Flooring Podcast

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.

Sean Boyle, Director of Business Development, Laticrete (18:54)

April 12, 2006—Ffrom Coverings 2006, Sean Boyle, Director of Business Development, Laticrete, discusses the company, its rich history and the host of products the company furnishes to the ceramic and stone industry. Boyle discusses the company’s extensive product development program and it’s website, laticrete.com, which provides technical assistance to retailers, contractors, installers and others. Also discusses is the role the company plays in assisting floor covering retailers get up to speed in the ceramic and stone sector.

Tamara Christian Reviews Coverings 2006 (33:58)

April 10, 2006—Tamara Christian, President, National Trade Productions (NTP), discusses Coverings 2006, the ceramic tile and stone show, held last week in Orlando. Christian talks about the attendance at this year’s show, NTP's anticipated increase in attendance over last year’s show, overall attendance goals specifically in the retailer and architect and designer areas. Also discussed are exhibitor responses to the show, the conference program and keynote speaker and the show’s plans to move to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the 2007 version of Coverings and the possibility of the show moving to a third city at some point in the future.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill on Coverings 2006 (33:58)

April 10, 2006—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill discusses the ceramic tile and stone show Coverings 2006, held last week in Orlando. Topics include, the estimated increase in traffic and the additional retailers, architects and designers attending this show, the major exhibitors and their presence at the show, the extensive variety of products and some of the more unusual products launched at the show. Also discussed is Mohawk’s announcement that it had cut its first quarter earnings per share guidance to $1.03 to $1.05, from 1.17 to $1.26, the result of higher than expected LIFO accounting charges and lower than anticipated sales growth.

From Coverings 2006 – RFMS, CEO Terry Wheat (14:25)

April 9, 2006—From Coverings 2006 – Terry Wheat, CEO, software provider RFMS, discusses the company’s newest offering, an estimating tool that permits retailers, retail salespeople or anyone to accurately measure any space, from a room to a shower, for any flooring product, ceramic tile, stone, wood or carpet. The tool, works with RFMS management tools or independently and it provides a complete materials list. Wheat also discusses the show coverings.

From Coverings 2006, Steuler’s Paul Heldins and Tile with LEDs (5:55)

April 6, 2006—From Coverings 2006, Paul Heldins, Managing Director, Steuler Fliesen, a ceramic tile producer based in Muhlacker, Germany discusses the newest development in the ceramic industry; ceramic tile with embedded light emitting diodes (LEDs). Tiles with LED’s, which are available in a variety of colors, are used in both floor and wall tiles as a decorative accent or as a safety device.

From Coverings ’06 - Donato Grosser on Changing Channels of Distribution, Product Development & Cove

April 5, 2006—From Coverings ’06 Donato Grosser, President, D. Grosser & Associates, a New York-based marketing and management firm and consultant with Italian Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association discusses shifts within ceramic industry’s channels of distribution and the impact Home Depot’s slowdown in store expansion. Grosser also discusses the inroads made in the ceramic arena by traditional floor covering distributors, potential shifts in ceramic pricing in the future, the evolution of product development and Coverings and its level of retailer-friendliness.

From Coverings ’06 - Graziano Verdi, CEO of Graniti Fiandre and StonePeak Ceramics (13:32)

April 5, 2006—Graziano Verdi, CEO of Graniti Fiandre and StonePeak Ceramics discusses the company’s expansion into the U.S. the capacity of the new U.S. facility and the company’s long term goals. Verdi discusses the distribution channels that the company developed, the products it has launched at Coverings 2006 and the process it calls upon to develop new products.

From Coverings - Edson Gaidzinski, CEO, Eliane (18:11)

April 4, 2006—On the opening day of Coverings, Edson Gaidzinski, CEO, Eliane, Brazil’s largest ceramic producer, discusses the show, Eliane’s channels of distribution in the U.S., how the company works with floor coverings distributors and retailers and how the show serves floor covering retailers. Gaidzinski discusses the company’s broad product line, Chinese imports, programming a retail sales floor how retailers can best profit from selling ceramic.