ICC Floors Plus Blog

2019 Color of the Year: Living Coral

March 25, 2019 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

Annually, Pantone, the global authority in colors, selects a new “Color of the Year.” Their select team of color experts travels the world to see what colors are up and coming and influential in marketing and design. The chosen color makes a high impact on many industries over the year. In fact, Pantone’s color choice influences many significant companies, and it is incorporated in modern merchandising, marketing, interior design, fashion, and much more. Knowing the “Color of the Year” can allow you to stay ahead in your home’s design as well as incorporate in commercial work. Let’s take a look at 2019’s Color of the Year:

Living Coral

2019’s Color of the Year is Living Coral. Living Coral is an energetic, “buoyant” color that can liven up any area while still complimenting passive, cool tones. It is referred to as a tangy-peach hue with golden undertones that evoke a powerful statement to any application.

Complementary Colors

Living Coral is a stimulating color that can pair well with other accompanying accent colors. As a warm tone, Living Coral pairs well with all of the other warm tones. You can try accompanying Living Coral with a Raspberry Red for a robust and spicy design. You can also move toward the cool tone family and choose a teal, navy, or turquoise to balance the space. While usually warm and cool tones can be paired with Living Coral to neutralize a space, these pairings are full of adventure, fun, and inspire an optimistic atmosphere.

Application

Pantone declared, “Just as coral reefs are a source of sustenance and shelter to sea life, vibrant, yet mellow, Pantone 16-1546, Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.” Applying this to your own space can help you stay up-to-date with modern colors as well as trends. It can be a great application to include in your business’ marketing or commercial space if you own your own business. If not, try incorporating Living Coral in your own home to bring new levels of energy into your own space.

The Color of the Year can be a great design addition. Pantone meticulously identifies a color that’s influence has the most significant impact on design that year. Have you seen this color used this year? How will you apply this trending color in your own space? We would love to hear from you! Comment below what you think about Living Coral.

Interview with Cam Haughey

March 22, 2019 by iccfloors 3 Comments

With the upcoming transition from ICC Floors to ICC Home, we wanted to feature a blog series on our showrooms’ remodel as well as our expansion to become your one-stop-shop for everything design related.

Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with Cam Haughey, Co-Owner, to discuss the upcoming changes and what consumers can expect. Here is what Cam had to say:

Q: How long have you been in this industry?

A: “I have really been in the industry all of my adult life. I started in 1998 after I graduated from IU in 1997, and Nate and I started Indianapolis Custom Carpentry in the fall of 1998 for a year then quickly switched to ICC Floors, and now we are transitioning to ICC Home to offer even more to consumers. Growing up, I had my own lawn mowing business, and that unleashed my entrepreneurial bug. Additionally, I worked for Nate’s dad in college where I got my first experience in the building industry.”

Q: What changes have you seen in the industry since you have started ICC?

A: “There have been the ‘obvious’ changes in products. Every year there has been massive shifts in technology and trends that evolve the products. When we first started in the business, we began as hardwood floor installers and really the only available pre-finished hardwood floor at that time was 2-1/4 ” wide and maybe 3-1/4″ wide in about five colors of oak, and that was all we laid all day, every day.

But now, it is few and far between to use any 3-1/4″ solid hardwood. I think the most significant change in the industry is the reduction and consolidation of the dealer base and the shift into larger retail–it is a harder industry to survive as a small ‘ma and pa’ shop. In order to sample products, you have to have a substantial showroom and product line for it to truly be a source for consumers.”

Q: What changes have you seen at ICC Floors since you have opened?

A: “Obviously, there has been a significant change in the number of people and the size, but one of the things that I am most proud of is the ability to manage our growth, put systems in place and have those systems evolve. I feel like our structures and systems are far better now than they have ever been. These necessary structural and system changes have helped us evolve from Indianapolis Custom Carpentry to ICC Floors and now ICC Home.”

Q: What excites you about the remodel and transition to ICC Home?

A: “It is exciting to be embarking upon this new challenge, and it has been something that we have wanted to do for a long time. It makes complete sense–we feel it adds value for our customers. The showroom specifically excites me because we have been getting all of the kinks out by building strong relationships with cabinets suppliers, setting systems in place, and gathering our bearings to build this awesome showroom to knock it out the park. I am excited to finally have one of the best first-class kitchen and bath cabinet showrooms in the city. The remodel in relation to flooring is exciting because we are categorizing our design products by styles rather than brands to make the design process easier on the customer. We are providing our own custom displays so we can display it and make it easier, quicker and more user-friendly.”

