Flooring Podcast

David Duncan Discusses Mohawk's Operation Rebuild Hurricane Relief Program

September 12, 2011—David Duncan, Vice Persident with Mohawk, and Kemp Harr discuss Mohawk's "Operation Rebuild" hurricane relief initiative to help retailers and consumers recover from the effects of Hurricane Irene in the Northeastern U.S. Listen to the interview to hear David talk about what Mohawk is doing for their dealers to get them back in business and for the consumers--by offering extended credit through a program developed with GE Money.

Kaye Gosline From Maison

September 12, 2011—Kaye Gosline, Creative Director with IVC, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights from the first day of the Maison show in Paris. Listen to the interview to hear Kaye give a designer's perspective on this semi-annual international home and gift show.

Maryland Retailer Kurt Zanelotti Discusses Legislation that Complicates Sub-Contractor Relationships

September 9, 2011—Kurt Zanelotti, Owner of Contract Carpet Systems in Beltsville, Maryland, and Kemp Harr discuss the workplace fraud act of 2009. Listen to the interview to hear how this state law is complicating the relationship between flooring retailers and their installation contractors.

Jonathan Young Discusses Carlyle's Investment in Brintons

September 8, 2011—Jonathan Young, CEO of Brintons Americas, and Kemp Harr discuss the Carlyle Group's acquisition of Brintons for $64 million. Listen to the interview to hear more details about this deal and some valuable information about the company's market focus and plans for profitable growth.

Jon Pierce Discusses How to Increase Retail Sales Using the Internet and Social Media Links

September 6, 2011—Jon Pierce, General Manager with Pierce Flooring and Design--an 8-store flooring retailer in Montana, and Kemp Harr discuss how they view the internet and social media in their promotional mix. Listen to the interview to hear more details about the ratio of promotion spending that Pierce applies to web marketing.

Anthony Minite Discusses Bentley Prince Street's Recent Couture Design Promotion

September 2, 2011—Anthony Minite, President of Bentley Prince Street, and Kemp Harr discuss Bentley's Couture Design promotion where students at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising collaborated with Anthony's staff to create striking ladies dresses made out of carpet. Listen to the interview to hear the strategy behind this Los Angeles themed fashion promotion and go to this link to see the dresses being worn by models in a recent TV news program.

Peter Spirer Discusses Max Windsor's Entry into the Luxury Vinyl Market

September 1, 2011—Peter Spirer, Marketing Director with Max Windsor, and Kemp Harr discuss Max Windsor's move into the vinyl flooring sector with a new LVP (luxury vinyl plank) collection. Up to now, Max Windsor has focused only on the engineered wood category. Listen to the interview to hear Peter talk about the strategy behind this decision. And for those listeners who have been in this business for a while, this is the same Peter Spirer who was formerly CEO of Horizon Carpet.

Richard Longwill with Airbase Discusses Business Conditions After Irene

August 31, 2011—Richard Longwill, with Airbase Carpet Mart, a 12-store retail chain in the Delaware/Pennsylvania region, and Kemp Harr discuss business conditions overall but especially as a result of Hurricane Irene. Listen to the interview to hear more details and also how Airbase competes with the national home centers.

Thomas Trissl Discusses Centiva's Rapid Growth and Environmental Initiatives

August 26, 2011—Thomas Trissl, President of Centiva, and Kemp Harr discuss the strategy behind Centiva's rapid growth and details around its sustainability initiatives. Listen to the interview to hear how this American based commercial LVT producer is doing now that it's part of the Tarkett family.

Jim Walker Discusses the Current State of the Flooring Installer Trade

August 25, 2011—Jim Walker, CEO with Certified Floorcovering Installer, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights from last weeks CFI Convention, how the prolonged recession has affected the installer trade and the promising outlook that the new S600 ANSI standard for installation could require qualified installation as a pre-requisite for warranty coverage. Listen to the interview for more details.