Memphis, TN, January 4, 2006--NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association has begun work to complete the first ever, comprehensive U.S. wood flooring market study.
The study will seek to uncover detailed information about how much of which types of flooring are used in the US, aimed at providing a better overall understanding of what's happening in the flooring market. Its completion is slated for the end of Q1, 2006. The Association has contracted with The Beck Group of Portland, Ore., to conduct the study.
In order to gain accurate and complete information, the study will survey a variety of sources, including manufacturers, distributors, and end users of flooring such as installers, big builders, and home improvement/D.I.Y. outlets. The questions posed to participants will include sections on solid unfinished, solid prefinished, engineered unfinished and engineered prefinished. For each of those four product categories, the study will uncover statistical data regarding species (both domestic and imported), size and distribution channels.
"Our goal with this study is to learn as much as possible about the US flooring markethow much of what types of flooring in which sizes and species were sold in the US in 2005. And, what channels did those sales go through," explained Timm Locke, NOFMA executive vice president.
"NOFMA is making a significant investment in this study because our members expressed an immediate need for a better understanding of the wood flooring market to help aid investment decisions that are currently made in somewhat of an information vacuum," Locke, continued. "This study represents just one of several initiatives we've undertaken in an effort to add value to membership in the Association."
Since 1909, NOFMA has played a leadership role in the areas of setting grading and manufacturing standards and providing product certification services. Standards and certification will continue to be an important focus for NOFMA as the Association expands its services to include advocacy efforts on behalf of wood flooring manufacturers, as well as significantly improved information services.
"NOFMA is uniquely positioned in the industry to become the clearinghouse for information that will help flooring manufacturers," Locke said. "At the same time, we recognized that until now, there was no organization that had owned the job of looking out for flooring manufacturers when it comes to regulatory and legislative issues. NOFMA is now in the lead on both those fronts."
Locke said that the intent with the market study is to design a methodology that can be repeated on an annual basis. Over time, flooring manufacturers and others will be able to use the information to spot trends and react accordingly.
When completed, NOFMA plans to make the information available for purchase. Non-members will be allowed to buy the study for $3,000 per copy. The member price has been set at $500. To encourage participation in the study, NOFMA is offering any organization that completes the survey form a significant discount on first year member dues, allowing the firm to purchase the complete study at member pricing. Those survey participants who choose not to join the association will be given an executive summary of the findings.
