Flooring Podcast

Sam Green Talks about the New Kronotex Plant – Part 2

April 21, 2005—Sam Green Director of Sales, Kronotex USA, in the second part of a two-part series discusses the company’s new facility in Barnwell, South Carolina, the products that will be manufactured at the new plant, the employment situation at the plant and changes in the company’s approach once that facility has been completed. Green also looks at Asian produced laminate products, their general quality level and the affects they are having on the U.S. market.

Warner Braun and Dealing with Carpet Urban Legends – Part 1

April 21, 2005—Werner Braun, President, Carpet & Rug Institute offers some science-based ideas on dealing with some of the frequent misconceptions consumers have about carpet. Braun offers information on how retailers and retail salespeople can deal with consumer objections involving asthma, VOCs and the cleanability of carpet.

Paul Friederichsen Tackles Truth in Advertising

April 20, 2005—Paul Friederichsen, President, Brand Biz, tackles the topic of truth in advertising discussing a frequent approach taken by major advertisers, that of purposefully seeking to mislead consumers. Friederichesen answers the question: Why is total honesty not a core corporate belief, along with a corporate commitment to sustainability and social responsibility? During the conversation some examples of truth in advertising will be aired from the movie "Crazy People" with Dudley Moore.

Sam Green Looks at the Laminate Market and the New Kronotex Plant - Part 1

April 19, 2005—Sam Green Director of Sales, Kronotex USA, in the first part of a two-part series, looks at growth in the laminate sector in 2004 and 1st quarter 2005 and evaluates the changing marketplace. Green discusses the company’s new facility going up in Barnwell, South Carolina, the products that will be manufactured at this new plant, the employment situation at the plant and changes in the company’s approach once that facility has been completed. Green also looks at Asian produced laminate products, their general level of quality and the affects they are having on the U.S. market.

Frank O’Neill on Pergo’s New President & the Laminate Sector

April 19, 2005—Frank O’Neill looks at the changes that have occurred within Pergo this past week including the resignation of Göran Bernhoff as president and CEO, the naming of Tony Sturrus to those posts, the stating of the company’s strategy and its 1st quarter earnings. Also discussed is the growth in laminate production facilities being erected in U.S by European laminate producers including Kronospan, which has selected Alabama for its site and the NAHB decision to relocate the International Builders’ Show in 07 & 08.

Sam Green Looks at the Laminate Market and the New Kronotex Plant

April 18, 2005—Sam Green Director of Sales, Kronotex USA, looks at growth in the laminate sector in 2004 and 1st quarter 2005 and evaluates the changing marketplace. Green discusses the company’s new facility going up in Barnwell, South Carolina, the products that will be manufactured at this new plant, the employment situation at the plant and changes in the company’s approach once that facility has been completed. Green also looks at Asian produced laminate products, their general level of quality and the affects they are having on the U.S. market.

Dennis McGrew of NatureWorks Discusses the Bio-Based Fiber Ingeo

April 17, 2005—Dennis McGrew, Chief Marketing Officer, NatureWorks LLC discussed the bio-based polymer Ingeo, which is made from renewable resources such as corn and is finding a growing number of applications in the carpet sector. McGrew discusses the company NatureWorks - now a unit of Cargill, which acquired Dow Chemical’s interest in Cargill Dow, a limited partnership between Cargill and Dow - the history of Ingeo, its sustainable advantages and features as a carpet fiber and the carpet products that are currently being produced from Ingeo fiber.

A Look at this Week's Confusing Market with Mike Barker

April 14, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses the why’s behind the erratic nature of this week’s stock market touching on the market’s reaction to the release of the FOMC minutes from its meeting last month and the subsequent rally and the dive that followed. Barker also looks at the market’s reaction to the less than stellar retail sales report this week and the looming question: “Is the economy slowing more than expected?” Barker looks at the dropping price of crude, the pending earnings reports, Mohawk’s dip below $80. mortgage rates and his expectations for the upcoming Fed meeting.

Jon Trivers and the Growing Threat of the Big Boxes - Part 2

April 13, 2005—Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit and Wisdom, in the final part of a two-part series discusses shifts in the retail sector, the declining number of floor covering retailers, Home Depot’s and Lowe’s dramatic market share growth and the role of installation in that growth. Trivers also talks about Ace Hardware’s growth plans in combating the two big box players, of adding 1,100 stores over the next 10 years and how this plan could prove a successful avenue for floor covering retailers, and the looming threat Home Depot and Lowe’s have for urban flooring retailers.

Frank O’Neill Looks at Both Sides of the U.S. Flooring Import Question

April 13, 2005—A look back at the events in the floor covering industry with Frank O’Neill, Publisher Floor Focus magazine. Discussed this week, the seeming breakthrough in the Senate asbestos bill and the effect on Armstrong; Actions taken by Roger Milliken and others in the textile industry seeking import restrictions. Also discussed, the dramatic increase in flooring imports during 2004 and the implications for the domestic industry; the expansion of the Dal-Tile/Emil Ceramica ceramic plant in Oklahoma; Tarkett’s U.S. laminate and panel JV with a Chilean company; Eliane’s expansion; and the pickup in international action at Surfaces 2005.