Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) and the North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) have formed a partnership focused on increasing participation in WFCA training offerings by leveraging NAFCD members’ local relationships with retailers.
The first initiative planned by the two organizations—announced by Scott Humphrey, CEO of WFCA, and Kevin Gammonley, NAFCD executive vice president—aims to significantly increase awareness of WFCA research and training resources within the flooring retailer community. “This joint program will focus on NAFCD distributors promoting the 2016 WFCA Sales Training Camps to their retailer customers,” Humphrey said. “By tapping into the deep relationships that distributors have with retailers in their regional markets, we expect to enhance growth in retail sales nationwide, providing benefit for the industry at every level.”
The new partnership is designed to expand its focus over time. WFCA and NAFCD plan to facilitate and streamline industry communications through both associations, expand support for industry advocacy issues and secure potential new members through their respective member bases. Noting the WFCA’s evolution into a retailer-focused association, Humphrey explained he and Gammonley realized the two associations had much to gain through collaboration and the sharing of resources. “Together we will be able to capitalize on each other’s offerings and streamline professional training, industry driven research, advocacy programs and overall communications affecting members of both groups,” Humphrey stated.
Torrey Jaeckle, NAFCD president, highlighted the parallel histories and missions of his organization and WFCA. “Just as WFCA was founded to help advance the floor covering industry—shaping public and industry policy, promoting professional development through certification and providing its retailer members the business tools and resources to increase profitability—NAFCD is dedicated to the success of distributors,” he said. “The distributor’s needs are similar to those of the retailer, and the distributor’s welfare is dependent on the success of the retailer.”
Jaeckle agreed both WFCA and NAFCD have much to gain through their enhanced partnership. “We are all aware that our industry is changing and evolving and we need to do the same,” he added. “Through our collaboration with the WFCA we can build on the solid foundations of both organizations and ensure we are delivering on the needs of all of the players at the core of our industry.”