FloorDaily.net Radio Interviews

Seth Arnold Discusses the Web Based Feedback Mohawks Receives on Its Brand

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:42:00 GMT

May 24, 2013—Seth Arnold, Brand Director for Mohawk's residential carpet business, and Kemp Harr, discuss Mohawk's decision to allow consumers to give honest feedback about their brand experience via the internet. Listen to the interview to hear more details about how Mohawk uses this information to improve.

Amy Jaekel Discusses OW Hospitality's Axminster Introduction at the HD Expo

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:34:00 GMT

May 22, 2013—Amy Jaekel, U.S. Style Leader at OW Hospitality, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss OW's Watercolor Axminster carpet introduction at the Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas. Listen to the interview to hear more about Watercolor and about Amy's background in textile design.

Don Coates on Brintons Recovery as the Market Leader in Axminister Carpet with the help of Carlyle

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:31:00 GMT

May 20, 2013—Don Coates, Managing Director for Brintons, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss Brinton's turnaround from a family-owned, bankrupt company who is now recovering and growing with the help of the Carlyle Group. Listen to the interview from the floor of the Hospitality Design show in Vegas to hear more details about how the company turned itself around.

Lee Blair and Mark Page Talk about Durkan's Growth in the Hospitality Market

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:52:00 GMT

May 17, 2013—Lee Blair and Mark Page, the Global Head of Hospitality and Sr. Director of Color and Design at Durkan respectively, and Kemp Harr, talk about market conditions and carpet trends in the hospitality market. Listen to the interview, recorded earlier this week at the HD show in Vegas, for more details.

Sam Barry Discusses Shaw Hospitality's Booth and Market Trends

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:23:00 GMT

May 16, 2013—Sam Barry, Director of Marketing with Shaw Hospitality, and Kemp Harr, discuss the recent market trends in the hospitality market as the economy recovers, and Shaw Hospitality's award winning booth space. Listen to the interview, recorded the first day of the HD Expo in Las Vegas, to hear more details.

Patty Miller With Premier Distributing Discusses Coverings from a Distributor's Perspective

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

May 14, 2013-Patty Miller, Area Sales Manager with Premier Distributing, and Kemp Harr, discuss her perspective of the Coverings expo. Listen to the interview (recorded at Coverings 2013 in Atlanta) not only to hear Patty talk about the show but also about how she interacts with her retailer customers in the field.

Ralph Grogan Discusses the Strategy Behind Bentley's Name Change

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:21:00 GMT

May 13, 2013—Ralph Grogan, President and CEO of Bentley, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss the strategy behind the decision to change the company's name from Bentley Prince Street to Bentley. Listen to the interview for details and to hear more about Bentley's personnel additions.

Jack Thomasson Discusses the HGTV Smart Home with Shaw's Floorcovering

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:21:00 GMT

May 10, 2013—Jack Thomasson, Professional Home Planner with HGTV, and Kemp Harr, discuss the recently completed HGTV Smart Home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Listen to the interview to hear what makes it a "smart" home and hear more details about the Shaw Flooring that is used throughout the house.

Karin Fendrich Discusses the Coverings Expo's Attendance and Target Audience

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:22:00 GMT

May 9, 2013—Karin Fendrich, Show Manager for the Coverings Expo, and Kemp Harr, discuss the show's performance in Atlanta. This interview was recorded last week at the show and Karin gives an overview of the show's size, scope and who that target from an attendance standpoint.

Tom Smith Discusses Imola's Growth Strategy at Coverings

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:59:00 GMT

May 8, 2013—Tom Smith, President of Imola North America, and Kemp Harr, discuss the company's growth strategy and progress since the company started focusing on growing its North American business. Recorded from the Coverings Expo in the booth that ultimately ended up winning the best of show award, Tom gives an update on Imola's brand strategy and market sector focus.

James Lesslie Discusses Engineered Floor's Expansion News

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:23:00 GMT

May 7, 2013—James Lesslie, Assistant to the Chairman at Engineered Floors, and Kemp Harr, discuss Engineered Floor's recent announcement that they plan to invest $450 million over the next five years in new carpet manufacturing and distribution facilities in Northwest Georgia. Listen to the interview to hear details about where this investment will be focused.

Hector Narvaez Discusses Marazzi's Focus for 2013 Post Acquisition

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:33:00 GMT

May 6, 2013—Hector Narvaez, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Marazzi USA, and Kemp Harr, discuss the early stages of integration, now that the Marazzi Group is part of Mohawk Industries. Listen to the interview, which was recorded last week at Coverings 2013 in Atlanta, to hear more about what Marazzi has to offer for 2013.

