The lost letter in Flooring

Dave Griggs, founder of Dave Griggs’ Flooring America, Columbia, MO, always had an entrepreneurial bent and a zeal for flooring. His passion for the business was fueled by his ability to problem-solve, analyze and the love of a good challenge.  

He started his career, however, by working for a paint store where he was asked to promote flooring for the business. In 1974, after a very successful year for the Cook Paint Company he was confident in asking for a raise but when he received no response he quickly produced a business plan, purchased a building and opened his own business in his home town of Columbia, Missouri.

He later discovered that through a delay in interoffice mail and a lost letter he was in fact granted a raise for even more then he had asked but by then his new business was already set in motion and with that he embraced being a business owner. Dave will be the first to tell you that the flooring business is a little about flooring and a lot about people. Charismatic and caring Dave attracted loyal and intelligent employees to be on his team. One of those hires was Michele Batye who after working under Dave for twenty five years now owns and operates the business in its second generation of proprietorship.

The big boxes are coming, the big boxes are coming!

As a local business owner Dave saw the value in cooperation.  In 1990 as part of his community involvement he was heading the regional economic board REDI when he learned that not one but two large box stores had their eyes set on opening in the community.   With the proverbial handwriting on the wall Dave joined the Maxim group, a co-op of independent flooring dealers that would later merge in 2000 with what is now CCA Global Partners and become one of the Flooring America charter members.

“We knew that to survive would mean we’d need to increase our buying power,” Michele said, adding that “I don’t even think we had a website back then.  The Flooring America co-op has allowed us be able to make an impact through working together on training, marketing and web based initiatives."

Today’s market is changing, people do not shop or buy flooring like they did 4 decades ago and Flooring America helps us appeal to those buyers.

Their website is peppered with a series of short videos and interactive tools giving design tips on creating kids’ rooms or tips on selecting the best ultra durable and stain resistant carpet. It also includes design blogs, an online room visualizer, educational brochures, guides and more.

 The blogs, by the way, aren’t just about flooring, but include information on everything from designing canopy beds to tips for making your bedroom more sleep-friendly.

Standing out from the rest

Since the Flooring America cooperative consists of locally-owned stores, all members stand out by giving the kind of personalized service not found anywhere else. It is combined with financial backing of a large group who can provide a larger inventory, affordable prices, extended warranties and guarantees that include “Price Protection” and “Lifetime Installation.”

 And there’s another advantage of shopping locally: you’ll see trends that are specific to your region.

Michele states that one thing that helps them stand out is their staff of interior designers.. “We know just how important the home or office is to someone.  We know flooring is probably one of the biggest investments you’ll make and we know the amount of stress involved with any design. We want to provide knowledgeable solutions, product value and professional installation. 

That said, the company guides people through the entire process from start to finish.  Designers frequently use the expression, ‘Design from the floor up,’ so our sales staff actually becomes your project management staff. 

"For example, if someone is remodeling a kitchen, we don’t just sell floor, but we’ll oversee deadlines and the placement of items like countertops and work islands.”

 

Supporting local business

Most of all, Michele reminded us, it can’t be discounted that local buying supports the community. As part of Flooring America/Flooring Canada she is the voice of other independent flooring owners as an appointed Advisory Board Member, a seat her mentor Dave Griggs also once held and she is an advocate for the Columbia (MO) Chamber of Commerce, past chair of the Women’s Network a division created to embrace and empower women business leaders as well as Chair Elect of the local street improvement district "The Loop" where her building and store reside.  In retirement Dave continues to be a vocal champion of the small business, community service and economic development.

first reported by Irene Ross/Floor Covering News

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