Tina Anderson, Tri-Co Floors
by Robert Simpson

Success in the fast-developing world of architectural concrete requires vision, versatility and persistence — challenges Tina Anderson, president of La Mesa, California-based Tri-Co Floors has met time and time again. Anderson's strategy to build her company by providing good customer service, employee training and product research and development has paid off handsomely. Under Anderson's guidance Tri-Co Floors has grown to become an innovative leader in specialty flooring.

Tri-Co Floor's early entry into the architectural concrete business demonstrates Anderson's ability to identify opportunities.

In 1985 while researching ways to lay resilient flooring for a customer plagued with poor concrete slabs, Tri-Co began investigating concrete toppings. Anderson soon realized the research on concrete toppings could also be applied to architectural concrete flooring. Following this line of thought, she increased the research budget and began investigating coloration and sealers.

Later that year Artflor,™ Tri-Co's architectural flooring system, was added to the product line. Since then Tri-Co Floors has never looked back-the company has grown into one of the largest architectural concrete flooring contractors in the country. Intent on expanding even more, earlier this year Tri-Co Flooring began licensing Artflor™ complete with training, product, marketing and technical support.

“The differences in the company since the 1980's are dramatic. While still maintaining the principles of a family run operation — honesty, good customer service and reliability — the business strategy is aimed at creating opportunities that provide long-term growth, diversification and profit,” says Anderson.

While creating new business opportunities Anderson has never lost sight of the basics and is quick to declare good customer service is the foundation the company has built its success upon. “Tri-Co's attitude is do whatever it takes to make the job right. It sounds corny but our reputation truly depends on it,” says Anderson.

A prime example of commitment to customer service is their response to a flooring problem at a 15,000 square-foot entertainment center and restaurant project in Guam. A couple of months after the project was complete Tri-Co received a call that the flooring was not holding up. They immediately sent a team of installers to Guam to investigate. What they discovered was that chairs in the facility had protective glides missing and the exposed screws were damaging the floor. “We had already agreed to make repairs to the owner at no additional cost, so we ate some of the costs, but kept a customer happy. Sometimes those are the sacrifices you have to make,” says Anderson.

Customer service impressed Penny Steward so much, she moved from the competition to join Tri-Co Floors. “I had done business with Tri-Co Floors for several years and knew the company's reputation. They try to do things correct, and they back their employees. I knew this was a company of good, moral people who do a good job the first time round. I think it is easier as a sales and marketing professional to develop long-term customer relationships when surrounded by people who take pride in satisfying customers, so when the opportunity to join the organization presented itself I jumped at it,” says Steward, sales and marketing manager.