Innovation to future-proof independent retail success
A competitive revolution is coming for independent retailers in the flooring sector in 2024 - the E-Floorcentre Alliance.
Listen up if you are an independent retailer who is fed up with the lack of a level playing field in your competitive position, thanks to increasingly consolidated flooring distributors, fast growing online platforms and ever-expanding multiple competition.
“Independent retailers can see that more business is slipping away from them each year,” says Ken Robb of the Independent Flooring Group (IFG) and Floorstars. And he has started the revolution.
He plans to redress the balance with an ambitious concept that keeps independent retailers relevant and secures their future.
Known as the E-Floorcentre Alliance, participating Independent retailers can become part of a nationally promoted network with exclusive branded products, a national e-commerce platform, a logistics operation with up to 20 hubs across the country and full access to the Floorstars network of skilled installers. Floorstars enable retailers to offer ‘full service’ anywhere in the UK to service out of area business generated by E-Commerce.
The concept was launched at the IFG Conference in April and is set to make a major difference to the way independent retailers do business.
IFG are working with leading manufacturers to supply distinctive products to retailers across the mainstream sectors for carpets and vinyl flooring. These own branded ranges will have nationally consistent online to store pricing parity to avoid comparison issues.
These are presented to market via the E-Floorcentre e-commerce platform which gives independent retail members their own website within a national framework, fully transactional and thus allowing them to offer a full service outside their areas in addition to driving sales to their physical stores.
Flooring and accessories product sales taken online and out of area are stocked at, or delivered to, IFG Hubs located across the UK, where delivery and installation are effected via a close tie-in with Floorstars, the advanced national installation organisation.
“With the E-Floorcentre Alliance, we are going to win back sales
for independent flooring businesses.”
Floorstars extend a local retailer’s reach by enabling a full service sale anywhere in the UK. Services include surveying and fitting across the full spectrum of flooring types, specialist installations, capacity boosting and the out-of-area installation work regularly generated by e-commerce. All this backed up by IFG’s ‘hard to match’ independent expertise and experience in residential and contract floorcoverings.
IFG has been working on the development of this integrated
concept for three years. “This is a big idea with huge potential,”
says Ken Robb. “We have everything in place now and we’re attracting enlightened retailers who want to retain their independence but need to future-proof their competitiveness in an increasingly corporate and e-commerce driven flooring marketplace.
“With the E-Floorcentre Alliance, we are going to win back sales for independent flooring businesses,” he said.
You’ll be hearing a lot more about E-Floorcentre as the year goes forward.
