Helping your customers find the perfect flooring for their next project is all about asking the right questions. As a flooring retailer, you know how important it is to understand shopper needs and preferences to provide them with a satisfying experience and build a loyal customer base.
To guide you in this process, we’ve compiled a list of essential questions to ask customers searching for new floors.
1. Where Will You Use This Flooring?
Understanding the specific room or area where the flooring will be installed is the first step in offering suitable options. Different areas of the house require different types of flooring due to varying levels of foot traffic, moisture, and overall usage.
For example, if your customer is redoing their kitchen or bathroom, you may recommend water-resistant flooring options, like laminate. For a foyer, where first impressions matter, engineered hardwood might offer that classic style they want.
On the other hand, commercial projects, like gyms or offices, may be better suited to options like vinyl or recycled rubber.
2. What Kind of Traffic Will It Endure?
Knowing whether the space experiences heavy foot traffic, such as a hallway or living room, or is more private, like a bedroom, helps you recommend flooring that can withstand wear and tear without losing appeal.
Entryways or areas that tend to be more active tend to benefit from something resilient, like luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). LVT and LVP are both water-resistant and can stand up to mud and puddles brought in from outside.
For high-impact environments, like gyms, Endurance Sport and Sports Today flooring can handle more activity while providing additional cushioning for the joints.
3. How Long Do You Want To Keep It?
Some customers may be looking for a long-term investment, while others might be open to changing their flooring in a few years.
Based on their answer, you can consider installation methods for the flooring you offer. Floors installed by floating or click-lock installation methods tend to be simpler than others to remove. This question can help your customers find products with the right warranty options. Your customers can learn about Landmark Interiors warranties by viewing our look book.
4. Do You Prefer Physical Samples or Online Shopping?
Getting a sense of whether customers prefer to touch and feel physical samples or are comfortable shopping online helps you tailor your recommendations and showroom experience accordingly.
For customers who want to see how the room could look, we recommend our floor visualizer. This tool allows your customers to see the styles and colors a line offers, without needing to stock the entire product line on site, where it might take up valuable floor space.
5. How Knowledgeable Are You About Flooring?
Knowing your customers’ level of familiarity with flooring materials and terminology helps you provide information at the right level.
Some customers might appreciate in-depth technical details, while others prefer a simpler explanation. If your customer is a flooring contractor, they’ll likely have very different questions from a homeowner doing a project themselves for the first time.
6. What Good and Bad Experiences Have You Had With Flooring?
Understanding your customers’ past experiences with flooring can help you address any concerns or hesitations they might have.
If they’ve had experiences in the past with natural hardwood expanding from humidity, then you may want to recommend an engineered hardwood option that’s less reactive to the elements. For customers with faded flooring in rooms that get a lot of natural sunlight, the Ascension collection from Landmark Interiors could be a good fit due to its fade-resistant qualities.
There are many available products to help your customers overcome past challenges. Simply finding out what those challenges are can make a big difference in recommending the right flooring.
7. Do You Have an Ultimate Design Goal?
Customers often have a design vision in mind for their space. By understanding their aesthetic preferences and design goals, you can recommend flooring options that complement their overall vision.
For example, customers looking for a more modern style may prefer neutral-colored flooring options that look like natural materials instead of carpeting.
8. Are You Working With a Designer?
Knowing whether customers are working with a professional designer gives you insight into the level of guidance they’re receiving.
This allows you to coordinate efforts and offer flooring solutions that align with the design plan, while also being mindful of measurements and supply needs.
9. What Other Components Are Involved in Your Project?
Flooring is often just one piece of the puzzle in a larger home improvement project. Inquiring about other components, like cabinets and appliances, helps you consider the overall design scheme and recommend cohesive options.
Stock the Flooring Your Customers Are Searching for Today!
By asking these important questions, you’ll be better equipped to guide your customers toward the right flooring choices for their homes.
Remember, each customer’s needs are unique, and your expertise as a local flooring retailer will play a crucial role in providing exceptional service and the perfect flooring solution.
To ensure you have the products your customers want, become a Landmark Interiors dealer today!