in Switzerland. This type of client doesn’t come along every day, we are blessed with having great friends and contacts around the world and we are able to deliver all over the world.

Survival tip for living on the Costa del Sol?

If you are looking to start a business here, be creative, think new. Please bring a new idea to the Coast! So many foreign residents come here and start-up businesses that are already saturating the market. It’s unusual to see something completely new and forward-thinking and that’s what is going to be successful in such an austere market. When you go to Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid you see creativity spilling over, we need more of that here.

Jeff Meurs is owner of Marbella Carpets, a VIVA Recommended Partner. Situated on the Golden Mile in Marbella, Marbella Carpets are the leading specialists on the Coast for carpets and rugs. Their extensive collection includes both contemporary and modern designs, and custom-made classics.

Contact Marbella Carpets on 952 77 37 65 or visit their website: www.marbellacarpets.com