‘A WELL-OILE MACHINE’ From concept to installation, Douglas Carpet One thrives on making renovation dreams come true By Vicki Martinka Petersen | Photos by Kathy Green, RCG Photography
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ustomers who step into the showroom at Douglas Carpet One in Batavia are often welcomed by the company’s most valued and furriest employee: a friendly service dog, Brady. “My dog, Brady, is the official greeter. He’s also been in a lot of our ads,” says Belinda Demski, sales manager. It’s that level of service and hospitality from both the human and canine employees that have made Douglas Carpet a fixture of the Fox Valley area since 1964.
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Part of the Carpet One national chain, Douglas Carpet prides itself in being a hometown destination for the community’s remodeling needs. “We’re family-owned and -operated. We keep our company small, giving employees the opportunity to play many roles,” Demski says.
founders Len and Marilyn Douglas’ basement in their North Aurora home. The Douglas family opened a storefront in North Aurora, then later expanded to a second location in Geneva. In the ’80s, Douglas passed the torch to his sons Mike and Jim, who now own the company.
Douglas Carpet also is proud to provide their customers with top-notch service thanks to its loyal, hardworking and knowledgeable staff. “Everyone that's been here tends to stay. So it’s really like a family without a lot of turnover,” Demski says. “We’re a well-oiled machine.”
A lot has changed over the nearly 60 years of the business. In February, Douglas Carpet consolidated from its two locations in Geneva and North Aurora into a bigger space at the former TGI Fridays building in Batavia. “The move gave us more room and a chance to own a building rather than renting a space,” says Demski.
The company began as Douglas Flooring Inc. in
