Floor Coverings International Annual Convention Attracts Industry Experts To Present Best Management Practices

Franchise Owners Focus on Ways to Grow Their Businesses

ATLANTA, GEORGIA (Thursday, August 01, 2002) - Floor Coverings International (FCI), the country's oldest and largest mobile floor covering retailer, convened earlier this month for its 13th annual convention to present its franchise owners with best business practices, education, training and an introduction to the industry's latest products. Centering activities on the convention theme of "Kaizen," (a Japanese word meaning continuous improvement) FCI officials reaffirmed the company's commitment to innovation and growth.

"Our mission for this year's convention was to introduce new ideas, new programs and the new staff members we've brought on-board to better serve our franchise owners," said Jack Boyd III, FCI President. "It was important to convey to all of our franchisees that FCI management intends to provide the same level of service to them as we expect them to provide to their customers."

FCI designed the annual convention to serve as a resource and support system to help the franchisees sharpen management, marketing and operational skills in order to grow their individual businesses. Because each FCI franchise is independently owned and operated, the convention presents a rare opportunity for the franchisees to gather, share and learn from both their peers as well as some of the flooring industry's leading experts.

Renowned flooring industry management trainer and author, Sam Allman, set the tone for this improvement-focused event with his keynote address: "A Systematic Approach to Business." Allman is the president and senior trainer of Allman Consulting and Training, and Dean of Mohawk University, a flooring sales training academy. He introduced the attendees to the philosophy of operating their franchises with a results-oriented approach with the goal of building a business, not just operating one. Allman also delivered additional insight for growing a franchise with his address on the critical "Secrets of Closing the Sale." He offered the franchisees valuable information on "sales killers," how to anticipate objections, the mindset of the closer, and the psychology of influence and silence in the sales presentation.

Afterward, the franchisees had the opportunity to select from a comprehensive curriculum of workshops that addressed critical business topics and were lead by experts representing a broad range of industries. Subjects included:

Disaster restoration
Communicating with insurance adjusters to help them close files
Problems and solutions for moisture
The value of making window treatments part of your offering
Understanding natural fibers
Making business decisions based on financial statements
Structures for compensation and benefit programs
For those who had yet to be certified, training was offered on FCI's proprietary FIRST (Floor Installation and Replacement Services Team) certification program. FCI was the first company to develop a flooring restoration program to meet the specific needs of adjusters and restoration contractors. The program trains FCI franchise owners to properly evaluate and replace damaged floors in response to an increasing number of insurance claims.

In addition to the workshops and presentations, franchisees had the opportunity to gain a better perspective on the manufacture, design and merchandising of floor coverings and accessories through visits to key suppliers' facilities. Destinations included Shaw Industries' state-of-the-art laminate plant, one of Shaw's carpet manufacturing facilities and the Shaw Color and Design Center. Attendees also had a chance to see the inner workings of Daltile's Atlanta showroom and the company's Tile and Stone Gallery.

Incorporated in 1988 and headquartered in Atlanta, FCI is one of the top 20 buying groups in the flooring industry, according to Floor Covering Weekly. The company currently boasts more than 140 franchise operations in the U.S., U.K and Canada.

Its fleet of unique mobile van showrooms house more than 3,000 colors and styles of the hottest floor covering options today. Carpeting. Vinyl. Tile. Hardwoods. Laminates. Area rugs. And even window treatments. FCI franchisees offer it all in the convenience of a consumer's home or facility manager's office.

For more information about FCI's unique services or franchise opportunities, call 1-800-DIAL-FCI or visit www.floorcoveringsintl.com.

For more information about the company or to locate the nearest FCI franchisee, call 1-800-DIAL-FCI or visit the company’s web site at www.floorcoveringsintl.com.

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