Monday, June 17, 2013
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : Imperial Floor Coverings Daily June 17, 2013
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : Imperial Floor Coverings Daily June 17, 2013: August 2010 The showroom was about ready. Walls painted and cabinet display was in along with some of the flooring. The wor...
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily June 17, 2013
August 2010
The showroom was about ready.
Walls painted and cabinet display was in along with some of the flooring.
The work area and design counter was completed.
We were on the way to opening soon.
The opening date was still set for September 1 2010.
We were still working for our customers by doing in home sales, samples at your door was the slogan.
It was working pretty well and I started questioning why build a showroom when people liked the samples brought to them.
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : June 13 2013 Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : June 13 2013 Imperial Floor Coverings Daily: May 2010 After permits were in hand the up fit was under way, goal to be open by September. Some of the reps had put me touch with a oth...
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : Imperial Floor Coverings Daily: April 2010 Starting over. I left the partnership with the Flooring United crooks with nothing more than a greater understanding o...
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : Imperial Floor Coverings Daily: Today I was going to pick up where I left off from the other day. After meeting the reps from the suppliers and hearing that I should watc...
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : June 4th 2013 The newest 60 % off sale
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily : June 4th 2013 The newest 60 % off sale: Imperial Floor Coverings offers the same as the others, work with within our area. North Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Denver, and Low...
Thursday, June 13, 2013
June 13 2013 Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
May 2010
After permits were in hand the up fit was under way, goal to be open by September. Some of the reps had put me touch with a other flooring companies with some displays for sale and the reps were trying to get me to buy new ones as well. The only problem with that was new one cost up to $500.00 and then as soon as they arrive the list of drops comes out and they make you buy replacements samples.
Another reason way a small business gets the shaft from the manufacturers, but it's called the cost of doing business.
We were on our way, electric going in and framing and drywall was going up and the tile companies were willing to supply me some tile at below cost to show case their products in the store.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
April 2010
Starting over.
I left the partnership with the Flooring United crooks with nothing more than a greater understanding of what not to do, and some sales experience.
I started looking for a new location and found one on the main highway leading into and out of Charlotte for many people who travel daily for work from the Denver and Lincoln County area. Thinking that's what was missing from the other place which was nestled between a Bi-Lo and a dry cleaners in a strip mall, I was always told Bi-Lo spent the money to get people to the store and every customer that came to shop at their store would see the Flooring store and know it was there, but I had so many people stop in and say they had been shopping at the Bi-Lo for years and ever knew the store was there.
There was a few things standing in the way thought, first off was it was in a business park and was not a finished unit, nothing more than block walls. The owner said if I was willing to invest in up fitting the unit I could lease it or even buy it. He said why do that when I could move right into a unit around the corner that was up fitted for office and warehouse and ready to go. I explain I needed to be seen from the road in order to get drivers to see the store there and that would relate to walk in traffic, and I would set it up to be more of a showroom than an office and warehouse.
After a few weeks of calls and meetings, the owner agreed to up fit the unit if I did all the flooring and painting.
The wheels were finally in motion. Now I needed start up cash and some displays, I had neither. I started calling manufacturer reps and ask if they could help me out with some displays and flooring for the new location.
I started making plans for a great store to build the business and help the area with a local flooring store to serve and help with their flooring or remodeling projects.
But there was still a long road to go.
Calls us today for Our Specials and 12 months no interest financing.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
Today I pick back up to my last tell of how we got to this point.
After about eight months of the partnership with Flooring United it was all to clear I was never going to see a dime from my investment of my money and time from the so called partnership. I had started doing some work for labor only and that was where I was able to invest money back into the company, web site and ad advertisement in the Mountain Island Herald a local news paper and new displays for the store.
F.U stared accusing me of making money without giving them a cut.
Our agreement was only to pay them a percentage for job which were sold out of the store with material and labor, not my labor or jobs just for labor by my installers.
