From shag carpet to gaudy Brazilian cherry and seemingly back to shag again, Peter Pocrnic has practically seen it all over two decades.
Now poised to celebrate 20 years in business in early November, the owner of Casa Madera Hardwood Floors is reflecting on his rock-solid clientele, while looking ahead to another two decades.
“It’s been a learning curve at times, but we’ve got a really great clientele and we’ve worked hard at keeping that clientele,” Pocrnic says. “We’re looking forward to staying here until my golden years and I’m very grateful.”
Looking back on those early days in business, Pocrnic was quite literally seeing red. Designers insisted on all things red, along with Brazilian cherry and reddish-brown undertones.
It wouldn’t be long before the design community shifted to chocolate browns and or ebony-brown hybrids, along with a rise in popularity of hand-scraped flooring.
The order of the day then became silver and grey tones, while today’s discerning eyes opt for a more practical colour palette and product: natural oak tones; brushed oak with a low matte finish; bleached white or taupe undertones; traditional narrow planed flooring and wire brushed floors.
Water-proof vinyl floors are also a hot seller, as they’re ideal for entry-level homes, the colour tones are practical and they’re backed by a 15-year commercial wear warranty.
But perhaps the contemporary isn’t for everyone.
There was a time not long ago when Pocrnic’s cousin had a Flashback Friday moment and insisted on a shag rug.
“I told him he’d need a rake to clean it because it's the perfect material to hide dust,” Pocrnic jokes. “But I speak to designers all the time and when they have the same colour for too long, they get sick of it and want to switch it up. Who knows, maybe shag carpet is coming back.”
Fast forward to present day and Pocrnic has established long-standing relationships across his customer base of homeowners, contractors renovators and designers.
All while he does offer house calls, the showroom is where it’s at due to the tactile nature of the experience – customers can touch and feel the product while getting an exact idea of colour types.
“We’re a bricks and mortar shop,” Pocrnic says. “You can’t find the product online and if you do find a picture, the colour is off because the lighting could be too dark or too light. You have come to see the product in person.”
Perhaps the most integral aspect of that in-store experience is Casa Madera’s unwavering commitment to customer service. Pocrnic always makes it priority one to maintain relationships with his clients, from helping with product knowledge to giving advice on repairs and whatever may come up down the road.
“I think it’s really, really important that I tell the clients that when I do a floor, I treat it like it’s my own home,” Pocrnic says. “They want to know they’re being looked after and that’s my job.”
Ready to elevate your home? Stop by Casa Madera’s showroom or visit casamaderafloors.com and find the flooring that fits your style and needs.
