Professionalism and an overriding sense of responsibility are essential qualities for survival in an increasingly challenging building industry, says Graham Park, CEO of Kevin Bates Flooring and Carpeting, which this year celebrates its 45th anniversary. The company has come a long way since April 1, 1969, when it started operating as Kevin Bates Flooring from a small shop at 128 Marshall Street in the Johannesburg CBD. During those early years the company had to move a few times to cope with rapid growth; endured some strife caused by competition from within its own ranks; but also enjoyed euphoric success with the landing of what were then landmark flooring contracts for massive projects such as the iconic Carlton Centre, Eskom’s Megawatt Park headquarters in Sunninghill, and the thousands of houses then built by the likes of Schachat Cullum and Wimpey Homes.

Today, Kevin Bates Flooring & Carpeting and Cape Town’s long-established Albert Carpets (with which it merged four years ago) make up the flooring giant, Kevin Bates Albert Carpets (KBAC), operating from impressive premises in Linbro Business Park in Johannesburg, and Roeland Street in Cape Town. Much of the company’s success, says Graham Park, is due to professionalism, employing – and training – the right people, choice of product, and being responsible.

“Included in professionalism are high quality service, workmanship by well-trained sales and installation personnel, strong relationships with clients - including after-sales care. Our company has also been a pioneer in training, an aspect historically neglected in the flooring industry. Kevin Bates holds the agencies for some of the most respected brands in flooring, including Interface, the world’s largest carpet tile manufacturer and a global leader in sustainable flooring. Our corporate responsibility covers social responsibility in the form of skills advancement and study bursaries; community responsibility includes the donation of uplifted carpeting to worthy charities; and, very importantly, our ever-increasing environmental responsibility includes the quest to prevent harmful old carpets being disposed of in landfills through the establishment of our unique Re-Use recycling programme,” Park states.

“As far as the future is concerned, we believe we have the products and people to take the company forward, and the ability to adapt to a challenging building industry which is increasingly being hampered by a shortage of skills. But we are well equipped on all fronts and will continue to strive to be the best in our class,” he adds. The current board of KBAC consists of Graham Park, Neil Duncan, Brandon Park, and Albert Carpet’s Cape Town-based Richard Cradock, Shane de Beer, and Peter Simon.

The company holds membership of Master Builders Association North, Master Builders Association Western Cape, Green Building Council of SA, SA Institute of Interior Design Professions, SA Property Owners Association, and the Construction Industry Development Board.

As long-standing member of MBA North and because of its own strong emphasis on health and safety, KBAC decided this year to celebrate its 45 years of operations in the construction industry by sponsoring a trophy in MBA North’s annual Health & Safety awards (for the category, Best Performing Occupational Health & Safety Manager). KBAC ended up also on the receiving end of these MBA awards this year, winning top place in the Best Sub-Contractor without Site Establishment category.

KBAC’s Chief Financial Officer, Neil Duncan, is a former president of MBA North, and still serves on the association’s Executive Committee and as its Honorary Treasurer. He is also the Principal Officer of the Gauteng Building Industry Retirement Funds.