StarNet is the largest commercial coop in the industry, responsible for close to $2 billion dollars in sales in the commercial market. They are the most significant single force in the industry when it comes to selling, installing and servicing the commercial floor covering market. No other entity is as unique as the StarNet group. I have been involved with StarNet members since the inception of the organization and our company is a long time vendor of services to the StarNet organization. I can tell you from experience that the commercial flooring contractors who comprise this organization are the best of the best in the markets they serve. The operative word is serve, and the service they give is beyond what one could expect from any other source.
Manufacturers have in the last several years tried to circumvent the independent commercial flooring dealer and sell direct to the commercial end user. They have even tried to buy into this market by purchasing existing commercial flooring dealers, much to their dismay these ventures failed. Manufacturers do not know the marketplace like the independent commercial flooring dealer. They don’t live there nor do they have a stake in the business or the community. Every manufacturer that owned a commercial flooring network has since abandoned the idea. It was a bad one from the start. Now they want to sell the product to the end user and leave the installation and service to someone else. The end user may think they are getting a better deal and they may mistakenly believe the manufacturers’ rep knows the products better than the independent dealer but nothing could be further from the truth.
StarNet dealers work to build relationships with their clientele. They know the products they sell better than the manufacturer because they have experience with them in the market place – they know what works best in a particular situation. They can keep the end user out of trouble because they virtually hold their hand through the entire process; from product specification, selection, preparation, installation and maintenance. They have a legitimate stake in satisfying the client, unlike a manufacturer. They offer specialty services, such as custom fabrication and design of stone floors, uniquely designed and constructed carpet and they work together to service the entire country. If they have a national account out of a major metropolitan area they can arrange for the account to be serviced throughout the country by another StarNet member.
Lori Dowling’s tenure as president and CEO of StarNet has stimulated the growth and expansion of StarNet. She has facilitated the improvement of the organization by implementing programs that have benefited the membership and the industry and through her efforts StarNet has grown to be the premier commercial flooring group in the industry. As she passes the baton the good works should no doubt continue.
I have never done any work of any kind for any StarNet member I have not been impressed with. These people care about their clients, their employees, their community and their industry. They take full responsibility for the projects they undertake and they strive to keep up with the latest developments, techniques and technology in the industry. When they have a problem they are quick to take care of it, whatever it takes. As a group they are continually educating themselves and their people in all facets of the business from management to introductory programs that train and initiate new inductees into their businesses – manufacturers do not do this, they don’t have the people to do this nor the organization. Why would an end user not want to do business with a StarNet member and why would a manufacturer want to circumvent a StarNet member in a particular market when they would be their best allies?
When you look at the StarNet group you see the major league of the floor covering industry, the tops in their field, and the best of the best and the most professional that exist. A client could not go wrong doing business with a StarNet member.
Author: Lewis G. Migliore
LGM and Associates – The Floorcovering Experts