April 15, 2006—Lee Horwitz, owner of A&M Carpet and Big Bobs of Fresno California discusses this unique four store operation, keeping abreast of his customers’ needs, offering unique products to his customers, and how he makes buying decisions.
April 15, 2006—Horwitz discusses A&M’s approach of visiting the customer’s home, his efforts to reduce SKU’s in his stores, the advantages of being a stocking retailer, how his philosophy differs from soft surface to hard, the advantages of square foot pricing in carpet. Horwitz also describes the A&M operation, the company’s ad budget and the approach he takes in his advertising program.
April 15, 2006—Horwitz discusses his observations about gender and buying decision and who really makes the buying decision, the A&M sales force its approach and its skills in area of interior decorating and color coordination. Horwitz also discusses his approach to technology and B2B and his expansion plans.
April 13, 2006—From ASCER, the Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers of Spain, Secretary General Pedro Riaza and Javier Soriano, Director of Foreign Trade and Promotion discuss the ASCER organization and its mission, its promotional and educational efforts in the U.S. Also discussed is the association’s involvement of the show Coverings, the changing U.S. ceramic marketplace, its shifts in market share, the dollar/euro dynamic, the association’s efforts in the U.S. commercial sector and the largest drivers of change in the market. Riaza also discusses the association’s efforts aimed at retailers and offers advice for retailers entering the ceramic category.
April 12, 2006—Werner Braun, President, Carpet & Rug Institute talks about the association’s network of websites and the sizable emphasis the association places on internet technology to publish its findings and disseminate information. Braun discusses the CRI’s marketing efforts and some of the likely changes ahead it its approach to the internet and the upcoming Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) annual meeting and the annual CARE survey.
April 12, 2006—Ffrom Coverings 2006, Sean Boyle, Director of Business Development, Laticrete, discusses the company, its rich history and the host of products the company furnishes to the ceramic and stone industry. Boyle discusses the company’s extensive product development program and it’s website, laticrete.com, which provides technical assistance to retailers, contractors, installers and others. Also discusses is the role the company plays in assisting floor covering retailers get up to speed in the ceramic and stone sector.
April 10, 2006—Tamara Christian, President, National Trade Productions (NTP), discusses Coverings 2006, the ceramic tile and stone show, held last week in Orlando. Christian talks about the attendance at this year’s show, NTP's anticipated increase in attendance over last year’s show, overall attendance goals specifically in the retailer and architect and designer areas. Also discussed are exhibitor responses to the show, the conference program and keynote speaker and the show’s plans to move to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the 2007 version of Coverings and the possibility of the show moving to a third city at some point in the future.
April 10, 2006—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill discusses the ceramic tile and stone show Coverings 2006, held last week in Orlando. Topics include, the estimated increase in traffic and the additional retailers, architects and designers attending this show, the major exhibitors and their presence at the show, the extensive variety of products and some of the more unusual products launched at the show. Also discussed is Mohawk’s announcement that it had cut its first quarter earnings per share guidance to $1.03 to $1.05, from 1.17 to $1.26, the result of higher than expected LIFO accounting charges and lower than anticipated sales growth.
April 9, 2006—From Coverings 2006 – Terry Wheat, CEO, software provider RFMS, discusses the company’s newest offering, an estimating tool that permits retailers, retail salespeople or anyone to accurately measure any space, from a room to a shower, for any flooring product, ceramic tile, stone, wood or carpet. The tool, works with RFMS management tools or independently and it provides a complete materials list. Wheat also discusses the show coverings.
April 6, 2006—From Coverings 2006, Paul Heldins, Managing Director, Steuler Fliesen, a ceramic tile producer based in Muhlacker, Germany discusses the newest development in the ceramic industry; ceramic tile with embedded light emitting diodes (LEDs). Tiles with LED’s, which are available in a variety of colors, are used in both floor and wall tiles as a decorative accent or as a safety device.