By Jessica Borders
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — Wholesale Carpet Outlet, now called WCO Flooring America, has improved its offerings and is taking even better care of its customers.
The business recently joined a large buying group, Flooring America, and condensed the name Wholesale Carpet Outlet to WCO.
Becoming a part of this buying group doesn’t reflect any change in ownership, and the store’s personnel remains the same. Rock Manchin and his second cousin Mike Roscoe and Kirk Sestito are still business partners and the co-owners.
By joining Flooring America, the business has a better and simpler selection. Rock explained that there are so many different manufacturers in the flooring industry, and Flooring America purchases “the best of the best” and puts it in one rack.
Through this change, the store is also able to offer better warranties and now has monthly promotions. The business features a 60-day assurance on its products, compared to 30 days previously, and a lifetime warranty on jobs done in a person’s home. Long-term financing is also available.
“Day in and day out we can be competitive,” Rock said. “This is giving us a little more ammo because of the clout we have.”
Rock’s father and grandfather started a grocery store in Farmington in the mid-1940s, and then his family went on to sell furniture, appliances and carpet. The Manchins have been working solely in the flooring business since 1968.
“There’s a lot of history of what’s got us to where we’re at and how we’ve grown,” Rock said.
He formed a partnership with Roscoe and Sestito, and in 1992 they bought Wholesale Carpet Outlet. The family’s store — called Manchin’s — was closed the following year.
In 1997, the owners of Wholesale Carpet Outlet purchased and built the existing location in White Hall on the hill behind Wal-Mart. The store measures 25,000 square feet. They opened a second location in 2005 at Northpointe Plaza in Morgantown near the Mileground.
“When it comes to flooring, we pretty much have it covered,” Rock said.
In addition to installing various types of carpet, WCO Flooring America does a lot of ceramic tile in showers and even puts on countertops. Rock said hardwood flooring is very popular and practical today because it doesn’t scratch easily and has a nice protective finish, and the business sells a good amount of vinyl, too.
The store also has a window treatment department and an interior designer — Angie Retton — on staff.
“There’s not too many people that stock and have a lot of inventory like we do,” Rock said. “What’s made us over the years in a lot of ways is our inventory.”
Commercial work, such as for hotels and college campuses, is a big part of the store’s business.
WCO Flooring America just remodeled its showroom, and also has a brand new Web site at www.wcoflooringamerica.com.
Over the years, the business’ goal has always been to meet the needs of customers and give the best service, Rock said.
With both locations, the business currently has about 30 workers total and also works with approximately 50 independent contractors. It is one of the largest flooring retailers in the state.
Rock said the business doesn’t just take orders, but strives to take care of people and offer the latest products. Its experienced staff can help customers find the right product for them. WCO Flooring America stands behind its services, and if there happens to be a problem, the store will make it right.
“We are very appreciative of all the support we have had from our customers,” he said. “We’re thankful.”
For more information, call Wholesale Carpet Outlet at 304-363-6510 (White Hall) or 304-225-3000 (Morgantown).
E-mail Jessica Borders at jborders@timeswv.com.
