In a move that further reflects China’s growing
profile in the U.S. flooring business, the solid wood flooring maker Shanghai
Anxin Flooring Co. is expected to issue an initial public offering aimed at
raising at least $150 million. The company, a manufacturer and distributor of
wood flooring that also has more than 400 franchised retail outlets across
China, says its mission is to “become one of the largest, most environmentally
friendly and responsible manufacturers and distributors of wood flooring
products in China and internationally.”
Top executives from Faus Group attending the
Domotex conference in Shanghai, China, say they have finalized a licensing deal
with a local manufacturer. The agreement, which covers the Embossed-In-Register
and JointGuard edge technologies developed by Faus, was announced as company
president Juan Flores was set to attend the March 28-30 conference along with
other representatives from Faus.
Shaw Industry’s spring trip to the
International Home Furnishings Market will be highlighted this year by a
new collection of 22 area rugs. The line, Transitions, is the centerpiece of
Shaw Living’s ambitious product rollout of 57 new rugs at the March 26 - April
1 meeting in High Point, N.C.
Armstrong said it has called on a non-profit group devoted to the
preservation of trees to help assure verification of wood harvested for use in
the company’s hardwood flooring. According to Frank Ready, president and CEO of
Armstrong North American Floor Products, the partnership with the Alexandria,
Va.-based Tropical
Forest Foundation (TFF) is in keeping with the
company’s efforts to minimize the environmental impact of its hardwood floor production.
Amtico has tapped Brian McNeely to oversee
internal processes and procedures as vp process development, Amtico North
America. McNeely comes to the Atlanta-based resilient maker from Home Depot
where he has held a series of positions, most recently as senior manager,
strategic business development for Creative Touch Interiors, the big box
retailer’s design center for builders
Shaw Industries says its Spring Flooring Sale
this year will rank as “one of the company’s largest promotions to date.” The
sale, which runs from April 9 to May 31, will focus on the company’s newest
products and tempt consumers with a number of credit incentives as well as
promotional pricing. The company says it has set its sights on homeowners
working on home improvement projects this spring.
Columbia Flooring has announced the retirement of its president David Wootton and said he will be succeeded by Greg Pray, who joined the company as executive vice president in Sept. 2006. Pray previously served as director of distribution and marketing services for the high-pressure laminate manufacturer Nevamar. He will begin his new post April 1 and will be based at Columbia’s Danville, Va., headquarters.
Continuing its effort to position hardwood as a
highly sustainable, environmentally friendly flooring material, the National
Wood Flooring Association has formally adopted a seven-point Environmental
Policy. The St.
Louis based trade group
said the goal is to encourage environmentally sound practices throughout the
hardwood flooring industry.
Retail consultant and NFT columnist Sam Allman has written a new book on improving selling techniques. Called Heart and Mind Selling: The New Secret to Closing the Sale and Winning the Customer for Life, the book offers retailers, franchise owners and industry professionals advice and tips on cultivating customer loyalty and enticing consumers to not only buy, but return to the store again and again.
After an early February fire that swept through a mill in, Ontario, Canada operated by Multiply Forest Products, the company said it is up and running and ready to fulfill orders for its Multiply underlayment and industrial panels. The only thing missing from the product being shipped in the wake of the fire is the familiar green "X" that was used as a guide for installers.
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