Q: Why are you expanding/transitioning to ICC Home?

A: “I think ‘ICC Floors’ is no longer an accurate description of who we are and what we do. We had to find a name that reflected all of the products that we offered. We also wanted to emphasize that we are not just ‘dipping our toes in the water;’ we are serious and we are committed to it. These cabinets are not a sideshow for us; they are going to be a primary portion of our business. It is go-time for us!”

Q: What is ICC Home’s goal?

A: “There are four main components to ICC Home’s goal:

Provide a professional and relaxed atmosphere where we will showcase the highest quality products at honest prices.
Employ, train, and continually educate the best people in the business to facilitate your project.
Keep up with the latest marketplace design trends to best serve you, the customer.
Deliver the best possible service, from when you first walk through the door until your project is complete.”

Q: How will ICC Home better serve the customer?

A: “Currently, our customer base, especially those focusing on newer construction properties, are picking out cabinets while they are selecting floors. Since we understand that customers cannot ‘buy time,’ we wanted to capitalize on their ability to design in one place, not drag samples back and forth, and give them some of that ‘time’ back to spend with their families and friends and enjoy their newly designed home. And same goes for our builders, time is money for them–the less they are running around, and the more we consolidate and make their lives easier, the more profitable they can become with efficiency and retention.”

Q: Why are you passionate about the concept of ICC Home?

A: “I get really excited about new stuff–any new endeavor, new challenge is exciting. The ability to embark upon this new challenge excites me. I also get excited about building that portion of our business as well as make life easier on the consumer. I get excited as we continue to build up our offerings and showroom, see all of these changes, see the new, qualified staff that come onboard, and it opens a bunch of doors for us as far as being able to be more important to our current customers. It is just one more thing that sets us apart from other service providers.”

Q: Where do you hope to see the company in 10 years?

A: “I would like to see our Westfield store up and running and be more significant. In ten years, have it be a stand-alone building that we own or more a significant footprint in the Westfield community–something closer to what we have at Castleton. I would like to see ICC in other markets and launch our presence in other communities. Additionally, I think we would like to integrate different products that make sense in the home design–we are definitely not done adding product lines.”

This concludes our employee interview blog series, and we would like to say a special thank you to each of the employees who took the time to speak with us. If you missed last week’s interview with Blake, you can view it here.

Interview with Blake Powell

March 15, 2019 by iccfloors 1 Comment

**Blake M. Powell; Director of Marketing & Training**

Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with Blake Powell, Director of Marketing & Training, to discuss the upcoming changes and what consumers can expect. Here is what Blake had to say:

Q: How long have you been in this industry?

A: “In a sense, I have been in the industry all my life. My father, who now runs our Cabinet Division, taught us young. He owned a few construction/remodeling companies, so we were always helping him with various projects. I spent most of my summers, throughout high school and college, working for him in different facets. The experience was invaluable, and I am very grateful.”

Q: What changes have you seen in the industry since you have been at ICC?

A: “I have been with ICC for just over three years, and have seen digital printing play a massive role in the industry. The latest craze is Luxury Vinyl products. The manufacturers are able to use digital printing to produce incredibly realistic products, such as a vinyl plank that looks like wood. Most people cannot even delineate real wood from a wood-looking product unless they actually bend down and touch it.”

Q: What changes have you seen at ICC Floors since you have opened?

A: “The most significant change I have seen since I have been here is the massive growth. I believe we were about a 16 million dollar company when I first started, and last year we did 33 million in sales. Another significant change is all the new faces around here. There have been probably 25-30 new hires since I started.”

Q: What excites you about the remodel and transition to ICC Home?

A: “What excites me the most about the remodel is finally being able to showcase what we can offer to our clients. What excites me about the ICC Home transition, especially in regards to marketing, is that we can finally communicate that we are so much more than flooring.”

Q: Why are you expanding/transitioning to ICC Home?

A: “We are transitioning to ICC Home out of necessity. We have done ourselves a great injustice by not having our brand aligned with our offerings. When we are fully transitioned, people will recognize ICC as a leader in not simply flooring and tile, but in cabinets, countertops, paint, and window treatments.”

Q: What is ICC Home’s goal?

A: “There are four main components to ICC Home’s goal:

Provide a professional and relaxed atmosphere where we will showcase the highest quality products at honest prices.
Employ, train, and continually educate the best people in the business to facilitate your project.
Keep up with the latest marketplace design trends to best serve you, the customer.
Deliver the best possible service, from when you first walk through the door until your project is complete.”

