Flooring Podcast

Bowe & Pirner on FCB2B – Part 5 (10:45)

November 7, 2007—Pam Bowe, CEO, The Bowe Company and Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, both Co-Presidents of Floor Covering Business to Business Association or FCB2B, in the final part of a five part series, discuss conducting business in the floor covering industry electronically. Bowe and Pirner talk about how the industry’s B2B initiative has changed since its inception, how most retailers in the system are handling transactions, the transactions the system can accommodate, the pitfalls of the system if any and the long term expectations of FCB2B and their vision as to where B2B will be in 5 to 10 years.

Bowe & Pirner on FCB2B – Part 4 (13:45)

November 6, 2007—Pam Bowe, CEO, The Bowe Company and Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, both Co-Presidents of Floor Covering Business to Business Association or FCB2B, in the fourth part of a five part series, discuss conducting business in the floor covering industry electronically. Bowe and Pirner discuss efforts in the field that have been initiated to promote the use of B2B within the retail, distributor and manufacturer communities, the variety of products being handled by the system the involvement of the efficiency of industry’s major players and dealing with negotiated pricing.

Bowe & Pirner on FCB2B – Part 3 (11:37)

November 5, 2007—Pam Bowe, CEO, The Bowe Company and Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, both Co-Presidents of Floor Covering Business to Business Association or FCB2B, in the third part of a five part series, discuss conducting business in the floor covering industry electronically. Pirner, as a retailer, who took part in the early testing of B2B in the industry, discusses how his company and personnel have adapted to the system, the success his company has enjoyed since embrace B2B and the efficiencies it has brought to the company.

Barker on the Market (19:24)

November 2, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management looks at the market’s ups and downs following the Fed’s rate cut this week and the prime causes of those moves, the market’s tendency to turn a blind eye to negative factors and whether the Fed was being pushed by the market in to making its rate cut. Barker also talks about the Fed’s likely next move and the steady increase in crude prices.

Bowe & Pirner on FCB2B – Part 2 (12:27)

November 2, 2007—Pam Bowe, CEO, The Bowe Company and Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, both Co-Presidents of Floor Covering Business to Business Association or FCB2B, in the second part of a five part series, discuss conducting business in the floor covering industry electronically. Bowe and Pirner talk about the number of retailers, manufacturers and distributors conducting business via B2B, the role the industry software providers play and the variety of industry-specific software tools these providers have developed for retailers at all levels of technological expertise.

Bowe & Pirner on FCB2B – Part 1 (12:11)

November 1, 2007—Pam Bowe, CEO, The Bowe Company and Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, both Co-Presidents of Floor Covering Business to Business Association or FCB2B, in the first part of a five part series, discuss conducting business in the floor covering industry electronically. In this segment Bowe and Pirner talk about the formation of FCB2B, its goals, its membership, its relationship to other industry association and the progress the group has made since its formation in the area of B2B communication. Also discussed is the decision to not adopt an industry-wide hub system.

Floor Focus’ Kemp Harr, the Week in the Flooring Industry (34:12)

October 31, 2007—Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus magazine looks back at the events of the past week in the industry discussing: The AFA Floor Tek show, held last week in Dalton, its roundtable discussion and awards dinner; Third quarter earnings from Interface and Dixie; Shaw’s 2008 regional market schedule; Lumber Liquidators’ IPO; Valinge’s new partnership with Teragren and Anji Xinyuan and; The naming of Ray Anderson as a Time Magazine Hero of the Environment.

Klaproth & Dommermuth Preview Domotex 2008 – Part 1 (13:48)

October 31, 2007—Susanne Klaproth, Director at Deutsche Messa and Rita Dommermuth, Director International Events, Hannover Fairs USA discuss the three floor covering trade fairs sponsored by Deutsche Messa: Domotex Hannover, held in Hannover Germany; Domotex Middle East held in Dubai and; Domotex asia ChinaFloor, which is held in Shanghai. Discussed is the upcoming Domotex Hannover, the increases in the number of exhibitors and floor covering products at Hannover and the advantages U.S. suppliers have in marketing abroad as a result of the weak dollar. Klaproth and Dommermuth also discuss the American Floorcovering Alliance and the pavilions of U.S. companies it sponsors all three Domotex fairs. Also discussed is the extremely large venue that houses Domotex Hannover and offer some of the flavor of this very European show.

Klaproth & Dommermuth Preview Domotex 2008 – Part 2 (14:01)

October 30, 2007—Susanne Klaproth, Director, Deutsche Messa and Rita Dommermuth, Director International Events, Hannover Fairs USA discuss the three floor covering trade fairs sponsored by Deutsche Messa: Domotex Hannover, held in Hannover Germany; Domotex Middle East held in Dubai and; Domotex asia ChinaFloor, held in Shanghai. Klaproth and Dommermuth discuss some of events surrounding the upcoming Domotex Hannover, including the commercial element of the show contractworld, which draws architects and designers and how U.S. producers can exhibit at the show. Also discussed are the changes in Domotex Middle East and Domotex asia ChinaFloor.

Floor Expo’s Gheesling, Smith & Howerton – Part 4 (10:04)

October 30, 2007—Dave Gheesling CEO, Floor Expo, Jay Smith, President, Floor Expo and Graham Howerton, VP, the Multifamily Solutions unit of Floor Expo, in the final part of a four-part series discuss some of the recent housing market indicators, flooring manufacturers efforts to sell directly to builders as well as the characteristics of the housing market once it cycles back. Also discusses Floor Expo member’s approach to technology and their expectations for the future in the housing market.