National Floor Trends articles from December 2005

National Floor Trends archives from December 2005

Howard Olansky: a giant of a man who continues to set the tone.(Editorial)
December 1, 2005... In this month's National Floor Trends we proudly honor our friend and colleague Howard Olansky and his 50 years of service in the floor covering industry. For more than five decades, Howard has been keeping our readers well informed about this...

... and yes, there is still much to learn from him.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Some guys have all the luck and I guess I must place my name in that category. Fresh out of college I decided to follow up on a job lead posted for advertising sales at my alma mater. That was nearly 30 years ago and here I find myself proudly...

Claims Study: fix it fast, follow procedure ... leave them happy, retailers say; survey finds 56% of customers' claims are due to poor/defective flooring products.
December 1, 2005... Claims resolution/handling remains a key part of business, according to flooring retailers participating in the just completed Flooring Retailer Claims Study. And, retailers concur that even one dissatisfied customer can negatively impact their...

FC MVP: John Van Hoy owner, Carpet One Plus Roxboro, N.C.(Floor Covering Most Valuable Practices)(Interview)
December 1, 2005... Editor's note: As part of our report on claims in the flooring business we bring you another installment in our ongoing series of Floor Covering Most Valuable Practices (FC MVP). We are highlighting John Van Hoy's Carpet One Plus in Roxboro,...

Surfaces 2006 preview: retailers get set to network as show draws near.
December 1, 2005... The exhibits are usually compelling, many of the new products are a "must-see" and the setting--Las Vegas--can be a lot more fun than adults should have. Still, these drawing cards are not the chief reason most of the industry will make the...

Surfaces 2006 Installation Showcase: showcasing Quality Installation.(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... Quality Installation = Profits & Satisfied Customers! If you're a retailer or installer, the Installation Showcase at Surfaces 2006 is something you can't afford to miss. These LIVE step-by-step demonstrations on the show floor give you a...

Carpet & area rug market report: carpet still a dominant force, but competitive pressures abound.
December 1, 2005... Not everyone is thrilled by the rapid rise of hard surface flooring. Those focused on the industry's soft side--the carpeting and areas rugs that still account for the lion's share of total flooring volume--say their end of the business is...

Vegas debut: IFG set to confront "the big box threat".(News)
December 1, 2005... A newly formed alliance of specialty retailers who are pooling their resources in a bid to match the buying power of big box retailers, gathered in Las Vegas recently for the National Kick-Off Convention of Import Flooring Group, Inc. The Oct....

Shaw plans 2006 regional meetings, 27-city tour promises 'quality time'.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Shaw Industries has announced its schedule of winter shows that will begin with a three-day meeting in Chicago, Jan. 5. The company says the 27-city tour will allow Shaw representatives the opportunity to give customers a high level of...

BR-111 moves to Miami, celebrates 15th anniversary.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Exotic hardwood maker BR-111 recently celebrated its 15th anniversary at its newly opened headquarters in Medley, Fla., situated just outside of Miami. The renovated building, a converted warehouse, includes 75,000 square feet of space, a...

Mannington honors three women for "Standing on a Better World".(News)
December 1, 2005... Mannington has announced the winners of its first Stand On A Better World Awards, which was launched this year to recognize women in distinct areas of public service. The winners are Deborah Bell of Gilmer, Texas; Kip Tiernan of Boston; and...

CCA Global Partners.(People)
December 1, 2005... CCA Global Partners has tapped Eric Demaree to lead the Retail Flooring Outlet Division as president. Formerly an executive with the Home Depot retail chain, Demaree will oversee Floor Trader, GCO Flooring Outlet and Stone Mountain Flooring...

Centiva.(People)
December 1, 2005... Resilient flooring maker Centiva has hired John Cornely as Northeast regional sales manager. Cornely arrives at Centiva with previous experience from Amtico International and positions involving architectural specifications, national and...

Faus Group.(appontments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Faus Group announces two new hires. Katie McGrady-Allman has been named director of sales. She has more than 20 years experience in sales and marketing, most recently with Edge Flooring and Solutia. Also, Thomas Curtis has joined as director of...

Celia Blum.(People)
December 1, 2005... Celia Blum has joined wool carpet maker J. Mish Inc. as Western regional sales manager. Previously she was a sales and marketing consultant for the company and has more than 40 years experience in carpet and rug manufacturing, product...

Johnson Wholesale Floors.(People)
December 1, 2005... Southern distributor Johnson Wholesale Floors has named Don Johnson chairman/CEO and promoted Melinda McChesney to president. Also Bob Lange has been appointed vp of finance.

Marble Institute of America.(People)
December 1, 2005... The Marble Institute of America has elected Ken Krebs president for the 2006 term. Krebs, who is also vice president of natural stone distributor OHM International in Nashville, has served on the MIA board for several years and was its vp in...

