Flooring Podcast

DuPont Spokesman Dan Turner on the Steelworkers Allegations

December 21, 2005—Dan Turner, a spokesman for DuPont discusses the allegations made yesterday by the United Steelworkers (USW), which said stain-repellent chemical used in carpeting may pose a health hazard. Turner pegs these allegations as is "simply not true". He discusses the chemistry behind the carpet treatment that measures the company has taken to ensure the safety of its products. Turner also discusses the recent merger of USW with the Paper Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy (PACE) union and PACE’s announced “Corporate Campaign” against the DuPont company.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill - The Week in the Floor Covering Industry

December 20, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill discusses: The Floor Focus contract dealer survey, which covered the likes and dislikes of the nation’s contract dealers, how they present products and how they have changed over the past two years; Tandus’ third quarter earnings; November hardwood flooring shipments as reported by NOFMA; The purchase of a gas company by Spanish ceramic tile producers; The purchase by Greenpeace of illegally cut Brazilian timber, which they parked in front a Sao Paulo police station; and the launch of BASF’s ammonia-free latex binder for carpet backing.

Tom Rennie Reviews 2005 in the Carpet Sector – Part 1

December 19, 2005—In the first part of a two-part series, Tom Rennie, who heads TLR Consulting and is also the Editor of the Commercial Carpet Digest, looks back at the year in the carpet sector. Rennie evaluates the two acquisitions completed by Shaw during the year and discusses the affects the Honeywell acquisition will have on the company and the industry. Rennie also looks at Mohawk’s alliance with Solutia and 3M and discusses the changes with the industry’s two largest players during the year as well as market share shifts, the affects that the raw materials increases have had on the industry, the commercial sector and his expectations for 2006.

Tom Rennie Reviews 2005 in the Carpet Sector – Part 2

December 19, 2005—In the final part of a two-part series, Tom Rennie, who heads TLR Consulting and is also the Editor of the Commercial Carpet Digest, looks back at the year in the carpet sector. Rennie evaluates the two acquisitions that Shaw made during the year and discusses the affects that the Honeywell acquisition will have on the company as well as the industry, as well as Mohawk’s alliance with Solutia and 3M. Also discusses are changes with the industry’s two largest players during the year, market share shifts, the affects the rapid increases in raw materials prices, the commercial sector and Rennie’s expectations for 2006.

Sandlin, Hackel, Burson & Simonson - Marketing on the Internet - Part 4

December 18, 2005—In this is the final part of a four-part roundtable discussion, sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association the panel conclude their conversation on marketing floor coverings online. Panelists Scott Sandlin, VP, Marketing, Shaw Industries; Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One; Mark Burson, Principal, Burson Consulting Group; and John Simonson, President, Webstream Dynamics in this segment compares the website of big box and independent retailers in terms of efficiency and product knowledge. The panelists also discuss the role internet retailers play and multi-channel retailer play in the shopping process, the future of multi-channel players, the importance of blogs in the shopping process and what independent retailer should do to ensure their growth as the internet evolves. Each panelist also offers his vision of the internet of tomorrow.

Bob Peoples Reviews the CARE and What the Revitalization of Evergreen Might Mean to the Program

December 15, 2005—Bob Peoples, Executive Director of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and Director of Sustainability, Carpet and Rug Institute discusses the CARE program and its goals and he reviews the program’s progress in 2005 toward its goal of diverting post-consumer carpet from landfills. Peoples talks about the program’s pending relationship with the commercial contractor co-op StarNet, the recent meeting of the program’s affiliate entrepreneurs and the potential affects that the probable revitalization of the Evergreen Nylon Recycling facility in Augusta, GA, might have on the CARE program.

Speedheat’s Pieter Jansens on Radiant Heat

December 14, 2005—Pieter Jansens, Chairman of Speedheat International, discusses the company Speedheat and the radiant heating products it produces and markets, which produce heat and warmth from under floor coverings. Jansens talks about the popularity of the concept throughout the world, its introduction in North American markets, the products offered by the company for installation under ceramic, hardwood and carpet and a product called RugBuddy that’s designed to provide heat from under area rugs. Also discussed is the company's unique marketing approach in the U.S., its in-store merchandising, installation and the growth potential for the products.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill - The Week in the Floor Covering Industry

December 13, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill discusses: Tarkett’s acquisition of Johnsonite; the Supreme Court’s decision to hear Mohawk’s appeal of a civil racketeering lawsuit alleging that the company hired illegal immigrants and depressed the wages of U.S. citizens who worked for the company; Surfaces being nearly sold out for the upcoming show; The Las Vegas Market housing 500 temporary exhibitors at Mandalay Bay for its January show; Domotex Middle East, scheduled for May Dubai in is 50% booked in less than a month and; Universal Fiber Systems announces an $8 million expansion.

CRI's Bob Peoples on the New Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard

December 12, 2005—Bob Peoples, Director of Sustainability at the Carpet and Rug Institute and Executive Director of the Carpet America Recovery Effort discusses the Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard that has been developed and is now being promoted by the CRI and NSF International. Peoples explains the criteria that makes up this new standard, the rationale behind its development, who will be using this new standard, how it should help to eliminate confusion among architects, designers and facility managers and he also discusses his expectations for the long-term affects this standard will bring to the industry.

Sandlin, Hackel, Burson & Simonson - Marketing on the Internet - Part 3

December 11, 2005—This is the third installment in a four-part roundtable discussion, sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association, that looking at marketing floor coverings via the internet online. Panelists: Scott Sandlin, VP, Marketing, Shaw Industries; Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One; Mark Burson, Principal, Burson Consulting Group; and John Simonson, President, Webstream Dynamics examine the internet consumer and how their knowledge level differentiates them from non-internet once they enter a retail store. Also discussed is the importance of building efficiency into websites, the role product knowledge plays in consumer searches and consumer attitudes toward the information on manufacturer, retail and third party website.