Retail

How I Managed a Large Home Development Project

The developers ended up building 200 homes. I provided the flooring material and design for over 60 of them, completing my last home in December 2022. Here’s what I learned along the way.

May 17, 2023

I set out to make every wood floor in this housing development unique to each client. Ten years and around 60 new homes later, I achieved my goal.

How ‘Luxury Without Elitism’ Drives Our Flooring Business

One of the mottos for our N.Y.C.-based retail flooring business is “luxury without elitism.” It means that no matter what you look like, no matter how big your apartment is, if you come into one of our showrooms, we want you to feel great.

March 23, 2023

Over the years, we’ve become a staple for high-end projects around New York City and have also expanded with locations in Boston, Miami, Dallas and New Jersey. But we never forgot our company’s humble beginnings, and that foundation has continued to inspire how we run our business.

How to Make the Most of Industry Trade Shows

Going to trade shows is an investment of time and money, and so Richard Bell always strives to get the most out of them when he's there. Here’s how he does that.

January 18, 2023

Going to trade shows is a big investment of time and money, so be sure you arrive at the show with a strategy.

How We’re Adapting to the Latest Credit Card Scams

For wood flooring retailers, it seems it’s a full-time job these days to try to stay ahead of them or create policies to prevent fraud. The latest scenario demands an even more vigilant approach.

January 18, 2023

Our company fell victim to a new type of scam going around. We’re bolstering our security measures to prevent it from happening again.

From the Humblest Beginnings to High-End Hardwood Flooring

Today, Dago Orozco does wood flooring for some of the most famous people in the world, but his story began on a farm in Mexico.

November 19, 2022

Today my wife, Patricia, and son, Dago Jr., are an essential part of my business. Here we are in the showroom I opened six years ago.

Pain and Joy: How We Turned Around A Company In A Recession

Here’s how we not only survived the recession, but in the process also laid the groundwork to become one of the leaders in our market.

November 18, 2022

Education has become a foundational part of our business, and it’s helped set us apart.

How To Gauge What Floor Your Client Wants In Two Minutes

We’ve found that nine out of 10 times this questionnaire leads to a floor the client ends up choosing.

September 19, 2022

We’ve found that nine out of 10 times our quick questions lead to a floor the client ends up choosing.

Former Retailer Starts Company That Automatically Updates Showroom Pricing

Flooring retailer Kristen Stensby found that constantly updating pricing in the showroom was labor-intensive, so she set out to find an easier option.

August 29, 2022

Pictured from Showroom Pricing are (left to right): Jackie Ulmer, customer success ninja; Kristen Stensby, co-owner; Jason Smith, co-owner; and Dave Holy, co-owner.

Showcasing Resilience: See the Winners of the 2022 WFB Outstanding Retailer Awards

The following WFB Outstanding Retailer Award winners of 2022 have each displayed adaptability, resilience and growth. Each also shared insights into how they’ve built successful teams and moved their businesses forward.

August 8, 2022

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My Best Advice Before Opening Up A Retail Location

From my 36 years of experience in this business, including falling on my face a few times, here are some things I suggest you consider carefully before jumping into the retail part of the business.

July 27, 2022

You can build that beautiful showroom, but are you prepared to pay for the staff to be in it during all your open hours?

Using My Unique Background To Make My Business Stand Out

I loved my life in France, but I always wondered: What else awaits me? This mentality has pushed me to take risks that have helped me build a successful wood floor retail business in the U.S. and incorporate a global-lens approach.

May 19, 2022

I held onto my American dream with all my might. And slowly but surely, I began to establish a foothold, and, after a lot of hard work, my business took off.

We Grew 50% And Opened A Third Store. Here’s How We Did It.

There are a lot of factors to consider when opening a new store. Here’s how our company decided to open a third store and how we pulled it off.

April 7, 2022

1612 Randolph Ave 010

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Márcio and Fabio Goncalves of Port Chester, N.Y.-based Creation Hardwood Flooring Specialists drove home the 'Most Unusual Work Vehicle' title for their 1929 Ford Model A truck.

Rolling with Opportunity: See the Winners of the 2023 WFB Truck and Van Contest

Scroll through the winners of this year's Best Exterior Graphics, Most Organized Interior, Most Unusual Work Vehicle and Biggest Disaster categories, and more.

Jj23 Techn Opener Strip To Plank

How I Did This Job: Strip to Plank

The No. 1 thing I’ve learned about selling is confidence: confidence in yourself and confidence in your product.

What I’ve Learned About How to Sell Wood Flooring

My dad was an innovator in the industry, but his life ended too early, potentially in part due to being electrocuted when hooking up power. In this photo he is running a Sharpless Built Super Sander, which was a hardplate belt sander we used for our intermediate cuts and leveling.

My Trigger Phrase: ‘Been Doing It That Way for 35 Years’

Understanding the Importance of Moisture Monitoring in Flooring

Understanding the Importance of Moisture Monitoring in Flooring

Resource Book

Looking for a specific product or a company? Wood Floor Business has the only comprehensive database of the industry.

Podcasts

All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.