Happy New Year! December 31, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : About Us , add a comment
As 2009 comes to an end, we want to wish all of our readers, customers and supporters a HAPPY, HEALTHY, SAFE and PROSPEROUS New Year. We appreciate your business, your loyalty and your confidence in Big Bob’s in 2009 and look forward to what 2010 has to bring!
What Your Christmas Tree Says About You December 24, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Merry Christmas from all of us at Big Bob’s. We hope you have a safe and healthy holiday season. Today’s post is simply to provide a little holiday humor. No matter what your tree says about you, we appreciate you taking the time to visit and read our blog. Thank you!
What your Christmas Tree says about you………
White lights: You ask your houseguests to remove their shoes and you professionally clean your carpet once a year like you are supposed to.
Multicolored lights: You’re an extrovert and probably have colored tiles in your home.
Blinking lights: You have attention deficit disorder and have no idea the last time you had your carpets professionally cleaned or where you put the phone number to call to have it done.
Homemade ornaments: You have lots of children and need to visit the maintenance sections on our website often.
Strung popcorn: You have too much time on your hands and will need to make sure you have a good vacuum cleaner to remove all of the popcorn that falls from your floors. (Don’t forget to empty the bag if you have one)
Red balls only: You wish you lived in a department store and like shiny floors.
Yellow star on top: You’re traditional and your floors are all neutral.
Glowing Santa on top: You shop at Kitsch ‘R’ Us. We have shiny things, too so feel free to come shop with us.
Cutoff top: You didn’t measure the tree and probably shouldn’t attempt to install your floors by yourself.
Vague evergreen smell: You bought a healthy tree and since you clearly make good decisions, you are already a Big Bob’s customer.
Strong evergreen smell: You sprayed your tree with Pine Sol and also your floors while you had the Pine Sol out.
Just plain smelly: There’s a dead bird in your tree. Sorry, maybe a new area rug would make you feel better.
Again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Big Bob’s!
Floor Care for the Holidays December 16, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance, Uncategorized , add a comment
Holiday time can mean more traffic and wear on your floors. At Big Bob’s, we would like to help you protect your investment this holiday season. Below are a few simple things you can do to help keep your floors in tip top shape.
- Start at every entrance. If you don’t have walk off mats, be sure to place them at every entrance. If you do have walk off mats, be sure that they are clean and free of dirt and debris. This gives people a place to deposit the dirt from their shoes and keep it on the mat rather than on your floors!
- When doing your regular household maintenance and vacuuming, remember to check and empty your bag or canisters often and vacuum as often as possible. The more times you vacuum, the better your carpet will perform and the longer it will last.
- Invest a few minutes and check the bottoms of your chairs to see if they have floor protectors. If they do, check to make sure they are in good shape. If not, make it a priority to get these on there!
- When entertaining, be aware that guests in high heels can do severe damage to your floors. The average sized woman’s weight exerts 2000 pounds per square inch of force when wearing high heals!
- If you get a stain, don’t panic. Treat it as soon as possible and treat it properly! When in doubt, don’t try multiple cleaners. Visit our website and read the maintenance sections under the appropriate type of flooring.
- Check out the blog post from The Carpet and Rug Institute on 10 Tips for the Holidays. They have some great advice as well!
Design Perspective: Family Room December 8, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Area Rugs, Design Perspectives , add a commentFamily rooms are all about comfort and how you live. When you can combine style and comfort, then you have a great family room. This image from our area rug gallery is a good example of a comfortable and stylish family room. Let’s examine what makes this room so inviting.
- The earth tones are the first thing that comes to mind when looking at what makes the room so inviting. They all compliment each other so well.
- The warm, rich color of the hardwood sets the stage for a warm and comfortable room.
- Rather than an area rug that fits just in front of the sofa and under the coffee table trunk, the rug is larger to create and extended seating area.
- The fabric and greenery help make the room look more complete.
- The large opening into the dining room and kitchen make this room feel like a part of the rest of the house rather than separated off from everyone else.
- The addition of a small upholstered chair and possibly an ottoman would give more room for additional family or guests to enjoy this room as well as add to the comfort.
Imagine a fire in the fireplace and a warm blanket on that nice big sofa…….all you need is a cup of hot cocoa and you’re all set!
What do you like or dislike about this family room? What would you add or change?
Area Rug Sizes – What’s right for a room? December 2, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Area Rugs , add a commentAr
ea rugs are a great way to give a room personality or to tie together a design scheme. Area rugs can provide that burst of color that is needed to bring a room to life or start as the focal point of a room. Area rugs can provide warmth under your feet as well as provide warmth to a room. When selecting area rugs, there are some considerations to keep in mind.
