At Commercial Carpets of America and Alexandria Carpet One, we routinely support organizations that do good. This one, however, is close to my heart as my oldest son benefits from the use of horses in specialized therapy. With the rise in the number of children diagnosed with conditions in the autism spectrum, this type of therapy shows promise, but it benefits more than just that segment.
According to Maryland Therapeutic Riding, using horses for therapy is a growing and widely-accepted treatment for rehabilitating a range of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. Conditions served include: cerebral palsy, spina bifida, neuromuscular disorders, post-traumatic brain injury, autism, ADHD, and cognitive disorders. Riders experience increased self-confidence and improvement in strength, balance, coordination, attention span, language and social skills. I hope you enjoy the following videos and consider supporting these worthwhile causes:
I was talking with a manufacturer’s representative in my office a few weeks ago about “green” carpet cushion. The information I got was, to put it mildly, wrong. Had I been working on a project with LEED certification as the goal, reliance on this one bit of mis-information could have cost me endless hours and many thousands of dollars, not to mention failure to get certified. In my case, I could have relayed that incorrect information to a customer and caused them to lose faith in me and my company, or worse.
As retailers, both commercial and residential customers may approach us with LEED-specific questions. The LEED for Homes certification program impacts homeowners directly and in this economy, savvy builders can stand above the crowd by building a LEED-certified homes. Retailers can stand above their crowd by taking time to get certified or at least understand where the products and services they offer tie in to specific rating systems.
Our customers are growing in their eco-awareness and we stand out by knowing what we’re talking about. They can, and frequently do, verify what we say, most often online. Get it right, and we’re on the road to a deal. Get it wrong and we lose credibility, making it more difficult to work with a client on all fronts.
Since most knowledgeable end-users have been exposed to green-washing (unrealistically stretching the green attributes of a particular product or service), they understand and trust the information they’ll get from us. It can make our job easier in that they may approach us with one less guard up.
If you are interested in the LEED for Homes process, this video may be useful.
Some homes can make you stop in your tracks. And there is an entire industry based on giving you just that look for your home… just ask Martha Stewart. But how do you describe the look you want if you are dealing with someone who has no concept of style or even seems to be focused solely on performance?
The answer? Speak up and don’t waste your time. In our showroom, we have many different experience levels and senses of style reflected in our people. If at any time you don’t feel comfortable, be gracious and ask the manager to step in (unless you get the perfect sales person who realizes it first and offers to direct you towards someone with a vision more in-line with yours. It’s more than “ok,” it’s the best way.
The manager should know the people on the floor well enough to discern who will work best with whom. If you can answer a few questions, you can make sure you get just the right service. And it will only make your shopping experience more pleasant.
If you are not getting this kind of service, call or email me. It’s what we do here, it’s our pleasure.
Chris
Now, here are some pictures of beautiful homes we’ve had the pleasure of working in.
My own sunroom with cork flooring installed over radiant subfloor heat.
I’ve wondered about many things over the years in the flooring business, and have seen some very-trashed carpet that made me wonder how anyone “could live like that.” But this takes the cake.
At Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home, we specialize in SmartStrand carpets by Mohawk – Horizon, Aladdin, Karastan, and have installed it in our showroom to make a point.
What’s the point?
We wanted to put it to the test in our very-busy showroom in the metro-DC area to see if it stands up. And, to make it a “deal with teeth,” I installed multiple pad types underneath it.
How’s it holding up?
Well, while we don’t have a 2800-lb rhinoceros named Ricko trouncing around on it, we do give it a run for its money… and it’s holding up very well. In fact, when my rental property is up for a re-carpet, no other fiber is going to be installed except SmartStrand.
Stay tuned for more videos from Ricko the Rhino.
Enjoy the show.
