Flooring Podcast

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.

Beaulieu President Ralph Boe – Part 3 (11:05)

November 27, 2006—Beaulieu President Ralph Boe – Part 3 Ralph Boe, president Beaulieu of America, in the third part of a four-part series discusses recent changes within the company’s marketing staff and how those changes reflect an enhanced marketing thrust. Boe also discusses the company’s emphasis on its Retail Partner Program, its strategy for the program and the overall importance of the program to the company, the company’s new credit card program and the value of credit to a retailer.

Beaulieu President Ralph Boe – Part 4 (13:57)

November 27, 2006—Ralph Boe, President Beaulieu of America, in the final part of a four-part series, discusses the company’s focus on installation via a program called BeauTech, Beaulieu of Canada’s announced move into laminate and wood products and the connection, if any, with BOA. Boe also discusses Beaulieu International and whether a connection exists between that organization and BOA and the company’s move to tie warranties to maintenance using CRI Seal of Approval products, the company’s plans for Surfaces 2007 and his expectations for the future at BOA.

FloorRadio Installation Roundtable – Part 3 (17:14)

November 25, 2006—In the third part of a special four-part FloorRadio series, panelists look at the industry’s perennial installation problem and possible ways to lessen it. Panelists, John McGrath Director, International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL), Jon Namba, Executive Director, Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI), Jeff Bishop, Institute of Inspection and Cleaning Restoration Certification, (IICRC) and Riley Gazzaway, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, discuss developing consensus installation standards and other factors that could lead to a reduction of the installation problem.

FloorRadio Installation Roundtable – Part 2 (19:42)

November 25, 2006—In the second part of a special four-part FloorRadio series, panelists look at the industry’s perennial problem of installation and possible ways to lessen it. Panelists, John McGrath director, International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL), Jon Namba, executive director, Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI), Jeff Bishop, Institute of Inspection and Cleaning Restoration Certification, (IICRC) and Riley Gazzaway, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, further further discuss the causes of installation problem and the contributions made by each of the industry’s major groups toward causing this state of affairs.

FloorRadio Installation Roundtable – Part 1 (17:14)

November 25, 2006—In the first part of a special four-part FloorRadio series, panelists look at the industry’s perennial installation problem and possible ways to lessen it. Panelists, John McGrath, director, International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL), Jon Namba, executive director, Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI), Jeff Bishop, Institute of Inspection and Cleaning Restoration Certification, (IICRC) and Riley Gazzaway, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, discuss some of the causes of installation problems and the contributions made by each of the industry’s major groups toward causing this state of affairs.

FloorRadio Installation Roundtable – Part 4 (23:15)

November 25, 2006—In the final part of a special four-part FloorRadio series, panelists look at the industry’s perennial installation problem and possible ways to lessen it. Panelists, John McGrath Director, International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL), Jon Namba, Executive Director, Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI), Jeff Bishop, Institute of Inspection and Cleaning Restoration Certification, (IICRC) and Riley Gazzaway, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, further discuss developing consensus installation standards and other factors that could lead to a reduction of the installation problem.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Kemp Harr Looks at GreenBuild and Lowe’s (34:14)

November 21, 2006—Kemp Harr, Co-Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and partner in the website, FloorDaily.net, looks back at the events of the last seven days in the floor covering industry including the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, which was held in Denver. Harr talks about attendance at the event, the floor covering exhibitors at the expo and the new backing products launched at the show. Also discussed are Lowe’s third-quarter results, which are compared with Home Depot’s results for the same period.

Beaulieu President Ralph Boe – Part 2 (12:13)

November 21, 2006—Ralph Boe, president Beaulieu of America, in the second part of a four-part series discusses the prime steps put in place that are responsible for the company’s reorganization early in the decade and the company’s strategy of differentiating itself in the marketplace with unique products, such as its MagicFresh and its new product introductions at Home Depot and some of the company’s newest marketing initiatives.

Beaulieu President Ralph Boe – Part 1 (17:10)

November 20, 2006—Ralph Boe, President Beaulieu of America, in the first part of a four-part series discusses the Beaulieu organization today, the 3rd quarter at Beaulieu and the affects of the housing market decline on the company. Boe defines the company’s position in the industry and its marketing approach, which permits the company to prosper in the competitive marketplace of today.