National Floor Trends articles from August 2007

National Floor Trends archives from August 2007

CMI launches Summer Splash Sample event.(On the Web)
August 1, 2007... Colonial Mills has unveiled its Summer Splash Sample Special for dealers. Running through Aug. 31, the event lets retailers save substantially on the company's Rug Sample Centers, Swing Arm Systems, Fabric Rug Customizers and Custom POM Sets....

Armstrong HQ gets LEED Platinum certified.(On the Web)(headquarters)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Armstrong recently received LEED Platinum certification for its headquarters in Lancaster, Pa. The highest level of certification for green buildings, LEED Platinum is awarded to properties that feature the highest levels of sustainability,...

Mohawk changes the oil.(Editorial Comment)
August 1, 2007... Asking flooring manufacturers about their commitment to the environment is like asking a proud parent to show you pictures of his kids. Only in this instance, the kids are all grown up and off recycling on their own. One of the most...

In tough times, teach your salespeople the basics.(High-Impact Retailing)
August 1, 2007... Ask most retailers "What is your closing percentage?" and they'll probably tell you "Four out of five!" Sounds great. But based on observation, experience and actual head counts, I have found that even for good retailers, it is actually closer...

Exploring (commercial) space, the next frontier: it's a whole new world but it's yours to conquer if you know how to cover the terrain.
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's official: The residential floor coverings market is in a bit of slump. There is no denying that. But there is also no denying that flooring retailers who understand how to pick up contract work are the ones who...

It's not personal, it's business.(Commercial Possibilities)
August 1, 2007... No matter how well-known you are as a retailer, no matter how successful your operation, the commercial sector is a whole new ball game. Even those retailers who are pursuing a modest agenda of Main Street commercial work have to re-establish...

The Laminate Story: highly recommended, seldom disappoints.
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The days when laminate flooring stood its ground primarily as an economical alternative to hardwood, tile and stone are long gone. Today's consumer is drawn to this wide-ranging product segment as a stylish and...

It's not just what you install, it's what you install over.(Focus on Resilient)
August 1, 2007... Judging from the letters and emails we receive, many of you have questions regarding sub-floors being prepared for a resilient installation. Namely, there seems to be some confusion over which leveling or smoothing compounds to use with the...

All Ears: Mohawk gives corn the green-carpet treatment: new bio-based process at Tenn. plant replaces petrochemicals.(News: People/Places/Events)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Signalling what promises to be a new era in carpet production, Mohawk and its supplier have found a way to make its SmartStrand carpet using corn sugar rather than petrochemicals. The company said the move to a raw...

In memoriam: Doug Amundson, former CFI president.(News)(Obituary)
August 1, 2007... Doug Amundson, a tireless advocate of flooring installers who helped establish the Certified Floorcovering Installers organization, died July 3 in Brookings, S.D., following a long illness. He was 60. Amundson served as the second president...

Hardwood growth spurt: Mohawk buys Columbia Flooring.(News)
August 1, 2007... In a move expected to position Mohawk Industries as the nation's largest supplier of hardwood flooring, the company has bought the Columbia Flooring brand and is set to acquire four pre-finished plants that together average nearly $180 million...

Upcoming industry events.(News)(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... NeoCon Xpress L.A.--Los Angeles, Aug. 22-23. (800) 677-6278. CFI Convention 2007--Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 23-25. (800) 525-6322. Cersaie 2007--Bologna, Italy, Oct. 26. +39.0536.804585. NTCA Total Solutions 2007--St. Pete Beach, Fla.,...

China invites U.S. tile industry to 2007 trade mission.(News)
August 1, 2007... The U.S. China Ceramic Tile Association and China Ceramics City is inviting U.S. ceramic tile distributors and manufacturers to visit China for a trade event Sept. 1-8. The weeklong "trade mission" will include a visit to the historic city of...

Alloc Inc.(People)
August 1, 2007... Alloc Inc. said Claes Wennerth has resigned as president of the company. He will be succeeded by Bengt Rasin, CEO of the Alloc group. Additionally, Kevin Murphy, vp of residential sales will be responsible for commercial sales Wennerth, who...

