Today’s marketplace is changing rapidly and many LVT products that don’t feature cores are losing favor compared to products with rigid cores, according to Metroflor distributor Harvey Johnson of Mastercraft Flooring Distributors. He attributes this to the performance advantages of products like Engage Genesis and Aspecta Ten since they hide the negative telegraphing often seen with competing products. Johnson emphasized that Aspecta Ten and Engage Genesis have been successful additions to the company’s distribution line.
“We know core products are growing like crazy,” Johnson said. “Metroflor made the decision not to go with WPC but with their own proprietary composite core product, and it’s been a big boost and boom for us. One thing that typically happens in this industry is that after we come out with a product, we tend to downgrade the quality level for cost savings. Some of the WPC products we see on the street today are starting to exhibit indentation problems and pockmarks. By [Metroflor] creating products using ISOCORE Technology with a harder core, we’re not getting indentations in them, so we think we have a big advantage with these products.”
Retailer Bob Weinberger of RC Furniture Mart in Rapid City, S.D. said that the biggest selling points of the Engage Genesis LVT products are their various styles and designs, as well as being 100 percent waterproof, offering superior durability, ease of care and maintenance, and a quieter walk.
“These floors have been extremely popular,” Weinberger said. “The customers really like the multi-width options and can see and feel all the features and benefits of Engage Genesis. Customer response has been great in the form of referrals from family members, friends and co-workers.”