Surfaces Preview: An early look at products for the Surfaces show - Jan 2016

By Jessica Chevalier

The Surfaces event brings the residential flooring industry together at the start of each year for three days of networking, buying, educational opportunities and socializing.

The 2016 exhibit hall, which is open for three days, January 20 to 22, will provide a new experience with the inclusion of all exhibitors on a single floor, as the result of a renovation at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. That means no more trekking up and down the escalators.

As was the case last year, The International Surface Event, which includes Surfaces, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and TileExpo, is part of the larger Design and Construction Week in Las Vegas, comprised of the NAHB International Builders’ Show, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and the International Window Coverings Expo—all three of which are taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 19 to 21. And just after these shows all end, the Las Vegas Market takes place at the World Market Center, January 24 to 28.

This year, for the first time since 2003, the Mohawk brand will return to the show floor. Armstrong, Congoleum, QEP, Berry-Alloc and Maxwoods are also opting to exhibit on the floor rather than in private showrooms.

For the sixth year, Floor Focus is sponsoring Designer Day, which takes place on January 21. Designer Day is led by several influential trend experts, including Victoria Redshaw and Phil Pond of Scarlet Opus, Mark Woodman of Mark Woodman Design+Color, and Vincent Marazita of Stone Trends International. The day starts with a design and color trends forecast by Redshaw and continues with additional talks and tours of the show floor as the day progresses.

Also at this year’s Surfaces, Floor Focus will announce the winners of the 40 & Under Emerging Professionals competition, which seeks to promote and recognize excellence among rising professionals under the age of 40 in the retail and contractor sector of the floorcovering industry. Winners will be celebrated at a cocktail event, and their photos and bios will be posted in the show lobby as well.

The International Surface Event features hundreds of flooring manufacturers both foreign and domestic showcasing every kind of flooring under the sun. The following sampling should give an idea of what to expect at the show.

For the complete Surfaces Preview, see the January 2016 issue of Floor Focus Magazine.

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