History of Ceramic and Stone Tiles

As flooring retailers, we are always surrounded by beautiful tiles. It’s easy to lose sight or perhaps not even be aware of the journey tile making has undergone through the ages. The history of ceramic and stone flooring is long and interesting. With so many setbacks, it’s truly a wonder that we have such a vibrant industry today. 

Flooring Through the Ages

Egypt was among the first to succeed in stone construction, which dates back 5000 years. In ancient Greece remnants of this tradition have been uncovered as well. Ceramic flooring has been traced back to the 4th century BC . The Romans expanded on the ceramic industry and made great gains. Some Roman structures even had heated floors. As they occupied Western Europe, tile making became more and more popular. With the fall of the Roman empire, tile production ceased to be commonplace. However, this introduction of ceramic tiles would have a far greater impact on the architecture from Europe to North America than anyone could have predicted. 

In the 12th century, Cistercian monks began producing patterned floor tiles to place in cathedrals and churches. During the Reformation, tile making suffered another setback in the 16th century. The tradition was carried on in Turkey and the Middle East with wall tiles still being produced for decor and Delft tiles developed in Holland in the 17th century, inspired by the Chinese porcelain tiles.

The Palace at Westminster

Flooring Revolution and Revival

While tile making might have continued on this way, a continuous cycle of resurgences and roadblocks, the flooring industry, as did many other industries, saw a huge breakthrough during the Industrial Revolution. With the introduction of machines, tiles were no longer produced using the arduous processes required by hand, and Britain led the way, along with Germany, France,  and Belgium. 

In 1843, England’s Herbert Minton brought back encaustic tile-making. His tiles were more popular due to his range of color use and the help of a brilliant Gothic artist, named Augustus Pugin who designed the tiles. During this time dust-pressing became the standard for making the tiles, which allowed for more efficient production. These tiles were placed in some of England’s most prestigious structures, such as the Palace at Westminster in London, and Queen Victoria’s Royal Residence on the Isle of Wight. 

For thousands of years, stone and ceramic tile has been a sought after flooring, due to its beauty and durability. You can visit some of the oldest and most breathtaking structures in the world to see early examples of stone and ceramic tile. At one time, only the ultra wealthy could afford stunning tiles for their floors. But thanks to modern technology, that is no longer the case. Stone and ceramic flooring is an affordable and lasting choice for a variety of budgets.

Now that you know a bit of flooring history, you might want to use it when selling to your flooring customers!

Carbon Neutral Flooring

According to the Global Status Report, building and construction accounts for 39% of global carbon emissions. With climate change a global issue in the forefront of everyone’s minds, many top companies are making changes to reduce their carbon footprint, and the flooring sector is no exception. In recent years, flooring manufacturers have questioned how they can make further changes towards a positive impact on our planet, and carbon neutral flooring seems to be the answer. 

If you are not familiar with this concept, you may be asking— what exactly is carbon neutral flooring? A carbon neutral product is made with net-zero carbon emissions. This is achieved through absorbing any emissions released by making production changes to reduce emissions, while supporting outside endeavors to reduce harmful greenhouse gases in our environment. Are you looking to provide your flooring customers with carbon neutral flooring options?

Top Carbon Neutral Manufacturer in Flooring 

Several flooring manufacturers have successfully produced carbon neutral flooring. However, if you Google carbon neutral flooring, you will quickly find one company consistently headlining the efforts. Interface was one of the first companies to pioneer the carbon neutral flooring sector and has continued to lead the way.

In 1994, they began with a mission to achieve carbon neutrality and have since achieved 74% reduction in carbon emissions. When you compare this number with the decreased emissions of Mohawk, one of the largest flooring manufacturers at just 20.08% since 2010 according to their 2019 Sustainability Report, it’s easy to see the magnitude of Interface’s accomplishment. However, the company isn’t just stopping at carbon neutrality. It has launched a new effort called, Climate Take Back™, seeking to make positive steps toward reversing global warming.

They currently offer an extensive portfolio of flooring options, including carpet tile, luxury vinyl tile, and nora® by Interface, which is floor covering made of rubber. 

While Interface is a leader in the carbon neutral flooring sector, it is by no means the only flooring manufacturer striving for carbon neutrality. There are numerous others who have achieved whole and partial carbon reduction. Some of them are listed below. 

• Tarkett offers carbon neutral luxury vinyl tiles, planks, and sheets, as well as rubber flooring options. 
• Shaw Contract produces completely carbon neutral commercial carpets. 
• Forbo Flooring Systems reached carbon neutrality with the production of Marmoleum, a linoleum made from natural raw materials.  

