Flooring Podcast

McDevitt Looks Inside the Economy

January 6, 2006—John McDevitt, retired 3M Corporate Economist, looks at Friday’s unemployment and jobs report, and its impact on the economy. McDevitt also discusses: the housing market and to what degree it will cool in 2006, and how that cooling will affect other segments of the economy; the construction market in 2006 and the segments that hold the greatest promise of growth this year; the consumer of 2006 and his expectations for retail spending during the year. McDevitt also discusses raw materials prices, rebuilding in the Gulf coast area, the Federal Reserve and its concerns for 2006, and what preserving the tax cuts really means to investment and the economy.

Tarkett Commercial’s Diane Martel on Recycling Vinyl Samples

January 5, 2006—Diane Martel, vp of Marketing, Tarkett Commercial, discusses the ReUse program, a program that recycles vinyl flooring samples. Martel talks about how the samples and the packaging materials will be collected and processed, and the vinyl used in the production of new flooring. Martel also discusses Tarkett’s overall environmental stance, the company’s work with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) regarding PVC, and the U.S. Green Building Council's PVC task group. And she also touches on the company plans for Surfaces 2006 in Las Vegas later this month.

Jon Trivers - the Retail Sector in 2005 – Part 2

January 4, 2006—Industry speaker and FCW columnist Jon Trivers, in the final part of a two-part series, looks back at the year 2005, discussing the largest shifts, trends and changes that occurred in the retail sector of the floor covering industry, discussing the effects of price increases on the segment, and the changes they have driven. Trivers looks how mill affiliate groups and buying groups fared during the year, the increase of imports during the year, as well as how floor coverings as a sector managed in 2005 against other categories such as home entertainment, vacations and MP3 players.

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

January 3, 2006—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill discusses: major homebuilders and raw materials prices and their impact on the floor covering industry in 2006; the denial of Armstrong’s reorganization plan by the U.S. Court of Appeals; DuPont’s dealings with the United Steelworkers’ “Corporate Campaign;” the settlement of pending patent infringement cases by Faus and Pergo; The “second act” of Home Depot’s Bob Nardelli; Solutia’s November profits; the filing of Foamex’s reorganization plan; Roger Milliken stepping down as Milliken’s CEO, and the naming of Krista Eliason as president of International Design Guild.

Evan Hackel, President, Carpet One

January 2, 2006—In an archives presentation Evan Hackel, president, Carpet One, discusses the Carpet One Winter Convention 2005, the recent changes that have occurred within the organization, the marketplace and his focus as the new president of the cooperative. Hackel 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.

Jon Trivers - the Retail Sector in 2005

January 2, 2006—Industry speaker and FCW columnist Jon Trivers, in the first part of a two-part series, looks back at the year 2005 discussing the largest shifts, trends and changes in the retail sector of the floor covering industry, discussing the effects of price increases on the segment and the changes they have driven. Trivers looks at how mill affiliate groups and buying groups fared during the year, the increase of imports, as well as how floor coverings as a sector managed in 2005 against other categories such as home entertainment, vacations and MP3 players.

WFCA Chairman Aaron Pirner with a B2B Update

December 29, 2005—In an archives presentations aired in September, 2005, Aaron Pirner, CEO of CAP Carpet and chairman of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), discusses the progress of the industry’s B2B initiative and the recent meeting of the Flooring Industry B2B Standards Committee. Pirner also talks about the increased involvement of distributors in the program, the heightened participation among manufacturers in the program, the formation of an association of floor covering software providers, which took place at the meeting, and the growing awareness of the program among retailers.

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.