Lindsey Waldrep and Noah Chitty Discuss Two New Programs with Crossville Tile

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:13:00 GMT

May 3, 2013—Lindsey Ann Waldrep, VP of Marketing for Crossville; Noah Chitty, Director of Technical Services at Crossville; and Kemp Harr, talk about Crossville's new upscale retail program complete with training and three display options. Recorded at Coverings 2013 in Atlanta, GA, they also discuss Crossville's Hydrotect antimicrobial tile treatment technology they are rolling out in partnership with TOTO.

Enzo Mularoni Discusses Del Conca's New Tile Plant in Knoxville Tennessee

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:37:00 GMT

May 2, 2013—Enzo Mularoni, President of Del Conca, and Kemp Harr, discuss Del Conca's new porcelain tile plant which is under construction in Loudon County outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. Listen to the interview which was recorded on the expo floor of Coverings to hear more about this Italian based company, its core business and its new products.

Donato Grosser Discusses the Growth of the U.S. Tile Market

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:26:00 GMT

May 1, 2013—Recorded at Coverings 2013 in Atlanta, GA, Donato Grosser, Consultant to the Italian Ceramics Association, and Kemp Harr, talk about the housing market recovery and its affect on the consumption of ceramic tile. Listen to the interview to hear Donato's predictions for the future of the tile industry, how and where tile is being used in today's market and his thoughts on the recent acquisition of Italian tile producer Marazzi by Mohawk Industries.

Bob Peoples Discusses CARE's Accomplishments in the Last Year

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:58:00 GMT

April 30, 2013—Dr. Bob Peoples, executive director of Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), and Kemp Harr, discuss last week's annual CARE meeting at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa. Listen to hear about some of the highlights of the meeting, who was in attendance and statistical numbers around CARE's goal to reduce the amount of carpet that ends up in our nation's landfills. Specifically, Bob talks about CARE's Annual Report, issues around polyester carpet recycling and progress on California's AB2398 (the CA fund created to minimize the carpet going to CA landfills).

Jeanne Matson Discusses the Highlights of Starnet's Spring Meeting

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:55:00 GMT

April 29, 2013—Jeanne Matson, President and CEO of Starnet Worldwide (the largest group of commercial flooring contractors in the U.S.), and Kemp Harr, talk about the Spring Meeting and what Starnet members have been doing to remain successful during the economic downturn. Recorded in Pal Desert, CA, Jeanne and Kemp discuss some of the highlights of the meeting and some key initiatives for the group in 2013.

Brandon Culpepper Discusses Mohawk Home's New Area Rug Strategy for Growth

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:38:00 GMT

April 26, 2013—Brandon Culpepper, Vice President of Specialty Sales of Mohawk Home, and Kemp Harr, discuss Mohawk Home's business strategy around the Karastan and American Rug Craftsman brands. Listen to the interview to hear more about what Mohawk Home is doing and what independent flooring retailers can do to successfully compete in the rug market.

Kermit Baker Presents an Optimistic Outlook for the Housing and Commercial Flooring Markets

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:27:00 GMT

April 25, 2013—Kermit Baker, Economist with the Joint Center for Housing Studies and the American Institute of Architecture, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss the favorable outlook for 2013 in the housing market. Listen to the interview for more details and also hear Kermit talk about the recent AIA billing index.

Elise Demboski Provides an Overview of Mohawk's Recent License to Spill Events for Smart Strand

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:20:00 GMT

April 24, 2013—Elise Demboski, VP of Creative Services for Mohawk, and Kemp Harr, discuss the company's latest round of promotions for its proprietary Smart Strand carpet centered around the theme of License to Spill. Listen to the interview to hear the strategy behind this nationwide 12 city tour that puts emphasis on the carpet's stain free properties.

Jim Dion Discusses His Two Education Workshops at Coverings 2013

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

April 23, 2013—Jim Dion, a Retail Consultant, and Kemp Harr, discuss the two workshops he is scheduled to give at Coverings in Atlanta next week. Listen to the interview to hear Jim talk about how the current economy is affecting retail conditions and a brief review of the two workshops titled: "What every retailer can learn from Apple," and "The psychology of price and why it matters."

Neil Poland Discusses Mullican's Manufacturing Expansion in Johnson City Tennessee

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:41:00 GMT

April 19, 2013—Neil Poland, President and CEO of Mullican Flooring, and Kemp Harr, discuss Mullican's new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Johnson City Tennessee. Listen to the interview to hear how Mullican has been able to move the majority of its engineered hardwood manufacturing back to the USA and is able to produce it on a lower cost basis. Also hear Neil talk abut hardwood pricing and his outlook for the near future.

