Empower.Enlighten.
Carpet One Floor & Home Means Business at Their Summer Convention
Orlando, FL (August 11, 2009) –– Carpet One Floor & Home, the largest floor covering retailer in the U.S. and Canada, held it’s 49th semi-annual Convention at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Over 1,300 attendees, consisting of members, employees and vendors, gathered in Orlando to preview the latest exclusive floor covering collections, hear about the newest services that Carpet One Floor & Home offers, and learn more about marketing and training programs designed to build their businesses.
Carpet One Floor & Home continued their theme from last convention – “Carpet One Floor & Home Means Business.” The theme for this convention and the last focused on helping Carpet One Floor & Home members increase sales and profits by focusing on three key objectives: increasing store traffic; increasing the average ticket; and increasing close rates.
Last January in Dallas, Carpet One Floor & Home focused on what members could do in the event of a significant loss in top line sales, a very real possibility in today’s economy. A panel of experts reviewed how to manage cash flow, adjust commission schedules and payroll, lower media costs while getting more coverage, lower lease payments, work with suppliers on getting more favorable payment terms, and using financial planning tools to create a realistic budget based on different sales volume scenarios.
“This summer’s convention is all about lowering costs, getting more sales, and helping our members understand how to market to the new customer that has evolved out of today’s economic reality” said Eric Demaree, President of Capet One Floor & Home. “We want our members to know how to identify and market to customers – how to go get them and make a sale.”
This convention’s focus is on web based strategies and online marketing plans that are designed to drive more customers to the Carpet One Floor & Home website and into members’ stores. The members were provided with exciting new tools to turn internet shoppers into paying customers, and the training needed to use these tools to their fullest. A large part of this convention was focused on making sure members know how to use the tools that have been developed to track, monitor, and convert every internet customer that comes onto the Carpet One Floor & Home website into a sale.
The keynote speaker for this convention was Murray Banks, a seasoned speaker and trainer who focuses on lifestyle and its impact on leadership and work performance. The keynote kept the audience entertained, but also left them with specific tips for balancing life and work even under the pressure of hard times. His message was that we need to “take care of ourselves so we can take care of business.”
A new hardwood and laminate program was also unveiled – American Expressions. The new products included in the American Expressions collection are high style, high value, and “Made in America.” The products also qualify and will be classified as Green Select products.
“At our last convention, we built a defensive game plan to help members survive in the economic downturn we are all facing,” said Scott Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer of Carpet One Floor & Home. This convention we are executing the offensive side of our game plan to drive more traffic, close more sales, and raise the average ticket of every customer.”
About Green Select
Our Green Select initiative represents our commitment to making our environment better through our relationship with our communities, our customers, our suppliers and our employees. One key example is our Green Select labels. We’re continually working with our vendors to produce flooring that meets our strict eco-friendly standards.
To earn a Green Select label, the product must currently be recyclable, contain a minimum of recycled material and/or be made from a natural, sustainable, quickly renewable resource. All Green Select products carry the Green Select label.
About Carpet One Floor & Home
Carpet One Floor & Home (http://www.CarpetOne.com) is North America’s leading floor covering retailer, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Carpet One Floor & Home stores are known for a broad selection of carpet, wood, laminate, ceramic, vinyl, and area rugs, including exclusive brands like Good Housekeeping and Lees.