Flooring Podcast

Barker on the Market

October 5, 2006—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses the Dow reaching record highs three times this week, what it means to the overall market and to individual investors and how long he feels the upturn will last. Barker also looks at how the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 are performing as compared to the Dow, he also discusses the economy in general, looking at the anticipated soft landing in the housing sector and the drop in 25% drop in oil prices since mid-July. Also discussed are the threat of inflation, retail sales and the 3rd quarter earnings reports.

Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting Analyses the Carpet Sector – Part 3 (11:55)

October 4, 2006—Tom Rennie, President, TLR Consulting and Editor of the Commercial Carpet, in the final part of a three-part series discusses the commercial market place, his expectations for the turns the economy may take in the future and his views on the industry is the economy were to fall into a slump. Rennie also offers a progress report with efforts to produce bio-based fibers and his take on the most significant events that have occurred in the carpet industry over the past 12 months along with his expectations for the carpet industry in 2006 and 2007?

CRI President Werner Braun Offers Retailers Answers to Consumer Questions on Asthma and Allergy (10

October 4, 2006—Werner Braun, President, Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) offers retailers and retailer salespeople fact-based answers they can use to help field consumer questions about asthma and allergy. Braun discusses specific testing methods and procedures to help promote understanding of how carpet acts as a trap to keep dust and allergens out of the breathing zone and away breathing passages.

Santo Torcivia Analyzes the Industry’s Hard Surface Sector – Part 4 (7:24)

October 3, 2006—Santo Torcivia, President of the consulting firm, Market Insights/Torcivia and publisher of US FLOOReport, in the fourth part of a five part series looks at the changing landscape in the hard surface sector of the floor covering business discussing pricing in the laminate sector and his expectations for the future. Torcivia also talks about the vinyl sector, its current state and his take on the future of the product category,

Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting Analyses the Carpet Sector – Part 2 (13:26)

October 3, 2006—Tom Rennie, President, TLR Consulting and Editor of the Commercial Carpet, in the second part of a three-part series evaluates the current state of the carpet segment, discussing how consumers in today’s environment view carpet and what actions will be necessary for carpet to begin regaining markeshare. Rennie also the effects of the Stainmaster campaign 20 years ago and the residual effects since.

Floor Focus Co-Publisher Frank O’Neill and Industry Events of the Week

October 3, 2006—Frank O’Neill, co-publisher Floor Focus discusses Armstrong’s emergence from Chapter 11 and the company’s plans going forward; Mohawk’s appellate court ruling in its RICO case; The slowing growth in August in the office furniture market; New Jersey’s decision to tax floor covering installation; The expansion of Honeywell’s caprolactam capacity; Invista’s acquisition of a yarn processor in Germany and; Faus naming of Melmart as its Canadian distributor.

Santo Torcivia Analyzes the Industry’s Hard Surface Sector – Part 5

October 3, 2006—Santo Torcivia, President of the consulting firm, Market Insights/Torcivia and publisher of US FLOOReport, in the fifth and final part of a five part series looks at the changing landscape in the hard surface sector of the floor covering business discussing consolidation of the laminate sector and his expectation of how the sector will look in years to come. Torcivia also talks about the effects Shaw and Mohawk has had in the hard surface sector.

Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting Analyses the Carpet Sector – Part 1 (16:59)

October 2, 2006—Tom Rennie, President, TLR Consulting and Editor of the Commercial Carpet, in the first part of a three-part series, evaluates the current state of the carpet segment comparing its health today with that of October of 2005, discussing carpet sales in 2006, how the slowdown in housing has effected the sector and compare sales of the hard and soft sectors of the industry

Santo Torcivia Analyzes the Industry’s Hard Surface Sector – Part 3 (11:01)

October 1, 2006—Santo Torcivia, President of the consulting firm, Market Insights/Torcivia and publisher of US FLOOReport, in the third part of a five part series, looks at the changing landscape in the hard surface sector of the floor covering business discussing the laminate, hardwood, and ceramic sectors, the uniquenesses and his expectations for each category. Torcivia talks about the high-end of the flooring market and his expectations for this market segment.

Santo Torcivia Analyzes the Industry’s Hard Surface Sector – Part 2 (10:05)

September 29, 2006—Santo Torcivia, President of the consulting firm, Market Insights/Torcivia and publisher of US FLOOReport, in the second part of a five part series looks at the changing landscape in the hard surface sector of the floor covering business discussing the laminate sector, European producers and the manufacturing facilities that many have opened in the U.S., the need for these players to be vertically integrated. Torcivia also details his list of the most significant developments in the hard surface sector over the past five years.