• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
  • AWARDS
  • EDUCATION
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Breaking Flooring News
  • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
  • Carpet & Area Rugs
  • Hardwood
  • Installation Products
  • Installation Tools & Equipment
  • Laminate
  • Resilient
  • Specialty
  • Tile & Stone
  • MARKETS
  • Commercial
  • Residential
  • AWARDS
  • Installation Awards
  • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
  • Continuing Education
  • Webinars
  • Sponsored Insights
  • MEDIA
  • FLOOR Podcast
  • Videos
  • TISE 2025 Videos
  • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issues
  • Contact
  • Advertise
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
    • Sponsored Insights
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Columns

Editor's Letter: Planning for a Better Year Ahead

By Tanja Kern
Tanja Kern
November 12, 2019

Talking to leaders in flooring, many have noted softness or a bit of a slowdown in 2019. Voices attribute it to a number of things: an unstable political climate, tariff issues surrounding imports, the economy, the upcoming election season, indicators like low housing starts, and confusion among consumers in the marketplace. While we’re a couple of months away from turning the calendar to 2020, most of us are already knee deep into planning for the coming year. What should we anticipate for next year? 

Alan Beaulieu, president and principal of ITR economics, and his team are not forecasting a recession, thank goodness. While the beginning of 2020 may start off slow, ITR projects that businesses need to get ready for a rise in the latter half of the year, and that means a boost to business. What’s pointing them in this direction? Single-family housing starts, for one, which serve as a bellwether for the economy, will rise. Beaulieu projects that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of construction materials will get busier in 2020. There’s a need for more installers, and contractors should experience more profit opportunities. 

Despite favorable forecasts for 2020, our reporting on the hardwood market for this month noted some concerns. Wood-look products in luxury vinyl and porcelain are eating market share. More builders are shifting toward LVT for those wood-look finishes as technology and design capabilities improve. However, there is no denying that wood remains an aspirational and sought after flooring choice. It’s invigorating to see wood producers fighting back for market share by introducing their own take on technology through waterproof constructions and finishes, more beauty at value-driven price points, and better storytelling through shelter magazines and influencers. 

Most recently, I was impressed with Anderson-Tuftex’s collaboration with Domino magazine. In a savvy marketing collaboration, the producer traded product and know-how to help the editors create some entertaining and educational content. One story, “Can Flooring be Chic and Pet-Friendly?”, showcased Domino dog owners who curated mood boards of their dream rooms grounded by Anderson Tuftex’s flooring collections. Ads in the publication and on social media offered three flooring — wood or carpet — samples to consumers (and designers) looking for beautiful floors. The sample box included a welcome note and a cloth tote that held the flooring samples. Not only was it a hit among the magazine readers, retailers who carry the Anderson-Tuftex collections were able to piggyback on the content, sharing it with their local markets. It’s this type of creative storytelling and innovation that will keep flooring companies thriving into 2020.

KEYWORDS: business management market trends

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Tanja kern headshot 2023

Tanja Kern is associate publisher and editorial director of FLOOR Trends & Installation. She brings more than 20 years of experience covering the flooring, design, and construction industries through print and digital platforms.  


Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • resilient flooring

    The 7 Types of Resilient Flooring

    The resilient flooring category is comprised of many...
    Resilient Flooring
    By: Resilient Floorcovering Institute
  • QuickDrain USA’s ShowerLine linear drain

    Tips for Curbless Shower Installation Using a Linear Drain

    Consider these four tips when planning for a curbless...
    Installation How-To
    By: Darryl Jones
  • 2024 New Flooring Product Guide

    2024 New Flooring Products Guide

    We explore this year's introductions in area rugs,...
    Commercial Flooring
    By: FLOOR Trends & Installation Editors
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Unlock the future of flooring trends and installation techniques with FLOOR Trends & Installation.

REGISTER TODAY

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

Shaw Flooring Network Retailers Report Post-Election Sales Surge

Shaw Flooring Network Retailers Report Post-Election Sales Surge

SolidTech R: Sustainable, High-Performance Flooring from Bottle to Floor

SolidTech R: Sustainable, High-Performance Flooring from Bottle to Floor

Retailers Share Top Takeaways from Shaw Flooring Network Convention

Retailers Share Top Takeaways from Shaw Flooring Network Convention

What Shaw Flooring Network Dealers are Banking on for 2025

What Shaw Flooring Network Dealers are Banking on for 2025

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the FLOOR Trends & Installation audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of FLOOR Trends & Installation or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Woodura Herringbone 2.0
    Sponsored byBjelin

    The Herringbone Floor of the Future

Popular Stories

Woodura Herringbone 2.0

The Herringbone Floor of the Future

Three individuals, a man and two women, discussing flooring options while reviewing samples.

Humans in the Loop: Why AI in Your Flooring Business Still Needs You

Textured light brown floor tiles

How to Successfully Achieve Credit Card Widths on Joints and 50% Offset Requirements on Tile Installations


Download the Free Moisture Meters Guide

Events

December 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Growth Challenges in the Flooring Industry

What’s holding you back from growth in 2025?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

See More Products

FLOORtalk podcasts - Listen Now

Related Articles

  • Matthew Spieler

    Flooring Retailers: Get Ready for a Good Year

    See More
  • Tanja Kern

    Editor's Letter: Nurturing Future Flooring Industry Leaders

    See More
  • Shaw-Merritt

    Letter to the Editor from Shaw President Randy Merritt

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • WoodFlooring_383x497.png

    Wood Flooring: A Complete Guide to Layout, Installation & Finishing

See More Products
×

We’re rolling out the red carpet of flooring knowledge!

Stay in the know on the latest flooring retail trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
    • Sponsored Insights
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP