National Floor Trends articles from September 2006

National Floor Trends archives from September 2006

CCA's Summit message: Focus. Plan. Achieve greatness. Repeat.(Editorial Comment)
September 1, 2006... I was at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver late last month and the place was wall-to-wall with flooring retailers. Some big, some small, some wearing matching shirts that made them look like aging day campers. There were tired feet and a...

Is it time to advertise? Check your calendar.(High-Impact Retailing)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2006... The average retailer in our business doesn't set budgets, plan yearly advertising, forecast sales or even keep a detailed history of business performance. Such basic retail tools as sales patterning and ad books are all but nonexistent....

Time to talk about cork.(Resilient Answer Man)
September 1, 2006... Cork flooring is one of the most interesting floor covering products in use today, but is also one of the most misunderstood. This is something I learned this year when I started presenting a seminar called "The Fascinating World of Cork." The...

Installing vinyl-backed sheet products: a drying art.(Focus on Resilient)
September 1, 2006... If there is one thing every veteran installer knows it is this: moisture is our enemy. It can often take some time, but if it is not addressed adequately the presence of even a small amount of moisture can undermine an entire floor. This is why...

Flooring's new commercial message: it's dazzling and it's green.(Showroom Management)
September 1, 2006... A sure way to determine the styling trends that will shape the world of commercial flooring in the coming winter months is to take a trip to Chicago in mid-summer. North America's largest commercial interior design show and conference, NeoCon,...

When things get fuzzy, fine tune the big picture.(Tile & Stone)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2006... Ceramic tile is not a necessity. It's a luxury. When someone makes the decision to go with tile, they expect to pay a premium price. Why shouldn't they expect a premium product and premium service? Today I got a call from a consumer that...

Latest tile products and designs to take center stage at Cersaie 2006.
September 1, 2006... One of the tile industry's prominent events is just around the corner. From September 26-30 over 90,000 visitors from around the world are expected to travel to Bologna, Italy to attend Cersaie 2006, the world's largest international exhibition...

New NFT sister pub, Site Prep, will target building planners.(News)
September 1, 2006... A new trade publication serving professionals involved in construction site preparation will be formally launched next year by the parent company of National Floor Trends, BNP Media. Set to begin regular publication in January 2007 with an...

Williams retires, Mohawk marketing ace credited with unifying brands.(News)
September 1, 2006... After 40 years in the flooring business including a decade with Mchawk Industries, Ed Williams, said he plans to retire from his post as Mohawk's senior vp of marketing. Williams joined the company in 1996 in that position and is described by...

Prices hikes, 'energy surcharge' planned as floor makers grapple with fuel costs.(News)
September 1, 2006... Soaring energy costs have prompted four major manufacturers to announce wholesale price hikes in recent weeks. Armstrong Floor Products, Congoleum, Mannington Mills and Tarkett Commercial all offered similar reasons for their respective...

Total Solutions: tile contractors set to meet in Vegas this month.(News)
September 1, 2006... A slate of business and technical sessions, a preview of new products and a forum for contractors to relate their best practices, will highlight the third annual National Tile Contractors Associaition's annual meeting set for this month. The...

Stark carpet finds 'perfect complement,' buys two wallcovering companies.(News)
September 1, 2006... Fulfilling a long time goal of expanding its non-floorcovering operations, the 60-year old custom carpet specialist Stark Carpet Corp. said it has added two leading textile and wallcovering firms. The upscale New York-based company said it has...

Boral.(Distributor appointments)
September 1, 2006... Boral has added Lockwood Flooring to handle its line of Australian wood in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois

Formica Flooring.(Distributor appointments)
September 1, 2006... Formica Flooring said CDC Distributors will distribute 38 decors of Formica Flooring to specialty retailers in Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.

EnduraStone.(Distributor appointments)
September 1, 2006... EnduraStone announced the addition of three distributors: Tri-West will cover California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam. Arley Wholesale will cover most of the eastern seaboard from South Carolina to Maine and Viking...

