They do business a bit differently at Carpets for Less in Winnipeg. From friendly service and meaningful sales to a heart for community and desire to make a difference, owner-operator Dale Vencatasamy and his team are uniquely committed to putting their customers at the centre of everything they do.
“My philosophy has always been that customer service comes first,” Vencatasamy says. “So, if we’re talking about your home, you want to feel like the people working in it are treating it like they would their own. And, on top of that, we want you to know you got the best value for your money.”
Vencatasamy points out that his installers are carefully vetted to align with the business’s values. Additionally, his sales manager has been in the flooring industry for nearly 30 years and is a major factor in the store’s success.
“She makes you feel like you’re the centre of the world,” he says. “I want that to be apparent through the entire process – before the sale, during the sale, during installation and after the sale, so you feel like coming back.”
Since taking over the 670 Nairn Ave. location last July, Vencatasamy has been reconfiguring his business into a full-service offering.
As a retailer, the store can facilitate custom orders and also stocks an inventory of cash and carry products. In other words, both contractors and DIY home renovators are well-served by Carpets for Less. And full installation service is on the menu as well, as is a robust carpet and hard floor cleaning service.
“If you buy carpet from us, you immediately get a certain amount of cleaning service,” Vencatasamy explains. “If your budget doesn’t really allow for replacement flooring, we can come by and give it a clean. You might be quite surprised at what we’re able to do. But if it doesn’t work, we take the cleaning price off the replacement you choose.”
Currently, Carpets for Less has some vinyl plank flooring and carpet tile options on sale. And a further discount is applied for not-for-profit organizations and churches.
“I’d love to see this product go to something that sits on my heart, which is the non-profits, churches and smaller businesses,” Vencatasamy says.
Vencatasamy concludes that while business ownership has its ups and downs, he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“This has been such an amazing journey,” he says. “At the end of the day, I want this business to have a lasting impact.”
Carpets for Less, located at 670 Nairn Ave. in Winnipeg, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. They can be reached by calling (204) 231-3337.