Business Profile – Russells Flooring

In this issue we managed to catch up with one of Plymouth’s biggest and best hard flooring specialists, Andy Russell of Russell’s Flooring. We were invited to the Plympton showroom to view their wide range of high-quality brands for both domestic and commercial customers, plus a varied range of carpets and laminate flooring. All this is coupled with impressive customer service and remarkable attention to detail. 

Throughout his working life, Andy Russell has always been a very hands-on person, only needing to be shown how to do something once to understand the process. Andy started off as an apprentice mechanic when he left school, before working as a labourer at Lang and Potter at the age of 23. Andy found his talents quickly and, incidentally, his employer spotted them too. This led to permanent employment and Andy spent the next few years being trained up as a floorlayer.

Unfortunately, in 1996, Andy was made redundant. He soon regained his confidence and found his feet, however, and quickly moved on to work for several carpet shops in Plymouth, fitting carpets and hard flooring for many satisfied customers. This more varied work suited Andy, but he had always been keen to eventually have his own customer base and products under his own business and brand.

Russell’s Flooring opened up shop five years ago in Faraday Mill when Andy was offered a contract to supply and lay flooring at Boringdon Hall. He needed somewhere to store all of the carpet and he was starting to have problems with his knees – opening the shop gave him the opportunity to incorporate floor-laying with selling and get him back onto his feet a few days a week.

Three years after opening the shop, Andy decided that they weren’t getting enough customers through the door. The prime location in the centre of Plymouth seemed silly to leave behind, but the costs of renting a shop were high. Russell’s Flooring moved to a more suitable unit in Reynolds Park, Plympton, where they are the only hard flooring specialist in the area.

Moving to a different location Andy invested in new stands from Amtico and Karndean. It’s pricier flooring but the high-quality makes it fantastic to work with and it’s proven to be popular with customers.

Even the lower-cost flooring is great quality – Andy tells us that he will only supply good products. Quick Step is ideal for a lower budget, and the Coretec brand is a type of flooring which can be laid even on damp floor, perfect for anyone looking to lay flooring in a damp room such as a basement.

Because the business has long, established trading relationships with leading flooring manufacturers, they are able to offer competitive prices on all jobs, regardless of size. They will also offer free advice on flooring types, to help their customers make the right choice for their requirements, whilst at the same time, providing an attractive floor finish that suits their budget.

All of the brands are on display in their showroom for anyone who would like to take a look at the options on offer, with the team on hand to explain their services.

Alongside the hard flooring, carpet options are available in the showroom, giving customers even more choice when it comes to updating their home.

The carpets are supplied by high quality manufacturers throughout Southwest UK, and include woven and tufted carpet; twist, loop and velvet carpet piles; patterned styles and a choice of carpet performance and grading to ensure that you find the perfect carpet for your home. Russell’s Flooring also supply door bars, gripper rods, stair rods and carpet underlays.

As well as laying flooring in their customer’s homes, Andy is very experienced with bigger projects. Boringdon Hall is his most recent project, on their new spa. He’s also worked on the Fistral Beach Hotel in Cornwall when they had a full refit, laid new flooring at the National Marine Aquarium, and worked on accommodation at Exeter and Plymouth Universities.

“We’ve been selected to be the face of Uzin for the next 12 months who are a company who supply the DPM [damp proof membrane] systems, latex and adhesives which we used on a regular basis. Once a year they do a competition in which you put your best project forward where you have used their products, and that’s what we did. I’m going to be on the front of their brochure!”

A more regular customer at Russell’s Flooring is the local landlords who own private student houses. They return every year to have carpets replaced using their low-cost, hard-wearing products.

“We try and give a better service than our competitors, doing everything start to finish from picking the products, then to giving you estimates in your home for free, bringing you samples to test and then installation.”

When Andy isn’t busy selling flooring or running the showroom, he has a very unusual hobby which keeps him entertained in the winter months.

“I go on a trike and get pulled along by my four Siberian Huskies and I also enter competitions. We raise money for charity, and because three of my dogs are rescues I like to involve them as much as possible. I got second in the championships last year! It’s called a time trial, which puts me against the clock as I complete a 3 – 4 mile long course. I’ve been doing it for about four years now and the dogs are still in their prime, they aren’t slowing down any time soon!”

“I got into it when I was walking our first dog, and because he had so much energy I thought ‘If only I could attach him to a bike’, so I did!”

With an impressive showroom, endless experience and great customer service, Andy is very happy with Russell’s Flooring and its success. Whatever your flooring needs, pay them a visit and find out how they can transform your home or business.

Call Russell’s Flooring now on:
01752 348586
Email:
sales@russellsflooring.co.uk
Visit:
www.russellsflooring.co.uk
Find their showroom at:
Unit 5 Reynolds Park, 8 Bell Close, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 4FE