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By Sarah Zimmerman Though numbers are down across the industry— both in dollars and units—there remains a sliver of hope in the hardwood segment: the high-end market. Many will tell you the money makers have been hit hardest in the past year, taking investment blows at a much larger rate than the average Joe. Yet it’s also this group that remains the most unaffected by the economic slump... more
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By Matthew Spieler It’s no secret sales at all levels have slowed tremendously over the last two years— even at the once-thought-untouchable high end. But, the one place where sales are happening is at the upper price points, even at what might be considered the high end of the mid-point level... more
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By Louis Iannaco When it comes to having a fashionable floor, there aren’t many looks that make a surface more beautiful or upscale than ceramic tile. Its natural attributes, bold color choices, metal and glass accents, and larger formats make ceramic tile the choice for flooring for many... more
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By Sarah Zimmerman In a less-than-desirable economy, there remains a market that continues to have clout: the high-end arena. And, though all flooring categories offer a “best” product, the resilient side continues to hold a few extra cards in its deck enticing the still-shopping consumer... more
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DALTON—Shaw Industries’ EcoWorx Broadloom and EcoWorx Performance Broadloom backings are already nationally recognized for their environmental attributes but now are even better with the addition of post-consumer recycled content... more
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By Louis Iannaco Unless you’ve been buried in a cave for the last few years, you undoubtedly have read about the green movement and just how crucial it has become from a global perspective. Although there is still much work to be done, the flooring industry can pat itself on the back for taking a leadership role in this field... more
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UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.—Good times or bad, understanding the latest home decorating trends is essential for a retailer. Not only does this knowledge help in making sure the store is stocked with the types of products and designs the homeowner is seeking, it allows the staff to service customers in a professional, helpful manner... more
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By Louis Iannaco In 2003, Chicago-based commercial salesman Frank Pozdol answered a famous architect’s plea for a tile that did not yet exist, except in the architect’s imagination. Now, just a few years later, Pozdol’s product is a functional and versatile reality that is... more
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By Sarah Zimmerman A floor’s performance is, more often than not, based on two crucial aspects: installation and maintenance. And, it’s these two categories that usually pull attendees downstairs at the Sands Expo and Convention Center during Surfaces year after year. Needless to say, 2009 was no different as the show’s basement floor maintained its unique appeal offering a sea of... more
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By Matthew Spieler Not long ago, in the Sands & Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas a new hope emerged for the industry: laminate flooring. From the mid 1990s to early 2000s manufacturers flocked to Surfaces and waged a marketing war as they sought to gain victory over each other and the more established flooring categories... more
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