You’ve heard it all before: Consumer buying habits are changing radically; specialty flooring retailers are on the decline; home centers and national chains are on the rise; and, manufacturers are caught in the middle. Independent specialty retailers can sometimes feel they’re being left behind.
It’s not just in flooring. Independent retailers across virtually every industry and business in America – neighborhood pharmacies, automotive repair shops and tire centers, hardware and appliance stores, craft supply stores, even restaurants – are all losing market share. They’re being replaced by national chains, some by online sellers, and in some cases, by manufacturers themselves.