With guidance from FCEF and CFI along with its valued vendors, DeGraaf Interiors successfully completed its first five-week installation training program.
DeGraaf Interiors sees fruits of FCEF efforts
[Grand Rapids, Mich.] DeGraaf Interiors’ co-owner Deb DeGraaf has been a champion of the Floor Covering Education Foundation’s (FCEF) efforts since its start a few year ago. More than that, DeGraaf has put the FCEF’s initiatives into action – and seen the results already.
“It’s so crucial that the FCEF exists,” asserted DeGraaf, who is chair of the FCEF Board. “As we had the meeting for FCEF and discussing how to make it successful, it kept coming back to local support and the ability to train locally.”
To that end, the FCEF created a guide to local recruitment and training which covers everything from building training modules and recruitment to scholarship funds and costs attached to conducting a program.
DeGraaf put this program into action last month running a five week training program for five students. “It was learn as we go, finding out what we needed for materials and space, all of those details. Now that we figured out the process, other retailers can jump on this and the FCEF is the catalyst,” shared DeGraaf.
Tips for training
The process requires leaning on your partners to secure space if needed as well as product. “I went to my local distributor and they offered a corner of their warehouse to set up modules and have class there every day from 8 to 4,” explained DeGraaf, noting that CCS hosted the training classes. “That was huge.”
She added that DeGraaf Interiors is now making a space they have into a training facility based on the success of the program it just completed.
When it came to procuring product for the class, DeGraaf said, “Every single company we asked — Shaw, Mohawk, Engineered Floors, for example — sent me product at no charge.” Herregan and Florstar also donated hard surface materials for the training.
DeGraaf recruited in the High Schools — particularly in shop classes — reporting that June is a good timeframe to do that.
The program instructor was CFI certified installer that came to Michigan and stayed in a hotel for five weeks while conducting classes. “She fell in love with them,” DeGraaf said adding, “They were an amazing class — with two older students. Everybody helped everybody when they needed encouragement or were learning a new task. It was amazing how they embraced one and other.”
One graduate from this cohort shared his experience. “I took the class because I felt financially my family and I would be taken care of. I have been in debt ever since I graduated high school and my goal is to be debt free. My wife Kara supports me no matter what I do if what I do is on the best interest of my family,” explained Jon Howe. “The class itself was straight forward as far as what the class has to offer and the rewards for passing the class. Alania is a very talented and dedicated instructor/installer. I enjoyed learning about carpet and LVP/LVTwith her.”
Added DeGraaf, “[All five students] are working today in the industry and without FCEF and CFI, they wouldn’t be.” Four of the graduates work for DeGraaf with the fifth working for another retailer south of DeGraaf Interiors. “They have pride in that and have gained confidence. I would absolutely do it again.”
Cost Analysis
FCEF awards scholarships of up to $2,500. “We shouldered the other half of what the scholarship did not cover,” DeGraaf explained. “We have a contract with [the students] on how to reimburse or, if they remain with us for a year, we forgive the amount.”
The primary costs, she said, were the lumber used for the modules and the builder to build the modules. “We also ran some spots on radio but I have contract so I’m not counting that as much so lumber cost and builder really,” DeGraaf said.
Another financial impact DeGraaf already identified is that with these new installers assisting her more seasoned contractors, more jobs are able to be completed. “When we had a carpet installer working alone, the amount we could schedule him without a helper was limited. So I spent time on a spreadsheet and with a trained helper, our best guestimate is that his production went up 40 percent. If we look at what we are charging the installer for the hours the helper is working with him, the installer is making more money even when having to pay the helper.”
This is new territory for DeGraaf too, she added, “We don’t have on staff employee installers so this is very new to us. These are our employees but working with a subcontractor.”
She is adamant about the support of FCEF. “Everybody wants to give and do what’s right. There is some sense of ‘what’s in it for me?’ What your $100 a month does is training for the next generation of installers that we are in desperate need of. Or host a class. I’m seeing what’s in it for me right now.”
In fact, it is personal for DeGraaf. “My daughter works for us, she’s third generation. What’s in it for her is we need trained installers to make independent retailers successful, hands down. Our business would fail with bad installation.”
But she also points out the necessity for flooring manufacturers to support FCEF as well. “As a manufacturer, if we can’t install it, we can’t buy it. It’s all connected. Independent retailers are the backbone of the industry. Support the foundation – it’s the first time any foundation has begun to fix the problem. Support that.”