Former Buddy's CEO Starts Buying Group

Cincinnati, OH, Nov. 24, 2008--The former head of Buddy’s Carpet has launched a buying company that would help small retailers not just with inventory, but with image.

Ben Goodyear, former CEO of Buddy's Carpet, has started Amerifloors, to give mom-and-pop shops similar purchasing power as big-box chains.

But unlike many buying groups, which purchase in bulk on behalf of a group of retail members, Amerifloors also offers marketing, website creation and regular training. It serves to build the image of its retailers, a strategy that helped it land six members, representing sales of $8 million. The goal is to sign 20 retailers by June 2009.

“Our strength is not allowing our brand to get in the way,” Goodyear said. “Our retailers have a good brand image. What we want to do is come in and teach them how to enhance that image.”