Flooring Podcast

CRI’s Werner Braun on Consumer Survey on Carpet

December 6, 2004—Werner Braun, President, Carpet & Rug institute (CRI), discusses the association’s annual meeting, which was held last week and the just-completed consumer-oriented survey it commissioned. Braun talks about the survey’s goals, consumers leading concerns related to the selection of carpet, including maintenance and an awareness of allergens and mold. Braun also discusses consumer attitudes about environmental matters and the actions the CRI anticipates taking with this newly obtained information.

Mannington’s Roy Guess, Desiging for the Commercial Market – Part 2

December 5, 2004—Roy Guess, Senior VP, Design, Mannington Commercial, in the final part of a two-part series, discusses Mannington’s approach to design in the commercial arena, his role in the process, the unique approach the company with each market segment and with visiting architects and designers. Guess also talks about the design process, his approach to the latest manufacturing technology, sustainability and design and his expectations as to where flooring design will go in the future.

Mannington’s Roy Guess, Designing for the Commercial Market Place

December 2, 2004—Roy Guess, Senior VP, Design, Mannington Commercial, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses Mannington’s approach to design in the commercial arena, his role in the process, the unique approach the company has taken with each market segment and with visiting architects and designers. Guess also talks about the design process, his approach to the latest manufacturing technology, sustainability and design and his expectations as to the direction flooring design may take in the future.

The Tandus Group’s Dobbin Callahan on Sustainability – Part 2

December 1, 2004—Dobbin Callahan, General Manager, Government Markets, The Tandus Group, in the final part of a two-part series, discusses sustainability within the floor covering industry and within the Tandus Group. Callahan talks about the company’s early environmental products through to its most recent, the market’s and the government’s reaction and his thoughts on the paths sustainability will take in the future. Callahan also discusses the carpet industry’s efforts to divert carpet from landfills and he shares his thoughts on the undesirability of using postconsumer carpet as a fuel.

Frank O’Neill – The Week in the Floor Covering Industry

November 30, 2004—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Frank’s address to today’s CRI annual meeting; The naming of Jack Ganley to the post of Mannington Commercial president: Tarkett's acquisition of Marley Floors; The Bankruptcy judge’s decision to deny an hearing for an extension of Armstrong’s reorganization plan; Flooring Sales Group purchase of the Spokane Invironmentalists; and Kronospan decision to pass on building a plant in Fort Payne, Alabama.

Tandus Group’s Dobbin Callahan Discusses Sustainability – Part 1

November 29, 2004—Dobbin Callahan, GM, Government Markets, The Tandus Group, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses sustainability within the floor covering industry and within the Tandus Group. Callahan talks about the company’s early environmental products through to its most recent, market and the government reaction and his thoughts on the paths sustainability will take in the future. Callahan also discusses the carpet industry’s efforts to divert carpet from landfills and his thoughts on the undesirability of using post-consumer carpet as a fuel.

Brown & Cohen Discuss the Newest Carpet Manufacturing Technology

November 28, 2004—Lamar Brown, CEO, LESSCO International, an engineering company and machinery builder for the carpet & textile industries and Sam Cohen, VP, Sales and Marketing, Elbit Vision Systems discuss some of the newest monitoring technology in the carpet manufacturing industry. This new technology will increase productivity and reduce defects caused by yarn mends and also reduce bow and skew and color matching problems.

Frank O’Neill – The Week in the Floor Covering Industry

November 23, 2004—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: The launch of the new FloorDaily.net site; The Kmart/Sears deal; Mohawk New SmartStrand Fiber, made with DuPont’s Sorona Polymer; Forbo’s refusal of CVC’s offer; A study pegging flooring demand in China at 2.5 billion square meters by 2008.

Invista’s Bobby Berrier on the Company’s Reclamation Program

November 22, 2004—Bobby Berrier, VP, Invista, Commercial & Transportation Flooring discusses the company’s reclamation program and the recent announcement that it would be accepting carpet from all commercial dealers. Berrier also talks about Invista’s total sustainability stance, its long-term view of its reclamation program, its level of market acceptance, physical characteristics including collection and transportation and other cost factors.

David Birnbrey -- Location, Location, Location, Selecting the Right Retail Site

November 19, 2004—David Birnbrey, President, The Shopping Center Group discussed the science of retail site selection, the prime features that large and small retailers consider in selecting an ideal location and the latest technology available to assist in the process. Birnbrey talks also talks about the recently announced acquisition of Sears by Kmart and how the enclosed mall has fallen from favor, but may be readying for a comeback