LOOKING UP: Not everything that affects the economy is getting better, but these are times when we take solace in any morsel of news that can be construed as good. For example, the Conference Board of Consumer Confidence Index increased in August, reversing two consecutive months of decline, which in turn... more

Sometimes this world makes no sense to me. Did you know that many studies reveal Americans’ No. 1 fear is public speaking? No. 2 is death. So, I guess that means the average person attending a funeral would rather be in the coffin than... more

HIGH GROUND: Wilsonart Flooring is a class company. It recently decided to exit the market on Dec. 3 after 15 years in the laminate flooring business. Management sent a letter to its “Retail Partners” to thank them for their dedication and support over the past decade and a half, and asked them to... more

With the summer almost over, I’ve been in a reflective mood lately. So here is what the little voices inside my head have been talking about... more

CLEAN BREAK: Larry Lynch was a drummer with the Greg Kihn Band but he found the work not steady and the income erratic. So he dropped his drumsticks and went into the carpet cleaning business. He was tired of playing on tours and yearned to be home with family. “We were all married when we started that band, and we were all divorced when... more

The front page article in this issue about the recycling and landfill diversion thresholds California is looking to impose on carpet manufacturers, officially known as AB2398, reminded me of a speech given by Anthony Minite, president of Bentley Prince Street, at the CARE conference a few months ago in... more

VOX POPULI: A recent survey confirmed what we knew all along— American consumers want quality customer service and are willing to reward businesses that provide it. A substantial number, 61%, say in this economic environment, quality customer service is more important to... more

The whirlwind that was the CarpetOne/Flooring America summer conventions is now behind us. I must say it’s been years since there was this much action and so many new initiatives at a summer convention. Details are covered in the individual stories, but here are some of the thoughts with which... more

FRANK TALK: I just received an e-mail from my old friend Warren Kenney, the Bigelow sage who, in the golden years past, put the big in Bigelow. Kenney stays in touch with a wide circle of Bigelow alumni and other industry personalities. He wrote: “Just off the phone with Frank Mayfield, who at 97 is sharp as he was at 27.” That brought back a... more

Given that much of this issue focuses on brands, I thought it would be appropriate to look at some brands outside the flooring arena—only unlike the many monikers covered in this issue, these may soon go the way of the dinosaur. A brief look into their plights may serve as... more