National Floor Trends articles from January 2002

National Floor Trends archives from January 2002

The lesson: make this year a return to the basics; love it when economists get egg on their faces? (Industry Perspectives).(miscalculations of financial experts)
January 1, 2002... Economists/analysts racked up a sizable number of miscalculations last year. More often than not, growth and sales figures surpassed their forecasts. Time and time again during the final our months of 2001, economists and analysts ended up...

From house to home birds of paradise make their nest. (Case Study).(Gary and Carol Noyes remodel their home)
January 1, 2002... When Gary and Carol Noyes approached architect Stuart Resor of Resor Architect in Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., the couple was ready for a change to their nearly 30-year-old home in Encinitas, Calif. After inheriting the home from Gary's...

A sure-fire recipe for good showroom design. (Showroom Management).
January 1, 2002... Although I've concentrated on showroom management for the past couple of years, clients continue to ask me about showroom design. One of the first lessons of Marketing 101 is to give the customers what they want. So here it is: my first...

Tau expands tile line. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Tau Ceramica recently expanded the Tau Elegance line with the release of Nemed. The Nemed series is a tile collection available in rectified and nonrectified finish. This series of tiles comes in two colors: beige and gray. Nemed wall...

Bonsal makes light backerboard. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Bonsal has developed ProPannel, a product the company characterizes as the lightest weight backerboard in the industry. A 1/2-inch-thick, 3-by-5-foot sheet of ProPannel weighs 8 lbs. The backerboard is 100% waterproof and can be cut with a...

Shaw unveils Corterra carpet. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Shaw Industries Inc. and Shell Chemicals have teamed up to launch Shaw's Corterra carpet line, the first BCF carpet based on Shell's Corterra Polymers to be introduced in the United States. According to Shaw, Corterra fibers are stain...

Hibernia debuts new display. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Hibernia Woolen Mills has developed a furniture-quality display unit that showcases the company's complete line of wool carpets. The display incorporates more than 100 SKUs in 13.5-by-15-inch samples. The display requires 12 square feet of...

NOFMA presents buyer's guide. (Products).
January 1, 2002... The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) has released the second edition of its 2001 Buyer's Guide, featuring a complete list of NOFMA member companies and their hardwood flooring products. The four-page guide details...

Delmhorst unveils Accuscan meter. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Delmhorst Instrument Co. has released its new Accuscan pinless moisture meter. Accuscan features an analog readout, 3/4-inch penetration, a carrying case, built-in battery and calibration checks, and a one-year warranty. A comprehensive species...

Armstrong offers new 'Perspectives'. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Armstrong has introduced Perspectives, a commercial vinyl flooring line inspired by the look of metal and concrete. The new line is available in 12 colors in 6-foot, 6-inch-wide sheets and 24-inch-square riles. The company recommends the line...

BR-111 debuts thinner solid-wood line. (Products).
January 1, 2002... BR-111 has introduced Indusparquet, the company's new line of 5/16-inch and 7/16-inch prefinished solid exotic hardwood flooring. The new line is finished in natural colors without stains and features six coats of UV-cured ceramic aluminum...

Nafco introduces Good Living tile. (Products).
January 1, 2002... The newly unveiled Nafco Good Living Collection, which mimics the look of natural slate, stone and fine-grained woods, is the company's most affordable line of luxury vinyl flooring. Available in riles and planks, the line features colors...

Forever Fresh new from Mohawk. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Mohawk recently released Forever Fresh, a new line of Odor Eaters carpets. The Forever Fresh line features Mohawk Stainguard Protection which, according the company, reduces dirt's ability to stick to or penetrate carpet. Forever Fresh...

Tau introduces Ana. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Tau Ceramica recently introduced Ana, a glazed white body tile collection available in black and white. Ana is available in 10-by-14-inch and 12-by-18-inch wall tiles and 12-inch-square floor tiles. Matching trims, listellos and decor tiles are...

