Flooring Podcast

Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry

February 22, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Home Depot’s 4th quarter results including a 20% increase in service revenue; Mohawk’s 4th quarter and year-end results; January's record-setting housing starts; Changes at Tarkett Residential including the naming of Perry Coker as Sr. VP, Sales; Recent events at Forbo including the exiting of its president; The smuggling of flooring timber from Indonesia into China and; A Canadian installer hits the lottery for $24.6M.

Invista’s Wolk & Griffith – Part 1

February 21, 2005—Recorded at Surfaces, Alan Wolk, President, Invista Interiors and Steve Griffith, VP, Invista’s Residential Flooring, in the first part of a two-part conversation discuss Surfaces, the year 2005, Invista and its transition from DuPont. Also discussed, the increases in the cost of petroleum-based raw materials and their affects on the industry, the Stainmaster brand and its expansion into non-carpet flooring products, and how carpet is faring from a market share standpoint.

Carpet One President Evan Hackle

February 20, 2005—Evan Hackle, President, Carpet One, discusses the Carpet One Winter Convention the recent changes that have occurred within the organization, the marketplace and his focus as the new president of the cooperative. Hackle also compares the goals of co-op Ace Hardware, which include adding 1,100 stores as a means of competing with Home Depot, with those of Carpet One. He also discusses his approach to advertising, CCA member-oriented technology Revelation and the organization’s new distribution network.

Mohawk Industries 4Q Conference Call Financial Report

February 17, 2005—The financial report segment of the Mohawk Industries 4th quarter earnings conference call delivered by Frank Boykin.

Columbia Flooring’s David Wootton from Surfaces

February 17, 2005—From Surfaces 2005, David Wootton, President, Columbia Flooring discusses Surfaces and Columbia’s involvement in this year’s show after skipping a year, the changing hardwood flooring market and China and its long and short-term affects on the North American flooring market. Wootton also speculates about the possible sale of Armstrong and how that sale might effect the industry and he shares his views on 2005 and beyond and talks about the new products launched by Columbia this season.

Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry

February 16, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Mohawk’s acquisition of carpet backing producer Wayn-Tex; The increase in attendance at Surfaces 2005 of 6% to 38,209 and a preview of Floor Focus’ Surfaces issue; Mannington’s North Carolina hardwood flooring expansion; The completion of Florim USA’s Tennessee plant conversion.

Mohawk Industries 4Q Conference Call

February 16, 2005—Excerpts from Mohawk Industries 4th quarter earnings conference call, featuring an opening statement from Mohawk Chairman & CEO, Jeff Lorberbaum followed by a question and answer period with answers provided by Lorberbaum and CFO, Frank Boykin.

Milliken’s Christian Swiers on Tesserae

February 14, 2005—From Surfaces 2005, Christian Swiers, Brand Market Manager, Carpet Panels, Milliken Carpet discusses Tesserea, the company’s modular carpet offering aimed at the residential market place. Swiers talks about the product, its construction and its features and the retailer and consumer acceptance its has garnered in the past few years, as well as her expectations for the product.

Tarkett’s Rietveldt, Lembregts & Roth from Surfaces 2005 - Part 2

February 14, 2005—In the final part of a two-part conversation recorded at Surfaces 2005, from Tarkett Residential, John Rietveldt, President, Jan Lembregts, President, Tarkett Residential, North America and Analie Roth, VP Marketing, Wood Division discuss the year 2004, dealing with increases in the costs of raw materials, the company’s global philosophy and product strategy, its growth.

Tarkett’s Rietveldt, Lembregts & Roth from Surfaces 2005

February 13, 2005—In the first part of a two-part conversation recorded at Surfaces 2005, from Tarkett Residential, President John Rietveldt, Jan Lembregts, President, Tarkett Residential, North America and Analie Roth, VP Marketing, Wood Division discuss the year 2004, dealing with increases in the costs of raw materials, the company’s global philosophy and product strategy, its growth plans, its 2005 product rollouts and an evaluation of Surfaces 2005.