Flooring Podcast

Jon Dougal Looks at Sustainability and the Transportation Sector

August 1, 2005—Jon Dougal, Sustainable Design Associates and Innovative Building Materials International, discusses how sustainability has entered the transportation sector through a program called the SmartWay Transportation Partnership, a voluntary collaboration between Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry. The program is designed to increase energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Dougal explains how the program works, its goals and how it affects corporate profits.

Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter and the Case of the Dented and Shrinking Hardwood

August 1, 2005—Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter and President, LGM Technical Carpet Surfaces discusses a problem he encountered in the field. The problem deals with engineered hardwood flooring that suffered from shrinking and denting.

Big Bob’s Elyachar Launches a Big Bob’s Furniture Outlets

July 31, 2005—Dave Elyachar, CEO Big Bob’s Flooring Outlets discusses the company's expansion into furniture retailing with the launch of Big Bob's Furniture Outlet, which has opened its first location in Kansas City. Elyachar discusses the Big Bob’s concept of targeting families with annual incomes of $70,000 or less, how the concept had produced attractive returns for franchisees in flooring operations, and how that same concept is expected to produce equally attractive returns in the furniture arena. Elyachar also talks about successful floor covering retailers who have expanded their presence with a Bob Bob’s franchise, the franchises’ unique advertising program and method of operation.

Milliken’s Rob Beistline Looks at the Rug Market

July 28, 2005—Rob Beistline, Brand Market Manager, Rugs and Matting Products, Milliken looks at the rug and mat business, its relationship to the economy and the changes that have occurred in the various retail channels of the rug business including the independent flooring retailer segment. Beistline looks at the industry's markets and trade shows including the Las Vegas market and where it fits, the changing design needs of the marketplace and how Milliken approaches those needs.

Jon Dougal’s Sustainable Manufacturing Start-Up

July 27, 2005—Jon, Dougal, Sustainable Design Associates and Editor of The BIPER Newsletter, discusses a sustainable start-up company he is involved in called Innovative Building Materials International. The company, which will have manufacturing facilities in Mexico, produces oriented strand board for flooring and other applications from bamboo. Dougal talks about the technology involved and the environmental impact of the facility. Also discussed is the growing consumer market for sustainable products, such as Office Depot’s success with recycled paper and Wal-Mart’s first sustainable superstore.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill, The Week in the Flooring Industry

July 26, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine discusses: Mohawk’s 2nd quarter results and the restructuring of the company’s carpet sector; Pergo’s 2nd quarter results and the company’s recently announced European action plan; Laminate producer Pfleiderer’s pending acquisition of the Kunz Group, parent of Uniboard; The filing of Congoleum’s modified reorganization; The delay of the Senate asbestos bill; The opening of Texas distributor Design Tech; And Chinese laminate producers response to a U.S. patent infringement suit.

Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter

July 25, 2005—Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter and President, LGM Technical Carpet Surfaces discusses two flooring problems in the field he was called in on, one dealing with a carpet spill and a stain resist warranty, one involving “corn rowing” in a shag-type carpet. Migliore also discusses an LGM service of carpet testing during the specification process.

Santo Torcivia Looks at Mohawk’s Acquisition of Unilin and the Home Improvement Sector – Part 2

July 24, 2005—Santo Torcivia, Market Insights/Torcivia and publisher of US FLOOReport in the final part of a two-part series concludes a conversation on Mohawk’s acquisition of Unilin and discusses his views of Home Depot and the home improvement sector and its future within the floor covering arena.

Larry Winter and Tax Problems of Doing Business in Mulit-States

July 24, 2005—Larry Winter, Winter & Harris CPAs, discusses the tax problems that many retailers and small business people are confronted with when they conduct business in other states, and how best to deal with these problems.

Mohawk Industries 2Q Conference Call

July 21, 2005—Excerpts of Mohawk Industries 2ndt quarter earnings conference call, featuring an opening statement from Mohawk Chairman & CEO, Jeff Lorberbaum followed by a question and answer period with answers provided by Lorberbaum and CFO, Frank Boykin.