American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) Establishes Council of Flooring Industry Advisors

Furniture World News Desk on 4/26/2015

The American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) recently announced  the establishment of the Council of Flooring Industry Advisors (CFIA), an organizational board representing all segments and disciplines of the flooring industry and related services.

“This is a first of its kind,” said Wanda Ellis, Executive Director for AFA. “There is no other association that offers a referral network for all segments of the flooring industry for expert advice and guidance.”

“We are providing a direct link to the experts within the flooring industry,” said Ellis. “People and companies will now be equipped to make smarter, more informed decisions because they will have access to the support and knowledge of the leaders in the industry.”

CFIA is based on these 10 disciplines:

1. OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Expertise provided in structural, accounting, finance/credit, and legal areas in order to ensure that all controlling procedures are efficient and follow best practices.

2. HUMAN RESOURCES Expert recommendations providing solutions in order to maximize the client’s strategic objectives regarding regional nuances, global cultural issues, talent management, and day-to-day staffing issues.

3. R&D / PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Market analysis and rationale provided by industry experts, including recommendations on the latest product innovations, market trends, manufacturing, and product development processes.

4. PRODUCT DESIGN Expertise provided on the latest product innovations, design trends, and appropriate color palettes. Advanced product technical support and understanding of certification/testing requirements.

5. MANUFACTURING Expert Advisors offer decades of hands-on experience in order to provide solutions for product production, design engineering, and quality management to maximize each client’s ROI.

6. SUSTAINABILITY Expert direction concerning business integration, resource recovery, supply chain interaction, energy and water management, regulatory affairs, and product certification that either directly or indirectly affect the company's ability to achieve the set strategic sustainability goals.

7. MARKETING & ADVERTISING Experts provide direction on brand management, market segmentation, customer insight/market research, route to market, media placement, and public relations efforts based on industry/customer knowledge and understanding of client’s strategy.

8. SALES STRATEGY & MANAGEMENT Experts will review and diagnose your client’s strategic plans, providing a road-map to achieve business objectives, increase ROI, and streamline the relationship between sales and support management.

9. LOGISTICS & TRANSPORTATION Expert solutions for both domestic and international shipping, transportation, and documentation issues between point of origin and final destination. Advisors provide recommendations for freight, compliance with Government restrictions, along with documentation, and timelines.

10. INSTALLATION & INSPECTION Top industry experts in installation and advanced inspection requirements/procedures for all product categories will instruct and offer solutions regarding various techniques, the latest in technology, and distinguishing between manufacturing and installation defects and maintenance protocol issues. Referred to: Installation – CFI, Inspection – NICFI

To become a CFIA associate member, contact Teiya Eubanks at 706.278.4101 eubanks@americanfloor.org. Dues are $150 and as an Associate Member, benefits include:

• Industry project referrals.
• Company listing on the AFA/CFIA website.
• Industry news updates.
• AFA membership.
• Full support of all CFIA/AFA products and services.

About American Floorcovering Alliance: The AFA located in Dalton, Georgia, the flooring mecca of the world, was formed in 1979 to promote the floor covering industry. AFA, a not for profit association, promotes the industry’s products and services to the world, and educates the members and others through seminars, press releases, and trade shows. Any company may become a member in the association if they are in the floor covering industry or a floor covering related industry. The association is financially supported by membership dues and trade shows. AFA is governed by a board of directors elected from within the membership. A wide variety of services and benefits are offered to assist the membership in promoting their business and growing the entire industry. 706.278.4101, americanfloor.org