Smart Choice Carpet: Success Story of Polish Immigrants Making Omaha Their Home

Smart Choice Carpet: Success Story of Polish Immigrants Making Omaha Their Home

Smart Choice Carpet Outlet at 6664 L St. sells and installs all types of residential and commercial grade flooring, including carpet, vinyl, tile, laminate, and hardwood. The featured product brands include Mohawk, Shaw, Beaulieu-Coronet, Mannington, Domco, Tarkett, Quick-Step, Kraus, and Kentwood.

Smart Choice offers the same name brand products as competitors however due to their lower overhead they are able to pass the savings on to their customers. Raminta Urbonavicius, their in-house designer, can assist in making product decisions for any type of project. On top of that they provide very quick installation; no more waiting three weeks before you can enjoy your new flooring.

I personally have used Smart Choice several times as have clients of mine that wanted to get their homes ready to sell. My sellers and I have always been very satisfied with the results.

So far this sounds like the typical successful business, however it is the story behind the store that makes their success so amazing.

The owner, Julian Piatek, grew up in Poland and a few years after college moved to Vienna, Austria as a political refugee. There he fell in love and got married; his new wife was also a refugee from Poland. As part of a refugee relocation program they moved to Omaha, NE in 1984. He came here with his wife, seven month old daughter, a hundred dollars, and little understanding of English.

Piatek first job was at Builder Supply Company and then at Mrs. B's and Nebraska Furniture Mart where he stayed for 12 years. Then he opened Smart Choice Carpet Outlet and has since outgrown two locations.

After what Piatek experienced, he is not surprised by his success. He told Midlands Business Journal  "While in Austria, I did anything I could do for work. I remember spending four or five weeks on the streets, homeless, during the cold and winter. When someone like me comes to a place of opportunity, he goes for it because he knows how bad things can be."

Piatek is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, and the Polish Home. He and his wife became citizens in 1989. They have three children, Karolina (who is in charge of sales), Oliver, and Justina.

Smart Choice can be reached at 402-331-1332. Be sure to tell them that you heard about them through Troy Trumm and they will take care of you.