Flooring Podcast

Roland Thompson and the Compassion Center Project

March 30, 2005—Roland Thompson, Kehnes Carpet One, Frederick, Maryland discusses a project involving the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the Maryland and Northern Virginia Floor Covering Associations and the Delmarva Chapter of the Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI), where labor and materials were donated to an installation at the Compassion Center, of College Park, MD. Kehnes also provides an insiders look at the installation sector of the floor covering industry.

Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry

March 29, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Armstrong’s decision to appeal the decision of U.S. District Judge, who declined to approve the company’s reorganization plan and a status report on asbestos legislation in the house and senate; BASF’s phasing-out nylon polymer production at its Enka, NC plant; China's ceramic tile imports and exports; The builder market and Nafco by Tarkett’s newest offerings in that segment; February shipments of hardwood flooring: And the passing of Frank Stevens.

The Insurance Market with Lee Phillips, Spill Tech Labs – Part 2

March 28, 2005—Lee Phillips, Spill Tech Labs, a unit of Professional Testing that provides testing services to the insurance industry, in the final segment of a two-part series, discusses the volume of carpet and other floor coverings purchased as a result of insurance claims, the testing procedures required, how the system works, the type of information insurance companies are seeking.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey’s Keith Hughes looks Back at the 4Q – Part 2

March 27, 2005—Keith Hughes, Director of Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey looks back at the 4th quarter 2004 of Mohawk, Shaw and Interface and also discusses the impact of rising raw materials costs on the floor covering market and the likelihood of acquisition in the future.

The Insurance Market with Lee Phillips, Spill Tech Labs – Part 1

March 27, 2005—Lee Phillips, Spill Tech Labs, a unit of Professional Testing that provides testing services to the insurance industry, discusses the volume of carpet and other floor coverings purchased as a result of insurance claims, the testing procedures required by insurance companies, how the system works, the type of information insurance companies are seeking.

Barker on the Market

March 24, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management looks back at this week’s meeting of Federal Open Market Committee and the accompanying rate hike centering on the meaning of the Fed’s message and the use of the word “measured”. Barker talks about the market’s reaction to the Fed’s message, why the event seems so upsetting to the market and the threat of inflation. Also discussed, Legg Mason’s cut of Mohawk’s rating, Investors Business Daily’s article on the Dixie Group and an historical look at the market in April.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey’s Keith Hughes Looks Back at the 4th Quarter - Part 1

March 23, 2005—Keith Hughes, Director in Equity Research, SunTrust Robinson-Humphrey looks back at the 4th quarter 2004 comparing the floor covering and furniture industries. Hughes discusses Mohawk’s and Shaw’s 4th quarter in both the residential and commercial sectors as well as growth by hard and soft surface product categories, the impact of rising raw materials costs and the likelihood of acquisition in the future.

Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry

March 22, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: The new World Market Center of Las Vegas holding its 2006 Winter Market to coincide with Surfaces 2006; Armstrong’s aggressive 2005 marketing program; Shaw’s $27 million expansion of its Thomson, Georgia nylon facility; and a Forbo update on the takeover bid from CVC Capital Partners and the company’s 2004 earnings.

Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter & the Case of the Wavey Carpet

March 21, 2005—Lew Migliore, The Industry’s Trouble Shooter, President, LGM Technical Carpet Services discusses an installation he came across in the field where the problem was wavey carpet.

A Retailer Technology Update with Terry Wheat – Part 2

March 21, 2005—Terry Wheat, President RFMS, a provider of industry-specific management software and tools for floor covering retailers, provides an update on the industry’s B2B initiative and talks about the current retailer interest level in moving toward management software. Wheat also discusses the most common misconceptions retailers have about industry-specific software and the future of some of the newest industry technology.