Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

I n recent years, the hardwood flooring category has ceded market share to the likes of competing hard surface segments such as resilient (namely LVT/SPC/WPC) as well as laminate and ceramic—all of which have made strides in mimicking the wood-look visuals. At the same time, many of these alternative product segments have also excelled in the performance department, thanks to ongoing innovations in waterproof/water-resistant technologies.

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Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

S ome flooring distributors grow by taking market share from weaker competitors; others do it through acquisition. E.J. Welch & Company’s ascent from unranked wholesaler to No. 6 (projected 2022 sales of $230 million) has been all-encompassing—the basketball equivalent of a full-court press. Within a roughly two-year span, E.J. Welch has developed and implemented a strategic plan that entails customer service, pricing, procurement, marketing and sales.

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Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

The benefits of driverless trucks and freight include reducing fuel consumption and alleviating supply chain delays. W ith 70% of all goods in the U.S. moved by the trucking industry, the need for a robust work force is apparent. The problem? There is an estimated 80,500-plus shortfall of drivers, a figure forecast to reach 162,000 by 2030, according to the American Trucking Association (ATA).

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Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

The American Flooring Distributor lineup comprises SPC rigid core flooring and waterproof laminate. T he hyper-competitive segment like waterproof flooring —particularly SPC and waterproof laminate—has ushered in a bevy of new players looking to get in on the action. At the same time, it has also opened up opportunities for floor covering distributors to expand their product offerings while increasing market share.

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Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) released a new Tom’s Tips. In the series, Tom Jennings, retail training expert, presents short video tips for improving customer service and optimizing staff performance. In the end, it’s all about understanding the importance of being 1% better than your competition, he says. In this week’s Tom’s Tips, Jennings reminds us that when you are looking for a good response to a bad question, start by remembering that a customer has the right to ask a

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Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

If you’re looking to generate more eyes on your homepage (or foot traffic in your stores), advertising online is the best way to achieve that goal. According to Neilsen Research, online advertising consistently outperforms all other forms of advertising by a ratio of 2 to 1. Research shows email marketing campaigns provide up to 21% of company revenues and pay-per-click advertising return $2 for every $1 spent.

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Floor Covering News

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

What keeps distributors up at night? These days it can be a host of issues ranging from interest-rate hikes to oversupply of inventory. But at the top of the heap of what keeps wholesalers up at night is inflation, which is at a four-decade high. On the other hand, the nation’s leading wholesalers also expressed optimism that its strong ties with vendors will bode well for 2023 and beyond. .

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