Flooring Podcast

2004 Favorites - Jon Trivers, Big Boxes Targeting the Independents - Part 1

March 11, 2004—From FloorRadio Favorites of 2004, Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit & Wisdom, in an interview aired in March, looks at a Bud Light Men of Genius radio ad recognizing the carpet installer. Trivers also discusses Home Depot’s and Lowe’s strategy to net the independent retailer’s customer, with Home Depot’s it’s the new Floor Store test store in Florida, with Lowe’s it’s the “Up the Compendium” marketing philosophy. Trivers also looks at lackluster track record of Home Depot’s Expo and Sears’ Great Indoors.

Barker Looks at Thursday’s Market Plunge

March 11, 2004—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses the Dow’s 168-point drop yesterday, prompted by the al Qaeda-linked terrorist acts in Madrid. Barker also discusses the market’s likely reaction going forward.

Barker on Yesterday's Market Sell-Off

March 10, 2004—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management looks at yesterday’s market sell-off, which brought both the Dow and the Nasdaq into negative territory for the year. Barker discusses the causes of the decline and the likelihood it will continue.

Armstrong’s Dick Quinlan on Hardwood

March 10, 2004—Dick Quinlan, Product Manager, Engineered Wood, Armstrong Flooring discusses the hardwood floor covering market place and some of the challenges the sector has experienced in the past year, raw materials costs and hardwood flooring imports China. Quinlan also talks about wood flooring problems unique to Armstrong, the company’s new product introductions and his outlook for the future.

Tom Rennie on Mounting Raw Materials Costs in the Carpet Sector

March 9, 2004—Tom Rennie, TLR Consulting & Editor of Commercial Carpet Digest discusses rising raw materials prices in the carpet sector, looking at the causes, their impact on raw materials producers, carpet mills, retailers and consumers and their potential long term affects.

Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus Magazine

March 9, 2004—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: The trials and tribulations of Martha Stewart and their effects on the flooring industry; Berkshire Hathaway’s and Shaw’s 2003; Faus’ intro of DuPont laminate at Home Depot; Former Environmentalists employees going out on their own.

Barker on the Jobs Report & the Market

March 7, 2004—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management discusses Friday’s unemployment report, Wall Street’s reaction to the report, this economic recovery verses prior recoveries from a jobs standpoint and the political element. Barker also looks at the Fed’s potential reaction to the news and the relationship of the jobs report and interest rates.

Shaw on Shaw – Part 2

March 4, 2004—Julius Shaw, Exec. VP Shaw Industries, discusses Shaw’s performance during 2003, the company’s asset purchase of the Dixie Group and Formica, potential acquisitions in the future, carpet and otherwise and the company’s 2003-0 4regional dealer meetings.

Barker on This Morning's Jobs Report

March 4, 2004—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management looks at today’s unemployment report and Wall Street’s expectations in this politically charged election year. Barker discusses the effects the jobs report could have on the markets and on other economic factors.

Shaw on Shaw - Part 1

March 3, 2004—Julius Shaw, Executive VP Shaw Industries in the first part of a two-part series discusses Shaw’s performance in 2003, the company’s asset purchase of the Dixie Group and Formica, potential acquisitions in the future, and the company’s 2003-04 regional dealer meetings.