Page 3 - March 2024 SRG Flipbook

Slippery Rock Gazette
FloForm
Continued from page 2
“But these days, there are so many issues going around in stone fabrication, I finally did agree, and don’t think that hands-on fabrication experience is as important for leadership today, as I did back then.”
According to Sherritt, one big issue these days is silica in the workplace, and how shops that are dry cutting and grinding are giving OSHA-compliant wet shops a bad name. Sherritt has taken on this problem by leveraging his ISFA and NSI experience as well as his long-time associations within the industry. No one knows the saying, “There’s Power In Numbers” better than Sherritt, and he’s gearing up lead the ISFA in support of the stone fabrication commu- nity, as well as hold the media accountable for presenting the facts around silica accu- rately. (We will present more on the topic of Silica Safety Education in the May Slippery Rock Gazette.)
FloForm annual charity golf tourna- ment benefits the Autism Society.
The Difference is in the Service
FloForm’s many markets have changed so abruptly from solid surface and post- formed since 2000, that hard surfaces such as granite, porcelain and engineered stone are currently 85% of the company’s sales, by dollars spent. “We were just plastic lam- inate back in the day, and then solid surface until the market for Corian got replaced by hard surfaces. But today, engineered stone is 60% of our market and the domi- nant product. It is, in my opinion, the per- fect countertop material, and if we weren’t selling hard surface products, we wouldn’t be here today.”
About 80% of their work is residential, while serving builders, big box stores and kitchen and bath dealers. Commercial also plays a large part in the company’s very diversified customer base, markets and materials. They sell sinks and faucets, but
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FloForm Kent branch install teams.
no cabinets due to avoiding any conflict with kitchen and bath dealers. According to Sherritt, FloForm buys mostly its sur- face materials from local distributors, due to the distant span of its seven locations, which covers all of western Canada and a huge swath of the Pacific Northwest and mountain West regions in the USA. This expansive business model is also one of the company’s biggest advantages.
“Our geographic footprint is a huge asset. We cover Costco, Home Depot, Rona and Lowe’s in these regions, and offer a diverse selection of materials. Another is the full service we offer. We do countertop and plumbing removal and then install, includ- ing the sink, which we get in quantity from BB Industries, and backsplash and follow- up warranty services. So we’re really a one stop-shop for the retail homeowner in a remodel. That’s why our Costco custom- ers love us, because we come to their house on Tuesday morning, and by Tuesday night they have a brand-new-looking kitchen. Those are our three unique differences from other fabricators.”
Closing Words
There is no doubt that FloForm will con- tinue to grow; mergers and acquisitions are in Sherritt’s DNA. “I’m a Chartered Business Valuator, and we know what cash flow looks like, we understand ratios and working capital. There are lots of people who are great fabricators, but don’t have that kind of business acumen. We don’t take advantage, but do understand how we can buy something and add value and make it worth more quickly.”
For more information, please visit www. floform.com.
Ted Sherritt (left) ) alongside fellow FloForm employees at the FLoForm Annual Golf Tournament.
Below: Dekton Trillium provides a visual contrast in this under-bar space installed in the Kent, Washington showroom. Bottom: Carrara Morro kitchen.