POSTSCRIPT: After all the figures were in and the graphs and pie charts were drawn, I walked through the statistics more thoughtfully and was surprised by some of the changes time has made to what used to be “the facts.” In fiber market share, nylon (62... more

GOOD MOVE: Coverings 2007 was moved to Chicago from Orlando, Fla., and attendance jumped to nearly 37,000, an 8% increase over last year... more

Unless you’ve been comatose for the past nine months or so, you’re well aware business conditions have been anything but stellar. Some retailers are treading water, waiting for things to rebound, while others are flat out drowning... more

PARTNERS: Coverings exhibitors have joined with Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH), donating tons of excessive tile, stone, adhesive and other materials that will benefit Habitat for Humanity projects... more

It’s been 13 years, almost to the day, since I became a part of this industry, albeit a small part. One of the best things for me is I still get to see new people and places. And I still visit companies I may never have had the opportunity to call on before... more

LOOKIN’ GOOD: Despite reports from retailers around the country that business is soft and expected to remain so at least until the third quarter, the National Floorcovering Alliance (NFA) says otherwise. At its recent Spring Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz... more

MILESTONE: StarNet Commercial Flooring Cooperative celebrated its 15th anniversary earlier this month at its annual convention in Phoenix. The occasion also marked the official farewell to Lori Dowling, president and CEO of StarNet, who will actually retire on May 15... more

After spending a day-and-a-half in Denver at the National Wood Flooring Association Education Conference and Wood Flooring Expo, I came away with the belief that things may not be as bad out there as we may believe. Don’t get me wrong; retail is tough... more

Wood could: According to a recent survey by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), wood floors can increase the value of a home. The survey involved real estate agents and interior designers across the country... more

Technology is an amazing thing. Here I am, in Shanghai, on the other side of the planet—it’s literally 12 hours ahead—yet I’m able to “Check In” as if typing this at my desk back in New York... more