Flooring Podcast

Dalton Retailer Randy Beckler on the Dalton Retail Scene - Part 1 (16:16)

August 23, 2007—Randy Beckler, CEO, Dalton-based retailer Beckler’s Carpet, in the first part of a three-part series, discusses the Beckler’s operation. its history and how the Dalton retail scene has changed in recent years. Beckler discusses the competitive situation in the Dalton area, his Connector 3 location, the best in the Dalton area, which has 15 other floor covering retailers within walking distance. Also discussed is how the region’s retailers have moved toward the internet in recent years. Beckler talks about any advantage that Dalton area retailers may have, the negative perception many of the nation’s floor covering retailers have toward them, which was brought to the forefront by a Today show broadcast that originated from the Beckler showroom and his reaction to those retailers.

Carpet One President Evan Hackel on Promotions and Sustainability – Part 5 (8:29)

August 22, 2007—Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One Floor & Home, in the final part of a five-part series talks about the recent Carpet One Summer convention held in Cincinnati discussing the CCA Global program sustainability initiative called Green Select, the next progression for the company’s Muddiest Buddies promotion and some of the coop’s advertising and promotion plans for the fall as well as the Carpetone.com website and the CCA, BlueLinx logistical program as well as Carpet One’s expansion plans.

Floor Focus’ Kemp Harr, the Week in the Flooring Industry (33:34)

August 22, 2007—Kemp Harr, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine looks back that the past week in the floor covering industry discussing: The Shaw Vision Retreat for designers; The $20M expansion at Faus Group’s Calhoun, Georgia facility, which will see the addition of a milling line and four presses; Lowe’s second quarter earnings and a comparison with Home Depot’s results; The July foreclosure rate, which nearly doubled; The increase in the National Association of Realtors Commercial Leading Indicator for Brokerage Activity in the second quarter; The plan for a new carpet mill, which will produce carpet for Japanese auto producers in the U.S.; The CFI convention and the revamping of Karastan’s installation program.

Carpet One President Evan Hackel on New Programs at Carpet One – Part 4 (9:06)

August 21, 2007—Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One Floor & Home, in the fourth part of a five-part series talks about the recent Carpet One Summer convention held in Cincinnati and about Carpet One’s 5-year plan, which was a prime focus of the convention. Hackel discusses the new programs rolled-out at the convention including programs involving store design, merchandising and marketing as well as a program called “Destination Carpet One”.

Barker on the Fed’s Discount Rate Cut (15:57)

August 20, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management discusses the Fed’s actions Friday when it cut the discount rate by 0.5%. He talks about reaction in the world’s markets to last week sell-offs in U.S. markets and the timing of the Fed’s cut, the message sent by the size of the cut and how the move effects how the financial markets view Fed chairman Ben Bernanke. Barker discusses the market’s reaction to the cut, the approach of Bernanke verses former Fed chairman Greenspan and how the cut will likely be interpreted.

Carpet One President Evan Hackel on Competition and Competiting – Part 3 (11:58)

August 20, 2007—Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One Floor & Home, in the third part of a five-part series Hackel talks about the recent shifts a Home Depot and shares his expectations as to the outcome of the home improvement retailer’s floor covering operations. Hackle discusses the competitive environment and some of the retail sector’s mid-tier and online operations and how Carpet One can best compete with these organizations, he also discusses his expectations for these players going forward.

Barker on Yesterday's Wild Market - (36:30)

August 18, 2007—Mike Barker Investment and Retirement Management looks at the extreme volatility in yesterday’s market, dropping as much as 341 points at mid-day to close off 15 points. Barker discusses the causes for the continued instability of the market, signposts that may indicate it’s bottoming out and how long he expects the cycle to last. Barker discusses yesterday’s housing starts report and his expectations for a housing market recovery, the Fed and how they may react to the market decline as well as gas and crude prices.

Carpet One President Evan Hackel Evaluates the Housing Market and Competition – Part 2 (10:12)

August 17, 2007—Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One Floor & Home, in the second part of a five-part series discusses how the company recommends its members best weather depressed times. Hackel discusses how the various segments within the industry have evolved, the impact that big box home improvement retailers and online retailers are having on the independent and the market share of each.

Carpet One President Evan Hackel on Summer Convention and the Marketplace – Part 1 (13:34)

August 16, 2007—Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One Floor & Home, in the first part of a five-part series talks about the recent Carpet One Summer convention held in Cincinnati, the turnout, the theme, “Turn It On” and the coop’s 2007 performance to date. Hackel discusses the housing and remodeling markets, his estimation as to the toll the housing slump has taken on players in the floor covering industry and his expectations for a housing recovery.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill, The Week in the Flooring Industry - (35:03)

August 15, 2007—Frank O’Neill, Co-Publisher, Floor Focus magazine looks back at the events of the past week in the floor covering industry discussing Home Depot’s second quarter earnings report and the tentative future for the sale of HD Supply unit and the company’s $22.5 billion recapitalization program; Congoleum’s second quarter earnings report; Shaw’s naming of a VP of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs; The launch of Milliken’s Stimulus, a process that allows precisely engineered overlay of random pattern elements in tandem with the company’s Millitron; Beaulieu Commercial move to offer post-consumer recycled content in all of its offerings; J. J. Haines’ acquisition of Orlando-based distributor Wheeler Inc.; And J. Mish’s move to Cartersville.