Flooring Podcast

Trivers Analyses Home Depot – Part 2 (11:56)

March 30, 2007—Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit & Wisdom, in the second part of a three-part series looks at the recent changes at Home Depot. Trivers discusses the affects the last couple of years at Home Depot have had on independent retailers, the company’s HD Supply unit and whether the unit will be sold and the changes he anticipates within the retail operation. Also discussed is the growth of Empire Carpet, how it deals with installation and his expectations for the company.

Trivers Analyses Home Depot – Part 1 (10:52)

March 29, 2007—Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit & Wisdom, in the first part of a three-part series looks at the recent changes at Home Depot, including the closure of the company’s freestanding floor covering operation, The Floor Store. Trivers talks about the company’s new focus on its retail operation, the impact Nardelli had on the company during his six year tenure and the current state of Home Depot’s floor covering sector.

Floor Focus Publisher Kemp Harr and the Week in the Flooring Industry (34:23)

March 28, 2007—Kemp Harr, Publisher of Floor Focus magazine, looks back at the week in the floor covering industry discussing: Faus Group's recently announced licensing with Shanghai-based laminate and hardwood producer ChinaFloors Timbers and ChinaFloors’ unique and growing operation; Home Depot’s announced pay hikes for trade specialists in a effort to improve customer service, Home Depot’s test of larger and smaller format stores and what it could mean for the independent flooring retailer and what the company will really do with HD Supply and; Stifel Nicolaus’ “Buy” on Armstrong and its estimated value of the company.

CRI’s Werner Braun Answers Listeners' Questions on SOA – Part 1

March 28, 2007—Werner Braun, President of the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) in the first part of a three part series discusses feedback and answers questions from listeners. The main topic discussed was the CRI Seal of Approval programs covering carpet cleaning and maintenance chemicals and equipment.

CRI’s Werner Braun Answers Listerers Question on SOA – Part 2 (11:16)

March 28, 2007—Werner Braun, President of the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) in the second part of a three part series discusses feedback and answers questions from listeners. The main topic discussed was the CRI Seal of Approval programs covering carpet cleaning and maintenance chemicals and equipment.

NWFA’s Ed Korczak on Life Cycle Analysis – Part 2

March 27, 2007—Ed Korczak, Executive Director of the National Wood Flooring Association, in the final part of a two-part series discusses the association’s efforts in the area of life cycle analysis. Korczal discusses the association’s objectives in launching this program, to develop a model for hardwood flooring and also to better understand the relationship between life-cycle inventory and process improvement opportunities that enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen solid wood flooring manufacturing.

BrandBiz’s Paul Friederichsen on The Little Blue Book of Advertising – Part 3

March 26, 2007—Paul Friederichsen, President of Brand Biz, in the final part of a three-part series, reviews the book, The Little Blue Book of Advertising by Steve Lance and Jeff Woll. In this segment Friederichsen talks about the process of learning about your customer and the about the products you sell, about keeping advertisments current, the chapter of the book entitled, “Tell ‘em, Sell ‘em and Tell ‘em again”, and advertisng sales.

NWFA’s Ed Korczak on Life Cycle Analysis - Part 1

March 26, 2007—Ed Korczak, Executive Director, National Wood Flooring Association, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses the association’s efforts in the area of life cycle analysis. Korczak talks about the rationale behind the project, the elements that make up the analysis, including the production of co-products and by-products in the manufacturing process.

BrandBiz’s Paul Friederichsen on The Little Blue Book of Advertising – Part 2 (10:35)

March 25, 2007—Paul Friederichsen President, Brand Biz, in the second part of a three-part series, reviews the the book, The Little Blue Book of Advertising by Steve Lance and Jeff Woll. In this segment Friederichsen talks about knowing your own brand nd becoming aware of the real image consumers have of you brand. He also talks about knowing the features and benefits of the products you sell and advertsing as a member of a buying group or as a mill affiliate.

Barker on the Market (22:28)

March 24, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management further discusses the Fed’s decision earlier this week to leave interest rates unchanged, the nuances of the statement issued by the fed and the ensuing reaction by economists, the media and the market. Barker also talks about the deepening problems in housing market and situation in the subprime mortgage market, crude oil prices and the pending earnings season.