MARTHA’S BACK: With her difficult times behind her, Martha Stewart has returned to the floor covering industry in a partnership with Safavieh for which she will produce a line of branded area rugs... more

COLUMN A: The fact that China is emerging as a major market in world industry is evident by the rapid growth of manufacturing facilities in the country... more

FAST LANE: While at the Domotex asia/Chinafloor market in Shanghai (in progress at this writing), Lane Brettschneider announced that in late January he opened a branch of his premier contract operation in Albany, N.Y., the state capital... more

SONNA-VISION: Retailers who want to multiply the effectiveness of their local advertising campaigns but lack the resources now have help a phone call away... more

Editor’s note: A successful dealer who, like many, is looking to computerize his operations asked Scott Perron, author of our “Retailer-2Retailer” column, for some advice... more

FLYING HIGH: Education knows no barriers and Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), is proving that... more

ON DISTRIBUTION: The National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) is part of a larger community, a vast network of businesses that supply products to the nation’s retailers. Pembroke Consulting just released a comprehensive market data reference guide to the $3.6 trillion U.S... more

SHOW TIME: Some important things happened at Surfaces 2006 that added to the total success of the show. The Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) held its annual board of directors meeting and elected Keith Campbell chairman... more

BIG CHANGE: It seems the dynamic has shifted in the consumer’s mindset when it comes to buying carpet. Beaulieu of America had an exclusive survey conducted among more than 2,200 people who recently purchased carpet... more

JUSTICE?: Armstrong’s dilemma seems to deepen and its future darken every time the courts render a decision. Attempting to emerge from its crippling Chapter 11, it has encountered one stumbling block after another. The latest ruling is even more Draconian than preceding judgements... more