Following is the Mohawk press release with more information:
” The grudge match is over and the winner has been crowned in the battle between Mohawk(R) SmartStrand(R) carpet made with DuPont(TM) Sorona(R) renewably sourced polymer, and Ricko The Rhino. The beige carpet emerged victorious in the SmartStrand Rhino Challenge… after two weeks of exposure to Ricko, the 2,800 pound black rhinoceros, the SmartStrand triexta carpeting came clean.
This revolutionary carpet stood up to everything Ricko the Rhino could dish out: the constant tracking in of mud, dirt, and even nastier stains, as well as being trampled on by the animal who weighs in at a staggering 1-1/2 tons.
“I never had a doubt,” said David Duncan, Mohawk’s Vice President of Marketing. “SmartStrand’s stain resistance and durability is no match for any stain-maker, whether it’s a rhinoceros or your own pets.”
After more than 14 days, the light-colored carpet showed some severe staining. The Birmingham Zoo’s Ricko, a 12-year-old, Eastern Black Rhinoceros, soiled the carpet in many ways. In the last two weeks, a tropical storm had passed through the Birmingham area, forcing the very muddy rhinoceros into spend an extended amount of time in his enclosure for safety reasons. It was during that time Ricko generated some of his most difficult stains.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect it to come so clean,” said Billy Cochran, a zookeeper who helps care for Ricko. Billy witnessed the cleaning by a crew from Issis & Sons Carpet, a Mohawk Floorscapes retailer from nearby Pelham, AL. “This carpet was really a mess but now the cleaned sections look like new,” Cochran said.
Using only hot-water extraction and Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Carpet Stain Remover, the dingy, dirty spots washed away. Time-lapse video from the cleaning will be provided later this week in updates on SmartStrandChallenge.com and YouTube.com/MohawkFloors.
“We used the same formula, at the same strength, available to every consumer who purchases Mohawk FloorCare Essentials from their local retailer,” Duncan said. “Because this was designed to be a true test of our carpet, we didn’t clean it using any extraordinary means. And it didn’t need anything outside the norm because SmartStrand triexta proved itself to be that amazingly stain resistant.”
The entire piece of carpeting was not cleaned. As will be visible on the video, sections of carpet were selected for “before and after” displays so that the clean sections would be clearly identifiable.
“We tried to choose areas where you could see a distinct muddy footprint,” said Bart Rich, Mohawk’s Director of Brand Management. “It will be the same piece of carpet, just half of it cleaned and the other half not so you can see the distinct different.”
During the two weeks experiment, one of four webcams broadcast the adventures of Ricko the Rhino living on carpeting live at SmartStrandChallenge.com. During that time, tens of thousands of visitors witnessed every stain and stomp by the Rhino. A Facebook page for Ricko also garnered thousands of fans who became friends of the Rhino.
“Sure gonna miss watching you play around,” wrote one fan. Another asked, “Are you just going to go away now that the carpet’s gone?”
Ricko the Rhino’s Facebook postings will continue, promised Michael Cheek, Mohawk’s Manager of Internet Technology. “We’ve got a lot more to hear from Ricko and the SmartStrand Challenge.”
SmartStrandChallenge.com will continue to be updated with videos, as will Mohawk’s YouTube.com account. A highlight video from thousands of hours of webcam footage will be assembled for posting along with a wrap-up showing the entire project, Cheek said. Additional information will continue through “tweets” on Twitter.com/MohawkFlooring and postings to MohawkFlooring.com.
There are currently less than 500 Eastern Black Rhinos left in the wild and Mohawk is committed to helping Ricko’s brothers and sisters. To support rhinoceros conservation efforts, SmartStrandChallenge.com will continue selling the popular “Save the Black Rhino” t-shirts and “Ricko the Rhino” stuffed animals. Profits from both products will be used to benefit The Birmingham Zoo and the International Rhino Foundation.
“We are proud of our preservation efforts in combination with providing a compelling demonstration of SmartStrand’s attributes,” Duncan said. “Just because the Challenge is over doesn’t mean everything ends. Mohawk has a lot more to tell about this extraordinary carpeting.”
