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Carrie Brown

Carrie Brown works with XL North as a marketing consultant. With experience in copywriting, graphic design, and web development, Carrie uses her skill set to create and implement effective marketing strategies and campaigns for clients.

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In business, Joe Tuttolomondo is the “turnaround guy”. He takes a company that is facing challenges, makes needed corrections, and sets the business on track for sustained growth and viability. “I am in my 36th year of business since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater,” Joe says. He’s spent nearly 13 of those years with XL Brands. He mentions, “XL was certainly challenged when I joined around 13 years ago. That said, and with the help of a very functional and committed team, we have been able to earn and establish ourselves as the industry leader in private label as well as branded adhesive solutions for the commercial floor covering industry.”

When asked about XL Brands and what the company does, Joe explains, “Our primary wheelhouse is the custom formulation of adhesive systems and floor prep products.” XL Brands also focuses on premium commoditized adhesives that are often over engineered to compensate for installation challenges. Joe points out that customer confidence in the products is key. “It’s imperative that our products meet and/or exceed customer expectations associated with the successful installation of a variety of floorcovering chemistries.”

On Manufacturer Recommended Procedures:

“Read the instructions. Understand the instructions. If you don’t understand the instructions, reach out to the flooring manufacturer’s tech services.”

A behind the curtain look at XL Brands shows that quality products and customer satisfaction are paramount within the organization. Joe notes, “Given the potential sensitivity to formulation variations, we have multiple raw material storage tanks as well as several compounding vessels to insure quality and eliminate cross contamination issues. “ In addition, XL Brands has become a virtual warehouse for many customers by supporting just-in-time inventory requirements.

On Floor Prep:

“The logical aspect of using adhesives is they’re only going to be as strong as what they’re adhered to.”

In terms of installation, the recommended manufacturer’s guidelines are there for a reason. Joe believes, “The word ‘critical’ underestimates the importance of first understanding the manufacturer’s guidelines and then following them completely.” He notes that if you are unclear on any aspect of the installation process, reach out to the manufacturer for assistance. ““Read the instructions. Understand the instructions. If you don’t understand the instructions, reach out to the flooring manufacturer’s tech services.” Following those steps, in most instances, will lead to a successful installation.

What about floor prep? Joe says it’s vital that it be done correctly. He has seen his share of flooring preparation challenges. “The logical aspect of using adhesives is they’re only going to be as strong as what they’re adhered to,” Joe states. If the floor is dirty, dusty or contaminated in any way (think old adhesive residue, moisture issues, or cracks that need repair) you’re not going to get a solid adhesive bond, leading to possible issues down the road. “If the floor or slab is inadequately or inappropriately prepped, you’re going to have a strong potential for failures or callbacks regarding the lack of performance of the overall installation.”

When these issues arise, initial concerns may be with the flooring product itself. Joe notes that typically, upon further inspection, it’s discovered that the flooring installation took place on an improperly prepped floor that still contains dirt and debris. “A thoroughly, well-trained installer will seldom have problems,” Joe says. By his definition, a quality installer cares about the job and doing it the right way. “Folks that have been doing something the same way that they did 25 years ago need to be doing it in the most recent, best proven way,” he states.

On Installation:

“A thoroughly, well-trained installer will seldom have problems.”

XL Brands is an industry leader manufacturing & distributing installation related products for the commercial floor covering industry. With over 30 years of experience manufacturing adhesives for commercial flooring products, XL Brands is committed to providing innovative, sustainable and reliable products.

Through extensive research & development, XL Brands identifies the ever changing needs of the floor covering industry and responds with quality solutions that offer exceptional performance supported by outstanding customer service.