FloorCoveringNews

by Emily J. Cappiello

Social networking is no longer an added part of success; it has become one of the main tools to help businesses thrive. Social networking allows companies to get closer to their customers and can even help consumers find local flooring stores, since Facebook is becoming an ever-increasingly popular search engine as well as social networking site. YouTube can enable people to network with each other but can also be used to supply partners and potential customers with educational information about products. And with new additions like Pinterest, social networking is growing by leaps and bounds.

Flexco has finally arrived on the scene of social media. Check out the company’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FlexcoFloors and Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/FlexcoFloors .  You can also see these pages by clicking on the links added to the company website at www.flexcofloors.com. 

Deerfield Beach, Fla. – As part of its celebration of Mapei Group’s 75 years in business, MAPEI Americas is rewarding its loyal customers with a sweepstakes worth a total of $75,000 in cash and prizes. During 2012, contractors in the tile, stone and floor-covering installation sectors and in the concrete restoration sector will have a chance to enter the “$75K Giveaway” sweepstakes each time they purchase select MAPEI products. Entry forms and rules are available online at http://www.mapei.com/adv/us/75k_Giveaway/. “We’ll keep everyone updated on the promotion via our Facebook and Twitter presence, in addition to regular communications through our sales force,” said operational marketing manager Steven Day.

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.

by Emily J. Cappiello

Dasso is on a mission: To build its brand recognition among consumers.

“When people think bamboo and green flooring, we want them to think Dasso,” said Avery Chua, CEO. “We want Dasso to be in the consumer’s mind, not just known within the industry.”

Norfolk, Neb. — We at MP Global Products, a manufacturer of quality acoustic floor underlayments, welcome you to join us on our newly launched Twitter and Facebook pages. We are now interacting online with industry professionals and consumers interested in learning about the advantages of and selection of floor underlayment for use under hardwood, floating wood, laminate, LVT or tile flooring. 

Boca Raton, Fla. — QEP Co. has just launched all new social media outlets through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn.  “These new social network platforms provide QEP Co. with another method of communicating and engaging directly with our current and future customers,” noted Jamie Clingan QEP Co. Sr. vice president, marketing “Real time information about our company, products and employees will be posted to keep customers up to date with product launches, sweepstakes and allows them to view and share product how-to pictures and videos.”

75 of the Best B2B Facebook Marketing Tips

From March Madness and the Grapefruit League to spring sales and rebates, many phrases and terms make their way into the conversation this time of year. Numerous flooring companies gear up for the season by running special springtime promotions, an annual rite of the season. Here are just a few specials being offered.

Barnwell, S.C. – Formica Flooring announces the launch of a 2012 social media campaign, which includes a blog (appropriately named FormicaFloorum) on formicaflooring.com and an enhanced presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+.

The FormicaFloorum blog contains helpful entries on choosing the right laminate flooring brand and style, and informing the consumer about the difference between hardwood and laminate by sharing stories of actual homeowners. Formica Flooring’s Facebook and Twitter pages are consistently updated with informative and engaging posts and links, and a YouTube channel will soon host videos on a variety of topics related to laminate flooring.

Adairsville, Ga. — Home Legend, a leading supplier of hardwood, bamboo, laminate, cork and luxury vinyl flooring is staying connected with its customers and reaching out to new ones through social media outlets. “Home Legend currently has an online presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube,” says Jamann Stepp, Home Legend Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

The recent, unexpected passing of Chris Davis has left the industry not only in shock but also with so much sorrow. As an integral part of the floor covering industry for nearly 18 years as the president and CEO of the World Floor Covering Association, Davis was not only an advocate for the advancement of the flooring industry, but many regarded him as a friend.

Johnson City, Tenn. – Mullican Flooring has entered the voting phase of its WE ❤ OUR MULLICAN FLOOR! photo contest now under way on Facebook. The deadline for casting a vote is Feb. 29, 2012.

by Steven Feldman

Houston—Evolve. That was the buzzword at the Flooring America/Flooring Canada convention held here just days before the start of Surfaces 2012. Throughout the three-day event, members were challenged to refocus their efforts toward meeting the needs of today’s evolving consumer.

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.”

Find us on facebook, because we’ve gone social!

So go ahead, ‘Like’ our Facebook Page!

Then, Share your Pictures of Florida Tile installations or Write on our Wall and tell us how you use our product. See why Florida Tile is right for your next project by joining in the conversation with us and other customers just like you.

NORWALK, CT, Jan. 31 – Metroflor Corp. launched its new Facebook page with a consumer sweepstakes designed to draw attention to its Engage Luxury Vinyl flooring.  “ENGAGE…With Metroflor!” invites consumers to “get Engaged” by “liking” Metroflor to enter.  One lucky Facebook entrant will win up to 500 square feet of Engage flooring… a retail value of up to $3,500.  Sweepstakes ends March 31^st, with the winner chosen by random drawing on April 4^th, 2012.  The company’s new www.metroflorengage.com website is also making its debut.

Norwalk, Conn. — Metroflor launched its new Facebook page with a consumer sweepstakes designed to draw attention to its Engage Luxury Vinyl flooring.  “ENGAGE…With Metroflor!” invites consumers to “get Engaged” by “liking” Metroflor to enter. One lucky Facebook entrant will win up to 500 square feet of Engage flooring… a retail value of up to $3,500. Sweepstakes ends March 31^st, with the winner chosen by random drawing on April 4^th, 2012.  The company’s new www.metroflorengage.com website is also making its debut.

