January 8, 2008—Big Bob (aka David Elyachar) speaks to us from his annual meeting this weekend in Chattanooga. In the interview he discusses their size, growth and how they position their stores to consumers in the Market place. He also announces the appointment of a new president for Big Bob's Outlet
January 4, 2008—Pittsburg Retailer Patrick Molyneaux discusses the closing of competing retailer Prizant's Carpets. Molyneaux also adds his thoughts on what it takes to be successful when competing with the home centers.
December 15, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management discusses Morgan Keegan’s reiteration if its "market perform" rating on Mohawk and the reduction of its estimates for Mohawk’s 2007 and 2008 earnings. Barker talks about yesterday’s producer price report and its implications for the companies in the floor covering business and the Federal Reserve. Also discussed are the actions taken by the Fed this week and the the reaction by the market.
December 14, 2007—Sustainable Editor and Publisher Jon Dougal, in the second part of a three-part series discusses green real estate, the front-end cost of a green structure, the factors that make a structure green, the positive results one can expect from a green structure and the growth in the number of contractors that build green structures.
December 13, 2007—Sustainable Editor and Publisher Jon Dougal, in the first part of a three-part series discusses green real estate, defining it and discussing its growth in recent years and its emphasis on energy ratings, green building standards, and the green certification process. Also discusses are the actions taking place in the real estate community to ready itself for the anticipate growth.
December 12, 2007—Floor Focus Magazine Publisher Kemp Harr looks back as the last week in the floor covering business discussing: The dealReporter report stating that Armstrong is leaning toward a sale and Berkshire Hathaway’s earlier bid on the company; The opening of a Home Depot project-oriented store in Canada and the closing of three home Depot call centers; The opening of Lowe’s first international location; Empire’s exit from windows, siding and gutters; Shaw’s move to distribute Zickgraf Hardwood and; The results of Floor Focus’ retail display contest and the Focus Retail 100.
December 12, 2007—From the Hard Surface Division of Shaw Industries, Eric Erickson, Laminate Category Manager and Kevin Thompson, Hardwood Category Manager, in the final part of a three-part series discuss Loc N Place the company’s new laminate locking system, their long-term expectations for Loc N Place and the company’s Epic hardwood line. Erickson and Thompson also discuss what they’re hearing from the field.
December 11, 2007—From the Hard Surface Division of Shaw Industries, Eric Erickson, Laminate Category Manager and Kevin Thompson, Hardwood Category Managerin the second part of a three-part series, discuss Loc N Place the company’s new laminate locking system, its advantages in the installation arena, products that will include this new technology and the markets at which they will be aimed.
December 10, 2007—From the Hard Surface Division of Shaw Industries, Eric Erickson, Laminate Category Manager and Kevin Thompson, Hardwood Category Manager, in the first part of a three-part series, discuss Loc N Place, the company’s new laminate locking system and its advantages over older technology.
December 7, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management assesses the housing and mortgage situation and the president’s proposal to freeze low introductory mortgage-interest rates, discussing the market’s short and likely long-term reaction. He also talks about the report due out later this morning on jobs numbers and the actions that the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee might take at its meeting next week. Barker also discusses the month of December and the market in 2008.