“We were glad to once again have the opportunity to bring together business partners and friends to support a worthy cause.” said Howard Brodsky, co-Founder and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “We all enjoyed the day of golf, but more importantly we raised significant funds for the FCIF.”
Floor covering industry members and supporters from across the country attended this year’s event. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers, industry trade associations, and individuals from representing these companies contributed to the FCIF through the Alan Greenberg Memorial fund by participating in the tournament as well as through sponsorships, and donations.
“CCA is proud to host this event which creates awareness and encourages others in the industry to donate to the FCIF,” said Rick Bennet, co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “It is important to us that we continue to provide assistance to those in our industry that need it.”
For more information on applying for aid, please visit www.FCIF.org.
About CCA Global Partners CCA Global Partners, Inc. is a privately held cooperative based in the United States with member businesses in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. For a quarter of a century, CCA Global has partnered with entrepreneurial businesspeople to create a cooperative powerhouse unmatched in the marketplace. With 14 independent business brands and more than 2,700 locations, CCA Global Partners is well positioned to positively impact the success of independent businesses. For more information on CCA Global Partners, go to http://www.ccaglobal.com.
About The Floor Covering Industry FoundationThe Floor Covering Industry Foundation was created nearly thirty years ago to focus industry attention on the health, human service and welfare needs of floor covering industry members in times of life-altering medical hardships. Since its founding, the FCIF has distributed more than $2.5 million in grants with compassion, confidentiality and dignity. Beneficiaries include flooring retailers, installers, retails salespeople, distributor personnel, mill employees, and industry executives.
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“Every year, we look forward to this event that provides our industry partners and friends the opportunity to enjoy a day of golf while raising money for an organization that supports those in our industry who experience life-altering hardships,” said Howard Brodsky, co-Founder and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners.
The golf tournament has become a highly anticipated event for the floor covering industry each year and brings together industry partners from across the country. Funds raised at the event help FCIF provide financial support to those who are or have been affiliated with the floor covering industry who experience catastrophic illnesses, severe disabilities, or other life-altering hardships.
This year, Howard Brodsky has also taken on the role of Chairman of the FCIF’s board of directors. “My goal as Chairman is not only to increase the funds available through FCIF but also to bring much needed relief to more people by ensuring that members of the floor covering industry are aware of the fund and know how to apply for assistance,” said Brodsky
Flooring industry manufacturers, distributors, retailers, industry trade associations, and individuals have the opportunity to contribute to the FCIF through the Alan Greenberg Memorial fund through participation in the tournament, sponsorships, and donations.
“We are honored that we can help support FCIF in a substantial way and will continue to support their efforts in any way we can,” said Rick Bennet, co-CEO of CCA Global Partners.
For more information on the 2011 Alan Greenberg Charity Golf Tournament, please contact Paula Holt at (800) 466-6984 ext. 1101 or pholt@ccaglobal.com.
About CCA Global Partners CCA Global Partners, Inc. is a privately held cooperative based in the United States with member businesses in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. For a quarter of a century, CCA Global has partnered with entrepreneurial businesspeople to create a cooperative powerhouse unmatched in the marketplace. With 14 independent business brands and more than 2,700 locations, CCA Global Partners is well positioned to positively impact the success of independent businesses. For more information on CCA Global Partners, go to http://www.ccaglobal.com.
About The Floor Covering Industry FoundationThe Floor Covering Industry Foundation was created nearly thirty years ago to focus industry attention on the health, human service and welfare needs of floor covering industry members in times of life-altering medical hardships. Since its founding, the FCIF has distributed more than $2.5 million in grants with compassion, confidentiality and dignity. Beneficiaries include flooring retailers, installers, retails salespeople, distributor personnel, mill employees, and industry executives. For more information, go to http://www.fcif.org.
Carpet One Floor & Home members were introduced to the new Invincible Luxury Vinyl Tile line, the exclusive Forever Hardwood, and the new Resista Refresh carpet. The new products will be introduced into Carpet One Floor & Home stores in the coming month.
Luxury Vinyl Tile from IVC joins hardwood in Carpet One Floor & Home’s exclusive Invincible brand of performance flooring introduced last year and focuses on durability. Forever Hardwood – an exclusive, propriety wood program from Mannington – is a high performance product with a ProTec finish making it highly resistant to denting gouging, fading and staining. It is made in America from using recycled materials. Resista Refresh will expand on the highly successful Resista carpet line.
