FloorCoveringNews

Dalton — Mohawk is utilizing a new social media campaign to show consumers that its flooring can stand up to even the biggest messmakers. The manufacturer has launched a three-month Facebook contest in search of the messiest kid in America. Moms across the nation are invited to upload a photo or video of their messy children in action to the Mohawk Flooring Facebook page for an opportunity to win some big-ticket prizes.

Calhoun, Ga. — As a kick off for their brand new showroom, Surya has announced that it will host a party in its showroom, Showplace 4100, during the High Point Market. The festivities will begin at 6:00pm on April 22, 2012 in their brand new 26,000 sq/ft showroom and will feature a live DJ, dancing, an open bar and a catered dinner. Surya thrives on the motto “work hard, play hard”; and hopes this party will set the tone for a very productive but fun market.

Marietta, Ga. — Great design is derived from the perfect blend of talented designers and the industry’s most innovative design tools, which work to bring a designer’s vision to life. Only Durkan consistently delivers this unique balance, showing once again why it is the hospitality market’s most trusted brand. Durkan has outdone itself once again delivering a wide selection of newly designed and intricately patterned Computer Yarn Placement (CYP) carpet collections. These advanced new offerings are certain to infuse any hospitality space with both comfort and sophistication that will not disappoint.

Marietta, Ga. — The world’s leading architects and designers can now evaluate and celebrate the work of their peers as part of an exciting, new project installation challenge. Mohawk Group, in partnership with Designer Pages, is launching In Your Space, a four-round online competition that invites the A&D community to vote for their favorite space featuring carpet from Mohawk Group’s premier brands. The winner from each round will compete head-to-head in a “Final 4 Showdown,” which will conclude with a special presentation at NeoCon 2012.

Dalton – Beaulieu execs were pleased with the company’s Regional Show held in the resort town of Tunica, Mississippi, March 1-2. Beaulieu introduced dealers to its award winning Bliss EverClean collection, as well as new additions to its popular Bliss Stainmaster collection.

New Orleans—Following the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina in the summer of 2005, particularly to New Orleans and the residents of the Lower 9th Ward, throngs of groups and individuals converged on the area hoping to help rebuild the once proud area. Among those was international celebrity Brad Pitt, who formed the Make It Right (MIR) Foundation and dedicated it to rebuilding 150 affordable, green, high quality homes which would allow some of the many displaced families to return to their roots, their family history.

by Lew Migliore

Flooring problems and issues have increased exponentially, particularly relative to substrate issues. Moisture in concrete is a huge problem, bringing with it adhesive destroying alkalinity.

The Carpet and Rug Institute has reported that on Wednesday and Thursday, March 7-8, a group representing the carpet industry and the North Georgia business community traveled to Washington, D.C. for CRI’s annual Hill Visits and Legislative reception.

Durkan, the hospitality brand of the Mohawk Group, continues to broaden its Merit Select collection to fit every need and price point. The company is launching two new Merit Select offerings that are certain to catch the eye of every hospitality designer. Both Headlines at 8 and News at 12 are extensions of Durkan’s best-selling Merit Select styles, with expanded offerings that include exciting new patterns and colorways. 

Resilient certification garners industry-wide support

Kansas City, Mo.—Flooring installation training is on track to break records in 2012, according to Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI).

Sustainability top of mind for tile and stone show

Orlando, Fla.—A trio of design ideas incorporating tile and stone will come to life next month as part of Coverings 2012 with the presentation of this year’s Installation Design Showcase.

Scheduled for April 17 to 20 at the Orange County Convention Center here, Coverings is more than an exhibition of tile companies showing their latest wares, noted Bart Bettiga, executive director of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), a Coverings co-sponsor. “The Installation Design Showcase exemplifies the true mission of Coverings: To bring all segments of the tile and stone industry together and amplify how these materials can transform both our living spaces and our world.”

Dalton—Shaw Floors has announced the comprehensive Celebrate Your Home Sale, a spring promotion that inspires consumers to create a beautiful home environment for themselves and those they love with the help of a new Shaw floor. Offering special, per-room pricing, the incentivizing campaign includes retro-inspired bright and bold POP for participating retailers who can capitalize on the act-now messaging. The simplified sale includes carpet, area rugs and laminate floor offerings of $499 for one room, $899 for two rooms and $1,199 for three rooms. Hardwood floors are included in the pre-room selections for an added $100 to each price offering.

Invista Surfaces, a segment of Invista Performance Surfaces & Materials (PS&M) and maker of Stainmaster and Antron carpet fibers, welcomes Ralph H. Grogan to its leadership team.

Ralph H. Grogan joins Invista as vice president of business development and strategy, Invista Surfaces, for its Antron brand.  In this role, Ralph will be responsible for continuing to advance the position of the Antron branded offerings in the marketplace and will provide leadership for Invista’s Commercial Surfaces’ sales and field teams to create value for our customers and help to build upon the equity in the over 40-year-strong Antron brand.

Dalton—Tandus Flooring’s Sero design technology revolutionized the way modular carpet is designed by thinking beyond the square. The Sero process begins with the Powerbond platform then transforms the design into modular. Now with the availability of an 18”x36” modular carpet, design is truly more than just a square.

