Flooring Podcast

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry

January 24, 2007—Frank O’Neill, co-publisher of Floor Focus magazine, discusses: Armstrong, the company’s marketing thrust for 2007 and some of its new products; Lowe’s planned move into Mexico; Frank Blake’s pay package at Home Depot; Max Bridger’s new assignment at Propex; Dubai-based Depa United's stake in Thailand Carpet the parent of Tai Ping; Alan Lorberbaum, Julian Saul and Phil Gutierrez to be inducted into WFCA Hall of Fame; Former Ohio Retailer Buddy Kallick dead at 76.

Brenda Knowles on the Shaw Green Edge – Part 3 (14:15)

January 21, 2007—Brenda Knowles, VP Marketing, Commercial Division of Shaw Industries, in the final part of a three-part series, discusses the Shaw Green Edge initiative, the company’s core values of honesty, integrity and hard work and its investment in long-term environmental solutions and keeping sustainability concerns on the minds of the company’s 31,000 employees. Knowles also talks about the Evergreen Carpet Recycling facility in Augusta, Georgia, the company’s cradle-to-cradle production initiative and the reaction the company has received from the program.

CRI's Warner Braun - Dealing with Carpet Installation (10:28)

January 21, 2007—Werner Braun, president, Carpet & Rug, (CRI) discusses the problems that exist in the installation sector of the carpet industry and the efforts the association is involved in to assist in remedying those problems, including taking part in the development of an industry-wide installation standard. Braun talks about accommodations made by carpet manufacturers and the problems that arise as a result, the goals for the new standard and his expectation for the initiative’s outcome.

Jon Dougal on Industry Recycling and Sustainability Programs - Part 1 (16:54)

January 21, 2007—Jon Dougal, sustainability editor, Green Building News, discusses the floor covering industry’s efforts in the sustainability and Tandus' recycling operation in Dalton, Georgia, which recycles post-consumer carpet and vinyl material into carpet backing. Dougal talks about sustainability, its relationship to profitability and the rational that led many of the industry’s companies to initiate sustainability programs. Dougal also compares the industry sustainability programs.

Barker on the Market (30:50)

January 18, 2007—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement management reviews events affecting Wall Street over the past few weeks including the recent drop in oil prices, discussing the reasons for the drop and the commentary last summer warning that crude would soon hit $100 by now. Barker discusses the housing market and his view on how it will play out during 2007, inflation concerns, the Fed and his expectations for their meeting at the end of January and his expectations for the market in general going forward.

Brenda Knowles on the Shaw Green Edge – Part 2 (11:50)

January 18, 2007—Brenda Knowles, VP Marketing, Commercial Division of Shaw Industries, in the second part of a three-part series, discusses the Shaw Green Edge initiative, which the company called. “An umbrella term for one of the nation’s most aggressive environmental programs”. Knowles discusses the company’s goals for the program, their decision to be more vocal about the elements of the program and the factors that make the company a sustainability leader.

Brenda Knowles on the Shaw Green Edge – Part 1 (10:13)

January 17, 2007—Brenda Knowles, VP Marketing, Commercial Division of Shaw Industries, in the first part of a three-part series, discusses the Shaw Green Edge initiative, which the company called. “An umbrella term for one of the nation’s most aggressive environmental programs”. Knowles discusses the company’s goals for the program, their decision to be more vocal about the elements of the program and the factors that make the company a sustainability leader.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Kemp Harr and the Week in the Flooring Industry

January 16, 2007—Kemp Harr, co-publisher, Floor Focus Magazine reviews events that have taken place in the floorcovering industry over the past week discussing: The Shaw Flooring Alliance meeting in Orlando, attended by Warren Buffett; Attendance at Domotex 2007; Unilin’s action at Domotex to confiscate Faus’ products; Pfleiderer's cash offer for Pergo shares; Mannington and J&J’s joint venture; The potential sale of Armstrong’s European carpet and sports flooring business; Nourison’s manufacturing expansion and; Tandus’s new sample recovery program.

CRI's Warner Braun Answers Question on Seal of Approval - Part 2 (17:06)

January 16, 2007—Werner Braun, president, Carpet & Rug Institute, in the final part part of a two-part series talks about comments made by floorcovering retailers concerning the CRI’s Seal of Approval program covering carpet maintenance. Werner discusses the communication efforts of the program, the availability of products and services at a local level that have earned the seal, his expectations for the approved products in the months ahead and the rational behind member mills connecting the Seal of Approval with warranties program in January of 2007.

CRI's Warner Braun Answers Question on Seal of Approval - Part 1

January 15, 2007—Werner Braun, President, Carpet & Rug Institute, in the first part of a two-part series, talks about comments made by floor covering retailers concerning the CRI’s Seal of Approval program on carpet maintenance. Werner discusses the communication efforts of the program, the availability of products and services at a local level that have earned the seal, his expectations for the number of approved products that will be available in the months ahead and the rational behind member mills connecting the Seal of Approval with warranties program in January of 2007.