Article Number : 1626 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 1/3/2007 7:51:35 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=1626 |
| Abstract | This has been an amazing year. And no, I have not spent the last 365 days in a coma. Not even the last 180-plus... |
| Article | This has been an amazing year. And no, I have not spent the last 365 days in a coma. Not even the last 180-plus. Hey, I know it’s been tough out there, especially the second half of the year. Some manufacturers say they gave back in the fourth quarter all they gained in the first half. And I’ll confess not one retailer has admitted to doing backflips since summer’s end. But despite a less-than-stellar economic climate, there was a lot of positivity this year. As 2006 fades into 2007, here is what is etched in my mind: Armstrong emerged from bankruptcy after six long years and has its game face on. Anderson continues to raise the bar to the loftiest of heights when it comes to innovative aesthetics. Mannington sets itself apart from the masses in a myriad of ways, not the least of which is its Stand on a Better World competition. Uniboard’s acquisition by German manufacturer Pfeiderer opens up a world of opportunity—and channels. The return of the Formica Flooring brand will be a welcome addition to retail showrooms. Congoleum sees the light at the end of the tunnel. And that’s only off the top of my head. On the human front, a lot of smaller companies got bigger if only through an influx of talent. Ken Peden, who built Quick•Step into a powerhouse, will seek to replicate that success with Formica. Massimo Ballucchi took his ceramic tile marketing expertise from Mannington to Vitromex. John Himes also left Salem, N.J., traveling about 20 miles up the Jersey Turnpike to become president of Wood Flooring International. Lisa Henson, part of the Abbey management team for years, said good-bye to the coy fish and is the new executive director of the National Floorcovering Alliance. And word recently came down that Dennis Mohn, the former vice president of sales and marketing for Alloc, is now the top gun at Award Hardwood Floors. All of the above are top-level talent—and people. Then there’s Floor Covering News. It’s been just an unbelievable year. The magazine celebrated 20 years of existence with an anniversary issue that still has people talking. Then there was the redesign—and the improved editorial content which will only get better in ’07. And the support we have been getting from our advertisers has been, in a word, humbling. So here’s to you, 2006. You’ve been a good year for many. One last thought—I’d like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and offer my most sincere appreciation for your loyalty. My promise is we will continue to give you even more reason to read FCNews now and well into the future. |