Area rug considerations:
Living Rooms
Area rugs can be a nice compliment to a seating area in a living room or they can be used to cover the majority of the floor almost like a wall to wall carpet. When using an area rug in front of a sofa or chairs and under a coffee table, there is a debate about how large that area rug should be. The area rug should at least be large enough for all 4 legs of the coffee table to sit on and should be relatively proportionate to the size of the furnishings in the room. If you are using the area rug to cover the majority of the room, leave equal amount of space around each of the edges. (at least 4-6 inches) Whether the legs of the furniture are all on or off the area rug is personal preference. Just be sure that if the front legs are off the rug and the back legs are on the rug that the piece of furniture is stable and level.
Dining Rooms
When planning for an area rug in an eating area, the most important thing to consider is safety. You want to make sure that the guests sitting in chairs can move freely in their chairs while still remaining on the area rug itself. A good rule of thumb is to measure your eating table and add 4′ to each measurement. That will give you 2 feet of consideration for the chairs and 2 extra feet for movement in the chairs.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms are a great place to use area rugs for additional color and added warmth. It always feels better for bare feet to hit an area rug first thing in the morning rather than a cold hard surface floor! The great thing about using area rugs in bedrooms is that you can use multiple complimentary rugs (i.e. at the foot of the bed and on each side) or one large area rug that only the edges are seen around the bed.
Come see us for more information on area rug sizes for your home. Our knowledgeable staff is ready to assist you with choosing the perfect area rug for you!
Community Involvement: Homes for Our Troops November 25, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Uncategorized , add a comment
At Big Bob’s, we make it a point to show our support for the community by donating materials and/or money to several local charities. In the past five years the contributions from Big Bob’s have exceeded $120,000. We would not be able to show this level of support to these worthwhile charities if it was not for the dedication and productivity of the staff at Big Bob’s.
Last week I attended the Creating Your Space annual members conference in Sonoma, California. Creating Your Space is the web site vendor partner for Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet on a national basis and they service our local site www.mybigbobs.com. At the conference I was presented with an opportunity to help support a charity in conjunction with the Creating Your Space team. Rather than try to explain it, we ask each of you to take 6 minutes out of your schedule before leaving for the Thanksgiving break and view the video clip below. I guarantee it will be the best 6 minutes you could spend at this time of year when you are giving thanks. – Brad Millner, CEO.
http://www.bridgewayinteractive.com/homesfortroops.htm
For those of you that are not able to view the video, Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004. It is with duty and honor that Homes for Our Troops assists severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently. The homes provided by Homes for Our Troops are given at NO COST to the Veterans.
To learn more about this organization please visit: www.homesforourtroops.org
From everyone at Big Bob’s, we would like to wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.
Design Perspective: Dining Room November 23, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design Perspectives, Hardwood / Laminate , add a comment
Here at Big Bob’s, we truly believe that a picture is worth a thousand words which is why we have a gallery of floors on our site for your browsing pleasure. In that gallery of floors, we show a variety of different room scenes with different flooring options and different design styles. Many of our readers have commented that they would like some insight into what makes these room scenes so appealing.
- The wider width plank hardwood used in this room was an excellent choice for the size of the room. The wider the plank, the larger the room appears.
- The graining of the hardwood helps add character, dimension and depth to the floor.
- The furniture compliments the stain of the wood, but doesn’t match exactly. Remember, it’s best to blend or coordinate, not match.
- The warm rich color of the walls creates a warm and elegant, yet comfortable feeling.
- The ceiling accent color adds to the warm feeling of the room and provides an accent color for decorative items such as artwork, florals, window treatments and a future area rug.
- The round table creates a comfortable walkway or path that will be excellent for the flow of entertaining.
- The metal in the light fixture ties in well with the metal pickets on the stairs in the adjacent room.
- The addition of an area rug would only further warm up the room. An area rug that blended the color of the walls with the ceiling color as an accent would look fantastic in this room. A darker background rug would give the room a more formal feel where an area rug with a light background would give the room a more casual feel.
What do you like about this room? What features appeal to you? What changes or additions would you make to fit your style?
Flooring for the Holidays – Reader Question November 6, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Reader Questions , add a comment
Question:
It’s already November and the whole family including in-laws wants to come to OUR house for Thanksgiving Dinner! I have been meaning to get new floors, but I hadn’t really had a reason as pressing as dinner for 18. Is it crazy for me to try to get new floors installed in my dining room and family room before the holiday? I don’t have time to do any of the work myself, but need my home to look great before my mother in law gets here. Can you help?