The Metro DC chapter of the National Marine Corps Business Network has been established. The first of its kind on the east coast, the NMCBN is a network of former Marines in business, dedicated to doing business with each other while upholding the standards so familiar to all Marines – Honor and Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful.
“We are a professional business organization of Marines,” said Christopher Moline, of Alexandria Carpet One & Commercial Carpets of America, and also the chapter president, “We trust each other with our lives, we trust each other with our business. Marines doing business with Marines is what NMCBN is all about.”
Those familiar with Marines and the Marine Corps, are also familiar with the Core Values – Honor, Courage & Commitment.
Honor
Marines act responsibly in a mature and dependable manner. They are held to the highest standard of ethical and moral behavior. In the Marines, honesty, honor, and respect for oneself and others is built into our very foundation.
Courage
Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to face fear and overcome it. It is the mental, moral, and physical strength that is ingrained in Marines. It carries them through every challenge, and aids them in facing the unknown.
Commitment
Commitment is what compels Marines to serve our country and the Corps. It is what drives them to face every mission head-on, and win our nation’s battles.
The National Marine Corps Business Network attracts Marines who have left the Corps and started a career in business. The network consists of business owners, sales reps and executives that benefit from networking with one another. Marines transitioning from active duty to the business world can use the network to post resumes and find employment with member business owners, managers, etc. Initially, the chapter will meet at a predetermined location for lunch once a month. For more information contact Mr. Moline at 703-370-0000 or visit our website at www.NMCBN.com.
END OF RELEASE
Those of you who can appreciate the following video will understand:
When advertising sales people stop in (always without an appointment) I’ve resorted to using a tactic that’s helped ease their pain and mine. I tell them we have too much business and can’t advertise anymore. You should see the looks I’ve gotten. I know their thinking fast, but they can’t come up with anything.
Why do I say this? We’ve chosen to invest more time than money in meeting our customers where they live: online. In fact, as a former journalist trained in writing for a specific audience, I find it surprising that more businesses forget who they want to communicate with (and they also think it’s wrong to end a sentence with a preposition.) Forget that (your audience, not the preposition), my friend, and you can forget your future.
Our audience in this case is our present and future client base, and they are SO online. The vast majority in our industry are so painfully NOT online or, if they are, their online presence is a comic joke akin to a newspaper insert-turned-website, or boardroom panacea designed to feed a CEO’s ego while being totally un-user-friendly and, frankly, boring.
Now, I also speak Spanish and German fluently, and have a conversational grasp on Farsi, Swedish and French. If you, too, are multi-lingual, you’ve seen someone’s face light up when you speak their language.
That’s what we want to do!
And it’s even better than that because we can speak “web” in their home, office or on their PDA. There is an overwhelming amount of media input without personality (or worse… with BAD personality) designed for the masses. Our websites, blog, Twitter, YouTube videos, FaceBook pictures and other online media efforts, are all there to show the human side of our business, communicate trends, educate and speak to the many unique facets of what we do and what sets us apart from so many other businesses in our industry.
And, unlike direct mail and radio, people only read or watch it when they choose to by clicking on it.
We still do direct mail and some radio advertising, but the nascent heart of our publicity efforts and relationship marketing is the web. Think about it: I’m a sales manager and former business owner, but I graduated Magna Cum Laude from a top-20 journalism school, the University of Maryland at College Park, so being able to write and form a web presence is just another way to keep us ahead of the noisy pack. I can also use “I” in this type of writing, which is a nice break from dry “who, what, when, where, why” work.
And it’s a blast!
