"Florence M."

Meet Florence, an older lady whose husband of almost 55 years passed away not long ago.  Florence has decided that the house in Walden, New York where she had so many fond memories now feels too big and too empty so she is selling it and moving to a smaller place in Montgomery.

While Mr. M. was around, the fact that Florence never got a driver’s license was not a problem; he took her everywhere she needed to go.  Now things are different.  When it came time to select new carpet for her townhome, she remembered that years ago she and Mr. M. had some work done by Carpet Network.  She wondered if the “nice young man” would be able to help her again.

Greg Klink

Greg Klink, one of the owners of Carpet Network serving in the Middletown, NY area took Mrs. M.’s  call.  He offered to pick her up at her home, take her to her new residence so he could measure and she could select the carpet.  When he arrived at Florence’s home at the appointed time, he noticed some packing boxes.  Florence admitted she needed to have them over at the new place.   Greg answered, “No problem,” and promptly loaded the cartons into his Unicell vehicle.

When they arrived at her new townhouse, Florence was able to see the carpet samples in her rooms and envision how she would make this new place her own.  Greg advised her on performance expectations and best places for the seams so she could make the best choice.

"Frank and Martha H."

Greg’s next stop that day happened to be an older couple from Fishkill, NY.  When he arrived at their home, Mr. Frank H. greeted him at the door.   Frank promptly introduced him to his wife, Martha, who not only was confined to a wheelchair, but seemed to have Alzheimer’s.   Frank thought that if he spruced up the place a bit, Martha might feel livelier.  Frank had picked out some tester paint samples but had not gotten a chance to paint them on the wall.  He showed them to Greg and asked his opinion.  Greg offered to show him what the different testers looked like, so he painted the colors on the wall.  He patiently and confidently guided the couple through coordinating their favorite paint color with a carpet that would compliment it.  With the extra help, Mr. And Mrs. H. were pleased with their decision and are looking forward to installation.

These small acts of kindness and consideration might typically go unnoticed except to the people whose lives it touched and made a difference.  Give Greg a call at 845-342-1646.

This blog is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.  The stories are true but the customer photos are representations to respect the privacy of the people featured.

Bayernhof Museum

Carpet Network’s Bob and Janine Klein have a stellar reputation as flooring professionals in the greater Pittsburgh market.  So, when restoration work was needed at the former home of Charles Brown III, founder and CEO of Gas-Lite Manufacturing, Carpet Network was the company selected to handle the technically challenging installation.  In his will, Charles Brown III directed that his collection of old, rare automatic musical instruments be restored and his house opened to the public as Bayernhof Museum.  This massive collection is displayed in almost every room in the house, making any work in the museum a delicate proposition.

“Our crews exercised extreme care ensuring not to disturb these irreplaceable antique mechanical music machines.  Scheduling of the work required careful planning by our office staff to accommodate the tour schedule of the museum.  In appreciation of the high level of service, our installation crew was treated to a private tour where the curator showed us the many hidden secret staircases and revolving bookcases that exposed secret passageways to an indoor cave complete with stalagmites and stalactites. The passageway eventually lead to an indoor swimming pool and gazebo.  The museum also features an observatory with a fully operational high powered telescope to gaze into the heavens,” says Bob Klein.

Hartwood Mansion

Preserved within the the Allegheny County Park system is Hartwood Acres encompassing 629 acres.  It is one of the largest and most spectacular country estates in the region. Hartwood consists of a stately Tudor Mansion (erected in 1929) which, houses an excellent collection of original English and American antiques.   In 2005 a ceiling collapsed and a major renovation was needed. Not only did the caretakers need quality workmanship but they needed a quick turn around due to their special events planned for the Christmas Holiday season.  They called Bob and Janine Klein from Carpet Network because they knew they were able to make that happen by their deadline.

Customer Appreciation Event

In addition to their work in mansions, the Klein’s also help customers who live more normal lives!  They have worked with countless satisfied customers over the years and show their appreciation of their support by holding their Customer Appreciation Event.  The most recent event, held in 2008, marked the Klein’s 10th Anniversary in business. Held at the Diamond Run Country Club, customers enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and live music.