MAPEI.(People)
August 1, 2007... Product planning veteran Jeff Leone has been named MAPEI's director of strategic marketing. Previously, he helped establish an automotive business for BASF/Basell in China. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kronotex.(People)
August 1, 2007... Kronotex has promoted Tim Tipton to director of marketing and product development. He joined the company last year as national sales director and has 17 years industry experience. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Betco.(People)(appointment of regional managers )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Floor care products maker Betco has added five regional managers to its sales team. Butch Webber will serve Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Nick Ginnetti will cover central and southern Illinois and St. Louis. Chris Call...

Formica Flooring.(People)
August 1, 2007... Formica Flooring has hired Ted Rocha as key account sales manager. Rocha has more than 16 years of experience in the industry, with manufacturers including Mohawk, Quick-Step and BR-111. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ira Lefkowitz steps down as Hoboken's president.(News)(Hoboken Floors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Ira Lefkowitz, longtime president of Hoboken Floors, has resigned. His brother Joel will remain as CEO of the 77-year-old distributor. In announcing the decision, Ira Lefkowitz offered no indications as to his immediate plans. "This transition...

Record-setting NeoCon can't get green enough.(News)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many of the 1,200 exhibitors on hand in Chicago for NeoCon seemed to be competing for the title of "Industry's Greenest Supplier." With record attendance of more than 52,000, the 39th annual trade fair for the...

MAPEI's exec sticks with Spanish.(News)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MAPEI Concrete Restoration Systems specialist Todd Lundgren recently led a two-day seminar on concrete products entirely in Spanish. The company hosted 54 flooring professionals from distributors and contractors...

Retailer credits Howard Olansky for inspiring re-design.(News)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Doug Hussey, owner of B & L Flooring America in Prescott Valley, Ariz., recently offered a lasting tribute to Howard Olansky, the former senior editor of National Floor Trends' who died late last year. Hussey says he...

Tarkett taps Johnsonite's Buttitta to lead North American division.(News)(Jeff Buttitta)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Intensifying its focus on regional markets, Tarkett has reorganized its management structure. The company will now run its residential and commercial business within three regional divisions: North America, Western Europe and Eastern Europe....

Atlanta retailer Donny Phillips named WFCA chairman.(News)
August 1, 2007... Donny F. Phillips, an Atlanta area retailer with 24 years of industry experience, has been elected chairman of the World Floor Covering Association's board. Phillips said he will promote the Floor Covering B2B protocol as well as other industry...

Award Hardwood Floors has tapped EJ Welch as a distributor.(Distributor Appointments)
August 1, 2007... Award Hardwood Floors has tapped EJ Welch as a distributor. The company will serve markets in Illinois, eastern parts of Missouri and Iowa, and western parts of Kentucky and Indiana.

Two new distributors have been added to the Flexco team. Farrell Distributing, based in Endicott, N.Y., will service New York and Pennsylvania.(Distributor Appointments)
August 1, 2007... Two new distributors have been added to the Flexco team. Farrell Distributing, based in Endicott, N.Y., will service New York and Pennsylvania. Additionally, Carpet Cushion & Supply of St. Louis will cover Missouri and Illinois.

Robina Floors has added two distributors to its roster: The Cronin Co. and McRae Sales & Distribution.(Distributor Appointments)
August 1, 2007... Robina Floors has added two distributors to its roster: The Cronin Co. and McRae Sales & Distribution. The Cronin Co. will cover the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. McRae will serve Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

Melodia from Johnsonite strikes the right chord.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Johnsonite has taken the wraps off of Melodia, a high-performance homogeneous sheet offered in 40 colors and non-directional designs. Designed for use in schools, hospitals, offices and retail, Melodia is topped with...

UFloor's Pall Oil finish repels dirt and water.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UFloor Systems has rolled out Pall Oil, a high-solid, two-component finish for hardwood flooring. Featuring a 98 percent solids content combined with natural oils, waxes and a hardening component, Pall Oil produces...

