Flooring Podcast

Bill Reid, EVP StoneXpress on Laura Ashley Stone and Ceramic (14:04)

April 19, 2006—Bill Reid, Executive Vice President, StoneXpress, in a conversation recorded at Coverings 2006, discusses the company its background in stone, growth in the category, which is greater than that of ceramic and the company’s Laura Ashley branded stone and ceramic. Reid talks about the company program, which is aimed at making it easy for retailers to get into stone, its good, better, best approach, its merchandising package and its distribution program, which includes floor covering distributors.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill on Coverings Attendance, Formica and the Laminate Sector (35:25)

April 18, 2006—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill discusses: The increase in attendance at Coverings 2006 and the boost by category; The restructuring and management changes at Tarkett Residential with Guillaume Laverdure being named president; The launching of the Formica Flooring brand by Kronotex USA, and the naming of the top five U.S. laminate producers; The takeover of Sears Canada by Sears Holdings and some potential outcomes for the Sears Canada flooring operation.

Retailer Patrick St. Pierre, The Décor Shoppe, Lutcher, Louisiana (17:25)

April 17, 2006—Patrick St. Pierre, owner of the Décor Shoppe, a floor covering retailer in Lutcher, Louisiana, discusses his operation, which offers ceramic, wood, carpet, vinyl, laminate counter tops and paint. St. Pierre discusses his recent trip to Coverings 2006 with one of his distributors, and how he worked the show with that distributor. Also discussed are the new products he bought and how he purchased products at the show as well as the seminars he attended.

Retailer Patrick St. Pierre, The Décor Shoppe - Pt. 2 (12:16)

April 17, 2006—Patrick St. Pierre, owner of the Décor Shoppe discusses his counter top business, and the growth he has enjoyed in the sector. St. Pierre also discusses how he will prepare for Coverings 2007 in Chicago, the ratio of hard surface to soft in his operation, the growth he has experienced in the past few years in each product sector and what he sees as a resurgence in carpet, a move to higher end laminate in the past few years. St. Pierre also discusses is his approach to customer satisfaction.

Retailer Patrick St. Pierre, The Décor Shoppe Pt. 3 (10:51)

April 17, 2006—Patrick St. Pierre, owner of the Décor Shoppe discusses his pricing philosophy in terms of his company’s product offerings, his move toward higher-end products. St. Pierre also shares his approach to selling quality as well as the wants and needs of his customers that directs the Décor Shoppe to higher end sales. Also discussed is approach to technology, his growth plans for the future and his experience with filing claims.

Retailer Lee Horwitz, Owner A&M Carpet (15:05)

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.

Lee Horwitz, A&M (11:12)

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.

Lee Horwitz, A&M (11:52)

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.

ASCER’s Pedro Riaza and Javier Soriano from Coverings 2006 (27:48)

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.

Carpet & Rug President Werner Braun on the Internet & CARE (15:08)

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.