Recent Interviews

Several of the leading trade organizations in our industry have formed a coalition to get legislation passed that would offer tax incentives to consumers who purchase building and interior furnishing products. In this interview, Dean Thompson with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute and Kemp Harr provide a summary of the HIRE Act of 2009 (Home Improvement Revitalize the Economy). Listen to this 7 min interview to hear how this initiative is advancing.  To get a sample letter to send your congressman or senator, you can email the RFCI at teresa.williford@RFCI.com

Raja Sharma, Vice Chair of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (for handmade rugs from India), and Kemp Harr discuss the unique advantages of Indian rugs, shifts in the market and how retailers should view this product line as an option for differentiation.

Aaron Pirner, owner of Cap Carpets, and Pam Bowe, executive director of the Floor Covering Business to Business trade organization, discuss the progress FCB2B has made in simplifying computer to computer communications for the floorcovering industry. In the interview, Aaron talks about how it helps his business and suggests that other retailers take advantage of it.

Kermit Baker, Harvard economist and author of the Architecture Billings Index, and Kemp Harr discuss the May index, which was up only slightly in May at 42.9, indicating that the recovery is moving sideways and not improving.  Listen to the interview to hear more details and when Kermit and his Harvard associates think economic conditions will start to improve.

Economist and industry analyst Santo Torcivia and Kemp Harr discuss some of the key findings in the recently published U.S. FlooReport. Listen to the interview to hear where we are in the economic recovery, what product categories are taking share, how the home centers are doing versus the independent flooring retailers, and what role the Internet is playing. (approx 12 min)

Bob Hurt, Director of Environmental Health and Safety for Daltile, and Kemp Harr discuss the evolution of the USGBC LEED standards and how more consideration is being made for the performance of ceramic tile flooring as a sustainable option. Listen to the interview to hear more about how indoor air quality, life cycle analysis, embodied energy and regional availablity are all factors to be evaluated when comparing different flooring surfaces.

Recorded at NeoCon last week, Frank Douglas,  VP of Business Development, and Kemp Harr discuss Crossville's new equipment, which enables the firm to crush pre and post consumer tile back into dust so it can be added back into new product. Listen to the interview to hear more about this new technology, Crossville's traffic at Neocon and its Best of Show Gold award for the UltiMetal Collection.

Dan Hendrix, CEO of Interface, and Kemp Harr discuss Interface's recent highly successful bond transaction that extended the maturity of of their long-term debt by 3 years. Listen to the interview to hear what the analysts liked about their market position and how the transaction was oversubscribed in New York and took less effort that anticipated.

Reesie Duncan, Creative Director for The Shaw Contract Group, and Kemp Harr discuss Shaw's "Wool" product which won the gold best of neocon award for both broadloom and modular. Listen to the interview to hear how this product was developed, what designers are looking for today, and more about Shaw's Neocon traffic this year.

Mark Falanga, Senior VP in charge of Neocon for MMPI, and Kemp Harr discuss traffic and exhibitor numbers, and the value of this show to the interior furnishings business.  Listen to the interview to hear his perception of how flooring manufacturers have evolved in design focus over the last 10 years.

Catherine Minervini, VP of Marketing at Bentley Prince Street, and Kemp Harr discuss changes in design trends and the inspiration behind some of BPS's latest product introductions. Listen to the interview to hear Catherine talk about the firm's expectations for Neocon, its new relationship with Aquafil and how the recession has affected design trends.

Antron has developed new bio-based carpet fiber that uses castor oil. Listen as Diane O'Sullivan, Antron's director of marketing, tells Kemp Harr how the firm's research and development group developed the new fiber, which contains 10% bio based material. She also talks about Antron's carpet reclamation program, and this year's Antron Product Innovation Award winners.

The Dixie Group has formed a new division aimed at the contract market called Whitespace that does business exclusively through the Internet. Listen as Ken Dempsey, president of Masland Contract and Whitespace, tells Kemp Harr about the innovative new business model and how it gives designers more options for their projects. The new division was conceived by Masland management and offers completely new lines of broadloom and modular carpet.

Hal Long, Executive VP of Operations with Shaw Industries, and Kemp Harr discuss Shaw's recent decisions to build a PET recycling plant in North Carolina and a second waste-to-energy plant in Dalton, Georgia. Listen to the interview to hear more about Shaw's investments to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Mark Falanga, VP with Merchandise Mart, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights for next week's NeoCon show in Chicago. Listen to the interview to learn more about exhibitor and attendance statistics and speaker/seminar highlights.

Marty Schallock, Owner of Malkin's Carpet, and Kemp Harr discuss a residential interior designer event Marty held recently. His special guests for this event were Vicki Gillstrap, Mohawk VP of Color and Design, and Taniya Nayak, Designer on HGTV's Designed to Sell. Listen to the interview to hear how he positions nylon versus Smartstrand carpet fiber in Wisconsin.

Fred Poses (CEO) and Gary Lanser (VP of Flooring Business) with Ascend Performance Materials, and Kemp Harr discuss the business strategy and motivation behind this new company's acquisition of Solutia's nylon business. Listen to the interview to hear about SK Capital and this new company's competitive advantage in the nylon, and more specifically, the carpet fiber business. Fred Poses has a long history in the carpet fiber business with Allied Signal and Gary Lanser worked with Monsanto.

Christine Whittemore, Industry Consultant, and Kemp Harr discuss the recently launched CRI Consumer Blog. Listen to the interview to hear how consumers can find useful information and dispel some of the leading myths about carpet. To access the new CRI blog, go to www.CRIblog.org.

Recorded at the HGTV Green Home in Port St. Lucie, FL, professional house planner Jack Thomasson and Kemp Harr discuss this new home's LEED certification and the flooring products that were used. Listen to the interview to hear more about how consumers are becoming more environmentally aware. Also hear how Jack cuts through "greenwashing."

Jim Bethel, CEO of J&J Industries (a 52 year old commercial carpet manufacturer) and Kemp Harr discuss what it takes to be a successful family business. Listen to the interview to hear more about the award and the criteria that's used to select the winner.

Al Kabus, President of The Mohawk Group, and Kemp Harr discuss Mohawk's Re:work seminar series designed to provide unemployed designers and architects help in securing future employment.  In this 10 city tour, Mohawk, the IIDA and Interior Design Magazine have teamed up to provide A&D professionals with outplacement assistance that includes portfolio evaluation, financial planning, resume writing assistance and job opportunity networking services.  Listen to this 8 minute interview to hear more about how this came about and where they are in the process.  To see the schedule and locations,  go to www.themohawkgroup.com/rework

Patricia Flavin, Beaulieu's VP of Marketing, and Kemp Harr discuss Beaulieu's recent share growth, its continued success with the Bliss brand and details about its new Consumer Sweepstake. This is a great interview for retail flooring showroom salespeople to listen to for tips on selling flooring to women.

Tom Levi, Owner of Levi's 4 Floors in Ohio, and Kemp Harr discuss the strategic changes Levi's has made to increase sales. Listen to the interview to hear Tom's thoughts on the economy, changes in consumer buying habits and what makes this seven store Ohio chain successful.