May 24, 2007—James Woelfel, Vice Presisident, Artcraft, Granite Marble and Tile Co., from Coverings 2007 discusses the Mesa, Arizona-based Artcraft, his work with the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the workshop that the association sponsored at the show. Woelfel discusses changes in the marble and granite industry, competition and the decision he made at the show.
May 24, 2007—Chris Freed, President, J.H. Freed & Sons, San Diego, CA and President, National Association of Floor Covering Distributors, from Coverings 2007, discusses his take on the show, the association's involvement with the show and his growing interest in ceramic and stone as a floor covering distributor.
May 24, 2007—Bart Bettiga, Executive Director, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), from Coverings 2007, dicusses the show, its 2007 venue in Chicago. Bettiga also talks about the work of the association, its Tile Letter, Partnering for Success, the association’s new membership campaign, the expanded workshops that are taking place at the show and its new contractor dafety program.
May 24, 2007—Howard Bernstein, National Sales Manager, Tile-Redi, from Coverings 2007 discusses the company’s unique, leak-proof and mold-free shower pans, which were exhibited at the show. Bernstein talks about the versatility of the units, which can be used with tile, stone or marble as well as Tile-Redi’s time and labor aspects.
May 24, 2007—Paul Heldens, Managing Director, Steuler Fliesen from Coverings 2007, discusses some of the products offered by German-based company including it’s unique illuminated wall and floor tiles, that feature an LED module in the surface of the tile that provides interior design light effects or safety related features, such as stair edging, emergency lighting or for marking walkways.
May 24, 2007—Eric Astrchan, Executive Director, Tile Council of North America from Coverings 2007 discusses the show Coverings and its move in 2007 to Chicago’s McCormick Place and some of the changes that have occurred in the ceramic business. Astrchan also talks about the expansion of the association and his expectation for the ceramic industry in 2007 and beyond.
May 24, 2007—Keith Hughes, Managing Director in Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey in the final part of a four-part series discusses the first quarter performance of Interface, the modular carpet sector, the company’s segmentation strategy and changes in the Bentley Prince Street and fabrics units. Hughes also provided an update on the Armstrong auction and his expectations for its outcome.
May 23, 2007—Frank O’Neill, co-publisher Floor Focus discusses the recent court ruling against Congoleum involving the company’s prepackaged bankruptcy and collusion between Congoleum's former bankruptcy lawyers; Lowe’s first quarter earnings and a comparison between the quarterly performance of Lowe’s and Home Depot and; Solutia’s amended reorganization plan.
May 23, 2007—Keith Hughes, Managing Director in Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey in the third part of a four-part series discusses Mohawk’s potential for acquisition in the quarters ahead, market share shifts in the first quarter and how one determines market share in the carpet industry. Also discusses are pending price increases and the Mohawk’s guidance for the second quarter and the year end.
May 22, 2007—Keith Hughes, Managing Director in Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey in the second part of a four-part series evaluates Mohawk’s first quarter sales and earnings discussing the performance of the Mohawk, Daltile and Unilin sectors, the European market and the company’s licensing and intellectual property business. Hughes talks about the commercial sector, the company’s track record at reducing costs and managing inventories and recent articles that suggest the company is an acquisition target for private equity firms.