Joliet, Ill. - A recent study conducted by Consumer Reports® found that a majority of consumers were more highly satisfied with remodeling contractors employed or recommended by a local independent store than they were with contractors employed or recommended by Home Depot and Lowe's (read a summary of the report here).

The results were gathered from a survey of 13,000 consumer remodeling experiences, which generally involved an addition to or remodeling of a bathroom, kitchen, deck, siding, roofing, windows or doors. Contractors employed or recommended by a local independent store received the highest overall reader score, over contractors chosen by the reader, employed or recommended by manufacturers, and employed or recommended by Home Depot/Expo Design Center and Lowe's.

According to the report, "Contractors not affiliated with home centers scored higher in the quality of workmanship and materials, speed of work, communication skills, and ability to keep costs down than those from Home Depot or Lowe's."

"These findings reflect very positively on our company," said Bob Hill, President. "Here at FCA, we have always been committed to hiring and training our own installers in order to provide the best customer service possible. This study from Consumer Reports, a trusted source of information for millions of consumers, now substantiates the value of what we've been doing at FCA for 30 years."

Floor Covering Associates, Inc. was founded in 1976 by owner Robert Hill as a single-location carpet store with only two employees. More than thirty years later, FCA has grown to become one of the largest floor covering businesses in the country, with seven locations in the Chicagoland area and a nation-wide buying group of more than 50 privately owned flooring stores, known as FCA Network. FCA offers a high quality selection of carpeting, hardwood, tile, laminate and stone flooring. FCA also offers home interior design services at the Naperville-based FCA Design Center. For more information, please visit www.fcainc.com

Joliet, Ill. - Answering the growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible building materials, FCA Network is introducing its GreenAdvantAGE™ brand of flooring products comprised of materials manufactured, procured, or generated from renewable, recycled, or recyclable resources.

"FCA Network is taking the lead among flooring retailers to make environmentally responsible flooring materials easily accessible to concerned consumers," said Olga Robertson, FCA Network CEO. "Any product, whether carpet, hardwood or laminate, that bears the GreenAdvantAGE™ brand is guaranteed to consist of materials that have been manufactured through processes that conserve natural resources and reduce air, water, and solid waste pollution. Or, the products consist of naturally occurring resources that are easily renewed such as wool, cork, and bamboo. "

Several GreenAdvantAGE™ carpets have a cradle-to-cradle recycling story, consisting of backing and fiber recycled from previously-used carpet. In addition, the brand includes carpet made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, or P.E.T resins.

Working with leading manufacturers Shaw and Mohawk, FCA Network is creating a new standard for conservation in the flooring industry. "By offering these products at competitive price points, we are making it possible for environmentally conscious consumers to participate in protecting our natural resources and making the earth a cleaner, healthier place for future generations," said Robertson.

GreenAdvantAGE™ brand products are sold exclusively at FCA and FCA Network flooring retailers, and are available to both builder and retail customers.

FCA Network was founded in 1997 to provide independent flooring retailers with improved merchandising benefits and networking advantages with retailers in other markets. FCA Network membership enables dealers to offer a wide variety of high quality flooring products from the top manufacturers and receive special benefits available to large-scale retailers. FCA Network headquarters are based in Shorewood, IL at the FCA, Inc. corporate office. For more information, visit www.fcanetwork.com

Robert A. Hill, who built a group of floor covering businesses from a single store in suburban Chicago to a $100 million-plus operation today, takes over as Chairman of the Board of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) on July 1.

He is initiating a program for the association that "is not business-as-usual. This is a unique time in our industry," says Hill, "a time that creates an opportunity for this organization to grow in membership, resources and services. It is a time when we can make a difference by simplifying a complicated world."

"Unlike most trade associations, the WFCA has the financial resources to back its initiatives," the new leader observes. "The sale of the 'Surfaces' show for $45 million in 2000 has made it possible for us to undertake programs that can make a difference, not only for our members, but also for consumers. We have the resources to deliver on our promises."

Among the programs that will debut this year is a $1 million-plus WFCA website directed to the general public which will be a national clearinghouse for high quality consumer information on how to select, purchase and care for all types of floor covering. "It's designed to be truly helpful, to de-mystify the whole buying process, and to make decisions easier. It will also enable consumers to find local WFCA dealers and members who are WFCA-certified flooring experts."

Hill notes that the 3,000-member WFCA is "the only place where every segment of the floor-covering industry can come together-not only retailers, but manufacturers, distributors, installers and members of the related service industries -for information and ideas that will create a stronger business future."

Hill plans to emphasize the strengths of the organization to expand membership during his term in office. "Our members benefit from access to unbiased information on everything from new installation techniques and creative problem- solving to the latest consumer behavior marketing research. Our certification program enables members who qualify by taking a test to call themselves WFCA-certified flooring experts, thus giving them a distinction in the marketplace."

Hill is the founder and Chairman of Floor Covering Associates, Inc., a Midwest-based group of businesses which include a chain of floor-covering centers, a home-furnishings and design center and the national FCA-Network of stores in more than 40 states. He is a national leader in the industry, who also serves on the board of the National Floorcovering Alliance. Hill has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the Chicago Floorcovering Association's "Retailer of the Year."

Born and raised in northern California, Hill is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. He began his career in floor covering with his first job, as a mill contract salesman in San Francisco. He is has four children, Vicki and Miranda Hill and Jonathan and Alison Flaum. He and his wife, Thea, live in Chicago.

Hill takes over as WFCA Chairman from Aaron Pirner, CEO of Cap Carpet, Inc. of Wichita, KS.

Chris Davis continues as President and CEO of the association, a post he has held since 1994.

Joliet, Ill. - When Joliet resident Olga Robertson graduated from high school, she accomplished something much more substantial than a diploma; she achieved the perfect attendance award for not missing a single day of school from kindergarten to senior year. Later in life, that same high level of commitment and strong work ethic led to Robertson recently being named among the 20 most influential women in the flooring industry by Floor Covering News, a national flooring trade publication.

"It is a great honor to be included in this list among industry pioneers such as Rose Blumkin and Shirley Lorberbaum," said Robertson. "They were exceptional women who paved the way for other women such as myself to be successful in the flooring industry."

An FCA employee for 29 years, Robertson advanced from scheduler to president and CEO of FCA Network, a national buying group of flooring retailers. "Olga has been an extraordinary asset to FCA since her first day on the job," said FCA President Bob Hill. "Her integrity and visionary approach to business have helped FCA develop into the successful company it is today."

Born in Naples, Italy, Robertson has been a resident of Joliet since age two when her parents came to America to seek a better life for their family. She credits her work ethic to her parents, who taught her early in life that hard work was the only path to great achievements. Robertson is also a graduate of the Joliet Catholic Academy.

Floor Covering Associates, Inc. was founded in 1976 by owner Robert Hill as a single-location carpet store with only two employees. Thirty years later, FCA has grown to become one of the largest floor covering stores in the country, with seven locations in the Chicago-land area and a nation-wide network of more than 50 privately owned flooring stores. Based in Shorewood, Illinois, FCA offers a high quality selection of carpeting, hardwood, tile, laminate and stone flooring from national brands including Mohawk, Shaw and Mannington. FCA also offers home interior design services at the Naperville-based Design Center. For more information, please visit www.fcainc.com