• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
  • AWARDS
  • EDUCATION
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Breaking Flooring News
  • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
  • Carpet & Area Rugs
  • Hardwood
  • Installation Products
  • Installation Tools & Equipment
  • Laminate
  • Resilient
  • Specialty
  • Tile & Stone
  • MARKETS
  • Commercial
  • Residential
  • AWARDS
  • Installation Awards
  • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
  • Continuing Education
  • Webinars
  • MEDIA
  • FLOOR Podcast
  • Videos
  • TISE 2025 Videos
  • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issues
  • Contact
  • Advertise
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP

Forward-looking Anderson builds on history

By Jeff Golden
February 1, 2007
Left: Dolores (Dodie) F. Anderson cuts the ribbon during the opening of the new Design Center as Don Finkell, (right), company president/ceo, looks on with company shareholders and family members.


The Anderson Family of Companies cut the ribbon on a multi-function facility designed to honor its rich history. The new 165,000-sq. ft Bob Anderson Design Center, in Fountain Inn, S.C., will handle design, administrative, research, educational, installation training and warehouse functions. Included is a company museum as well as tributes to the building’s namesake, Bob Anderson, who built the company over a career that spanned more than 50 years.

Located on a 65 acre site in the northwestern tip of South Carolina, the facility will not be involved in manufacturing, which will remain at the company’s nearby headquarters in Clinton, S.C. While most of the new facility-130,000 sq. ft.-is devoted to warehousing, 20,000 sq. ft. is occupied by offices and other operations including a duplicate computer system and a presentation room. In a clear indication that Anderson remains in a growth mode, 10,000 sq. ft. has been left unoccupied to accommodate future expansion. The Design Center will serve as the corporate headquarters of Appalachian Engineered Floors, a 5-year-old sister company of Anderson Hardwood that has outgrown its space in the Clinton facility.

The 22-year-old building, which was once a factory for Michelin Tires, was refurbished over the past year in preparation for the new occupants. During the remodeling project, interior walls and equipment were removed and three truck bays for shipping and receiving were added. Also, a number of details were included to reflect Anderson’s history and highlight the company’s innovations over the years, including the introduction of engineered hardwood.

Trees outside the facility include oak, hickory and other species used by Anderson to make flooring. Inside, the lobby and ceiling tiles include pressed veneer panels that are similar to the company’s wood flooring products. In keeping with company tradition, each executive office has a distinct wood floor made with product from a forthcoming Anderson introduction. Anderson ceo Don Finkell’s office features reclaimed heart pine with an oil finish.

All around are reminders of the Anderson family’s history in flooring. Numerous photos and mementos recall the legacy of Bob Anderson, who remained active with the company until his death in 2002. In the lobby, directly in front of a portrait of Anderson, a floor medallion highlights the companies he led. Adjacent to a waterfall in the lobby, there is a holographic presentation that includes a 10-minute dramatization recounting the company’s history and the evolution of the hardwood floor.

“The Design Center image reinforces our corporate positioning as the wood flooring style and design leader,” said Finkell, who hosted a grand opening celebration for the facility in December. He added that the ownership structure is part of an estate plan developed to assure future generations of the Anderson family retain ownership. “Fewer than 3% of all companies make it to the third generation of family ownership,” commented Finkell, Bob Anderson’s son-in-law who joined the company in 1980. “Getting to the fourth and fifth requires extensive foresight and planning. The Bob Anderson Design Center is part of that vision.”

The new Design Center becomes the sixth major facility operated by the Anderson Family of Companies (Anderson, Appalachian, Virginia Vintage and Anderson Pacific). In addition to Clinton, there are plants in Walterboro and Fairfax, S.C., Maine, and Mississippi.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jeff welcomes your comments. He can be reached via e-mail at GoldenJ@bnpmedia.com, or you can write him in care of NFT.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • resilient flooring

    The 7 Types of Resilient Flooring

    The resilient flooring category is comprised of many...
    Resilient Flooring
    By: Resilient Floorcovering Institute
  • QuickDrain USA’s ShowerLine linear drain

    Tips for Curbless Shower Installation Using a Linear Drain

    Consider these four tips when planning for a curbless...
    Flooring Installation Products
    By: Darryl Jones
  • 2024 New Flooring Product Guide

    2024 New Flooring Products Guide

    We explore this year's introductions in area rugs,...
    Residential Flooring
    By: FLOOR Trends & Installation Editors
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

What Shaw Flooring Network Dealers are Banking on for 2025

What Shaw Flooring Network Dealers are Banking on for 2025

Takeaways from the 2024 AHSG Convention & Member Outlook for 2025

Takeaways from the 2024 AHSG Convention & Member Outlook for 2025

Retailers Share Top Takeaways from Shaw Flooring Network Convention

Retailers Share Top Takeaways from Shaw Flooring Network Convention

Shaw Flooring Network Retailers Report Post-Election Sales Surge

Shaw Flooring Network Retailers Report Post-Election Sales Surge

More Videos

Popular Stories

Fishman Knoxville Tennessee location interior

From Tariff Talk to Trade Labor: Fishman's West Region Manager on Flooring Industry Challenges

salesperson meeting with clients

How to Dominate Flooring Sales: The Art of Listening Before Selling

Mimi Mulugeta and Michael Barrows

Military Vet Trades Retirement for New Flooring Venture in Alpharetta


Download the Free Moisture Meters Guide

Events

December 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Growth Challenges in the Flooring Industry

What’s holding you back from growth in 2025?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

See More Products

FLOORtalk podcasts - Listen Now

Related Articles

  • WFCA does it right with Green segment on TLC

    See More
  • Flooring Retailers Draw a Bead on the State of the Laminate Segment

    See More
  • Focus Group on flooring: Consumers say they surf the net... then drive to the store

    See More
×

We’re rolling out the red carpet of flooring knowledge!

Stay in the know on the latest flooring retail trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP