FloorCoveringNews

After 5 years developing an all-encompassing multi-attribute sustainability standard for tile and tile installation materials, the very first certified sustainable products are being announced.

Cumulatively, eight major manufacturers of tile and installation materials have hundreds of products that are already certified or will be certified by the start of Coverings on April 17, with yet even more of their products still in the evaluation process and expected to earn certification this year. At least six additional manufacturers have started the certification process for hundreds more products that are expected to be certified within the year.

Orlando, Fla.—Anyone heading to Coverings 2012 will find the greatest business payoffs if they come armed with a plan of attack. For all that the annual tile and stone show offers when the doors open at the Orange County Convention Center here April 17—with more than 800 exhibitors representing 50-plus countries, nearly 70 educational seminars, live demonstrations and countless networking opportunities—the four-day event can put even the most seasoned show attendee into sensory overload.

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.”

Improving economy gives show best feeling in years

by FCNews staff

Las Vegas—Immediately after the curtain was raised on the stage that was Surfaces 2012, it was apparent to everyone from manufacturers to contractors to retailers that something was different in the air at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Dalton—Shaw Industries has released dates for its 2012 winter markets. During these events, the mill will unveil a variety of introductions within the Anso nylon and ClearTouch brands along within the new HGTV Home Flooring by Shaw program. Tuftex will also display a variety of new carpets. And in the hard surfaces arena, new floors will be introduced in the Epic hardwood collection, as well as visuals in the solid hardwood, laminate, resilient, and tile and stone categories.

Porcelain manufacturer Apavisa has launched a new app that is now available in the Apple Store. The Apavisa app for iPad is focused to help architects, interior designers and individuals. With this application it is now easier to choose the most suitable material for each project. Leaving aside the traditional paper catalog for work in an interactive and eco-friendly way.

Mark Shannon

Crossville, Tenn.—Crossville has named Mark Shannon executive vice president of sales and DeWayne Galey executive vice president, CFO.

Shannon’s responsibilities have expanded to include the oversight of marketing. “Our goal is to increase synergy between strategic sales and strategic marketing, which will ultimately foster greater success for both Crossville and its customers,” said John Smith, president and CEO. “Mark, a Crossville veteran, has the leadership and management skills to make this happen.”

Lindsey Ann Waldrep

Crossville, Tenn.— Lindsey Ann Waldrep has joined Crossville as the tile manufacturer’s vice president of marketing. John Smith, Crossville’s president, said, Waldrep will work with Crossville’s marketing team “to develop strategic, multi-faceted marketing campaigns with a strong focus on branding, advertising and POP material development.” Waldrep was most recently, senior director of creative marketing for Mohawk Industries, where she managed an internal creative group and three external agencies. Earlier, she worked for Tarkett’s wood division, first as national account product manager and then creative manager.For more, call Crossville at 931.484.2110

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.

Alexandria, VA—A superior installation magnifies the real beauty of tile and stone. And, it is superior installations—along with the contractors and designers who’ve collaborated on them—that will be honored with the Coverings Installation and Design Awards. The presentation will be the crowning event of the 2012 Coverings Tile & Stone Exposition and Conference, April 17-20, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.

CoverQUIK Tile, the new manufacturer and importer of cost and time-saving glass & stone tile and setting systems, will be introducing its “Innovation in Renovation” programs at Surfaces 2012.  

LANCASTER, PENN.—Armstrong announced it will initiate a 4% to six 6% price increase in the United States and Canada on residential luxury vinyl tile, laminate, residential sheet and tile, and select commercial sheet products. In addition, a 2.5% increase on commercial vinyl composition tile, and a 3% to 10% increase on installation, maintenance and accessories (IMA) products, beginning with shipments on January 23, 2012.

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO—Aimed at designers, the newly expanded Cortina Grande solid vinyl tile (SVT) from Johnsonite’s Azrock collection is now available with twice the number of color options.

SAN DIEGO—The University of Ceramic Tile and Stone (UofCTS) is launching its newest online course, Tile Installer Thin-set Certification (TITC) course, available in English and Spanish. The TITC certification course was developed for tile installers who work with ceramic tile, porcelain tile, glass tile, stone tile, or any other adhered tile products.  The convenient and affordable online course teaches installers the industry installation standards and methods for the thin-set application, and documents that they understand those standards and methods.

