Business Profile

Rainbow CaRpet one

By Edita McQuary

As it has been for many small business owners, 2020 was the most challenging year in the 44 years Rainbow Carpet One of Watsonville has been in business.

“We are happy to say starting May 1, our business has started to come back,” according to owner Dean Sturtevant. “2020 was a very difficult year. My longtime customers blessed us with work, but it was few and far between for six to eight months. Half of our employees were laid off until April 1st. Suppliers have been a great help financially.”

He added, “We still service all of Santa Cruz County, not just Watsonville. Although our original location in Santa Cruz has been closed for good now, the low-overhead location at 416 Airport Boulevard, near Watsonville Airport, allows us to compete with all the big-box stores.”

Dean says he and his employees provide the high-quality service that the big-box stores are not able to provide. Personal relationships in the community and word of mouth referrals have been vital to their business.

They carry a wide range of popular brands such as Armstrong, Mannington, Shaw, Mohawk, as well as many others.

In the last several years, styles in flooring have changed.

Rainbow Carpet One is installing tons of hardwood and Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring in residential and commercial areas. Luxury Vinyl Tile is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, easy to install and maintain, and has the look and feel of real wood. Rainbow also carries a range of area rugs to cover your flooring.

Besides carpeting and Luxury Vinyl Tile, you will find a good selection of hardwood, laminates and ceramic tile in many styles. They also carry window coverings to meet your decorating needs.

Local brothers Don and Dean Sturtevant started this family-owned business, however, Don has been retired for a number of years. Dean and wife Rochelle,

Floor Coverings Galore

Rainbow Carpet One is easy to find at 416 Airport Boulevard in Watsonville. both Soquel High School graduates, have been running the business for 42 years with local employees, almost all of whom are bilingual in Spanish.

“We also have installers who have worked with us for 30 years. We are truly a local store that can handle any project that comes our way,” said Dean.

Rainbow Carpet One prides itself on excellent customer service, free estimates and decorating service, and zero percent financing. The company is pleased to work with owners of residential and commercial buildings as well as with builders, real estate companies, and insurance restoration services.

Of course, there is sanitizer on hand as you walk in the door and the staff is careful to maintain Covid social distancing requirements while helping customers.

There is also a children’s area with a small table and chairs where kids can sit while their parents shop around.

As Dean says, “Flooring is what we do. It’s what we know better than anyone — it’s what we do better than anyone.” n •••

Rainbow Carpet One is located at 416 Airport Boulevard in Watsonville. Phone: 7283131. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. www. rainbowcarpetone.com

“Second Harvest” from page 15

For PfC Emily Menarrez, with the 1040th Quartermasters from Merced and new to the Army, it was her first activation. She caps it as a good experience, seeing how much volunteers are needed for food banks to operate.

“I didn’t realize what goes into providing food. It takes so many volunteers and local effort. People should volunteer and donate as much as they can,” she adds.

One of the side benefits for Guard members was getting to visit a different part of California.

Sgt. Samuel Galindo, from the Central Valley, was activated and began serving at Second Harvest early last May, remembers the strong working relationships formed, the trust and friendships created while away from home and the guard members’ desire to go above and beyond.

“Our group was from San Diego to Yreka,” he recalls. “We came from all over and worked together well. It was a great atmosphere and we were able to push 20,000 pounds of food a day. We provided food to so many people not working, made friends with locals

Photo Credit: Jennifer Welling California National Guards take on forklift duty at Second Harvest Food Bank’s warehouse in Watsonville. and Second Harvest staff. Lots of relationships were built and we had fun.”

Sgt. Andres Solarzano, with the 649th Engineers, from Chico, experienced satisfaction helping the community.

“It was special having direct contact with people many times (at mass distributions) and connecting with the public,” he said. “My friends and family are proud of what we’re doing. The wide array of people working at Second Harvest, the positive feelings and that they wanted to be here, happy to help out and that we loved the work.”

Sgt. Ryan Ridad, from Sacramento, currently managing the Guard team at Second Harvest, says it’s a humbling and positive mission. He feels blessed not needing the food bank himself.

“It’s a breath of fresh air, giving back, meeting a lot of grateful people,” Ridad says. “I’m not used to hearing ‘God bless you.’ It’s uplifting (receiving) that heartfelt appreciation.”

Fuentes, Second Harvest’s warehouse manager, says, “Working with the Guard has been something I never thought I would do in my lifetime. It’s fascinating to work along side a group of people who work so hard. Never complaining, just getting the job done!”

In the midst of the prior and ongoing pandemic and unemployment strife, the civilian soldiers of our National Guard can clearly claim “Mission accomplished” while receiving the blessings of so many people being helped in our county. n