Home Centers Just Latest Competitor for Retailers

Anaheim, CA, July 28, 2011 -- While the major home centers are considered to be the prime competitors for independent flooring retailers, it's not the first time the industry has seen competition from larger entities.

Marketing expert Jonathan Trivers, speaking at the Flooring America convention, said that the home centers have essentially replaced large department store operators like Sears and J.C. Penney.

Trivers, former president of Abbey Carpet Co., said the department stores had about the same number of outlets as Home Depot, Lowe's and other home centers. He said there will always be large competitors.

Trivers also talked about the declining number of independent retailers. In 2002 there were about 15,300 but today that number has shrunk to about 11,000.