Earl Gross has customers up and down the East Coast. He has driven as far as Florida to make a sale. Some of his wealthier customers have him bring a selection of rugs to their homes so they can try them out to see what looks good. Earl Gross will also hunt for specific rugs customers are looking for. He has long-standing connections with dealers in New York but he doesn't import the rugs himself.
Somebody has it.
It's a small operation. The Grosses only have one employee, and that means they're on duty all the time. They used to be able to go away more often before their partner, Lloyd Gearhart, died about six years ago. Earl Gross talks about selling the business, but said he enjoys meeting people too much to give it up.