More and more of our customers are faking it.

Loads of people from the Midwest and east coast yearn for the warm look of the homes they left behind.  Wood flooring does the trick, lending a hearth-y feel to our desert landscape.

Still – not everyone chooses hardwood flooring for scores of reasons, including cost, maintenance, and the dents, nicks and scratches that come with the thundering herd that is your family.

It’s why so many people are opting for tile that looks like wood.  Yep – they’re posers.  In a good way!  Here’s a few compelling reasons to choose tile that looks like wood flooring:

• Tile is termite proof.  One less problem to deal with in your daily round.
• Tile Cleans Easily.  Got a string mop and warm water?  Swab the deck and move on to other fun stuff, like folding laundry.
• Tile’s got Style.  At Ahwatukee Carpets, we carry a variety of colors, styles, widths and lengths to match your look.  And we know your look is fabulous!
• Tile really can look like wood.  We’ll prove it.  Come take a look at our selection.  (No harm in doing research!)
• Tile’s more budget-friendly.  That’s a nice way of saying tile that looks like wood is cheaper.   More scratch for you to spend on fun stuff, like a new air conditioning unit.

Have we convinced you yet?  Tile that looks like wood flooring may not be the real deal, but it’s the next best thing.  Some think it’s even better.  You be the judge!

Making your living spaces lively,

Traci Tartaglio & Team

Ahwatukee Carpets

It’s true – you have a lot of options in Arizona for flooring, cabinetry and counter-tops.  Around here, we’re big believers in smart shopping.  So we thought we’d just go ahead and help you out in your competitive analysis.  Check out our Top 10 reasons for choosing Ahwatukee Carpets – Yes; we’re a little biased!

10.  We’re not a “Big Box” Retailer.  Yes; this is an asset.  You could tackle the maze over at the BIG chain stores.  You might get a good deal.  But we can compete on price.  Can they compete on service, dependability and knowledge?

9.  Service, service, service.  It’s what separates a locally owned business from our competitors.  We take care of you.  We’re neighbors – we care about how your project turns out.  (In fact, we hope you invite us to dinner in your new kitchen.)

8.  If we make you mad, you know where to find our President.  And that’s at Starbucks every morning at 8:15 am, to be exact.

7.  When you spend your money here, it stays in the state coffers. And Arizona needs the revenue! The money you spend here gets funneled back into local businesses.  (The Purple Skirt, Ruffino, and many others.  Let’s just say, store owners around town know me by name.  I’m just doing my part!)

6.  Value, value, value.  Think our prices aren’t competitive because we offer boutique-style service?  Wrong.  Fewer employees and less floor space mean our prices are down, just not dirty. (We just don’t like that word.)

5.  One-stop shop.  You’re busy.  Visit our one single location for counter tops, flooring and cabinetry.  With the time and gas you save, you can go out to lunch or score some very cute high heels.  Or just be very responsible and save it!

4.  Licensed, bonded and insured.  Use caution when hiring anyone to come into your home and install or repair anything.  Around here, we safeguard you and your home from theft or injury.  We’ve got the paperwork to prove it.

3.  Selection.  If we can’t match your vision – well, we don’t know.  It’s never happened!  Let’s just say we have plenty of connections.  If it’s not here in the showroom, we can get our hands on it.  We carry top name brands from the finest manufacturers, so from traditional to contemporary, we’ve got you covered.  (Hee hee.)

2.  Design.  We challenge you to find another flooring company locally that’s as passionate about design.  When you do business with Ahwatukee Carpets, you work with our President.  (Again – me.) I’m invested in your project’s success.  I can help design the exact match to your needs for functionality and budget – plus, create a look that’s uniquely yours.

And – drum roll please – the Number 1 reason to shop at Ahwatukee Carpets…..

FUN!  In addition to superior service, competitive prices, a premier selection and a killer installment staff, we make your shopping experience FUN.   Conversation.  Laughs.  Maybe even a little gossip.  Promise not to tell, though, OK?

Making your living spaces more lovely,

Traci Tartaglio

Owner & President, Ahwatukee Carpets

Subflooring.

Most often found in 2-level homes, the subfloor is the layer(s) of materials (usually plywood laid on top of boards that rest on top of the floor joists) that line your tile, linoleum or wood flooring.   And of course with time, subflooring is prone to distress. (It probably doesn’t like its subservient status to flooring.  Who wants to be, “sub” anything??)

Subflooring is especially vulnerable in bathrooms –especially the flooring that surrounds the toilet.  Undetected, water damage soon gives way to rot, so keep an eye out for bubbling, or else your 3-year-old could easily hammer a hole into the floor while he’s helping daddy “work.”  Other areas vulnerable to rot include basements, crawl spaces and the ceiling underneath rotting subflooring.

