“Change! Challenge! Choice!” was the theme of the 14th
annual Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) meeting in Kansas
City, Mo. With an eye toward arming CFI members with the latest tools and
techniques to combat the recent downturn in housing, the recent event included
educational sessions and hands-on workshops designed to take a hard look at the
business.
It may not seem like it, but
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the ratings system used
to gauge the environmental impact of a building, has been a fixture of the
commercial design market for nearly 10 years.
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For
all the changes seen in the flooring business of late, nothing has altered the
importance of carpet. How important? The product occupies at least half the
merchandising space at a typical floor covering store. One of every four
dealers say they devote at least 75% of their showroom to the category. While
the totals are influenced by the inclusion of carpet-only stores, the survey of
retailers makes clear carpet’s towering presence in the flooring business.
Full-service commercial flooring provider Intertech Flooring,
with offices in Austin and San Antonio, recently opened its third office.
Located in Mission, Texas, in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, the branch
location will serve the Rio Grande with the company’s blend of commercial
flooring products, installation expertise, design consultation and maintenance
services.
Solutia’s Ultron carpet fibers business has named its judges
for the upcoming 2007 Doc Award Competition in New York. Set for Nov. 28, the
contest aims to honor outstanding achievement in contract interior and product
design. The awards honor not only architects and designers and their projects,
but carpet mills for creating aesthetic and durable contract floor coverings
using the company’s fiber.
With
installers drawing on the rich variety of looks and textures made possible
by exotic species, there is a wide consensus that entries in this year’s
National Wood Flooring Association’s Floor of the Year awards were among the
most creative seen in the competition’s 17-year history. The increasing
influence of exotic species was readily apparent in this year’s winners:
Dark-grained African wood Wenge, yellow-flecked Malaysian wood Merbau and
distinctive shades of walnut were instrumental in many of the eye-catching
installations entered this year. The new surge of creativity may explain
why the awards this year were also the busiest ever, with 215 entries from more
than 60 companies.
Your store’s approach to
merchandising is an ever-changing terrain. At least it should be. It’s up to
you to keep your showroom fresh and inviting. Use your creativity! Showcase
stunning new products not only in your display racks, but on the floor
itself. Create a space that invites
shoppers to explore. Use dramatic lighting and bold colors. Make sure there is
a place people can sit comfortably and discuss their options. Eliminate clutter and craft a look that
tells the world you are in the fashion business and you take great pride in
your showroom. If you think all this is too costly, inconvenient, or simply not
necessary, think again.
Mohawk University, the training arm of Mohawk Industries,
has updated its website with new E-Learning online courses, an expanded
resource center and an updated calendar of classes and seminars.
Armstrong World Industries said it has received Platinum
Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system for its
Lancaster, Pa.-based headquarters. Built in 1998, the location is only the
sixth existing building and the first outside of California, to achieve USGBC’s
highest certification, according to Armstrong.
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