What do flooring, metalsmithing/design and pet food have in common?

If you answered Kathy and Tim Hyland, you’re right. They are the owners and moving forces behind Bayview Flooring, Bayview Displays and Pets Naturally.

It all started 40 years ago when a young Tim Hyland got his start in the flooring business. Ever the entrepreneur, he struck out on his own just two years later, at age 26.

“I found a building and went to lease the space, but I had no money,” Hyland said.

Knowing the building had been vacant for three years, he made a deal with the owner: He’d lease the space for 90 days rent-free, but would cover the utilities. So Cash and Carry Flooring was born.

Still, with two kids and one on the way, he said the choice to jump in was a leap of faith … sort of.

“I had a following from the other store,” Hyland recalled.

He was able to secure his first big job at the Reef Petroleum building on West Grand Traverse Bay, today known as Centerpointe. That enabled Cash and Carry Flooring to expand, eventually with locations in Elk Rapids, Bay Harbor, Gaylord and Traverse City.

Bay View Flooring, a distinguished family-owned business with 30 years of experience, is proud to announce its recognition as the 66th top U.S. specialty flooring retailer for 2022, as ranked by Floor Covering Weekly. This esteemed accolade reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional customer service and delivering high-quality flooring solutions.

Throughout its three decades of operation, Bay View Flooring has maintained a steadfast focus on cultivating strong relationships with clients and suppliers, fostering a sense of community that has helped elevate it to the forefront of the industry.

Material delays in construction may have forced Tim Hyland to wait a little longer. Hyland is determined Bay View Flooring & Design Center customers won’t be faced with the same situation.

Bay View Flooring opened a 6,000-square-foot Flooring Outlet Center last week. The new facility owned by Tim and Kathy Hyland is directly behind Bay View Flooring and Cash n Carry Flooring, located at 67 M-37.

The Flooring Outlet Center has 200,000 square feet of flooring on stock according to the owners. “It sounds like a lot and it is,” Tim Hyland said. “But the luxury vinyl flooring is so compact.”

Tim Hyland said the vinyl flooring comes primarily from China, but also from Vietnam. He said getting access to vinyl flooring from overseas has been an issue and was one of the reasons he wanted to construct the outlet center.

“Telling people they have to wait three to four months for flooring is tough,” he said, adding getting carpeting primarily from Georgia isn’t an issue. “That’s why we did the outlet so we would have it on hand for people.”

Some of the same delays in getting product to build the 60-by-100 foot structure was also an issue for the Hylands.

“It took nine months start to finish where before I could do it in 60 days,” Tim Hyland said of the construction.

Kathy Hyland, who also runs Pets Naturally, said offering volume of materials will result in consumer savings as well.

“Customers seeking affordable options within their budget will be surprised by the wide variety of options we can offer them when shopping at the Flooring Outlet Center,” she said in a release. “They’ll find all varieties of flooring materials including tile, stone, hardwood, laminate, carpet, area rugs, luxury vinyl and more, with discounts up to 75% off original pricing.”

Northwest Education (North Ed) Services Career Tech, in conjunction with Bay View Flooring & Design Center, has launched a new floor covering installation track as part of its building trades apprentice program.

For more than 10 years, Bay View flooring owner, Tim Hyland, has served as a guest speaker in local building trades classes, encouraging students to consider floor covering installation as a career. With the help of North Ed’s building trades instructor, Tom Senabaugh, and his staff, students can now participate in formal apprentice training in the field.

“I always tell students what a great career flooring coverings installation is,” Hyland said. “You can work inside all year round and own your own business in less than five years. Crews in our industry are aging and there is a lot of growth potential for young workers.”

According to North Ed, as part of the program, students earn school credits working in the field alongside installation crews. Upon completion of the program, graduates officially become employees of the Bay View Flooring team.

Bay View is Northern Michigan’s largest flooring retailer, and owners Tim and Kathy Hyland have been in the business for 30-plus years. Their team offers free in-home measurements, financing, installation, floor refinishing, interior design consultations and carpet binding.

Cash n Carry Flooring/ Bay View Flooring of Traverse City has been chosen as one of the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” as determined by a coalition of national and Michigan-based business organizations. The company will be honored with this prestigious award, along with other winners, at the 12th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event at the Lansing Center on May 5 in Lansing. The award recognizes “growth oriented businesses based on market expansion, job creation, and community impact.”

To view Cash n Carry Flooring and other Top 50 finalists to Watch visit: https://www.michigancelebrates.biz/

The “50 Michigan Companies to Watch” are selected by the organization Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB), which is a cooperative association, comprised of the Michigan Small Business Development Center, The Michigan Economic Development Center, and The U.S. Small Business Administration, the Small Business Association of Michigan and several other foundations. The prestigious titles are granted to businesses that “form the backbone of Michigan’s economy.” Businesses eligible for the award are defined as second-tier business, and therefore must employ between 6 and 99 full-time employees.