Flooring United started telling me to pay the power bill, only a few days from being shut off, same with the gas, when I ask for a Profit/ Loss statement they told me they would get it to me. Only after I told them I was going to hire a lawyer and show my records of money paid did they offer me a 1099 form, but when I ask how would they be able to give me a 1099 if I was in the red?
They finally produced a quickbook print out showing about half of what our records showed. But before this could become a issue I had received a letter taped to the front door for back rent of eight months. I called and informed F.U of the letter and with that letter was my reason to move on. Later that day I came to start moving my belongings out to find they had change the locks. keeping my new computer and printer and office furniture.
The next day they sent the police to my house and accuse me of stealing "my stuff" from them. Later I learn they had removed my belongings before I could sue them for my property and they tried to turn it in on their insurance without any proof of it belonging to them. True crooks! Now if you do a google search for Flooring United they have a address close to where that location used to be but it is an empty field next to a fire station. I wonder how many people look for that store to make that discovery?
After leaving that behind I had nothing and was back to square one. April 2010
This Month 60% off just like the TV add from that company. Also last month we will offer 12 months no interest financing.
After about eight months of the partnership with Flooring United it was all to clear I was never going to see a dime from my investment of my money and time from the so called partnership. I had started doing some work for labor only and that was where I was able to invest money back into the company, web site and ad advertisement in the Mountain Island Herald a local news paper and new displays for the store.
F.U stared accusing me of making money without giving them a cut.
Our agreement was only to pay them a percentage for job which were sold out of the store with material and labor, not my labor or jobs just for labor by my installers.
Flooring United started telling me to pay the power bill, only a few days from being shut off, same with the gas, when I ask for a Profit/ Loss statement they told me they would get it to me. Only after I told them I was going to hire a lawyer and show my records of money paid did they offer me a 1099 form, but when I ask how would they be able to give me a 1099 if I was in the red?
They finally produced a quickbook print out showing about half of what our records showed. But before this could become a issue I had received a letter taped to the front door for back rent of eight months. I called and informed F.U of the letter and with that letter was my reason to move on. Later that day I came to start moving my belongings out to find they had change the locks. keeping my new computer and printer and office furniture.
The next day they sent the police to my house and accuse me of stealing "my stuff" from them. Later I learn they had removed my belongings before I could sue them for my property and they tried to turn it in on their insurance without any proof of it belonging to them. True crooks! Now if you do a google search for Flooring United they have a address close to where that location used to be but it is an empty field next to a fire station. I wonder how many people look for that store to make that discovery?
After leaving that behind I had nothing and was back to square one. April 2010
This Month 60% off just like the TV add from that company. Also last month we will offer 12 months no interest financing.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Imperial Floor Coverings Daily
Today I was going to pick up where I left off from the other day.
After meeting the reps from the suppliers and hearing that I should watch my so called partners from Floor United because they had money issues in the pass.
First order of business was to inventory everything in the store and to clean.
There was no organization in the store, it was dirty with out of date samples, I had cleaned up, threw out half the samples in the store.
The sale of the store to me was for the samples in the store so to throw away half didn't feel right knowing I was told all the samples were current.
I took over the location and was sub leasing the unit from them along with power and phone.
I was also told they would help me with sales, web site and gaining name recognition for my company.
They would handle material receiving, warehousing the materials and installation.
But with my background as a installation manager I had better installers and I had the experience with installation where they didn't, so I told them I would use my installers, but next thing I knew they were trying to use my installers because their installers had been burned by them in the past and they couldn't count on their own installers, which didn't sit well with me or my installers once they got burned by them.
This is how they told me to do business: for every sale that I made I was to mark up the sale 45 to 50 % at which point I would pay them 20% of the sale and the rest was to pay overhead and I was promised that I would be paid at lease one to two hundred from the sale to help me pay my bills.
I was told to have the checks from my customers made to Flooring United, cutting Imperial out of all monies till Flooring United paid me and it would leave me holding the barrel if something went wrong between Imperial and the customer, I had a friend that owned a transmission business and I ask him for his accountants information which I contacted and ask her how should I handle the arrangement.
She told me to have the checks made to me and I write a check to Flooring United showing I was in the mix so to speak.
