U.S. retailers, who've been selling laminate flooring for nearly a decade, today find themselves wondering whether the product has improved from the standpoint of overall quality, performance, warranty, and ease of installation. The general consensus among retailers nationwide is that the overall quality of laminate flooring has eroded over recent years and laminate is becoming a commodity product.
All flooring products, whether hard or soft surfaced, have a unique set of aesthetic qualities and performance characteristics. Laminate flooring is no exception. The keys to the retailer's success with laminates boils down to being able to communicate to the consumer the product's considerable benefits and employing a set of laminate-specific sales tactics to close the transaction.
Use of glass tile has become more than a mere trend in the worlds of tile and design. In fact, the material has become highly sought after for just about any tile application.
The ceramic and stone tile segment of the floor covering product mix is expected to grow by over 17 percent in the next 18 months (see chart 1), according to floor covering retailers/contractors responding to a just-completed study conducted by National Floor Trends magazine in partnership with the market research department of Business News Publishing Co.
Based on responses drawn from several leading flooring manufacturers, one could confidently conclude that natural looks are still a styling trend to be reckoned with in the resilient market.
In life, we forge many different relationships. We form them with friends, family, business associates, vendors, dealers, distributors, other manufacturers, and customers. All such relationships can be challenged when difficult times, thorny issues and disagreements arise.
Despite all the hoopla in recent years regarding the increasing popularity of hard-surface floors, soft-surface products -- carpet in particular -- continue to reign supreme in terms of overall market share of the U.S. floor covering industry.
Cersaie, the world’s largest exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, continues to grow in scope and size at the Bologna Fairgrounds in Italy. Last year’s 20th anniversary show broke all previous attendance records, registering an increase of 16.8 percent in foreign visitors. The 2003 event, scheduled to take place Sept. 30 through Oct. 5, will present the newest products of 1,061 exhibitors from 30 countries. This year, nearly 100,000 buyers are expected to attend the show, which highlights the latest in ceramic tile fashion and design.
The National Wood Flooring Association’s (NWFA) Floor of the Year awards give its members a chance to strut their stuff. This annual industry event hosted at the association’s convention and trade show showcases members’ talents in unique, skilled and elaborate installations from all over the world.
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