Faus Inc.(Distributor appointments)
September 1, 2006... Faus Inc. has welcomed T & A Supply/Inland-Northwest Distributing into the Fausfloor family. The distributor, with branches in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, will offer the Fausfloor Masterpieces, Essentials and Classic...

Florim USA.(Jim Dougherty vappointed as marketing president)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Florim USA has named Jim Dougherty vp marketing. An industry veteran with more than 25 years experience in marketing, he will lead the company's marketing and customer service initiatives including strategies for both the Esquire and American...

Roca Tile Group.(People)(Donald E. Olsen resigns from the Roca Tile Group)(Roca Tile Group appoints Agustin Lopez as president)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Roca Tile Group has announced the departure of Donald E. Olsen as president of U.S. operations. He will be succeeded by Agustin Lopez, a senior managing director for the company. Roca said Olsen, who has been with the company for 21 years...

Q.E.P. Co.(People)
September 1, 2006... Flooring tools and accessories maker, Q.E.P. Co. has named Jim Daubs as vp business development. He will focus on the compnay's strategic marketing initiatives and strengthening of key customer relations.

Faus Group.(People)
September 1, 2006... Faus Group has promoted Richard Gibson to national sales manager for their Fausfloor channel of distribution. A 26-year veteran of the industry, Gibson was most recently the company's Northeast Regional Sales Manager.

Shaw Industries.(People)
September 1, 2006... John Bradshaw, an 18 year veteran of Shaw Industries has been named for the newly created position of environmental marketing manager. He has been charged with restarting Shaw's Evergreen nylon recycling facility in Augusta.

Intertech Flooring.(People)
September 1, 2006... Intertech Flooring has announced several personnel moves: Carl Schneider has been promoted to vp finance. He had been controller since 1994. Dixon Matlock, a director of production, is elevated to vice president of Austin operations. Jonathan...

Edge Flooring.(People)
September 1, 2006... Edge Flooring has announced that its director of product development and vendor management, Dave Brownlee has been accepted as a member of the Color Marketing Group. Admittance to the 1,300-member group is based on career accomplishmsnts that...

Armstrong to emerge from Chapter 11; U.S. District Court OKs modified plan.(News)
September 1, 2006... After nearly six years in bankruptcy as a result of asbestos-related litigation, Armstrong World Industries said it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 protection in Q4 of 2006. The statement came following a decision by U.S. District Court Judge...

It's only natural (fiber): CFI offers new install program.(News)
September 1, 2006... Moving to address the specific installation requirements of natural fiber carpets, the Certified Floorcovering Installers Association is introducing a Natural Fiber Flooring Installation Certification (NFIC). The new CFI program provides...

Kentucky Wood Floors founder builds a new home in Louisville.(News)
September 1, 2006... Hardwood flooring veteran John Stern has said goodbye to Kentucky and hello to Louisville. Stern, who sold the company he founded, Kentucky Wood Floors, to Koetter Woodworking two years ago, has launched Louisville Wood Floors. Stern said...

Wanted: floor Covering Hall of Fame nominees.(News)
September 1, 2006... Now through Nov. 10, The World Floor Covering Association is accepting applications for the Floor Covering Hall of Fame. To be considered, candidates require a sponsor who will complete a detailed application that includes the nominee's...

Upcoming industry events.(News)(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... NTCA Total Solutions 2006 -- Las Vegas. (601) 939-2071, Sept. 14-16. Decorex International -- London, England. +44 (0)20 7833 3373, Sept. 24-27. Cersaie -- Bologna, Italy. 39 0536 804585, Sept. 26-30. FCICA Mid Year Meeting --...

Virginia Hardwood celebrates 60th anniversary with open house.(News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Floor covering distributor Virginia Hardwood, continued its 60th anniversary celebration with an open house at its Azusa, Calif, headquarters recently. More than 400 retailers and contractors gathered at the distributor's facility in Southern...

Newly installed agreement has WFCA's Namba moving to CFI.(News)
September 1, 2006... The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) and the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) have embarked on a new cooperative arrangement. The agreement calls for CFI to handle Technical Services and installation...

