Flooring Podcast

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.

A Retailer Technology Update with Terry Wheat - Part 1

March 20, 2005—Terry Wheat, President RFMS, a provider of industry-specific management software and tools for floor covering retailers, in the final part of a two-part series, provides an update on the industry’s B2B initiative and talks about the current retailer interest level in management software. Wheat also discusses the most common misconceptions retailers have about industry-specific software and his views on some of the newest industry's technology.

Barker on the Market

March 17, 2005—Mike Barker, Investment and Retirement Management discusses the record increases in oil prices and what they have meant to the market, to the floor covering industry and to consumers. Barker and also talks about the looming threat of inflation and what it might mean for consumers and the market, he also shares his expectations for the March 22 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, and talks about the latest with Mohawk and Dixie shares.

Milliken’s Capels & Dunkelberg on the Company’s Exit from Surfaces

March 16, 2005—Dave Capels, President, Milliken North America Floor Covering Div. & Eric Dunkelberg, Director, Marketing, Milliken Residential Carpet discuss the company’s decision to withdraw from Surfaces ‘06, its stance on the show and the company plans for interacting with its retailer base in the future.

Larry Winter, Winter & Harris, Making the Right Retail Software Selection

March 16, 2005—Larry Winter, Winter & Harris CPAs and FloorRadio regular discusses industry-specific management software for the floor covering retailer, its advantages and the process of selecting the right package for your business.

Frank O’Neill and the Week in the Flooring Industry

March 15, 2005—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: Milliken’s withdrawal from Surfaces 2006; DFS Flooring's acquisition of three Southern California Invironmentalists units; Congoleum’s fourth quarter profit; Job cuts at a Honeywell fiber plant and a look at the changing fiber sector; And, pinpointing Home Depot’s and Lowe’s growth.

Honeywell’s Prinstein, Leary, Merino & McGinnis with a Fiber Update - Part 1

March 14, 2005—From Honeywell Nylon, in the first of a two-part series, Dick Prinstein, Brand Director, Carpet Fibers, Mike Leary, Director of Sales, Ann Merino Manager Residential Merchandising and Lashon McGinnis, Residential Merchandising offer an update on the nylon fiber sector, discussing increases in raw material costs and how that has affected the industry. Changes in the rate of new product introductions, fiber branding and fiber company programs and promotions.