Vinnie Virga, president of Flooring America, wants to make something clear. Flooring America may be 20 years old, but there's still plenty of room to grow. To that end, the retailer is working on an initiative called "Vision 2008."
Here's an alarming bit of healthcare news: According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined. Alerted to this sobering fact-and mindful that most of its customers are women-the management at Flooring America is determined to make a difference.
It was 20 years ago that a small but determined group of flooring retailers gathered together to form what would one day evolve into one of the most highly respected retail co-op groups in the industry: Flooring America (and Flooring Canada). Now, the first-ever Global Summit hosted by the group's parent company, CCA Global Partners, seems a fitting occasion to recognize the retail co-op's milestone anniversary.
Why would an independent retailer want to join Flooring America? That is the question NFT recently posed to members of the group through an informal e-mail survey followed by a series of interviews. The answers were to the point: Overwhelmingly the members we spoke to said the co-op fattens their margins, sharpens their focus and gives them the buying muscle they need to stay competitive.
Consumers shopping for floor covering are anxious about high-pressure sales. They want information that reflects their individual needs and they say retailers-big and small-generally fail to follow up after a purchase to see if everything is okay. They note that specialty stores and big boxes each have their strengths and weaknesses.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The North American Laminate Flooring Association is working to elevate the profile of the category and educate the trade about quality and performance issues. Included will be an ambitious new awareness campaign tied to NALFA's "Seal of Standards."
Evidence that floor covering is taking bold strides forward can be readily found in the laminate section of most any specialty flooring store. Today's products look better, stand up to more wear-and-tear and have fewer maintenance woes than ever before.
Hardwood is an area of flooring that gives designers almost unlimited possibilities. The precise manner in which the boards are cut and sanded can give a room a distinct personality, as unique as the person who crafted it.
Editors Note: About two years ago Formica Corp. discontinued its laminate flooring line, Formica Floors. Although the company had enjoyed strong brand identity, the realities of the flooring business and the intense competition in the category put the squeeze on profits. Now, the line is being resurrected by Kronotex USA with five new collections.
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