“The products we have to introduce to our members at this convention are truly groundbreaking,” said Eric Demaree, President of Carpet One Floor & Home. “We are confident that these products will help our members continue to differentiate themselves from the competition.”
Carpet One Floor & Home also introduced members to the newly designed homepage of CarpetOne.com which focuses on engaging customers throughout the shopping process.
Special guest speaker, Jeffrey Gitomer, a best selling author and internationally know sales consultant showed members how to attract and maintain loyal customers for life. Gitomer is the author of nine books, including New York Times best sellers, The Sales Bible and The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude. His books have sold millions of copies and have been translated into14 languages.
A convention in Anaheim would not be complete with out an outing to Disneyland. Members enjoyed a Thursday night at the theme park with their Carpet One Floor & Home family.
About Carpet One Floor & Home Carpet One Floor & Home (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 Bigelow and Lees. They offer a unique customer experience with the exclusive SelectAFloor merchandising system that simplifies the shopping experience and The Beautiful GuaranteeTM, which guarantees that the customer will be 100% happy with their floor.
The convention theme – Blueprint for the Future – highlights the much anticipated plan and encourages members to look towards future opportunities and new ways of doing business. At the first convention since the announcement of new leadership for Flooring America & Flooring Canada Co-Presidents Keith Spano and Jim Duff presented members with an impressive line-up of new products and programs.
“We are excited for members to see the new introductions we have been working on for them” said Jim Duff, Co- President of Flooring America and Flooring Canada. “From the 3-year plan to product introductions and marketing strategies, members will return to their stores with valuable tools for their businesses.”
Three new products introduced at convention will be an integral part of planning for the future. Members were introduced to an exciting new Luxury Vinyl Tile program and new wood products as well. Members were also introduced to the new Resista Refresh line which builds off the already successful Resista carpet line.
“Our new product introductions offer our members yet another way to differentiate themselves from their competition,” said Keith Spano, Co-President of Flooring America and Flooring Canada. “The new programs along with marketing and merchandising support will benefit all our members.”
Guest speaker, Jonathan Trivers – a well know industry expert - combined his industry knowledge with personal life experiences to bring a powerful message to the Flooring America/Flooring Canada membership.
Flooring America and Flooring Canada’s convention also included a Beach Bash at Newport beach and many other opportunities for members to network. Convention closed with “Gold Rush” which offered members an opportunity to take advantage of great offers from vendors.
About Flooring America and Flooring Canada Flooring America (FlooringAmerica.com) and Flooring Canada (FlooringCanada.com) consist of more than 550 member-owned floor covering stores throughout the United States and Canada. Flooring America and Flooring Canada provide members with exclusive brands and warranty programs, comprehensive multi-media advertising programs, complete Showroom merchandising packages, plus training in management and sales. They operate as a division of CCA Global Partners, the world’s largest flooring group.
Resista Refresh addresses today’s consumer concerns with cleanliness and healthy homes with Silver Shield antimicrobial protection and ActiFresh to actively neutralize odors in your home.
“We are eager to build upon our successful Resista brand which has always focused on the stain resistance story,” said Charlie Dilks, Chief Product Officer of CCA Global Partners. “With the added benefits of odor and antimicrobial protection, we are confident this product will impress even our most demanding customers.”
Resista Refresh was developed through the collaboration of CCA’s product team along with the experts at Beaulieu who will be manufacturing the product for CCA.
“We are excited about this important launch with the CCA family,” said Jeff Meadows, Chief Marketing Officer for Beaulieu of America. “Our companies feel strongly that consumers want real solutions for their home and Resista Refresh is the ultimate solution for her environment”
Silver Shield technology uses genuine silver particles to kill odor and stain-causing bacteria that can grow in the home. ActiFresh works around the clock to actively neutralize odors in the home. The combination provides a carpet that looks beautiful but is also fresh and clean.
Resista Refresh products were introduced to CCA Global Partners’ membership at their summer convention in Anaheim where they were able to see the exciting new product first hand. These products will be available to consumers in October and can be found in Carpet One Floor & Home, Flooring America, and Flooring Canada stores throughout North America.
About CCA Global Partners
CCA Global Partners, Inc. is a privately held cooperative based in the United States with member businesses in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. For a quarter of a century, CCA Global has partnered with entrepreneurial businesspeople to create a cooperative powerhouse unmatched in the marketplace. With 14 independent business brands and more than 2,700 locations, CCA Global Partners is well positioned to positively impact the success of independent businesses. For more information on CCA Global Partners, go to http://www.ccaglobal.com.
