Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The Home Improvement Research Institute is predicting a decrease in flooring sales this year, but retailers can prepare for the downturn by staying up to date on what’s trending and stocking the flooring that customers are most likely to purchase.
Bill Coakley, owner of Coakley Home and Hardware, runs a successful flooring department at his operation and shares his insights on what’s popular this year.
Flooring Trends
Bill Coakley, owner of Coakley Home and Hardware, shares what his customers want this year in flooring and the products you should be carrying to stay on trend.
Sustainable Flooring
Consumers are looking more for eco-friendly options such as carpets and hardwoods made from recycled and upcycled materials and renewable resources like cork and bamboo.
Neutral Colors
Neutral colors in flooring, including grays and beiges are on still on trend. Follow the colors that are popular in the paint department and you’ll find the same colors that are trending in flooring.
Textures
Coakley says he is seeing a decrease in the popularity of berber carpets with customers looking for more plush carpets like shags and friezes that add warmth and comfort to a room.
Hardwoods
More consumers are choosing hardwood over carpet and want smoother finishes. Wider planks are popular for creating a more cohesive look in a room.
Working Together
Along with a robust flooring department, Coakley Home and Hardware also has a kitchen and bath design center and extensive paint department. Coakley says those three departments work well together to provide customers with a comprehensive design experience. When a customer comes in for paint, employees ask them about their project to see if there’s an opportunity to offer more products and services.
Convenient Clean
Learn how one retailer uses carpet cleaning rentals to provide additional convenience and fulfill a need for customers here.
