August 28/September 4: Volume 32, Issue 6 By Lindsay Baillie 3M recently tested the power of Scotchgard Protector to determine the brand’s overall cachét. The results positioned Scotchgard as one of the top “protector” brands on the market—ranking higher than others in both consumer awareness and desirability. Furthermore, Scotchgard Protector—a brand that has been around for years—continues to fulfill market needs while gaining consumer trust and loyalty. “Perceptions of
Carpet
August 28/September 4: Volume 32, Issue 6 By Ken Ryan After a slow start to 2017, the residential carpet category gained some traction in the second quarter, resulting in a 2% rise in sales over the year-ago period, with units up 0.5% overall in the first half. Executives cited sales of better goods, an uptick in consumer confidence and price increases that have firmed up the marketplace. The U.S.
July 3/10: Volume 32, Issue 2 By K.J. Quinn The West Coast has earned a reputation over the years for being at the forefront of carpet styling. Tuftex, Shaw Floors’ premier residential brand, is among the California mills taking the lead creating fashionable designs based on regional preferences and trends. “Being on the West Coast gives them an edge for us, not only because they are local but also
July 3/10: Volume 32, Issue 2 Santa Fe Springs, Calif.—It’s been three years since Doug Jackson took the reins of Tuftex, the premium carpet division of Shaw Industries. While Tuftex has always enjoyed a reputation of high-end, trendsetting, West Coast styling—first as a stand-alone mill, then as a division of Queen Carpet before the latter was purchased by Shaw in 1998—the company today still maintains its longstanding identity while
July 3/10: Volume 32, Issue 2 By Ken Ryan Carpet’s share of the overall flooring market has dropped from 50.9% of dollars in 2006 to 41.5% in 2016, according to FCNews estimates. While the downward trend has not been dramatic, it has been steady and consistent. Carpet mill executives don’t need to look at statistics to know what is happening in the marketplace. The big ones (i.e., Mohawk and
June 26: Volume 32, Issue 1 By Ken Ryan The carpet industry, facing the onslaught of exponential growth in hard surfaces in both the residential and commercial sectors, saw scant growth in units in 2016 while overall dollars fell. FCNews’ research shows carpet sales slid down 1% in 2016 to $8.78 billion compared with $8.87 billion in 2015. However, total volume—which includes carpet and area rugs—gained 1.2% to 11.22
June 26: Volume 32, Issue 1 The flooring industry in 2016 continued its recovery from The Great Recession. While growth rates pale in comparison to the mid-2000s heydays, the industry last year continued to post steady gains across the board with increases of 5.1% in dollars and 3.8% in volume. This comes on the heels of 4.4% growth in dollars and 3.2% in volume in 2015; 3.6% growth in
May 22/29, 2017: Volume 31, Issue 25 By Ken Ryan For the third year in a row, the U.S. rug business will outperform carpet. FCNews research puts area rugs sales at $2.5 billion in 2016, up an estimated 3.5% from the year-ago period. Buoyed by the surge in hard surfaces and the popularity of custom rug programs, the category has provided manufacturers with additional selling opportunities. Most traditional broadloom
May 8/15, 2017: Volume 31, Issue 24 By Ken Ryan Advancements in technology and manufacturing have allowed carpet mills to make significant improvements in fiber construction. The result: carpets that are soft, durable and resistant to stains and soils. Mill executives say today’s demanding consumers are driving these innovative breakthroughs. “Performance-based fibers seem to be a big trend,” said Ayme Sinclair, marketing director, Stanton. “The biggest influence is an increased
April 24/May 1, 2017: Volume 31, Issue 23 By Lindsay Baillie When asked to identify the best flooring introductions of 2016, retailers cited a bevy of wood, laminate, carpet and LVT/WPC products. One highly regarded product was Mannington’s Adura Max, which received praise from multiple retailers for its new visuals. Other notable 2016 introductions touched on key product innovations spanning wood, laminate and resilient lines, soft carpets/rugs and industry-wide updates
April 10/17, 2017: Volume 31, Issue 22 By Ken Ryan As most flooring dealers know, there are two ways that fibers are colored, and each method produces different characteristics. One way to color fibers is to dip them in a vat of dye after they are extruded. This method, proponents say, yields bright colors and allows manufacturers to create smaller quantities of dyed fibers. In this method, known as
Lead-generation tools drive business for aligned dealers March 27/April 3, 2017: Volume 31, Issue 21 By K.J. Quinn Just call it the gift that keeps on giving. “What we have been doing the last three years is providing several independent programs that help our retailers in digital [marketing],” said Seth Arnold, vice president of residential marketing, Mohawk Industries. “What we’ve learned is if we’re really going to win in
March 13/20, 2017: Volume 31, Issue 20 By Ken Ryan Everybody who follows the flooring industry knows the biggest trend impacting carpet is the growth of hard surfaces, which in many instances has forced flooring dealers to revamp their showrooms. However, there are other trends in carpet that are both surprising and noteworthy. Executives and design experts offered their takes. Focus on soft For a time last year, the
February 13/20, 2017: Volume 31, Number 18 By Ken Ryan It is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from airborne allergies, including pet dander and dust mites. Unfortunately, many of these allergens end up embedded in carpet. To address what it deemed an obvious health need, Invista in 2012 began work on a carpet that would be easier to clean and allow for more thorough removal of allergens during vacuuming.
Stain protection update February 13/20, 2017: Volume 31, Number 18 By Ken Ryan What drives carpet purchases? If ongoing research is to be believed, it’s all about stain and soil protection. So if you want customers to spend more money, the carpet products retailers offer should incorporate such treatments. Stainmaster PetProtect from Invista was a big hit in large part because it addressed a huge consumer need, executives say.
Floor Covering News
