Update - Interface Flooring is Now InterfaceFlor C
Chicago, IL. June 19, 2006--Interface Flooring Systems has become InterfaceFlor Commercial. In addition to announcing its new name, the modular flooring pioneer is also launching Mission Zero, a far-reaching series of ongoing initiatives designed to reduce the company’s environmental footprint. As stated within the company’s overall mission statement:
Mission Zero is our promise to eliminate any negative impact our company may have on the environment by the year 2020.
The official announcement of the new name and the introduction of Mission Zero was made on opening day of NeoCon 2006, at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. NeoCon is a leading conference for architecture, interior design and facilities management professionals.
InterfaceFlor commercial president David Hobbs explained that the introduction of Mission Zero and the unification of all Interface companies worldwide under the Interface brand is the result of a three-year global re-branding initiative. ‘‘Our new branding strategy is designed to unite all of the Interface companies worldwide under one umbrella--Interface--and to leverage Mission Zero in order to communicate the company’s promise of sustainability. This promise encapsulates everything that the companies have become known for over the past 12 years.’’
According to Hobbs, Mission Zero is a way of articulating the company’s journey to sustainability that began in 1994. ‘‘Long ago, we announced our intention to dramatically reduce our environmental footprint by 2020, and that became our mission. Now, our mission has a name, Mission Zero.’’
In addition to uniting all the Interface companies under Mission Zero, the re-branding initiative also includes clarifying the companies’ brand structure and updating some of their names. As a result Interface Flooring Systems, LLC, the company’s flagship modular flooring division, is now InterfaceFlor Commercial, LLC.
‘‘InterfaceFlor Commercial has more relevance to our products and will associate the consumer and commercial divisions of our modular business in the minds of customers,’’ explained Hobbs. ‘‘Our residential division will be known primarily as Flor, while the commercial division will transition to
InterfaceFlor Commercial.’’
Accompanying the name change is the release of a new company logo, which will begin appearing on products, facilities and sales and marketing materials this summer.
Also making its debut at NeoCon 2006, is InterfaceFlor Commercial’s new, permanent showroom in the Merchandise Mart. The company previously operated a large showroom at 440 North Wells, with temporary space at the Merchandise Mart during NeoCon each year.
According to Russ Ramage, creative director for Interface, the design of the 2,500 square foot 10th floor space, which is connected to sister company Bentley Prince Street’s new showroom, can be summed up in the word diversity.
‘‘We designed the space to serve as a neutral backdrop that can showcase our wide range of product styles,” explained Ramage. “We also carried the concept of modularity throughout the showroom with flexible merchandising and sample storage units, so that the floor can change from minimalist modern to boldly graphic in a matter of moments.”
Custom designed Mission Zero fabric, manufactured by InterfaceFabric, appropriately wraps the walls at the conjunction of the InterfaceFlor Commercial and Bentley Prince Street spaces.
The diversity theme is carried over in InterfaceFlor Commercial’s merchandising and ad campaign, which represents the many faces of the company. The company’s signature carpet-tile-sized sample bag features the faces pattern on the outside and a repeating Mission Zero pattern on the inside.
