Buff & Coat offers eco-friendly hardwood floor renewal option
An interview with Keith McNiff, co-owner of Buff & Coat Hardwood Floor Services.
Q: Describe your business.
A: Buff & Coat offers homeowners a clean, eco-friendly solution to restoring the sheen to heavily-trafficked hardwood floors. The locally-run, family-owned company provides hardwood floor renewal services that are economical, fast and dustless. Technological advances have produced a viable, safer alternative to refinishing, which was once the only way to revive hardwood floors. To restore floor luster, the company applies a product from a Germany-based manufacturer (Loba and Wakol) that cannot be found in big box stores. A coat of the eco-friendly finish gives new life to the hardwood, while eliminating odors.
Q: Why did you start the business?
A: There was a need in the marketplace for a viable alternative to the messy process of sanding. With the public's heightened awareness for eco-friendly solutions in all aspects of their life, many homeowners are reluctant to have their floors refinished because of the mess, the use of harsh chemicals and the leave behind strong smells. We also considered the health impact of sanding for those at risk. For example, as like many people my daughter and granddaughter both have allergies. Wood dust, created from sanding, causes eye and skin irritation and aggravates my daughter's asthma.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running a small business?
A: The concept of an alternative to sanding a hardwood floor was new to the customer. Therefore we have spent a lot of time and money educating the consumer.
Q: What areas do you service?
A: We service all of Lake County and the northern half of Cook County.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young?
A: No, it's been a bit of a journey getting to where I am today. After completing an Army tour of duty in Vietnam, I went to college with the thought of becoming an attorney. ... I then switched to a finance/accounting major, became a CPA and worked for one of the major accounting firms. I was with the firm for 30 years, of which twenty years was spent evaluating businesses, in a broad spectrum of industries, for merger, acquisition or disposition. Upon retiring from the accounting firm five years ago now, my wife and I started the family business in an area my son-in-law had spent over 15 years working (flooring and carpentry). Marketing is done by my daughter who has a marketing and communication degree from DePaul.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: Our family has had significant health issues (including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and allergies). I worry about and try to minimize the amount of chemicals we breathe and ingest. The industrial age has brought about tremendous advantages and a higher standard of living but on the other hand we have severely harmed our environment.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Waiting for month end sales stats, financial statements and the like to monitor your business is too late to make ongoing performance adjustments. Besides monitoring cash in and out daily, identify a couple other critical performance metrics to manage your business. Determine a minimum value for each of the selected metrics that will convey when met or exceeded that business performance is on or above your goals.
For example, in the hardwood floor business, I know the minimum number of square feet we need to buff & coat® weekly to maintain our growth trajectory.
Buff & Coat Hardwood Floor Services
Address: 250 Parkway Drive, Suite 150, Lincolnshire IL, 60069
Phone: (847) 505-8489
Website: www.buffandcoathardwood.com
Owners: Keith & Judy McNiff
When business started: We expanded into the Lake and Northern Cook County area three years ago. Our business family has 45 years of combined hardwood flooring experience.