Industry groups plan free tile events.(News)(National Tile Contractors Association)(Tile Contractors Association of America)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The National Tile Contractors Association, Tile Contractors Association of America, International Masonry Institute and International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers will present "Embracing Change in the Tile Industry" Oct. 18 and...

FIANA set for Atlanta, will ponder installation issues.(News)(Floor Installation Association of North America)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... An upbeat attitude, greater knowledge of legal issues and a better grasp on showrooms design are among the benefits promised to manufacturers and distributors traveling to the Floor Installation Association of North America's 12th annual...

Big changes at Roca Tile include new president, new HQ.(News)
September 1, 2006... As it approaches its 90th birthday next year, the Roca Tile Group has announced a flurry of major changes. Included is a shift in its senior management, a relocation of both its headquarters and its distribution hub, and the opening of four...

Atlanta Rug Market: the outdoors are in.
September 1, 2006... The indoor/outdoor rug segment continues to grow, and nowhere was that more evident than at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market held in July. While the semiannual market boasted a wide variety of looks, styles and textures among the...

Q & A: Kronotex's Ken Peden.(Interview)(Company overview)
September 1, 2006... Editors Note: About two years ago Formica Corp. discontinued its laminate flooring line, Formica Floors. Although the company had enjoyed strong brand identity the realities of the flooring business and the intense competition in the category...

Gilford beefs up ceramic display with limestone, chrome looks.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Gilford has updated its ceramic display with 18 new sample boards. Comprising the latest looks in polished ceramics, the samples include limestone and chrome metal looks, according to the company. Gilford ceramic products are designed for both...

MAPEI presents Ultrabond 980: solvent-free adhesive for wood.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Ultrabond 980 is MAPEI's newest cork, engineered and solid wood flooring adhesive. The solvent-free, moisture-curing urethane adhesive offers great initial grab and elastomeric properties, according to the company. Ultrabond 980 is designed for...

Georgia-Pacific subfloor plywood designed to resist water, warping.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Georgia-Pacific has pulled the wraps off of Plytanium DryPly plywood engineered for use in subfloors. Featuring a water-repellant coating, PlyTanium DryPly is designed to eliminate delamination, warping and excessive edge swelling. For details,...

Bentley Prince Street adhesive sticks with 'Ultra Green Plus'.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Bentley Prince Street has launched two eco-friendly adhesives: Healthbond 1500 Ultra Green Plus and NexStep 2300 Ultra Green Plus. Healthbond is designed for broadloom applications, and NexStep is designed for carpet tile installations. Both...

Wilsonart adds to Red Label: four new distressed designs.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Wilsonart Flooring has added four distressed finishes to its Red Label collection of upscale laminate looks. The new designs include Portland Butternut, El Dorado Wood, Founders Oak and Rio Grande Wood. The flooring is offered in 5" narrow and...

Preverco debuts four exotics in solid and engineered woods.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Preverco has launched its Exotic hardwood flooring series in four species: Brazilian Cherry/Jatoba, Santos/Cabrueva, Sapele and Tigerwood. The series is available in 3 1/4" widths in both engineered and solid looks. Additionally, solid hardwood...

Vives' Ozieri tile mimics old stone.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Vives presents Ozieri, a series of ceramic tile that emulates the look of ancient natural stone. Made of rectified glazed porcelain, Ozieri is sold in boxes containing 11 pieces. The tile is offered in four size variations, as well as multiple...

Tau's Hudson series uses Saturnia shades.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Inspired by Saturnia stone, Tau introduces the Hudson series of ceramic tile. Available in 18" by 18" and 24" by 24" formats in four colors, the tiles feature natural shade variation from piece to piece. The Hudson series is part of Tau's...

Brintons Found Objects rugs offered in green, brown, copper.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Brintons has rolled out a new collection of custom carpet and rug patterns for its Studio Influence series. Called Found Objects, the patterns are inspired by natural textures, shapes and colorations. The color palette blends greens, browns and...