The companies above have met their goals, but continue to strive forward in an effort to reduce global warming and increase sustainability. Through utilizing recyclable materials and renewable resources, decreasing the amount of energy used during the manufacturing process, as well as supporting outside projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions, these companies have achieved great feats in the flooring manufacturing industry. With small changes, we can all do our part and take the steps necessary to preserve our planet for future generations. 

Reach out to your flooring vendor or supplier to learn more about carbon neutral floor covering options, from carpet to linoleum.

Going Green with your Flooring Pricebooks

If you are wondering how you can further help with the green movement in flooring, look to going paperless with your pricebooks! With VendorPriceBook, no longer do you need to rely on paper pricebooks, or even PDFs! Try us out and see the difference. In our web application, you can easily chat with flooring vendors and suppliers as well as look up inventory and pricebooks (confidential).

Sourcing for Flooring Retailers: What You Can Do

COVID-19 had a significant impact on the flooring industry in unexpected ways. On the one hand, it was affected adversely by transitioning with appointment-only showroom visits, reduced staff, stricter sanitation, masks, and social distancing, which caused a decrease in walk-in clientele. On the other hand, business increased with the “Shelter in Place” mandate causing people to look at their homes more closely as long as they had to be there, many deciding to make upgrades. With digital formats, customers ordered materials and found ways to move forward with remodeling projects through shop-at-home options, especially for home offices. Thanks to virtual meetings and video chats, the flooring business did continue, although at a slower rate.

Although many flooring companies stayed open with adequate inventory, their product offerings were basic. Custom projects would have to wait since sourcing materials started to become a challenge.

The root problem with retail flooring sources involved major supply companies. Many were forced to reduce non-critical expenses, including capital spending. The primary flooring supplier, Shaw, announced they were temporarily suspending many of their operations in North America during the pandemic. Armstrong remained in operation remotely for outsourced products. Tarkett announced customers might experience lead time increases. Mohawk experienced massive hits stemming from Europe’s impact. All of these companies and more suffered through slowed manufacturer production. While this made meeting supply and demand difficult, do-it-yourself big-box store businesses increased. It was safer to order a boxed kit and do it yourself, although not as professional.

Depending on outside resources proved detrimental to the American hardwood flooring businesses amid pandemic concerns, forcing them to change the way they acquired solid and manufactured hardwood floors. In addition, supply chain concerns remained low for distributors sourcing wood locally.

Maintaining flooring supply inventory is vital to survival in the flooring industry. Since many businesses do not have enough key products right now, custom orders are put on hold. Stock is dwindling, and while sourcing agents are being reevaluated, it’s important to keep any available materials and use them sparingly.

The pandemic will end eventually, and the economy will improve. Until that time, flooring retailers need to remain ready for anything in these uncertain times. Presenting a flexible and adaptable attitude to the public is important.

Communication with Retailers and Vendors

One thing that is in your control is how you streamline your workflow. Communicating between vendor and retailer is an important aspect that occurs on a daily basis! Time is limited as we all know. Being efficient means doing things that work well and in a timely manner–that includes how long and in what way you do that when talking to vendors and retailers in flooring. With VendorPriceBook, you simply need an internet connection and you can login to a system where you can share confidential pricing information to your retailers, including inventory levels, too! Retailers can create purchases right in the same portal! Our web solution is here to help you save time and money!

8 Things You Need to Fix Now On Your Flooring Website

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever for flooring businesses to have a website. Think about it— Where is the first place you go to search for a business? Your answer was likely Google. One study found that 91% of adults use search engines as means of gathering information, and 83% of those users choose Google. Without an internet presence, customers are not able to find you, which essentially means you do not exist.

However, you don’t want just any old website. Your site needs to reflect well on your business, while attracting as many customers as possible. Below are seven things you can fix now to improve your flooring website by leaps and bounds.

Curb Appeal

As the saying goes, first impressions are lasting, and they can make or break you. Design is one of the most important factors to consider when building your flooring website.

Simplicity is key. Steer away from dark backgrounds, or bright colors. Also, try to avoid distracting ads and pop ups. You want your website to be inviting, not overwhelming. If you’re unsure what a well-designed flooring website looks like, invest in a reputable designer. You will see the returns on your investment.

Ease of Use

94% of respondents say easy navigation is the most vital website feature. Think of how frustrating it is when you go to a website looking for information and you can’t find what you need. Your website should be well organized, allowing your customers to find information quickly and efficiently.

