Connecting with customers is vital to the success of any business. Flooring contractors are no different, but which customers and how? Who do you spend time with—architects, designers, end users or general contractors? What about product manufacturers?
Throughout my flooring career as a retail sales advisor, store manager, mill rep, product knowledge training manual author, layout tool inventor and columnist I’ve always taken a deep interest in selling area rugs.
With the advent of the Internet, U.S. consumers have seen more change in the past 15 years than any equivalent time period in our history and the changes that are yet to come are not only mind boggling they are potentially life threatening for some floor covering retailers.
When it comes to brands, there have been a plethora of studies and multiple opinions on the subject. But one thing is abundantly clear: Brands do matter—whether they are internationally known or only to people in your hometown.
Standing out among the crowd isn’t always easy, but with the help of recognized personalities and household names, retailers have the opportunity of putting their products in the spotlight and separating themselves from the pack—especially if they sell rugs, which is where the majority of these licensed brands are going.
When it comes to the carpet industry and the work it has done on the sustainability side it is hard to argue with the success and strides it has made over the years–especially the last dozen or so when it helped spearhead the formation of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE).
When the news broke earlier this year that industry veteran and Hall of Famer, Peter Spirer had purchased Max Windsor Floors it was greeted with surprise by many, and wonder by some.
Starting a flooring retail business and sustaining it can be difficult enough, but doing so while also building a well-known and respected brand is even more challenging.
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