Flooring Podcast

Tom Rennie and the Art of Specifying Broadloom & Modular Carpet - Pt. 2

August 8, 2005—Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting & Editor of the Commercial Carpet Digest, in advance of NeoCon East in Baltimore, Sept. 14-15, in the final part of this two-part series, examines the finer points of writing specifications for commercial broadloom and modular carpet. Rennie reviews some recent breakthroughs in carpet manufacturing technology discussing yarn and dyeing techniques, carpet construction and backings and the installation process and how these factors interact to produce carpet with the desired look, appearance and wear, longevity, safety and sustainable characteristics to meet any budget.

Tom Rennie and the Art of Specifying Broadloom & Modular Carpet - Pt. 1

August 6, 2005—Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting & Editor of the Commercial Carpet Digest, in advance of NeoCon East in Baltimore, Sept. 14-15, examines the finer points of writing specifications for commercial broadloom and modular carpet. Rennie reviews some recent breakthroughs in carpet manufacturing technology discussing yarn and dyeing techniques, carpet construction and backings and the installation process and how these factors interact to produce carpet with the desired look, appearance and wear, longevity, safety and sustainable characteristics to meet any budget.

Keith Hughes Evaluates the Industry’s & Mohawk’s 2nd Quarter

August 4, 2005—Keith Hughes, Director in Equity Research Suntrust Robinson, discusses the floor covering industry’s second quarter looking at both the residential and the commercial markets. Hughes also looks at Mohawk’s performance during the quarter discussing the carpet, Mohawk Home and Dal-Tile units, the Unilin acquisition, the company’s reorganization and his outlook for future hard surface acquisitions.

Keith Hughes on Interface in 2Q & The Las Vegas Market

August 4, 2005—Keith Hughes, Director in Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey discusses the commercial floor covering market place during the second quarter and the performance of Interface during the period. Hughes also discusses the Las Vegas Market, its attendance, exhibitors and his expectations for future markets.

Larry Winter – Developing an Employee Pay Policy

August 4, 2005—Larry Winter, Winter & Harris CPAs and FloorRadio regular discusses the process of attracting and retaining quality employees and factors to consider in developing policies involving employee pay, including some of the basic dos and don’t of the process.

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

August 2, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine discusses: Interface’s 2Q results; The International Trade Commission’s investigation of laminate click joints from China; The Dixie Group’s 2Q results; a Senate asbestos bill update; the expansion plans of Floor & Décor Outlets of America; StonePeak’s naming of 30 distributors; passage of the Small Business Health Fairness Act, which permits the formation of association health plans; and the CRI’s new Green Label Plus, Indoor Air Quality Testing Program for adhesives.

Jon Dougal Looks at Sustainability and the Transportation Sector

August 1, 2005—Jon Dougal, Sustainable Design Associates and Innovative Building Materials International, discusses how sustainability has entered the transportation sector through a program called the SmartWay Transportation Partnership, a voluntary collaboration between Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry. The program is designed to increase energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Dougal explains how the program works, its goals and how it affects corporate profits.

Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter and the Case of the Dented and Shrinking Hardwood

August 1, 2005—Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter and President, LGM Technical Carpet Surfaces discusses a problem he encountered in the field. The problem deals with engineered hardwood flooring that suffered from shrinking and denting.

Big Bob’s Elyachar Launches a Big Bob’s Furniture Outlets

July 31, 2005—Dave Elyachar, CEO Big Bob’s Flooring Outlets discusses the company's expansion into furniture retailing with the launch of Big Bob's Furniture Outlet, which has opened its first location in Kansas City. Elyachar discusses the Big Bob’s concept of targeting families with annual incomes of $70,000 or less, how the concept had produced attractive returns for franchisees in flooring operations, and how that same concept is expected to produce equally attractive returns in the furniture arena. Elyachar also talks about successful floor covering retailers who have expanded their presence with a Bob Bob’s franchise, the franchises’ unique advertising program and method of operation.

Milliken’s Rob Beistline Looks at the Rug Market

July 28, 2005—Rob Beistline, Brand Market Manager, Rugs and Matting Products, Milliken looks at the rug and mat business, its relationship to the economy and the changes that have occurred in the various retail channels of the rug business including the independent flooring retailer segment. Beistline looks at the industry's markets and trade shows including the Las Vegas market and where it fits, the changing design needs of the marketplace and how Milliken approaches those needs.