FLOORING 4 YOU IN STORE AT In Store at... Flooring 4 You
A friendly face and in-house fitters seems to be the secret to Flooring 4 You’s success. Georgie Whitworth visits the store to find out more...
Picturesque location
Situated adjacent to the local park and with a brick exterior in-keeping with the cobbled streets in the Cheshire town of Knutsford, the location of Flooring 4 You looks idyllic.
Upon entering the specialist flooring showroom, you are greeted by General Manager, Alan Prescott, who prides himself on building a strong relationship with customers. With a wealth of flooring knowledge and eagerness to help with any request, big or small, Alan is a natural and you’d be forgiven for assuming that he was an industry veteran. It was, in fact, only a few years ago that Alan stumbled across flooring when searching for a career change after many years in the motorcycle couriering business.
Alan began his career in flooring as an installations manager for a flooring business back in 2006, where he met Simon Towsey who was a surveyor at the time. When the business landed in trouble, the pair went on to new ventures but remained in touch.
After more than ten years in the flooring industry, Simon decided to start his own business and opened Flooring 4 You at the company’s first showroom in Bowdon, near Altrincham, in 2010. As word spread and the company’s success rate continued to grow, Simon decided to expand the business and asked Alan if he would like to join the company.
Alan said: “I took him up on his offer. It was a good offer and we had always worked well together in the past.”
Shortly before Alan joined the company, Flooring 4 You opened a second showroom in 2013 on Malt Street in Knutsford.
The two-storey Knutsford showroom is able to carry much more stock than the Bowdon premises which now act as a feeder for the newer shop, Alan explained.
Speaking about the Bowdon showroom, Alan said: “It’s only four miles away and so customers that are familiar with that showroom, and have perhaps used us previously, are happy to drive those extra few miles for a larger range of products.
“Although we advertise in one or two magazines and several other places, it is definitely our reputation and recommendations that is our strongest selling point and, of course, passing trade.”
Despite a central location beside a large public car park, the lack of a ‘showroom-style’ front window appears to be the only downfall for the shop, according to Alan.
“A lot of people can just walk past and not know we’re here. They can come past everyday and then find us on Google and say ‘we didn’t realise you were here.
“In the darker months it’s not so bad because we can have all the lights on and people can see in and that something’s happening, but in the summertime it looks like an exclusive, perhaps not retail, organisation.
“We are doing well though despite that limitation,” added Alan.
Spreading the word
“With steady increase in our reputation locally, the turnover has continued to expand. This showroom has been very, very successful and continues to be so.
“What is really good is that, over the years, the percentage of returning customers and customers that have been recommended to us has grown significantly to a very high percentage,” Alan continued.
Something for everyone
The shop has a very varied range of products, from carpets to hardwood floors, and prices to suit every budget. The layout of the store is clearly well thought-out to maximise the effectiveness of the products on display.
As you walk into the store, the floor beneath you perfectly advertises the Amtico range of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)
Tomorrow’s Retail Floors Spring 2016 | 23
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