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NWFA Expo Opens, Wood Floors of the Year Winners Announced

NWFA Expo 2023.jpg — NWFA President and CEO Michael Martin opens the 2023 NWFA Expo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: Floor Trends.

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Expo opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bringing together all business types in the wood industry for the 37th year.

"The outlook in 2023 is cautiously optimistic," said NWFA President and CEO Michal Martin. "Challenges such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, the housing market, and economic uncertainty remain."

The conflict in Ukraine has impacted the wood flooring industry with nearly half of NWFA member companies experiencing supply disruptions of Russian Baltic Birch used for engineered flooring. Over the last year, suppliers had to adjust quickly by using domestically sourced alternatives like poplar cores or imported alternatives like eucalyptus,

"Ninety percent of our contractors say they've lost business to supply chain disruptions, long lead times, higher prices, and back orders," Martin said.

Other concerns include the political climate competition from non-wood flooring and government regulation.

"The price of building has risen tremendously and many find that they are over budgeted toward the end of any project," he said. "Therefore, the original real hardwood they had hoped to install may no longer be the case. Today, about half of our members report negative impacts from wood flooring, lookalike products."

In addition, the Wood Floor of the Year Award winners were announced:

Best Circular/Curved Application
Ourada Designs in Nine Mile Falls, Washington

Best in Color/Finish & Textured Wood
Floor Master Company in Crystal Lake, Illinois

Best in Historic Restoration
RippnFinish in Gladstone, Missouri

Best in Marquetry/Inlay
Floor Master Company in Crystal Lake, Illinois

Best in Parquetry
Custom Floors Unlimited in Houston, Texas

Best Staircase
Walk on Wood in Winter Park, Florida

Manufacturer Spotlight
Peachey Hardwood Flooring in Reedsville, Pennsylvania

Best in Use of Technology/Member’s Choice
Czar Floors in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

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Beth Miller began her journalistic journey in 2005 while still working as a mechanic in her dad’s garage. She has written about everything from artists to WWII veterans and in 2010 stepped into the healthcare sector where she created digital content for 11 years. She, then, received her master’s degree in English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 2017, she took the leap into the flooring industry. Here, she has discovered a place where she can apply both her technical and journalistic abilities.

Tanja Kern is the associate publisher and editorial director of FLOOR Trends & Installation. She is also the host of the FLOORtalk podcast, where she explores the changes and challenges facing the flooring community's thought leaders and creatives. Tanja has been writing about business, design, and lifestyle for two decades, and her work has appeared in publications such as American Way, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Interiors, Fodor's, Food Channel, CA Modern, Chicago, Fine Interiors, and Los Angeles.