Relevant Content

You want your website to be useful to your customers. Consider common flooring issues your customers may face, or questions they may have when searching for the perfect flooring for their home. If your customer was standing in front of you, what would their questions or concerns be?

Having relevant content not only meets your customer’s unique needs, but also boosts your credibility with the customer and your ranking on Google. So, another great investment is hiring a content writer. Many businesses are amazed at the leads they generate from a single blog post.

Mobile Site

85% of users say a company’s mobile site should be just as good or better than the desktop version. More often than not users are using phones and tablets to do a quick search. Make sure your mobile site is optimized. Doing so is easy and can help you gain customers and keep existing ones.

Make your flooring site mobile friendly so content easily fits across tablets, laptops and phones

Trust Building

A website research group, Nielsen Norman Group (NNG), created a pyramid highlighting the hierarchy of users’ trust for websites. In order to achieve the highest levels of trust with customers, consider what you would need to feel confident in a website. Some things to consider are:

• Increasing your authority in the flooring industry by providing informative guides
• Including a section for customer reviews
• Make sure your website is HTTPS secure

Feedback

Allow your customer to give you feedback. Customers like to be heard, and some of their feedback can help improve your website.

Call to Action

You want your calls to action to be specific. Study your customers’ behavior on your site. Don’t be afraid to try new CTAs. A focused CTA provides 400% more engagement than a generic one.

Unique Story

Share what makes your flooring business unique. There are a million other flooring websites. However, you can stand out in the minds of customers and create an empathetic connection by giving customers insight into why you love what you do.

Bonus Tip: Pro Service

When you do get customers in your door, follow best practices for optimizing the guest experience! Make sure you also have the proper tools to quickly and efficiently quote pricing and availability of flooring. You can use a tool like VendorPriceBook.com to streamline these processes.

VendorPriceBook.com

Five Ways to Improve Customer Service at your Flooring Business

There’s an old saying in the business world: the customer is always right. Now, we all know that isn’t actually true (especially in specialized industries like flooring), but the idea has become accepted by both businesses and customers across the globe.

The truth of the matter is this: the customer isn’t always right, but your customer service should make them FEEL like they are. Here are a few tips to help you improve your customer service in your flooring showroom.

Give Your Customers Information

There is nothing more irritating to a customer than a sales associate who hovers and follows them around the showroom. Similarly, there is nothing more irritating to an employee than customers who bombard them with a million questions. One way to give everyone the space they need (and avoid terse interactions that make everyone uncomfortable) is to give your customers the important info up front.

Post signs around your store with information about pricing. Fill your website with helpful blogs and easy to find FAQs (these can also boost your ranking on search engines). If your customers can find key info themselves, they’ll feel like that have more power over their sales experience — and that is always a positive.

Set The Mood

When customers don’t feel comfortable with a shopping experience (as they usually don’t when making big purchases like flooring), they tend to want to keep the experience short and sweet. Of course, we know that finding the right flooring takes time — so it’s up to us to make the process as pleasant as possible.

Choose pleasant overhead music to play in your store. Use aromatherapy to create a comfortable and calming environment. These little tricks can ease the stress of shopping and help your customers enjoy the experience a little bit more.

Use Associates Appropriately

A great sales associate is like seasoning in a recipe: they amplify everything that’s great about the experience and take it to the next level. However, it is possible to “over-season” a customer shopping experience, and that can leave a bad taste in their mouth.

Make sure your sales associates are well trained, knowledgeable, and friendly — but also, make sure they know when to let a customer have some space. Remember that good customer service is about giving the customer what they want (not securing a sale), so make sure your sales team knows how to read the situation and respond appropriately.

Get Social

In today’s world, social media is an invaluable form of marketing. The right viral tweet or five-star Yelp review can really help your business — and a one-star review can do incredible damage.

Make sure you are active on your business’s social media pages. This might mean posting about sales or new floor that’s arrived in the store, or it might mean responding to reviewers who gave you poor reviews (however, when you respond to those reviewers ALWAYS remain professional). If you are engaging with your audience online, you will have a clearer idea of what they want and expect from your business.

Ask for Feedback

Finally, let’s go back to our old adage, “The customer is always right.” One great way to provide customer service is to lean into that belief and simply ask your customers for their feedback. Ask them to take a survey about your store online. Make it easy for them to contact you with questions or comments, and respond to these messages promptly. Simply giving your customers a voice will make them feel like you care — and that’s something everyone appreciates.

