March 17, 2015—Jay Flynn, VP of Sales and Marketing for Creating Your Space, and Kemp Harr, discuss the ever-increasing importance of online marketing for influencing where the consumer chooses to shop. Listen to the interview to hear more about budgeting and balancing all the many components which include websites, search engine optimization, social media, and pay-per-click.
March 13, 2015—John Baugh, Managing Director with Stifel Nicolaus, gives Kemp Harr, a summary of the discussions held this week at Armstrong's headquarters related to the decision to spin off its flooring business from its ceilings business. In the interview, John points out that most of the flooring related performance issues that need to be addressed are in the residential hardwood business. Listen to the interview for more details.
March 12, 2015—Rick Church, Executive Director with the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, and Kemp Harr, discuss how the distributor's relationship with the end user is changing plus the key reasons to attend this year's annual Coverings expo. The expo this year is from April 14 to 17. Listen to the interview for more details.
March 10, 2015—Jeff Hamer, President of Galleher—one of the largest floorcovering distributors in the U.S. based in Los Angeles—and Kemp Harr, discuss how the firm has proactively reacted to inquiries from both dealers and consumers as a result of the 60 Minutes broadcast last week which revealed that some of Lumber Liquidators' laminate product has unsafe levels of formaldehyde. Listen to the interview to hear Jeff discuss how important it is to source products from reputable firms that can stand behind their products.
March 6, 2015—Geoff Gordon, Executive Director of the Fuse Alliance, and Kemp Harr, discuss the upgrades this group of commercial flooring contractors is making to its communications tools to clarify its message and raise its visibility. Listen to the interview, taped at the group's annual meeting in Las Vegas, to hear more about the meeting, the size of the group, the change in leadership, its national account program and other details.
March 5, 2015—Jamie Gilmore, President of Pavilion Floors, and Kemp Harr, discuss the success and growth of this commercial contractor's business in the greater Boston area. Pavilion has been a Fuse Alliance member for 3 years. Listen to the interview to hear more details about the success of Gilmore's business.
March 3, 2015—Kip Howlett, President of the Hardwood, Plywood Veneer Association (HPVA), and Kemp Harr, discuss how elevated levels of formaldehyde in adhesives reduce manufacturing costs. In this week's 60 Minutes newscast, it was revealed that Lumber Liquidator's was sourcing laminate flooring from Chinese factories that was labeled CARB compliant and was not. The most damaging part of the story came when the factories admitted they could make it either way but that CARB compliant products would cost more. Listen to the interview for more details.
March 2, 2015—Raj Shah, President with M.S. International, and Kemp Harr, discuss the background and business philosophy that has led to MSI's recent growth. MSI is a leading importer of stone and porcelain products with 19 warehouses throughout the U.S. and Canada.
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.