The Underlay - A Clever Choice Podcast

What does it really take to build a successful flooring business that stands the test of time? In this episode of The Underlay , Matt and Michael continue their New South Wales tour with a stop at Flooring Xtra Yallah , where they sit down with owner Ben for one of the most honest and insightful conversations of the series. Ben shares his incredible journey from unloading rugs in a Harvey Norman w...

Everyone loves a renovation show, but is flooring really as easy as buying a few boxes and clicking them together? In this episode of The Underlay , Matt White and Clever Choice GM Michael Roberts tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry, that plank flooring is a DIY product that isn't always DIY. With over 20 years of experience, Michael breaks down why laying the boards is only a...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt and Michael sit down with Richard from Kandu Freight Management to explore one of the most important yet often overlooked parts of the flooring industry: freight. While products, sales, and installation often take centre stage, getting flooring safely and efficiently from the warehouse to the customer is a challenge that can make or break the customer experie...

The Sydney tour continues on The Underlay as Matt and Michael head to the Northern Beaches to visit Flooring Xtra Mona Vale , where they sit down with young business owner Campbell for an honest and inspiring conversation about flooring, family, and building a business from the ground up.  At just 27 years old, Campbell has already built a thriving flooring business alongside his mum after opening...

Part Two of The Underlay's massive Clever Choice product deep dive sees Matt and Senior Sales Manager Greg Harvey tackle the category that changed the Australian flooring market forever, hybrid flooring. Alongside that, the episode also explores Clever's evolving timber range and the return of the product that started it all, bamboo.  Greg breaks down why Clever Choice hybrids have earned such a s...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt sits down with Clever Choice Flooring's Senior Sales Manager and product specialist Greg Harvey to break down the full Clever product range in a detailed, no-nonsense overview. With so much value packed into the conversation, this is Part One of a two-part deep dive into what makes the Clever Choice offering one of the most complete in the Australian flooring...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt sits down with the newest addition to the Clever Choice team, Brad Cousins, fresh into his role and already making an impact in Victoria. With nearly a decade of experience working his way up through the retail flooring space, Brad brings a unique perspective as he transitions from the shop floor to the manufacturing side of the industry.  At just 27, Brad ha...

Floortec 2026 delivered one of the most electric days the Australian flooring industry has seen in years, and The Underlay was right in the middle of it. Recorded live at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, this special "best of" episode brings together the voices of the key players who made the event unforgettable. Matt and Michael kick things off with Micko and Sam from Dream Flooring, discussi...

This episode of The Underlay comes to you live from Floortec 2026 at the MCG , where Matt and Michael sit down with the event's platinum sponsors, global construction giant MAPEI . Joining the conversation are MAPEI’s General Manager, Marco, and Sales Representative, Kristian, for an insightful discussion about the future of the flooring industry, the importance of education, and why proper instal...

The Sydney road trip continues on The Underlay as Matt heads into Western Sydney to visit the team at Flooring Extra Narellan , sitting down with Tom, Jamie and Anthony for one of the most honest and entertaining conversations of the tour. What starts as a few laughs quickly turns into a real look at what running a modern flooring business actually involves. The trio share how they each fell into...

The Sydney tour continues on The Underlay as Matt and Michael head to the Hawkesbury to visit one of Western Sydney's most unique showrooms, Flooring Extra Hawkesbury. Sitting down with store owner Jennifer, this episode quickly becomes far more than a store profile; it turns into a masterclass in flooring, retail, and understanding what customers actually need when choosing a floor. Jennifer shar...

The New South Wales tour rolls on in this episode of The Underlay , with Matt and Michael heading west to Penrith to spend time inside one of the most welcoming flooring stores you'll find anywhere, Flooring Extra Penrith . What unfolds is more than a store visit; it's a story about family, community, loyalty and how a flooring business can become part of the fabric of its local area. Joined by To...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt sits down with Clever Choice Flooring Queensland Sales Manager Greg Harvey for a deep dive into one of the most important categories in hard flooring, timber. Recorded in the festive “Christmas studio”, this conversation strips away myths, misconceptions, and outdated thinking around timber floors, replacing them with real-world insight, practical advice, and...

