North Carolina Carpet One Retailer in Growth Mode

Fayetteville, NC, April 14--The region's expanding housing market has led to growth at Carpet One of Fayetteville Inc., according to the Fayetteville Observer. In 2002, the business won an award for having the highest annual growth percentage among the 2,000 Carpet One stores in the country, said owner Harold Brewington, who started the company in 1999. Brewington plans to move the business to Showroom Square near the corner of Raeford Road and Ireland Drive by August. Showroom Square will be a collection of businesses with products for building and renovating houses. Brewington also plans to start two new businesses at Showroom Square -- Furniture One and Lighting One. "Part of my strategy is to have a one-stop shop," he said. Brewington entered the flooring business with his uncle in 1966, when he started American Tile and Floor Service with money he won in pool tournaments, he said. That company became American Carpet and Interiors in 1970. In 1995, the business merged with Carpetmax. A year later, Brewington sold his shares. By 1999, he returned to the business with Carpet One. "I love what I do," he said. Instead of creating an independent store, Brewington joined Carpet One, a cooperative that is part of CCA Global Partners, he said. The cooperative keeps track of national trends for its members. Wood floors and ceramic tiles are popular, Brewington said. Both are recommended for people with allergies and are more affordable than in past years, he said. But carpet is still a big item, Brewington said. The type of carpet in fashion has a frieze twist. Carpet One also makes carpets from designs brought in by customers, he said. Over the years, the company has put together carpets with teddy bears, pool balls and buffalos. A carpet of the American flag is woven with fiber-optic lights. When lit, the stripes ripple up and down to give the appearance of a waving flag. The support from the cooperative wasn't the only factor that helped Brewington start his business, he said. When he opened Carpet One, Brewington's old employees returned. "I can't build a company like this without them." His customers with American Carpet returned, as well. And Brewington received a lot of new ones. In 2004, construction started on 1,471 houses, up 60 percent from 2003, according to building permits issued by Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Brewington's new showroom will be divided in three, with each one specializing in one type of customer, he said. One part will serve homeowners, another will serve house builders, and a third will serve commercial contractors.