Archive for Sams Carpet Cleaning – Page 4

Ready for the upcoming Holidays?

Fall is OFFICIALLY upon us, and that means many things: pumpkin spice everything, leaves falling, cooler temperatures and of course, preparations for holiday parties! That’s right, it’s never too soon! There are countless events, holidays and get togethers this time of year and we want to help you stay on top of them and feel prepared!

Halloween is right around the corner, and if you’re someone who likes to throw a haunted house party, there’s nothing scarier than dirty carpets. Thanksgiving is all about being thankful, and this year you can be thankful for stain-free carpets. Christmas is all about family, and the last thing you need is your Aunt Mary calling you out on your dinghy floors. The holidays aren’t meant for embarrassing dirty floors but gathering with family and friends celebrating togetherness!

Now, let’s get into the fun part of the holidays… decorating! We know everyone loves to decorate their home for the holidays (raise your hand if you have a holiday decor closet/self in your house) and of course you want your carpets and floors looking clean and refreshed as well as clean air in your home to be that final touch.  Sams Carpet Cleaning & Repairs is right there with you.  So lets work together to make your home fresh and clean for the holidays that enhances your holiday decor.  From carpet cleaning, carpet repairs, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning, air duct cleaning to many more services to assist to making your home beautiful for the holidays.  Check out our full list of services HERE.

The feeling of stress and anxiety when it comes to the holiday season is not what we want to feel with the preparations, the food, the where to seat the in-laws question, the cleaning… it’s overwhelming! Let us take something off your plate and help ease the stress. Don’t wait to schedule because you might get that last minute phone call that your family is coming in and staying with you for the holidays (we’ve experienced it, trust us, it’s not fun).

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Employee Spotlight: Phil and Nik Carrino

You don’t often hear about siblings working together, and we have a feeling if you know of any, it might not be the friendliest of relationships or very long lasting. That’s not the case with our favorite brothers at Sams Carpet Cleaning and Repairs, Phil and Nik Carrino. These brothers have worked together for over 11 years at Sams and they still like each other!

To celebrate family, we decided for this month’s employee spotlight to highlight Phil and Nik and learn what it’s like for siblings to work together for so many years.

 

Q: How did you guys end up at Sams, how long have you been here and what are your job title/roles?

Nik: I’ve been here for 14 years, I saw a Sams Van in my apartment buildings parking lot all the time and knew that they did good work. I reached out to them to see if they were hiring and lucky for me, they were! I am the Water Restoration Manager and I often work with the Insurance Companies to help families quickly get their homes back into shape. If you ever have water damage or flooding, I’m your guy!

Phil: I’ve worked here for 11 years. I saw how happy my brother was working here so when I found out they were hiring, I jumped on it. I started out as a Technician, but I am now the Training Manager and Technician Specialist.

Q: Why Sams? What is about Sams that makes us different and special?

Nik: It really does feel like a family, and I’m not just saying that because I work with my brother every day. We look out for each other, we have the support of the other employees and we care for our customers as though they were family. For customers, I believe they really feel that difference and know they can trust us. Customer satisfaction is huge, we go above and beyond to make sure each customer is happy and taken care of to the best of our capabilities.

Phil: It’s not a big, faceless organization. Jeff and Susan get to know all of the employees on a personal level, which I think is pretty unusual. They even attended my wedding last year, and it was wonderful to have them there to celebrate with us!

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Sams?

Phil: Definitely the people. It’s a fun work environment, relaxed and culture is huge. I also love the Sams commitment to the community and organizations that are important to employees.

Nik: I agree 100%, Jeff and Susan sponsor me at Bike MS each year and I’m extremely grateful for their support. We have fun coming to work every day and it feels laid back and comfortable, we can be ourselves and know that we have the support of everyone we work with. We enjoy coming to work, which is something we know not everyone outside of Sams can say about their jobs.

Q: Any favorite or memorable client stories?

