One year ago, the Alliance Flooring buying group introduced the Perfect Home retail selling solution. The two-pronged approach to flooring sales utilizes merchandising and technology to bridge the gap between the digital and in-store experiences. It was a strategic investment that the group's leadership says carefully balances the fierce independence of its 322 retail members with the need for a unified approach to marketing.
"What we're trying to do is keep everyone ahead of where the industry's going," said Alliance Flooring Co-CEO Ryan Dunn. "The industry's changing and evolving right in front of our eyes. Consumers are getting more sophisticated, they're getting more savvy, they're embracing technology more. They have less time to shop. They're going to fewer stores. They want the decision and they want the process to be simpler and more streamlined. And that's what we're trying to deliver to them. We're obviously big proponents of independent specialty, brick-and-mortar retailers. That is what this selling system is designed to do: support those small business people."