INVEST IN AMERICAN-MADE FLOORING

by Dan Hussey
Thirty years ago, when I opened my first flooring store, most of the products we offered were manufactured in the USA. Now, many of the manufacturing jobs have moved to China and other foreign countries. This shift has had a big impact on the flooring you are offered in the typical flooring showroom.
Americans are competitive shoppers, and many times the low bidder gets the project. This tendency to shop for the lowest price, has created a retail environment of offering products made in foreign countries, in order to present the lowest price.
To some, this advent of mostly foreign-made flooring products is distressing. Some shoppers are cognizant that products made overseas cost jobs in the states. Flooring is usually a larger purchase, with and average ticket of $2,500. And when you buy an entire house full of new flooring, the total can exceed $15,000.
It doesn’t take long with purchases of that size to take many jobs away from the country we all love and want to see prosper.
For those of us with a passion for the prosperity of America, how do we answer this flood of foreign-made products? Here are some suggestions to help turn the tide – to protect American jobs and our long-term prosperity:
Be aware and proactive. Ask for products MADE IN AMERICA.
Don’t make the lowest price your first objective. Cost is important, but not the most important aspect of a flooring purchase.
Encourage retailers that you shop with to offer more products made in America.
Buy American. Compare American-made with American-made, not American-made with foreign-made.
Encourage your friends and family to support manufacturers and retailers that support American-made products.
Recognize the advantages of American-made products. The availability is better, and there are shorter wait times.
Here in our Totally Floored by Flooring America showroom, we have installed American-made flooring on the showroom floor. We encourage you to visit our showroom, and ask us to show you our competitive and gorgeous MADE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL USA products!
P.S. One bright spot: Most carpet is made in America!