Marietta, Ga. — Durkan, the hospitality brand of The Mohawk Group, is pleased to offer customers the most innovative and advanced method of printing with its new Spectronics 25X digital printing technology. The company is the first in the hospitality industry to employ the state-of-the-art 25 dpi system, which uses computer controlled, high-speed valves to achieve deep color penetration and elaborate design precision.

Ask Eric Demaree, president of Carpet One, what he is most excited about for 2012, and he cites no specific new product or program. Rather, he is enthused about the fact he believes Carpet One members are taking market share. “Our members will probably grow this year two to three times the independent channel as a whole.”

Dalton — Final preparations are being made for Beaulieu’s show in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”… Minnesota. This regional event will take place at the Mystic Lake Convention Center in Prior Lake. Show dates are February 21 and 22.

Dallas — Beaulieu of America reported an excellent turnout at their Dallas Winter Show, held January 12 and 13. Dealers got a pre-Surfaces peak at new lines, including Bliss EverClean carpet, several new styles added to Bliss Stainmaster with Magic Fresh and new Hollytex main street commercial lines, such as its new “Organic Beauty” collection. Bliss EverClean went on to the Surfaces show in Las Vegas to win the “Best New Product for 2012” honors.

Dalton – Shaw Industries, recently announced a national sponsorship of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, a fundraising campaign that has raised more than $220 million in over 20 years for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

New York—When Stephen “Dusty” Roberts and Barry O’Connell get together, talk invariably turns to rugs. So it was inevitable that Roberts, a rug care industry personal coach, and O’Connell, a world-renowned Oriental rug expert, would draw upon their mutual passion and expertise to create the Great NYC RugLover Tour—and, following the tour, to pass on the insight they gained leading a group of rug enthusiasts through some of the city’s collections of antique, high-end rugs.

Cleveland, Ohio—Demand for carpet and rug products in the US is projected to increase 7.9% annually from a weak 2010 base to 16.5 billion square feet in 2015, accounting for about 64% of total floor covering demand, according to a recently released research study.

Traverse City, Mich. – Kiss Carpet owners, the father/son team of Ken Roberts Sr. and Ken Robert Jr., were on hand to accept the honor at the recent prestigious Mohawk retailer gala in Nashville, Tennessee.

“To receive this industry award in 2004 and now again for 2011 is a tremendous honor,” said Ken Sr. “We pride ourselves on being a reputable local business that always puts the customer’s needs first, and we are delighted that Mohawk recognizes our efforts.

Hannover – Domotex Middle East, the leading trade fair for carpets and floor coverings in the MENA Region (Middle East/North Africa), is on the move. After six successful years in Dubai, the fair will now be staged at the CNR EXPO Center in Istanbul from 2012 on. Domotex Middle East 2012 runs from 8 to 11 November.

“Regrettably, the Emirate of Dubai was unable to reach the ambitious goals it had set itself,” explained Martin Folkerts, Director Global Fairs at Deutsche Messe. However, the Middle East remains a highly promising market for foreign companies, thanks to its many large-scale building projects.

London — Tania Johnson Design continues to expand its collection of stunning one-of-a-kind rugs. The process Tania Johnson, the company founder, undertakes to create the pieces is as intriguing and deeply layered as the rugs themselves. A selection of recent introductions, Abstract Floral, Threads, Lined Peony, Lined Stem and Leaf Plaid, is an excellent example of this unique process.

The long journey towards the completion of a rug often begins with a walk – with camera in hand – through bustling city streets, quiet countryside, spaces in nature.

Dalton — Beaulieu of America received Supplier of the Year honors from  Flooring America at its annual convention held in Houston, Texas on Jan. 20. Flooring America has 550 members throughout the United States and Canada. 

J+J/Invision has shifted their product design process for the creation of their newest modular collection, Paradigm Shift. With the intent to use resources to their full potential, they have created a product that incorporates unused yarn and offers striking aesthetics.

Marietta, Ga. —Wools of New Zealand debuted its new spring sales event, “Brilliant Choices,” at Surfaces 2012 in Las Vegas. The Wools of New Zealand pavilion at Surfaces included the booths of 23 Wools of New Zealand brand partners eager to talk about the beauty, softness and durability of eco-friendly New Zealand wool.

“Brilliant Choices” was the hot topic at a breakfast for premier partners, retailers and their agents. Updates on promotional programs and LEED compliant initiatives that build on the value of the Wools of New Zealand brand we also discussed.

Dalton—Featuring a fashionable silhouette design that catches the eye and positions the female buyer as its target audience, Shaw is introducing the 2011 “Dream It, Do It” fall promotion. This season, consumers will be enticed with numerous incentives noted LaShon McGinnis, the mill’s marketing manager.

Marietta, Ga.—Wools of New Zealand and its Wools of New Zealand Brand partner Bloomsburg Carpet joined forces to aid victims of the September 2011 flooding in Pennsylvania. Thanks to a generous donation of 21,000 square yards of woven and tufted carpet, 329 families are now able to re-carpet their once flooded homes. The donation is valued at more than $300,000.