By: Silvana Longo
Hessam Ghazanfari and Perry Galanis at Markville Carpet & Flooring Centre have always been fascinated by the art of creation. Since the age of five, Ghazanfari found himself mesmerized by the trade of textile work. Growing up, his grandfather owned a store that sold all sorts of carpets and area rugs. It made him present in witnessing the creation process fully. “I often tagged along with my grandfather to his store,” he says. “Back then, carpets were mostly made by hand. So, I got to see every single detail come together.” Ghazanfari describes it as an art. “I was in awe of seeing families sit down and create something from nothing,” he says. “That was what sparked my passion for the craft itself.” It’s this human touch that he says gives value to the flooring business. Though he acknowledges that most of today’s products are made by technology, Ghazanfari asserts that there is still an element of that human touch left.
“THE FLOORING BUSINESS HAS BEEN IN MY BLOOD FOR A LONG TIME. I’M HAPPY THAT I GET TO BE PART OF THIS INDUSTRY WHERE I GET TO WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE.”
He’s now worked in the trade for 17 years and says what he’s done at Markville has given him more value as a businessperson and as an individual. “The flooring business has been in my blood for a long time. I’m happy that I get to be part of this industry where I get to work with great people.”
For the Markham, Ont.-based company, Ghazanfari manages all customer-service matters, client accounts and estimates. The business started as a small carpet store that sold only residential rugs, but over the years, it has expanded to being a major force in the Greater Toronto Area’s carpet and flooring industry. “We’ve grown to be a much bigger company that installs various types of residential and commercial flooring,” he says. “Within our projects, we focus on hardwood, luxury vinyl planks, carpet and anything that we feel belongs in the space.”
An expert in his vocation, when Ghazanfari recalls his favourite projects over the years, it’s those that gave him a challenge that are brought to the forefront. A natural problem-solver, Ghazanfari prides himself and his team on working on intricate projects with many of the city’s top designers. “We’re trying to bring to life what designers put on paper. So, the more challenging the idea for the project is, the more detail will be required on our end. That’s exciting for us. We truly enjoy bringing other professionals’ visions to life,” he says proudly.
The centre is a full-service, flourishing business that not only deals with new carpet and flooring options, but there’s an after-purchase service for clients, too. “If an issue comes up with carpet or flooring the customer had installed five years ago, we have no problem going in, assessing the situation and fixing it,” he says. Of course, customer service reigns supreme when it comes to Ghazanfari and his associates. “We want our clients to feel comfortable enough to work with us. It’s not just about the product or the price — it’s about building a good rapport with our clients and ensuring we make every step of the process as enjoyable and easy as possible.”
“WITHIN OUR PROJECTS, WE FOCUS ON HARDWOOD, LUXURY VINYL PLANKS, CARPET AND ANYTHING THAT WE FEEL BELONGS IN THE SPACE.”
