Ideal Floors marking 20 years of hard work, quality craftsmanship, and community values – PembinaValleyOnline.com

Take a look around, and chances are that Ideal Floors was involved in a nearby home, business or industrial site.

“We’ve done some big, big projects in the area,” says Don Bergen, owner of Ideal Floors, located at 325 Roblin Blvd E in Winkler. “A few years ago, we did Buhler here in Winkler; we did The Gardens on Tenth in Altona; the BDO building comes to mind, and so does the CO-OP truck stop. We’ve also done lots of houses.”

Bergen also highlights a growing service area that stretches east to Kenora, west to Boissevain and north of Winnipeg. He’s proud that a lot of the work his business gets is through referral – the result of many years of hard work, quality products and friendly service. 

Twenty years, to be exact.

20-year anniversary 

It was back in 2005 that Bergen founded Ideal Floors, making 2025 the 20th year he’s been in business.

“I’ve celebrated 20 years of many things, because I’m that old,” he jokes. “But seriously, I’d have to say these 20 years have been a bit of a blur. I can’t believe it’s been that long already.”

Bergen’s son Justin, who works in sales and also manages marketing at the store, points to the growth he’s seen in the family business over the last two decades.

“Recently I was looking in the archives and I found pictures from our Grand Opening, and it’s amazing to see the difference between 20 years ago and today,” he says. “Shortly after I started, we celebrated 10 years. I remember that being a major milestone.”

Initially, Ideal Floors was located in a much smaller facility on Perry St, beside KC Shoe Repair. After only six years, it moved the two blocks to its current location. Now, customers who walk through the door are treated to a sizable inventory displayed in a large, inviting showroom.

“From what I’ve seen, it’s probably the largest showroom in Manitoba,” says Don. “We want the customer to be able to find the right product, the right colour, the right design and the right pattern. We hope that when they come in, they don’t have to go anywhere else.”

The newly opened Ideal Floors showroom will also serve as a place where the general public can come, enjoy a visit and check out the store’s latest offers on flooring, blinds, decks, railings and hot tubs.

“Stop by and say hi,” invites Don. “We’d love to see everybody.”

Work ethic 

Justin has a straightforward explanation for Ideal Floors’ longevity and success.

“Hard work,” he says. “What it comes down to is my parents’ work ethnic, their ability to get things done.”

Having grown up on a farm, Don quickly learned the benefits of hard work. And when his father got out of farming, he helped his brothers install flooring. It’s where he got his start in the industry. 

“Then I got into sales, and then for almost 20 years I worked for different stores across Canada,” he recalls. “When I was 41, the store where I worked wasn’t going to be around any longer, so I figured it was my turn to step out. I was ready for it, but it was scary. It helped that I was already established in the area.”

He also relied on his faith, as he continues to do.

“Having faith helps a lot. It’s very important,” he says. “I pray every day that when I put my feet on the ground, He’ll carry me through it all.” 

Products and service 

Of course, even the best business plans won’t mean a whole lot without quality products to sell and friendly, helpful service to back them up. Over its 20 years in business, Ideal Floors has seen its fair share of products and trends come and go, and sometimes come again, which is why Justin sees adaptability as so important.

“We’ve had the ability to diversify and to be adaptable to the changes in the market,” he explains. “Being able to find new avenues in addition to flooring – like blinds, hot tubs, decking and railing – has helped us keep going through the years.”

He highlights vinyl planking as a popular flooring option these days, citing its customization options, durability and ease of installation as contributors to its uptake.

“It’s a very water-resistant flooring, and it’s easy to install. You can either do click installation or glue it down,” he says, adding that part of the sales process is to learn what will work best in people’s homes. “Not every installation method works best with every home. Laminate, too, has made a big comeback the last couple of years.”

Just explains that carpet and sheet vinyl are the industry’s bread and butter, even if demand ebbs and flows from time to time. Personally, he also prefers carpet for basements. It’s quiet, comfortable and sound-proofing, he says.

“It’s about asking the right questions,” says Don. “What did they have in the past? What did they like about it? What didn’t they like? A lot of it boils down to trusting the person you’re dealing with. I have 47 years’ experience in the industry, and my salesmen have 12 to 13 years.”

Aside from flooring, Justin points to hot tubs and decking as growth areas for Ideal Floors going forward.

“Earlier this month, our 2025 shipment of Bullfrog hot tubs showed up,” he says. “If you want a hot tub set up this weekend, come see us. We have a number of price points and options with Bullfrog Spas.”

Bullfrog’s M Series, he explains, is the “Cadillac” of hot tubs. It’s design-forward, has beautiful colours and plenty of jet pack options. The hot tubs Ideal Floors sells also have up to 90% less plumbing, which helps reduce leaks while keeping energy costs low. 

Ideal Floors is also a Duradeck dealer. 

“Duradeck is a waterproof vinyl deck flooring,” says Don. “It can go outside, inside, mostly outside on decks, and it can be used as a roof. It’s built and engineered so you can actually use it as roofing.”

Don says that when a customer wants a product that’ll withstand weather, wear and tear, and the sun, it’s Duradek they’re after.

Community 

Don insists he’s not ready to retire, and that he’ll likely never fully retire. Much of that is down to his enjoyment of running a business, but he also values his place in the community.

“We do a lot of outreach, like fundraisers for local charities, because it’s what we should be doing,” he says. “We’ve supported South Central Cancer, Genesis House and other organizations. Having a successful business gives me the opportunity to do that.”

He also makes a point to support other local businesses.

“People want to support their local people, and I’m the same way,” he says. “I don’t like going out of my community to buy something. I want to support the local dealerships and the local stores, and I appreciate having that in return.”

Ultimately, he says the Winkler community has helped make business ownership a fulfilling experience.

“We’ve had lots of support locally, and in the outer circle,” he says. “Winkler as a community has been fantastic.”

And he invites the community to come out and take advantage of promotional pricing on all in-stock flooring, with sales carrying into October.

“Come and talk to us,” he says. “We’re all salesmen. We love to talk.”

Ideal Floors is located at 325 Roblin Blvd E in Winkler and can be reached by calling (204) 325-4243. Information about its line of products can be browsed on its website.