40-year celebration is bittersweet for McDuffie
That milestone was celebrated with a Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce-sponsored ribbon cutting at the business, 114 Sherlake Lane.
“This is a ribbon cutting we don’t get to do a whole lot,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said. “This is what I call, in baseball terms, a triple-header.
“The main reason we’re here is Superior Carpet & Rug Cleaning has been in business for 40 years,” Blaylock added. “I started working at the Chamber way back in 2011 … Kerry was one of the first people I met when I was a baby Chamber person and he was always extremely kind and courteous and professional. It’s amazing to have walked at least that much of your business with you, and I’m honored for that.”
McDuffie had more news: “I’m retiring … I’m passing the torch to two great guys who have been in the industry for a while,” he said. “They know their stuff.”
McDuffie expressed confidence in new owners, Robin Shelton and Ted Kotulski, who are not new to the rug cleaning business.
Shelton, who has been in the industry for 10 years, is WoolSafe certified — and is the only WoolSafe technician in East Tennessee.
Additionally, “I am a proud member of Association of Rug Cleaning Specialists” and is International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium-certified as well, Sheldon said.
“I love it,” Kotulski said about being a new co-owner. “It’s a wild ride. “
He intends to “make sure people’s homes are clean, sanitary, improve their air quality,” and therefore “have a dependable company.”
The new owners will be keeping the same phone number for the business, 865-691-5686. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and closed Sundays.
McDuffie was 27 in 1985 when his father, the late David McDuffie — who owned a carpet cleaning business in North Carolina — inspired him.
“I learned from him,” Kerry McDuffie recalled.
So, the younger McDuffie decided to open his own carpet cleaning business at the current Sherlake Lane location.
Through the years, he learned many details about the business, such as the popularity of oriental rugs, and gained specialized certifications in washing those rugs, among other aspects of the business.
He is certified in carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile cleaning, Oriental rug washing, water damage repair, and health and safety procedures, allowing him to be Master Textile certified.
Focusing on oriental rugs “was more of a specialty niche that not a lot of companies were doing that,” McDuffie said. “Everybody cleans
carpets … my quality’s second to none, I feel. … I may not be able to meet people’s expectations price-wise, but I will meet their expectations quality-wise.
Meanwhile, “I’ve enjoyed it,” McDuffie said about operating Superior. “I’ve enjoyed watching the before-and-after results, my clients.”
About what made the business successful, he replied. “God, lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, knocking on doors, calling on customers,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of clients for years,” McDuffie said. “I’ve had some accounts since ’02 … I’ve had some for 15, 20 years. I saw their kids grow up — now they’re adults.”
Yet, after 40 years, McDuffie is retiring and selling.
“For me, it’s good timing,” he said. “I just want to spend more time with my kids, grandkids.”
Also, the job “can be challenging,” McDuffie added.
To be able to sell, “I wanted to find somebody I knew who would take care of my customers well, carry on the legacy of our company I’ve built for 40 years.”
He met Sheldon and Kotulski, in April “and it worked out great,” McDuffie said. “Robin is a Master Rug technician, so he’s just one step up from me.”
Now, “I can spend time with the kids, grandkids, my wife (Sharon), travel,” he added. “I look forward to that.”
Sheldon and Kotulski had worked together for “a little over a year now,” said Sheldon, who has been in the rug business for 10 years. “We’re really close friends and co-workers.
While Kotulski is proficient in residential carpet, Sheldon is more specialized.
“I’ve known Kerry for years, done business and helped Kerry out,” Sheldon said.
When McDuffie told Sheldon about the retirement plans, “the conversation came naturally to purchase …” Sheldon said. “His retirement, my looking to purchase all came at the same time.”
