March 17, 2004—Mike Barker, Investment & Retirement Management, looks at the effects the Fed’s decision to leave rates as they are and their comments on not increasing rates any time soon, had on the market. Barker also comments on mortgage rates, the bond market, the effects of the falling dollar on the economy and the consumer and the effects of the Madrid bombing on the market.
March 16, 2004—Frank O’Neill, Publisher, Floor Focus magazine and Dave Foster Host, Floor Radio discuss: The Pergo acquisition that never happened; Unilin decides on Thomasville for its $80 million plant; Armstrong’s Bankruptcy on hold and its commercial tile plant in Lancaster that may wind down; Congoleum’s 4th quarter; The delay of the Invista/Koch deal and; SI Flooring Systems' price hike.
March 15, 2004—Tom Jennings, President Bud Jennings Carpet One, Lawrence, Kansas discusses this large, mid-to-high end retail operation and his marketing philosophy, which includes providing high-quality service and shifting the stores layout frequently. Jennings also discusses his competition, his emphasis on ceramic, his earlier-adapter stance with technology and his product mix.
March 14, 2004—Jon Trivers, Marketing Wit & Wisdom, in the 2nd part of a 2-part series looks a techniques independent retailers can employ to better compete with the big boxes, more on the ho-hum performance of Home Depot Expo and Sears’ Great Indoors. Trivers also discusses the upside and the downside of extending the Stainmaster brand into vinyl and pad, and the market season with Surfaces 2004 and the regional events of Shaw and Mohawk.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.