Ultimately, the customer service experience is about making your customers feel valuable. If you prove that you value their time, their personal space, and their opinions, they are sure to value your product all the more.

Bonus Tip: Expedite the Process

The VendorPriceBook Mobile app is coming soon and purchase ordering is now available!

The system you know and love is getting an upgrade. Now with VendorPriceBook, you will be able to use our mobile app right on the showroom floor. No more running around, leafing through pages or searching spreadsheets for (potentially outdated) pricing and inventory levels. NO MORE MAKING YOUR CUSTOMERS WAIT LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD. Stay tuned for news on our upcoming mobile app release.

Office Flooring Trends

Workplaces are evolving in many ways, from technology and culture to how they look. As a flooring retailer, it’s essential to be up-to-date with current flooring trends.

Workplaces Are Constantly Evolving

As technology expands, we see how things are becoming smaller and thinner. Monitors are becoming slimmer; laptops are easily transportable, works stations are increasingly sharable.

In terms of flooring, many businesses are looking towards durability combined with aesthetics. For example, vinyl flooring or cement can look like wood flooring, but with benefits like being easier to clean and maintain and less costly to install.

Carpets combine intricate weaves to add an element of luxury. However, many office spaces may decide on throw rugs for color and texture.

While budgets need to be considered, it’s clear that beauty, symmetry, and easy maintenance are high on the priority list.

Durable and Attractive Flooring

Many office and workspaces are turning towards textured, patterned, and luxurious designs due to expanding upcoming products and brands.

Exposed concrete coupled with rugs is a significant trend to watch. Customers can choose from polished or stained for attractive and efficient flooring.

An attractive rug can really liven up an office

Typically, workplace installations include ceramic, vinyl, broadloom, carpet tiles, and stone to create the proper look. A significant consideration for your clients should consist of the installation process, maintenance, and projected lifetime. Identifying client needs and providing these pertinent pieces of information for them to consider makes their shopping experience easy and stress-free.

For example, suggesting stain-repellent carpets for high-traffic areas or lighter carpets can be a life-saver for customers who haven’t considered the impact of spilled coffee over time.

A Trend Towards Hominess

Flooring retailers may notice that clients might veer towards anti-carpet. Instead, they might decide on open office spaces, open ceilings, and many area rugs to mitigate acoustics and add texture and colors to create a homey atmosphere. An example might be painted concrete that utilizes color schemes to indicate special rooms or to increase productivity.

Don’t be surprised if you see a growing trend towards concrete for beautiful floors. Clients may choose the most economical option, like carpeting over existing concrete. However, it can be expensive to refinish existing concrete.

As collaborative culture grows, businesses might gear towards combining beauty with comfort. The current trend seems to be layering textures and area rugs coupled with warm and cozy designs. The role of flooring in these spaces appeals to clients and employees alike.

Shared workspaces or desk sharing allow employees to quickly connect or disconnect, carry their laptops or iPads, and communicate openly. Office spaces should reflect this open and clutter-free work zone. If people spend long hours at work, they should have a few comforts from home and an environment that allows them to feel comfortable.

6 Tips for Flooring Sales Teams

As a flooring retailer, you want to create a memorable experience for your customers. As the economy is reopening, it’s essential for flooring sales teams to provide excellent service without being pushy.

The main key for top salespeople is to love what they do. The best teams are willing to go above and beyond.

As a manager, there are a few characteristics that excellent flooring teams have that can seep into every step of the process.

The Benefits of Extroverts and Introverts

Most people are both extroverts and introverts. Few people are 100 percent one or the other. Studies suggest that ambiverts who fall in the middle of the spectrum make the best salespeople.

Extroverts love being sociable. They enjoy making small talk, meeting new people, and starting conversations easily. Introverts tend to develop deeper relationships by listening to their customers and being able to read them. They tend to ask the right questions and fully listen to provide sound advice.

Ambiverts strike a perfect balance of listening and talking. They utilize a good balance of flexibility, enthusiasm, and agreeability without being pushy or demanding.

A team made up of thoughtful, conscientious, charismatic, and open salespeople are more likely to enjoy high sales and return customers.

Establish Trust

Trust and rapport start as soon as you greet your customer and extends throughout the sale. Building a relationship with a new customer has less to do with what the salesperson wants and more to do with the customer.

Customers enjoy being able to gather unbiased information from a professional without feeling forced into a decision. They will also be more motivated to return and provide referrals.

Your Store Is More Than Your Products

No matter how niche your flooring products may be, they won’t be sufficient to differentiate you from competitors.

