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12 Once the customer has made a selection, a hidden side of The Rug Merchant is set into motion whereby customers' orders are cut and prepared in its impressive fabrication workshop. This isn't some process that involves shipping orders hundreds of miles away; the fabrication workshop is on-site next to the showroom and this is where all of the cutting, binding and serging takes place. The Rug Merchant has an experienced, local workforce of over twenty long-term employees who use their skill and experience to prepare and install the orders that come through. This in-house approach towards the fabrication element of their business means that they can keep turnaround time quick, quality high and prices competitive. Top-notch service is one thing, but what does this mean in terms of price? When it comes to ordering and installing carpeting, Steve points out that they're very competitive on their price and that they often beat big box stores on price, value and service. About this, he says, "People think that they're getting better value from big box stores, but often times they're not. You need to look at the bottom line. Once everything is added up, you'll find that you get a much better product at a much better price from us." The Rug Merchant mechanics (the industry term for carpet installers) are highly experienced and they pay close attention to detail. As a result, The Rug Merchant has gotten a reputation for being top installers on the more difficult jobs, such as stairs or awkward spaces. About this, Steve says, "We excel at things that are more difficult, but we also excel at the day to day installations." Sometimes customers don't realize the difference that a high-quality installation can make, including one customer who made a point of calling Hilary to tell her, "I had no idea carpet could look this good!" So what's next for The Rug Merchant? Can a good thing get even better? Since it opened in 2001 this company has gone from strength to strength, helped in large part by the fact that both Hilary and Steve each have over 20 years of experience in this industry. The success of their business has resulted in the need to expand and they've recently doubled the size of their showroom. The airy new space includes an 8 by 10 area rug section, a tidy remnant room and several new work stations with a comfortable living area set-up to follow. The black and white color theme in the new showroom will eventually extend into the existing space and the whole place, says Hilary with a smile, "will get a facelift." So the next time you find yourself in the market for a new rug or carpet, why not head over to The Rug Merchant and see this transformation yourself? With the help of their staff and their extensive product range, you're bound to find what you want, as well as what you need. THE RUG MERCHANT 11b Commerce Road, Rockland 781.331.5505 Hours: Mon - Wed 9am - 6pm, Thurs 9am - 8pm, Fri 9am - 6pm and Sat 10am - 5pm