Helios develops three wool lines. (Products).
January 1, 2002... C'est Magnifique, Kid Luxe and Town woven wool carpet from Helios. All of the lines carry the Wools of New Zealand Brand. The C'est Magnifique line features the tri-color patterns of Caledonia Point, Highland Cloth and Garden Cheque. ...

Mannington intros recycled-content tile. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Mannington Commercial recently launched Colorpoint and Solidpoint, two new floor tiles composed of at least 10% recycled vinyl content. Both products are rated for heavy commercial traffic and recommended for retail and healthcare applications....

Poliface to showcase new lines. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Poliface will showcase Poliface Marine, Poliface Excel, Poliface Excel Grande, Poliface Home, and Poliface Home Grande at Surfaces 2002, Jan. 29-Feb. 1 in Las Vegas. Poliface Home and Poliface Home Grande feature a glueless "click" installation...

BonaKemi develops semi-gloss finish. (Products).
January 1, 2002... BonaKemi USA Inc. has developed BonaTech Traffic Commercial SemiGloss, an expansion on the company's BonaTech Traffic Commercial Satin. According to the company, BonaTech Traffic outperforms moisture-cure finishes and can cure 90% of a floor in...

Midwest padding pioneers Insulayment underlayment. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Midwest Padding L.L.C. has developed new Insulayment underlayment for ceramic tile. Insulayment earned an "Extra Heavy" rating in Robinson Floor testing (ASTM C627) performed by the Tile Council of America. The underlayment can be used...

Shumacher adds wool collections. (Products).
January 1, 2002... F. Schumacher recently introduced three new collections that incorporate the Wools of New Zealand Brand. The Bourbon Street Collection is a five-frame Wilton series and features a multicolored pattern. Caulkins Floral is a worsted wool...

Century tile new from Amtico. (Products).
January 1, 2002... New from Amtico International is Century, a floor tile collection in 12 colors developed for the commercial market. The company recommends the tile line for high-traffic areas such as restaurants, retail stores and hotels. The Century...

Halcon debuts rustic Alabama. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Halcon recently introduced its Alabama series of rustic floor and wall tile. The wall tile, which is available in beige and gray, is manufactured in 8-by11.5-inch and l.2.5-by-18-inch formats. The tile comes with bullnose, listellos, borders,...

APAC adds two new adhesives. (Products).
January 1, 2002... All Purpose Adhesive Co. (APAC) has added 560 Vinyl Flooring Adhesive and 590 Universal Perimeter Floor Adhesive to its ECOlogical product family. An acrylic-based, water resistant formulation, 560 features the company's X-Linking...

Bengard unveils moulding line. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Bengard Manufacturing has developed a new line of wood grain-finished laminate mouldings in stair nosing, end cap, T-mold and reducer strip profiles. Available in oak, red oak and beech aluminum oxide finishes, the aluminum mouldings feature a...

Sphinx releases Oasis rug line. (Products).
January 1, 2002... Sphinx by Oriental Weavers recently released rug collections in the Oasis line of the company's handmade division. Oasis features eight collections including the Masterpiece, Complements, Derails, Environments, Roaring 20s, and Simplicity...

NFT to host multiple Surfaces seminars. (People/Places/Events).(National Floor Trends magazine to sponsor panel discussions)
January 1, 2002... National Floor Trends magazine will sponsor two panels at Surfaces 2002 in Las Vegas. On Wed., Jan. 30, NFT Senior Editor and long-time industry stalwart Howard Olansky will moderate "Thinking 'Outside the Box' to Outfox the Big Boxes." In...

In memoriam: Lou Spano Sr. (People/Places/Events).(World Floor Covering Association founder)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2002... Longtime industry leader dead at 80 Cancer, a disease he battled for eight years, has taken the life of Lou Spano Sr., one of the most respected members of the floor covering industry. In 1955, Lou launched a successful retail...

Mohawk to buy Dal-Tile. (People/Places/Events).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Mohawk Industries will purchase Dal-Tile International in a transaction valued at approximately $1.663 billion, including the repayment of approximately $261.7 million in Dal-Tile's debt. The merger, which was unanimously approved by the...

