User:Jim Bennight

Grew up in Huntsville, AL - 1975 Graduate of the University of Alabama (BA) - Newspaper photographer 1976 – 1982 (Columbus, MS) - Portrait studio 1982 – 86 (Columbus, MS) - Sales and management, floor coverings since 1987 - In Tallahassee since 1990 - Currently Area Rug Specialist/Buyer

Growing up in Huntsville was far different than most of the rest of the state of Alabama. We had a very diverse community because of the Army base (Redstone Arsenal) as well as NASA, which brought people from literally all over the world.

I have sold carpet, rugs, wood, laminate, vinyl and ceramic flooring since 1987. Over the past 5 years or so, I have become the area rug specialist for our company and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have not only read over a dozen books on the subject, I have had the privilege of spending time with master designers, manufacturers and importers. I have been successful in training the sales staff in our three stores to understand quality differences that they had previously ignored (or avoided) and have given them an appreciation for true hand made product as opposed to the all too common machine made rugs.