March 15, 2017—Scott Sandlin, VP of Marketing and Product Design with Shaw Industries, and Kemp Harr discuss Shaw's 50th anniversary event for employees held recently at the Dalton Convention Center. Listen to the interview for more details on this event as well as Scott's new role at the company and his outlook for 2017.
March 14, 2017—Kermit Baker, a Harvard economist that tracks the commercial and residential building design and renovation markets, and Kemp Harr discuss the outlook for growth in both these sectors for the remainder of 2017. Listen to the interview to hear more details about the AIA billing index and the Joint Center for Housing Studies remodeling index.
March 13, 2017—Maggie Bidlingmaier, VP of the Stainmaster brand with Invista, and Kemp Harr discuss the launch of Stainmaster Livewell carpet which the firm claims reduces the level of allergens in rooms where this carpet is installed. Listen to the interview to hear more about the product and its overall fit within the other Stainmaster products. This product will be advertised on cable as part of its launch in May 2017.
March 9, 2017—Jeff Hamar, president of Galleher Corporation, and Kemp Harr discuss the strategy behind this west coast distributor's acquisition of Copper Plank—an Arizona based producer of high end hardwood flooring. Listen to the interview to hear Jeff talk more about his continued growth, his fit in the hardwood market and his outlook for growth in 2017.
March 7, 2017—Geoff Gordon, Executive Director with the Fuse Alliance, and Kemp Harr discuss the growth of this group of commercial flooring contractors in the past year, the focus for this year's annual meeting in Austin and how the role of the commercial flooring contractor has changed in the last 10 years. Listen to the interview for more details.
February 28, 2017—Mike Blanton, Principle with Dalton Carpet One, and Kemp Harr discuss this Athens, Georgia-based retailer's stellar growth and how he is addressing the latest free installation promotion at the home centers. Listen to the interview to hear what Mike has been doing that has enabled him to grow to become one of the more successful Carpet One dealers in the U.S.
February 27, 2017—Ron Dunn and Jon Logue, Co-CEOs with Alliance Flooring, and Kemp Harr discuss the Carpets Plus/Colortile and Carpetland retail flooring groups and the highlights of this week's annual convention in Atlanta. Listen to the interview to hear about the outlook for this year, the group's Destination store program and how the group is answering the home center's free installation promotion.
February 15, 2017—Eric Demaree, President of Carpet One, and Kemp Harr discuss a few of the key take aways from Carpet One's winter convention in Phoenix at the end of January. Listen to the interview to hear more about the overall growth of the group, plus how the members are addressing the free installation offer from both Home Depot and Lowe's.
February 14, 2017—Phil Gutierrez, Chairman of Abbey Carpet and Floor, and Kemp Harr discuss his health, the health of the independent retail channel and his outlook for 2017. Listen to the interview to hear more details about offering free installation and digital marketing. This interview was taped last week at the Abbey Convention in Atlanta. Abbey is a franchise organization with approximately 800 members.
February 13, 2017—David Gerson, VP of Marketing with Interface, and Kemp Harr discuss Interface's decision to design and distribute a line of LVT products to compliment their core modular carpet tile business. Listen to the interview to hear more about the timing of this LVT roll out as well as how the products will coordinate with Interface's existing products.