Samantha - Yuma, AZ
Answer:
Samantha, we understand your situation! Lucky for you we have tons of in-stock specials to choose from. Not only can we more than likely complete your project before your deadline, but possibly save you some money to buy a new outfit for dinner. Our in-stock items include products from every category and in multiple budget ranges. Since 1983 and to this day our philosophy is to provide a wide selection of in-stock carpet, vinyl, laminate, remnants and tile flooring so you will have plenty of choices to choose from. Due to the fact that we purchase truckloads rather than one piece at a time, the savings is passed on to you which means you get more and pay less.
The key is to not waste any more time. The last thing you want to do is cut it too close because that’s when Murphy’s Law happens! To get ready, you can browse our in-stock products on our website to see the choices we have to offer. You can even save the ones you like in your own personal workbook so that we can start working right away when you come into the store. If you need some help deciding on the right style for you or not sure what product is best for your lifestyle you can utilize the tools in our design resources section. If you are ready to start making some decisions, come into the store and let’s get started. We will discuss your project to be sure that all of the details of the project are in place for a timely installation. It’s important to discuss all of the details of the project so that there are no surprises.
We look forward to seeing you and hope to hear back about the success of your family dinner!
Bathroom Blogfest 2009: Environmentally Friendly Bathroom Flooring Choices October 27, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Bathroom Blogfest 2009, Green , add a comment
My Big Bob’s blog has been invited to participate in the 4th annual Bathroom Blogfest. During the annual Bathroom Blogfest, bloggers from around the globe write about the importance of bathrooms in the customer experience. Posts come from a wide range of perspectives that include sociology, marketing, research, psychology, environmental, customer experience, and user-experience design. Our contributing post today is on environmentally friendly bathroom flooring choices.
We define Green Flooring as any flooring that is sustainable, eco-friendly, contains recycled content, is recyclable, leaves a small carbon footprint or has low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compound). There are different degrees of green when referring to different types of flooring.
Below are some of the green features and benefits of different types of bathroom flooring:
Cork
- Better than a renewable resource because it is a harvested resource (only the bark is harvested from the tree)
- A recycled product because cork floors are made from the waste cork that makes wine stoppers.
- A law in the 1930’s called “The 9 Year Law” was passed to keep cork from being harvested any sooner than every 9 years. The tree has to reach 60 cm in circumference before it can be harvested. The first harvest from a cork tree can only occur at age 25.
- The tree is not destroyed or damaged when harvesting cork.
Bamboo
- Bamboo is a rapidly renewing resource that matures in three years
- It regenerates without need for replanting
- It also requires minimal fertilization or pesticides
- There are currently is FSC certified bamboo options available so it is important to see what you can confirm about the bamboo you are interested in before purchasing.
Carpet
- According to the Carpet and Rug Institute: The carpet industry is minimizing carpet’s impact on the environment through the new “3 Rs” which stand for reduce, reuse and recycle. When carpet reaches the end of its long life, it is reused to make new carpet or is recycled into a variety of products, ranging from roofing shingles and railroad ties to automotive parts.
- Factors that determine if carpet is “green”: carpet fibers, dye, VOC emissions, and recycled content.
- The Green Label and Green Label Plus from the Carpet and Rug Institute ensure that customers are purchasing among the lowest emitting carpet, adhesive and cushion products on the market.
Stone
- It’s a natural product
- It has an enduring life cycle so it doesn’t have to be replaced
- Ease of care and maintenance
- Recyclable
- Quarry and manufacturing use best practices
- Can be reclaimed
Hardwood
- Natural Resource
- Renewable
- Recyclable
- Suitable for a “healthy home” environment
- Forests are managed for replanting
Linoleum
- Made from all natural materials
- The natural raw materials used to create Linoleum are available in abundance: linseed oil, rosin, wood flour, cork flour, ecologically responsible pigments and jute.
- These raw materials are harvested or extracted with relatively little energy consumption. The main energy resource for the process is the sun. The plants and trees that supply linoleum’s raw materials also contribute to the production of oxygen and the subsequent reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thus reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses present in the atmosphere.
- Can be recycled
- The energy obtained from incinerating linoleum is roughly equivalent to or even more than that which is used in production.
- Linoleum can be safely added to landfill refuse sites, where natural decomposition takes place. Linoleum is fully biodegradable and does not release harmful substances or gases such as chlorine and dioxins.
- Adhesives are 100% solvent free and meet all low VOC requirements
- Does not require maintenance from harmful chemicals
- Linoleum contains virtually no trace of toxic material and is naturally beneficial to air quality.
Ceramic Tile
- Rarely release emissions
- Some contain recycled content
- Long lasting and not replaced frequently
- Requires little maintenance
- Value is unclear due to it’s weight causing more fuel during transportation
If you are interested in green flooring for your project, please contact us at 1821 S. Arizona Ave. Yuma AZ 85365 or 928-217-5551 for more detailed information or samples!
