September 27, 2018—Don Hudgins, a 40-year employee at Karastan's Eden, North Carolina plant, and Kemp Harr discuss Don's 40-year career at this woolen carpet and rug plant. Listen to the interview to learn that he is the third generation in his family to work at this facility.
September 26, 2018—Don Finkell, CEO of American OEM, and Kemp Harr discuss the Hardwood Federation's position on the Trump administration's Chinese tariffs. Listen to the interview to hear more details about how these tariffs effect the membership and what impact it will have on the flooring industry.
September 25, 2018—Armondo Cafiero, Managing Director with the Italian Ceramics Trace Association, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights of the Cersaie show—the largest ceramic tile show in the world—which is being held this week in Bologna, Italy. Listen to the interview to learn more about this year's event, the continuing leadership role the Italians play in this business, as well as how the Europeans have addressed imports of tile from China.
September 24, 2018—Delma Galloway and Lottie Purcell, two 50-year employees at the Karastan plant in Eden, North Carolina, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights of their 50-year careers at the 90-year-old Karastan factory. Listen to the interview for more details. The Karastan factory in Eden was built by Marshall Fields and has been making woven wool rugs for nine decades.
September 20, 2018—Piet Dossche, founder of Coretec and EVP of Shaw Hard Surfaces, and Kemp Harr discuss this week’s news about a 10% tariff on flooring products imported from China, whether this decision is final and how the industry plans to react, especially if it moves to 25% in January 2019. Listen to the interview for more details.
September 14, 2018—Pierre Thabet, President of Boa Franc/Mirage, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights of Mirage's 35-year history as the firm celebrates its 35th anniversary. Listen to the interview for more insight on the strategy that has made this Canadian hardwood flooring producer successful.
September 13, 2018—Federica Minozzi, CEO with the Iris Ceramica Group, and Kemp Harr discuss the Stonepeak and Fiandre tile business and the market potential for these new large format panels, not only for floors and walls, but also for countertops, furniture cladding and building facades. These two new Sacmi Continua lines are capable of producing 1,000 60"x120" panels a day.
September 12, 2018—Seth Arnold, VP of Marketing for Mohawk's Residential business, and Kemp Harr discuss the Mohawk's new Five Star in-store merchandising program for its aligned dealers. Listen to the interview to hear how the firm plans to use merchandising to link the consumer's online shopping experience with their in-store experience. This Five Star program is part of Mohawk's Floorscapes and Color Center offering.
September 11, 2018—Dan Koh, President and CEO with Nox Corporation, and Kemp Harr discuss Nox Corporation's growth strategy in the U.S. The firm is one of the top five producers of LVT in the world with factories in South Korea and Fostoria, Ohio. Listen to the interview to hear more about Nox's growth plans.
September 7, 2018—Ron Nash, VP of Sales for Laticrete, and Kemp Harr discuss Laticrete's acquisition of the remaining interest of Supercap—a complete delivery system for cementitious self-leveling underlayment. Listen to the interview to hear more about the business and the firm's unique approach to this rapidly growing segment.