Moe's

Moe Samieian Sr. came to Canada with an engineering degree and found his way into the rug trade when work in his field proved difficult to find. After graduating in electrical engineering in 1981, he began selling rugs on commission in 1985. The Persian designs around him were intricate. He wanted something simpler, a rug that offered a quieter welcome at the end of the day. In a 2008 interview with Home Accents Today, he recalled, "My rugs were different than anybody else's." His intention, he explained, was to "give them something to calm and relax them." In 1986, he opened his first rug store in Vancouver.

At trade shows, Samieian noticed that "the furniture on offer all looked the same." He and his team began searching for pieces with more personality, including antiques and flea-market finds. The business eventually expanded from rugs into furniture in the early 1990s, with three more stores opening across Western Canada. In 1999, the company shifted to wholesale, supplying retailers and designers. The years spent selling directly to customers had given the family a clear sense of what people wanted; "distinctive pieces that are both lasting and comfortable."