Flooring Podcast

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Analyst Keith Hughes on Home Depot – Part 1 (11:01)

July 13, 2006—Keith Hughes, Director of Equity Research, SunTrust, Robinson Humphrey, in the first part of a three-part series discusses the recent situation concerning Home Depot and the recent controversy involving transparency, its Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli’s pay package and the company’s sinking share price. Hughes discusses the expansion at the Home Depot Supply unit, which is aimed at the professional contractor and he talks about the situation in the company’s installation services side of the business.

FCA & WFCA Chairman Bob Hill – Part 3 (12:35)

July 12, 2006—Retailer Bob Hill, Founder and Chairman of Floor Covering Associates and the new Chairman of the World Floor Covering Association, in the final part of this three-part series, discusses the WFCA’s new web-based entity called Creating Your Space, which has seen the association partner its retailer membership base with Bridgeway Media Group’s library of web-based content.

Jon Dougal – The Newest and the Latest in Sustanability – Part 3 (13:14)

July 11, 2006—Jon Dougal, Senior Editor, iGreenBuild.com, in the final part of a three-part series on sustainability discusses bamboo and the differences between standard and strand bamboo as offered in the US by Teragren. Dougal discusses the varying degrees of environmental friendliness of bamboo, depending on the origin of the product and he offers an update on LOHAS an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, which represents a $270 billion marketplace for sustainable and health-oriented goods and services. Also discussed is the trend towards builders producing more green homes.

Bob Hill, Chairman of FCA & WFCA – Part 2 (16:50)

July 11, 2006—Retailer Bob Hill, Founder and Chairman of Floor Covering Associates and the recently elected Chairman of the World Floor Covering Association, in the second part of this three-part series, discusses 2006 year-to-date, Home Depot and Lowe’s as well as the nation’s mid-tier floor covering retailers and the competitive environment within the markets served by FCA. Hill also talks about the FCA network of stores, his suppliers and his involvement with the World Floor Covering Association

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry (33:48)

July 11, 2006—Frank O’Neill, Publisher Floor Focus magazine discusses: Tarkett AG majority shareholder the Deconinck family's move to sell a stake its holding company to buy out minority shareholders; Faus Group’s naming of SPI Floors as its newest distributor, the rapid rise of distributor Hoboken/ SPI Floors and the changing scene in the industry’s distribution community; Amtico’s talks with the private equity arm of Dutch bank ABN Amro; And a look at Floor Focus magazine’s Annual Retailer Survey.

Jon Dougal – The Newest and the Latest in Sustanability – Part 2

July 10, 2006—Jon Dougal, Senior Editor, iGreenBuild.com, in the second part of a three-part series, in a sustainability update discusses consumer attitudes about environmental responsibility and how they may take form in years to come. Dougal also discusses the subject of bamboo and strand bamboo and their varying degrees of environmental-friendliness.

FCA & WFCA Chairman Bob Hill – Part 1

July 10, 2006—Retailer Bob Hill, Founder and Chairman of Floor Covering Associates and the recently named Chairman of the World Floor Covering Association, in the first part of a three-part series, discusses his multi-store operation, which includes floor covering centers, a home furnishings and a design center and the FCA Network of stores a national network of licensed floor covering retailers. Hill discusses the origins of the company, its rapid growth and his plans for the future.

Jon Dougal – The Newest and the Latest in Sustainability – Part 1 (11:14)

July 9, 2006—Jon Dougal, Senior Editor, iGreenBuild.com, in the first part of a three-part series, provides a sustainability update discussing the rate at which companies are initiating sustainability programs and the motivators causing these actions as well as some of the environmentally oriented products, which have been introduced in both the commercial and the residential markets.

Don Marlowe and the Styles and Colors of NeoCon

July 6, 2006—Designer and stylist Don Marlowe, Don Marlowe and Associates looks back at NeoCon and discusses the dominant styles, colors, textures and designs that were rolled-out at the show. Marlowe talks about some of the standout introductions at the show and the factors that have influenced carpet and floor covering design, how the role of carpet and floor covering designers and development people has changed over the years. Also discussed are some of the designs and colors in non-floor covering sectors of the show and how the influence they may ultimately carpet design.

Barker On the Market

July 6, 2006—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management looks back at the market over the past several weeks discussing its pullback since mid-May. Barker talks about Fed chairman Bernanke and the comfort level the market appears to have achieved with the new Fed. He also discusses the good news is bad news reactions the market has to positive economic news, today’s upcoming jobs report as he previews the upcoming earnings season and his expectations for both Mohawk and Interface.