Andrews Mayor Nancy Curtis
Andrews, NC — 8/21/15 The newest member of CarpetsPlus COLORTILE, Locust Trading Company, recently held its Grand Opening in Andrews, NC, on August 21, 2015 and a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Andrews Chamber of Commerce commemorated the start of their business.
Andrews Mayor Nancy Curtis addressed the crowd and welcomed the new company to Andrews. “Margo and Kenny Locust could have opened their store anywhere. They looked at nearby towns, but Andrews felt like home to them. Coming from Dalton, GA, the carpet capital of the world, they bring a wealth of knowledge to this business. We are so fortunate to have them in our town. No matter if you are remodeling or building new, you will find what you are looking for and get great service,” Curtis said.
Margaret DeLuna, president of the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed the new business and commended the Locusts for their courage in opening a business. DeLuna added, ““It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and your savings. You pour all of yourself into it, working into the wee hours of the morning. We appreciate they chose to come to Andrews and it will be a great addition to the town and all of Cherokee County.”
Scott Humphrey, CEO of World Floor Covering Association
Scott Humphrey, CEO of World Floor Covering Association, the largest association of its kind in the flooring industry, said, “Margo and Kenny are a true blend of passion for their jobs and compassion for others. Their professionalism and expertise in the field of flooring is a perfect match for the beautiful community of Andrews. I was impressed with the amazing people I met at the grand opening and I cannot wait to see how God blesses this business and the community in the years to come.”
David Ellis, Marketing Manager of Advertising and Public Relations for CarpetsPlus COLORTILE, came in from Chattanooga and thanked everyone for taking time to come out and support the new business. “My association with Margo goes back almost 10 years. She has attended our conventions, watched and learned from the best the industry has to offer and now she’s ready to embark on this new journey.”
Ellis continued, “With over 26 years of vast experience in all aspects of the flooring industry, she will be able to meet all her customers’ needs. She’s the editor-in-chief and publisher of Fabulous Floors Magazine, which also keeps her on the forefront of product knowledge. She believes in what she’s doing. She believes in this community. Margo and Kenny will be a real asset to Andrews. You will be proud to have her here.”
Margo closed the ceremony by thanking her husband, Kenny, for all the work and support, “I couldn’t have done this without Kenny. He’s put in many late nights – coming in after his regular job and working here to get everything ready. He’s a very special man.”
Sonna Calandrino, Locust and Ellis with member Scott Melkonian
After the ceremony, DeLuna commented, “With over 125 people in attendance, this is the largest grand opening ribbon cutting we’ve seen in Andrews. If this is any indication of how well they will do, they will most definitely succeed.”
Margo’s Industry Background
Margo worked for industry innovator, advocate and marketing expert Sonna Calandrino for 26 years. “She taught me so much about the flooring business – how to treat customers, how to sell, how to market a flooring business – she would be very happy to see me open this store, especially as part of CarpetsPlus COLORTILE.”
Calandrino spoke at a few CarpetsPlus conventions. Margo was also there with her, listening and learning. She also gave consultations at the 2008 Atlanta Convention, which was her last. She died in 2010 from bone and breast cancer.
“Sonna loved CarpetsPlus. She loved the way that Ron, Jon, Kevin and Ryan operated and treated the members. She was a big fan of treating people with respect and helping retailers anyway she could. I can see why she loved this group,” Margo said.
Locust with Ryan Palma, owner, Sustainable Lumber Company, Missoula, MT
Humphrey, Locust and Ellis