RAMSEY, N.J.—Porcelanosa will open a new showroom in Bethesda, Md., this month and will host a cocktail party on Nov. 17 to celebrate the opening of the new store. Cocktails, dinner, and live music make up this free event with executives from Porcelanosa and some very special guests, including international top model Valeria Mazza, who will be hosting the event.

DALLAS—Marazzi’s Stone Collection in porcelain was requested by DIY Network’s “I Hate My Bath” and is being featured in upcoming episodes. Host Jeff Devlin will lead the transformation of a couple’s bathroom using Stone Collection’s large-format, rectified beauty to its fullest advantage.

The 6th annual Bathroom Blogfest, taking place from Oct. 24 to 28, brings more than 33 bloggers and 34 blogs from various industries together to write about this year’s theme, “Climbing Out.” It focuses on improving the overall bathroom experience for end-users by bringing attention to the various aspects of a bathroom, including the floors, fixtures, design, and the retail experience. See the list of participating bloggers at the end of this post.

Bathroom Blogfest couldn’t have come at a better time this year. When I read the theme, “Climbing Out,” it was like an omen. The stars and planets aligned and I got the go ahead to literally climb out my apartment of the last two years and move somewhere where I can stretch my legs. On a couch because the new place has room for one of those.

ASHLAND, ORE.—Since 2004 Hakatai has offered online, interactive programs allowing customers to create their own custom blends and gradients.

BETHANY, CONN.— Laticrete has appointed Adrian Rivera as technical services representative.

“We are very fortunate to have a tile industry professional like Adrian Rivera onboard,” stated Arthur Mintie, director of technical services. “Not only does he know our industry and have a great understanding of customer service, he comes to LATICRETE with a great understanding of our product line and concepts, a valuable benefit to our customers”.

SUNNYVALE, TEXAS—Ragno USA debuted its new marketing campaign and website.

During the summer, Ragno USA’s Live Inspired makeover of marketing materials was introduced worldwide on the company’s re-imagined website. Following the initial launch, Ragno sought input from customers as well as internal users to make adjustments that make the site even more useful and easy-to-navigate. The result is an even more intuitive, information-packed resource.

BOLOGNA, ITALY—Cersaie has once again confirmed its world leadership position in the field of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishing trade fairs. After selling out all the floor space in the Bologna Exhibition Centre five months before the event (965 exhibitors from 31 countries, including 265 non-Italian companies), the show’s strength was further bolstered by its number of visitors.

Eager to learn where the market is from the retailer’s perspective, FCNews set out to learn what the top-selling styles are across the U.S. Surveying specialty dealers from the Redwood Forests to the Gulfstream waters, from the Florida panhandle up the Appalachian Trail to New England, carpet maintains a stronghold for many states in the union. Some things are predictable: New England is mostly conservative with wool loops and Berbers; Midwestern consumers favor domestic hardwoods, and the West is eco-conscious, focusing on natural fibers.

ANDERSON, S.C.—Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and Fabulous Floors Magazine announced the release of Tile For Your Lifestyle, a resource guide for consumers, designers, and architects that showcases tile as the design element it truly is.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—In response to installer requests, Mapei has introduced Mapelastic CI, a premixed liquid-rubber crack-isolation membrane for installation under ceramic tile or stone. This quick-drying product can be used in interior and exterior environments on residential or commercial projects.

AURORA, COLO.—The ReSource Commercial Flooring Network (ReSource) announced Florida Tile joined the network as the newest ReSource supplier.

VANCOUVER, CANADA—Bellavita Tile’s products have been featured on the popular DIY Network show, “I Hate MY Bath.”  The show highlighted Bellavita’s glass Bamboo Planks in the color Snow on an episode entitled “Cottage Coastal Bath.”

“We are very please to get this national exposure for one our most fashionable products,” stated Mike Ward, vice president of North American operations.

DALLAS—Dal-Tile has signed on for its ninth consecutive season as tile provider to ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which premieres its ninth season Sunday, Sept. 25. Dal-Tile has supplied tile for every episode of the show, including the pilot episode filmed in September 2003.