All Product Is Not Created Equal • By Gregg Maloley

July 14 2010
As many of you realize my industry background includes years of service within the health club and fitness equipment sales industries. In the health club business we sell memberships by highlighting facility “features and benefits”. In the commercial fitness equipment business we sell product by promoting the “features and benefits”. Come to think of it in just about all sales- from cars to insurance to real estate- we sell and buy though “features and benefits”. Oddly enough when it comes to floor covering products; no one ever wants to hear of “features and benefits”. What’s even stranger; proper flooring is more vital to most facilities than any other product. Consider this… when building a new facility you seek flooring that offers you a long life span, aesthetics, and is functional. Once you install your flooring the last thing you want to do is replace it in a few years. The costs in demolition, replacement, and facility down time significantly outweigh that of the purchase of treadmills, elliptical, and strength equipment. In existing facilities to replace flooring is a major undertaking as it may require extensive equipment moving, extended facility downtime and a major inconvenience to your membership.

Whether you purchase your flooring from my company or a competitor. Remember, all product is not created equal! Before you buy you must analyze your exact need and match that need with a floor covering that offers you functionality, reliability, longevity, and affordability. Request the product “features and benefits”. Once you decide on the product negotiate your best price and make sure that the product is being installed by a qualified company that guarantees its workmanship. By the way when it comes to price, appreciate that all sales people are not created equal. Some soft sell and start high hoping to consummate the deal somewhere in the middle. Some, like me give you their best price upfront.

Let’s discuss analyzing your exact need. For example you want a floor covering that will be utilized only for dance and/or non-weight group exercise. Then I strongly suggest that you consider a wood product. Typically a floating floor with foam absorption built in. A product like this should cost in the $7.00-$10.00 per square foot price range. Installation is typically based upon volume of product and will range between a low of $1.50 per square foot to a high of $2.50 per square foot. Then you must factor freight. With the current high cost of fuel. Freight is running anywhere between $.40 per square foot to $.70 per square foot dependent upon product volume, origination, and destination. Total average price point for this type of product would be $9.00 per square foot to $12.00 per square foot. If someone tells you that they can sell you a floating wood floor system with resiliency foam built in delivered and installed for $5.00- $7.00 per square foot I will tell you that the product is of very poor quality and will not last. Remember you “pay for what you get”.



Let’s consider a weight room floor. There are many types of weight room floors. First you must analyze if this is a free weight room floor or a selectorized weight room floor or a combination of both. If it is strictly a free weight room and you want the highest quality product that is functional and aesthetically pleasing then I suggest rubber tile that comes in either all black or percentages of color. This tile typically is 24” x 24” x 1” and offers extreme durability and sound proofing qualities. This type of product can be adhered to your sub floor by either utilizing adhesive or the floor can be more portable by utilizing dowels. Pricing of this product should cost out between $5.95- $7.95 per square foot depending upon percentage of color. Installation will be dependent upon product volume and cost out between $.75- $1.50 per square foot and freight again is dependent upon volume and will cost out between $.40-$.85 per square foot. Remember you will also require adhesive or dowels at a cost of approximately $.40 per square foot. Total average cost ranging from $7.55 - $9.75 per square foot. If this type of product may not be within your budget there is either interlocking rubber or rolled rubber. However, even with rubber tiles or rolled rubber all product is not created equal. Since this type of rubber is recycled; it is imperative that you purchase a rubber that offers elastomer in their manufacturing process. The elastomer will offer the recycled product greater elasticity and resiliency and will not crack over time.

In closing remember price alone, while sacrificing quality will cost you more in the long run. Do your homework- analyze your exact needs, and then base your purchase on “features and benefits”; product references; fair and equitable price point; quality of installation company and their references. Remember if the price sounds too good to be true then it probably is!

Contact me (Gregg Maloley) by phone (781) 727-8250 or email at greggm@centaurfloors.com if I can be of any assistance. For sales representation outside of my territory please contact Centaur Floor Systems directly at (800) 536-9007.

What's New: Greatness - Is it Contagious?

July 15, 2010 By Carla Lieblein Here at Centaur Floor Systems LLC, we strive to be on the right side of all potential or repeat customers. We are at your service for all your sports flooring and aftercare maintenance product questions. We like feedback from our valuable customer base, regardless if it's a repeat customer or a brand new customer. I remember growing up hearing a commercial with the CEO saying, "I liked the product so much I bought the company". The company was Remington, the product was Remington electric razors, and the man was Victor Kiam. The message: I believe in this product, and you will too! I have to admit, I have not bought Remington products or ever plan to buy them. But what I have bought is Victor Kiam's statement about his belief in a product. If anything, it's a philosophy that a belief and confidence in something great can be contagious. It's something like our Sportweave Flooring that Owner of Centaur Floors Systems LLC, John Donati, believes in so much also. Our customers alike believe in us and we believe in them too. So when we heard our product cleaner for Sportweave was another wonderful product we were thrilled. We are sharing with you the wonderful feedback and belief in our products that one of our customers has stated here. So how do we clean the Sportweave? It's TASKI TR 103 feedback from Gordon Bennett from Corona Community Towers: "I love the TR 103! I have used it for about 7 years on the carpets. It's like an air freshener in the entire place. It smells GREAT. I love how it cleans. Your customers will love it. There is practically no foam it's so easy to use. We do use it in an extraction cleaner for the Mgrs. apt. (us) and with a Spin Bonnet for the bldg. I just love it and I think your customers will absolutely love it too. It's used in our senior citizen bldg. (35 units) in Corona, CA. The tenants love the aroma and we have, to the present, not had any complaints or reactions to the chemicals used in this the product... the tenants LOVE it." - 7/12/2010

