April 29, 2010—Donato Grosser, of D. Grosser & Associates, and Kemp Harr discuss the overall decline of the tile market in the U.S. and how that has affected imported products from Italy. Listen to the interview to hear more details around the Italian Tile Association's strategy and Donato's outlook for the future.
April 28, 2010—Randy Gablehouse, the long-time head of commercial sales for Armstrong World Industries, and Kemp Harr, discuss the hightlights of Gablehouse's 35-year career with Armstrong. He's unusual in the industry in that he spent his entire career with one company. Over the years he's worked in a variety of roles. Gablehouse retired in March.
April 27, 2010—Jeanne Matson, President and CEO of Starnet Worldwide Flooring, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights and the health of the membership from Starnet's annual meeting held this weekend at Marco Island, Florida. Listen to the interview to hear about Starnet's new initiatives and the tone and outlook for business in 2010.
April 26, 2010—Kermit Baker, Chief Economist with the American Institute of Architecture, and Kemp Harr discuss the AIA billing index for March which is improving but still below 50, indicating a continued decline in billings. Listen to the interview to hear more about the different vertical sectors and kermit's overall view of the economy.
April 23, 2010—Jim Dion, an expert in consumer buying habits at retail, and Kemp Harr discuss Jim's upcoming seminar next week at Coverings in Orlando titled "Attracting the Consumer in 2010." Listen to the interview to hear highlights about Jim's talk and to hear more about where the consumer is mentally when it comes to retail buying.
April 21, 2010—Kathy Young, Creative Director for Residential Marketing with Shaw Industries, and Kemp Harr discuss details about the 2010 HGTV Green Home. Listen to the interview to hear more about what Shaw gets out of the promotion, details about the home itself and about the flooring products selected for this promotion. As usual, the house will be given away at the end of the sweepstakes.
April 20, 2010—Don Finkell, CEO of Shaw's Hardwood Business, and Kemp Harr discuss Shaw's recent acquisition of Stuart Hardwood Flooring in Stuart, Virginia. Listen to the interview to hear how this unfinished solid hardwood flooring producer fits within Shaw's overall business. Also hear more about the supply and demand issues that are affecting hardwood flooring prices.
April 16, 2010—Werner Braun, President of the Carpet and Rug Institute, and Kemp Harr discuss a recent CRI board decision that provides two options that should improve the economic model for recycling post-consumer carpet and further reduce the amount of carpet that ends up in landfills. Listen to the interview to hear Werner provide details about the two options--a potential consumer environmental fee or an increase in landfill tipping fees. Also listen as Werner briefly discusses the statistics that indicate that the industry is seeing and uptick in business.
April 15, 2010—Larry Noel, VP of Retail Sales at Rite Rug, and Kemp Harr discuss the fit of carpet made with polyester fiber from a retail perspective. Listen to the interview to hear more about Rite Rug and how their retail salespeople position this product.
April 14, 2010—Paul Comiskey, President of Residential Business with The Dixie Group, and Kemp Harr talk about polyester carpet fiber's fit in a company that is known for design and whose average wholesale price for carpet is $22 per yard. Listen to the interview to hear more about the growth of Dixie's Durasilk polyester business.