Sandwiched annually between Cevisama and Cersaie, Coverings 2002, the International Tile & Stone Exposition (ITSE), promises to deliver the newest trends and innovations in tile and stone upon its return to Orlando, Fla. at the Orange County Convention Center on May 6-9.
The American National Standards Institute's recent approval of residential laminate flooring performance standards developed by the North American Laminate Flooring Association in some ways marks the maturation of the laminate product segment in the United States.
In February, more than 84,000 visitors from 144 countries surveyed the Spanish tile and stone scene during Cevisama 2002 at the Valencia Exhibition Center in Valencia, Spain. Approximately 160 Spanish ceramic tile manufacturers showcased their wares in the more than 900,000-square-foot space.
Product quality (90%) and complaint resolution (84%) topped the service areas distributors identified as very important in working with wood floor manufacturers, according to a just-completed study undertaken by National Floor Trends in partnership with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA).
Most floor covering retailers who are intent on staying in business over the long haul have soberly considered the exhortations of today's management consultants and marketing gurus.