Robert A. Hill: Person of the Year
Chicago Floorcovering Association
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Robert A. Hill Named Person of the Year
Robert A. Hill, founder and chairman of Floor Covering Associates, based in Shorewood, IL, was named the 2011 "Person of the Year" by the Chicago Floorcovering Association (CFA).
"Bob Hill has set the standard for our business," said Roger Tintner, speaking for the association. "He is a true leader."
"This is a special honor for me because the award comes from the friends and business associates I have been working with for years," said Hill, in accepting the award.
Bob Hill, founder of the company, opened his first FCA store on December 6, 1976. It was located in a cornfield outside Joliet, Illinois. The business was immediately successful. Within six months, he was able to open two more stores.
Today, FCA is one of the largest flooring retailers in the country. The company includes major retail centers in Shorewood, Naperville, Kankakee, Merrillville and St. Charles; a commercial division; an on-line store; the FCA Design Center which sells furniture and custom draperies; and the FCA Network, a nationwide buying group of independent retail stores that stretches from New Jersey to New Mexico.
"We've come a long way from that cornfield," says Bob Hill, "and the best part is that we still have an exciting future before us. There is lots of room for growth."
FCA was built around a new idea. At the time, most floor covering stores sold nothing but carpet. From the beginning, FCA stores sold carpet, ceramic tile and wood. What's more, the company focused not merely on retail customers, but also on home builders, contractors and commercial accounts, such as schools and hospitals.
New ideas are still at the core of the company's growth. For example, the FCA Network is not just a buying group, but a power connection for independent retailers that works in a new way. It leverages FCA's experience, sales strategies, marketing know-how, proprietary software and influence in the industrial marketplace. "It's smart strategies that continue to give our network dealers the competitive edge," says Hill.
Bob Hill is a major figure in the floor covering industry, highly respected for his leadership as well as his business accomplishments. He is a founding member and current Vice President of the National Floorcovering Alliance, a group of the largest floor covering retailers in America. In 2007, he served as Chairman of the World Floor Covering Association, the industry's major trade organization. He is frequently consulted by major manufacturers on industry issues. He has been honored with numerous industry awards, both local and national.
About Floor Covering Associates
Since 1976, FCA Flooring Specialists (FCA) has specialized in the supply and installation of flooring, carpets, hardwood, laminate, LVT, Bamboo, Ceramic tiles, and more to the southern and western suburbs of Chicago. Today, FCA a locally owned and managed company is one of the largest flooring retailers in the country. The company includes major retail centers in Shorewood IL, Naperville IL, Kankakee IL, Merrillville IN, and St. Charles, IL as well as a Design Center which sells furniture and draperies, a commercial division, and an online store.