Posts Tagged Carpet

Carpet Network Business Owner Shows Caring for Older Citizens

Sometimes in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of business and life, we don’t take the time to think about the challenges and obstacles that some of our senior citizens face.  We invite you to read about a business owner who slowed down enough to show he cares.

"Florence"

"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

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"

"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.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Comments

Looking for a Rewarding Trade?

Ceramic Tile Installer

Do you enjoy working with your hands?  Do you like providing a finished product that requires skill and knowledge?  Do you like working with people?  Flooring installation is a rewarding career for individuals that answered “yes!” to these questions.   It involves physical activity, creativity, attention to detail, and mathematics.  The rewards can be substantial for well-trained, ambitious individuals as well as the satisfaction of a job well done.  As with many trades, the flooring industry is always looking for qualified people.

power stretchToday’s consumers want someone who is prepared to provide exceptional craftsmanship for products that they have carefully selected and anticipate enjoying for many years.  Carpet Network promotes engaging the services of certified floor covering installers.  “The only way floor covering dealers can grow,” says Lenny Rankin, CEO of Carpet Network, with more than 20 years experience in the shop-at-home home flooring industry, “is to upgrade the installation process. Despite the fact that most of the installers are independent business owners, they are still the most important part of our team. By recognizing them, we are able to show them how important they are to the success of our business and their importance to our customers.   We can do this by supporting their efforts and recognizing their talents.”

sheet vinylThere is a real need for men and women who qualify.   This trade provides an avenue for young people searching for a rewarding occupation and those who are changing careers.  The future of the business they create is unlimited.

If you or someone you know would like to investigate what programs are available in your area, contact the Certified FloorCovering Installers.

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

4 Comments

Why Choose A Shop At Home Flooring Service? Because They’re Better!

IMG_7925 cropped resized to 10 percentThe trend of shopping or buying in the home goes back hundreds of years.  When transportation was limited to the wealthy, merchants traveled the country visiting towns and people in their homes.  The shop at home service was as much a necessity as a luxury.

With busy lifestyles, the ability to shop at home is a luxury service that anyone can enjoy.  No more visiting multitudes of stores and then going back several times to work out the details.  Why waste time when you can have a true shop at home professional come to your home?

A shop at home floor service makes the process simpler.   The shop at home professional will bring many samples so you can see how they look in your home with your lighting and furniture. Although brick and mortar stores often have what they consider a shop at home service it is usually limited to how many samples they can fit in their van or their car.  The shop at home professional has a special traveling “showroom” with as many samples, if not more than a brick and mortar store. They are prepared to provide you with everything from expertise on choosing the right flooring, to design advice and professional installation.  Basically a “one stop shop.”

Two women pictureWe know that flooring is a big decision and the true professional will not only have hundreds of products but will measure and assess your site conditions in one easy step.  If  convenience and expertise is what you want, then shop at home floor covering is the way to go.

What should you look for in a shop at home?  The same business credentials that you would look for in a brick and mortar store.  The shop at home professional is prepared to earn your confidence and make your at-home buying experience a simple and enjoyable process.

When booking the appointment with your shop at home professional, be sure and ask for licensing if applicable in your area and testimonials from satisfied customers.  Shop at home professionals realize they have been invited to your home and come prepared to build that important trust factor.  Remember, since they are a shop at home service, 70-80% of their new customers come from satisfied people like yourself.  They are prepared to provide you with information such as photos from past jobs so you can see the quality of their work.   The shop at home professional will be prepared to walk you through every step of the process and be available during and/or after the installation to make sure everything goes smoothly.  They are aware that not only are they providing a service but building new friendships.

“Our business is built on one premise”, says Christine Rankin President of Carpet Network a shop at home flooring and window treatment service with over 30 years experience.  “Besides our cutting edge products, providing the best customer service is our most important product.  We realize it’s a privilege to be invited into someone’s home and we take that privilege seriously.   As we know, we only get one chance to make that most important first impression.  For the 5th year in a row, Carpet Network has been honored with the designation of being in the top 50 franchises for the past 5 years.  This honor is due to the outstanding customer service commitment of our franchisees to all of their customers.”

Want the process to go smoothly? There are things you can do to help prepare yourself for choosing new flooring.  Determine how much you want to be involved in the process, will you rip up you existing flooring, move your furniture, provide your own installation and be available to do a final walk through after the job?

What about our “Green presence?”   To Carpet Network , green is not only a color but another important part of our life.  For further information on our green commitment visit http://www.aboutgreenfloors.com/.

Want to be in touch with a Carpet Network professional in your area?  Contact either by phone
1-800-821-1635 or info@carpetnetwork.com or  http://www.carpetnetwork.com/ under “Find a Dealer.”

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

1 Comment

World Record for a Pie Fight?

Carpet Network is proud to be associated with the largest and most innovative flooring manufacturers who will go to extreme lengths to prove that their flooring can withstand the unthinkable!

SmartStrand-Rhino-Challenge

You remember in August, Mohawk had Ricko the Rhino live on their SmartStrand Carpet and after that time, a lucky team got to clean the carpet and it looked like new.  The product is amazing!  You can check out the SmartStrand Challenge here.

Most recently, Shaw Floors set a world record but not for producing the most carpet or anything even remotely related to flooring.  Their Guinness Book of World Records is for the largest pie fight!  Yes, I said Pie Fight!  The event had over 400 participants and 1,200 cherry, chocolate and apple pies.  Yum!

pie fight

The January 7th event was coordinated to promote its Anso nylon products.  Anso nylon is known for its durability and ease of cleaning but this event gave Anso nylon a new name.