Nik: There’s too many over the years. I love getting to know our customers, some of them have been using Sams for years and have known my brother and I since we started. We’ve even had several ladies make us cakes and snacks when we come out to their house because they’re happy to see us and that we came out to help.

Phil: It’s always my favorite when I see a homeowner’s reaction when they see their freshly cleaned carpet that they thought was beyond repair. Knowing that we helped them and possibly saved them the headache and giant bill of getting new carpet is amazing.

Q: So, the ultimate question. What’s it like working together as brothers?

Nik: Well, it’s certainly had its ups and downs. We used to live together AND work together, and we got tired of each other pretty quick. Once we moved out and lived separately, it was awesome! We get to hang out and catch up every day in small doses, which is the perfect amount.

Phil: I have to look at his face everyday… that can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. But really, it’s pretty cool to work with your brother and know you have his support.

 

So there you have it, a closer look at our favorite brothers. Thank you to Phil and Nik for taking the time to talk to us and give us an inside look their lives at Sams Carpet Cleaning and Repairs. Stay tuned for our next employee spotlight!

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Where’s the Sams Van? Contest and Giveaway!

All the great thriller games start with discovery and mystery… Where’s Waldo, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, Clue, Nancy Drew, and of course, Scooby Doo. All of these games have something in common, other than mystery, and that is a recognizable and lovable characters. You of course have Waldo, Carmen Sandiego, Miss Scarlet, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, Nancy Drew, Scooby Doo, Shaggy and that’s just to name a few. Well at Sams, we have our own lovable character, the brilliant, vibrant yellow Sams Van!

We’ve started a game at Sams Carpet Cleaning, and at first it started out with employees and friends. We called it, “Where’s the Sams Van?”. We would have people text us pictures at a stoplight of our recognizable yellow van and say, “I found you!”, or in a parking lot, or even at someone’s house. We get a kick out of seeing these messages and love that our loveable yellow character is being spotted around St. Louis.

We’ve decided to take our game a step further, and open it up to you! So here are the rules:

• Spot a Sams Van
• Take a photo (bonus points if you get a selfie with the Sams Van and *bonus bonus* points for getting a picture with the Sams Technician)
• Share the photo on our social media

The photo with the most likes at the end of the month will win a $20 Sams Carpet Cleaning gift certificate and a $50 Lowes Gift Card!

Now, it goes without saying, but we still will, we of course want you to be safe! Please do not take a picture while driving, the last thing we want is for the Sams van to cause an accident. The winner must be residential and within our service area. You can check out services in your area HERE.

It’s that simple, all you have to do is keep your eyes peeled for the Sams van and you could be the lucky winner. Be sure to share the game with friends and families and the next time you spot a Sams van, best of luck! Snap the photo and share on our Facebook for your chance to win.

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Back to School, Back to Clean Carpets!

It’s always nice having your kids home for the summer, being able to spend more time together as a family, going on vacations and little road trips and having some help around the house. However… kids in the house for several months straight can mean that your house has become a disaster zone! Think about all the dirty shoes and feed tromping through the house, the snacks eaten in front of the TV and the number of times they’ve rolled around on the carpet playing with the dog. Yeah, after a summer of children in the house, there’s no better time to do a deep cleaning!

Now’s the time to treat yourself. You’ve survived the summer without any major melt downs, and that’s an accomplishment. You’ve entertained children, planned fun activities and been the mediator between sibling arguments. Buy yourself a nice pair of shoes, go to a movie you want to watch and sit back and let the professionals clean your carpets and floors. You’ve done enough this summer, let us take this task off your list!

So why is clean carpet so important? When kids go back to school, they typically get a nice, fresh haircut, a new backpack, some new shoes and clothes and are looking fresh and ready for the new school year. Why not get your house in that same, tip-top, back to school shape? Not only will your carpet look great, smell fresh and feel brand new, but you’re also protecting it and helping it last longer. Who wouldn’t want that?

As your back to school reward, give us a call today to schedule your cleaning. We look forward to helping you celebrate the new school year!

