The Digital Shift in the Rug Industry
The rug industry has long been built on tradition—handcrafted designs, deep-rooted relationships, and word-of-mouth referrals. But as consumer expectations evolve, so too must the businesses that serve them. A recent industry survey found that 70% of rug businesses still rely on manual tracking for orders or outdated legacy software, yet those that have adopted modern tools report efficiency gains of up to 40%.
The shift isn’t just about keeping up with trends; it’s about survival. Customers now expect:
- Instant updates on purchases and service requests
- Clear, timely communication via email and text
- A smooth, digital experience, including online payments and mobile-friendly options
Without the right systems in place, rug businesses risk falling behind competitors who are adapting to these changes.
A Family-Owned Software Business Helping Rug Businesses Thrive
One company that has been at the forefront of this digital transformation is Service Buddy, a family-owned software business headquartered in
Boston, MA. With customers in 14 states, Service Buddy was created to solve the inefficiencies many rug and flooring businesses face daily.
Tom Strachan, the founder of Service Buddy, saw firsthand how even well-established businesses struggled with scattered customer data, manual invoicing, and outdated inventory tracking. Recognizing that the industry needed a modern solution, Strachan built a software platform designed to help businesses streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience.
“Running a flooring business shouldn’t mean chasing paperwork, missing payments, or losing track of customer orders. Service Buddy allows businesses to focus on what they do best—delivering quality craftsmanship to their customers while we handle the operational complexity.” – Tom Strachan, Founder of Service Buddy
The Cost of Outdated Systems: Why Some Rug Businesses Struggle
Many rug retailers, wholesalers, and cleaning businesses still use outdated systems that create bottlenecks:
- Paper or PDF invoices and handwritten quotes lead to misplaced information and slow responses.
- Excel spreadsheets for inventory make tracking stock cumbersome and prone to errors.
- Disorganized customer communication results in missed sales and inefficient operations.
- Limited payment options mean businesses wait longer to collect revenue, impacting cash flow.
These inefficiencies aren’t just frustrating—they hold businesses back from growing and delivering the experience customers expect.
How Businesses Are Winning with Service Buddy
Rug businesses that have adopted modern digital tools are seeing substantial improvements in workflow efficiency, sales growth, and customer satisfaction. Service Buddy has been instrumental in helping these businesses transition to automated, user-friendly systems that save time and reduce errors.
The Service Buddy Dashboard at-a-glance
Magarian Rug: A 32% Increase in Sales and Greater Efficiency
Magarian Rug, known for its high-end custom rugs, had a strong foundation but saw an opportunity to enhance its efficiency as demand for its work increased. Managing custom projects, tracking orders, and ensuring smooth fulfillment required a solution that could keep pace with their growth while maintaining their exceptional quality and attention to detail.
After implementing Service Buddy, Magarian Rug saw immediate improvements:
- A 32% increase in average sales due to better customer engagement and upsell opportunities.
- Fewer late invoices, ensuring stronger cash flow
- Automated tracking and order management, allowing them to stay ahead of every detail.
- 25% reduction in administrative time, giving their team more time to focus on growing the business.
“Service Buddy has been a game-changer. It’s easy to use, and it has completely streamlined how we manage projects, communicate with customers, and keep track of sales.” – Nate, Manager of Magarian Rug.
Persian Rug Gallery: Strengthening Customer Communication and Service
Persian Rug Gallery, a leading retailer specializing in high-quality Persian and Oriental rugs, had already built a strong reputation for excellence. As their business expanded, they saw an opportunity to refine their internal operations and ensure seamless coordination between sales, cleaning, and repair services.
By adopting Service Buddy, Persian Rug Gallery achieved:
- A fully integrated system for tracking customer orders, cleaning jobs, and repairs.
- Faster response times and fewer errors in their operations.
- Automated customer updates, ensuring clear communication without the need for manual follow-ups.
With a more streamlined system, Persian Rug Gallery continues to deliver the exceptional service they’re known for—now with even greater efficiency.
Seamless Onboarding and Unmatched Customer Support
Sample Client Invoice shown above, sample BuddyAI chat and label creation interface below.
One of the reasons businesses have been so quick to adopt Service Buddy is its seamless onboarding process and exceptional customer support. Unlike many software companies that require businesses to figure things out on their own, Service Buddy provides:
- Step-by-step onboarding to ensure a smooth transition.
- Live customer support via phone, text, or email whenever users have a question.
- Ongoing feature updates based on direct feedback from customers.
This hands-on approach has made a huge difference for businesses that want a reliable, easy-to-use platform without the usual learning curve.
Continuous Innovation: Updates Every Two Weeks
One of the biggest challenges with traditional software is stagnation. Many platforms become outdated quickly, leaving businesses stuck with limited functionality. Service Buddy takes a different approach—the platform is updated every two weeks with new features and enhancements, many of which come directly from customer requests.
Recent updates have included:
- QR Code Labels for Inventory, allowing businesses to print labels, scan QR codes from a phone or tablet to see details and images
- Enhanced job tracking features, making it easier to monitor projects in real time.
- Improved reporting and analytics, giving businesses better insights into their operations.
This continuous evolution ensures that Service Buddy remains a leading-edge solution for the rug and flooring industry.
The Future of Rug Businesses: Why Digital-First Companies Will Win
The rug industry is evolving. Businesses that continue relying on outdated processes will struggle, while those that embrace modern tools like Service Buddy will have a competitive advantage:
- They close deals faster with instant digital quotes and approvals.
- They enhance customer satisfaction with automated communication.
- They run more efficiently with integrated inventory and job tracking.
- They improve cash flow with faster, streamlined payments.
As Tom Strachan often tells business owners, “The flooring businesses investing in technology today will be the ones leading the industry tomorrow.”
Future-Proof Your Rug Business: The Time to Act is Now
Imagine running your rug business without chasing invoices, losing customer details, or scrambling to find order updates. Imagine your team spending less time on admin work and more time growing sales. The businesses that embrace digital transformation today won’t just keep up—they’ll lead the industry into the future.
For businesses looking to stay ahead, now is the time to embrace modern tools that make operations easier, customers happier, and growth inevitable.
Your customers expect a modern experience. Your competitors are adapting. Don’t fall behind. To learn more about how businesses across the country are transforming with Service Buddy, schedule a demo today at www.servicebuddy.io and experience firsthand how digital tools can help you scale smarter, work more efficiently, and grow your revenue.
Service Buddy's Tom Strachan (left) and Hasan Jafri of Dover Rug and Home
