This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Good Service the Cornerstone of Flooring Entrepreneur's Philosophy

Stephen Melchiorre, owner of Dynamic, sells carpet, tile and flooring materials, plus kitchen and bath cabinetry.

Entrepreneur Stephen Melchiorre is hard to pin down. It’s not that he doesn’t want to talk about Dynamic—his store specializing in carpet, tile, flooring and cabinetry on Main Street in Moorestown—but he has orders to be placed, meetings with contractors, and the scheduling of installations. 

Not bad for a 28-year-old who started his company seven years ago with $360 in his parents’ basement. This energetic fellow certainly didn’t let a little thing like a recession slow his dream; he saw it as a motivator.

Since launching his business, Melchiorre has cemented relationships with architects, builders and corporate heavies, like Home Depot, where he recently agreed to be one of two flooring contractors in New Jersey to supply work to houses in foreclosure.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

He and his team have worked on houses, hospitals, schools and utility companies throughout Burlington and Camden Counties, as well as in beach communities in the Garden State.

Melchiorre’s energy seems boundless.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Case in point: On this particular afternoon, he’s juggling two calls at once, looks over a contract his clerk brings in and, in between, runs next door to finalize a shared venture with general contractor Massimo Procaccini.

"I could use a bed in my office," remarks Melchiorre.

The Medford resident says being able to prosper is the result of spending 80 to 90 hours a week devoted to his work.

“When the recession hit, I decided I was going to work twice as hard. I refused to give up,” say Melchiorre, a contemplative guy, who seems to have the maturity level of someone 10 years older. “I had to steer the ship with just my guts.”

Melchiorre grew up in Mount Laurel, the son of Main Line Hair Salon owner John Melchiorre, who opened his salon in 1969.

“I had a good example. My father taught me what it was to run a business. He always had a vision for me that I could achieve what I wanted,” Melchiorre says as he thumbs through his smartphone. “From an early age, I would help out in the salon, sweeping floors, taking out trash.”

After high school, he waited tables, worked in a law firm, and took classes at Rowan University. He says working for other business owners was "the best schooling." And he has tried to match that with all of the knowledge his father taught him throughout the years.

His entry into the renovation industry began with a job as an estimator at the now-defunct Fabulous Floors in Medford. But after three months the company filed for bankruptcy. According to Melchiorre, through that experience he observed the deficiencies of a 28-year-old company. To Melchiorre, it all depends on communication, consistency and dependability.

“Follow-through is important. If you tell someone you’re going to do something, do it,” he says. “It’s something I stress. I think that’s why we’ve been able to be successful.”

Melchiorre's two stores—he has another one in Medford—sell an array of flooring materials: natural stone, porcelain, hardwood, and newfangled properties like river rock and bamboo. Glass and tile back splashes co-exist in his showroom with Wood-Mode and Yorktowne cabinets.

Melchiorre says he hopes to continue growing his company, but might try to  squeeze in another vacation later this year if he has time.

“Last November was the first one I had taken in seven years,” says Melchiorre, with a smile, much to the chagrin of his wife Keshia, 25, a first grade teacher. “I’ll have to see how busy we are.” 

Indeed.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?