In recent years, Main Street has gone “mainstream” for scores of flooring retailers who see value in diversifying their portfolio to balance out their residential offerings. It’s all about providing a buffer when some segments of the market show softening.
“I think retailers are embracing this segment because they are seeing how important Main Street is to their overall business,” said Robb Myer, vice president, Aladdin Commercial, a Mohawk brand.
That’s certainly been the case for Jon Dauenhauer, co-owner of Carpet World in Bismarck, N.D., who said Main Street has made up for slower retailer traffic. “Main Street commercial has been our most pleasant surprise,” he told FCNews. “We did a lot of projects ranging from church remodels, office spaces and even the famous Lewis & Clark Riverboat. We did not expect Main Street commercial to generate as much business considering how many people now work from home—but it did.”
To leverage that market opportunity flooring suppliers have created brands specifically for Main Street. Following is a snapshot of some recent offerings, and what retailers and distributors had to say:
Aladdin Commercial
Forest Lawn: Line Structure
About the product: This flexible LVT comes in eight colors, 2.5mm and 5mm formats with a 20-mil wear layer and 7.25 x 48-inch size. Forest Lawn also features a micro-bevel edge. It comes with a 10-year light commercial and limited 30-year residential warranty.
Retailer comment: “With Aladdin we do well across the board—20-mil, 12-mil LVTs, click products to carpet tiles. It couldn’t be easier to do business with them. We love Aladdin.”
—Jack Garrison, National Contract Flooring, Little Rock, Ark.
Engineered Floors (Pentz)
Podcast
About the product: Manufactured with the APEX SDP fiber system, Podcast is one of the newest Pentz Commercial Flooring Solutions launches. Available in both 20-ounce carpet tile and 20-ounce broadloom options for design flexibility, Podcast ushers in a new era of design in the Main Street category with a unique geometric pattern to elevate any commercial space.
Retailer comment: “Pentz has become our daily go-to. This line works extremely well in multifamily, Main Street, retail and even education. We appreciate that Pentz’s Podcast is a concise product line that is easily navigated by our sales team. The line also lends itself to an unmatched value in a sea of overpriced comparable products.”
—Mike Husby, Thornton Flooring, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Karndean Designflooring
Art Select
About the product: The high-end Art Select collection features 45 new wood- and stone-inspired designs, all with a 30-mil wear layer. The size, aesthetic diversity and installation options of the collection offer new possibilities to mix and match designs for both stylistic and zoning purposes. “We’re uniquely positioned to help retailers grow with light commercial,” said David Capalbo, Karndean vice president of retail sales. “The same Karndean LVT they’re already selling to homeowners is going to provide everything these businesses need—from the right style and color to durability and performance.”
Retailer comment: “We’re fans of the new, redesigned Art Select, which comes with a locking mechanism. We especially like the wood looks and durability of this 30-mil wear layer product. We use Art Select in a variety of commercial applications, including hospitals, retirement centers, main hallways and the residences themselves.”
—Michael Haddad, Maryland Carpet and Tile, Gaithersburg, Md.
Mannington
CityLine
About the product: CityLine is Mannington’s top-performing, commercially rated LVT floor. CityLine offers durability and enhanced ease of care with Microban to help protect against the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. The product is suitable for the most demanding spaces where waterproof, durability and performance matter most.
Retailer comment: “We use CityLine in two new day care centers. As the floors in day care centers tend to get damaged, these planks can be replaced easily. CityLine is also popular with owners of rental units for the same reason. The product is also cost effective and easy to maintain.”
—Marci McKenzie, Iverson’s Home Center, Gladstone, Mich.
Stanton
Stanton Street Decorative Commercial
About the product: This 13 x 39 carpet tile is a 100% solution-dyed nylon that is PVC-free, recyclable and dimensionally stable.
Retailer comment: “Stanton Street Decorative is a very good-looking product that is very easy to install. We use it in the corridors of commercial office buildings, and it is holding up very well. I like the backing on it; it has worked out very well for us.”
—Jerry Winchester, Paul’s Carpet, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Philadelphia Commercial
In the Grain II
About the product: In the Grain II is a resilient product offered in 12-, 20- and 30-mil formats. Made at Shaw Plant RP in Ringgold, Ga., it is available in gray, taupe and traditional browns and reds. It features ExoGuard+ performance and is fully recyclable through the re[TURN] Reclamation Program.
Retailer comment: “We use it in heavy use applications with the 20-mil; there is also a 12-mil, which is good for break rooms. We also use it in office spaces, reception areas; it’s one of my main go-to products.”
—Kerry Hazelwood, Roberts Commercial Flooring, Buford, Ga.
Tarkett
High Street
About the product: High Street is a sheet vinyl product geared for Main Street commercial. It features Techtonic technology and is Floor Score and asthma and allergy certified for health-conscious spaces.
Retailer comment: “Tarkett’s High Street sheet vinyl is a great combination of durability and style, making it an excellent choice for light commercial applications. We are very excited to now have an update of these 16 SKUs into our displays in the field to broaden the reach of this fabulous product.”
—Debbie Trudo, NRF Distributors, Augusta, Maine
The post Must-have Main Street brands for retailers appeared first on Floor Covering News.
Must-have Main Street brands for retailers Posted First on https://fcnews.net
No comments:
Post a Comment