With turnover of £4m and an order book that sees its teams sent out for up to 300 domestic and commercial fitting jobs around the county per week, Gloucester Carpet Outlet is doing something right – despite the carpet and vinyl flooring sector enduring a kicking from cash-strapped consumers this year.

Founded and led by Dan Leach and Ben Bryon, who grew up as schoolmates at St Peter's High School, the prominent business at 90, Bristol Road, has bounced back from the challenges of Covid and subsequently increased staffing to 12 full time – while a further 20 contractors ensure the job gets done once any order is put through.

But as Dan explained to Punchline-Gloucester.com Editor Mark Owen, each order can trigger a barrage of logistic challenges: "We have crews out every single day of the week, apart from Sundays – except in emergencies – and the challenge is times, address keys, delays, traffic, flooding, snow... wherever we are, it's all about keeping the consumer happy."

2024 has undoubtedly been a harsh year, not least – amid weakened consumer spending – with the headline collapse of Carpetright in July, trailing a colossal debt eventually established at £373m and the loss of more than 1,000 staff across 300 stores.

Reflecting on the sector's retail fortune, Dan said: "It's getting worse, but as an independent warehouse here in Gloucester, we can't complain," adding how value and a broad range of carpet and vinyl products to meet every budget was ensuring sustained commercial, landlord and domestic business. Customer service, product and price, he said, were paramount in the firm's retail offer.

Dan added: "We are also lucky to have this 10,000 foot showroom so visitors can explore how the world of carpets and flooring is moving on. We work with independent suppliers and rely heavily on British-made products, given that so much progress is now going into eco flooring, with such choices as sweetcorn pulp, bamboo and, of course sisal and seagrass."

The business is also seeing increased recognition and demand for wool as an ethical option in carpet choice, he said, while promotion initiatives with such products as showcased by Abingdon Flooring options, with 80/20 wool mixes, have created good customer response – though he added: "In a way, it is no surprise that wool is eco-friendly - carpets have been made from it for 2,500 years!"

But Dan is first to recognise that budget remains the dominant consideration for many, which is why the store's gargantuan space holds acres of roll stock and offcut items, priced at under £100.

"What has helped to keep customer interest is the fact that we are able to help people find a solution, whatever their budget is," he said.

"I think having all bases covered is our key approach; we buy big, so we can then keep the prices down for customers and, while we have seen the development of considerable luxury options in the flooring market, the industry has sustained an absolute battering this year."

In terms of the market as we look to the end of the year and 2025, he added: "We are seeing people make the decision to live with what they have got, as opposed to something new and trendy, so our approach is to focus on products which don't go out of fashion, that are affordable and offer bomb-proof performance – all within people's budgets."

● You can find out more detail on what Gloucester Carpet Outlet has in store with Dan's non-stop tour of the showroom here, while to be in with a chance of a £5,000 Big Christmas Giveaway held by the store, be sure to like and share the store's Facebook page. The promotion, which will run from December 1 to 12, will see prizes that include a full house carpeting, meat and champagne hampers, £500 cash giveaway. Terms and conditions to apply as indicated. Gloucester Carpet Outlet can also be contacted on 01452 413513.