New name a matter of Choice
CLOCKING up their fourth name change in five years, Chris and Ron Munro unveiled their flooring business this week as the re-branded "Choice''.
The floor specialists, who purchased the former Warwick Carpet One in 2006 at the building now occupied by LJ Hooker, said the re-branding was an initiative to reflect their broad variety of floor coverings.
"We've gone from Smith and Miller Carpet One, to Warwick Carpet One, then joined Warwick Carpet Choice two years ago," Mrs Munro said.
"With the new brand we're introducing a wider range with more surface choices, more colours, more textures and more ways to help our customers find the floors they've been searching for.
"It's a new direction and it adds a bit more life to the business. Hopefully it might draw new customers but we're still the same business. we're trying to broaden the options."
In their five years of business, Mrs Munro said there had been a noticeable change in customer choice of floor coverings.
She said as well as a move towards green friendly material, there was also a resurgence in vinyl.
"Vinyl has become very trendy and it's not the old lino of the past and it's definitely not 'the cheap' option, but we have a range to suit all budgets," she said.
"People are also much more aware of the products they're buying and want greener products.
"We've got things like specifically trackable forest timbers for timber floors, plantation bamboo for bamboo floors and now we've got a new carpet made out of corn starch.
"These kinds of choices are popular for younger people in their 30s who are much more conscious of what they're buying,'' she said.
Renovation and home improvement shows such as The Block and The Renovators had "opened people's eyes" to their flooring choices, Mrs Munro said.
"But at the end of the day I think people still want a good product that's going to last and stand up to the pressures of many different types of life," she said.
"They want good value for money and good service. That has never changed."
Mr and Mrs Munro service much of the Darling Downs region, including Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Texas, Inglewood, Clifton.
They employ three staff in the shop and another four floor layers.
Choice is open 8.30am to 5.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am-12pm Saturdays.