If the flooring in these areas seems springy, or you’ve had leakage problems, it’s worth the time to check it out.  You can remove wood flooring to take a peek and reinstall, or pull back carpeting, but once you’ve lifted linoleum or tile, you’re committed!  So be certain you’ve got some credible evidence for going in – such as a surface that seems uneven, softer to the touch, or bubbled.  Rotting wood does need to be repaired or replaced to prevent further damage, but be certain it is truly distressed – does it break, crack or crumble easily?

Now of course you could tackle this project by yourself, or, you could hire a reputable contractor.  At Ahwatukee Carpets, we gladly take on small jobs, and can repair most sub flooring issues, in addition to replacing a small area of flooring such as in a bathroom.  (It’s why we always suggest you keep any extra flooring material from each new job – you never know when you’ll need it!)

So – is your home harboring a dirty little secret?  It’s worth investigating!  Do you have any tips to share, questions to ask or comments to make?  Chime in – and as always, come see us on Facebook!

Making your living spaces lively,

Traci Tartaglio

Owner & President, Ahwatukee Carpets

Why is that - and what does it have to do with flooring?

Nothing, really – but let’s face it.  We’re all a bit distracted this week.  Wrapping up projects at work, wrapping presents, wrapping our heads around spending several days with our beloved family members.  Of course we love them.  But it seems every family has stories about Christmas gone wrong.

So this year, we thought it would be fun to get the conversation going.  What tips or  quotes do you want to share to help families keep the holiday spirit alive in the midst of Aunt Joanne’s penchant for gossip?  Grandpa’s snoring?  The kids fighting over who has to sit at the kids’ table?  You know the drill!  Check out some of our suggestions for keeping the peace, and your sanity intact as you try ever so hard to make all things merry and bright.

1.  Make Peppermint Fudge.  Seriously – peppermint is known for its calming properties.  Try this recipe.  It’s easy-peasy, to boot!  (We suggest you break these babies out when someone brings up the subject of politics…)

-Ingredients:  1 package chocolate chips, 1 tsp. peppermint extract, 1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk  (You don’t have to buy Eagle brand.  But why take a chance?)

-Combine all ingredients and stir continuously over a medium heat until smooth and congealed.  Pour into a 9×9 pan lined with foil or parchment paper.  (Top with crushed peppermint – looks so festive!)

-Refrigerate for 2 hours and cut into chunks.  Accept the accolades graciously!

2.  Invite senior family members to rat out the kids’ parents.  Grandparents love to talk about the old days , and kids love stories about their parents.  Invite Grandma and Grandpa to rat out mom and dad with tales of their stints on the naughty list!  (This helps parents remember that although we expect great behavior from our kids, we weren’t always exactly angels for our parents!)  

3.  Play Charades/touch football/cards/Wii.  Let the games begin!  Everyone wants to relax, but lack of inertia breeds fertile ground for conflict.  Get everyone together for games the whole family can play.  Get moving and boost those endorphins, or get lost in a good game of cards. Then, follow up with a movie everyone can appreciate.  (Our pick:  It’s a Wonderful Life)

4.  Take 2 hot toddies and call your best friend in the morning.  Well, we do believe you should “eat, drink and be merry.”  Don’t take it too far, though, or it’ll have the opposite effect.  A little well-timed cocktail hour will put everyone’s spirits at ease.  Later, hide in a closet and call your best friend to vent about your brother-in-law’s crude jokes.  It’s good to vent!  It will make her feel better about her own dysfunctional family.

5. Take turns counting your blessings.  It sounds cliche, but when you take a moment to remember your many blessings, it’s awful hard to fight.  (You can silently give thanks that these family get-togethers come around just once or twice a year.  We promise not to tell!)
Even the most loving, compatible, forgiving families experience Post-Holiday-Stress syndrome.  (PHSS)  Take heart – we’re all in this together.  Enjoy the blessings of family, and if you’re hosting, treat yourself to a trip to Ahwatukee Carpets after the holidays.  We can’t promise next year’s family gathering will be a smooth one – but we can make sure everyone’s got a soft place to land.
From all of us at Ahwatukee Carpets - we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever is meaningful to your family!

See you in 2012!

Making your living spaces lively,

Traci Tartaglio,

President & Owner, Ahwatukee Carpets

How about you enjoy a lovely, relaxing Thanksgiving meal with family and friends.  (Or, while you’re volunteering to serve the less fortunate.)  Then, sleep in on Friday – if you’re able.  Let the day roll by.  Read the paper, catch up on your blogs, wash the car, call your mom.   Just be.  Then, on Saturday morning, why not get up and make the money you spend on gifts work overtime?

Saturday, November 26th is Small Business Saturday.  Across the nation, consumers are taking a pledge to shop at locally owned stores.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – when you shop locally, Arizona wins!  So do business owners, employees, neighbors and friends.  Check out Small Business Saturday’s pledge on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday

Need reasons to shop local?

