Flooring Podcast

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill on the Week in the Floor Covering Industry

October 4, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill sums up ceramic tile show Cersaie, and discusses Faus Group announcement that it will launch a manufacturing operation in Georgia and had already opened a manufacturing operation in Shanghai and launched some product innovative products. O’Neill also discusses the successful CCA Global/FCIF Charity Golf Tournament; Mohawk’s earnings guidance announcement; iFloor.com’s move to open brick and mortar stores: and Forbo’s exit from Surfaces.

Mark Falanga Looks Back at NeoCon East

October 3, 2005—Mark Falanga, Vice President, Merchandise Mart, on the final day of the NeoCon East in Baltimore, discusses the show its record attendance and exhibitor turn-out. Also discussed is the show’s focus on the governmental market and its partnership with GSA’s National Furniture Center. Falanga talks the successful promotional program leading up to the show and the events surrounding the show.

Barker on the Mohawk, Raw Material Prices and the Market

October 2, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses Mohawk’s announcement last week to lower its 3rd and 4th quarter earnings guidance, the result of the affects of Hurricane Katrina on raw materials and energy costs, and why the market reacted as it did to the news. Barker talks about Mohawk’s announced price increase, and offers an update on the prices of oil, gasoline and natural gas and discusses the long and short-term implications. Plus, Barker looks at the affects of wide-spread price increases on inflation and the Feds likely reaction to these affects.

Floor Focus Magazine’s Frank O’Neill from Cersaie

September 29, 2005—From Cersaie, the world’s largest ceramic tile trade show, held at the Bologna Exhibition Centre in Bologna, Italy, Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine, discusses this show, its history and the mood of this year’s show. Frank discusses the exhibitors and their presentation at the show, the attendees, including some of the North American visitors as well as his take on the some of the new products and looks that are being launched at the show.

Excerpts from Mohawk Industries’ Conference Call Held Yesterday

September 28, 2005—Excerpts from Mohawk Industries conference call, held yesterday, following the announcement that the company had lowered its third-quarter EPS guidance to $1.60 to $1.63 a share, from its July guidance of $1.71 to $1.80 and also lowered its fourth guidance to $1.49 to $1.58 a share. Excerpts are of the Q&A session, with answered provided by Mohawk Chairman & CEO, Jeff Lorberbaum and by Mohawk CFO, Frank Boykin.

Warner Braun on the CRI Launch at the Kennedy Space Center

September 27, 2005—In the first part of a two-part series, Carpet & Rug Institute President Werner Braun, discusses the kick-off for the association’s new Seal of Approval program for extraction carpet cleaning equipment, which took place at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Braun recaps the event and talks about the first Seal of Approval certifications, which were presented during the event, the NASA developed technology, which is the basis for this program and discusses how this technology has been applied to the carpet industry as well as the reaction this program has garnered from major mills and how the program will affect all within the carpet industry.

The Sandy, Utah Big Bob’s Retailer Who Refuses to Lower His Flags

September 26, 2005—Kody Sorenson, a Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet dealer has flown 10 American flags over his store in Sandy, Utah for some time. Local government officials however approach Sorenson and demanded that he take the flags down. Sorenson refused and the story quickly became the media sensation of Utah. On FloorRadio, Sorenson discusses how this situation started, his feelings about the flag, how, as he awaits a court hearing, the ACLU became involved and how absolutely steadfast he is that the flags will stay. Sorenson also discusses his retail operation, its size, the Sandy, Utah market and his growth plans for the future. Click here for photos.

The Heroic Relief Efforts of Wyoming Retailer T.J. Haynes

September 22, 2005—T.J. Haynes, owner of Carpet Works, a retail floor covering store in Cheyenne, Wyoming, outlines the sizable Katrina hurricane relief effort that he and his wife Mary launched from their store, which saw numerous truckloads of supplies sent to aid victims of the disaster. Haynes discusses the steps he took to gain the interest of local media, shipping companies and businesses and to find space for the relief effort as well as provide transportation. Haynes also discusses how he recruited volunteers to process the supplies in this successful effort. He also talks about his floor covering operation, how he competes in a market the size of Cheyenne, his unique approach to the business and his expansion plans.

Barker on the Market, the Fed and Rising Energy Prices

September 22, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses the Federal Reserves decision to hike interest rates following hurricane Katrina, looking at both sides of the argument. Barker evaluates oil, gasoline and natural gas prices, the Fed view on inflation and the statement it released indicating the likelihood of another increase ahead. Barker also discusses this inflationary cycle and its affects on players in the floor covering industry and third quarter and year-end earnings.

NeoCon East Guests – Part Two

September 21, 2005—Part two from last week's Neocon East at the Baltimore Convention Center, featured are representatives from three of the show’s exhibitors, Anne Garland, Contract Specialists, Honeywell Nylon, Mark Nestler, Atlas Carpet Mills and Rhonda Ross, VP Business Development, Centiva International. Topics include assessments of the commercial and governmental marketplace and the show, changes within the A&D community, product strategies, new product introductions and sustainability