Mullican Flooring.(People)
December 1, 2005... Hardwood flooring maker Mullican Flooring has named Tressa Samdal marketing coordinator. She will be responsible for product samples, purchasing, event planning, trade shows and rebate programs.

Pergo.(People)
December 1, 2005... Pergo said Staffan Soderqvist is set to resign as CFO and deputy CEO of Pergo AB in Trelleborg, Sweden, effective Feb. 1, 2006. Soderqvist is credited with implementing a European market improvement program for the laminate flooring maker. He...

Stanton Carpet Corp.(People)
December 1, 2005... Stanton Carpet Corp. has created two new regional posts: Jim Lampros, formerly with Abbey Carpet, has joined as MidWest regional vp. Industry veteran Rich Crawford, who holds previous positions with Beaulieu and Mohawk, has been added as West...

Stauf Adhesives.(People)
December 1, 2005... Stauf Adhesives has appointed Bob Sweezey technical director. With nearly 40 years of experience in the industry, Sweezey will be responsible for sales and marketing efforts as well as technical training and education programs for Stauf USA....

Mannington promises end-users floors that 'Never Yellow'.(News)
December 1, 2005... Mannington Mills has announced a new "Never Yellow" guarantee to its resilient flooring warranty. Mannington says that property managers consistently cite "yellowing" from rubber-backed mats as one of the leading reasons to prematurely replace...

Upcoming industry events.(News)(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... 2006 International Builders' Show -- Orlando, Fla. (202) 266-8111, Jan. 11-14. Domotex 2006 -- Hannover, Germany. (609) 987-1202, Jan 14-17. Atlanta Rug Market 2006 -- Atlanta. (800) 285-6278, Jan 19-22. Alliance Flooring Inc....

Mercier Wood Flooring has added Portland, Ore.-based Emerson Hardwood Floors as a distributor in Oregon and Washington.(Distributor Appointments)
December 1, 2005... Mercier Wood Flooring has added Portland, Ore.-based Emerson Hardwood Floors as a distributor in Oregon and Washington. Emerson Hardwood will carry Mercier's full line, including solid hardwoods, exotics and engineered offerings. For more...

Louis de Poortere.(Distributor Appointments)
December 1, 2005... Belgium carpet and rug maker Louis de Poortere (LDP) has appointed Prestige Mills of Calhoun, Ga., as exclusive North American distributor of the company's entire range, which notably includes an extensive selection of wool face-to-face Wilton...

Craig Hamilton: MAPEI's director of R & D.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
December 1, 2005... Craig W. Hamilton, a highly regarded figure in the ceramic tile and stone industry who served as director of research and development for MAPEI Corp., died as the result of a heart attack on Sept. 16. He was 55. A 20-year veteran of the...

Coverings to rotate between Chicago and Orlando starting in 2007.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In a bid to draw more attendance from Midwest states, organizers of the Coverings meeting said they will begin alternating the event between its present location in Orlando and Chicago. While next year's edition of the tile and stone show is...

Mohawk National Product Tour set, 35 regional shows begin this month.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Mohawk representatives are set to hit the road for 35 regional dealer meetings. Beginning in December with events in Florida and moving across the nation through February, this year's regional show schedule marks the third year Mohawk has...

A fond farewell at Capel.(News)
December 1, 2005... Capel's retiring executive directors (left to right) A. Leon Capel, Jr., Jesse S. Capel and Arron W. E. Capel toast their company at a gala tribute in their honor held at the company's showroom in High Point, N.C. Capel recently tapped home...

CCA opens ProSource in Dulles, Va.: Showroom in "high-growth area".(Commercial Carpets of America)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Commercial Carpets of America, based in Alexandria, Va., has cut the ribbon on a ProSource store in Dulles, Va. Located at 21586 Atlantic Blvd. near Dulles Town Center, the 6,000 square foot showroom of wholesale flooring and accessories...

Carpet Shims.(Products & Literature on display)
December 1, 2005... CARPET SHIMS and UNIVERSAL SIDE SHIMS easily eliminate the problem of height differences from carpeted floors to ceramic or hardwood floors. * No more double tack strips. * No more building ramps with cardboard or VCT and floats. ...

Stauf USA Adhesive L.L.C.(Products & Literature on display)
December 1, 2005... Stauf USA has introduced its Annual Buying Directory. Stauf USA is a full line adhesive manufacturer for installation of hardwood flooring. Stauf has adhesives based on water, solvent, urethane, and polymer technologies. Stauf USA also...

Starline Associates.(Products & Literature on display)
December 1, 2005... Starline Associates, Inc. delivers the best value for the money with Silent Blue[TM] Laminate Underlayment. Silent Blue combines closed cell construction, IIC 72, STC 73 ratings and waterproof technology eliminating the need for film and...