Here’s our top 3:

1.  Better Service:  Local business owners are motivated to earn – and keep – your business

2.  Increased Tax Revenue:  Local businesses generate more state tax income

3.  Community:  Local business owners often support local communities & schools via charitable and volunteer endeavors

Don’t know which shops are locally owned? Check this out: http://www.phoenixlocalshops.com/

So stay in bed on Black Friday, and think about the little blue sign.  Supporting local businesses means guilt-free shopping.  And we might need a little less guilt after Thursday’s food-fest!  (And don’t forget – Ahwatukee Carpets is open on Saturday!)

Making your living Spaces Lively,

Traci Tartaglio & Team

It was a humbling evening, to say the least.  I didn’t take home the award, but then again – I did.

It’s wonderful to be recognized for your work.  But the truth is – living your  passion is like getting an award every day.  Who can say that?  I LOVE what I do.  I love my customers – love transforming their homes  – or offices – with stunning new flooring, cabinetry and counter-tops. I feel blessed to open my showroom as a collection spot for donations to benefit charities close to my heart.

Every day I jump out of bed, eager to do what I love.  To continue the legacy my family started, and to establish my own.  A legacy of leading by example, I hope.  As I sat alongside my daughter and my mother, each accomplished in their own right – along with the rest of “Team Traci” – I was overwhelmed.  I’ve said it before – no successful person ever does it alone.

And so though I made no acceptance speech that night, my heart silently rocked these words, “With gratitude, I accept the awards to which I wake up every single day – cherished family, friends & colleagues, and a work that fulfills me.”

My hope is that you, too, find a way to live your dreams and discover your passion.  When you do, it feels as though you win an award – every single day.

Making your Living Spaces Lively,

Traci Tartaglio

Owner & President, Ahwatukee Carpets

You know you do it.  And if you don’t, you have my utmost respect and admiration. But I think everyone does it.  Especially when no one’s looking.

I’m talking about procrastination. Guilty, right?  What’s the latest project you’re putting off?  The taxes you deferred last year?  Filing the piles of receipts in your office?  Updating the room that has now become fashionably “retro?”  (Except for the avocado carpeting; more on that later!)  I know you’ve got something in your life you’ve been putting off- and it’s keeping you up at night.

Procrastination is something I fight, too.  And my theory is this:  we procrastinate that which we don’t like to do, or feel inept doing. Am I right?

What’s the nemesis on your to-do list?  Cleaning closets?  Turning in expense reports?  Paying bills?  Meeting with that one customer that seems to suck the life right out of you?

Well, we’re here to help.  We’ve discovered a practice that’s sure to turn your entire world around.  Do it, and your life will be perfect and harmonious and fabulous!  (Maybe not.  But we can make a little progress, anyway.)

Drum Roll, Please…

This technique is called, “Swallow the Frog.” Really!! I mean, who wants to swallow a frog?  Slimy, squirmy, icky.  And that’s what it’s like to face the task you’re procrastinating.  So, get up each morning and assess that day’s “frog.”  And “swallow” it FIRST – before you do anything else.  (Well, maybe not before you have your coffee.  Let’s not go crazy, here.)  Think about it – if you just face into your fear/boredom/anxiety/frustration and tackle it – won’t everything else in the day seem easy by comparison?  I thought so.

Try it out.  Let me know if it works.  (Leave a comment here, please.)  And if the “frog” you need to swallow is finally asking your very handy father-in-law to lay some new carpeting for you; call him.  Then, call Ahwatukee Carpets. We can sell you top quality materials and give Pop some advice on installation, or save him from himself if he gets in over his head.

Now, down the hatch!

Making your living spaces lively,

Traci Tartaglio & Team

Ahwatukee Carpets

I received an extraordinary gift this month – no, it doesn’t sparkle, but pretty close -  just in time for our celebration.  I was nominated by the Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce for the Palo Verde Business Woman of the Year 2011 award.  Again, I was humbled.   I share the nomination with 9 accomplished, generous, savvy business women doing it all.  I am honored to stand alongside them, and hopeful we can inspire the next generation of women to follow their dreams.  We’ve come a long way, baby!

Of course, I share this nomination, and our 20th year anniversary, with the fine men and women on my team.  No successful person ever makes it alone, and I stand in awe of their dedication, loyalty and friendship.  (Oh, brother. Am I going to cry already this morning?!)  How can I ever properly thank you?

So – we feel like celebrating, and we’re going to do it in 21st Century style.  Today, we’re kicking off the “Party on our Page” on Facebook.  For the next 2 weeks, we’re going to thank our customers and friends, have some fun and even give away some prizes.  In honor of our 20th anniversary, we want to make more friends, and bring our count up to 420 “Likes.”  Will you help us?  Starting today, share our page with your friends, and ask them to “Like” Ahwatukee Carpets.  We’ll add their names to a drawing for a beautiful prize basket – filled surprise goodies.  Worth playing for?