In this special episode of The Underlay , Matt and Michael bring listeners an on-the-ground snapshot from one of the biggest days on the flooring industry calendar, the ATFA Flooring Industry Expo at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Positioned right in the heart of the action, The Underlay team were impossible to miss, attracting a steady stream of installers, suppliers, innovators, and long-standing in...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt and Michael head to Penrith to sit down with one of the most recognisable personalities in the flooring game, Micko from Dream Flooring . What starts as a conversation about flooring quickly becomes an insight into creativity, community, and why being different is the smartest move you can make in a crowded industry. With more than 20 years on the tools, Mikk...

The Underlay Podcast continues its Sydney road trip with a special pop-up episode recorded inside the bustling GMK Logistics headquarters. Hosts Matt and Michael sit down with Sarah Halpin, CEO of GMK Logistics, and Anthony Minuto, NSW State Manager and long-time member of the GMK family, for a lively and insightful conversation about people, culture, and the power of connection in the flooring in...

In this episode of The Underlay Podcast , hosts Matt White and Michael Roberts sit down with Geoff Weir , Hard Flooring Category Manager at Carpet Court , to explore his fascinating journey through the flooring industry, from starting out knowing nothing about flooring to becoming one of the most respected voices in the business. Geoff shares how he first entered the industry nearly a decade ago,...

In this episode of The Underlay Podcast , hosts Matt and Michael sit down with Phil Buckley , the newly appointed CEO of the Australian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA) , for an open and insightful conversation about the future of the flooring industry. Phil's journey is anything but typical. Growing up in Sydney, he watched his mother build one of the city's largest timber flooring companies fr...

This special episode of The Underlay Podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of Project Miriah, a groundbreaking collaboration between Clever Choice Flooring, RLA Polymers, and the FCIA. Over five intensive days in August 2025, the team came together to deliver a complete flooring installation inside a two-storey townhouse. From subfloor preparation to the final installation, the project showcas...

In this special episode of The Underlay , hosts Matt and Michael are joined by Michael and Matt from RLA Polymers and Fiona from the FCIA to take listeners behind the scenes of Project Miriah, a groundbreaking flooring installation project that's raising the bar for education, collaboration, and craftsmanship in the industry. Recorded after two intense days on site, this conversation offers a cand...

In this episode of The Underlay Podcast , Matt and Michael sit down with a true heavyweight in the Australian flooring industry, Courtney Dunn, Director of Master Floors Group . With decades of experience spanning from floor preparation through to delivering multi-million-dollar commercial projects, Courtney shares a story that's equal parts personal, professional, and inspiring. From the very sta...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt and Michael Roberts, General Manager of Clever Choice, sit down with Richard from GMK Logistics to unpack the critical role transport plays in the flooring industry. The conversation begins with an unexpected sports tangent, comparing the culture and strategic decision-making in professional teams to those in running a successful business. Both agree that, wh...

In this episode of The Underlay , Matt and Michael sit down with Mark Coetzee from Floorworld, a man whose journey in flooring began with Blundstone boots and has evolved into a nationwide role shaping the look and feel of retail stores across Australia. From his humble beginnings in Tasmania to overseeing the operations and store design of one of the country’s most respected flooring groups, Mark...

In this high-energy return episode of The Underlay , Matt welcomes back Michael Roberts, GM of Clever Choice, fresh from a whirlwind two-month tour across Australia and China. From interstate road trips with Ian Walker to a jam-packed product testing mission in China alongside Sean and Greg, Michael gives us a front-row seat to Clever’s evolution. This episode pulls back the curtain on what makes...

In part two of our FloorTec 2025 special, hosts Matt and Michael dive deeper into the future of flooring with candid conversations from industry leaders. Joining us in this relaxed, post-conference episode are: Don from ATTAR – sharing the vital role of subfloor preparation, moisture testing, and the impact of proper apprenticeship training. Fraser from AFS – talking adhesives, innovation, and wha...