February 27, 2015—Don Maier, CEO of Armstrong Flooring Products, and Kemp Harr, discuss this week's news that Armstrong (AWI) will split into two companies. Listen to the interview to hear Don, who has been tapped to lead this new business, talk about the strategy behind this decision and what this new flooring focused business will look like. It will be early 2016 before this process will be completed.
February 26, 2014--Andrea Greenleaf, President and Owner of Royalty Carpet Mills, and Kemp Harr, discuss Royalty’s brand focus and the product that seemed to be one of the most popular releases at Surfaces in January. Listen to the interview to hear more details plus Andrea’s outlook for 2015.
February 24, 2015—Kermit Baker, the Harvard Economist who tracks both the Architectural Billing Index and part of the Joint Center for Housing Studies, is predicting a strong 2015 for both spending on residential remodeling and commercial construction. Listen to the interview to hear Kermit talk about what his recent studies are telling him. He is seeing increased spending in the education and healthcare sectors and says that remodel spending will fully recover this year from the dip brought about by the last recession.
February 23, 2015—Ron Dunn, President and Co-CEO of Alliance Flooring, and Kemp Harr, discuss what this buying group is doing to increase the success of the retail flooring sales of its membership. Alliance Flooring is a buying group that supports three different groups of retailers that go to market under the Carpets Plus/Colortile, Carpetland and Floorco brand names. Listen to the interview to hear more details.
February 20, 2014—Bob Peoples, Executive Director with CARE, and Kemp Harr, discuss issues that carpet recyclers are running into as a result of the west coast shipping port delays. Listen to the interview to hear more about this plus a quick update on changes to California's AB 2398 and the new funding from the industry's VPS program.
February 17, 2015—Bart Bettiga, Executive Director of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), and Kemp Harr, discuss this year's Coverings show scheduled for April 14 to 17 in Orlando. The NTCA is one of the five owners of this show. Listen to the interview to hear details about why everyone in the tile and stone industry needs to attend this show.
February 13, 2015—Randy Weis, Owner of RD Weis, a commercial flooring contractor in the northeast, and Kemp Harr, discuss the company's recent 25-year celebration. Listen to the interview to hear Randy talk about his success and challenges as he continues to grow his business. Randy has focused on hiring the right people and providing services in areas where the company can control its own destiny.
February 12, 2015—Erinn Valencich, a celebrity interior designer, and Kemp Harr, discuss shifts in consumer preference that is affecting the types of flooring products that home owners are choosing. Watch the video for more details.
February 11, 2015—Howard Brodsky, Co-CEO of CCA Global and Chairman of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF), and Kemp Harr, discuss the upcoming FCIF Gala scheduled for March 21 in New York City. This event, which only happens every eight years, has been known to attract most of the floorcovering industry's leadership and their spouses. Please listen to the interview and plan to attend this can't miss fundraiser, which will be held this year at the Waldorf Astoria.
February 10, 2015—Trey Thames, VP of Marketing for Shaw's residential business, and Kemp Harr, discuss Shaw's biennial aligned dealer convention which took place in Orlando in late January. Listen to the interview to hear the highlights of the meeting as well as feedback on what Shaw's dealers are most interested in this year from a new product standpoint.