National Floor Trends articles from January 2005

National Floor Trends archives from January 2005

Don't rush to blame your salespeople when sales drop; stress training product and consumer education to boost sales.(Industry Perspectives)
January 1, 2005... Those who take potshots at salespeople with comments like: "They just don't make salespeople like they used to," are off base. I'm never sure how far back they are reaching. More than 10 years ago, that was a different world. Of those who...

Speak her language: the art of selling to female customers.
January 1, 2005... Many say that John Gray's book "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus" started a revolution. While this may be true, there are still many ways men and women can learn to communicate effectively. One way is to speak the other's language. ...

Manufacturers set for ambitious rollout at Atlanta Rug Market.
January 1, 2005... New eye-catching designs will mingle with the more traditional approaches as rug manufacturers from all over the world gather Jan. 20-23 for the Atlanta Area Rug Market. Manufacturers set to attend say displays on the show floor will...

Record attendance expected at Surfaces 2005 installer demo, 'Town Hall meeting' highlight Vegas gathering.
January 1, 2005... It will be wall-to-wall business on nearly a half-million square feet of exhibit space as the industry's preeminent event, Surfaces 2005, kicks off later this month at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Repairing hardwood flooring: the ultimate challenge.
January 1, 2005... The dealer/contractor has always been considered the front-line representative of the hardwood flooring industry. Consumers continue to be tantalized with the multiple potential products available from our progressive hardwood flooring...

Weinrib, Pace, Pedian honored by Karastan.(News)
January 1, 2005... Jeff Lorberbaum, CEO of Mohawk Industries, (left) with Jerry Weinrib of ABC Carpet & Home. New York. Weinrib was honored by Karastan with a Lifetime Achievement Award [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Monte Thornton (center), president of Mohawk...

New look for Marazzi.(News)(Marazzi Ceramiche S.p.A.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The multi-brand Italian ceramic tile maker, Marazzi Group, has completed a corporate re-branding effort aimed at generating greater visibility for the parent company. Included is a new logo consisting of the name "Marazzi Group" in dark blue...

World Floor Covering Association, National Floor Trends/BNP media launch flooring industry partnership.(News)
January 1, 2005... The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) has entered into an exclusive partnership with National Floor Trends Magazine (NFT) and the BNP Media Market Research Division to collect and disseminate information that will help floor covering...

"Magnet" store display draws a patent.(News)(Allen Stein Designs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... An in-store merchandising system, "The Magnet" has been awarded a patent from the U.S. government. The system's creator, Atlanta-based Allen Stein Designs, says the palette card display enables consumers to see all styles, colors and price...

NFA elects new officers and directors.(News)(The National Floorcovering Alliance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The National Floorcovering Alliance (NFA) has elected new officers and directors. The incoming board will be Sam Roberts, Roberts Carpets and Fine Floors, Houston (president); Jim Mudd, Sam Kinnairds Flooring, Louisville, Ky. (vice president);...

NOFMA installs president.(News)(Appointment)(John Clark)(The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association, has elected John Clark of Cheerybark Flooring in Hazelhurst, Miss., has its president for 2005. Clark, who had previously served as vice president, was one of several appointments made at the...

MAPEI readies new plant in Calif.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Installation products manufacturer, MAPEI America, is set to cut the ribbon on its new 111,000 square-foot facility in San Bernardino, Calif. on January 24. The new plant will initially produce powder products for all of the company's product...

Tarkett to acquire Marley Floors.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Tarkett AG has signed an agreement to acquire Marley Floors from ETEX Group SA, Belgium. Marley Floors, with headquarters in the UK, produces and markets vinyl floor coverings, particularly for the commercial sector in healthcare, retail...

Unilin and Faus enter patent cooperation agreement.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Unilin and Faus have entered into a cooperative agreement that will enable each company to use material covered by the other's patent. The pact announced by the companies involves their respective clic-systems, Embossed-In-Register, and...

Distributor appointments.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Capella Wood Floors will have its wood product line distributed in the Midwest by E. J. Welch Co. The area of service will include Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois. For more information, telephone (866) 422-3552. The Norman D. Lifton...

Tarkett Commercial unifies look for all products.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Tarkett Commercial is continuing the integration of its product marketing under one brand standard by instituting the use of a uniform manufacturing design for all commercial products. The new design will be consistent graphically across all...

Upcoming industry events.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... Domotex 2005 -- Hannover, Germany. (609) 987-1202, Jan. 15-18. Atlanta Rug Market -- Atlanta. (404) 220-2330, Jan. 20-23. Surfaces 2005 -- Las Vegas. (800) 547-3477, Jan. 26-28. Cevisama 2005 -- Valencia, Spain. 34 96 386 11 00,...

FIANA elects its 2005 board of directors.(News)(The Floor Installation Association of North America Inc)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Floor Installation Association of North America Inc. (FIANA) has announced its board of directors for 2005. Returning for another year will be David Greenbaum, David C. Greenbaum Co., San Bernardino, Calif.; Pete Rincione, Professional...

