Flooring Podcast

FloorExpo's Kathy Van Pelt on The Home Solutions Design Community - Part 1 (13:00)

December 11, 2006—Kathy Van Pelt, vice president, member programs and services at FloorExpo, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses an initiative launched by Home Solutions, by FloorExpo called The Home Solutions Design Community, which is aimed at improving the performance of design consultants and design centers through education and communication. In this segment Van Pelt talks about the FloorExpo organization and it membership, the elements and development of the program.

Barker on the Market (30:36)

December 8, 2006—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management, discusses the general nervousness of the market over the later part of last week, the events in the sub-prime mortgage market and its effects on the bond and stock markets along with the mixed signals sent by analysts and home-builder executives on the state of the housing market. Barker also talks about some of last weeks economic news, including Friday’s jobs report and the affects it may have on the upcoming meeting of the Federal Reserve, OPEC’s meeting later this week and its effects on the price of oil and Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke’s trip to China.

Shaw’s Bradfield & Bradshaw on the Company’s Evergreen Recycling Facility – Part 1

December 6, 2006—In the first part of a five-part series, Steve Bradfield, Shaw Industries, corporate director of environmental affairs and John Bradshaw, environmental marketing manager, Shaw’s Evergreen Recycling, discuss the Evergreen facility, its history, its function, recent upgrades and what it will means to the Shaw organization once it is up and running. John Bradshaw also discusses his role in the operation and the collection process.

Shaw’s Bradfield & Bradshaw on the Company’s Evergreen Recycling Facility – Part 2 (13:06)

December 6, 2006—In the second part of a five-part series, Steve Bradfield, Shaw Industries, corporate director of environmental affairs and John Bradshaw, environmental marketing manager, Shaw’s Evergreen Recycling, discuss more about the process of collecting post-consumer carpet, the various players involved in the process including firms currently in the collection business and the role each will play. Also discussed is the variety of approaches the company plans to take in different regions of the country.

Shaw’s Bradfield & Bradshaw on the Company’s Evergreen Recycling Facility – Part 3 (13:45)

December 6, 2006—In the third part of a five-part series, Steve Bradfield, Shaw Industries, corporate director of environmental affairs and John Bradshaw, environmental marketing manager, Shaw’s Evergreen Recycling, discuss the role retailers and flooring contractors will play in the process of collecting post-consumer carpet and the benefits to each for participation. Bradfield and Bradshaw also talk about the course of action taken by the company to initiate this new processing unit and logistical network, the variety of post-consumer carpet that will be collected, the company’s volume goals and how the carpet that will not be used by Shaw will be handled.

Shaw’s Bradfield & Bradshaw on the Company’s Evergreen Recycling Facility – Part 4 (11:33)

December 6, 2006—In the fourth part of a five-part series, Steve Bradfield, Shaw Industries, corporate director of environmental affairs and John Bradshaw, environmental marketing manager of Shaw’s Evergreen Recycling, further discuss the cultural changes needed, at all levels, to make this process succeed. Also discussed is the speed with which the logistical network will be operational, some of the company’s newest products, which are manufactured to be more easily recycled and the company’s plans in this area, including plans in the residential marketplace.

Shaw’s Bradfield & Bradshaw on the Company’s Evergreen Recycling Facility – Part 5

December 6, 2006—In the final part of a five-part series, Steve Bradfield, Shaw Industries, corporate director of environmental affairs and John Bradshaw, environmental marketing manager, Shaw’s Evergreen Recycling, talk about some of the hurdles that have been encountered in the process of developing a collection network and they further discusses the company’s long-term goals with the facility and products manufactured from post-consumer materials, they also discuss what retailers can do to become involved in the network.

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

December 5, 2006—Floor Focus magazine Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill looks back at the week in the floor covering industry discussing: The launch of the Shaw Green Edge, an environmental initiative, within which the company declares its position as the industry leader in environmental stewardship and also the company’s launch of carpet tile into the main street market; The Home Depot buyout rumor and the company’s response and Home Depot’s new innovation and design venture Orange Works.

Barker on the Market

December 1, 2006—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management, discusses the housing market and if it has hit bottom, the rate of speed with which the economy is slowing and if it is slowing more rapidly than many seem to think. Barker talks about his expectations for corporate earnings in the upcoming earnings season, Friday’s ISM report, which revealed a contraction in the manufacturing sector and the factors investors may want to focus on prior to the end of the year.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry (33:04)

November 28, 2006—Floor Focus magazine Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill looks back at the week in the floor covering industry discussing: Solutia’s plan to sell itself off; Expectations for Surfaces 2007 and the return of Kronotex, to the show; The upcoming Shaw flooring alliance convention and other conventions and regionals scheduled for the upcoming season; The Focus 100 Retailer list, looking a independents and retail groups and; Freudenberg’s look at selling its nora rubber floorcoverings unit and what company’s appear to be interested in buying.