November 16, 2010—Damien Patton, founder of the successful FindAnyFloor.com website, and Kemp Harr discuss how the use of social media by both customers and businesses is affecting the industry. Listen to the interview as Patton talks about the influence of social media on website search engine rankings and how businesses need to begin a social media strategy if they are going to compete in the years ahead.
November 12, 2010—Thomas Rennie, with TLR Consulting, and Kemp Harr discuss the estimated 150 to 160 million pounds of new carpet fiber extrusion capacity that will be available next year despite the fact that carpet demand is down over 30% due to the Great Recession. Listen to the interview to hear why this new capacity is not a bad business decision. You will also hear that a second supply of Triexta is in the process of coming on-line.
November 11, 2010—Jeanne Matson, President and CEO of Starnet Worldwide (the largest co-op of commercial flooring contractors in the U.S.) and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights of last week's membership meeting in Vancouver, BC. Listen to the interview to hear more about the meeting and about the health of the member's business based on the current levels of commercial flooring business.
November 10, 2010—John Baugh, Market Analyst for Stifel Nicolaus, and Kemp Harr discuss the third quarter performance of the publicly traded flooring companies, Mohawk, Interface and Armstrong. Listen to the interview to hear John's report on these companies and his outlook for 2011.
November 9, 2010—Bob Murray, VP of Economic Affairs with McGraw Hill, and Kemp Harr discuss his Construction Outlook Publication for 2011. Listen to the interview to hear Bob say that construction spending on "starts" for 2011 will be up 8% overall, up 27% in Single Family housing, and up 16% in Commercial Buildings. Bob also summarizes by saying that much of the construction investment in 2011 goes toward "refurbishing."
November 8, 2010—Werner Braun, President of the Carpet and Rug Institute, and Kemp Harr discuss YTD carpet sales and the agenda for this week's annual meeting. Listen to the interview to hear more about the Keynote speaker, Andy Wright of Dutko Worldwide. The CRI annual meeting will be this Thursday, November 11 at 10 a.m. at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.
November 5, 2010—Fred Reitz (President), Bob Wagner (President-Elect), and Michelle Miller (Executive VP), with the North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors discuss their upcoming annual meeting which will be held November 16-18 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. Listen to the interview to hear more about the health of flooring distributors overall and details about the meeting.
November 3, 2010—Summer Turner, owner of two House of Carpets stores in Middle Tennessee, and Kemp Harr discuss her recent appointment to the board of directors for the World Floor Covering Association. Listen to the interview to hear more about Summer's stores and the WFCA.
November 2, 2010—Allison Rea, Director of Marketing with FloorExpo (FEI Group), and Kemp Harr discuss how her members' primary promotion medium is the internet. Listen to the interview to hear more details about what works and doesn't work with this group of professional flooring contractors focused in the builder and multi-family sectors of the flooring business.
November 1, 2010—Jim Mudd, the newly elected president of the National Floorcovering Alliance, and Kemp Harr discuss details about his retail flooring business in Louisville, Kentucky. Listen to the interview to hear more about Sam Kinnaird's Flooring and the NFA.