Dev O’Reilly, CEO of Roll Master, a developer of industry specific software for floor covering retailers, discusses the future of industry software and the new tools that will be available to retailers. He talks about recent changes within the retail community, younger people entering the community, ways industry-specific software assists retailers in following up on leads, improves levels of service retailers can offer to customers, and involves installers in the communication process.

Dev O’Reilly, CEO of software-company Roll Master, talks about the growth of industry specific software in the retail community, the importance of it for the efficient operation of a retail business, and its role in the industry in the future. He estimates the usage of industry specific software and FCB2B in the retail community, its rate of expansion, and the direction of the development for new tools among developers in the industry.

Stuart Hirschhorn, research director for Catalina Research, discusses the retail sector store closures and online sales, online sales in the floor covering industry, and his view of what the future will look like in online and offline sales. Hirschhorn also discusses millennials and the housing industry and his expectation for a housing boom in the future, the research studies he is currently working on, and the reports he will be issuing in the near term.

Stuart Hirschhorn, research director at Catalina Research, discusses the affordability of housing and a Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies 2017 report. He also discusses the performance of the floor covering industry in the first half of 2017, the various hard and soft surface segments of the industry, and the surge in laminate sales in the period.

Stuart Hirschhorn, research director at Catalina Research, talks about the Catalina organization, the type of market research it conducts, and the reports it produces in the flooring, kitchen and bath, building materials, building services, and other areas. He also discusses the economy in the first half of 2017, the impact of Donald Trump’s first six months in office, the housing market, and the impact of millennials on the housing market.

Haynes Robinson, vice president of product development at Stark Carpet and Fabric, talks about the various historical styles of handmade rugs and the structure of the weaving, which forms the basis of the styles. Robinson also talks about the creative process of linking certain textures to specific types of looms to achieve a desired look. He discusses the antique rug segment and their sourcing, and the handmade rug styles he is currently working on to be launched in the near future.

Haynes Robinson, vice president of poroduct development at Stark Carpet and Fabric, talks about the company’s 17 locations and its custom Axminster, hand loomed, Wilton and broadloom and hand knotted rugs in both the residential and commercial sectors, with a recent focus on hospitality. Robinson also discusses growth in the rug sector, consumers changing rugs frequently, and the possibility of a resurgence in broadloom.