Kaye Gosline Gives a Report on NeoCon East In Baltimore
October 29, 2010—Kaye Gosline, Director of Global A&D for Milliken, and Kemp Harr discuss the traffic and trends at NeoCon East in Baltimore. Listen to the interview to hear more.
Flooring Podcast
Roger Farabee Discusses Outlook For Hardwood Business Post-Recession
October 26, 2010—Roger Farabee, Sr. VP of Marketing with Unilin and Mohawk Hard Surfaces, and Kemp Harr discusses the Human Habitat display at the Dallas Zoo (a hard surface tie-in with the Smartstrand Challenge). Roger also discusses his outlook on why hardwood is forecasted to take market share as the economy starts to recover. Listen to the interview to hear more details from Roger's perspective.
Jeff Levin Discusses the Unfair Trade Petition Filed Against China for Wood Flooring
October 25, 2010—Jeff Levin, counsel with the Coalition for American Hardwood Parity (CAHP), discusses last week's filing of an unfair trade petition regarding imported engineered wood flooring from China. Listen to the interview to hear who is part of the CAHP and what they hope to gain by filing this petition.
Economist Kermit Baker Discusses Two Strong Economic Indicators
October 22, 2010—Kermit Baker, a leading Harvard Economist, and Kemp Harr discuss two very positive economic indicators released this week. The American Institute of Architecture's Billing Index is over 50 for the first time in two and a half years and the Leading Indicator for Remodeling shows that spending for home improvements will increase by double digits next year. Listen to the interview for more details.
Floor Expo Execs Discuss the Outlook for the Builder and Multi-family Markets
October 20, 2010—Jay Smith (President), Graham Howerton (VP of Multi-family) and Kemp Harr discuss FloorExpo's (FEI Group) annual meeting last week in Atlanta. Listen to the interview to hear how this leading group of flooring contractors focused on the builder and multi-family housing markets are making out during this prolonged housing slump.
Tom Lape Discusses Results from Recent Consumer Satisfaction Research
October 19, 2010—Tom Lape, President of Mohawk's Residential Business, and Kemp Harr discuss the results of a recent consumer research project that tested for consumer satisfaction with carpet. Listen to the interview to hear more details about the sample base and the discovery around which fiber type produced the most favorable results. The three types of fibers purchased by the consumers in the sample base were Nylon, SmartStrand and Polyester.
Gary Cissell Discusses Business Conditions at Nebraska Furniture Mart
October 18, 2010—Gary Cissell, Director of Flooring for Nebraska Furniture Mart, and Kemp Harr discuss retail business conditions in his flooring department. Listen to the interview to hear Gary talk about today's consumer and also announce the National Floorcovering Alliance's new president.
Phil Koufidakis with Baker Bros Discusses Web Marketing in the Retail Flooring Business
October 15, 2010—Phil Koufidakis, owner of Phoenix-based Baker Bros., and Kemp Harr, discuss how Baker Bros. uses the Web to drive business to the company's eight locations. Listen as Koufidakis describes the importance of having a vibrant website, and how he has eliminated paid yellow pages advertising as a result. He also talks about the benefits of having a "virtual room designer" on the Baker website and the growing importance of social media like Twitter to his retail business.
Jeff Macco Provides an Update of The NFA's Business From Puerto Rico
October 14, 2010—Jeff Macco, President of the National Floorcovering Alliance and a Wisconsin Flooring Dealer, and Kemp Harr discuss the tone of the members at their fall meeting in Puerto Rico. Listen to the interview to hear more about what the membership is doing to increase their business in this economy and more specifically how Jeff's business is doing in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Keith Campbell Discusses the Economy Based on His View as a Federal Reserve Board Member
October 13, 2010—Keith Campbell, Chairman of Mannington Mills, and Kemp Harr discuss Keith's view of the economy based on his position as a member of the Federal Reserve Board. Listen to the interview to hear how the recovery of this economy is shaping up to be different than prior recoveries.