PHOENIX - When asked recently what product category he was most excited about, Phil Koufidakis, owner of Baker Bros., with seven flooring stores in the Phoenix area, could have said hardwood flooring or LVT, the current hottest product in the flooring business. Instead, Koufidakis said "area rugs," and there was good reason for that.

Rugs bring an element of fashion to the selling floor, and Baker Bros. refreshes its showrooms by bringing in new rug collections and/or changing around displays and assortments as a way to give the stores a fresh appearance. "And there is always something exciting about that," said Koufidakis, whose stores boast the largest rug selection in the Phoenix region, listing Karastan, Nourison, Trans Ocean and Couristan on its website. "Area rugs is a big business for us, and if you want to be in this market you have to make the best of it."

Baker Bros. merchandises rugs in a dedicated section but also makes use of its robust hard surface assortment to promote the fact that rugs and hardwood flooring make a great pairing. The company's motto, "Where Fashion Meets Flooring," is something the company dedicates itself to, emphasizing on its website that Baker Bros. is the one flooring center in its region that elevates, educates and emphasizes style.

Baker Bros. started off 2015 with a New Year's resolution, an "Area Rug Blowout" that commenced Jan. 1 and offered sales of between 30% and 80% off rugs. It kick-started what has been a banner year in rugs for Baker Bros., Koufidakis said.

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