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the support, referrals, and generosity you’ve shown over the past 20 years.  We’re grateful, and we’re humbled.  And we promise to keep “floorin’ you” for another 20 years!

Make yours a Productive and Peaceful Day,

Traci Tartaglio

Owner & President, Ahwatukee Carpets

It’s true, the economy has taken a toll on many people in one form or another.

Flooring has evolved.  No longer just languishing beneath carpeting – there are so many choices now.  Which is nice, but can also become dizzying, like standing in the cereal aisle.  Flooring makes a statement. What do you want yours to say  – and where do you start?  (Aside from having a nice cup of coffee with me and asking questions?)  Let me empower your decision.  Consider the following:

-What does your lifestyle demand? (Are the kids still at home?  Do you entertain frequently?  What kind of time do you have for maintenance?)

-What is your budget? (Do you need to finance?  Do you have the cold hard cash to negotiate a better deal?  Will an investment in flooring help sell your home faster?)

-What kind of style matches your personality? (Contemporary? Elegant? Wash-n-wear?  Practical? Quirky?  Playful?)

-What size is the room you’re flooring? (Can you consider a remnant? Or are you flooring a large space – enough to leverage a deal?)

-What color scheme are you working with? (Do you want to stay neutral for a forthcoming sale of your home, or can you buy exactly what you like to compliment a color palette?)

At Ahwatukee Carpets, we help people uncover (pun intended) information that yields the best decision.  We ask questions, we listen, we introduce the  options to meet those needs.  After nearly 2 decades in business, we’ve honed our craft.

So if you’re looking for a “quick and dirty” overview, here’s the statement each one of these flooring options makes:

Hard Wood: Says, “I care about the environment.  I’m the original “green” choice.  Welcome!  But don’t forget to keep me clean.”

Marble: Says, “I am fit for royalty.  Please, please entertain and dance, but use caution.  I’m the real deal.  And I insist on polishing!”

Laminate: Says, “I am an affordable alternative to hardwood.  I challenge you to notice the difference!“

Tile:  Says, “I offer you so many options in color, size and style!  Oh – and if you like the look of hardwood, I can fake it!”

Whatever statement you want to make, Ahwatukee Carpets can navigate your many choices.  Stop on by, and put an ear up to our samples.  We promise they’ll whisper the answer.

Making your living Spaces Lively,

Traci Tartaglio,

President & Owner

Ahwatukee Carpets

Or …  do you have no idea what I’m talking about??

If you’ve heard the hullabaloo but haven’t had a spare minute to log on – well, make one.  I’m here to help. Check out this super-quick video and get the skinny on the changes; then get back to business.

I can’t say I love the new digs – but I’ve said that before.  I’ve adapted; it’s what we do.  Ever since I read, Gary Vaynerchuk’s book, Crush It, I was sold on the power of adding social media to the mix in promoting my brand.  Vaynerchuk, a passionate Sommalier, used social media to build a massive audience who were shared his  passion for wine.  He’s since been hailed a social media guru, helping legions of business people realize their dreams by harnessing its power.  Check it out, and of course, find him on Facebook!!

Social media might feel overwhelming, but if you take the time to learn and become disciplined in your usage, the time you invest will yield results. I believe establishing and maintaining a professional, credible compelling FaceBook page makes a statement about your business.  What does yours have to say?

I get it – keeping up with the changes and demands of maintaining a consistent online presence that delivers your message can be overwhelming.  But know this – you’re not alone.  Chances are, you know more than you think you do.  Every business person – including those who manage social media for professionally – faces the daunting task of staying ahead of the curve.  Again – I’m here to help!

In my efforts to navigate “the jungle” out there – I’ve found it helpful to read one quick article each week to help me embrace the inevitable (@#!!#*@!*) changes that social media promises to deliver.   So take my word, the Social Media Examiner is THE newsletter to which you want to subscribe via email.  It’s easy to read and chock full  quick tips you can apply immediately.  Read it; live it; share it.  Social media is all about collaboration!!

Locally, if you want to gather with other professionals learning to maximize the staggering potential of social media, check out Bushido Marketing’s Social Media Lab on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.  Join the conversation in real-time via phone or reserve a seat and get some quick and dirty tips.  (Oh, it’s OK to vent, too.)  Got a question? Connect with Bushido’s Social Media Maven, Christine Marek, on Facebook, of course!

Until then, see you online.  Be sure to visit our Facebook page and click, “Like.”  We’ll return the favor!

Making your living Spaces more Lively,

Traci Tartaglio,

President & Owner,

Ahwatukee Carpets