With their expertise, the Klein’s have been able to allay the concerns of customers such as Mrs. “J” who wanted to be sure that her family would not be exposed to any chemicals as she planned for her carpet replacement.  Bob and Janine were able to show her products that helped her make the best choices for her family and also contributed positively to the environment.  They were able to provide empirical data by the manufacturers so she was comfortable with her decision and extremely satisfied with the outcome.  By providing this kind of personalized service, they are able to handle each customer’s questions and concerns individually and sensitively.

Janine and Bob Klein

It is with that same kind of sensitivity that the Klein’s work with the customers referred to them by Restoration Companies.  Janine empathizes, “These homeowners have endured a loss, and are in emotional distress.  They did not expect to have to make changes in their environment and because of unforeseen circumstances find that they need to replace what was once familiar.”  Bob and Janine take the burden from the homeowner by visiting with them at their convenience and helping the make selections that work within the framework of their insurance claim and getting them back to life as they once knew it.

A couple of local charities that the Klein’s support through personal volunteer work and also by supplying flooring materials at or below cost are:

The Lighthouse

At The Lighthouse, [Come join our community where neighbors help neighbors during times of need] people can find a variety of services that can make their lives easier.   In addition to the Transitional Housing program and  Food Bank, The Lighthouse offers used furniture, appliances, and vehicles; computer classes; and emergency monetary assistance for those in need.

Hosanna Industries new construction and home rehabilitation programs offer safe, habitable housing to low and very low income, elderly and single-parent households without regard to race or creed.  Since 1990, it has served over 1600 households and provided over 100 homes across the nation.  Hosanna Industries interests are  fundamental.  They rebuild roofs where buckets once collected the rainfall, make homes easier for elderly people to care for, paint houses suffering from years of poverty and build wheelchair ramps for the homebound.  They meet the housing needs of families living in old trailers patched together with duct tape and cardboard boxes.  They answer “Hosanna!” cries for help every day.

Lastly, Bob and Janine are active members of the Bakerstown First Presbyterian Church.

This blog is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.

The Grahams - Kandice, Monica, Scott, Payton and Boe

When Scott and Monica Graham were researching businesses back in 2003, they were looking for a franchise model that would allow for growth, support their family, eventually be able to include their three children and would allow time to be active participants in their Loveland, Colorado community.  Carpet Network offered all that they were looking for and more.

Chris Brock

Since their humble beginnings in 2003, they have grown to be recognized as one of the most reputable businesses in Larimer County.   Monica’s area of expertise is in marketing, sales and networking.  She has been tireless in her efforts to make Carpet Network a household name in Larimer County.  Scott takes care of operations, finance and sales.  Their individual skill sets compliment each other amazingly well.  The second generation of the family brings tremendous energy to the company.  Boe, the eldest is the jack-of-all-trades, filling in whether he is needed in the warehouse or on an installation.  He is available to be dispatched at a moments notice helping everyone stay on task.  Kandice, their 21 year old daughter, shows a professional presence and competence beyond her years and is working as one of the Office Managers, sharing responsibilities with long time, loyal employee, Chris Brock.  The youngest, Payton is a senior in high school this year.  She participates on a competitive traveling soft ball team, which Scott carves out time to coach.  Earlier this summer Payton hit a grand slam homerun (on her birthday, no less!) advancing her team by four runs.   She also caught the third out that ended the game.

While many businesses are struggling, the Graham’s Carpet Network franchise is enjoying growth and will close out 2009 with a hearty revenue increase. They have been able to surpass some of their financial goal posts already this year.

Recently their expertise was challenged by participating in the annual “college turns” at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins and at Colorado University in Boulder – a marathon of 25 to 50 units at a time re-carpeted in a matter of hours.   Diligent planning for weeks in advance was the key to the success of this momentous project.  Inventory of carpet and cushion was stockpiled, an assembly line management process was developed and the right amount of people power was secured.   It took incredible team work – 15 crews of installers consisting of 2 to three men each and a team of facilitators to keep everything moving – ensuring that students were able to move into their new living quarters on time and without a hitch.

For the last six years the Grahams have helped many families beautify their homes whether it be a customized project or something more modest, they have thousands of satisfied client advocates.  In addition to their impressive portfolio of Carpet Network’s mainstay business, residential remodeling projects, the Grahams have added a contract division this year.  Heading up that division is Carla McCubbins, a professional with over 12 years of  flooring industry experience.  Since she is meticulous about taking care of the needs of  commercial accounts, Carpet Network has been awarded contracts with the local housing authorities in Loveland and Boulder and the Laramie school district.  Their relationships with property management companies and insurance restoration providers has proven that Carpet Network can indeed provide superior service on many levels.