Centaur Floor Systems Goes Green!

June 23, 2010

By Carla Lieblein

In the coming weeks, we will launch a new campaign promoting a GREENER Centaur Floor Systems. What makes our rubber greener than our other flooring options? Rubber is a renewable resource. "Rubber trees can be tapped every two days and they tend to live around 25 years" (Mary 2009). Our cutting edge eco-friendly recycled rubber products include: FasTrack, Elite, Elite ST, p'Eco, PuzzleTile, and Speckled 'S'. Our GREEN floors provide an easy to use, easy to install, and easy to maintain sports floor. Our products will enhance LEED point opportunities. At Centaur Floor Systems we recommend recycled whenever possible. We have other products like G-Court, Bolon, and XtremeCourt, which are eco-friendly because low energy processes produce them. Our Wood flooring, Boflex and DinDeck are eco-friendly because the manufacturers demand two trees planted for every one removed.

Here are a few points as to why we call our flooring GREEN:

Our recycled rubber products Elite, Speckled S, Elite ST, PuzzleTile, p'Eco, and FasTrack have a lower environmental impact than other flooring options. Recycled Rubber consumes less energy during production compared to products made from virgin or synthetic sources. Our GREEN products contribute to LEED point accumulation. The collection of used rubber creates job opportunities in developing countries around the world. Elite, Speckled S, Elite st, PuzzleTile, p'Eco, and FasTrack provide a way to make use of resources that are difficult to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner.

When you are deciding on becoming a GREEN conscious company,
please consider our flooring options.

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Article from: http://www.centaurfloors.com/news/june10/centaur-floors-green.htm

Sources:
GLI editors., Recycled Rubber Flooring. Web source cited on June 17, 2010 from:
http://greenlivingideas.com/topics
/green-building/flooring/recycled-rubber-flooring

Mary, NL (2009) Go Green with Rubber Flooring Throughout the Home. Web source cited on June 17, 2010 from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1747204
/go_green_with_rubber_flooring_throughout.html?cat=6

Take it to Heart - DIFFERENTIATE !

June 23, 2010

Feature Article

Since most of my customers realize I sell floor coverings throughout the country to a varying customer base; and possess a strong background in the health club and fitness equipment venues. I am consistently asked, "how do I compete against these low priced health clubs? The economy is still weak and I have competitors charging $99 a year and $10 a month. They are killing me".

We're all in the same boat.... We can't do anything about the economy and if we dwell on the negative we will certainly be out of business in no time. My suggestion---take it to heart- DIFFERENTIATE . If you offer the same "widget" as your low priced competitor you lose. How do you DIFFERENTIATE? Start with your business model. The low priced guy typically does not offer customer service; group x; nursery, programming; amenities, etc. If you do offer such staff, programming and amenities you cannot charge $99 a year or $10 a month. How about your fitness equipment? Why would you possibly offer the same name brand equipment as your low priced competitor? First they are most assuredly purchasing at better price points than you and second offering the same product makes you more comparable to that low priced competitor. When looking to add new equipment consider alternative, quality functional product that will assist you in supplementing your programming and amenities. How about your physical plant-when it comes to floor coverings most low priced competitors feature low color percentage rolled recycled rubber throughout their entire facility. Functional, inexpensive and not appealing to the customer. You can offer options that are customer appealing yet still cost efficient. For example LVT Plank or Tile in walkways and locker rooms. Gives the look of hardwood and tile; yet they are constructed of vinyl and are extremely durable at a fraction of the cost. Sport Weave polypropylene carpet tiles in lieu of recycled rubber within your cardio and selectorized areas. Sport Weave offers the look and feel of carpet with the durability of rubber at a very economical cost.

I can not over emphasize to you that if you DIFFERENTIATE from your low cost competitor by offering responsive and informative customer service; programming; amenities; alternative name brand functional fitness equipment and floor covering upgrades you will endure the price battle and win in the long run.

I feature a sampling of pictures from Fit World in Cranston, RI. Cranston has been hit very hard by the economic downturn and Fit World has its share of low priced competitors. General Manager Cynthia Pena spent a lot of time designing her club to DIFFERENTIATE from her competitors. She had a philosophy that she would offer strong customer service oriented staff, amenities, programs and work only with vendors that supported her with customer service, strong product mix and fair and equitable pricing. Cynthia has a focus and desire to win and she gets it!