To follow other participants in the Bathroom Blogfest, here’s a list of other participating Bathroom Blogfest bloggers:
- Susan Abbott at Customer Experience Crossroads http://www.customercrossroads.com
- Reshma Anand at Qualitative Research Blog http://onqualitativeresearch.blogspot.com/
- Shannon Bilby at From the Floors Up http://fromthefloorsup.com/
- Laurence Borel at Blog Till You Drop http://www.laurenceborel.com/
- Jeanne Byington at The Importance of Earnest Service http://blog.jmbyington.com/
- Becky Carroll at Customers Rock! http://www.customersrock.net;
- Leslie Clagett at KB Culture www.kbculture.blogspot.com
- Katie Clark at Practical Katie http://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/;
- Iris Shreve Garrott at Checking In and Checking Out http://circulating.wordpress.com/;
- Julie at Julie’s Cleaning Secrets Blog http://cleaningsecrets.greatcleaners.com/
- Marianna Hayes at Results Revolution http://www.resultsrevolution.com
- Maria Palma at People To People Service http://www.people2peopleservice.com/
- Professor Toilet at Professor Toilet’s Blog http://www.professortoilet.com/
- David Reich at My 2 Cents http://reichcomm.typepad.com/
- Bethany Richmond at The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog http://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com
- Carolyn Townes at Becoming a Woman of Purpose http://spiritwomen.blogpsot.com
- Stephanie Weaver at Experienceology http://experienceology.blogspot.com;
- C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com and Simple Marketing Blog http://www.SimpleMarketingBlog.com
- Linda Wright at Lindaloo.com: Build Better Business with Better Bathrooms http://lindaloo.com/
Other ways to follow the Bathroom Blogfest:
The website: http://www.BathroomBlogfest.com
The Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bathroom-Blogfest/124443309541?ref=ts
Twitter: @BathroomBlogfes
This year’s sponsor of the Bathroom Blogfest: http://www.bathroomblogfestdeal.com/
Bathroom Blogfest 2009 October 26, 2009
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Bathroom Blogfest 2009 , add a commentMy Big Bob’s blog has been invited to participate in the 4th annual Bathroom Blogfest. During the annual Bathroom Blogfest, bloggers from around the globe write about the importance of bathrooms in the customer experience. Posts come from a wide range of perspectives that include sociology, marketing, research, psychology, environmental, customer experience, and user-experience design. The event was initiated in 2006. Big Bob’s will be participating with a blog post this week on environmentally friendly bathroom floor options. Please stay tuned for our contributing post for the 2009 Bathroom Blogfest.
Here’s a list of other participating Bathroom Blogfest bloggers:
- Susan Abbott at Customer Experience Crossroads http://www.customercrossroads.com
- Reshma Anand at Qualitative Research Blog http://onqualitativeresearch.blogspot.com/
- Shannon Bilby at From the Floors Up http://fromthefloorsup.com/
- Shannon Bilby and Brad Millner at My Big Bob’s Blog http://blog.mybigbobs.com/
- Laurence Borel at Blog Till You Drop http://www.laurenceborel.com/
- Jeanne Byington at The Importance of Earnest Service http://blog.jmbyington.com/
- Becky Carroll at Customers Rock! http://www.customersrock.net;
- Leslie Clagett at KB Culture www.kbculture.blogspot.com
- Katie Clark at Practical Katie http://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/;
- Iris Shreve Garrott at Checking In and Checking Out http://circulating.wordpress.com/;
- Julie at Julie’s Cleaning Secrets Blog http://cleaningsecrets.greatcleaners.com/
- Marianna Hayes at Results Revolution http://www.resultsrevolution.com
- Maria Palma at People To People Service http://www.people2peopleservice.com/
- Professor Toilet at Professor Toilet’s Blog http://www.professortoilet.com/
- David Reich at My 2 Cents http://reichcomm.typepad.com/
- Bethany Richmond at The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog http://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com
- Carolyn Townes at Becoming a Woman of Purpose http://spiritwomen.blogpsot.com
- Stephanie Weaver at Experienceology http://experienceology.blogspot.com;
- C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com and Simple Marketing Blog http://www.SimpleMarketingBlog.com
- Linda Wright at Lindaloo.com: Build Better Business with Better Bathrooms http://lindaloo.com/
Other ways to follow the Bathroom Blogfest:
The website: http://www.BathroomBlogfest.com
The Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bathroom-Blogfest/124443309541?ref=ts
Twitter: @BathroomBlogfes
This year’s sponsor of the Bathroom Blogfest: http://www.bathroomblogfestdeal.com/
