Flooring Podcast

Architect & Designer Peter Conant on the Commercial Market Place

December 28, 2005—In an archives presentation, architect and designer Peter Conant, Principal of the New York-based architectural firm Conant Architects discusses the economy, its affects on business and the changing New York market. Conant looks at the changing focus of corporate clients, design trends in 2005, his views on basic floor covering product groups and how they have affected the way he writes specifications. Conant also discusses his priorities when initiating a project, his approach, the checklist he follows and the role maintenance plays in his flooring decisions.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill – The Year 2005 in the Floor Covering Industry

December 27, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill looks back over 2005 in the floor covering industry discussing the industry’s 10 most significant developments, which had the greatest impact on the industry during the year. Discusses are industry events from rising raw materials prices and acquisitions to the building of new manufacturing facilities in the U.S., changes in the retail and commercial sectors and developments among the big box players.

CRI President Werner Braun looks Back at 2005 and Ahead to 2006

December 26, 2005—Werner Braun, President the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) discusses some of the highlights of the carpet industry during 2005 and discusses the association’s mission and the progress it has made toward its goals a during the year. Braun also discusses the progress made in the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE)and two industry-wide problems, which the association has recently launched programs to deal with: the problem of carpet installation and; the quality level of FHA base-grade product used in starter homes and the negative impact it is having on homeowners.

DuPont Spokesman Dan Turner on the Steelworkers Allegations

December 21, 2005—Dan Turner, a spokesman for DuPont discusses the allegations made yesterday by the United Steelworkers (USW), which said stain-repellent chemical used in carpeting may pose a health hazard. Turner pegs these allegations as is "simply not true". He discusses the chemistry behind the carpet treatment that measures the company has taken to ensure the safety of its products. Turner also discusses the recent merger of USW with the Paper Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy (PACE) union and PACE’s announced “Corporate Campaign” against the DuPont company.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill - The Week in the Floor Covering Industry

December 20, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill discusses: The Floor Focus contract dealer survey, which covered the likes and dislikes of the nation’s contract dealers, how they present products and how they have changed over the past two years; Tandus’ third quarter earnings; November hardwood flooring shipments as reported by NOFMA; The purchase of a gas company by Spanish ceramic tile producers; The purchase by Greenpeace of illegally cut Brazilian timber, which they parked in front a Sao Paulo police station; and the launch of BASF’s ammonia-free latex binder for carpet backing.

Tom Rennie Reviews 2005 in the Carpet Sector – Part 1

December 19, 2005—In the first part of a two-part series, Tom Rennie, who heads TLR Consulting and is also the Editor of the Commercial Carpet Digest, looks back at the year in the carpet sector. Rennie evaluates the two acquisitions completed by Shaw during the year and discusses the affects the Honeywell acquisition will have on the company and the industry. Rennie also looks at Mohawk’s alliance with Solutia and 3M and discusses the changes with the industry’s two largest players during the year as well as market share shifts, the affects that the raw materials increases have had on the industry, the commercial sector and his expectations for 2006.

Tom Rennie Reviews 2005 in the Carpet Sector – Part 2

December 19, 2005—In the final part of a two-part series, Tom Rennie, who heads TLR Consulting and is also the Editor of the Commercial Carpet Digest, looks back at the year in the carpet sector. Rennie evaluates the two acquisitions that Shaw made during the year and discusses the affects that the Honeywell acquisition will have on the company as well as the industry, as well as Mohawk’s alliance with Solutia and 3M. Also discusses are changes with the industry’s two largest players during the year, market share shifts, the affects the rapid increases in raw materials prices, the commercial sector and Rennie’s expectations for 2006.

Sandlin, Hackel, Burson & Simonson - Marketing on the Internet - Part 4

December 18, 2005—In this is the final part of a four-part roundtable discussion, sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association the panel conclude their conversation on marketing floor coverings online. Panelists Scott Sandlin, VP, Marketing, Shaw Industries; Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One; Mark Burson, Principal, Burson Consulting Group; and John Simonson, President, Webstream Dynamics in this segment compares the website of big box and independent retailers in terms of efficiency and product knowledge. The panelists also discuss the role internet retailers play and multi-channel retailer play in the shopping process, the future of multi-channel players, the importance of blogs in the shopping process and what independent retailer should do to ensure their growth as the internet evolves. Each panelist also offers his vision of the internet of tomorrow.

Bob Peoples Reviews the CARE and What the Revitalization of Evergreen Might Mean to the Program

December 15, 2005—Bob Peoples, Executive Director of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and Director of Sustainability, Carpet and Rug Institute discusses the CARE program and its goals and he reviews the program’s progress in 2005 toward its goal of diverting post-consumer carpet from landfills. Peoples talks about the program’s pending relationship with the commercial contractor co-op StarNet, the recent meeting of the program’s affiliate entrepreneurs and the potential affects that the probable revitalization of the Evergreen Nylon Recycling facility in Augusta, GA, might have on the CARE program.

Speedheat’s Pieter Jansens on Radiant Heat

December 14, 2005—Pieter Jansens, Chairman of Speedheat International, discusses the company Speedheat and the radiant heating products it produces and markets, which produce heat and warmth from under floor coverings. Jansens talks about the popularity of the concept throughout the world, its introduction in North American markets, the products offered by the company for installation under ceramic, hardwood and carpet and a product called RugBuddy that’s designed to provide heat from under area rugs. Also discussed is the company's unique marketing approach in the U.S., its in-store merchandising, installation and the growth potential for the products.