Style & Design

Retailers Get Real

Friday, March 29, 2024

IFC customers voice support for the brand

As International Flooring Company (IFC) gears up to grow with new lines and technology, its retailers gave FCW a candid assessment of how the brand is performing in their stores.

Susan Hadinger, CEO, Hadinger Flooring, Naples, Fla.

“We supported Piet [Dossche] when he started COREtec and we’re excited to do the same for Julian and William. They’re talented and smart and we look forward to growing with them.

They offer quality products in great colors for our area. We sell primarily WPC and they specialize in that. They also created unique merchandising systems which will set them apart. Their partnership enhances our store’s offerings, elevating the shopping experience for our customers and reinforcing our position as a trusted destination for premium flooring products.

It is performing well and moving. They have an eye for color that fits our clientele and our salespeople find their products fit well with many of our customers’ needs."

Mike Husby, Sales Manager, Thornton Flooring + Design Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.

“We very seldom partner with new companies without a track record of success. IFC, is not a typical startup company. It is made up of a core group of individuals who share passion for the flooring industry, are always innovating business practices as well as product offerings, and value partnerships with retailers that share similar goals. It is exciting to be part of a new story of success.

We really appreciate the attention to quality build specs, style and design, and a competitive price. A lot of new companies come to the table trying to buy market share. IFC seems to want to focus on brand integrity. We have no doubt these products will perform."

Brian Erickson, Managing Member, Floorz, Cleveland, Ohio

“The product is coming in clean and performing flawlessly in the field. Installers speak highly of it, and the looks are on trend. Due to my long-standing relationship with the family and my knowledge of the competitors, it was an easy decision to make. We will be carrying the entire line of products from IFC."

Matt Goodrich, General Manager, State Crest Distributors, Bedford Heights, Ohio

“Adding IFC was a cumulation of things — the most important is the relationship we had with John Tighe (vice president of sales) in the past. We had a great working and personal relationship with him, therefore when he brought the IFC line to us, we knew that we could trust him to work as hard for us now as he did previously. Another aspect is the quality of the product. When it comes to the SPC and WPC offerings in our world today, all things are not ‘created equal.’ We know IFC offers the quality we can count on.

IFC brings up-to-date designs and patterns with great new colors to follow current design trends, which have been needed for some time now."

Josh Elder, President, Gainesville Carpets Plus Colortile, Gainesville, Fla.

“I was an early adopter to U.S. Floors COREtec when it first came out so I have known the Dossche family for a long time. Plus, being a second-generation store owner, I was excited to support the next generation with this new venture. They look at their dealers more like partners and not just a number on the spreadsheet.

When I originally met with them, they just had an American-made SPC which is what I was searching for at that time. The product line has grown exponentially since the beginning but the products have remained great quality and priced right.

It has been performing great! We have had zero performance claims unlike many of the other SPCs on the market."

Will Jones, Owner Tom’s Carpet & Flooring Outlet, Chattanooga, Tenn.

“After meeting Julian Dossche and hearing about the journey he had been on in the flooring industry, it was a no-brainer for me. Knowing the Dossche name in the industry was really all I needed to know. But after getting to know the entire team, I couldn’t be more certain. I buy into people, not products. The business will follow if the correct leaders are in place.

[What IFC brings to the market], the simple answer is a better quality product for a lower cost. The products have been performing great. The customer service has been great. I intend to carry everything they have to offer. They check all the boxes for me. From ordering, delivery, product knowledge, competitive pricing, quality and service."

Tucker Wingo and Will Jones of Tom’s Carpet Outlet in Chattanooga, Tenn., flank Josh Elder of Gainesville CarpetsPlus Colortile in Gainesville, Fla. and IFC’s Julian Dossche at a golf outing sponsored by IFC followed by Alliance Flooring’s annual convention in Orlando last month.