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Jeff and Susan Sams: Streetscape Magazine’s Dynamic Duo

We’ve always known that our fearless leaders, Jeff and Susan Sams, were a great couple, but we think Streetscape Magazine got it right when they named them a Dynamic Duo! Jeff and Susan are featured in the Fall issue of Streetscape Magazine where they discuss their experience as married business owners. It’s not always a walk in the park, but Jeff and Susan lean on each other’s strengths to help balance them out and create a strong, successful team.

In this article, you get an inside, behind the scenes look at how Sams Carpet Cleaning got its start, how Jeff and Susan met, and important lessons they’ve learned over their 30+ years in business. And of course, they discuss the importance of being involved in the community and the Sams Family involvement in St. Charles County.

We love our St. Charles community and we feel incredibly blessed to be included in Streetscape magazine this month along with other wonderful local St. Charles businesses. You can read the full article in the latest issue, now available! You can pick up a copy at any of THESE locations or check it out online HERE.

A big thank you to Amy Armour and Streetscape Magazine for this featured article on Jeff, Susan and Sams Carpet Cleaning and Repairs! Be sure to pick up a copy for yourself today!

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Selling your home? Top deep cleaning projects (for your new house too!)

So you’re selling your house! As the savvy home seller you are, you know having a clean house is one of the most important aspects of selling it. Regular cleaning and tidying can go a long way, but deep-cleaning your house can make a huge difference in the impression potential homebuyers have of your house.  Regardless of how good the bones of your house are, or if you’ve updated the hardware on all your cabinets, if your home is dirty, that will be the impression most potential homeowners will walk away with.

Odor

Making your house light and airy is the goal for many people trying to sell their homes, but all the natural light in the world is not going to get rid of a funky smell. Some homeowners may not even realize their house smells because they have become so accustomed to living with it. If you’re in any doubt, invite over your most honest friend and see if you need to take care of the smell. Air fresheners only temporarily cover up smells, and some home buyers may be allergic to them or not like the scents you chose.

Check out Sams Carpet’s specialized services just to help with eliminating odors, whether it’s to help sell your old home, or make your new one more enjoyable.

Carpet

Dirty carpet in particular can turn away potential buyer, and some websites will go so far as to say you should completely replace your carpet before showing your home. Thanks to Sams Carpet, you won’t have to do anything that drastic, even if you have tough stains or holes! We have expertise in stain removal, or even patching or spot dying carpet for particularly tough areas.  Worried about ripples? We take care of that too!

Tile

Tile is great because it is difficult to get dirty, but likewise it can be difficult to get clean. Stains or dirty grout can turn away prospective homebuyers because it can seem like an overwhelming project, and some people assume you have to redo or cover up dirty grout. But we can tell you, grout can be cleaned and look amazing again. We know—we’ve done it.

Upholstery Furniture

Even though the person buying your home won’t be buying your furniture with it, it’s part of what they see when viewing your home. Stained or dirty furniture can leave potential homebuyers with a poor view of your house overall. We understand all upholstery is different, and know the best way to make yours clean and beautiful again.  Do yourself a favor and have it cleaned so your house looks great for showing, and you have clean furniture for your new home! It’s a win-win all around.

Air Ducts

An often over-looked aspect of cleaning, your air ducts may be restricting the airflow of your house, and even affecting your health. While most homebuyers’ first thought will not be “Oh, better check out the air ducts,” stale or dusty air still affects the atmosphere of your house and how your homebuyer will view it. Opening the windows is the most frequently cited suggestion, but if you are selling your house in one of the nine months of the year that it isn’t a nice 72 degrees outside, that may not be practical, and it doesn’t take care of the buildup of dust or the dust mites that are in your ducts.

Even if you don’t choose to have the ducts changed in the house you are selling, it’s a good idea to have the air ducts cleaned in the house you are buying. After all, nothing’s better than sitting back in your new home and taking a deep breath of fresh, clean air.

