Farming and floor coverings might not appear to have a lot in common but, for Country Carpets & Beds owner Chris Dyson, both have proved to be his life’s passion.

Livestock farming was in his blood, and it was only natural that Chris would leave school and go straight into the industry. Years of toil followed as he learned his trade and worked his farm in North Yorkshire, while raising a family with his wife. Little did he suspect that a chance request for help from his father-in-law, who ran a small carpet shop, would change the course of his career forever.

“He’d got a really big order and needed an extra pair of hands to fulfil it,” Chris explained. “It’s funny to think that an unexpected and temporary brush with carpet retailing would lay the foundations for a major career change, but that’s what happened.”

A thriving business

Despite stumbling into the business almost by accident, Chris’s natural enthusiasm and dedication took over and in 1994 he set up his own thriving carpet shop in Filey town centre. Before long, he realised he needed more space to keep his growing stock and displays, and snapped up the lease on a former car garage over in the nearby village of Hunmanby.

He said: “These days carpet shops tend to be in retail parks or small town centre units, but I knew at the time that the site would be perfect. There’s tons of warehousing for stock, a massive showroom and a large car park. It’s very accessible and we have a lovely view of the Wolds, too!”

When the new site opened back in the year 2000 it specialised just in floor coverings, but Chris soon recognised the added value of introducing beds to his product range. Now, Country Carpets & Beds boasts a huge variety of carpets, remnants, luxury vinyls, beds, mattresses and rugs.

Chris said: “Part of our ethos is to focus on British-made products wherever possible. A lot of carpets are manufactured overseas now, particularly man-made fibre carpets, but we source ours in the UK wherever possible, and all our beds are made in Britain.”

Professional and friendly team

The Country Carpets team of five staff have nearly 100 years of retail experience between them. They’ve visited some of their suppliers’ factories and witnessed first-hand how the goods they sell are made, giving them an unrivalled product and manufacturer knowledge.

Chris said: “People trust us because we are honest – occasionally, they hone in on a carpet that in our professional opinion isn’t suitable for the location, in which case we’ll advise them of more appropriate alternatives.”

The majority of Country Carpets & Beds’ products carry long guarantees, which means years can pass before a customer needs to return for a replacement. But return they do. Chris summed up: “Giving good service isn’t just about making a sale, it’s about creating relationships with people. For them, and for us, it should feel like more than just a purchase, and I’m pleased to say that’s genuinely the case.”