Howard Olansky has been deeply involved in all aspects of the floor covering industry since 1955 when he joined Western Floors magazine as managing editor. He later became co-owner, editor and publisher of Specialist Publications - Western Floors and Eastern Floors (now National Floor Trends) Floor Covering Installer and ICS Cleaning Specialist magazines.
The following comments were submitted by people in the industry who have been inspired by Howard Olansky over the years. Those participating are also active supporters of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation and have made donations to the fund as a part of our tribute to Howard and his 50 years in the industry. We encourage other members of the industry to do likewise. To make a tax deductible contribution, contact Judy Marsh at the FCIF, (714) 634-0302.
In recent years the use and variety of color in residential interior designs has been unlike anything we've seen in a long time. As carpet continues to be the anchor for any room's decorating scheme, understanding the "new" interior colors for 2006 is even more important. Remember: carpets have moved well beyond the traditional shades of beige that have long been a staple of the category. Now, bolder, richer and more vibrant colors with more fashionable styles and scintillating textures are quickly becoming the flooring option for many Americans.
As part of our report on claims in the flooring business we bring you another installment in our ongoing series of Floor Covering Most Valuable Practices (FC MVP). We are highlighting John Van Hoy's Carpet One Plus in Roxboro, N.C. because this is a store that views claims as an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to customer satisfaction. In addition to running his Carpet One Plus store for the past four years, Van Hoy's extensive background in the flooring business includes working as an installer of hardwood and ceramic tile floors. He says it helped him appreciate the value of a top quality, professional installation and importance of getting it right the first time. It also enabled him to get a close up look at that challenges involved in pleasing even the fussiest consumer.
Not everyone is thrilled by the rapid rise of hard surface flooring. Those focused on the industry's soft side-the carpeting and areas rugs that still account for the lion's share of total flooring volume-say their end of the business is being challenged on a number of fronts. While the segment remains firmly entrenched as a core category in flooring, our survey of retailers and contractors suggests that it is an area that is also undergoing a number of significant changes.
The exhibits are usually compelling, many of the new products are a "must-see" and the setting-Las Vegas-can be a lot more fun than adults should have. Still, these drawing cards are not the chief reason most of the industry will make the trek to Surfaces 2006 early next year. Veterans of the shows say the main reason they never miss a Surfaces can be summed up in one word: interaction.
Prefinished products continue to take a greater share of the wood floor segment with the expanded variety of wood species and factory-applied finishes. Following is a list by manufacturer of the products available.
Claims resolution/handling remains a key part of business, according to flooring retailers participating in the just completed Flooring Retailer Claims Study. And, retailers concur that even one dissatisfied customer can negatively impact their business.
Moving to become the first fully integrated laminate floor maker in the U.S., Quick-Step unveiled what it describes as a breakthrough-an impregnation line run entirely in-house by a U.S. laminate maker. Impregnation, a process in which raw paper is converted into backing, décor and overlay layers for laminate flooring, was previously handled by Quick-Step's parent company, Unilin Flooring in Belgium. The new production line was unveiled at the grand opening of Quick-Step's new 600,000 sq. ft. plant in Thomasville, N.C.
The recent changes seen in the resilient flooring market have been gradual, but unmistakable. Whether it is vinyl or rubber, sheet or tile, the core areas of resilient flooring now have a much wider selection of colors, designs, gloss levels and textures than ever before. At the same time, companies in the category are hammering home their message with marketing that is more clever and more aggressive.
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