August 19, 2004—Jon Namba, Director, Technical Services, WFCA and Past President, Certified Floorcovering Installers, (CFI) and Jim Walker, CEO, CFI in the 1st part of a two-part series discuss the declining state of installation in the industry and its root causes in the manufacturing, retail and installation communities.
August 18, 2004—Jeff Meadows, Division VP, Shaw Living, in the final part of a 2-part series discusses producing rugs that sell in a big box environment, the proposition of licensing, why it has become so successful, the company’s criteria for entering a licensing agreement and the “tweener” market, its growth and the success of Shaw’s Mary-Kate and Ashley rugs.
August 17, 2004—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: The closure of Tandus’ Santa Ana facility and the termination of its JV with Dixie; Lowe’s and Home Depot’s 2nd quarter earnings' the naming of Biggers as CEO at Witex USA; Sphinx’s move into home textiles: and Berkshire’s Pier 1 buy in.
August 16, 2004—Jeff Meadows, Division VP, Shaw Living, in the 1st part of a 2-part series discusses the unit’s focus on big-box merchants and the dynamics of working with big-box players. Meadows talks about expansion in the division’s product offerings, it’s growth over the past few years and the company’s views on licensing.
August 15, 2004—John McDevitt, former 3M corporate economist discusses the state of the economic recovery, Fed chairman Alan Greenspan’s “spot patch” comment and the anticipated length of that “soft patch”. McDevitt also evaluates energy price increases and when their upward spiral may end and he also discusses GDP growth and job creation.
August 12, 2004—From the Carpet & Rug Institute, President Werner Braun, Director of Communications Joan Seelaus and Communications Manager James Beach. Discussed are changes in the association’s governance, the recently formed International Flooring Sciences Resources Center an online peer review publication and an upcoming program dealing with the health aspects of carpet to be broadcast on The Discovery Channel’s Healthwatch.
August 11, 2004—Piet Dossche, President, US Floors, an importer of bamboo, cork and hand-scraped hardwood flooring discusses the U.S. market for these products and the process of developing sources for these specialty flooring products throughout the world. Dossche talks about consumer and retailer acceptance of bamboo and cork, the products’ features and benefits and growth potential in the U.S.
August 10, 2004—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: last weekend’s Carpet One convention, its new ad agency and branding strategy, Shaw’s 2nd quarter sales as reported in Berkshire Hathaway’s earnings announcement, Congoleum’s swing to a profit in the 2nd quarter, Mohawk’s move into carpet cleaning and, NYC’s Lane’s Floorcoverings acquisition of Kramer Carpet.
August 9, 2004—Dean Marcarelli, Co-COO, Carpet One discusses the group’s summer convention, held last weekend in Dallas and Revelation, the new total management software developed for Carpet One by Microsoft. Marcarelli also talks about the company’s new branding strategy, its new ad agency, changes within the Distribution One, price increases, competition in the retail flooring sector and the group’s plans for the future.
August 8, 2004—Norman Voss, President, Kronotex USA discusses the company, its European parent company, KronoGroup Switzerland and the company’s new manufacturing facility, which is currently under construction in Barnwell, SC. Voss discusses the technology to be installed in the new plant, the products that will be manufactured and the company’s long term manufacturing plans for the U.S.