Park City, UT (June 25, 2025) — The 28th annual Alliance Flooring Convention was held in Park City, Utah, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, June 16-20. Themed Family Vacation, members came together to learn, network, share ideas, and see new merchandising and product introductions, including new Perfect Home updates and give input to help shape a new category – Perfect Home Hardwood.
Kevin Logue & Ryan Dunn
The Perfect Home Selling Solution was launched at the 2023 Austin, TX convention and all 50 sets immediately sold out.
“The first 50 who took it on were pioneers with taking the vision we had,” Co-President and CEO, Ryan Dunn shared with attendees. Currently, 72 members have brought on Perfect Home with the goal being 100 members. “Of the 72 Perfect Home dealers, it’s evenly split between the East Coast and West Coast,” Dunn added.
The program rolled out in phases. Phase 1 was carpet which shipped in September 2023. Then LVP, PVC-Free, and Laminate rolled out in Phase 2 in July 2024. Now comes Phase 3 which is hardwood, to be launched in 2026. Perfect Home members gathered on Tuesday morning to provide input and kick off the Perfect Home Hardwood Showcase. Co-Presidents and CEOs, Ryan Dunn and Kevin Logue shared what this showcase was to accomplish.
Logue asked members to provide specific feedback to help shape the Perfect Home Hardwood program. He said, “We need to hear from you and what you want so we can make this as effective a program as possible. Answers to questions such as, which suppliers do you want, what species do you sell most, and what constructions are selling for you.”
Members give input about Perfect Home hardwood
He also shared national trends in hardwood and added that there would be 15 minute supplier stations set up where they would review styles from several potential hardwood suppliers. Additionally he said that he and Ryan would have a station where members could provide that critical input to help them shape the program so it would be most effective in the field for them.
The stage is set, Logue stated, for hardwood to make a comeback. “Wood continues to take share — the timing for what we’re doing here is perfect,” Logue said.
On Tuesday afternoon, we held a Women in the Floor covering Industry (WIFI) roundtable meeting, moderated by Mallory Cruise McGrath, Senior Managing Editor of Floor Covering Weekly. WIFI’s mission is to attract, engage, educate, and empower women in the floor covering industry. A few of the topics were:
- Ways to Lean on Alliance Flooring: Available resources and how to look to the group for growth
- Staying Steady in a Down Market
- Breaking New Ground: Entering new categories and markets
- Generational Success: Expertly passing or grabbing the baton
- Tech Tools: Where it helps and where it hurts
WIFI Roundtable Meeting
Wednesday began with the Opening Session. Logue shared the Past, Present and Future of the Perfect Home program. He said, “You are a part of the hottest thing going in flooring. Thank you for helping us build this.” For the ‘Past’ he shared results from the first year of sales. “It’s been a resounding success.” For the ‘Present,’ Logue added, “We’re seeing great results and interesting facts that will help us shape and update what we have in the field.” The ‘Future’ includes Phase 3 which is Perfect Home Hardwood.
The morning proceeded with speakers John Callahan, Karndean’s National Accounts Manager for Buying Groups, Ben Hillman, Shaw’s Vice President of Buying Groups, and Brett Miller, NWFA’s Vice President, Technical Standards, Education, and Membership. Each shared some great information with members.
The afternoon session was filled with helpful information about the economy from Steve Jermier, Wells Fargo’s Senior Vice President of Relationship Management and Nicole Cervi, Economist from Wells Fargo. Nicole addressed subjects such as tariffs, spending growth, labor markets, and mortgage rates. She shared that the economic fundamentals are solid and while we may see continued soft sales in Q3 and Q4 she expects growth to pick up in 2026, especially if the Fed cuts rates like she thinks they will later this year by 50-75 basis points.
Ron Dunn
For Thursday’s closing session, Ron Dunn, co-founder and former co-CEO of Alliance Flooring, was tapped to bring the keynote address about ‘Leadership’. He began by saying, “I want to acknowledge you have lead through some tough times these last three years; you’ve lead through inflation, rising wages, and a labor shortage of skilled installers.”