In fact, there really are days where I have to stop blogging, changing web pages, launching new sites, DIGGing, etc… and dig into some paperwork. Speaking of which, I just got back from a fascinating convention and have a stack on my desk. Sorry, Twitter, no tweets for awhile…
Chris
Christopher Moline
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home
703-370-0000 Email Web
Got Seth? Here is a link to Seth Godin’s post on using the web. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/01/what-to-do-when.html
Old World methods and twenty-first century manufacturing technology come together to create the Navarre Collection, a European Oak floor of timeless elegance. Distinct looks on the long and wide boards are achieved using a variety of antiquing techniques combined with a natural oil finish to preserve the original beauty of the wood.
Each individual plank of wood is oiled and crafted by artisans to reveal its inherent quality and render the impression of age. From the exceptional surface preparation to the carefully executed edges, each Navarre floor is antiqued entirely by hand. Truly a timeless treasure of hardwood flooring that will only look better as times evolve.
Navarre Floors defy any expectation of a wooden floor.
They add warmth to any space, and give a timeless flair to any room. Navarre floors are refined, elegant, rich, and evocative, and while the look is traditional, they have the performance of modern floors manufactured with today’s technology.
Navarre Floors provide the look that suits your interior.
A number of options will provide you with the best surface look that fits your taste, such as distressed, smoked, hand-scraped treated with natural or colored oils.
Navarre Floors are constructed to last for generations.
A multi-layer construction with a solid wood top layer, Navarre floors provide exceptional stability and strength to withstand the abuse of time.
At Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home, we are proud to carry the complete line of Navarre Hardwood flooring.
Call us today at 703-370-0000 or send an email to Chris for more information.
Yes, if you need a floor and only want to buy from someone who skydives, you’ve found him!
I know there is more to it than that, but if that’s what we have in common, so be it… because it’s a great passion to share. I am also very passionate about great floors. Passion for life is in my veins and making it through the Marines in one piece gave me the “oomph”!
Stop by Skydive Delmarva in Laurel, Delaware and you’ll see some of the carpet we donated to the packing loft expansion. We’ll hook up Tony Boan at Skydive Virginia, too, and we’ve dropped off a couple nice rolls for JR at Skydive Chambersburg in PA.
My name is Chris Moline of the Carpet One Team at 13,500 feet and 140 mph.
And here’s a video…
Give me (Chris) a call at 703-370-0000 or send an email.
The best showroom you’ll ever set foot in is located at 430 South Picket Street in Alexandria, VA. Zip is 22304.
We’ve also got 3 warehouses full of carpet, carpet tile, hardwood, laminate, pad, rugs and remnants.
Look forward to meeting you on the ground and in the air!
In the Northern Virginia area we are the exclusive source for this exciting product – Catalina Engineered Hardwood. Why is it so special?
It’s PEFC certified – on par with FSC and GBC certification (not LEED-compliant, but a good certification to have.)
Vegetable-based finish – very green.
Color-through stain process means the coloration goes below the top “skin” for amazing durability and appearance retention.
We’ve got some on the way to install in our showroom, but I recorded our representative talking about the product so you can learn more.
Give us a call or email if you’d like some more information.
Christopher Moline, LEED AP
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
703-370-0000 EmailBlogFacebookTwitter
COMMERCIAL – Are you a facility manager looking to replace carpet, carpet tile, vct, porcelain, rubber, or linoleum flooring? We provide material and installation services nationwide to many commercial end-users. You won’t have to worry about whether or not we can do quality work… after 35 years, we’ve proven it and you’ll look good when you choose the CCA team.
GSA - Are you a government contract specialist looking to touch base with a GSA, TXMAS or AFNAF professional? You’ve found us!
Whatever your flooring needs, give us a call at 703-370-0000 or send an email. You’ll be glad you did!
Contact Chris Moline, LEED AP, our Residential Group Manager, for any flooring-related questions. Email
703-856-4929
wrestling with Jordan, the mighty 9-year-old. He's a tough one! 3 weeks ago
watching a father come home and see his daughter for the first time. God bless that Marine + family for their service and sacrifice of time 3 weeks ago
