CCA Global Partners is aiming to tackle one of the most challenging issues facing the flooring industry: installation. For the last four years, the cooperative has been experimenting with an installation concept that would provide installation and estimating services for CCA members. We got an update from Keith Spano, president of Flooring America/Flooring Canada, The Floor Trader & The International Design Guild at CCA Global Partners, about National Installation Solutions (NISI) and what it the concept means for CCA Global retail members.

FLOOR Trends & Installation: Why did CCA Global Partners start NISI? 

Keith Spano: CCA was founded almost 40 years ago to help independent retailers in every facet of the business from marketing, merchandising, training, real estate, succession planning and operations. However, we’ve never had a program to help our members with one of the most challenging issues facing the flooring industry—installation.

So, four years ago, we created the NISI division, National Installation Solutions. The NISI division not only provides installation and estimating services for our CCA members, but also works in conjunction with our CCA University to recruit, validate competency and ultimately hire installers.  NISI provides a tremendous advantage for CCA members that no other group can offer.  Our members can focus on expansion into new markets when they don’t have to worry about labor. 

FLOOR: How did NISI begin? 

Spano: We ran several pilots in multiple states up and down the east coast with varying degrees of success; continually modifying the program until we found the formula that provided our members with the best quality and accountability while mitigating the headaches of managing installation labor.  

We’re currently operating in New England and the southeast with plans to expand nationwide.  

FLOOR: How are you recruiting and training installers? 

Spano: We’re hiring installation companies that understand the needs of retailers and retail customers.  They understand our installation quality and professionalism expectations and know we won’t settle for what may pass at a local competitor or big box store.

FLOOR: How many CCA Global Partner retailers are partnering with NISI today, and what are the benefits to them? 

Spano: We’ve been taking it very slow, and methodically rolling out the program in regions, with plans for a nationwide launch Winter 2024.

We have about 20 members utilizing our estimating services and about a dozen Carpet One Floor & Home, Flooring America, and International Design Guild members whom we’re fulfilling installation services for.

The benefits are many. First off, we relieve our members of the headaches associated with the installations side of the business, from scheduling to callbacks.  Next, depending on the needs of our retailer, we take all the fixed operational costs associated with labor and turn them into variable costs.

No need for a warehouse, forklift, cutting machine, dumpsters, and warehouse staff.  Additionally, we’re able to get retailers caught up by category.  Our members who utilize NISI no longer quote 10-week lead times for installation.  We also enable members to get back into categories they’ve abandoned, like tile or commercial work due to lack of installation.  

FLOOR: What are your plans to expand NISI?

Spano: The future is bright for NISI as we’re just scratching the surface in providing installation and estimating support for our CCA members. Our ultimate goal is to provide installation services for all home products, including kitchen and bath. There is no other group out there providing this level of support for their members and we’re proud to bring NISI services to the CCA membership.