Description:
The Bike Cooperative has an excellent opportunity in the Manchester, NH office to refill an existing position for a Director, Purchasing & Supplier Relations. This position is responsible for managing CCA’s overall relationship with all bike, bike part, and bike accessory vendors whether they are suppliers and/or distributors. The position serves as a buyer, negotiator, and industry expert to CCA for products purchased from those vendors. This position will seek to create common value between our retailers and our supplier partners by using creative communications, targeted promotions, and group buying models. The position is also responsible for overseeing the development of our growing private label product program. Specific responsibilities include:
Description:The IT Department has an excellent opportunity in the St. Louis office to refill an existing position for a System Support Specialist. This position is responsible for providing desktop and client support with hardware and software issues. Specific responsibilities include:
“Move or Improve Assurance takes much of the risk and uncertainty out of the flooring decision,” said Vinnie Virga, President of Flooring America. “Now, our customers can be confident in their purchase even if they don’t know what their tastes will be - or where they’ll be - in the future.”
Flooring America and Flooring Canada will be introducing Move or Improve Assurance in stores with a special Move or Improve Flooring Event during March and April. The event will feature great prices on exclusive products and unsurpassed service along with the new Move or Improve Assurance.
To provide additional guidance to customers who are looking to move or improve, Flooring America and Flooring Canada are also introducing a series of podcasts with tips from realtors and experts with tips on making lasting investments in home renovations that provide a high return on investment. The podcasts can be viewed on Flooring America’s YouTube account at http://www.YouTube.com/FlooringAmerica1.
For more information on Move or Improve Assurance, customers can visit FlooringAmerica.com/MoveOrImprove or their local Flooring America or Flooring Canada store.
About Flooring America and Flooring Canada
Flooring America (FlooringAmerica.com) and Flooring Canada (FlooringCanada.com) consist of more than 550 member-owned floor covering stores throughout the United States and Canada. Flooring America and Flooring Canada provide members with exclusive brands and warranty programs, comprehensive multi-media advertising programs, complete Showroom merchandising packages, plus training in management and sales. They operate as a division of CCA Global Partners, the world’s largest flooring group.
“With over 100 affiliated showrooms nationwide, Guild members are involved with designers in an amazing number of stunning projects at any given time. The Designer Showcase Awards are the best way to recognize the talented interior designers our showrooms work with and cater to every day,” explains Krista Eliason, President of International Design Guild.
Each year, professional designers are invited to submit entries of luxury interiors they have created for their clients featuring the exclusive Louis A. Dabbieri Collection, which represents the ultimate in style and fine craftsmanship in floor covering.
The winner of the 2010 Dabbieri Award of Distinction and the Grand Prize of $5,000 is Tyler C. Swoverland of Wheatridge, Colorado. For his dining and living space, Swoverland used 100% wool, hand-loomed Dabbieri custom rugs using coffee bean and natural colors from Floor Coverings by CPA located in the Denver Design Center.
The First Runner-Up and winner of $2,500 is Jenny Lynn Wynne of Cincinnati, OH whose living space featured hand-knotted rugs from The Rug Gallery.
Honorable Mention and $1,000 goes to Lane Oliver of Denver whose project used Dabbieri Acquacotta from Floor Coverings by CPA to create a warm old English atmosphere in this library. Honorable Mention and $1,000 also goes to James Connelly of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, whose masculine study featured an oriental rug from Kashou Carpets in Milwaukee.
Winners were chosen from entries based upon individuality, use of color, and overall design. Special attention and consideration was given to the use of Dabbieri flooring.
About The Dabbieri CollectionThe Dabbieri Collection is an offering of beautiful and natural decorative carpets that is exclusive to members of the International Design Guild. Representing the ultimate in style and fine craftsmanship, Dabbieri features wool and natural fibers, as well as new fiber combinations for subtle, yet rich colors and textures. The Dabbieri Collection also includes exceptional custom area rugs and quality hardwood flooring.
About The International Design Guild The International Design Guild is an alliance of more than 100 luxury floor covering showroom owners throughout the United States and Canada. International Design Guild members have the right of first selection to the newest products and floor covering designs worldwide. They’re known for outstanding product, expertise and assistance.
