Flooring Podcast

Emily Kiker Morrow on Shaw’s Vision Retreat for Designers – Part 2 (14:53)

August 31, 2007—Emily Kiker Morrow, Director of Color, Style & Design, Shaw Industries, in the second part of a four-part series discusses the recently held 5th Annual Vision Retreat for designers, which took place at the Shaw R&D facility in Dalton. Morrow talks about how the visiting designers and how their input is garnered in an exercise that rates and ranks a host of R&D products currently in the Shaw development system. Morrow discusses the sustainability message that was delivered to the visiting designers, the goals set by the designers themselves for the retreat and some of the input gathered from consumers.

Emily Kiker Morrow on Shaw’s Vision Retreat for Designers – Part 1 (11:53)

August 30, 2007—Emily Kiker Morrow, Director of Color, Style & Design, Shaw Industries, in the first part of a four-part series, discusses the recently held 5th Annual Vision Retreat for designers, which took place at the Shaw R&D facility in Dalton. Morrow talks about the interior designers and product specifiers who attended, the ideas they generate and the homework they do before they attend the retreat, the regional aspect of the event and some of the work that takes place during the three days of the retreat.

Faus Group President Juan Flores on the Company’s $20M Expansion – Part 3 (12:28)

August 30, 2007—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the final part of a three-part series discusses the U.S. consumer and their changing attitudes about laminate, the features consumers most often respond to in laminate offerings and the company’s philosophy regarding the continuing development of new innovative products. Florez discusses some of the successes the company has had in the field and the products the company will be introducing in the near term.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill, The Week in the Flooring Industry (34:21)

August 29, 2007—Frank O’Neill, Co-Publisher, Floor Focus magazine looks back at the events of the past week in the floor covering industry discussing the passing of Carpet One co-founder Alan Greenberg; The revised terms of the HD Supply transaction and the negotiations between Home Depot and the other players in the transaction; And the new carpet technology that promises to replace latex and PP backing with a combination that offers lower cost, more efficient production, lighter weight, along with stronger tuft-bind and more installer-friendly carpet.

Faus Group President Juan Flores on the Company’s $20M Expansion – Part 2 (11:35)

August 29, 2007—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the second part of a four-part series discusses more about the company’s focus on the high-end of the laminate market, the changes that have taken place within that segment of the market, the company’s share of the total market and its share of the high-end segment. Also discussed is the growth the company has experienced in the last few years, its expansion in the distribution sector, its plans to expand the number of products it will introduce in the months to come and the company’s proprietary intellectual property including embossed in register, micro-bevel and interplank.

Faus Group President Juan Flores on the Company’s $20M Expansion – Part 1 (11:43)

August 28, 2007—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the first part of a four-part series, discusses the company’s tenth anniversary in the U.S., its history marketing laminate flooring in country, culminating with the opening a manufacturing facility in Calhoun, Georgia and its parent in Spain. Flores talks about the company’s focus on the high-end of the market, its goals to become a major player in the marketplace and the company’s recently announced $20 million plant expansion in 2008, which will double capacity at its Calhoun facility to 100 million square feet per year. Flores also talks about the goals of the expansion plans, which will allow the company it to react more quickly to market needs, be more cost-effective and as effective as possible in the area of customer service.

Dalton Retailer Randy Beckler on New Carpet Technology that would Replace Latex – Part 3

August 27, 2007—Randy Beckler, CEO, Dalton-based retailer Beckler’s Carpet, in the final part of a three-part series, discusses a completely new technology, which he is involved with, that includes a new adhesive that would replace latex and a new material that would replace woven polypropylene as a secondary backing in the manufacturing of carpet. The adhesive is a polyurethane and catalyst combination which is less costly then the present combination and it does not require an oven in the manufacturing process. Carpet manufactured with this new technology is not affected by cold temperatures, its more flexible than standard carpets, its lighter in weight, emits no odor or VOCs, its less abrasive, easier to install and dramatically reduces delamination because it produces a stronger bond that the carpet currently being produced, which promises to dramatically reduce claims.

Milliken Floor Covering’s Russell Grizzle on “Respect Our Earth Day” (26:41)

August 25, 2007—Russell Grizzle, President, Global Floor Covering Division, Milliken & Company, discusses Milliken’s “Respect Our Earth Day” which is taking place today and is being celebrated at the company’s carpet unit headquarters in LaGrange, GA. Grizzle discusses the company’s Energy Conservation Initiative, which focuses on reducing energy consumption, emissions and related water use by: Increasing awareness among the company’s associates at home and work; By focusing on alternative sources of energy resources; By applying innovative technological advances to lower consumption; and by registering the company’s facilities as green builds with LEED. Grizzle also discusses the company’s recently announced plan to open its first manufacturing facility in China, where it will produce modular carpet for the country’s commercial marketplace.

Barker on the Market (16:47)

August 24, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management discusses the market since the extreme volatility of last week and the Fed’s action cutting the discount rate last Friday. Barker talks about the Fed rate cut, its proactive stance and the market and financial community’s reaction. Also discusses is the upcoming Fed meeting in September and the arguments in favor of and against a rate cut at that meeting. Barker also discusses the housing market and his outlook, which does not see at recovery anytime soon.

Dalton Retailer Randy Beckler on the Dalton Retail Scene - Part 2 (11:47)

August 24, 2007—Randy Beckler, CEO, Dalton-based retailer Beckler’s Carpet, in the second part of a three-part series, discusses the year 2007, the company’s sizable facility in Dalton, the trend away from carpet and toward hard surface in the U.S. and his affiliation with a major mill. He discusses the company’s practice of buying hard surface products from Chinese producers, the competitive nature of being a Dalton retailer and Beckler’s move toward technology. Beckler discusses the company’s showroom, his efforts to increase sales of higher-end carpet products, his advertising philosophy and his approach to installation.