Close to their hearts is the third criterion for going into business, that they would be active participants in their local community. There are three non-profit organizations that they volunteer with. First is C.L.E.A.R., the Coalition of Loveland for Education, Awareness and Resources in the fight against methamphetamine (meth).   CLEAR is a coalition of individuals, organizations and partnerships created to inform all citizens in Loveland about the devastating impact meth has on not only the user, but on families, the community and society as a whole.

Realities For Children is a marketing and promotional company dedicated to serving the needs of abused and neglected children in Larimer County.    Through business membership, they are able to provide ongoing emergency funding, education, sponsorship support and special activities for at-risk children – when there are no other resources available.   This private membership-based organization effectively creates a safety net of services to provide for the most vulnerable members of the community.

Lastly, The Angel House and Angel Village provide shelter, meals, comprehensive case management and mentoring for homeless families with children.   It’s a part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network.  Funding for The Angel House is obtained through United Way of Larimer County, grants, foundations, fund-raising events, and the generosity of individual and corporate donors.

Monica says it best when she says, “Even though we put a lot of time and energy into this business, to be able to give back is a blessing.”

This blog is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.

Mark Priewe

No room poses a bigger threat to safety than the bathroom.  Slip and fall accidents when entering and exiting the bathtub contributes to nearly 25% of hospital admissions for people age 65 and older and the most common result is a hip fracture.

Mark Priewe, representing Carpet Network in the Green Bay, WI area is doing his part to help prevent accidents for his customers.  Mark has assisted many of his clients with the design of beautiful custom shower replacements for their bathtubs.  Mark’s expertise at suggesting long term solutions  keeps people in their homes enjoying peace of mind without sacrificing their desire for  a beautifully custom tile designed bathroom.    The clients whose rooms are spotlighted below,  were concerned about their future, one by preparing for possible physical limitations and the other as a result of dual hip replacements.

Not only is Mark interested in providing an aesthetically pleasing solution, he ensures that the craftsmanship is long lasting and hygienic by using the Schluter-Shower System, a complete waterproofing system for maintenance-free tiled showers. This system helps ensure success by eliminating the risk of failures due to vapor and/or water penetration.

From these room scenes, you can readily see that porcelain tile can be adapted to suit any décor, whether it be a traditional art deco design or something with warm neutral texture and accents.  These examples are of modest sized bath spaces but by featuring a shower, the space is visually enlarged.

Notice the attention paid to the slightest detail,  such as the octagon shaped tile accenting the arch above the shower and the use of the striking black tile to draw the eye to the step up and the shower seat as well as to highlight focal points.

With the beige tile Mark used a variety of shapes and directions to create interest as well as a terrific insert tile for the border.  The use of the diagonal orientation of the tile on the floor visually opens up the  space giving the impression that the room is larger.  By carrying the wall tile to the ceiling, the room is not only easy to clean, but does not need any addition ornamentation.  It has a clean, crisp, contemporary look that is now safe and functional.

Here is a quote from the happy homeowner: 

“As we age, (and we all do), our bodies start to fall apart.  I have a double hip transplant which was making it quite difficult to get in and out of the tub.  You and your crew have now made my life so much easier with my new walk in shower.

My bathroom is the talk of the neighborhood.  It is truly gorgeous.”  J. -  Green Bay

To contact Mark Priewe, call 920-434-3401.

This article is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.

Jan Vanderspek

Spotlight on Carpet Network’s esteemed elder stateman, Jan Vanderspek from Eugene, Oregon.  Enjoy!

What does 78 years old look like?  If we are talking about many of today’s active 78 year olds, it looks younger than ever!  Never content with not ‘being in the game’, Jan Vanderspek, the most senior Carpet Network franchisee, works on his flourishing business in conjunction with his wellness lifestyle.

There is nothing “retiring” about this lively gentleman.  When many individuals of a certain age look to drop out of their working life, Jan embraces it because it affords him the opportunity to engage in a business that he enjoys tremendously.  Jan explains, “With 53 years of experience and knowledge it would be a shame to waste it.  Besides, I just love what I do!  I really enjoy working with people to improve their environments.  Carpet Network also gives me the freedom to enjoy the lifestyle that I want.”