NFT's prefinished wood floor guide.(Directory)
December 1, 2005... Prefinished products continue to take a greater share of the wood floor segment with the expanded variety of wood species and factory applied finishes. Following is a list by manufacturer of the products available. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Howard Olansky: 50 years and counting.
December 1, 2005... Howard Olansky has been deeply involved in all aspects of the floor covering industry since 1955 when he joined Western Floors magazine as managing editor. He later became co-owner, editor and publisher of Specialist Publications--Western...

50 years of passion from the subfloor up the Olansky files.
December 1, 2005... I am fortunate to have been a part of this industry for the most exciting years in the history of floor coverings. It has been 50 years marked by a multitude of dramatic events that impacted on the industry and its people. By the way a great...

We'd just like to say ...
December 1, 2005... Editor's Note: The following comments were submitted by people in the industry who have been inspired by Howard Olansky over the years. Those participating are also active supporters of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation and have made...

Darrin's story: how the FCIF helped one family touched by tragedy.(Floor Covering Industry Foundation)(Interview)
December 1, 2005... There is not the slightest hint of bitterness or anger as Barbara Tedrowe recalls her heart break: Her son Darrin--a star athlete, a college student and a newlywed--was critically injured in a 1983 motorcycle accident that rendered him a...

Thank you!
December 1, 2005... The Floor Covering Industry Foundation along with BNP Media magazines' National Floor Trends, ICS Cleaning Specialist and Floor Covering Installer appreciate all of the support by the contributors below as part of the tribute to Howard Olansky...

In style and design, the evolution will be colorized: 'Golden Goddess,' and 'Claydough' are among the new shades set to make a splash in 2006.
December 1, 2005... In recent years the use and variety of color in residential interior designs has been unlike anything we've seen in a long time. As carpet continues to be the anchor for any room's decorating scheme, understanding the "new" interior colors for...

Shaw Living's newest rugs add designs to Reverie range.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Shaw Living has added 22 designs to its Reverie rug collection. The patterns feature transitional and contemporary patterns made of woven olefin in a double-point construction. The rugs also include drop-stitch weaving, which is engineered to...

Mapelath underlayment from MAPEI is synthetic.(Products)
December 1, 2005... MAPEI's Mapelath is a synthetic lath underlayment for ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles. The product is available in rolls and can be installed using MAPEI's newly released pneumatic staple gun. Staples feature pointed ends that flare...

Tarkett's FiberFloor products can be showcased in i-grat display.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Tarkett Residential presents the i-grat Selling System retail display unit for FiberFloor flooring products. The display organizes resilient FiberFloor products into style categories related to fashion and decor. All elements of the display,...

Orleans tile from Mohawk offers rustic, textured look.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Mohawk Ceramic introduces Orleans, a glazed porcelain floor tile based on the look of natural travertine marbles. Available in a rustic, textured finish that features a range of hues, Orleans is designed for high-traffic areas as well as patios...

Free VersaBlade trowel available from Toli.(Products)
December 1, 2005... The Toli VersaBlade trowel handle and blade are now included at no cost on selected orders, the company says. The VersaBlade is a fine-notch professional trowel which can be used to help install Toli resilient floors. Notches on all four sides...

Zip n Close zippers designed for use with poly sheeting.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Zip n Close is a peel and stick zipper designed for use on poly sheeting and canvas at construction sites. The product can be attached to temporary sheeting designed to control dust and reduce heat loss, the company says. The Zip n Close zipper...

Integra collection & new display from Halcon Ceramicas.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Halcon Ceramica's Integra tile series has been launched in conjunction with a new merchandising display. The display is designed to showcase the line's array of strips and inserts, inspired by such materials as glass, metal, stone, wood and Pop...

Anderson customizes hardwood with new Medallions Collection.(Products)
December 1, 2005... To help customers customize the look of their Anderson, Appalachian or Virginia Vintage floors, Anderson Hardwood Floors presents the Medallion Collection. The medallions are available in six designs: Compass Rose, Sunflower, Toscana, Treasure...

Musson product catalog includes Uno-Tred specs.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Musson has published a new eight-page product catalog, featuring full color graphics and comprehensive listings of the company's complete line. Including information on Musson's heavy-duty rubber and aluminum stair treads as well as its...

Gaya's Fusion tile line evokes nature, industry.(Products)
December 1, 2005... Ceramicas Gaya has debuted Fusion, a porcelain tile collection which takes its visual cues from stones, woods and metals. Offered in multiple sizes, the Fusion series can be used on both floors and walls. One of the highlights of the collection...

BonaKemi's Atomic 110 features 30 gallon capacity.(Products)
December 1, 2005... BonaKemi presents the Atomic 110, a portable Atomic DCS dust containment system that can be used as an alternative or a complement to the company's trailer-mounted Atomic sander. The Atomic 110 can operate both indoors and out via any 20-amp...