Despite its humble beginnings, our industry typically has been blessed with a dedicated corps of hard-working, ethically minded craftsmen. But compounding the worsening workforce shortage problem are the inevitable installer retirement announcements that we dealers/contractors are reluctantly accepting. The installers’ well-deserved joy over the prospect of retirement from the working world is, in reality, our sorrow.
Consumers, too, are growing weary of our industry’s installer shortage and have adopted a “buyer beware” policy toward floor installation. Too many have had bad experiences with fly-by-night contractors. Our industry and our hardwoods deserve the very best workforce that money can buy. Today’s highly selective and educated consumer feels the same way.