April 5, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Armstrong’s fourth quarter and year-end earnings report; Mannington’s new ad program; Tai Ping’s acquisition of Edward Fields; Three months of increases in office product sales; and Teragren's new generation bamboo flooring.
April 4, 2005—Aaron Pirner, CEO, CAP Carpet, a 12 store chain based in Wichita, Kansas, in the first part of a two-part conversation, discusses this unique operation, his retailing philosophy and the company’s road map for expansion. Pirner discusses team building, how his organization merchandises and competes with Home Depot, Lowe’s, online retailers and the other major players. Also discussed, pleasing the consumer, spiffs and how they misdirect sales peoples, dealing with suppliers and the changing supply chain and lead times for price increases.
April 2, 2005—Paolo Zampieron, VP, Sales and Marketing at laminate producer Kronopol Marketing discusses Kronopol, its philosophy, its vertically integrated approach in Europe and its parent the Swiss Krono Holding Group. Zampieron talks about the company’s product offerings, its affiliate Supra Floors, its operation and its plans in North America.
March 31, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management discusses the erratic nature of the market, oil process, which are back above $55 and the talk of a pending “super spike” with oil reaching $100 a barrel. Barker looks again at last weeks down grade of Mohawk, the pending earnings season, 4th quarter GDP numbers and the possible effects a very positive or very negative unemployment report could have on the market and the effects tax time may also have on the market.
March 30, 2005—Roland Thompson, Kehnes Carpet One, Frederick, Maryland discusses a project involving the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the Maryland and Northern Virginia Floor Covering Associations and the Delmarva Chapter of the Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI), where labor and materials were donated to an installation at the Compassion Center, of College Park, MD. Kehnes also provides an insiders look at the installation sector of the floor covering industry.
March 29, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Armstrong’s decision to appeal the decision of U.S. District Judge, who declined to approve the company’s reorganization plan and a status report on asbestos legislation in the house and senate; BASF’s phasing-out nylon polymer production at its Enka, NC plant; China's ceramic tile imports and exports; The builder market and Nafco by Tarkett’s newest offerings in that segment; February shipments of hardwood flooring: And the passing of Frank Stevens.
March 28, 2005—Lee Phillips, Spill Tech Labs, a unit of Professional Testing that provides testing services to the insurance industry, in the final segment of a two-part series, discusses the volume of carpet and other floor coverings purchased as a result of insurance claims, the testing procedures required, how the system works, the type of information insurance companies are seeking.
March 27, 2005—Keith Hughes, Director of Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey looks back at the 4th quarter 2004 of Mohawk, Shaw and Interface and also discusses the impact of rising raw materials costs on the floor covering market and the likelihood of acquisition in the future.
March 27, 2005—Lee Phillips, Spill Tech Labs, a unit of Professional Testing that provides testing services to the insurance industry, discusses the volume of carpet and other floor coverings purchased as a result of insurance claims, the testing procedures required by insurance companies, how the system works, the type of information insurance companies are seeking.
March 24, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management looks back at this week’s meeting of Federal Open Market Committee and the accompanying rate hike centering on the meaning of the Fed’s message and the use of the word “measured”. Barker talks about the market’s reaction to the Fed’s message, why the event seems so upsetting to the market and the threat of inflation. Also discussed, Legg Mason’s cut of Mohawk’s rating, Investors Business Daily’s article on the Dixie Group and an historical look at the market in April.