In the words of Deborah Anonie, co-owner of Echo Flooring Gallery, "We do it all."
The company, which came into existence at its Route 220 location in Linden in 1996, handles every kind of flooring option from laminate floors, carpeting, vinyl, to hard surface flooring.
It also employs its own installation crews.
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CRAIG McKIBBEN/Sun-Gazette
Keeping on top of the latest trends is important to the flooring business. Currently, many people are seeking hard surfaces or frieze carpeting — a type of shag carpet that's softer and has been revitalized from its earlier form.
According to its Web site, the business is not affiliated with any buying group and deals directly with all major manufacturers, eliminating any distributor or middle man.
The Anonie family is no stranger to entreprenuership.
The co-owner said she and her husband, James, began their careers in ownership as landlords for apartment buildings and motels before trying their hand at a carpet business - an endeavor that began on a whim, and built from the ground up.
Anonie said she and James - who was employed as vice president of Jersey Shore State Bank at the time - knew nothing about owning a carpet business or what it consisted of.
But James' intelligence and passion for the project led him to Georgia to learn every aspect of what they were about to undertake, she said.
"He was in the banking business for quite a while and decided to do something for himself,'' Anonie said.
The undertaking set the stage for the couple, launching them to unprecedented success.
According to Anonie, even before the business officially opened in April of 1996, people were coming in to buy.
"When we first started, I couldn't believe it," she said.
In just its 13 years of operation, the business has spread to two locations: Beiter's Home Center in both South Williamsport and Sunbury, with an anticipated third location inside the same business in Mansfield this year.
"This gives the Echo Flooring customers and Beiter's Home Center customers the luxury of one-stop home decorating," its Web site states.
It's expansion over the years, as well as maintaining its headquarters on Route 220, has lent the business into becoming the largest carpet store in the area, Anonie said.
"We're very fortunate," she added, "but it's a lot of work."
The business has 16 people on its payroll, according to the co-owner, and has a trusted installation crew.
"Customer service is very important and we get to any problems right away," she said. "Our goal - even though we're expanding - is to still stay small enough to manage (everything)."
Echo Flooring Gallery serves a customer base that encompasses a large area that reaches up to the New York state line, as well as the Elysburg and State College areas.
"We love it," Anonie said of the job. "I wouldn't want to being doing anything any different. We truly enjoy it. It's tough - there's always new things creeping up."
For one, keeping on top of the latest trends is important to the business.
Currently, Anonie said many people are looking at hard surfaces or frieze carpeting - a type of shag carpet that's softer and has been revitalized from its earlier form.
"We've switched to offer more," she said of the trends over time, "but it goes in spurts.
"We're constantly learning new things, meeting new people from all over," she said. "It's exciting at times. We're dedicated, and that means a lot to the business."
For more information, visit www.echoflooring.com.