After 3,000 pounds of pies had been thrown, trampled and ground into the carpet, Shaws cleaning team got to work and made it look like new.  I think this product would make it in my house with two kids and two dogs!

Check out the video and see how the Anso Nylon carpet looks like new after a thorough cleaning.

pie fight floor

What a mess!

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

2 Comments

Allergy Friendly – Carpet

Studies have shown that carpet is better at trapping allergens than hard surface, such as tile or hardwood, because carpet fibers catch particles and allergens that fall to the floor. When allergens are trapped in the carpet, they cannot circulate in the air to breathe. Proper cleaning is performed with a vacuum that effectively sucks up dirt and dust from the carpet, locks it in the machine and keeps it out of the air.Sometimes, new carpet may also have a “new carpet smell.”  Scientific studies show that new carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs into the indoor environment. In fact, carpet emits less VOCs than other products such as paint. Further, these emissions clear very quickly. The low-level VOC emissions and the harmless odor from new carpet dissipate within the first 48 to 72 hours after installation – even sooner with the ventilation of fans, open windows or doors.

The Carpet and Rug Institute offers Green Label and Green Label Plus testing and certification to indicate carpet, carpet backings, cushions and adhesives that emit low VOCs. In fact, the Green Label carpet program has such a positive impact on the indoor environment that the American Lung Association approves its use in its Healthy Homes programs. Additionally, the Green Label Plus program’s tough standards exceed the green building requirements dictated by California schools.

So if you are concerned about asthma, allergies or VOCs, be sure to ask about Green Label and Green Label Plus carpet, cushion and adhesive options.

Tags: , , , ,

1 Comment

What is CARE?

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is a joint industry-government effort to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet and reduce the amount of waste carpet going to landfills. CARE increased its carpet collection sites from 37 in 2006 to 56 last year. CARE reported for 2007, 296 million pounds of carpet were diverted from landfills (a 17% increase from 2006) and 275.1 million pounds were recycled (a 19% increase from 2006.)

Tags: ,

No Comments

This will really color your thinking

Color has a big impact on any room in the home. Carpet covers a large area of any room, so it’s important to keep some basic rules in mind when selecting your carpeting.

An important consideration to keep in mind is how the color of carpet affects the apparent size of the room. Lighter colored carpet will usually visually expand the room. Darker carpeting will seem to bring the walls closer together, and create a more intimate feeling.

Neutral colors are the best choice if you expect to frequently change the decorating scheme, or if you’re trying to incorporate a lot of existing furniture. Using a neutral colored, good quality carpet is a good idea if the home will be resold any time soon. It’s easier for a prospective buyer to imagine their furniture in a room that is decorated with neutral colors.

Tags: , ,

No Comments

What, exactly, do you mean by “green”?

There is no question that the floor covering industry is being affected by a desire to be green.  Overall, the industry is responding positively, with products like carpet, hardwood, laminate, linoleum and cork, each offering different attributes that respond to the desire for a green floor.  However, there is no one “perfect green product”.  Some floors may contain recycled content or resouces that rapidly renew.  On the other hand, some of these products may not be made domestically and are transported from across the globe.  It helps to think of products as being “greener” than one another.

Research tells us that there are six key factors people consider in making environmentally responsible and healthful flooring choices:  Indoor Air Quality, Raw Materials, Product Life Cycle, Installation, Manufacturing Processes and Maintenance.  While no product can meet all these criteria, almost every floor will address one or two of these areas. A well informed dealer can explain how products score in each category.

As retailers, we need to understand what consumers really want when they ask for green products.  We need to educate them through the product choices and explain responsibly.  We need to provide the facts that help our customers make well-informed decisions.

Tags: , , , , , ,

No Comments

Tips on Selecting Carpet Cushion

A good quality carpet cushion is a wise investment. It adds considerably to the beauty, comfort and durability of your carpet. Often, cushion will be included in the price of the carpet. Ask to see what other options are available. Carpet and cushion provide a system that enhances the performance that you can expect. A low-grade, low-density cushion just doesn’t support carpet very well. If it doesn’t provide adequate support, the carpet could wear out prematurely. A cushion that is too thick or too soft can actually reduce the life of your carpet or cause difficulty walking across it. In general, a thinner (no more than 7/16″), denser pad will prevent undue wear on the carpet.

Cushion is described at retail in terms of pounds, e.g., 4 lb., 6 lb., 8 lb., etc. The term ‘pounds’ here refers to pounds per cubic foot.

Rooms subject to heavy wear will require a dense pad that is less susceptible to break down over time, while rooms with lighter use can get by with something less dense.

Carpet construction affects the choice of proper cushion. A looped carpet needs a dense and firm underlayment while a cut pile construction can utilize something a bit more luxurious.

Tags: ,

1 Comment

Carpet Maintenance Tips

There are three key steps in a proper maintenance plan:

1. Frequent and thorough vacuuming

a. Vacuuming removes dirt that dulls appearance
b. Select a vacuum with good suction and strong beater bars, which brush the carpet and loosen dirt
c. Change vacuum bags and filters regularly

2. Clean spills promptly

a. Follow specific directions supplied online at www.stainmaster.com, www.weardated.com or www.ansosmartcare.com.

3. Professional carpet cleanings at least annually

a. To maintain your texture retention warranty, you need to have a professional steam cleaning/ hot water extraction at least every 18-24 months.
b. Fiber manufacturers and carpet mills recommend that you consult the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) at 1-800-835-4624 or access their website at www.IICRC.org

Tags: , ,

2 Comments