Pets

Anyone who has a furry friend in their home knows how pet fur has a way of getting…everywhere. They also know how difficult it can be to get out of carpets or couches.  While diligent vacuuming can keep the fur somewhat under control, it doesn’t always take care of the fur that has embedded deep in your carpets, or the smell your pet can leave behind. Any accidents they have can even go below the carpet into the padding, or even the subfloor. Save yourself the hassle and let Sams take care of it for a truly deep clean. Your future homebuyers will thank you.

Or maybe your new home used to have pets. Start clean with Sams Carpet, and help your new house feel like home.

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Employee Spotlight: Leslie Wright

If you’ve ever worked with Sams, you probably know Leslie. Leslie is our office manager/house mom/comedian who keeps us on our toes and a smile on our face. Leslie Wright has been with Sams for 22 years, and is probably the greatest thing that has ever come from a newspaper ad. In 1994, she applied for a secretary/office position ad that she saw in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and we believe she’s our angel. That might be dramatic, but if you know her, you know that’s true.

For this month’s employee spotlight, we thought it was time to shine a little light on this star employee. Over the years, Leslie has taken countless phone calls from angry parents, trying to clean up the mess of a surprise party thrown by a rebelling teenager, hysterical families who have experienced flood damage and happy return customers who ask for Leslie by name.

Q: Why Sams? What is it about Sams that makes us different and special?

A: We honestly CARE about our customers and put them first. They are more to us than customers. We put ourselves in their shoes and treat them like family, the way WE would want to be treated. We build long term personal and business relationships with our clients. There have been people who leave and try another company, but they consistently come back after that experience because they miss the customer service.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Sams?

A: We have fun every day. We are family, we support each other and we have a good time. We joke and clown around, but we also have each other’s backs. When I started at Sams, I was a single mom. Jeff and Susan were always understanding and flexible, allowing me to stay at home with a sick kid or work with my schedule so I could attend their events. Family is a core factor here. Sure, we sometimes fight like family, but we are a team and we will support one another.

Q: What is your favorite part of the job?

A: I LOVE TALKING! I love meeting clients, hearing their stories and building relationships with them. When I get to solve their problem and help them out, that brings me joy. And we have some AWESOME clients, so I can’t help but love what I do.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories from over the years at Sams?

A: Celebrating my 20 years with Sams was a really amazing experience. The team went above and beyond to make me feel special and I felt the love. We recently had a 30 year celebration for Dennis, and I love looking around the room and seeing the longevity of the employees. You don’t see that at every business, but at Sams, our employees stick around because we are family and we work for a great company.

Q: What is your favorite client story? Any funny or memorable ones?

A: I don’t even know where to begin… there have been too many! Of course there are countless times kids are frantically calling us to clean the carpets before their parents get home and find out they had a party. We honestly get those calls weekly! I just love hearing from repeat customers who ask for me by name because they had a great experience and they know they can trust us. That is truly one of the best feelings.

 

A big thank you to Leslie for her years of dedication and amazing customer service! We couldn’t be happier that she answered our newspaper ad 22 years ago and chose Sams Carpet Cleaning & Repair.

Stay tuned for the next employee spotlight highlighting our wonderful and talented employees!

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Team Tammy O- 10 Years Cancer Free!

This year marks 10 years cancer free for Jeff Sams’ sister Tammy Ostmann! Tammy is a strong, brave woman who never gave up or stopped fighting, and to see what she has gone through and able to stand here today, 10 years cancer free, is an absolute blessing. If you look up the word “strength” in the dictionary, we’re pretty certain this will be picture of Tammy. Her strength, courage and hope is inspiring to not only us, but to everyone who has encountered her.

 

Every year, we host a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure St. Louis team for our family friends called Tammy O. This past Saturday was the race and we were thrilled with the turnout and want to send a big thank you out to our friends, family and customers who have supported us and donated to the Race for the Cure. We will continue to fight for a cure!

