For business owners, John and Catherine Bannister, the move completes what has been a very busy year for the family business.
“It’s certainly been a busy year” says John. “Just like families, the flooring industry is constantly changing, the selections now available when it comes to the style, colour or material for your floor are vast and our move into new showroom has been designed to allow everyone to fully appreciate the vast array.”
Located at 16d Wrightson Way, Pukekohe, in the Pukekohe Mega Centre, the Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom will be open from January the 6th, Monday through Friday 8.30am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm. It is spacious, bright and modern, with ample car parking available.
Family means everything to John and Catherine and family values are firmly behind the successful operation of JB’s Flooring Xtra, operating in their local Franklin area.
John has a wealth of experience in theindustry, having completed his apprenticeship upon leaving school as a carpet layer, and continuing in the industry while Catherine, involved in several office administration and accounts roles cared for their family as they grew. After several successful house renovation projects requiring budgeting, planning and organisational skills, and a lot of hard yaker, the skills they each brought to the projects complemented each other so well, it just made sense to go into business together.
“As a stay at home DIY mum, I tended to scare John a little as he never knew if I would have moved a wall or not or what project was going to be started next when he got home’ laughs Catherine.
With all four kids all grown up, and in the work force, John and Catherine embarked on their new business journey with Flooring Xtra. They believe there is a huge benefit in both choice and buying power by belonging to New Zealand’s largest flooring retail brand allowing customers to have access to a huge selection of carpet and hard surface coverings at competitive prices.
It wasn’t long before one by one, the children came into the business and have grown confidentially into their own roles, each of them learning about and excelling in their chosen areas. Their eldest Kylie leads the sales team, and excels in commercial, tender works and building company projects. Damian second in line came on board to learn and assist with the installations - and is now running his own company DJs Flooring Ltd (contracted to JB’s Flooring Xtra,) Third is Laura who handles all accounts roles, health and safety and assists the sales team and then finally Grant, who as he journeyed through the three years of training through the Apprentice scheme, was awarded both the Stage 3 Apprentice of the year along with the Overall Supreme Apprentice of the Year, at the BCITO Flooring awards in his final year.
All of these achievements are a great reflection on John and Catherine’s supportive guidance in the various roles. A strong sense of family, supporting each other and with each individual striving for the best has made for a very successful family unit.
Along with immediate family members working in the business John and Catherine are lucky to have other family working with them, their flooring family, their wider team and contractors.
“Without our ‘JB’s family members’ we would not have a business and it is the combination and contribution of everyone that enables us to give our customers the very best possible experience from start to finish.” points out Catherine with John nodding enthusiastically.
Fortunate to have such a large work family, both John and Catherine are now blessed with the growing number of the next generation of family members – the Grandies, five in total to date. They bring many times, of just pure laughter and joy and offer a respite from the busy hustle of the demands of running a business, along with their favourite pastime, being out on the water and fishing.
While phenomenal housing growth continues around the district and helps to keep Flooring Xtra busy, John says the bulk of their work is in refurbishing existing homes, retail and commercial buildings. They’re happy to handle the big jobs, but as a family firm they’re equally happy to deal with smaller jobs and assist people where they can with any remedial work.
Showcased in the showroom are leading brands such as Cavalier Bremworth including the exclusive Bremworth Collection, Norman Ellison, Victoria Carpets, Godfrey Hirst, Feltex, Quick Step and Karndean to name a few. Carpet has come a long way and the team at Flooring Xtra have plenty to choose from, guiding you though the process with their extensive knowledge from years in the flooring business.
Hard flooring is available too, including cork tiles, bamboo, laminates, timber, engineered wood, vinyl plank and the ever-popular luxury looselay vinyl planks and tiles. Sheet vinyl comes in many different styles and patterns.
“Flooring has changed over the years and we pride ourselves on keeping up with the trends whether it be natural or synthetic carpet, or hard flooring; It is possible to get any look you like – rustic wood, concrete, textured, geometric patterns, tile, even a leather look.” says John.
Whatever your final flooring decision, JB’s Flooring Xtra Pukekohe are available to assist you from start to finish with your next flooring project, from a free measure and quote through to final installation. The Flooring Xtra website enables people to view different flooring options in their own time. The Look book, an inspiration guide, is also available in store or online. They offer finance with Q Card and have instore and nationwide specials running regularly.
“Flooring is more than just something you walk on,” says Catherine. “It helps create the atmosphere in the home, and it is our mission to make sure the selection you make fits in with your style and budget to get an end result that you are more than happy with for years to come. Along with flooring our lives are forever changing – life is only going to get busier with great times to come.”