Cali Bamboo’s National Sales Director for Lowe’s, Samantha Savitch, has been recognized by Hardwood Floors Magazine as one of 40 professionals under the age of 40 who are helping to shape the future of the wood flooring industry. The inaugural “40 Under 40” list highlights the accomplishments of those who are rethinking and pushing boundaries — something Sam has plenty of practice with throughout her eight years in the biz.

Samantha started as Cali Bamboo’s receptionist in 2009 when she was 21. It was soon clear she had the drive and skills to take on greater responsibilities, and she was recruited to become (at that time) the company’s sole customer service rep. From there, Sam helped hire and train additional support staff, and contributed to developing Cali Bamboo’s installation and maintenance guidelines, which are now recognized as some of the best in the flooring industry.

As Cali Bamboo saw growing success, Sam was a driving force in getting the company’s high-quality product into Lowe’s stores. Adopting a “rogue” strategy, she visited each Lowe’s location on the west coast, established close one-on-one relationships with the management and sales staff, delivering Cali Bamboo samples and waterfall displays to each site. As Lowe’s customers started placing sales, Sam personally processed each order, until news of this flooring alternative and Cali Bamboo’s stellar customer support reached the Lowe’s corporate team. During this all-important transition, Sam helped to work out the formal agreement that would make Cali Bamboo an official Lowe’s vendor, to be carried in Lowe’s 15 warehouses across the country and sold at all stores and online. This overnight surge in demand required a major overhaul of Cali Bamboo’s supply, logistics, sales support, and training materials — all of which Sam oversaw to maintain the same high level of quality.  By 2014, Lowe’s declared Cali Bamboo #1 in their hardwood flooring category, and in 2015 (still at the #1 spot) the company was dubbed “the rogue vendor that went legit.”

Today, Sam manages a team of 9 dedicated Lowe’s ambassadors, and designs face-to-face and webinar trainings for Lowe’s installers — a program that has been recognized by Lowe’s as one of the best product and installation training programs for their associates. For her efforts, Sam also received the 2016 Lowe’s “Flooring Division Purpose Driven Account Manager of the Year” award.

Through her work to develop better training and a more thorough understanding of the material, Sam has pushed bamboo to the forefront of the hardwood flooring industry where it is now recognized, not just for being green, but as a top-performing contender. 

See the full “40 Under 40” list here.