Contact me or any Centaur sales reps. to discuss your specific needs.

Regards,


Gregg Maloley
VP Sales
Cell: (781) 727-8250
Fax: (781) 453-0165
Email: greggm@centaurfloors.com
Web: www.centaurfloors.com

What's New: Lower Monthly Maintenance fees?

May 24, 2010

PlayGrind is the Newest Edition to Centaur's Fitness Flooring Line: a Safe, Recyclable, Alternative to Playground Sand Pits.

By Carla Lieblein

SANTA BARBARA, CA - MAY 24, 2010. The playground is a fun-filled place. However, with the dramatic increase in playground related injuries and the spread of germs over the past two decades, it is also a place that requires a safe ground that can absorb shock, and not carry or spread germs. Sand pits located in children's playgrounds carry germs and diseases transmitted by animals or people in the parks. According to one source most sand pits have disappeared over fears that they pose a health and safety risk - with councils claiming poorly maintained sandpits they sometimes contain broken glass, needles or are used by cat as a 'litter tray'" (Wallop & Oppenheimer 2010). In truth, all theses factors contribute to a higher cost in sand pit maintenance.

"The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics estimate that nearly 200,000 playground-related injuries occur each year requiring emergency room visits. There is a new trend to avoid sand pits in outdoor play ground areas due to random animals using it" (Lamb 2000). "We investigated measures to prevent Toxocara egg contamination of sandpits. Replacement of contaminated sand was not effective because 1-9 new fecal deposits per sandpit were found daily, with eggs reappearing in the sand 6-9 weeks after the replacement" (Uga & Kataoka 1995).

There is hope other authority figures responsible for playgrounds across the country will start to follow the lead councils, which have invested in good quality playgrounds by replacing sand pits with products like PlayGrind.

Sources:

Harry Wallop and Jeni Oppenheimer , 2010 "Sandpits disappearing from playgrounds as councils blame health and safety"

Lamb, Gary , 2000 "Playground Safety" Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Interviewed by phone on May 14, 2010

Shoji Uga and Nobumasa Kataoka , 1995 "Measures to Control Toxocara Egg Contamination in Sandpits of Public Parks"Department of Medical Zoology, Kobe University School of Medicine, and University School of Allied Medical Sciences , Kobe, Japan. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 52(1), 1995, pp. 21-24 Copyright © 1995 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Leader in Fitness Flooring Solutions

Feature Article

Centaur Floor Systems

Fitness Industry Leading Flooring Solutions Company

At Centaur we take great pride in offering our customer base a SOLUTION to their needs and problems. Occasionally you will even find us recommending products that we don't represent. Why do we do this? Because we live by the adage that next to Godliness comes great customer service. You see, Centaur is not the largest company in the industry; nor are we solely distinguishable by our product line. What we are is a company with vast industry experience that truly wants to assist you in offering a SOLUTION! We will make mistakes, (though you will never hear me admit that again); we will sell products that may fail; but we will ALWAYS offer you, our customer a SOLUTION that will make you completely satisfied.

Centaur Floor Systems has been selling recreational, fitness, and athletic specialty flooring for over 25 years. Our ownership and management team possess over 100 years of combined industry experience. As a leader in the fitness and recreation industry, we supply flooring products that meet the demanding needs of fitness professionals, amateur and professional athletes, as well as the recreational community.

We seek out quality flooring options with the desire to provide you, our customer, with activity-specific products that are both functional and aesthetic. We will always offer you options of Good- Better-Best in both price point and quality.

Our Customer Promise

• To provide you with the best products, best service, best warranty, at a fair and equitable price point.
• To work with you throughout the selling process; during the install, and for years afterward.
• To always answer our phone and respond to emails; no matter what the question or concern.
• To inform the customer of the best application suitable for their needs, fitness goals, and comforts.
• Our most important Goal--Customer Satisfaction!

Distinguishable Product Line

Group X area: Boflex wood sport floor; Gymlastic seamless poured floor; G-Court synthetic roll good. Xtreme Court indoor, outdoor, and wood grained top coat portable interlocking tiles.

Cardio. room: SportWeave tiles; Bolon vinyl tile or roll good; Rubberflex S recycled rubber and Plank LVT.

Strength area: Elite tiles; Rubberflex S recycled rubber; Sport Weave and Ecoflor tiles.

Spinning area: Gymlastic seamless floor; G-Court; SportWeave; Plank LVT and Rubberflex S.

Locker rooms/ Pool areas: Bolon vinyl tile or roll good and Sport Weave.

Walkways/Common areas: Sport Weave, Plank LVT and Tile LVT.

On your next project, let us be your one-stop flooring shop. Remember at Centaur, we don't just sell flooring, we provide FLOORING SOLUTIONS!

Please visit our intuitive web page atwww.centaurfloors.com or call us toll free at (800) 536-9007.

Article wrritten by Gregg Maloley