Tai Chi

Yoga and Tai Chi play a large role in Jan’s lifestyle of fitness.  Yoga, with its primary health benefits being flexibility, strength and balance, is how he spends the first half hour of each day.  At least three or four days per week, Jan incorporates the slow and fluid movements of Tai Chi, which requires concentration, control, co-ordination and balance. This combination of mental and physical activity works to harmonize the mind, body and spirit and promotes feelings of well-being.  After years of practicing, Jan is able to balance on one foot for 10 to 15 minutes, an incredible feat at any age!

Eugene, Oregon boasts that it is the “world’s greatest city for the arts and outdoors”.  Jan takes every bit of that to heart.  He spends one afternoon each week at painting classes at the Emerald Arts Center.  Weekends will often find him bicycling on the path along the Willamette River.   At the health club Jan swims for 45 minutes twice a week.

Eugene is also a very environmentally conscious region, so Carpet Network’s focus on eco-friendly floor covering definitely suits the local home and business owners who want to preserve the beauty of the area for generations to come.

Jan is just as committed to community involvement.  He is involved with the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and volunteers with Meals on Wheels.

Jan was born in Holland and survived the German occupation there in his early years.   He came to the United States in 1957 to Illinois where he began his career in floorcovering.  He has lived in Eugene for over 15 years with his wife, Barbara.  They have two children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.  They are devoted to their family and spend quality time with them whenever possible.

Jan Vanderspek teaches us to live every moment to the fullest, he will tell you there is not enough time in each day to accomplish all of the wonderful things that he wants to do.  Who wouldn’t want to live a life so full of joy and productivity?

Jan can be reached at 541-302-8000.

This article is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.

To whom it may concern:

We all know how hard it is to get a decent job done in our homes by a contractor, let alone a good job.  Finding someone reliable, honest, knowledgeable that will not overcharge for the work done is a task I thought impossible.

Having a home that was built in the early 70’s has been quite a project as it has become a “fixer upper” over time.  Things just have to be updated, replaced, etc., anything but fixed, because they are too old to be fixable.  So we tried contractor after contractor.  We tried the friend of a friend who knew how to do this and that.  Should have known that just because it was cheap, it did not have to be good.

Well, as it turns out, that principle no longer applies in general.  A leaking hose behind the refrigerator ruined my laminate kitchen floor within two days.  So I called Al Hoffmann from Carpet Network.

Al and Dawn Hoffmann

He is the person who actually identified the problem with the bulging boards.  I knew Al and Carpet Network because he had taken care of one of our bathrooms and did an incredible job.

We were concerned because we did not want to make the same mistake twice by putting laminate in the kitchen again.  Al suggested vinyl, and at first, the idea of vinyl and laminate did not appeal to us.  But, his ideas were great.  His suggestions worked out and my kitchen looks amazing.

However, the bigger problem was saving the laminate floor from the dining room that is connected to the kitchen.  Using leftover boards that were still in good shape to save the dining room floor was a huge challenge.   The combination and the division between the two rooms looks even better than before.  Thanks Al!

I recommend Al Hoffmann from Carpet Network to anyone who wants a more than excellent job at an incredible price.  But most of all, the approachibility and pleasantness he practices when working with is customers is amazing.  I left him alone in my home to do the work and I was perfectly comfortable knowing that the job would get done in a timely manner, that there would be no mess when he was done and that I would be happy with the end results.  What an incredible experience we had with Carpet Network.  Al is by far the best person we have worked with since we moved in.  Too bad he doesn’t do other construction work.  But even so, he is connected with some of the best contractors in the area for all kinds of services like plumbing, general contracting, electric, etc.

I would say “good luck” to you getting a good flooring guy!  If you get Al Hoffmann from Carpet Network, you will not need luck.

Sincerely,

AD – Toms River, NJ

This article is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.

Christine Rankin, Lisbeth Calandrino and Lenny Rankin

This blog was written by Lisbeth Calandrino, guest speaker at Carpet Network’s Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Several weeks ago I was invited to speak at Carpet Network’s Homecoming 2009 in San Antonio Texas. Carpet Network is a shop at home franchise founded in the early 90’s by Christine and Lenny Rankin. At the time they had a very successful Floorcovering store and decided to take their concept to the next level. It was obvious to Chris that it was often difficult for customers to make decisions in the store. It was much easier when the customer looked at the products in their own home. “With that”, says Chris, “the shop at home concept, which was to be Carpet Network was born.”