Spano is an industry veteran who got his start in his family’s flooring business and went on to have a blend of experience in many areas of the floor covering industry from sales and marketing to product management and supplier relations. This experience will contribute greatly to Flooring America members’ success.
“I am excited for our members to have Keith’s experience and innovative outlook on their side,” said Vinnie Virga, President of Flooring America. “It is with great pleasure that we welcome him to our Flooring America family.”
Spano’s background includes working at the mill level for Beaulieu as the National Accounts representative for franchises and serving at Abbey Carpet as Executive Vice President of marketing and merchandising. He also gained additional retail experience as the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for a very large regional retailer — Avalon Carpet Tile & Flooring.
Spano will be based out of Flooring America’s Manchester, NH office.
About Flooring America and Flooring CanadaFlooring America (FlooringAmerica.com) and Flooring Canada (FlooringCanada.com) consist of more than 550 member-owned floor covering stores throughout the United States and Canada. Flooring America and Flooring Canada provide members with exclusive brands and warranty programs, comprehensive multi-media advertising programs, complete Showroom merchandising packages, plus training in management and sales. They operate as a division of CCA Global Partners, the world’s largest flooring group.
The convention theme – Re:2011 – was used throughout the convention to highlight the many ways that Flooring America and Flooring Canada could reinvest in benefits of membership in the cooperative. Messaging like Re:Boot, Re:Think, and Re:Act encouraged members to evaluate their businesses and discover a path to even greater success.
“At this winter’s convention, we are focusing on actions that our members can take to positively impact their businesses,” said Vinnie Virga, President of Flooring America. “Through powerful merchandising, training, and marketing programs we have given members the tools they need to take action.”
Three new products introduced at convention offered members a way to Re:Charge. In Flooring America/Flooring Canada’s laminate department two of their exclusive laminate brands will receive significant updates. Design Distinctions laminate’s fresh new looks will find a new home in an updated display that puts the product front and center. Floorcraft laminate will receive 33 exciting new styles to round out an already strong value, style and performance collection. The display will receive a new look as well to deliver the powerful benefit story.
Flooring America/Flooring Canada members will also be introduced to a collection of distressed and hand scraped hardwood styles. This high-styled collection will be offered under the Design Distinctions brand. A new display will house larger samples to show more of the beautiful character of these unique textures.
During General Session, members were inspired by Chris Gardner, the man whose rags-to-riches story inspired the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. At the end of an action packed convention agenda, Flooring America/Flooring Canada members came together for a night of music and dancing at the Glass Cactus Nightclub.
About Flooring America and Flooring Canada
Flooring America (FlooringAmerica.com) and Flooring Canada (FlooringCanada.com) consist of more than 550 member-owned floor covering stores throughout the United States and Canada. Flooring America and Flooring Canada provide members with exclusive brands and warranty programs, comprehensive multi-media advertising programs, complete Showroom merchandising packages, plus training in management and sales. They operate as a division of CCA Global Partners, the world’s largest flooring group.
The agenda highlighted the benefits of the co-op’s distinctive programs and products such as their recently introduced Healthier Living Installation program, their new marketing creative strategy, and their exclusive product brands.
Two new product categories and unique merchandising systems were introduced to members– Laminate for Life and Rustic River Hardwood. The private label Laminate for Life line will feature a selection of laminates that offer customers not only a beautiful, durable, and easy-to-maintain floor, but also an affordable floor. The new Rustic River Hardwood line brings a collection of products for the customer looking for unique textures and styles to bring a relaxed natural feeling to their home.
“Exclusive merchandising programs are a big part of the power that we have as a cooperative.” said Eric Demaree, President of Carpet One Floor & Home. “We are very proud of our members and of the products that they help us develop, so we can deliver beautiful floors to our customers at affordable prices.”
Carpet One Floor & Home members also welcomed keynote speaker, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who motivated the group by sharing lessons experiences from the building of Magic Johnson Enterprises. Through strategic investments, partnerships and endorsements, Magic Johnson Enterprises provides products and services that particularly focus on ethnically diverse urban communities.
The Carpet One Floor & Home convention was closed by a night of laughter and music which featured the comedy improv group Four Day Weekend and musical guest Fried Ice Cream.
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 Bigelow and Lees. They offer a unique customer experience with the exclusive SelectAFloor merchandising system that simplifies the shopping experience and The Beautiful GuaranteeTM, which guarantees that the customer will be 100% happy with their floor.