Flooring United didn't like it but I told them it was for my records. If anything were to happen I was the company doing business with my customers and not them.
After twenty or so sales and six months later I hadn't seen so much as a dime from Flooring United.
I started believing the reps were right about these guys being crooks. When I ask about the money I was always told it was going towards the overhead on the store I was operating.
Tomorrow I will continue on the story of small business smarts.
Have a Great Thursday.
After meeting the reps from the suppliers and hearing that I should watch my so called partners from Floor United because they had money issues in the pass.
First order of business was to inventory everything in the store and to clean.
There was no organization in the store, it was dirty with out of date samples, I had cleaned up, threw out half the samples in the store.
The sale of the store to me was for the samples in the store so to throw away half didn't feel right knowing I was told all the samples were current.
I took over the location and was sub leasing the unit from them along with power and phone.
I was also told they would help me with sales, web site and gaining name recognition for my company.
They would handle material receiving, warehousing the materials and installation.
But with my background as a installation manager I had better installers and I had the experience with installation where they didn't, so I told them I would use my installers, but next thing I knew they were trying to use my installers because their installers had been burned by them in the past and they couldn't count on their own installers, which didn't sit well with me or my installers once they got burned by them.
This is how they told me to do business: for every sale that I made I was to mark up the sale 45 to 50 % at which point I would pay them 20% of the sale and the rest was to pay overhead and I was promised that I would be paid at lease one to two hundred from the sale to help me pay my bills.
I was told to have the checks from my customers made to Flooring United, cutting Imperial out of all monies till Flooring United paid me and it would leave me holding the barrel if something went wrong between Imperial and the customer, I had a friend that owned a transmission business and I ask him for his accountants information which I contacted and ask her how should I handle the arrangement.
She told me to have the checks made to me and I write a check to Flooring United showing I was in the mix so to speak.
Flooring United didn't like it but I told them it was for my records. If anything were to happen I was the company doing business with my customers and not them.
After twenty or so sales and six months later I hadn't seen so much as a dime from Flooring United.
I started believing the reps were right about these guys being crooks. When I ask about the money I was always told it was going towards the overhead on the store I was operating.
Tomorrow I will continue on the story of small business smarts.
Have a Great Thursday.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
June 4th 2013 The newest 60 % off sale
Imperial Floor Coverings offers the same as the others, work with within our area. North Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Denver, and Lowsville NC. for local homeowner and businesses for a local hometown feel.
We offer 12 months no interest, and have shop at home sales appointments.
We carry quality products at affordable prices.
We carry our own insurance and our installers that are fully insured.
We can do anything and everything the other flooring companies claim they do.
Including the so called 60% off sale.
I like to think being honest and sale at a fair price that people will tell their friends and family and neighbors about us and that is the best advertisement we could ever ask for.
I will tell about paid advertising later.
This Blog will be a look into a small business (flooring company) the truth and nothing but the truth.
My hope is it will be interesting and maybe help our business and even help other small business owners.
I started it a few months back and was posting complaints and current sales from one of the largest flooring companies in the U.S that mainly advertise on T.V with in home sales and with a high turn over of fast talking rep's that work only on commission.
But I have had time to think and I know I can't advertise like they can but I could try and spread the word to warn people about them, having work there for three years in management may have made me want to drive it home a little more than an outsider would have wanted to.
I think I will still post some on here but I feel it's more about us and our company and not so much theirs.
There is facebook where anyone with a fb account can go there daily and see for their self the truth of the complaints but after a few hours or days will be removed and nothing but what a great job comments left there to look like everything is good.
There is also other web site like the pissed off consumer or pissed consumer that tell the truth from the customers and even sales reps and installers about getting ripped off or screwed over by them.
Even the BBB rates them A+ by buying their way. I will explain that later on and tell how the BBB works.
It a fact the best customer is someone who does their research before calling or buying and not looking for the cheapest of everything.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten!
The story of the beginnings:
I started this company four years ago with no start up cash and with very little help. But thought after many years of working at other companies and watching how they would look the other way when it would only take a few minutes to listen the the customers needs and what they were looking for at the end of the job.