Carpet Network Unicell

“At the time when retail stores are struggling to survive, our mobile concept is booming, says President Chris Rankin. Our state-of-the art Unicell vans allow our customers to view thousands of carpet, floor and window covering selections from the comfort of their homes or business.”

Just a note about franchised businesses, they are successful for one main reason: they have a proven system in place. There is no question, McDonalds and Dunkin’ Donuts have survived because of their systems. Franchise businesses have a failure rate of only 25% within the first five years, and traditional businesses have a failure rate of about 80%. Why? It’s the system that works. By buying a franchise you are buying into a set system of rules and regulations that have been tested and work.

Military Band in the Night Parade

What better place to hold a “homecoming” but in San Antonio, Texas during Fiesta time. A local nonprofit group or military organization sponsors every one of the 107 official Fiesta events of 2009. Fiesta is one of America’s truly great festivals. Fiesta began as a way to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. For over 100 years Fiesta celebrates the diversity and culture of San Antonio.

The theme of Homecoming 2009 for Carpet Network was all about how franchise members could take advantage of new ways to build their business. Social networking with Facebook and Blogging, spurred much great discussion. Facebook seems to be a way of communicating for everyone these days including the Fiesta with their page hosting hundreds of comments as well as information on events. With golf events, carnival, great food and music, San Antonio at Fiesta is a wonderful place for a convention.  Speaking of social networking, Lenny Rankin, CEO of Carpet Network gave some interesting facts on social media.

• 85% of Americans believe a company should not only be present via social media but also interact with its consumers.

• 60% of Americans interact with companies on a social medial web site, and one in four interacts more than once a week.

• 56% of American consumers feel both a strong connections with and better serviced by companies when they can interact with them in a social media environment.

Christine, Dave, Debbie and Lenny

Of course no business event is compete without its stars. Dave Fitzwater was chosen for the President’s Award, Carpet Network’s highest achievement. I had the opportunity to talk with Dave and get his thoughts about Carpet Network’s mobile business and why they are so effective.

• The ability to go to the customer is key. You don’t have to wait for the customer to come to your place; you have been invited to theirs. It’s important to be professional and organized.

• Without a storefront your overhead is greatly reduced. Having a well-equipped mobile showroom is just as effective as a brick and mortar business.

• People get connected to the person with the products. Not the products or the storefront—but the person. Often times this gets misinterpreted by salespeople. They push their products instead of building their own credibility.

• You must have good training and support from your home office. Having a good franchise behind you keeping up with trends and providing good back up is key.

Great weather, wonderful town and great people; what could be better?

To contact Lisbeth e-mail her at lcalandrino@nycap.rr.com or call (518) 495-5380.

This article is brought to you by the people at Carpet Network.

Proper methods for installing carpet are an extremely critical part of the process of replacing the carpet in your home. Don’t settle for less than the industry standards as outlined by the Carpet and Rug institute, (a well respected organization recognized for establishing benchmarks of excellence). Visit their website at www.carpet-rug.org. Carpet Network’s team of installers carefully adhere to these standards.

Carpet Craftsman

They are professionally trained and skilled craftsmen who take great pride in their work, paying attention to critical details such as power stretching, proper seam creation and placement, removal of the exisiting flooring, carefully moving your furniture and vacumming the job when they are finished.

Janine and Bob Klein

Carpet Network stands behind every installation performed with a Life Time Installation Guarantee. In the unlikely event that a seam should need repair or the carpet re-stretched, you can rest assured that the Carpet Network professionals will honor the warranty and repair the problem. In fact, following each and every installation performed, Carpet Network will contact you to ensure that every detail of the installation was performed to your satisfaction. We also mail out a survey card for you to complete; offering you the opportunity to rate our service in many specific areas. We carefully review the comment cards and make adjustments whenever necessary to improve. We are proud that over the last several years we have earned awards for Excellence In Customer Satisfaction. We also are proud to be an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau.

You can trust the team of professionals at Carpet Network to assist you in choosing the correct product for your needs and to walk with you every step of the way! Visit Bob and Janine Klein in the Pittsburgh, PA area.