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Employee Spotlight: Dennis Mierkowski, 30 Years with Sams Carpet Cleaning & Repairs

Dennis Mierkowski has been a part of the Sams Carpet Cleaning Family for 30 years. That’s right, you read that correctly. He has been with us from the beginning, when Sams Carpet Cleaning & Repairs started out of Jeff Sams parent’s home, and has been with us every step of the way. He shows passion, integrity, exceptional work ethic and dedication with everything he does, and we feel honored to have him as a part of our team. Having an employee like Dennis is truly a blessing. Every day he walks into work with a smile on his face and a greeting for everyone around him. To celebrate his 30th anniversary with the company, we wanted to highlight Dennis and hear his experience and memories with Sams over the years.

Dennis is a carpet technician who has known Jeff and his family most of his life, and when he saw Jeff starting Sams and needing employees, he stepped up to help. 30 years ago when he started at Sams, he became hooked. Here’s a little Q&A we had with Dennis to learn more about his years with Sams and some of his favorite stories.

Q: Why Sams? What makes Sams different and special?

A: To be happy you have to like what you do, and I LOVE what I do at Sams. I love the people I work with, I love working with Jeff and seeing his passion and dedication to customer satisfaction, which is something that is important to me. I can’t explain to you that amazing feeling when a customer recommends a friend or family member to us. It takes a lot of trust and confidence to allow someone into your home, and that trust is something I want to build with each and every customer. When I leave a home, I know I am leaving behind a clean environment, and that is something I can be proud of. It’s important to me for a customer to be happy and to call back for future service.

Q: What is something you are most proud of from your years with Sams?

A: There have been many times we’ve been called and the customer said they thought it was time to replace their carpet, but first they wanted to try cleaning them to see if that would help. After cleaning the carpet, the customers are thrilled and said that it’ll save them from replacing the carpet! That’s our goal, to provide quality service and help customers with whatever they might need.

Q: Any funny stories?

A: I don’t know about funny, but something I think is the longevity of many of my clients. Some of my long standing client’s children are now calling me to come clean their homes! It’s always fun to hear, “I remember you cleaning my parent’s floors when I was a child and now I need mine cleaned!”

Q: Do you have any memorable experiences with Sams?

A: Probably 15 years ago or more, we received a phone call from Nelly. He had just purchased a house in Lake St. Louis and he wanted to get his carpets and floors cleaned before MTV Cribs came out to film. I knew who Nelly was, but didn’t really know him. I went out to his house and talked to him for awhile, but didn’t realize he was Nelly until after he left and I was talking to his mom! It was a pretty crazy experience to sit with my friends watching his episode of MTV Cribs and say, “that’s my work, I cleaned that, that’s also my work!”

Thank you to Dennis not only for his YEARS of service and amazing attitude, but for taking the time to be interviewed for our first employee spotlight! Stay tuned for future blogs highlighting our wonderful employees.

*We’re exciting to announce that we are growing! We are looking to add new members to our Sams Carpet Cleaning and Repair family. If you are interested, check out our careers page HERE.*

 

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Easter Cleaning- Grace Church Case Study

It’s officially Spring, and with Easter right around the corner, this is a time to spiritually reflect on families gathering and spiritual awareness in our lives during the Easter season. For us, it’s a time to gather with our families and remember the meaning of Easter.  At Sams, we clean for many churches, including all religious denominations and affiliations, but we recently cleaned for Grace Church in Maryland Heights, which is always a wonderful experience, with the nicest staff.

A church the size of Grace Church has thousands of visitors each week between their Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday services, worship groups and prayer meetings, bible studies and activities, which means that their floors need some attention. That’s where we come in!  We cleaned the church, office space and guest house to ensure the carpets and tiles were clean, shining bright and healthy.

 

Grace Church is all about the community. Their congregation is made up of countless small groups that meet with different agendas but one mission, to build each other up. It is our mission to provide a service for these people and to help them to enjoy their space and maintain its pristine condition.

If your church, worship space, office or building is in need of a cleaning (from carpets to tiles to air ducts to water restoration, stain removal and more), we would be happy to help! Give us a call today to schedule your appointment or to learn more about our services.

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