With nearly 500 flooring professionals filling the room in Orlando, Florida, the buzz at Fuse Alliance's 2025 Annual Conference was palpable, according to Executive Director Geoff Gordon, who couldn't help but notice the influx of fresh faces. "We had almost 500 people there, but I asked the group... how many people was this their first meeting, first time at a Fuse event, and almost half the room stood up," Gordon recalled, highlighting the organization's growing reach within the commercial flooring industry.

Under the "Innovate to Elevate" banner, the conference challenged Fuse's 183 commercial flooring contract businesses to transform through technology, sustainability, and enhanced customer experiences. The four-day event delivered a carefully curated mix of keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to equip members with actionable strategies for navigating an evolving marketplace.

For first-time attendee Nikki Kuver, owner of Professional Flooring & Supply in Casper, Wyoming, the conference exceeded expectations. "The clear community that has developed around a singular goal of better and more professional business floor covering advances is extremely impressive," Kuver shared. After carefully considering the benefits, her company joined Fuse Alliance.

"When he [Gordon] first reached out, I was a bit skeptical as a ground-up company that began with only myself for all positions," Kuver explained. "However, after a couple long calls, I could see the potential of membership and we as a company are uniquely situated as the only Fuse dealer in Wyoming."

In his opening remarks, Gordon set the tone for the conference: "The market is evolving, customer expectations are shifting, and competition is more challenging than ever. The only way to rise above is to innovate to elevate – to rethink how we work, improve our efficiency, and deliver unparalleled value to our clients."

The four-day event kicked off with a workshop on team collaboration led by Rex Miller, principal and thought leader for MindShift, a future-focused consultancy and organizational performance firm, followed by three high-impact keynote presentations. Leadership speaker and trainer Courtney Ramsey spoke about handling difficult conversations, especially relevant for family businesses. Author and management expert Bruce Tolgan addressed leadership with his presentation "It's OK to Be the Boss," emphasizing the importance of clear direction and expectations. Economist Lauren Saidel-Baker from ITR Economics rounded out the keynotes with an economic outlook, projecting a flat first half of 2025 and stronger growth in the second half.

Kuver highlighted several valuable takeaways: "The technical information, information on contracts and how to handle potential tripping hazards with the potential tariffs the industry faces were key takeaways. The technology introduced and available for demo at the trade show has also already proven to be an immeasurable benefit for our efficiency."

Innovation took center stage. Gordon highlighted four key areas for innovation: technology, sales and customer experience, workforce and training, and sustainability and market trends.

On technology, Gordon noted that "Technology is revolutionizing our industry. New estimating software and AI are speeding up our workflow." Shaw Industries presented on AI technology, cautioning members about free AI tools and discussing how artificial intelligence is transforming estimating, customer relationship management [CRM], and operational systems.

For sales and customer experience, Gordon emphasized that "Consultative selling is the best approach, and the more professional we can be in front of the customer, the more successful we will be." He pointed to virtual and augmented reality and effective CRM systems as tools that can set companies apart from the competition.

Regarding workforce development, Gordon urged members to "Invest in your people through ongoing training and certifications. Develop apprenticeship and leadership programs." The conference also addressed industry-wide hiring challenges through specialized discussions and resources. Gordon highlighted one innovative approach where members can interview 40 potential candidates simultaneously through a structured process that efficiently identifies the best matches.

This focus on workforce development resonates with Kuver, who noted, "We are working to train and add additional installation technicians to work with our company and open up additional space in the schedule—as with many stores, our greatest challenge is access to professional and well-trained installation professionals. That is currently the only limit on our growth with a strong commercial sector in our region."

Despite these challenges, Kuver remains optimistic about business prospects: "We are fully booked through part of 2026 at this time on the commercial side of the business."

Sustainability continued as a key focus. "Clients are demanding eco-friendly solutions," Gordon stated. "Recycling materials and using renewable materials like bamboo and cork are essential." He noted that while demand for PVC-free products is growing, especially driven by architectural firms like Gensler, product stability remains a challenge. "Somebody's going to figure it out. And I think the products coming out now are better," he said.

Beyond formal sessions, the conference featured the popular "Legal and Libations" segment with attorney Ron Siotti, supplier presentations, and numerous networking opportunities. The welcoming atmosphere received particular praise from new members.

"We want people to come away feeling they learned a lot, they're part of a group that's not afraid to share ideas, and they're really motivated when they go back to work," Gordon explained.

For Kuver, the value of membership is clear: "The access to other companies in the same industry for expertise along with the literal experts that Fuse brings to the table, not to mention training opportunities and access to the nationwide flooring brands and solutions that can be hard to reach from rural areas are the 'why' for our company."

The Fuse conference serves as a launching point for year-round engagement. Weekly webinars and specialized roundtables build on conference topics and allow members to share implementation successes. These ongoing connections ensure that the innovations and strategies discussed at the annual meeting continue to benefit members throughout the year.

Looking ahead, Fuse Alliance members express cautious optimism about 2025 business conditions. They note that despite early weather-related challenges and tariff concerns, the market appears to be stabilizing, with minimal impact from international trade tensions on flooring products.