Q: How will ICC Home better serve the customer?

A: “A significant component of the ICC Home rebrand is time. Before, our customers would have to run around town going from place to place to make the majority of their big selections. Then when those decisions were made and the project started, they would have to try and coordinate when each company would start and finish and how all the different companies would work together to make things run smoothly and with no delays. Now, our customers can come into one showroom and select everything. Then they can have the peace of mind knowing that only one company will be in their home during the entire project.”

Q: Why are you passionate about the concept of “ICC Home”?

A: “My passion is rooted in the fact that we are on the road to becoming a one-stop-shop. ICC Home will provide homeowners with a place to select the floors where their kids and pets will play, the cabinets where their family dishes will be stored, the countertops where their family meals will take place, and the paint that will withstand the creative imagination of their five-year old with a crayon.”

Q: Where do you hope to see the company in 10 years?

A: “First, I hope to deliver on everything that was outlined above successfully. Second, I hope to see us expand our offerings – possibly faucets, home automation, doors, etc. as well as open more locations throughout the state and surrounding states.”

A special thank you to Blake for sharing his thoughts with us. If you missed our previous interview, where we sat down with Jeanne Cleek, be sure to check it out here. Thanks for reading, and we will see you next week!

ICC Home’s Showroom Redesign

March 9, 2019 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

This week, we are taking a break from our employee Q&A series to focus on our showroom’s upcoming redesign. If you are anything like us, you are probably eagerly awaiting the transition from ICC Floors to ICC Home. With our upcoming transition, we will have a completely redesigned showroom. Our hope is to provide consumers with a one-stop-shop for everything home improvement. From cabinets to floors to countertops and window coverings, ICC Home hopes to be your chosen design retailer.

With the remodel underway, we wanted to focus on the fact that ICC Home is so much more than simply a “flooring store.” Our goal is to make the design process easy on the customer. Whether you are starting from the beginning and need step-by-step guidance or know exactly what you need, ICC Home’s new showroom will give you a quick, efficient, and joyful shopping experience. We plan to take the “fear” out of decorating. Since we will be a one-stop-shop, we hope to provide you with ease of mind, and you will never have to worry about miscommunication and delays with different contractors in order to have a seemingly beautiful transition during each design step.

While at ICC Home’s new showroom, you will notice that the design process is very meticulous. We did this because we wanted to showcase every bit of our product line for the client to see. From cabinet vignettes to countertops to flooring, all of our products work together in order to show you different styles and design trends in the industry. With our new showroom layout, you can take the guesswork out of a redesign/remodel. We wanted to create a process that included great attention to detail while all being in one place. When you walk into our newly designed showroom, you can say “I want that” and instantly select which design elements you love from our established room scenes.

We are still open during the redesign, and we cannot wait to welcome you to our new showroom. We look forward to assisting you and making your dreams a reality. Thank you for reading, and be sure to check back next week for our continuation of the Q&A blog series.

Interview with Jeanne Cleek

February 26, 2019 by iccfloors 3 Comments

Today, we spoke with Jeanne Cleek, ICC Home Bookkeeper, to discuss the upcoming changes and what consumers can expect. Here is what Jeanne had to say:

Q: How long have you been in this industry?

A: “I have been with the company for 15 years.”

Q: What changes have you seen in the industry since you have opened?

A: “With all the DIY programs that have become so popular, homeowners feel empowered to do more of the work of remodeling themselves. Because of that, they are looking for a company that can help them with everything they need to do a complete job. In light of those changes, adding employees who are strong in design, gives ICC the edge because it is just another service we can offer.”

Q: What changes have you seen at ICC Floors since you have opened?

A: “Unbelievable growth. Owner’s that have their fingers on the pulse of the industry and have made the necessary changes to make sure that the company stays relevant. They have done such a good job of it that we need to re-brand the company so that all the potential customers out there know the best place to come for all your remodeling needs would be ICC!”

Q: What excites you about the remodel and transition to ICC Home?

A: “I think I am as excited as I hope all the customers that are familiar with ICC Floors are because we have a beautiful new showroom that will showcase cabinets and so much more. Every day I have to go and see what has been added. There are so many new and interesting materials, colors, etc. out there that people have no idea. With the expanded showroom at ICC, they will get to see them in a way that will make it easy for them to picture it in their home. They will see the latest styles. Not only in cabinets but in tiles, wood, carpet. There are just so many new exciting changes to the industry in general and ICC is right there making sure the customer has access to all those new, exciting changes and additions.”