Calhoun, Ga.— Surya, a progressive manufacturer of area rugs and home accessories, announces its first ever Designer’s Choice sweepstakes on the Company’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/suryasocial. Surya is tapping into the creative energy of its 30,000+ fans to select a new design for a Surya rug. The sweepstakes is yet another step that this progressive company has taken to engage its customers in the product development process.

Johnson City, Tenn. – Mullican Flooring has extended the submission deadline for its national “WE ❤ OUR MULLICAN FLOOR!” photo contest to Jan. 31, 2012. The contest is currently being held on Mullican’s Facebook page and offers a grand prize of $5,000 and a first-place prize of $1,000 for the best photos showing Mullican Flooring installations.

In honor of our forthcoming second edition of the Guide to using Social Media in Business, we’ve decided to share some statistics that didn’t make it into the update:

We all know websites are the cornerstone of any integrated business. But did you know that:

•There were 255 million websites at end of 2010

•21.4 million websites wereadded in 2010

•16.91 billion web pages exist

•There are 2 billion Internet users worldwide

•There are 273 million Internet users in the U.S.

•1.1 billion Web searches per month in U.S.

•1.7 billion terabytes of information created and stored on Web each year

One social site that didn’t make it into the guide but really should have: Are you familiar with StumbleUpon?

•2.2 million web pages added every month

•51 pages added every minute

•50.34% of U.S. social media traffic driven through StumbleUpon

•Average session on StumbleUpon is 69 minutes

Can you believe this?

•186 online videos average Internet user in U.S. watches per month

•2,232 online videos average Internet user in U.S. watches annually

•53% of employees research potential job candidates on social networks

•17% of time spent online devoted to a social network

•20% of couples now meet online

•20% of divorces are blamed on Facebook

•37 million people watched VW’s Super Bowl Darth Vader ad on YouTube

•Groupon will reach $1 billion in sales faster than any company in history

•1.5 million real farmers, compared with 80 million Farmville farmers

•90% of consumers trust peer recommendations; 14% trust ads

•Babies in Egypt have been named Facebook

•If users were citizens, Facebook would be the 3^rd largest country in the world behind China and India. Combined with Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube they would be the largest country in the world. Yet, Facebook, and Twitter are technically not allowed in China so they do not count any users from the world’s most populous country, and both YouTube and LinkedIn users have had services cut off now and again.

• Google+ has 26 million users, 72% of which are are male

•Most users will click shared content within the first 2 minutes. If each page view generated a second of attention we would see 90 years of attention daily

CALHOUN, GA.—Surya hit a milestone, reaching 25,000 fans on the Company’s official Facebook fan page, facebook.com/suryasocial. This makes Surya one of the few firms in the industry to reach this social media milestone.

JOHNSON CITY, TENN.—Mullican Flooring is sponsoring a “WE ❤ OUR MULLICAN FLOOR!” photo contest. Consumers who have installed a Mullican floor can enter the competition by submitting an “after” photo of their renovated space.

A grand prize of $5,000 and first-place prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the best photos submitted on Mullican Flooring’s Facebook page between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30. Winners will be determined based on popular votes cast on Mullican’s Facebook page during the month of December.

Editor’s note: The following article originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

By Sarah Needleman

NEW YORK—In a push to gain more small-business users, Facebook on Monday revealed plans to launch a new program that includes giving away $10 million of advertising credits.

DALTON—As part of its first HGTV Home Flooring by Shaw promotional package, Shaw’s “30 Days of HGTV Home” will feature a month-long Facebook challenge for the consumer audience. The 2011 promotional launch, to start Sept. 1, will motivate the consumer with the Floor A Day Giveaway, opportunity to earn a voucher for a free HGTV Home tool bag, and a free HGTV Home area rug offer upon purchase.

Dalton—Shaw Floors has launched its official Facebook page, enabling the company to communicate directly with homeowners in a more personal way. The page will give visitors product information, design tips and company news updates, along with photos and videos from various Shaw events and links to media coverage featuring Shaw products. The company will also use its new social media platform to educate consumers about its sustainability story and performance benefits.

by Steven Feldman

Floor Covering News is looking for a few good friends. Or likes. Specifically, I’m talking about the FCNews Facebook page, which we set up this past spring.

Facebook has 500 million users, making it the most widely used social media outlet across the globe for both business and personal use. Truth be told, I’m finally getting it. Not that I came late to the party or anything. I probably had my own Facebook page as early as the next guy. I quickly had about 50 friends. But before long my eyes began to burn reading about this one eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on pumpernickel; that one sitting in traffic; this one telling everyone she had a hangnail, and that one inviting me to play something called Mafia Wars. Every day. Talk about friends; the “hide” button was my best friend.

Washington—The North American Laminate Flooring Association, (NALFA), announced it has opened a blog at allaboutlaminateflooring.com, a Facebook page and a Twitter account, nalfa_certified.

“Social media is all about creating a conversation,” said Bill Dearing, president of the association. “These types of tools will allow us to generate a positive and mutually beneficial rapport with anyone interested in quality laminate flooring. We’ll be able to answer questions directly, offer advice, create relationships, and share industry news instantly.”