The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

(See Photos)The Flooring Connection located at 9 Elm Street, near the Peru Community Church, opened its doors only a year ago, but the owner isn’t a newcomer to the flooring business. Owner Greg Delia explained, “We’ve been sub-contractors for many years selling flooring and installing it for many local commercial property owners. We’ve also done some residential work. The advantage is that now we’re able to sell to homeowners and it’s also more convenient for contractors.” Delia specializes in hard surface flooring along with flooring installation equipment and supplies. He also rents and repairs flooring installation equipment.

Originally from Middletown, NY, Delia has been in the flooring business since 1985. He moved to Peru about six years ago and resides here with his wife Alesha and children Demi Rose and Gregory. He should know the flooring business. Greg said, “I started learning the trade when I was nine years old. My father was in the business and today I have a sister and cousin in the business downstate.”

The Flooring Connection carries a large inventory of flooring-related equipment, machines and supplies from leading manufacturers. The store also rents nailing machines and repairs sanding and flooring machines. While many items are available from the store inventory, many more items are stocked in the company’s Keeseville warehouse. The warehouse is necessary because the Flooring Connection has a very large Internet presence at www.the-flooring-connection.com. Delia said, “We really have four online stores – Amazon.com, eBay.com, MSN.com and eBid.” He said the large stack of invoices behind the counter represents thousands of online sales. “We are even selling internationally online. We’ve sold several floor sanders in Canada and nailing machines in the United Kingdom.” All that online business results in an extremely long workweek but, as is the case in most small businesses, everyone contributes. When Greg is out installing floors or working in the warehouse his wife Alesha assists customers in the store.

The Flooring Connection retail store is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday’s from 8 a.m. to noon. Their email address is sales@the-flooring-connection.com. Purchases can be made at any hour of the day, seven days a week at www.the-flooring-connection.com. The Flooring Connection can be reached by phone at 518-335-8452.