News
Press coverage featuring Aaron Byrnes.
Brainz Magazine
Aaron Byrnes – Reading the Table Before You Play the Hand
Aaron Byrnes did not start out chasing rugs and antiquities across borders. He started out on construction sites, mostly residential work, though he later picked up commercial plumbing jobs as well. In 1990, everything shifted when he was introduced to the import-export business, moving into trading rugs and antiquities.
“import-export is very similar to poker in that sense: the numbers matter, but the person across the table matters just as much”
Industry Elites
What Does Success Look Like to You? – Aaron Byrnes - Industry Elites
Aaron Byrnes is an entrepreneur in the import-export trade, based in Newport Beach, California, who got his start in construction before moving into rugs and antiquities import-export work in 1990. In this conversation, he discusses what success means to him after more than three decades building a career without a college degree or a safety net, touching on sailing, pickleball, and lessons from podcasts like Freakonomics Radio.
“Now I'd say success is having enough control over my own time to go sailing on a Tuesday if I want to. Money matters, but it's really about not having a boss tell me when I can leave.”
ACCESS Newswire · Monday, 05 October 2026
Aaron Byrnes Says the Best Rugs and Antiquities Never Touch an Auction House
Aaron Byrnes, a Newport Beach import-export founder who entered the rugs and antiquities trade in 1990, says the best pieces rarely surface first at major auction houses. He emphasizes that relationships built over years with trusted dealers often matter more than catalog listings, a view shaped by his earlier years working in construction.
“By the time something reaches a catalog, several people have already decided it is worth bidding on. The price reflects that. The real opportunity usually happened earlier, before the piece had a lot number attached to it.”
CEOWORLD magazine · October 6, 2026
Aaron Byrnes: From the Jobsite to the Import-Export Trade - CEOWORLD magazine
Aaron Byrnes built a career in the import-export trade, working mostly with rugs and antiquities, despite not coming from a trading family or business school background. He started in construction, was introduced to the import-export business in 1990, and later started his own operation dealing in rugs and antiquities, eventually moving to Southern California in the early 2000s.