CRI debuts new carpet-cleaning testing program.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has launched a new Seal of Approval program designed to recognize carpet cleaning products that pass stringent tests administered by an independent, accredited laboratory. Since August, three products have...

U.S. Building Council launches LEED-CI.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Green Building Council has launched its new LEED Green Building Rating System for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI). LEED-CI is the third green building rating system developed by the USGBC following the LEED for Existing Buildings...

Mohawk unveils new SmartStrand fiber.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Mohawk Industries has unveiled its SmartStrand fiber made with DuPont's Sorona polymer. The fiber has been in development for more than two years, and features stain protection engineered into the fiber, as opposed to topically applied....

Mannington Commercial appoints new president.(News)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Jack Ganley has been named president of Mannington Commercial. Dick Bierie, who served as president since 2000, has left the company to pursue other interests. Ganley spent 22 years with Lees Carpets, where he gained experience in product...

Marble Institute of America.(People)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Marble Institute of America (MIA), which recently enrolled 50 new members at its annual meeting, has elected Scott Lardner of Rocky Mountain Stone Co., Albuquerque, as president for 2005. He succeeds Paul Vigna of Artisan Tile & Marble of...

Mullican Flooring.(People)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Mullican Flooring has hired Ginna Stophel as legal counsel/warranty manager. She will serve as in-house legal counsel while handling the administrative division of claims management.

Powernail Co. Inc.(People)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Powernail Co. Inc. has named Thomas J. Coates as sales manager. He was previously mid-continent sales manager for the Dixie Group. He will oversee and manage Powernail's sales force. For more information, telephone (800) 323-1653, ext. 622.

Stone Mountain's Carpet Mill Outlet/GCO Carpet Outlet.(People)(Promotion)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Stone Mountain's Carpet Mill Outlet/GCO Carpet Outlet, a division of CCA Global Partners, has promoted Tony Greco to vice president of operations. Greco has been with CCA Global for eight years. He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the...

Unique Carpet unveils Chelsea collection in 12 colors.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Unique Carpet introduces Chelsea, a remarkably thick, random loop texture made from proprietary yarn that is a blend of New Zealand wool and solution-dyed nylon. Spun using a Fancy Cable process, Chelsea is available in 12 colors with subtle...

Earthwerks unveils new luxury vinyl tiles.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Earthwerks will roll out a trio of luxury vinyl tiles in 12-by-12-, 16-by-16-, and 18-by-18 inches. Each features built-in grout lines for a realistic surface. Madrid Stone is a .098 gauge product in a stylish 18-by-18-inch tile. Canyon...

Foamex GFI expands memory foam line.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Foamex GFI has released two new carpet cushions to complement its current line of Viscoelastic memory foam products, SunBerber and SunGuard. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Featuring a unique blend of memory foam and first quality prime foam,...

APAC introduces solvent-free seam sealer.(Products)
January 1, 2005... All Purpose Adhesive Co. (APAC) expands its ECOlogical series with a new solvent-free Universal Carpet Seam Sealer, APAC EZ-771. EZ-771 is a nonflammable, environmentally friendly carpet seam sealer designed to present edge raveling. It can be...

Flexco to highlight healthcare, hospitality and the environment.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Flexco's exhibit at Surfaces will include product lines designed for healthcare and hospitality, as well as environmentally friendly products. The company's EnviroFlex products are designed to meet select standards for the design and...

Faus launches its LongStrip technology.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Faus will roll out its LongStrip laminate flooring technology. Based on Faus' existing InterPlank design technology, LongStrip combines more than two planks to complete one, long, continuous wood grain strip. Featuring the company's Self...

Lees Carpets unveils sustainable wet set adhesive.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Lees Carpets recently unveiled Unibond Wet Set RE, an adhesive specially formulated to install broadloom carpets backed with Lees high-performance Unibond backing. Wet Set RE contains 20 percent post-consumer recycled content by total weight,...

Rex Ceramiche presents new designs in two series.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Rex Ceramiche Artistiche presents two new designs in its Pillarguri and Logica series. Edera, part of the fine porcelain stoneware Pillarguri series, is made with hydro jet cut technology and may be installed with a backlit system....

Vitra Tiles rolls out Metallics Mosaic series.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Vitra Tiles USA has released its Interline Metallics Mosaic series. The wall tiles come in four colors--Metallic Antrasite, Metallic Copper, Gold and Platinum. Antrasite and Copper are available in 1-by-1- and 2-by-2 inches. Gold and Platinum...

Roppe marks its 50th anniversary at Surfaces.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Roppe plans to commemorate its 50th anniversary with a new environmentally friendly brand, EcoEffect. The new entry comprises products that are made with renewable resources, post-industrial or post-consumer waste, and can help meet the...

Pergo updates two lines with nearly 30 decors.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Pergo has updated two of its product lines with nearly 30 new decors. The additions to the Pergo Paradigm and Pergo Accolade lines feature sharp, crisp patterns, high-gloss finishes and enhanced wood looks. Pergo Paradigm will be expanded to...

