Since 1947, Permanent Floors Carpet One has been flooring its customers and their homes
By Patricia Nugent
Not many families can say they are running their business pretty much the same way today as when it was founded in 1947.
When Ken Kassouf Sr. is asked to what he attributes the success of the company he founded—Permanent Floors Carpet One—he quickly replies, “hard work.”
His story is a testament to the American dream.
“I had my brother sign me up so I could serve in World War II when I was 16 years old,” recalls Ken, who today is 96. “I served as a gunner and fuel tank operator on ships in England and all over the Caribbean. As soon as I was discharged, I got off the bus and went right to work for a friend for $20 per month. Within two years I started my own business, hiring installers and a tile person who could lay ceramic tile. We built a reputation for hard work, honesty and a job well done. Over the years, we worked with families one generation to the next.”
Sponsoring more than 150 Little League baseball teams has been an initiative since the beginning. The plaques are still prominently displayed on the walls.
“Generosity and community involvement are a big part of our business,” says Ken, who vividly remembers his parents opening their doors to feed their neighbors during the Great Depression.
“We’ve always been blessed when it comes to our employees, too,” he says. “We take care of them, and they take care of us and the customers. I don’t think anyone has ever quit because they were unhappy.”
One of the Best Warranties in the Business
Another pillar of the family’s success is its warranty known as The Beautiful Guarantee. If a customer is anything other than completely happy with their Carpet One flooring, Permanent Floors will come back and replace it for free.
“No one else in our industry does this,” he says. “Believe it or not, we’ve only had to honor it once in all these years.”
Ken’s daughter, Barb Rusinko, likes to joke that she started working at the shop when she was 2 years old, but it wasn’t until she was 13 that she began bookkeeping officially on the payroll.
“I begged my dad to let me work on the floor, interacting with our clients, and he let me when I turned 17,” she says. “I loved the job and went to school for design so I could help our clients bring their dream homes to life.”
Today Barb offers free in-home design services, consulting homeowners on everything in the space, from flooring to fabrics, paint colors and window treatments.
“My father taught us life lessons,” she adds. “The most important one being treat people how you want to be treated—like family.”
Representing the third generation of the operation is Ryan Mackey, president of the company, who is married to one of Ken’s granddaughters and has been with the business the past 16 years. He says they’ve expanded their offerings over the years beyond flooring, and now keep up with demand for renovations and building custom showers with high-end tiles.
“Our dedication to customer service has been a constant,” says Ryan. “Our customers rely on us to do an excellent job. Our installers and technicians are true craftsmen and have been with us for decades.”
Ken’s prediction for the next 75 years? Continued growth.
“I have 26 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson,” he says proudly. “I’d like to see them carry on the business. I believe they have what it takes to live up to our tagline, ‘Proud to serve your generation…and the next.’”
Expanding
Over the years, the Permanent Floors Carpet One family has continually expanded its footprint within the Parma shopping center. This month they knocked down the wall and refurbished a vacant adjacent storefront to make way for a new tile showroom.
“Demand has grown for designer tiles,” says Shelly Szabo, who is the granddaughter of founder Ken Kassouf Sr. “The new space allows us to add displays of tiles and makes for a nicer shopping experience.”
She says two of their hottest brands are Emser and American Olean.
“Although clean lines and subway tiles never go out of style, people are opting for more ornamental shapes, such as arabesque, and designer-inspired finishes,” says Shelly.
According to Ryan Mackey, president of the company, the expansion is part of their obligation to make sure every customer has an exceptional experience.
“Solidifying relationships with our customers is one of the reasons we’ve been in business so many years,” he says. “That’s why we’re able to weather volatile times like recessions and the pandemic. We’re invested in every client.”
The Permanent Floors Carpet One showroom is located at 5620 Ridge Road in Parma. Call 440-884-3300 or visit PermanentFloorsCarpetOne.com for more information.