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.”

We 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.

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.

Transportation

• Be cautious of products that have to be transported long distances.  Energy used in the transportation of the product may cancel out any perceived benefits.
• Choose products made or grown within 500 miles of your location.
• Shop locally when possible from vendors that supply locally.

Installation

• Use adhesives with low VOC’s.
• Choose watebased finishes over solvent-based ones.

Use and Maintenance

• Once installed, some floors continue to give off gas compounds.  Ventilation of the room will help dispell any off-gassing from products.
• Avoid less durable floors which have to be replaced more frequently.  Often the labor cost to install a long lasting floor is the same as for a less durable one.
• Avoid high maintenance floors that need harsh chemicals too keep them clean or polished.  The life cycle costs may outweight the original cost of the floorcovering over its lifetime.
• Consider floors that don’t have to be refinished.

End of Life

• What will happen to the floor when it has reached the end of its lifecycle?
• Can the floor be recycled or reused?
• Can the floor be donated to charity?
• In general, synthetic products don’t decay, but they can be recycled.
• Natural products will decompose.