Australian FloorStyle

Posted on 14.08.2021

Australian FloorStyle, image 1

 

Australian FloorStyle Reimagines How Flooring Cooperatives Should Work From The Ground Up

 

Australian FloorStyle is a network of independent flooring retailers that operates as a cooperative business model.
 

Founded in 1984 under the name “Blue Ribbon Group'' with a goal to enable independent flooring retailers to club together creating bulk buying power, and as a result to benefit better price policy for their end customers. 

 

The cooperative offered its members the advantage of great buying capacity; and great pricing through relationships with all of Australia’s major flooring suppliers. Members who successfully joined are gains access to its range of bespoke flooring products. However, it is keen to point out that they are under no obligation to source products through its channels. Members can procure whatever wholesale items they believe will serve their customers best. Ultimately, Australian FloorStyles views itself as a customer-centric organisation and does not impose top-down product choices on its members.

 

In 1996, organisation updated its name to a new brand, the Australian FloorStyle. It now has more than 52 members operating 65 carpet stores throughout Australia, adding five new members in the last twelve months and counting.

 

These days Australian FloorStyle is an innovative co-operative of independent retailers that reimagine the cooperative model. The organisation avoids dictating how stores must operate (as a franchise might) and instead gives managers free rein to decide prices, what they stock and even how they market their carpet company. Stores must still follow some general guidelines, but, other than that, owners are free to run their outlets as they wish.

 

From the outset, Australian FloorStyle had potential. It understood the independent flooring retailer market and knew instinctively that a traditional franchise model wasn’t appropriate in the sector. Because of its innovative approach, the outfit has consistently grown its membership over the decades using its unique formula of bulk buying and operator freedom. Now it supports retailers selling to both commercial and domestic clients in urban and rural areas all over the country and is well known for the thriving communities that it creates.

 

Flooring retailers do not have to change their names when they join the organisation. Australian FloorStyle Group says that they can continue running their businesses as before. New members pay a modest joining fee and then spend around twelve months working to attain various criteria required by the cooperative. Once they do that, they then hold a meeting with the board of directors to become accredited members. Joining the organisation provides independent retailers with perks such as expert consultations, networking opportunities and benefit from lower wholesale prices.

 

David Wicks of Australian FloorStyle believes that the organisation he represents actively helps flooring company owners achieve their objectives and long terms goals.

 

“If you’re a flooring retailer, large or small, and want to have or maintain your own independence,” then, he says, stores should “be part of a cooperative of like-minded individuals to achieve better pricing, access to quality suppliers and opportunities of networking with other members.”

 

Talk to Australian FloorStyle for more information and details

 

Enquire: 02 9600 9249 

 

 

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