Fishman Flooring's West Region sales manager, Tyler Trick, discusses how tariff uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and severe labor shortages are challenging the flooring industry in 2025.
While flooring distributors struggle with outdated supply chains, Texas Roadhouse processes 400,000+ daily orders with 98.7% accuracy using digital systems. The restaurant chain's transformation offers a blueprint for flooring companies to reduce inventory costs 30% and eliminate project delays through AI-powered operations.
Successful flooring salespeople excel by asking questions and actively listening to customer needs, recognizing that flooring represents a significant, infrequent purchase for most consumers who rely on professional guidance—a strategy that drives not only immediate sales but cultivates valuable repeat business and personal referrals.
The CR Design Center Westside, located at the adaptive reuse Westside Paper development near the Atlanta Beltline, represents the culmination of the company's 55-year evolution and signals a dynamic shift in how the Home Depot-owned company approaches customer service in the building and design industry.
White oak demand surges as consumers embrace natural finishes and herringbone patterns. Manufacturers respond with innovative installation solutions while wood reclaims territory from vinyl alternatives—even in basements.
Chicago's June design calendar features two key events for flooring professionals: NeoCon's 56th edition at The Mart (June 9-11) and Fulton Market Design Days (June 10-12), offering opportunities for trendspotting, product discovery, and industry networking.
Installers face critical challenges when clients choose tiles purely for aesthetics, overlooking how they perform in complex patterns like herringbone—often creating conflicts with industry standards for modular systems and consistent joint widths.
