May 19, 2005—Mac Bridger, President & CEO, the Tandus Group discusses the confusion that has arisen among many who have erroneously connected the automobile interior supplier Collins & Aikman, which filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection this week, and the Dalton-based Tandus Group and its C&A Floorcoverings unit. Bridger also talks about actions the company is taking to deal with the situation.
May 19, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses the factors behind the recent rise in the market including the drop in oil futures to below the $47.00 mark and the favorable housing market. Barker looks at the rise in Mohawk shares to $84.91, the Federal Reserve and his expectations for future rate hikes and his take on the direction the market may take next week.
May 18, 2005—From FloorTek Expo 2005 at the NorthWest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia exhibitors Mike, Peeples, CIMS, Charles Post Klay Smith and Daniel Web of TSI Solutions, Jon Buchan, Porini, Robbert Ausems, Nedgraphics discuss the newest products, technology and services they are exhibiting at FloorTek and this years show.
May 18, 2005—Charles Monroe, President of tufting machine producer Card-Monroe, from FloorTek, discusses technological advancements in the carpet manufacturing community and the areas, upon which this technology is focused. Monroe compares U.S. technology to the technology of the rest of the world and discusses the future of carpet production in China.
May 18, 2005—From Cobble Tufting Equipment, VP, Marketing Ian Slattery and Dir. Marketing, Terry Crumbliss, discuss recent style and productivity developments within the commercial and residential sectors of the carpet manufacturing industry and the process of developing innovation. Slattery and Crumbliss also look at the trade show FloorTek.
May 16, 2005—Pete Johnson, President, Architectural Ceramic Products and major shareholder in Summitville Tile, discusses his personal acquisition of Architectural Ceramic, Summitville’s exit from Bankruptcy and its new marketing direction. Johnson also talks about the domestic ceramic industry, changes within the industry’s manufacturing and distribution sectors, his vision of the industry in 5 to 10 years and Coverings 2005.
May 15, 2005—Herman Caldwell, VP Sales Tuftco Corporation previews FloorTek Expo 2005, an international flooring manufacturing tradeshow, which opens tomorrow in Dalton at the NorthWest Georgia Trade & Convention Center. Caldwell discusses the evolution of this show and its draw for carpet and non-carpet manufacturer attendees. He also talks about U.S. based carpet manufacturing technology and its leadership role throughout the world.
May 15, 2005—Donato Grosser, President, D. Grosser & Associates, a New York-based marketing and management firm and consultant for the Italian Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association discusses the U.S. ceramic tile market, shifts among countries exporting to the U.S. and the effects of Chinese produced tile on the market. Grosser also discusses rising energy prices and their effects on tile producers, the recent increase in the number of off-shore tile producers building manufacturing facilities in the U.S., his expectations for flooring retailers in ceramic and Coverings 2005.
May 12, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management evaluates the events effecting Wall Street over the past two weeks including the meeting of the Federal Reserve Open Market committee and the market's reaction to the omission in the Fed's message signaling their 0.25% rate hike. Barker also looks at the recent drop in oil prices, the positive 1st quarter earnings news and yesterday’s monthly sales numbers from Wal-Mart answering the question: Is Wal-Mart a good bellwether for country’s retail sector?
Frank O’Neill Publisher, Floor Focus and FloorRadio host Dave Foster discuss the ceramic and stone show Coverings 2005, its reported 14% increase in attendance after the first day, including a 50% increase in architects and designers. Also discussed some of the events and activities that took place during the show, including a seizure by U.S. Marshalls; some recent ceramic tile sales numbers from the TCNA and StarNet’s annual meeting and the its events.