06252015 Rug Gallery Tests Luxury Hard Surface Flooring

CINCINNATI - The award-winning Rug Gallery of Cincinnati has decided to expand into hard surfaces with a test of luxury vinyl plank flooring. Owner Sam Presnell has chosen to start with USFloors' COREtec XXL, the best-selling LVT product in the flooring market today.

A two-time winner of the Best Specialty Rug Retailer in America award presented by AmericasMart at the Atlanta International Rug Market, Presnell said an existing carpet wall of 20 arms holding 40 SKUs will be replaced with the new hard surface display. "We are looking to show high-end designer-driven flooring at this point.  We are not going to put a lot of space on the floor yet and will give it time to see if there is interest before going full bore," Presnell said.

The expansive 21,000-square foot gallery has 5000 rugs in stock and a dedicated Karastan rug department. There is also a section earmarked for custom rug programs and a design department. Although merchandising and displays throughout are state of the art, Presnell said the idea for the hard surface program emerged from the necessity to replace all of the store's existing hardwood floors.

The Rug Gallery is remodeling its entire showroom floor with the COREtec XXL planks. "We just fell in love with the product and felt we could focus on the upper end of luxury. The funny part is we have not offered any hard surface before, but that will change in the second half of '15."

Presnell will get the word out about the new category by direct outreach to customers. "We will start by promoting to our email list and our design list. We will also add a new page to our website and do SEO, blogs, and PPC advertising to start. I am only interested in high-end fashion-forward wide planks for now," Presnell said. "We will see where it may go; maybe it could be its own department one day."

Already an inspiration to rug dealers across the country, The Rug Gallery began in 1972 with a 750 sq. ft. storefront in the Queen City. The store has been making headlines ever since, winning numerous International Design Guild and local awards. The Rug Gallery received the Gold Standard Award: Best Rug Retailer in the U.S. from the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) in 2011 in addition to the AmericasMart awards in 1993 and 2003.

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