WFCA Names Gulessarian First Gold Retailer

Anaheim, CA; Feb. 16, 2009--The World Floor Covering Association has awarded Ike Gulessarian with its first Gold Standard Retailer of the Year Award.

The award recognizes a WFCA member business that consistently exemplifies creating outstanding retail experiences for its customers.

Gulessarian owns and operates eight Carpeteria-branded stores in the San Francisco Bay Area and, as the winner, he will be featured in the WFCA’s trade advertising campaign and on its website. In addition, he will receive a $5,000 prize, a trophy, plus custom-designed Gold Standard Retailer Of The Year award seals for displaying in his store entryways.
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“We’re always doing our best and striving to be better, so it’s a tremendous honor to be recognized,” said Gulessarian. “Being the first recipient of this award makes it even more meaningful, because it demonstrates that our peers are taking notice of our hard work.”

Gulessarian, who opened his first store in 1973 and now maintains eight retail locations, credits a good location and excellent customer service, such as same- or next-day in-home estimates and 48-hour guaranteed installation, as keys to his success.

When asked about the current recession, Gulessarian said that this is the fifth slowdown he’s seen since starting his business in 1973. His strategy has always been to take notice as early as possible and start cutting costs immediately.