It was while working as a floor installer that Anthony Thompson decided to start his own business. He’d become familiar with the main distributors and felt he could provide better service to customers as a store owner.
“The problem was that there didn’t seem to be any warranty standing behind these big distributors, so I decided to go and create my own line, my own brand.
Kings Flooring in Edmonton was born, with the KÖNIG luxury vinyl flooring its signature line. That store became known as Kings I (the KÖNIG Flooring Super Centre) when a second location, Kings II, was opened to satisfy demand for KÖNIG and other high-quality brands.
The recently-launched Cochrane store is Kings III. (Other locations include Morinville, Fort McMurray, Edson, Cold Lake, Fort Saskatchewan and Billings, Montana.
An Alberta-owned and family-operated business, Thompson points to the quality of its products as one reason for Kings’ success.
“We’ve developed six different types of vinyl plank flooring in 40 colours,” he says, pointing out that a homeowner can install a lower-wear layer of flooring upstairs and a higher-wear layer on the main level, all in the same colour.
“We demand quality from our manufacturing,” he says. “We’re really sailing with this line of products.”
A commitment to customer service is another of Kings’ not-so-secret keys to success. They have their own installers, which means they don’t have to include outsourcing in their pricing. Customers can also choose from loose lay or glue down vinyl, or Kings’ own Golden Age Click System, and those 40 colours are available no matter the method. Additionally, Cochrane’s seniors, veterans and first responders receive an automatic 10 per cent discount.
Kings III Flooring also has contractor-specific programs, and they wholesale to distributors. Quotes are free to everyone.
Noting the vibrancy of the city, Thompson says he’s excited to bring a Kings Flooring store to Cochrane.
“As it’s the fastest-growing place in Canada, it really has our attention,” he says. “We feel we’re going to be very successful here.”
Kings III Flooring can be found at 124 Charlesworth Ave in Cochrane and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. The store can be reached by calling (403) 688-8228, and more information about their products and services is available on their website.
