Our history

The early years

Fludes Carpets was established in the late 1920’s by Leslie Flude, with shops in Wallasey and Birkenhead. One thing that Leslie insisted on was that the company would provide a high level of service and quality to its customers. In those days, carpet squares or linoleum were the main floor coverings available, with oriental rugs being a more expensive alternative.

During the Second World War, Leslie served in the Royal Navy.  At home, times were hard and flooring was not exactly high on the public agenda. However, throughout this time Leslie’s wife Gladys and his son Dudley ensured that the business persevered  and embodied the British spirit to come through a tough time for the entire country.

Post-war expansion

After some years of growing the business, Leslie moved his family to the South coast and developed stores from Hastings to Bournemouth and inland to Tunbridge Wells and Guildford.

Carpet and floorings became more available and in 1948 when the Eastbourne store was re-opened in Grove Road, after a refurbishment, customers queued overnight to seek out a bargain! Leslie was joined in this expansion by his brother Ron and his son Dudley, and the group of stores continued to expand to a significant size, with over 20 stores trading during the late 60s and 70s.

A new strategy

Modern “foam-backed” carpets became very popular and business was thriving.  This prompted the start-up of many nationwide carpet chains which meant that competition was fierce.  Fludes Carpets responded with a new strategy and reduced the number of stores and specialised in carpets and more significantly rugs.

When Leslie died, Dudley took control of the business and the next generation “joined the firm”.  Dudley’s sons Robert, Richard and Adam ensured that the family business kept at the forefront of carpet retailing in the South of England.

Fludes Carpets today

Whilst the Flude family are no longer Directors of the company – they have handed this role onto Managing Director Peter Hebditch and Director Andy Laird – the family values and commitment to quality remain at the heart of Fludes Carpets.

The tradition for supplying fine quality carpets and flooring is still of paramount importance, and the selection of rugs available from Fludes Carpets is among the largest in the South East.

Today, having won “Carpet Retailer of the Year” multiple times, and with almost a century of trading under our belts, the team at Fludes Carpets remain dedicated to providing the best customer service and highest quality products, ensuring that Fludes remains the go-to carpet and flooring retailer for years to come.