Q: Why are you expanding/transitioning to ICC Home?

A: “It is absolutely necessary! If we stay with ICC Floors, we will be selling ourselves short. A customer will see the name and make the assumption that all we have to offer is floors. We are SO MUCH MORE! We have paint, blinds, shower doors, cabinets, it goes on and all. We have to open ourselves up to the public in a way that they will grasp that we are a real one-stop-shop for all your remodeling or new home building needs.”

Q: What is ICC Home’s goal?

A: “To be THE PLACE for customers to come and find everything they need to take the picture in their mind of that beautiful new floor, new room, new home and make it happen in a manageable and exciting way. We have the design staff, the sales staff, the service staff, the administrative staff… we have it all.”

Q: How will ICC Home better serve the customer?

A: “The customer will come here and find everything they need. We have examples of all the latest and greatest materials that are being used today. We are a very fluid company that has grown with the industry in a way that has kept us at the forefront of the industry. We will never be “stale” because we are constantly updating and reviewing all the materials – all the latest and greatest and we bring them right here to the store for everyone to be able to see them in a great environment.”

Q: Where do you hope to see the company in 10 years?

A: “It is impossible to stop us 😊. We will be in different states! I see ICC as a leader in this industry.”

Thank you, Jeanne, for taking the time to talk with us about the upcoming transition at ICC Home. If you missed last week’s interview with Dave, click here to view it. Thanks for reading, and we will see you next week!

Interview with Dave Reiff

February 20, 2019 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Reiff, Chief Operations Officer, to discuss the upcoming changes and what consumers can expect. Here is what Dave had to say:

Q: How long have you been in this industry?

A: “I grew up working for the family home building & remodeling business in northern Indiana, but after getting my degree in construction management from Purdue, I have been working in the Indy market in both the commercial and residential sectors for over 20 years, primarily on the builder/general contractor side. I then made the leap over to the flooring and interior finishes arena two years ago when I joined the ICC team.”

Q: What changes have you seen in the industry since you have been at ICC?

A: “Styles definitely change over time. I have noticed recently that luxury vinyl is taking over a lot of the hard flooring space, as well as wider floor and wall plank sizes, and larger format tile up to 3’x10’, and frameless full overlay, contemporary cabinetry looks are becoming very popular as of late. However, regardless of style, customers definitely continue to focus on value, quality, and durability when it comes to the finish materials in their home or work space.”

Q: What changes have you seen at ICC Floors since you have opened?

A: “One word – growth. We have diversified from just a residential flooring store and made huge strides into the commercial and multi-family sectors as well as expanded our non-flooring product offerings of cabinetry, countertops, paint, and window treatments.”

Q: What excites you about the remodel and transition to ICC Home?

A: “Updating our product displays is always exciting, everybody likes to see new styles, but more importantly, I think being able to properly showcase our kitchen and bath turnkey product offerings is really going to make for a better customer buying experience and expand our sales.”

Q: Why are you expanding/transitioning to ICC Home?

A: “We feel there is continued demand in the market for one-stop-shop interior products and installation. Builders & contractors appreciate the economies of scale and simplification of bundling products together from one source and homeowners looking to renovate like the turnkey interior renovation option we can provide. As part of our growth strategy, it was a logical step to expand on our solid flooring business into these products and services to further diversify ICC’s revenue sources.”

Q: What is ICC Home’s goal?

A: “Become the premier turnkey interior products store in Indianapolis.”

Q: How will ICC Home better serve the customer?

A: “It is all about our staff. When you walk into an ICC store, we strive to provide a professional and relaxed atmosphere showcasing the highest quality products. Our expert staff is up to date with the latest marketplace design trends and here to help you from when you walk in until your project is complete. The big box stores cannot offer the continuity and expertise you will find at ICC Home.”

Q: Where do you hope to see the company in 10 years?

A: “I see us as the premier turnkey interior products store in Indianapolis with further expanded product offerings including plumbing fixtures, lighting, home automation, etc. We will duplicate our Castleton store experience in other submarkets within Indianapolis to better serve the entire metro area and expand beyond Indianapolis.”

A special thank you to Dave for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to come back next week where we will sit down with another ICC Home employee to discuss the upcoming transition. If you missed last week’s with Kristyn, you can view it here.