Franco Rossi discusses Aquafil's Recent Growth and Expansion Plans

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:30:00 GMT

April 18, 2013—Franco Rossi, President of Aquafil USA, and Kemp Harr, discuss several of the factors behind Aquafil USA's rapid growth. Listen to the interview to hear about their future expansion plans and some of their unique products that set them apart.

A.J. Boyajian Discusses His Retail Business in the Boston Area

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:01:00 GMT

April 16, 2013—A.J. Boyajian, Co-owner of A.J. Rose Carpets & Flooring, and Kemp Harr, discuss business conditions with this two store retail flooring business based outside of Boston. A.J. Rose joined the NFA last year and I reached out to A.J. to see how yesterday's incident affected his business. Listen to the interview for more details.

Ron Dunn Discusses the Highlights of Alliance Flooring's Meeting in Orlando

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:44:00 GMT

April 11, 2013—Ron Dunn, Co-CEO with Alliance Flooring, and Kemp Harr, discuss the group's annual meeting held a few weeks ago in Orlando. Listen to the interview to hear details about the speakers, award winners and about two best practices books the group has published called "Proven Way".

Elena Grant Discusses the Upcoming Coverings Expo in Atlanta

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:35:00 GMT

April 10, 2013—Elena Grant, VP of Marketing for the Coverings Expo, and Kemp Harr, discuss the highlights for the upcoming Coverings Expo scheduled for April 29 to May 2 in Atlanta, Georgia. Listen to the interview to hear how the show has developed attractive programs for distributors, retailers, designers and installers.

Allen Clouse Discusses Star Flooring and Decorating's Progressive Retail Sales Strategy

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

April 9, 2013—Allen Clouse, Director of Retail Sales for Star Flooring and Decorating with two flooring stores in Wichita and Oklahoma City, and Kemp Harr, talk about the progressive business strategy that Star Decorating is using to distinguish itself in the retail flooring arena. One of the more interesting aspects of this strategy is Star's RSA compensation change. Listen to the interview to hear more about the unique and successful model that Star is practicing. Recorded at the NFA Spring meeting in Beaver Creek, CO.

Phil Koufidakis Discusses the Highlights of the Spring NFA Meeting

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:25:00 GMT

April 8, 2013—Phil Koufidakis, Principal with Baker Brothers in Phoenix, AZ and President of the National Floorcovering Alliance, and Kemp Harr, discuss his challenges and goals as the new president of the NFA. Listen to the interview to hear about market conditions in Phoenix and more details about this years spring meeting in Beaver Creek, CO.

Rick Holden Discusses the Highlights of the Annual NWFA Meeting in Dallas

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:23:00 GMT

April 4, 2013—Rick Holden, Chairman of the Board of the National Wood Flooring Association, and Kemp Harr, talk about the success of this year's NWFA convention in Dallas, the growth of the show, and how the NWFA has changed in recent years to better serve its members.

Dan Hendrix Discusses Interface's 40th Anniversary and Its Vision for the Future

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:14:00 GMT

April 2, 2013—Dan Hendrix, CEO of Interface, and Kemp Harr, discuss Interface's 40th anniversary this week, its heritage and plans for the future. Listen to the interview for more details plus an update on Buckminster Institute and Australia.

Jim Walker Discusses the New S600 Carpet Installation Standard

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:39:00 GMT

March 28, 2013—Jim Walker, founder of the CFI (Certified Floorcovering Installer), and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss the status of the new S600 carpet installation standard which, is nearing completion. Listen to the interview to hear more details of where we are in the process and a few of Jim's concerns on the implementation of the new standard.

Scott Humphrey Discusses His Appointment as CEO of the WFCA

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:02:00 GMT

March 26, 2013—Scott Humphrey, The newly appointed CEO of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) and Kemp Harr discuss his decision to make the career move to lead the WFCA. Listen to the interview to hear more about Scott and this decision.

Jack Mishkin Discusses His Career and Fight Against Cancer

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:14:00 GMT

March 22, 2013—Jack Mishkin, Owner of J-Mish Carpet and one of the most renowned designers of high-end broadloom carpet, and Kemp Harr, discuss Jack's background in the carpet industry and his recent diagnosis with cancer. Listen to the interview to hear more details about his health and future plans for J-Mish.

