The 43 members of the National Floorcovering Alliance, an elite group of flooring retailers with individual sales of more than $10 million each, met in Napa, Calif., for their fall conference to strategize growth in today’s new norm of political challenges, price pressures, and a lack of qualified installers.
“Sometime in August, or the first part of September, business really slowed down,” said Dave Snedeker, executive vice president, Bob’s Carpet Mart, with 16 stores in Tampa Bay, Fla., and the surrounding area. “Part of it is the elections—just the sheer negativity. I don't remember how many thousands of dollars we've had bumped from advertising on the television or radio because they're just getting paid double and triple [from political advertisers].”