Amtico debuts Pressplate effects for customized, 3D resilient floors.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Amtico has expanded its Custom 3D collection of resilient colors and textures with the addition of 12 Pressplate effects. Offered in gold, bronze, copper and nine bright colors, the Pressplate options offer high-definition designs that appear...

Mercier PRO hardwood line in three species, five stains.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Mercier Wood Flooring has unveiled Mercier PRO, a new flooring line offered in red oak, hard maple and yellow birch. Mercier PRO is featured in five stains on a professional-grade 3 1/4" plank. The line also uses a unique gloss level finish...

Amorim's Wicanders cork flooring can be used in 'green' installations.(Products)
September 1, 2006... Amorim, maker of Wicanders brand cork flooring, says its WicCork and WicWood products are environmentally sustainable. Additionally, the natural material used in cork flooring is both recyclable and biodegradable, the company notes. Cork also...

Seeing the forest for the trees: FSC plants architect guide.(Products)
September 1, 2006... The Forest Stewardship Council, a nonprofit organization that certifies well-managed forests based on a set of strict criteria, has published "Designing and Building with FSC." The 26-page guide is designed for use by architects and...

Reformulated BonaKemi Finishes contain 'among the lowest' VOCs.(Products)
September 1, 2006... BonaKemi USA says that two of its popular finishes have been reformulated to help meet green building requirements. Both Bona Traffic and Bona Mega waterborne finishes contain "among the lowest VOC levels available on the market today" for...

NWFA floor of the year winners: eye for detail leads to outstanding results.
September 1, 2006... Hardwood is an area of flooring that gives designers almost unlimited possibilities. The precise manner in which the boards are cut and sanded can give a room a distinct personality, as unique as the person who crafted it. Playing different...

2006 wood floor resource guide: wood floors/installation & Accessory products.(products)
September 1, 2006... Wood Floor Types Acrylic Impregnated Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Bruce Hardwood Floors Gammapar/Applied Radiant Energy Corp. Custom Floors/Borders/Insets Appalachian Hardwood Floors BR-111 Exotic Hardwood...

2006 wood floor resource guide.(manufacturers/importers)
September 1, 2006... The following manufacturers in this section are those from whom we received forms. This list by no means represents all of the manufacturers in our industry and should not be represented as such. If you are a manufacturer and would like to be...

2006 wood floor resource guide.(wood distributors)(Directory)
September 1, 2006... The following distributors in this section are those from whom we received forms. This list by no means represents all of the distributors in our industry and should not be represented as such. If you are a distributor and would like to be...

Capitalizing on stained hardwood: 'no stain, no gain'.(Wood or Wood Knot)
September 1, 2006... The majority of hardwood sales and installations are generated by "natural stained" wood flooring products. Prefinished hardwood flooring sales have historically been dominated with the "neutral color choice." Stocking neutral or natural...

Carpet Shims.(Products & Literature on display)
September 1, 2006... 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...

Porta Nails.(Products & Literature on display)
September 1, 2006... PNI's Nails & Staples: Porta-Nails offers nails and staples in every size, design and for every application! Whether it is with a manual or pneumatic nailer, using a T-shaped Nail, L-shaped Nail or Staple, PNI now offers it all. For more...

Zimair.(Products & Literature on display)
September 1, 2006... Zimair Displays has redesigned their most popular hardwood display. As an alternative to the top selling TP-10 display - the new "Knock Down" TP10SKD-C version addresses the shipping cost issue. The new units shipping box is 75% smaller than...

Grand Forest.(Products & Literature on display)
September 1, 2006... Grand Forest introduces Asian Walnut Natural. With planks 3/4" thick and 3 5/8" wide this random length flooring has a semi gloss Aluminum Oxide UV-cured finish that posts a 20 year wear-through finish warranty. For additional species and...

Still soft on software? Vendors make their case.(RFMS Inc)(RollMaster Software)(QFloors Software)(Comp-U-Floor Software)(Dancik International)(Discussion)
September 1, 2006... Editor's Note: As part of our on going coverage of communication technology in the flooring industry, we asked five leading software suppliers for an update on the progress being made. We asked particiapants the following questions: *...