Aldrich Rug Cleaners was established in 1920 by Bill Aldrich in Sarasota. It was the only company at the time to offer carpet cleaning, installing and remodeling services. Eventually the company moved and re-opened as a retail store in 1949 as Aldrich Rug Company in Bradenton. The company still offered carpet cleaning and installing, but they also opened a showroom where customers could visit and view samples.
In time, Bill Aldrich retired and Bill Aldrich, Jr. took over the day to day operations. House calls and personal service continued to be top priority, even as the company expanded to include other types of flooring including ceramic tile and hardwood.
Aldrich truly was a family undertaking with Jean Aldrich, Bill's wife, as the bookkeeper, Mark, the middle son, a salesman and various family members tending to the carpet cleaning and warehouse duties. There was also a very eager and motivated installer that Bill Aldrich, Sr. and Jr. took under their wing, David Ansbro who quickly became part of the Aldrich family. He was the top installer, who worked his way up to become the top salesperson and began to learn the inner workings of the business.
In 1985 a friendly young man named Michael Gayle joined the Aldrich family as a salesperson with a natural knack for making customers feel at home and secure in his knowledge of flooring and installations. He quickly became one of the top salespersons and became very involved with the business and the family.
Eventually in 1987, Bill Aldrich, Jr. felt it was time to retire and left the business not only to his son, Mark Aldrich, but also to David Ansbro who formed a partnership and changed the name from Aldrich Rug Company to Aldrich Rug Interiors, Inc. to encompass the variety of flooring products now offered.
The business continued to be a family operation, with Jeanne Paulsen, Bill and Jean Aldrich's daughter, now acting as the bookkeeper and David Ansbro, Jr, David Ansbro's only son, an intelligent and determined installer, following in the footsteps of his father, became a top salesperson, focusing primarily on commercial projects.
In 2003 Mark Aldrich decided to follow his lifelong dream of opening an art gallery and retired from the flooring business, leaving sole proprietorship to David Ansbro. Shortly thereafter, David Ansbro, Jr. became the Vice President of Operations and Michael Gayle the Vice President of Sales.
As Aldrich Rug Interiors grew, the company incorporated a commercial department with David Campbell acting as the Project Manager and a Ceramic Tile Showroom headed by Greg Cobb. Shortly after her college graduation, Shelley DeZiel, the granddaughter of Bill and Jean Aldrich, moved back to Bradenton and joined the expanding business as Office Manager.
Aldrich Rug Interiors, Inc. continues to be a locally owned and operated business that has kept its original mission of personal and friendly service with our main focus on customer satisfaction.
Although the company is no longer headed by an "Aldrich", the business remains a family operation.
(From left to right) David Campbell, Greg Cobb, Michael Gayle & David Ansbro, Jr.
