Reassure Customers—and Boost Margins—with Protection Plans
With tariffs, inflation, and global supply chain challenges still disrupting the retail landscape, flooring retailers are no strangers to rising costs. Tariffs on imported goods and raw materials have driven up prices, making it harder to maintain healthy profit margins—and even harder to close big-ticket sales with hesitant customers.
But here’s the good news: while tariffs may affect the cost of flooring products, they don’t touch the value of peace of mind. And that’s exactly what Centricity’s accidental damage protection for flooring, cabinets and countertops delivers.
By offering protection plans, you’re not just helping your customers—you’re helping your bottom line. In fact, many retailers are using Centricity’s protection plans as a way to recapture lost margins, boost average ticket sizes, and drive repeat business. Here’s how.
- A New Revenue Stream in a Tight Economy
According to the National Retail Federation, tariffs act as hidden taxes that trickle down the supply chain, inflating costs for businesses and customers alike. For flooring retailers, that often means shrinking margins on core products.
But protection plans offer a smart solution.
✅ They aren’t subject to tariffs.
✅ They have strong profit potential.
✅ They add value without increasing inventory.
When you sell Centricity’s accidental damage protection alongside your flooring products, you introduce a high-margin offering that helps make up for tariff-driven losses—while delivering meaningful peace of mind to your customers.
- Turn Hesitation into Confidence
Let’s face it—customers may be holding off on big home improvement purchases due to economic uncertainty. But that’s exactly when a protection plan can seal the deal.
From pets and parties to spills and scratches, new flooring is vulnerable. Centricity’s plans are designed to protect against life’s most common accidents—and that makes customers feel more secure about their purchase.
Even if the product cost is higher than they’d hoped, protection plans provide reassurance that the investment is safeguarded.
And here’s the win for you: when you bundle in protection, you not only close the sale, you increase the value of it—bringing in more revenue per transaction without increasing your overhead.
- Build Long-Term Value and Loyalty
In a world where many customers are delaying upgrades or shopping around for the cheapest deal, offering a protection plan adds a layer of long-term value that can set you apart.
Centricity’s accidental damage protection helps keep customers happy well after the installation is complete. If something goes wrong, they’re covered. That leads to fewer complaints, more referrals, and a stronger relationship with your brand.
Plus, you gain recurring revenue through renewals and future protection offerings—adding even more cushion to your margins over time.
- Transparency Builds Trust
Being upfront with customers about pricing is more important than ever. If tariffs are increasing your costs, explain why—but also explain what you’re doing to offset those concerns.
A simple message like this can go a long way:
“We understand that flooring is a big investment. With today’s changing prices, we want to help you protect that investment for the long haul.”
When you pair transparency with a clear solution—like a Centricity protection plan—you build trust. And trust turns into closed sales, customer satisfaction, and lasting loyalty.
- Make Protection Part of the Package
To maximize margin recovery, don’t treat protection plans like an afterthought. Bake them into every sales conversation. Train your team to lead with value and confidence:
“Most of our customers choose to protect their new floors with our accidental damage plan. It covers life’s little surprises—spills, scratches, accidental damage—so you can enjoy your floors without worry.”
When positioned correctly, protection becomes an easy sale that boosts revenue without creating resistance. In many cases, customers are relieved to learn they can safeguard their purchase—and you gain a profitable upsell in the process.
Final Thoughts
Tariffs and economic shifts are beyond your control—but how you respond isn’t. By embracing transparency, offering value-driven solutions, and incorporating high-margin products like Centricity’s accidental damage protection, you can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s wins.
Protection plans don’t just protect your customers—they protect your business.
So while others are tightening their belts, you’ll be building trust, increasing sales, and gaining back the margins that tariffs tried to take away.
Let’s protect what matters—together.
Need help training your team or promoting protection plans in-store or online? Contact your Centricity territory account manager for tools, talking points, and marketing assets designed to help you grow—no matter what the market throws your way.
