Name: Reuben Gibson
Age: 27
Company: SFS Flooring Supplies
Job Title: Operations Manager
How did you get into the flooring industry?
I’ve been in the flooring industry for nearly 10 years now! I joined the family wholesale business in 2008.
What’s been the biggest change in the industry in the past 10 years?
Probably the need for speed – everyone one wants everything done quicker! Some great fast track products have come out over the past years and I guess there are more to come.
Looking forwards, what do you think will be the biggest change in the next 10 years?
There is certainly a growing trend towards hard flooring and people are moving away from carpet as a preference.
What’s the worst and best job you’ve been involved in?
It’s difficult to say the best and the worst; every day brings new challenges but so far, I’ve always managed to overcome them – I think! There is always a solution in every situation and that’s what we seek to offer our clients in everything we do.
Which products do you find to be particularly popular?
Fast track products are certainly most popular, as well as primer-less systems – anything that saves time and/or reduces the risk of potential problems on site.
What do you like best about the job?
Every day is different and I love the variety of the work, people, demands and products that I come across.
What is your least favourite thing about the job?
The struggle that I sometimes face to get hold of people – I often find that a lot of my time is consumed by chasing people up! Time is precious and things need to be done quickly, correctly and on time and when people don’t respond or do what they say they are going to, that makes a job a lot harder.