Sepelaci is Tau's latest.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Tau presents Sepelaci, a ceramic tile collection inspired by natural slate. The product is available in a variety of intensive colors. Sepelaci comes in a range of different formats and sizes, with mosaics also available. For details, circle...

Neuhofer Holz debuts FN one4all and FN clipholder premium.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Molding manufacturer Neuhofer Holz introduces its FN one4all and FN clipholder premium. The FN one4all allows four different flooring applications in a single profile. The FN clipholder premium is an intelligent mounting system which can be...

Columbia to offer bamboo flooring, expand lines.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Columbia Flooring has added four SKUs of 3 1/4-inch wide bamboo flooring, available in four varieties--two vertical and two horizontal pattern planks--in different finishes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Columbia will also expand its flooring...

Sentinel offers full array of 'green' cleaning products.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Sentinel offers a full range of "green" cleaning products, including Sentinel 810 All Surface Floor Prep & Cleaner. 810 is designed to work in conjunction with 747 Plus to prep the subfloor by removing any leftover residue. For details, circle...

Bengard presents Discus rubber floor tile.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Bengard now offers Discus rubber floor tile. The product is available in six stocked colors--Medium Grey, Brown, Sable, True Blue, Charcoal and Black. A One Step Stair Tread is available to coordinate with the Discus tile product. For details,...

Wanke Cascade debuts Terra Living Collection.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Wanke Cascade's Terra Living Collection features a combination of bamboo, cork and Marmoleum linoleum flooring. The eco-friendly collection is packaged in a new display and is being offered to qualified dealers within Wanke Cascade's trading...

Musson publishes new brochure.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Musson's latest brochure describes and illustrates the company's "Designed for Safety" heavy-duty entry matting and tile. Typical products are made of rubber, vinyl and olefin carpet fiber. Other products include recycled fluff cord tiles,...

Nourison presents its "Making a Rug" DVD.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Nourison has created a piece specifically for presentation to the company's selling staff, via the "Making a Rug" DVD. The DVD was created to provide Nourison dealers with a practical frame of reference on the design and manufacture of area...

E-Z Cut logs new software-to-machine interface.(Products)
January 1, 2005... E-Z Cut presents its new MTS-1000 Cutting Machine-To-Software Interface. The system provides direct communication between the end-user's floor covering software and a personal computer networked to an E-Z Cut Carpet Cutting Machine. Orders...

Honeywell announces new Anso nylon initiatives.(Products)
January 1, 2005... Beginning with its fall 2004 and winter 2005 introductions, Honeywell Nylon's Anso CrushResister and CrushResister TLC brands will feature revamped logos as part of a rebranding effort. In addition, Honeywell is set to hold its second annual...

A solid endorsement for concrete tiles.(Ceramic & Stone Close-up)
January 1, 2005... By now it's clear that concrete is, and will remain, one of the most popular construction products. And, why not? It has consistently proven to be one of the strongest, most durable building products ever seen. Its use pre-dates the Romans who...

How to keep your store in the forefront of customers' minds.(Showroom Management)
January 1, 2005... Do you know the difference between selling and marketing? Selling is used for a specific occasion when you want to convince customers that your business is the place for one-stop shopping, that you'll do a great job of meeting customers'...

Don't call it linoleum if it's sheet vinyl; ASTM standards at work: the resilient flooring dictionary addresses commonly misused industry terms.(Resilient Answer Man)(American Society for Testing and Materials)(Glossary)
January 1, 2005... A customer recently came into the store where I work and asked for linoleum. I replied, "Do you mean sheet vinyl or real linoleum?" and she said "Linoleum, and you are the first flooring store of several I have been to that asked me that...

E-Z Cut.(Products & Literature on display)
January 1, 2005... "MTS-1000"--Machine-To-Software Interface [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Introducing the new "MTS-1000" Cutting Machine-To-Software Interface from E-Z CUT. This easy to use integration system maximizes efficiency and eliminates costly errors...

Basic coatings.(Products & Literature on display)
January 1, 2005... 2K Select: Leading the Way in Performance & Price [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Basic is celebrating its 20-year anniversary... and our water-base line up keeps getting better! 2K Select offers new and improved two-component technology with...

Carpet shims.(Products & Literature on display)
January 1, 2005... CARPET SHIMS and UNIVERSAL SIDE SHIMS easily eliminate the problem of height differences from carpeted floors to ceramic or hardwood floors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * No more double tack strips. * No more building ramps with...

SI Flooring Systems.(Products & Literature on display)
January 1, 2005... SI Flooring Systems, manufacturer of SoftBac Platinum backing for residential carpet, is one of two leading producers of foundation fabrics for the carpet industry. SoftBac Platinum makes carpet look better, last longer and also solves...

Amorim industrial solutions.(Products & Literature on display)
January 1, 2005... Sound Performer/Sound Environmentally [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AcoustiCORK[TM] Products provide the thinnest profile, most effective and lowest total installed cost per sq. ft. in sound control underlayments for hard surface flooring....