Ron added, “The hardest person to lead is yourself. Self leadership is the key to influence. You cannot have sustained performance without self leadership.” He continued, “To be the best leader you can be, you have to decide you will prioritize you you value most over what you want now. Decide to not lie to yourself, just be honest and take inventory. It’s very difficult to lead yourself by yourself so always get input from trusted sources.” He went on to add some wise pointers to help you be an exceptional leader:
- Embrace the cumulative IQ
- Ask great questions
- Remain inquisitive
- Never stop learning
- Champion networking
New CarpetsPlus COLORTILE merchandising introductions were shared next by Logue which included both carpet and hard surface offerings. A total of 10 new displays and updates were shown.
Will Young, Senior Vice President of Residential Sales for Engineered Floors, closed out the speaker lineup for the day. He stated that headwinds almost always have tailwinds. He shared that homes are in a headwind right now experiencing historic inventory lows and that 90% of sales are new homes. Multifamily replacement has really dropped of because people are staying in apartments longer waiting to move into a home when they can afford it. But a bright spot is in new apartment buildings.
According to Young, the outlook for Remodel and Retail Market includes these points:
- Soft business conditions across all retail segments
- Solution dyed polyester continues to take share
- Domestic supply gets the spotlight
- Visual product enhancements take center stage because consumers look at colors and what it looks like
Kevin Logue sharing product introductions
Dunn and Logue took the stage to give a few instructions to members before going into the Exhibit Hall and letting them know what they would see and any new suppliers to visit. They also introduced a unique supplier of custom medallions and motifs made by a master Karndean installer, Travis Robison of Robison Design Flooring, who just happens to also be a member. He has developed a way to create and sell these custom creations exclusively to the Alliance Flooring group.
The energy was electric with members swarming the space to go see all the new products and suppliers. Artivo, Galleher, Stanton, Cain & Bultman, Marquis, Floorzap, and Tech Stain-X were new suppliers in attendance.
After Exhibit Hall, there were prize drawings for those who purchased during the event. Member Dave Lee, owner, COLORTILE & Carpet in Salem, OR, won a free trip for two to next year’s convention. This is the third time he has won this trip!
Retailer of the Year, Don, Laurie, and Jon Cantor
The Awards Banquet was held Friday night and here are the winners:
- Gold Record Award Winners – Members who purchased over $1 million through the program
- Platinum Record Award Winners – Members who purchased over $2 million through the program
- Highest Sales Increase – John Coleman, Carpetland USA Grand Junction, CO
- Highest Sales Increase – Marc and Troy Bryan, Bryan Flooring, Des Moines, IA
- Highest Sales Increase – Missy Bakken, CarpetsPlus of Rochester, MN
- Retail Sales Associate of the Year – Jon Cantor, Lake Interiors, Chelan, WA
- Retail Sales Associate of the Year – Josh Adams, Cleveland Carpets and Floors, Griffin, GA
- New Member of the Year – Todd Wheelis, COLORTILE of Medford, OR
- New Member of the Year – Adam and Mary Wilson, CarpetsPlus Flooring Designs, Steamboat Springs, CO
- Perfect Home Member of the Year – Josh Elder, Gainesville CarpetsPlus COLORTILE, Gainesville, FL
- Perfect Home Supplier of the Year – Engineered Floors
- Member’s Choice Supplier of the Year – Karndean
- Supplier of the Year Soft Surface – Shaw Floors
- Supplier of the Year Hard Surface – Mohawk
- Retailer of the Year – Don Cantor, Lake Interiors, Chelan, WA
Members were also able to have a fun during some downtime participating in activities such as bobsledding at Utah Olympic Park, fly fishing, UTV riding, and simple relaxation around the resort. One member remarked, “These are the best activities we’ve ever had at any convention.”