Without a team of passionate and experts, customers may walk in and right back out. The key is bringing your products to life and showcasing how they can benefit your customer.

The most unique thing about your store is your flooring sales team.

The internet allows customers to do extensive research before walking into your store. They can explore options, go over your products on your website, read customer reviews, and even have a list of questions. A superior service experience means anticipating these questions, providing in-depth explanations that aren’t available online, and suggesting better alternatives.

Most customers walking into your store have already selected the store for various reasons. Few walk in off the street without any idea or budget regarding their needs. The trick is asking the right questions right at the start.

Quality Service Requires Quality Training

Superb customer experience doesn’t happen by accident: it is created. The best teams have a standard of care that insists on quality, which is why they never expect their sales team to self-train.

Managers set the standard for consistency and high quality during ongoing education and training. Good performances should be rewarded and encouraged.

Excellent Customer Experience Doesn’t Stop at the Sales Floor

Everyone on your flooring team is expected to run through the sale without dropping the baton. From the salesperson to measurement and installation, all roles are equally important to avoid a breakdown in communication and experience.

After all, a smooth sale can be overshadowed by a bad experience during installation. No matter how good your sales team is, it’s vital that they have open and honest communication with all departments.

A sales person helps out a flooring customer

Understand What Makes You Unique

High standards cover your entire business and functions only when everyone understands what they do, their roles, and how to communicate.

Customers are used to being told how excellent a store is or how it will price-match a competitor. Instead, focus on what makes your experience unique to them.

Now more than ever, customers are looking for a human experience. They want to connect with people rather than avoiding them. After all, customers can easily order products online. Many people are interested in finding common ground, sharing stories, and feeling seen.

Customers are paying for their peace of mind. They want a quality product that will serve their needs, and they want an installation team they can trust in their house.

Managers can efficiently run a well-oiled machine by focusing on virtues that represent good qualities in many people. Sincere enthusiasm paired with compassionate professionalism keeps everyone happy, including your flooring sales team.

Back to the Office: What Flooring Retailers Should Focus On

COVID-19 has facilitated sudden and unparalleled changes to both consumers and retailers alike. There has been a global shift in everyone’s daily lives and happiness, starting with safety protocols like wearing masks, social distancing, and not leaving the house if feeling ill. 

As the world starts to reopen, flooring retailers can expect a reengagement with new and loyal customers. Although priorities may have shifted, old safety protocols like curbside service may never drop. Consumer spending habits may have changed, as well.

The Importance of an Attractive and Comfortable Home After COVID

It’s not outrageous to suggest that, for many, priorities have shifted. As we look around and reconnect with friends and family we haven’t seen in over a year, we start getting a sense of shifted priorities. Health, family, and home have skyrocketed to the top of the priority list.

For example, millions of Americans started working remotely in their own homes. Many now realize that much of their job can be done from home. According to a Pew Research Center survey, over half do not want to return to the office after the pandemic.

Before, people would be gone from their homes for eight to 10 hours per day: working and school. Throughout the pandemic, the need for a multipurpose home began to grown. As people shifted from going to bars after work, parties during the weekend, excellent meals at restaurants, and playing at the park, it became apparent that close contact with a few trusted people became more critical. For millions of Americans, a home started meaning much more.

For flooring retailers, this could indicate a sudden growth in interest in beautifying and designing homes.

People are looking to beautify their homes

Online E-Commerce and Curbside Pickup

Retailers may see an increase in contactless BOPIS (buy online, pick-up in-store). According to RetailTouchPoints, 90% of retailers already implement this option by 2021. At the height of COVID, BOPIS orders were over 500 percent, as stated by Kibo Commerce.

Flooring retailers may also expect to continue as much of this trend as possible, especially concerning e-commerce. A survey conducted by Bizrate Insights found that more than 50 percent of customers preferred BOPIS for its convenience and safety.

Flooring retailers may also find that as fulfillment centers and grocery stores rush to execute their customer’s orders, new flooring may be necessary to reduce wear and tear on the joints while reducing the risk of falls under any condition.

Flooring retailers can enhance their customer’s experience with different online options. Tools such as room simulators or visualizer tools, for example, allow consumers to upload a photo of their home and see how it looks with different flooring.

Enhance your customer service: offer online visualization tools

Flooring After the Pandemic

As the world heads into a new chapter, flooring retailers can fulfill a necessity for spaces that require improved ergonomics within brick and mortar to enhance home attractiveness.