Barchan joins FloorScapes. (News).(Steve Barchan appointed to sales force )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... FloorScapes LLC recently added Steve Barchan, a 15-year veteran of flooring retailing and hard surface distribution, to its sales force. Barchan is responsible for sales of Alsafloor Laminate, Bamboo and complementary products, and Hand...

Pantoja joins Basic Coatings. (News).(Tony Pantoja becomes part of California sales force)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Tony Pantoja of San Francisco has joined Basic Coatings' California sales force. Pantoja has amassed more than 10 years of finishes and tech service experience. He covers the Golden State region in tandem with Brent Sorbet.

Mohawk hands out $100,000 promo award. (News).(Mohawk Industries Inc.'s special promotion)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... As part of a special promotion, Deborah Weldon of Home Plus by Cassity Jones in Longview, Texas recently won $100,000 from Mohawk Industries Inc. Weldon participated in the Mohawk Paid in Full promotion that awarded salespeople points for...

Mannington joins forces with Galleher. (News).(Mannington Mills and Galleher Inc. reach distribution agreement)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Mannington Mills recently tapped Galleher Inc. in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. as a "One Mannington" distributor. Galleher will carry Mannington residential product lines of wood, laminate and resilient flooring and the company's commercial...

Anderson restructures distribution. (News).(Anderson Hardwood Floors)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Anderson Hardwood Floors has restructured its brand distribution in Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona. The Roane Co. is now the exclusive distributor for Anderson's Appalachian Hardwood Floors. The Virginia Hardwood Co. and...

Award expands its distribution. (News).(Award Hardwood Floors )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Award Hardwood Floors has expanded distribution of its product line through two recent appointments. Darant Distributing of Denver now handles the Award product line in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Suisun, Calif.-based Tom Duffy Co. has...

Former Valley Western VP dies. (News).(Ernie Stewart, former principal and Vice President of sales at Valley Western Distributors)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2002... Former Valley Western Distributors principal and Vice President of Sales Ernie Stewart died on Nov. 15. He was 92. Stewart served Valley Western Distributors from 1946 until his retirement in the late 1980s. Prior to his career in the floor...

James Hardie buys Cemplank plants. (News).(James Hardie Building Products acquires fiber-cement facilities in Pennsylvania and South Carolina)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... James Hardie Building Products has expanded its U.S. manufacturing capacity through the acquisition of Cemplank's fiber-cement operations, including a lease of two manufacturing plants located in South Carolina and Pennsylvania. James...

NWFA announces contests, 2002 school schedule. (News).(National Wood Flooring Association)
January 1, 2002... The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) recently announced two contests and the schedule for its 2002 Introduction to Wood Flooring Installation School. The NWFA is now accepting applications for its first Designers' Choice Wood...

Nafco floor featured in home showcase. (News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Nafco's Dorchester Plank, a vinyl floor covering with the look of hardwood, was featured in Jim Beirne's custom home in The Woodlands 2001 Showcase of Homes Classics in October. The Nafco flooring was showcased in the house's hobby room....

MoldingsDirect enters the flooring market. (News).(MoldingsDirect L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... MoldingsDirect LLC of New Castle, Del. has entered the transition mouldings market to provide a range of custom wood finished and unfinished transition moldings direct from the manufacturer. The company offers its customers express...

Award adds to its distribution network. (News).(Award Hardwood Floors)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Award Hardwood Floors has appointed three new distributors. Southern Wholesale Flooring in Marietta, Ga. covers the Georgia and northern Alabama sales territories for the company. McKee Enterprises in Eagan, Minn. is responsible for...

Pergo. (People).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Pergo has appointed Dr. Raimo Issal company CEO and president. Issal, who succeeds Michael Boris-Moller, previously served as the Pergo's executive vice president.

Textile Rubber and Chemical Co. (People).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Ray Taylor has been chosen to replace Harvey Howalt as president of Textile Rubber & Chemical Co. Howalt will remain on as the company's chairman. Taylor has served the company for 27 years, most recently acting as executive vice president.

