promoting "The Floor Pro" website

Taurus Flooring · February 14, 2007, 05:53 PM

I was wondering if anyone could advise me on how I could promote this site with my contemporaries. This site is probably the most useful tool for professional installers ever conceived. Standards and professional practices can only come about with mass communications and shared information. Since the manufacturers and wholesalers refuse to support us, it is up to us fellow brothers to set the path of our future. Stand up and be counted, not walked on, leave that up to the product.

TFP Admin · February 14, 2007, 06:52 PM

Thanks for opening this up for discussion. I moved the topic from the test forum to the Website and Forum Support forum, I hope you don't mind. I have posted in the past a flier that could be printed and handed out (I'll find it again and repost it). I also have cards left over from my trip to Surfaces that could be given to any flooring professional you would like to have visit and look the site over. I'd be happy to send you a bunch if you PM me your mailing address.

There will also soon be available t-shirts, caps and other apparel with our logo imprinted. Maybe other members have ideas we could exchange on promoting the site.

I spent 3 wonderful days at Surfaces and talked with a lot of leaders and representatives of industry organizations, manufacturers, tool makers and other people in every segment of this industry. I never talked so much in my life. This is a website for all pros in every area of the industry. I hope that over the next couple of months we will see much more acceptance and participation of professionals that are traditionally readers, not writers on flooring related message boards.

We have begun to show many in this industry that we are different than some of the other message boards out there. I won't go so far as to say we are better - that is in the eye of the beholder - but I received a tremendous amount of encouragement and positive feedback from a lot of heavy hitters. We have made an impression and we are seen as just what our name says: The Floor Pro. It's all because of you and all these other members who log in here regularly and participate, sometimes a lot, sometimes only a little, but always in mostly respectable and professional ways.

We are showing the industry, no matter what segment they reside in, that we can work together. I've never been so proud of being a part of something like this. Thank you for wanting to make it even better. Just let me know what I can do to help.

cproader · February 14, 2007, 08:55 PM

I for one really enjoy this site and find it extremely informative. I have been in the business for 30 years and can still learn alot from others. I would however advise that instead of using it for small chat, making it appear as a private chat room for a select few, that it have a more open to new reader appeal. More of an inclusive feel. Some of you guys really impress me with your knowledge and conduct.

Steve Olson · February 14, 2007, 09:05 PM

welcome to the site...If more newbies would jump right in, like you are, there would not be such an old boys atmosphere

. We welcome you all. Thanks for coming by cproader.
another 30 year vet...

Jerry Thomas · February 15, 2007, 02:09 AM

Welcome Taurus Flooring and cproader. Looking forward to both of your insights.

Lo Down · February 15, 2007, 10:02 AM

skhardwoods said

welcome to the site...If more newbies would jump right in, like you are, there would not be such an old boys atmosphere . We welcome you all. Thanks for coming by cproader.
another 30 year vet...

Now we need to invite 'em over, introduce ourselves, buy another pitcher, pour another round and try to recall where it was that we left off................ oh yea.... Da Bears.

Welcome guys.

Nick Arrera · February 15, 2007, 12:41 PM

Welcome guys.

Taurus Flooring · February 15, 2007, 04:57 PM

Thanks guys, great to be aboard. Finally a place to share our experience and ideas. I too have been in the business for over 30yrs and it is so good to see a forum like this. I've always felt that if we had a way to chat with each other, we could finally be heard by the big boys. The way I see it, they don't have a choice but to listen. Just as it was pointed out, we are an industry in trouble. There are fewer and fewer new installers entering the business and who could blame them. Rates that haven't really been updated for way too long, no benefits, responsibility for products that are inferior without compensation for handling, old techniques that require much too much manual labour, and an industry that shows very little respect for professionals, what is the incentive.
Having said that, I don't think it's just up to the manufacturers and wholesalers to make the changes, it requires our participation too. Mandatory certification, professional attitudes, and maybe fewer chiefs and more Indians would help. I'll never understand why a retailer would handover a $10,000 roll of carpet to a hack, just to replace it. It only makes sense to have professionals handling the last stage of the sale. Afterall, the customer wants good value for their dollar, by seeing a job well done.

Bud Cline · February 15, 2007, 05:35 PM

Welcome guys!

Hey Taurus feel free to start a new thread on any or all of the issues you have concerns about, it's always good to toss around ideas.

Glad you guys are here.

Me too - thirty years and counting!!!!!!!!!

Peter Kodner · February 15, 2007, 06:51 PM

Ditto to the welcome to both of you. Taurus, glad to see you diving into the deep end right off the bat

The shallow end is for sissies

cproader · February 15, 2007, 07:51 PM

Thanks for the group hug guys. I too really enjoy this sort of dialog, I think I forgot how to spell dialougee, anyway just welded up some marmo today and ready to sit back and have a cup and read some posts. So let's get it on.