Communication is of Utmost Importance in the Flooring Industry

Efficiency is the key in any business, but in the flooring world, we all know that communication can be improved. VendorPriceBook.com allows flooring retails and suppliers instantly connect through chat and enables a seamless way to update pricing and inventory as well as to LOOK these up, too.

2021 Summer Flooring Renovation Trends

In 2021, summer floor renovation trends focus on effortlessness. With home as the new hub for many this year, comfort is king. A wide variety of waterproof and low maintenance options are on the market for an easy home lifestyle including the following.

Beating out hardwood flooring, laminate, and carpet is Luxury Vinyl Plank. LVP is a popular trend for 2021 because it is waterproof, easy to maintain, and does not scratch. Appropriate for families with children and dogs, LVP is easy to clean and comes in a variety of colors. LVP flooring can be installed easily, appealing to the DIY demographic. With glue down or click in place methods of installation, a family could complete their own renovation without a professional installer.

Indoor outdoor carpeting has also won a spot in summer trends this year. Improved over the plastic feeling polypropylene of the past, indoor outdoor carpet now resembles wool. It is durable, resistant to chemicals, and repels stains. It is appropriate for families with children and pets and has become popular with high-end wool manufacturers.

Vinyl that looks like wood or tile is another hot commodity this year. It is waterproof, pet friendly, and soft underfoot making it a good option for home gyms and nurseries. The corked backing deadens sound keeping rooms quieter, and it is resistant to scratches. With no dirty grout lines to clean, this vinyl can fool people. It looks so real you may need to touch it to believe it is vinyl.

Another popular trend for 2021 is tile. With the appearance of natural wood and the durability and water resistance of cement, tile goes well in bathrooms. Lastly, format tiles offer a sense of spaciousness. They cover a lot of area making a room seem larger.

If you are selling flooring for summer home renovations, this year the most popular color trend is blonde. Whitewashed and weathered looks and the grey/beige combination of “greige” are fashionable light shades for this year’s summer floor trends.

What kind of flooring are you seeing that’s in high demand this season? Share with us in the comments!

Have you connected with other vendors and retailers in flooring space in VendorPriceBook.com? Try it out, it’s free! Connect with others in the industry and grow together!

4 Ways you Can Increase Productivity in Your Flooring Business (That you can implement today)

It’s no secret that running your own business is no easy task. Between attracting new clients, completing current jobs, managing employees, and the countless other items on your to-do list, each day can feel totally overwhelming.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to achieve your business goals with less work AND in less time? Believe it or not, this is a possibility: all you have to do is increase productivity. Here are a few tips to help you boost productivity in your flooring business — starting today!

Invest in Your Sales Team

Every flooring business needs an exceptional sales team if they’re going to succeed. Flooring is a product that most customers don’t know much about; the customers expect sales reps to be informative and helpful (while business owners expect them to be persuasive and land those clients).

If you want your flooring business to be more productive, you MUST invest in the men and women selling your services. Give them adequate training and support so they can answer all your customers’ questions. Incentivize them with fair commissions. The more support you give to your sales team, the harder they will work to get you new jobs.

Invest in your sales team

Optimize Your Inventory

In the flooring business, you earn money for every job you complete — and if you’re constantly delaying projects because of a miscommunication at the warehouse, you’re letting money slip through your fingers. The best way to complete jobs quickly and speed up productivity is to be prepared with organized and optimized inventory.

Make sure that you’re taking inventory of your flooring regularly, so you know exactly what you have available and what you need to order right away. You can even digitize your warehouse with a shared spreadsheet or inventory software, giving you a real-time look into the flooring you have ready for use.

Automate Your Marketing Efforts

As a flooring business owner, you probably know everything about your flooring options and the process of laying each one. But do you know what you might not know about? Effectively marketing your business to new clients.

Good marketing is a vital part of running a productive business — but that doesn’t mean you need to spend precious hours figuring out how to do it! Instead, hand off the work to an automated marketing program or platform. These tools can help you target customers and attract eyeballs, even while you’re busy doing other important work.

Streamline Project Management

Finally, the best way to improve productivity is to manage your projects more effectively! There are many project management programs you can use to keep track of timelines, take notes on client requests or project details, and even keep tabs on which clients have paid their bills!

When you use a project management program or app, you are making sure that every member of your team has the information they need to do their job well AND get it done quickly. The result: a more productive business and many more happy clients!

Luckily, with VendorPriceBook.com, all you need to do instantly connect with your flooring suppliers, look up pricing and even make an order all in one place. It’s free to try, so check it out today.