A flooring evolution: Southwest Floors has reinvented itself
By Patricia Nugent
This month, Southwest Floors in Seven Hills is unveiling its newly renovated showroom—including a glamorous Waterproof Flooring Gallery—as well as introducing new lines and displays.
“We’ve been here for nearly 50 years, and our loyal customers know how important keeping up-to-date with the industry is to us,” says Tony Amato, who literally grew up in the business, founded by his father, Tony. “Renovating our showroom is a reflection of that.”
A Flooring Evolution
Along with new gray walls and flooring throughout the spacious showroom, the new Waterproof Flooring Gallery gives customers a nice idea of how each product looks and feels.
“We recognize that in the current market, we’re competing against people who are shopping from home,” says Southwest owner Eddie Towles. “And that’s why we’ve built the new Gallery. Customers can check out all the latest waterproof flooring options on the market.”
He says the main goal is to simplify and enrich the shopping experience for their customers. The Gallery showcases about 10 manufacturers and literally hundreds of choices of flooring.
Thanks to advancements in engineering and technology, the choices in waterproof flooring have grown dramatically over the years.
“Luxury vinyl tile, which is indestructible and realistically mimics the look of hardwoods, has become a top seller,” says Eddie. “And our most popular brand is COREtec luxury vinyl planks. They look gorgeous year after year, deflecting wear and tear from kids, pets, etc.”
Engineered with multi-layer construction composed of recycled wood, bamboo dust, limestone and virgin PVC, COREtec is 100 percent waterproof and resistant to mold and mildew, too. Understandably, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
And those seeking a rich variety of cutting-edge styles will love the designs, which mimic every type of wood with both smooth and distressed finishes with real texture and graining, as well as dimensional multi-toned planks.
What’s Trending Right Now?
In addition to waterproof styles, Eddie says that many of their customers are asking for natural and exotic flooring, such as cork and bamboo.
He reports the trends this summer are slightly distressed, in the most popular shades of grays and earth tones. No matter the material, planks are going wider and longer for more of a rustic farmhouse look.
With carpeting, he says people are taking more chances with bold patterns and colors. “And since the new lines are more durable and stain-resistant than ever, homeowners aren’t shying away from paler shades of white and cream,” he says.
Oftentimes, customers don’t know which products will best fit their living space, so Eddie and Tony are pleased to report they’ve added staff skilled in design to help people expertly color-coordinate their selections free of charge.
Good, Better, Best Quality Carpeting
One of the new product lines Eddie is thrilled to introduce here is Karastan private label carpeting.
“This line offers luxurious quality at an affordable price point, with a vast selection of colors, textures and styles,” he says. “The long-lasting carpet offers flawless craftsmanship and inspired designs.”
A Trusted Level of Customer Service
Although the showroom is looking brand new, people can expect the same trusted team to work with at the family-owned business, from salespeople to installers.
“And in the same spirit of responsiveness our customers have always enjoyed, we’ve expanded our warehouse capacity to fill with more carpet and hard surface flooring to accommodate folks looking for cash-and-carry, same-day purchasing,” he says. “Our selection is vast and our prices are very competitive.”
Installation is an integral part of their services, too, and their installers—who work directly for Southwest—have many years of experience and are dedicated to providing a professional job, paying attention to every detail.
What’s With all the Five-Star Reviews?
Honing honest and friendly customer service has resulted in a bevy of five-star reviews. Here are just a few:
“Tyler was incredibly helpful in helping me pick out some carpet. Installers were clean and courteous. Can’t recommend them enough!” —Liana Dennison
“Met the owner today. I was very impressed. Great staff. Very nice showroom. I’m sure I’ll be back.” —Mike Bankowski
Southwest Floors is located at 7565 Broadview Road in Seven Hills. Hours are Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 216-447-0066 or visit Southwest-Floors.com. Also check out their Facebook page for beautiful design ideas.