With a little help from his friends, Stephen Helf spent much of the week shipping his company's flooring products to a new location.

"I'm going to move the whole business at no cost," he said.

His Springettsbury Township business, To The Trades, is moving from its 2498 E. Market St. address by the end of November.

In December, the flooring company will start a new lease with a new name. Moving into 55 S. Forrest St. in West York, it will be called To The Trades and All About Floors.

"We're not just selling to the trades now," Helf said. "We're also taking in walk-in traffic. That's what I'm thriving on now."

An economic downturn that stalled home building in the region affected businesses like To The Trades, which sold carpet, vinyl, ceramic, hardwood, cork, bamboo and carpeting supplies to contractors.

The company also sells area rugs and does binding work on them.

"If I'm installing flooring, I sell it at retail prices. If it's a do-it-yourself job, I sell it at wholesale. If it's cash and carry, the customer gets the same price as a contractor," Helf said.

As he expands the company's reach, he will do it from new digs.

Fourth generation: To The Trades, a fourth-generation family business that's served customers for more than 50 years, has been at its current Springettsbury Township address for 10 years.

Moving to the west side of the county will put Helf in proximity to family and other suppliers, he said.

Helf the Carpetman, at 700 W. Market St., is owned by his older brother, Michael Helf.

In addition to the Helf family businesses in the York area, Stephen and Michael's younger brother, Christian, and nephew, Jason Helf, own a Lancaster location and showroom at 2950 Old Tree Drive.

Maintaining great relationships with each other has helped the family's flooring business flourish through four generations, Stephen Helf said.

"Communication, getting along so well and helping when other (family members) are in need has kept us going for a long time," he said.

-- Candy Woodall can also be reached at cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.