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"They absolutely love it," Kennedy says. Over the years, Kennedy Carpet has expanded into related services, including restoration for fire, smoke and water damage; drywall, sheetrock and plaster work; industrial carpet-and floor- cleaning equipment repair; and construction projects ranging from decks and home additions to accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. Much of that growth has happened in response to customer needs. Despite the company's many services, Jay remains especially enthusiastic about flooring and carpet, the latter which he believes is sometimes overlooked. "Carpeting is a really underrated product today," Kennedy says. He believes many homeowners moved away from carpet because of past experiences with lower-quality products. Today, he says, there are excellent choices for those seeking comfort, warmth, appearance and durability. "We're strong believers in quality," he says. "There are excellent, durable, attractive options across all of our product lines— including carpet—that we know will deliver quality over the long term." After nearly 50 years, Kennedy has watched products, styles and technology change considerably. His business has grown far beyond that homemade cleaning machine and those early days of distributing flyers door to door. While Max and Jack take on increasingly important roles, the transition is less about Jay stepping away than preparing Kennedy Carpet for another generation. "I love this business. I love keeping us out in front of what's happening," he says, "making sure the jobs are done right, that we're selling the right products, and that we're deliberate about the decisions we make because we always will be all about quality." From a homemade truck-mounted cleaning machine and 100,000 hand-delivered flyers to a 55-person company with showrooms, a modern cleaning fleet, flooring installation teams and a growing range of home services, Kennedy Carpet has changed considerably over nearly five decades. It remains, however, unmistakably a family business—with Jay, Joan, Max and Jack carrying forward the relationships and values on which it was built. 221 Libbey Industrial Parkway, Weymouth 781.335.8000 / kennedycarpet.com 12