Articles

Floor Academy Briefing: The Terms You Use Matter
I hear and see it all the time. “I picked up a side gig. I have to go do this job…my customer…my helper.” I do not approve of any of these terms.

Floor Academy Briefing: Finding the Stress Sweet Spot in Your Life and Business
We all know that life has stressors and pressures in the form of bills, spouses, children, commitments, household chores, and we haven’t even gotten into owning a business yet.

Floor Academy Briefing: That’s the Way We’ve Always Done It
There are few comments that baffle me as much as hearing “That’s the way we’ve always done it; I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years.”

Floor Academy Briefing: What Can’t You See?
The ability to stop and analyze a problem from a 30,000-foot view is something more contractors need. Are you tracking your business’ data? What’s missing?

FCI Columnist Kyle Hedin to Present at The International Surface Event
Kyle Hedin, FCI’s Floor Academy Briefing columnist, owner of Illustrious Hardwoods and host of the Floor Academy Podcast will present two discussions on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the International Surface Event in Las Vegas.

Floor Academy Briefing: Getting Ready for the New Year
You’re not paying quarterlies or setting aside money? This is the year to change that.

Floor Academy Briefing: How Much Do You Really Need to Make?
Just how much money are you really making? Kyle walks you through what you should be making, how to account for expenses and points out things you may not be considering to help maximize revenue.

Floor Academy Briefing: Level Up Your Network
Are the people you surround yourself with helping or hurting you and your business?

Floor Academy Briefing: Communicate — Your Family and Your Business Depend on It
I see far too many posts online or hear conversations where installers are annoyed that their partner doesn’t understand what they do and why the hours are the way they are. They simply want to be in the loop and know what is going on. Is it really that hard to just communicate?

Building Your Community Through Local Monthly Flooring Industry Meetups
As flooring installers, it is important to attend training and participate in online groups to continue learning. But what are you doing to engage your local community?

Floor Academy Briefing: You Can’t Charge Your Way To Profitability
Raising your rates without adding value for the customer will only get you so far. What do you bring to the table? Your client has to value the item they are buying more than the money in their hand.

Floor Academy Briefing: You Must Attend Flooring Industry Events
I don’t want to stop learning or evolving. I want to know what is coming my way. I want to be involved and help influence where the industry goes in the future.

Floor Academy Briefing: How to Build Value Through Education and Ensure Success
Kyle Hedin, owner of Illustrious Hardwoods and producer and host of the Floor Academy Podcast, walks us through how to set yourself apart through education.

What’s Wear Got to Do with It? Quality Engineered Hardwood is a Value-Add
Kyle Hedin, owner of Illustrious Hardwoods and producer and host of the Floor Academy Podcast, talks about the importance of choosing a quality wood floor and how that decision impacts your bottom line.

Increasing Profits with Instructions
Kyle Hedin, owner of Illustrious Hardwoods and producer and host of the Floor Academy Podcast, advises that following the instructions during an install can increase profits while minimizing your liability.

Making the Move from Knees to Retail
Kyle Hedin, owner of Illustrious Hardwoods and producer and host of the Floor Academy Podcast, shares his personal story of shifting from being a flooring installer to becoming retailer.