Mannington Commercial. (People).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Mannington Commercial has named Doug Enck vice president of sales and marketing, Commercial Carpet and Resilient. Enck will focus on expanding sales of Mannington Commercial products in the contract marketplace.

United States Ceramic Tile Co. (People).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Donald E. Olson was recently named CEO of Laufen U.S.A. Olsen's experience in the ceramic tile industry includes 10 years in ceramic tile distribution in the Chicago area and positions as executive vice president of sales and marketing,...

Armstrong. (People).
January 1, 2002... Armstrong has tapped Kevin Biedermann as the company's new general manager, Laminate for the Armstrong Floor Products group.

BHK of America. (People).
January 1, 2002... BHK of America recently appointed two regional sales managers to cover the Southeast and Midwest territories. Carrie McMullen Erb, the new Midwest regional sales manager for the company's laminate flooring business, is responsible for the Ohio,...

AITN honors excellence. (News).(Armstrong Installation Training Network)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Armstrong Installation Training Network (AITN) has presented three-first-time awards for excellence in the floor covering installation industry. Fred Carter received the Armstrong Lifetime Achievement Award. Carter has 41 years of...

Relocating Janus names new distributor. (News).(Janus Flooring Corp.)(Orders Distributing Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Janus Flooring Corp. has appointed Orders Distributing Co. as its exclusive distributor for IMaGES products for the southeast United States, from West Virginia through Florida. In addition, Janus announced that it will be moving into new...

Cutting edges in Italy: Cersaie showcases the latest and greatest in ceramic tile.
January 1, 2002... For six days in October, nearly 100,000 visitors from around the world gathered to attend Cersaie 2001, the International Exhibition of Ceramics for the Building Industry and Bathroom Furnishings, at the Bologna Fairgrounds in Bologna, Italy....

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2002... JANUARY 2002 2002 INDUSTRY EVENTS Domotex 2002 -- Hanover, Germany, (609) 987-1202, Jan. 12-15. TOLI Installation School -- New Castle, Del. (888) 879-8654, Jan. 16. Atlanta International Rug Market -- Atlanta. (800) ATL-MART,...

Trends for 2002 Rug suppliers focus on licensing, diversification and expanded distribution.
January 1, 2002... Buyers attending the upcoming International Area Rug Market in Atlanta (Jan. 17-20) will see an industry on the cusp of major change. The big, splashy introductions scheduled to be unveiled during the event are evidence of a profound alteration...

Through thick and thin new alternatives to 3/4-inch solid hardwood. (Wood or Wood Knot).
January 1, 2002... In the beginning, our industry was founded on the notion of developing a flooring product that possessed quality and, especially, durability on par with the construction standards of the time. Back then, the longevity and the dependability of a...

Floor warmers can help you close that tile sale: don't let your customers get cold feet! (Ceramic & stone close-up).
January 1, 2002... Floor-warming systems are becoming increasingly popular. On one hand, they provide retailers with an effective response to the consumer who refuses to consider buying floor tiles because they are "too cold for bare feet." But that's just one...

N.A.C. (Products & Literature on Display).(National Applied Construction )
January 1, 2002... Since 1983, National Applied Construction Products has offered the strongest industry performance with ECB for anti-fracture, Strataflex for waterproofing and SAM3 for sound abatement membrane systems. For details circle #101 on the Free...

Accu-Cut. (Products & Literature on Display).
January 1, 2002... "The Accu-Cut IVC-16 allows one person to unroll, inspect, measure, cut, reverse roll and warp carpet and vinyl quickly, simply and accurately. Features include an extended inspection table, circular blade cutting system and automated controls....

Capella. (Products & Literature on Display).
January 1, 2002... Capella[TM] 3/4" and 3/8" engineered hardwood floors are available in longer lengths, with greater dimensional stability to resist expansion and contraction. The top layer is sliced-cut, giving Capella the attractive grain pattern of solid...