Wood flooring suppliers may find an easier way to connect with homeowners using the recently launched Home Marketplace, an online platform from Vancouver, B.C.-based home improvement technology company BuildDirect, the company said.
Home Marketplace allows suppliers to showcase an unlimited number of products for consumers online. Perks for suppliers who join the service include use of three BuildDirect tools that use customer data to predict interest in a supplier’s product, the product’s competitiveness in the marketplace and the locations where it will best perform.
Suppliers in the marketplace will also see their freight costs reduced, the company said, because BuildDirect’s technology can calculate the most cost-efficient delivery methods from the manufacturer’s location to the customer’s home.
Home Marketplace has been beta tested by more than 100 suppliers for the past year, the company said.
“BuildDirect has introduced something of real value with Home Marketplace,” said Stephen Staikos, a general manager of North American flooring at Armstrong World Industries. “Through the new platform, we can control our inventory, understand where demand for our product is, and ultimately better serve our customer.”
Suppliers can sign up for the Home Marketplace online.