Tough grout for tough jobs: MAPEI's Kerapoxy IEG.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MAPEI introduces Kerapoxy IEG for industrial-grade installations. The 100 percent solids epoxy grout is ideal for commercial and industrial tile installation where high strength, mold- and mildew-resistant grout...

Shaw Contract's Texture Study features eco-friendly backing.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shaw Contract Group introduces Texture Study. Inspired by the tactile and visual properties of high-end fabrics, Texture Study is available in 10 broadloom and four modular tile designs. The carpet also features...

Vinyl Corner Guard new from Bengard.(Products)
August 1, 2007... The CG1515 Flexible Vinyl Corner Guard is Bengard's latest. Offered in 8' lengths in Black, the profile is designed to protect walls and doorways where a bumper guard is needed. According to Bengard, the product will not shrink, crack or chip....

Champion offers unique metallic stone collection.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Antique Luxury Stone collection from Champion Building Materials combines Oriental contemporary glaze technology with Western fashion elements. The metallic glaze furnishes the piece with a whole new concept in...

Flexco's 4 1/2" wall base widens installer options.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among the latest wall base additions from Flexco is a new wider option that is designed to reduce prep work for installers replacing a 4" wall base. The company's new 4 1/2" Wallflowers wall base is available in...

Allstate's FreiFloor contains no PVC.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allstate Rubber Corp. has unveiled FreiFloor, a new PVC-free contract floor covering. Made using 80 percent natural minerals and a PVC-free polymer, FreiFloor is designed for heavy traffic areas where indoor air...

Tarkett revamps CortinaStone with new construction, colors.(Products)
August 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Launched at NeoCon, the updated CortinaStone line from Tarkett Commercial is offered in a "vinyl enhanced" construction. According to Tarkett, this enhances the tile's lifecycle and reduces the need for maintenance....

Ultron Renew Natural Nylon gives Solutia a 'wool' twist.(Products)
August 1, 2007... Ultron Renew Natural Nylon new from Solutia, is designed to offer the look, texture, and luster of fine natural wool in a nylon 6,6 fiber. Made using 50 percent recycled content, the fiber features a proprietary technology that binds individual...

Tile & Stone: install it wrong and it won't last as long.(Guest Column)
August 1, 2007... Let's face it, there's not a lot of time to learn all the ins and outs of a ceramic tile or stone installation. You are not alone if you figure it's a topic best left to the pros at the job site. For example, how familiar are you with the...

2007 Directory update.(Directory)
August 1, 2007... Manufacturers ACCORD FLOORING, 6353 W. Rogers Cir. 33487 (561) 988-8292 Fax: (561) 997-2685 E-Mail Address/URL: www.accordflooring.com BASF BUILDING SYSTEMS, 889 Valley Park Dr., Shakopee, MN 55379 (952) 403-6589 Fax: (952) 4036539...

08.07 Underlayment products guide.(Directory)
August 1, 2007... Company Name: AcoustiCork/Amorim Industrial Solutions Address: 26112 110th St., Trevor, WI 53179 URL/email address: www.acousticorkusa.com; llyons@AmorimSolutions.com Phone: (800) 255-2675 Fax: (262) 862-2500 Underlayment...

Carpet Shims.(Products & Literature on display)
August 1, 2007... Discover The Underlying Difference! Carpet Shims are available in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" x 8" x 32", and 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"x 12" x 48". Add a Universal Side Shim to each end of the installed Carpet Shim to eliminate the drop off, which...

Starline.(Products & Literature on display)
August 1, 2007... Starline Associates, Inc. delivers the best value for the money with SILENT BLUE[TM] Laminate Underlayment. SILENT BLUE[TM] combines closed cell construction, IIC 72, STC 73 Ratings and Waterproof Technology, eliminating the need for film and...

U.S. Foam.(Products & Literature on display)
August 1, 2007... U.S. FOAM CORP OF INDIANA HAS INTRODUCED "SUPPRESSOR" LAMINATE UNDERLAY. "SUPPRESSOR" is a premium quality sound absorbing polyolefin crosslinked foam with fine cell structure. It's continuous smooth aesthetically pleasing surface has great...