'The transformation of our industry': Raising the bar for retailers -- <i>and</i> suppliers

Taken at face value, the prospect of independent flooring retailers banding together might be unsettling to some suppliers. The store owners, after all, are likely to use their collective clout to secure deals no one member could ever hope to negotiate on his own. As any member of Carpet One can attest, there is strength in numbers.

Yet, while Carpet One has grown to become the single most important retail entity in specialty flooring, manufacturers credit the company and its members with advancing the industry as a whole. There is a wide consensus that the focus on quality flooring products and top-notch customer service has raised the bar for everyone in the industry.