Flooring Podcast

Columbia President Dave Wootton on International and Domestic Expansion

February 20, 2006—Dave Wootten, President, Columbia Flooring, in a conversation recorded at Surfaces 2006 discusses the company’s acquisition of Malaysia Wood Industries, the accompanying global distribution and its plans to further expand manufacturing operations into China. Wootton shares his view of the U.S. flooring consumer, the company’s philosophy with regard to sustainability, the its Laura Ashley rollout in hardwood and laminate, the company’s upscale offerings and his views on Surfaces 2006.

Faus Group President Juan Flores on the Asian Laminate Market and the Faus Brand – Part 2

February 19, 2006—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the final part of a two-part series, discusses the growth of laminate production in Asia and the importance of intellectual property as it relates to Asian producers. Flores also talks about marketplace reaction to the launch of the Faus brand in the U.S., the building of the Faus staff and distribution network, the company’s presence at Surfaces and the products rolled out at the show along with his expectation for 2006 and beyond.

Faus Group President Juan Flores on the Company, Its New Facility and its Philosophy - Part 1

February 16, 2006—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses the company’s new manufacturing and distribution facility in Calhoun, Georgia and the company’s prospects for the plant. Flores also evaluates the North American laminate market, the company’s place in the market and discusses the company’s philosophy with regard to technology and intellectual property and its firm stance toward defending that property with legal action.

Trivers & Simonson Review their Surfaces Seminar on Retailers and the Internet – Part 2

February 15, 2006—Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit and Wisdom and John Simonson, President of Webstream Dynamics, in the second part of a two-part series discuss a seminar the two presented at Surfaces 2006. The seminar, on how retailers can tap into the internet to improve their business, touched on the internet as it exists today and the necessity for today’s retailers to have an exciting presence on the internet. Trivers and Simonson also discussed the necessity for retailers to sign-on to the industry’s B2B and Surfaces 2006 the show.

Tom Rennie on Surfaces, Carpet in the Marketplace and the Future of Fiber Brands – Part 2

February 15, 2006—Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting and Editor, Commercial Carpet Digest, in the final part of a two-part series, analyzes Surfaces after the departure of Mohawk and Shaw. Rennie also looks at the show’s trend toward hard surface and discusses his belief that carpet’s loss of market share in the U.S. has greatly diminished and the product category has made great strides at establishing itself as a fashion product. Also discussed is the showing Mainstreet Commercial gets at Surfaces and why the “wow” factor in residential carpet introductions no longer seems to exist. Rennie also discusses changes in the fiber sector and his expectations for Shaw’s Anso brand.

From Surfaces 2006 – Tarkett Residential’s Lembregts & Roth

February 15, 2006—From Tarkett Residential Jan Lembregts, President, Wood & Resilient and Analie Roth, VP, Brand Marketing, in a conversation recorded at Surfaces 2006, discuss the changes in the company’s organizational structure, the company’s Clarion joint-venture, it’s growth philosophy and branding focus. Also discussed is the company's product portfolio, the products rolled out at Surfaces and the company goals for 2006 and beyond.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill – on Carpet, Surfaces and the Events of the Day

February 14, 2006—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus discusses the carpet products shown at Surfaces, carpet’s position in the total floor covering marketplace, and the efforts afoot to help reestablish carpet as a fashion product. Also discussed are some of the product introductions at Surfaces in the hardwood, ceramic, laminate, vinyl and cork segments. In addition to Surfaces O’Neill discusses, the filing of Solutia’s reorganization plan; Textile Rubber’s decision to build a facility in China; Kronopol’s new distribution center in South Carolina; And the sale of Garland Floor.

Tom Rennie on Surfaces, Carpet in the Marketplace and the Future of Fiber Brands – Part 1

February 13, 2006—Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting and Editor, Commercial Carpet Digest, in the first part of a two-part series, analyzes Surfaces after the departure of Mohawk and Shaw. Rennie also looks at the show’s trend toward hard surface and discusses his belief that carpet’s loss of market share in the U.S. has greatly diminished due to the category's strides at establishing itself as a fashion product. Also discussed is the showing Mainstreet Commercial gets at Surfaces and why the “wow” factor in residential carpet introductions no longer seems to exist. Rennie also discusses changes in the fiber sector and his expectations for Shaw’s Anso brand.

Trivers & Simonson Review their Surfaces Seminar on Retailers and the Internet

February 12, 2006—Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit and Wisdom and John Simonson, President of Webstream Dynamics discuss a seminars the two presented at Surfaces 2006. The seminar, on how retailers can tap into the internet to improve their business, touched on the internet as it exists today and the necessity for today’s retailers to have an exciting presence on the internet and to view the internet as a medium just as radio or TV. Trivers and Simonson also discussed the necessity for retailers to sign-on to the industry’s B2B and Surfaces 2006 the show.

From Surfaces 2006 – Mannington’s Kim Holm & Ed Duncan

February 9, 2006—From Surfaces 2006 – Mannington Residential President, Kim Holm and Senior VP Marketing, Ed Duncan discuss Surfaces 2006 the show and the factors responsible for the increase in traffic and they also look back over the events of 2005. Holm and Duncan discuss the recent acquisition of Home Depot, competition and changes within the basic flooring categories as well as the company’s introductions, which include nearly 150 SKU’s across all hard surface categories.