By far the strongest category in hard surface flooring, hardwood is poised for continued growth this year and beyond. Our exclusive retailer survey indicates there are challenges related to competition, pricing and the many manufacturers vying for attention. And, despite the addition of new species, oak remains the overwhelming favorite among consumers.
Flooring retailers are finding that opportunities in the residential market do not end where the backyard begins. Consumers who are sprucing up areas in and around their homes are discovering a wealth of outdoor carpet options that are as highly stylized as anything found indoors. And naturally, the new entries are engineered to withstand severe weather.
Mannington Mills was the winner in six of the 10 categories included in National Floor Trends 2006 Styling Excellence awards. Also gaining top honors this year were Mohawk Industries and Roppe, which both finished first in two categories.
When he talks about his company's line of floor care products, Steve Naylor's does not stress the high profit margins they typically return. Instead, Naylon, the vp of sales and marketing for Namac Industries, has a sales pitch that he feels is sure to strike a cord with flooring retailers.
As it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, Flooring America bares little resemblance to the organization that started it all. Launched by a small collection of retailers in 1986 under the Carpet Max banner, the goal was to gain clout for independent stores without surrendering autonomy. Now, with 575 Flooring America (or Flooring Canada) stores on its membership roster, and backed by the resources of its parent company, the Manchester, N.H. based retail giant CCA Global Partners, Flooring America has a formidable presence in the industry. NFT spoke to the co-op's president Vinny Virga about the retail groups' position after 20 years.
As evidenced by aisles teeming with showgoers and exhibits crammed with products promising a new approach to floor covering, the 2006 edition of Surfaces is likely to be recalled as a watershed event for the industry. Amid concern that rising fuel prices and a cooling off of the home construction business could hurt sales this year, the consensus among the record number of attendees was that the flooring business remains on solid ground.
Those in the tile business say they have never seen better products or stiffer competition. In a bid to sort it all out, 32,000 attendees, including retailers, architects, tile distributors and installers, are gearing up for Coverings 2006, North America's largest tile and stone show. Set for April 4-7 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., the meeting is expected to incorporate a more diverse range of products than at any previous show.
While it is clear that virtually every area of floor covering has felt the sting of rising fuel prices over the past year, one area particularly hard hit is adhesives. Companies involved in this category note that petro-chemicals are more than just an important ingredient in their products. Resin and other fuel-derived raw materials often form the base of the compounds used to hold flooring in place.
Manufacturers are fine-tuning their laminate flooring products for 2006, rather than reinventing the wheel. Unlike last year, when hand-scraped and exotic looks were first introduced seemingly en masse into the marketplace, this year presented nothing as sweeping. Companies are building on the innovations of last year, adding bells and whistles to their products through advances in printing and manufacturing technologies.
This year's Surfaces is likely to reinforce two dynamics that are shaping the flooring industry: The suppliers are becoming more global and the retailers are becoming more local. And the evolving nature of the business will not be hard to spot during the Feb. 1-3 show at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.
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