Flooring Podcast

Aaron Pirner, CEO of CAP Carpet on the the Short Comings of Maintenance Warranties- Part 3 (14:33)

December 17, 2006—Retailer Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, a 10 location chain, based in Wichita, Kansas, in the third part of a five-part series, discusses the CRI Seal of Approval program for spot cleaners and the efforts of some major mills’ to link approval chemicals to warranties. Pirner shares his views on the short-comings on this initiative including the lack of channel partners education, the lack of sample labeling, the difficulty in the availability of the approved chemicals list, and the lack of accessible to approved chemicals in area stores. He also discusses the damage carpet as a product he will receive for this move.

Retailer Aaron Pirner, CEO of CAP Carpet on What's Needed on the Internet - Part 4 (10:50)

December 17, 2006—Retailer Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, a 10 location chain, based in Wichita, Kansas, in the fourth part of a five-part series, discusses his view on the importance of developing internet strategies among channel partners and the major challenge in years to come for supply channel partners to align themselves in a way to produce sales and not just furnishing education and developing leads. Also discusses are the shortcomings of dealer locators and the need for technology to track sales produced by leads. Pirner talks the steps he has taken with the WFCA and others.

Retailer Aaron Pirner, CEO of CAP Carpet Surviving Hard Times - Part 5 (12:24)

December 17, 2006—Retailer Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, a 10 location chain, based in Wichita, Kansas, in the final part of a five-part series discusses the actions CAP takes during weak markets and the creative steps he takes with channel partners to increase margins. Pirner talks about his approach to advertising and relationship selling and his views on how independents are taking market share from larger players.

Bevil & Young on Shaw’s Stepped-Up Ad Program – Part 1 (16:36)

December 13, 2006—From Shaw Industries, Buddy Bevil, Director of Marketing Communications and Kathy Young, Director of Creative Services, in the first part of a three-part series, discusses the companies’ enhanced advertising and communications program. In this segment Bevil and Young talk about the company’s traditional stance on advertising and outline its new stance going forward, they also discusses consumers' perception of flooring companies and the brand the company will feature in the program.

Bevil & Young on Shaw’s Stepped-Up Ad Program – Part 2 (11:55)

December 13, 2006—From Shaw Industries, Buddy Bevil, Director of Marketing Communications and Kathy Young, Director of Creative Services, in the second part of a three-part series, discuss the companies’ enhanced advertising and communications program. In this segment Bevil and Young discuss the media selections, made by the company, the program’s goals, their expectations in terms of consumer response and the products that will be featured in the program.

Bevil & Young on Shaw’s Stepped Up Ad Program – Part 3 (11:46)

December 13, 2006—From Shaw Industries, Buddy Bevil, director of marketing communications and Kathy Young, director of creative services, in the final part of a three-part series, discusses the companies’ enhanced advertising and communications program. In this segment Bevil and Young discuss the online element of the program, the role shelter and women’s magazines play in consumer purchasing decisions, and the core message of the program.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry (34:13)

December 12, 2006—Floor Focus magazine Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill looks back at the week in the floor covering industry discussing: The merging of the Midwestern operations of Tarkett and Kraus, the benefits of such a move and the implications for other players in the industry: The closure or sale of Tandus’ U.K. manufacturing operations and the company’s focus on manufacturing operations in North America and China; More on Shaw’s Evergreen facility and the repositioning of the Anso brand and; Home Depot's Homeway deal in China.

FloorExpo's Kathy Van Pelt on The Home Solutions Design Community - Part 2 (12:40)

December 12, 2006—Kathy Van Pelt, vice president, Member Programs and Services at FloorExpo, in the second part of a two-part series, discusses an initiative launched by Home Solutions, by FloorExpo called Home Solutions Design Community, aimed at improving the performance of design consultants and design centers through education and communication. In this segment Van Pelt talks about design consultants, their ability to increase revenue, how they work with homeowners to create a positive experience and some of the other tools available to FloorExpo members.

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.