Flooring Podcast

Werner Braun Reviews the CRI Industry Forum

July 17, 2005—Werner Braun, President, Carpet and Rug Institute discusses the combined floor covering industry action that helped kill a provision in a New Jersey bill that would have taxed flooring intallations in that state. Braun also discusses a recent industry forum on NASA-based x-ray florescence technology sponsored by the association and the CRI’s extraction carpet cleaning testing program and the factors under consideration in the finalization of that program.

Larry Winter How-To’s of Retailer Expansion

July 17, 2005—Larry Winter, Winter & Harris CPA's reviews the factors retailers should know when contemplating an the addition of new location. Winter discusses some of the steps retailers should be aware prior to and during an expansion and knowing when expansion is the right move.

Barker on the Market

July 14, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management, looks at the market’s reaction to the London terrorist attacks, the state of the market today, the real importance to the S&P 500 reaching a four-year high, recent economic news and how Wall Street views it, the latest on oil prices and how they have affected the market and why the upcoming earnings reports are more meaningful than usual.

Chris Davis on the WFCA - Part 2

July 13, 2005—Chris Davis, CEO, World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), in the final part of a two-part conversation discusses the membership base and the makeup of the association's members and its new recruitment efforts. Davis also reviews the organization’s efforts in the insurance arena and its 2005 National Floor Covering month promotion.

Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter and the Case of the Mistaken Retailer

July 13, 2005—Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter, President, LGM Technical Carpet Services, reviews a situation in the field involving an installation of high-end carpet that developed a problem with matting and discusses how the retailer created additional problems with the way he handled the complaint.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill Looks at the Week in the Flooring Industry

July 12, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine discusses: Mohawk’s acquisition of Unilin Holding NV and its affect on the U.S. laminate market and the major U.S. players; The appointment of Roland Elbracht as president of Witex, USA and the naming of LET Industries as the company’s U.S. distributor; The finalization of the De Clerck family’s joint European industry group, Beaulieu International Group; the Stanton, Balta arrangement; and Shaw’s $10-million post-industrial carpet energy production operation.

Chris Davis on the WFCA - Part 1

July 11, 2005—Chris Davis, CEO, World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), in the first part of a two-part conversation reviews the association’s programs and goals including a prime goal of actively generating consumer interest in floor coverings and becoming a prime source for online consumer floor covering information. Davis also discusses the organization’s activities in the industry’s B2B efforts and the shift in ownership of Hanley Wood, the producer of the trade show Surfaces.

Floor & Décor CEO Mike Froning

July 8, 2005—Mike Froning, CEO of Floor & Décor Outlets of America, a young and growing nine store, big box specialty floor covering retailer, currently operating in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Dallas and Phoenix markets, describes this organization, its concept, its stores, product offering and store layouts as well as the company's approach to the consumer. Froning, who comes from Circuit City also reviews the company’s expansion plans and discusses Home Depot’s Floor Stores in Dallas.

Mohawk’s Unilin Acquisition Conference Call - Part 2

July 7, 2005—In excerpts from a conference call recorded earlier this week, Jeff Lorberbaum Mohawk Chairman, CEO & President and Mohawk CFO, Frank Boykin provide details on the company's $2.6 billion acquisition of Unilin, answering questions from analysts.

Hughes on the Mohawk, Unilin Deal

July 6, 2005—Keith Hughes, Director in Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey looks into the Mohawk/Unilin transaction discussing Unilin the company, its flooring, HDF and roofing products, its margins, its management and its positions in both Europe and the U.S. Hughes also talks about the selling price, $2.6B, the company’s strong, vertically integrated position in the U.S., the synergies between the two companies and his expectations for the future, in the U.S. and abroad.