]]>“It was wonderful seeing our business partners and friends come together to support a worthy cause.” said Howard Brodsky, co-Founder and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “While enjoying a day of golf, we managed to raise significant funds for the FCIF.”
This year’s event brought together members and supporters of the floor covering industry from across the country. The funds raised at the event help FCIF provide financial support to those who are, or have been, affiliated with the floor covering industry who experience catastrophic illnesses, severe disabilities, or other life-altering hardships.
“We are so thankful for the support of CCA Global Partners through the Alan Greenberg Charity Golf Tournament,” said D. Christopher Davis, President & CEO of the World Floor Covering Association, and President of FCIF. “The funds raised by this event through the years have enabled us to help many people in need.”
Flooring industry manufacturers, distributors, retailers, industry trade associations, and individuals contributed to the FCIF through the Alan Greenberg Memorial fund by participating in the tournament as well as through sponsorships, and donations.
“We are proud to support FCIF in any way we can,” said Rick Bennet, co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “Their efforts to seek out those that need assistance and provide support in a compassionate way is truly honorable.”
For more information on applying for aid, please visit http://www.FCIF.org.
About CCA Global Partners CCA Global Partners is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. For nearly a quarter of a century, CCA Global has partnered with entrepreneurial retailers to create a cooperative retail powerhouse unmatched in the marketplace. With 14 independent business brands and more than 2,700 locations, CCA Global Partners is well positioned to positively impact the success of independent businesses. For more information on CCA Global Partners, go to http://www.ccaglobal.com.
About The Floor Covering Industry FoundationThe Floor Covering Industry Foundation was created nearly thirty years ago to focus industry attention on the health, human service and welfare needs of floor covering industry members in times of life-altering medical hardships. Since its founding, the FCIF has distributed more than $2.5 million in grants with compassion, confidentiality and dignity. Beneficiaries include flooring retailers, installers, retails salespeople, distributor personnel, mill employees, and industry executives.
The new members are:
“We’ve had quite a bit of interest from prospective retailers since returning from the show,” added Brodsky. “We anticipate another announcement of new members later this fall.” The co-op is currently accepting 2011 membership applications through November 30th of this year.
The Bike Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative with a mission of improving the profitability of independent bike retailers. The Bike Cooperative provides members with exclusive product specials and rebates, consumer financing and credit card processing programs, comprehensive advertising services, and training in management and sales. For information on becoming a TBC member, call TBC Member Services at 1-800-450-7595 or visit http://www.thebikecooperative.com.
“This event was remarkable! Sales were more then triple the prior weekends and we had over 540 customers on Saturday alone,” said Steffen Root, owner of Berkshire Bike & Board in Great Barrington, MA. “We experienced record sales despite the rain, but more importantly we bought much of the sale product at TBC special event pricing allowing us to retain normal margins on aggressively discounted product.”
Dealers who participated in the Great American Bike Sale promotion were able to pick from a wide assortment of aggressive offers from the co-op’s supplier partners, and feature those items along with their own offers in a discounted mailer that was fully customizable. “By getting commitments from a large number of dealers, we were able to negotiate a significantly discounted rate from our direct mail vendor and pass those savings along to our members,” said Tim Leaver, director of marketing for the co-op. “In addition to the product and direct mail discounts, we included some other exclusive offerings to make it very advantageous for dealers to be part of this event. During the promotion, participants had access to a special 12-month consumer financing rate of less than 2%, and were able to send out as many emails as they’d like through our email program free of charge.”
The co-op’s preferred suppliers were also pleased with results. “The Bike Cooperative has allowed us to target a great group of retailers that have not been exposed to our brand,” said Ryders Eyewear national sales manager Gareth Richards. “The co-op’s knowledge, experience and support has resulted in a 61% increase in sales year-to-date.”
“We were very excited by the level of participation from both our membership and our supplier partners,” added Kevin Wren, co-op director of supplier relations. “Based on what we’re hearing from the dealers and brands, the promotion did what we set out to accomplish- drive sales for our retailers and purchases to our suppliers. And having now gone through this once, we’ll be able to take what we’ve learned and make next year’s event bigger and better.”
The Bike Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative with a mission of improving the profitability of independent bike retailers. The Bike Cooperative provides members with exclusive product specials and rebates, consumer financing and credit card processing programs, comprehensive advertising services, and training in management and sales. For information on becoming a member, call TBC Member Services at 1-800-450-7595 or visit http://www.thebikecooperative.com.