October 5, 2020--Jonathan Witt, President of Oriental Weavers USA, and Kemp Harr discuss the state of Jonathan's rug business in light of the virus and the major contribution that Mohamed Farid Khamis made to the global rug business. Listen to the interview about Mr. Farid who passed away in September at the age of 80.
October 1, 2020--Michelle Winters, Co-owner of New Braunfels Flooring, and Kemp Harr discuss Michelle's Texas Flooring store and the Facebook page she has created called Women of the Flooring Business. Listen to the interview to hear the history and strategy for both the store and the Facebook page.
September 29, 2020--Evan Hackel, CEO with Tortal Training, and Kemp Harr discuss the outlook for growth in the commercial remodel sector of the flooring business in light of the number of franchisees who won’t make it through the downturn created by shifts in the economy due to COVID-19. Listen to the interview for more details. Evan worked for CCA Global for 20 years.
September 28, 2020--Rotem Eylor, CEO of Republic Floor, and Kemp Harr discuss Republic Floor’s history, focus, route to market and aggressive growth plans. Republic is a six year old company that imports SPC LVT, laminate and engineered hardwood flooring.
September 25, 2020--Jay McDonnell, president of Custom Carpet Centers in western New York state, and Kemp Harr discuss business conditions in Jay's market and the benefits of being part of the NFA. Listen to the interview, taped at the fall NFA meeting in Savannah, for more details.
September 24, 2020--Jason McSwain, president of McSwain Carpet & Floors and president of the NFA, discusses his Cincinnati-based retail flooring business and highlights from the NFA meeting. Listen to the interview for more details.
September 23, 2020--Phil Koufidakis, president of Baker Brothers in Phoenix, and Kemp Harr discuss the flooring retailers' 75th anniversary, sales momentum, digital advertising focus and overview of the NFA meeting in Savannah. Listen to the interview for more details.
September 21, 2020--Chuck Bode, Co-owner of CB Flooring and Chairman of Starnet, and Kemp Harr discuss the business outlook in the commercial flooring contractor business over the next 18 to 24 months. Listen to the interview to hear more details about where this sector of the market could end up. Starnet’s meetings this fall will be virtual in format.
September 18, 2020--Kurt Paulson, VP of Mainstreet and Floorigami, and Kemp Harr discuss Shaw’s DIY modular carpet program and the incentive Shaw has built in to get the consumer to buy the product online and pick it up at a local dealer. Listen to the interview to learn what BOPIS means and where the product fits competitively.
September 16, 2020--Hoy Lanning, President and CEO of JJ Haines, and Kemp Harr discuss how COVID-19 has affected his firm’s distribution business and his long-range plans for retirement. Listen to the interview for more details.