Rick Brian is president of R. B. Brian and Associates Inc., a management and marketing consulting company which he founded in 1997. His clients are primarily manufacturers and distributors in the hardwood flooring and building products industries. He is the former president of Robbins Hardwood Flooring, and is a past board member of the NWFA, MFMA and NOFMA. RBBA is headquarted in Southern Pines, N.C. You can contact him at rbrian@RBBAinc.com or through his website: wwwRBBAinc.com.
Lee Lacocca’s famous quote, “Lead, follow or get out of the way!” From the early 1980s has a much more profound meaning today when you apply it to the new model of retail selling affecting the way you will be, or already are, doing business.
Let’s face it: Everyone claims they have the best quality, service, delivery, and price. But the fact is, that’s just not possible. So when it comes to marketing and producing your brand of hardwood flooring, it’s imperative that every employee on your team is totally committed to being a market niche leader and improving profitability each year.
When I previously wrote about wood flooring in “passing the test of time,” I did not take antique heart pine flooring into the equation. This unique and rare historical product takes the adage to an entirely different level.
I don't care if you sell Rolls Royces, Cartier watches, McDonald's hamburgers or hardwood flooring, sooner or later you will have an unhappy customer. Why? Because expectations have not been met.
Hardwood flooring has become wildly popular with homeowners, builders and specifiers for a great number of reasons, not the least of which is the design creativity it offers.
With "March Madness" upon us, now is an appropriate time to take a look at what's new in maple sports surfaces. The old "gym floor" has come a long way over the past 25 years.
The rise in hardwood's popularity over the past 20 years or so speaks volumes about consumers' desire for an attractive, natural, long-lasting flooring material.
Hardwood flooring has most certainly passed the “test of time” as a beautiful architecturally designed construction product for its natural aesthetics, form and function.
