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Ernesta, a custom rug retailer, has opened its first Midwest showroom in Chicago's Southport Corridor. The location marks the company's 11th showroom, following recent openings in Ardmore, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Fairfax, Virginia. Founded in 2022, Ernesta specialises in designer-quality custom rugs with to-the-inch sizing available in as little as two weeks. The Chicago showroom features collections in wool, natural fibre, and performance materials, with expanded customisation options including stair runners and fireplace cutouts. The space includes a dedicated lounge for consultations, allowing interior designers to host client meetings. The showroom is located at 3530 N. Southport Avenue and operates Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Ernesta, the largest retailer of custom-sized rugs in the US, has moved into a new 12,500-square-foot headquarters at 119 West 24th Street in Manhattan. The company also announced two senior appointments: Rohit Bagalkot as vice president of marketing and Kelly Shah as director of inventory planning. The moves follow Ernesta's recent $20 million Series B funding round and significant year-over-year growth. The new Chelsea-Flatiron office can accommodate more than 90 employees and positions the company near its interior design clients and trade partners. Bagalkot joins from Prenuvo, where he served as vice president of marketing, and previously held senior roles at Peloton. Shah brings nearly a decade of planning experience from roles at Ring Concierge, Studs, David Yurman, and Macy's.

Ernesta fuels its next phase of growth with a new Manhattan headquarters and two senior hires. The largest retailer of custom-sized rugs in the U.S. moves into a new Manhattan home and strengthens with key hires NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Ernesta, the largest retailer of custom-sized rugs in the United States, today announced the move to its new headquarters at 119 West 24th Street in Manhattan, alongside the appointments of Rohit Bagalkot as Vice President of Marketing and Kelly Shah as Director of Inventory Planning. Together, the new space and the new leaders mark the next chapter in a year of rapid expansion for the company, which recently reported significant year-over-year growth and closed a $20 million Series B. The new headquarters occupies the entire second floor of 119 West 24th Street, a bright loft of 12,500 square feet with room for more than 90 employees. Sitting at the crossroads of Chelsea and Flatiron, the space places Ernesta close to the interior designers, trade partners, and customers at the center of its business. The office features open work areas, large conference rooms, and breakout spaces, giving the growing team room to collaborate as the company continues its major growth. "Ernesta made a brilliant move here," said Ben Shapiro, Vice Chairman at Newmark. "They secured a standout space in one of Manhattan's most sought after neighborhoods ahead of a very competitive time. This move sets them up well as they build for the long term." "Great companies are built by great people, and we just added two of the best," said Alan Smith, President of Ernesta. "Rohit is a world class marketer, one of the most talented people I have had the chance to work with, and the impact he has had speaks for itself. Having someone of his caliber at Ernesta is a huge win for us, and I could not be more excited about what he is going to build here. Paired with Kelly's exceptional planning expertise, we now have the leadership to scale this business the right way." Rohit Bagalkot, Vice President of Marketing Rohit Bagalkot joins Ernesta to lead brand, growth, and performance marketing as the company scales its customer base and showroom footprint. He joins from Prenuvo, where he served as Vice President of Marketing, and previously held senior marketing leadership roles at Peloton. His track record of building high growth consumer brands positions him to help Ernesta reach more designers and homeowners across the country. "Ernesta is doing something genuinely new in a category that has not changed in decades, and the results speak for themselves," said Rohit Bagalkot. "There is an enormous opportunity to introduce more people to a better way to buy rugs, and I am thrilled to help tell that story as we grow." Kelly Shah, Director of Inventory Planning Kelly Shah joins Ernesta as Director of Inventory Planning, where she will lead demand planning, inventory strategy, and the operational systems that keep the company's fast delivery promise reliable as order volume grows. She joins from Ring Concierge, where she served as Senior Director of Planning, and previously held planning leadership roles at Studs, David Yurman, and Macy's. Kelly brings nearly a decade of merchandise and inventory planning experience across fast growing direct to consumer brands, expertise that will be central to supporting Ernesta's continued expansion. "Delivering a custom product quickly and dependably comes down to great planning behind the scenes," said Kelly Shah. "I am excited to join a team that is scaling so quickly and to build the inventory foundation that lets Ernesta keep that promise to every customer." With a new headquarters, a growing leadership team, and momentum across its business, Ernesta is building the foundation for its next phase of growth. About Ernesta Ernesta is America's largest retailer of custom-sized, designer-quality rugs. The company enables interior designers and homeowners to create beautifully tailored rugs in virtually any size, delivered in weeks rather than months. By combining premium materials, transparent pricing, personalized design guidance, and a seamless omnichannel shopping experience, Ernesta is transforming the purchasing process for one of the most important design elements in the home. Recognized by Good Housekeeping as a 2025 Home Renovation Awards winner, Ernesta is setting a new standard in home design. SOURCE Ernesta