Steve Silverman Discusses The Recent Abbey and Floors To Go Conventions

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:47:00 GMT

March 20, 2013—Steve Silverman, President and COO with Abbey and Floors to Go, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss the two back to back conventions they held in early March in Orlando. Listen to the interview to hear Steve talk about the size of these businesses today, a few highlights from the meeting and a few of their new supply partners.

Cheryl Durst Discusses IIDA's Focus and Changes at NeoCon for 2013

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:44:00 GMT

March 19, 2013—Cheryl Durst, Executive VP and CEO of IIDA, and Kemp Harr, discuss some of the changes in location for many of the key flooring exhibitors at NeoCon 2013 in Chicago. Listen to the interview to hear more about this and what the IIDA is focusing on as the commercial market continues to recover from the recession.

John Baugh Discusses 2012 Year-End Performance of Publicly Traded Flooring Companies

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:13:00 GMT

March 18, 2013—John Baugh, Managing Director with Stifel Nicolaus, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss the 2012 year-end numbers for Mohawk, Interface and Armstrong. Listen to the interview for more details plus hear John talk about his outlook for the remainder of 2013.

Beaulieu Discusses Its New Partnership with the March of Dimes

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:48:00 GMT

March 15, 2013—Ralph Boe, CEO with Beaulieu, and Chad Royal-Pascoe with the March of Dimes, discuss Beaulieu's decision to support the March of Dimes "Imbornto" campaign in May and June of this year. As part of this relationship, Beaulieu will contribute $.50 a yard for every yard of Indulgence sold during that period. Listen to the interview for more details.

Jonathan Trivers Offers Flooring Retailers Great Advice Now that the Economy is Recovering

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:46:00 GMT

March 14, 2013—Jonathan Trivers, a well known adviser for the retail floorcovering market, and Kemp Harr, discuss the specific steps that retailers should be making to take advantage of where we are in the economy today. There is excellent advice in this interview for all floorcovering retailers to consider. (This interview is 13 minutes long, but worth the time for retailers.)

Don Finkell Discusses the Highlights of His Leadership in the Hardwood Business

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:05:00 GMT

March 13, 2013—Don Finkell, who recently retired from 33 years in the hardwood business working for Anderson and Shaw, looks back on the highlights of his career. Listen to the interview to hear Don talk about key accomplishments and his outlook on this industry as a career opportunity.

Darius Helm Discusses Revestir Brazilian Tile Show

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:10:00 GMT

March 12, 2013—Darius Helm, Senior Editor with Floor Focus Magazine, and Kemp Harr, discuss the Revestir ceramic tile expo held last week in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Listen to the interview to hear Darius talk about the size and scope of the show as well as some of the fashion trends.

Ron Lee Discusses the Key Initiatives for Fuse Alliance for 2013

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:32:00 GMT

March 8, 2013—(Recorded at the 2013 Fuse Alliance Annual Meeting at the historic U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego, CA) Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, talks to Ron Lee, Executive Director of the Fuse Alliance Network, about the group's core initiatives for 2013 and the growth of this network of commercial flooring contractors. Listen to the interview to hear more details about this network and about their annual meeting.

Ralph Grogan Discusses His Strategy as CEO with Bentley Prince Street

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:19:00 GMT

March 7, 2013—Ralph Grogan, President and CEO with Bentley Prince Street, and Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss Ralph's recent appointment to lead Bentley Prince Street and the initial steps he is taking to move the company in the right direction. Listen to the interview to hear more details about a few of the team members and where their paths have crossed in the past.

Jerry Millsaps Discusses Pilot Floor Covering's Retail Business in North Carolina

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:53:00 GMT

March 4, 2013—Jerry Millsaps, the second generation owner of Pilot Floor Covering in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area, and Kemp Harr, discuss Pilot's business and Jerry's outlook for business in 2013. Listen to the interview for more details.

John MacLellan Discusses Broadway's Retail Business in Knoxville

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:21:00 GMT

February 28, 2013—John MacLellan, a partner at Broadway Carpets in Knoxville, and Kemp Harr, discuss his store traffic, product mix and outlook on 2013. Listen to the interview to hear more on this and John's buying habits and perspective on ultra-soft carpets.

Frank O'Neill Discusses His New Novel Georgia Bound

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:49:00 GMT

February 26, 2013—Frank O'Neill, the retired publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, and Kemp Harr, current publisher of Floor Focus Magazine, discuss Frank's recently released novel called Georgia Bound. Listen to the interview to hear Frank briefly set up the plot and discuss his passion for writing.