Hicksville, N.Y.—After forming a joint venture, Bridgeway Media Group and the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA), ( FCNews, Dec. 12/19) have rolled out Creating Your Own Space. The Web-based and multimedia program was created to provide floor covering retailers with products and services to better market to consumers, specifically women.

Prior to Creating Your Space, the Internet provided flooring shoppers with manufacturer sites, complete with product images and specifications, noted Michael Vogel, Bridgeway’s president and CEO. However, there was very little in the way of tools to determine what products would meet the consumer’s specific needs, and even less in directing them where to go locally to find a particular product.

“The flooring industry has been slow to embrace the Internet evolution,” explained Vogel. “This program was designed to provide retailers with new tools to assist and service consumers online by positioning the floor covering category on par with other discretionary purchase items such as electronics, furniture and travel. Our goal is to empower flooring retailers through their membership in the WFCA with the resources to create a new shopping experience for their customers.”

“Our goal is to make it the number one site on the Internet,” said Chris Davis, WFCA’s president and CEO. “The compelling thing about it is that it will provide unbiased information on all types of floor covering. And, when you sign up with the program you become a member of the WFCA, if you’re not one already.

“We will be aggressively promoting Creating Your Space outside the membership as well, and members from the various buying groups can also participate,” he concluded.

To go along with The Creating Your Space program, retailers can take advantage of marketing and advertising campaigns, access to a spokesperson, online training and in-store kiosks.

For more on Bridgeway, call 415/339-6040.