I knew that if we didn't over promise and didn't lie or cheat and was honest to our customers it would be word of mouth that would keep us in business and be able to build a business and keep our installers busy and make a living.
I knew the timing was poor due to the state our country was in and the economy but the timing was right for me to show that for a start up company it could be done. I started by buying into a company as a co-op partner on credit by taking over a small store locate in a strip mall with a Bi Lo and a dry cleaner next to it.
I was showing profit and lost statements for the pass four years and was told how the store was turning a profit for two years and then it was just breaking even, but was told it was due to a salesman passing away and another one having a heart attack and no one was able to manage the store full time and that it the owners felt it was time for some new blood to take over and make a return to profit.
Overhead was high and with little cash in hand I was to start a LLC and start running the store as a new company but as a co-op partner with that company that had it before me. I was told call the material reps and do a meet and greet.
I was giving a list of reps and I started calling and scheduling the meet and greet and introduce myself.
After a few calls and face to face meeting I was told to watch the guys I was a co-op partners with, the word crook kept coming up.
____________________________________________________________________________
Tomorrow I will pick up there.
Have a great Tuesday afternoon.
We offer 12 months no interest, and have shop at home sales appointments.
We carry quality products at affordable prices.
We carry our own insurance and our installers that are fully insured.
We can do anything and everything the other flooring companies claim they do.
Including the so called 60% off sale.
I like to think being honest and sale at a fair price that people will tell their friends and family and neighbors about us and that is the best advertisement we could ever ask for.
I will tell about paid advertising later.
This Blog will be a look into a small business (flooring company) the truth and nothing but the truth.
My hope is it will be interesting and maybe help our business and even help other small business owners.
I started it a few months back and was posting complaints and current sales from one of the largest flooring companies in the U.S that mainly advertise on T.V with in home sales and with a high turn over of fast talking rep's that work only on commission.
But I have had time to think and I know I can't advertise like they can but I could try and spread the word to warn people about them, having work there for three years in management may have made me want to drive it home a little more than an outsider would have wanted to.
I think I will still post some on here but I feel it's more about us and our company and not so much theirs.
There is facebook where anyone with a fb account can go there daily and see for their self the truth of the complaints but after a few hours or days will be removed and nothing but what a great job comments left there to look like everything is good.
There is also other web site like the pissed off consumer or pissed consumer that tell the truth from the customers and even sales reps and installers about getting ripped off or screwed over by them.
Even the BBB rates them A+ by buying their way. I will explain that later on and tell how the BBB works.
It a fact the best customer is someone who does their research before calling or buying and not looking for the cheapest of everything.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten!
The story of the beginnings:
I started this company four years ago with no start up cash and with very little help. But thought after many years of working at other companies and watching how they would look the other way when it would only take a few minutes to listen the the customers needs and what they were looking for at the end of the job.
I knew that if we didn't over promise and didn't lie or cheat and was honest to our customers it would be word of mouth that would keep us in business and be able to build a business and keep our installers busy and make a living.
I knew the timing was poor due to the state our country was in and the economy but the timing was right for me to show that for a start up company it could be done. I started by buying into a company as a co-op partner on credit by taking over a small store locate in a strip mall with a Bi Lo and a dry cleaner next to it.
I was showing profit and lost statements for the pass four years and was told how the store was turning a profit for two years and then it was just breaking even, but was told it was due to a salesman passing away and another one having a heart attack and no one was able to manage the store full time and that it the owners felt it was time for some new blood to take over and make a return to profit.
Overhead was high and with little cash in hand I was to start a LLC and start running the store as a new company but as a co-op partner with that company that had it before me. I was told call the material reps and do a meet and greet.
I was giving a list of reps and I started calling and scheduling the meet and greet and introduce myself.
After a few calls and face to face meeting I was told to watch the guys I was a co-op partners with, the word crook kept coming up.
____________________________________________________________________________
Tomorrow I will pick up there.
Have a great Tuesday afternoon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)