New York—For the fifth year in a row, Mannington Mills has been named by dealers, wholesalers, installers, specifiers and designers as the industry’s Best Overall Manufacturer in the sixth annual Award of Excellence competition. Shaw Industries was voted the second Best Overall Manufacturer. The mill also earned the distinction of being named the Best Carpet Manufacturer at Surfaces 2002. In addition to the Best Overall honor, Mannington was chosen as the industry’s Best Resilient Manufacturer for the fifth consecutive year. Mannington was also recognized this year with the runner-up prize in the wood segment, a distinction bestowed upon the company since the Award of Excellence was established six years ago. And, the mill was also voted runner-up in the Laminate category for the fourth consecutive year (Mannington finished in a tie last year with Wilsonart).

As in the Award of Excellence’s first five years, Mannington walked away with the most total awards, making the mill the most decorated since the competition began. In the six years of the competition, the Salem, N.J.-based manufacturer has walked away with 18 awards. Keith Campbell, Mannington’s chairman said, “We are obviously delighted in the fact that the retailers throughout North America have selected us for the fifth year in a row as the top manufacturer. Our business is centered on the professionally installed retailer and we’ve grown with them and are very pleased and thank everyone involved for selecting us again.” Julius Shaw Jr., the company’s executive vice president, noted, “We are very thankful to the customers for this. To me, it’s a tribute to our 30,000 employees. I’d liked to thank them for their efforts because, without them, this could not have happened.” “I’d also like to thank our wonderful customers,” he added. “I’m very proud to be able to come here and represent Shaw to accept this award. We all appreciate it.”

Sponsored by FCNews, Hanley-Wood Exhibitions and the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the Award of Excellence is a way for manufacturers’ customers—retailers, distributors, designers, specifiers, installers, etc.—to honor the companies they feel consistently provide the best design, service, value, performance, quality, professionalism of sales force and management responsiveness in their respective flooring segments, as well as industry-wide. In other words, the mills which help them be successful through-out the year. To honor the first and second place winners in the six categories—Carpet, Area Rugs, Resilient, Hardwood, Ceramic and Laminates—and the Best Overall, a gala ceremony was held here, in which customized crystal trophies were presented to top executives who flew in from around the country to see how their company fared.

The Winners Are… Taking home the top individual honors were: • Carpet: First—Shaw Industries; Runner-up—Mohawk Industries; • Area Rugs: First—Oriental Weavers; Runner-up—(tie) Shaw and Milliken; • Resilient: First—Mannington; Runner-up—Armstrong World Industries; • Laminates: First—Wilsonart; Runner-up—Mannington; • Hardwood: First—Bruce Hardwood Floors; Runner-up—Mannington; • Ceramic: First—Daltile; Runner-up—Crossville. To qualify for the Award of Excellence, a company had to be exhibiting at Surfaces 2002. No entry was required. Readers of FCNews nominated companies over a six-week period prior to the event which is owned by Hanley-Wood Exhibitions and sponsored by WFCA. The top five vote getters in each category were then placed on the final ballot.

At Surfaces, attendees (manufacturer employees were ineligible) voted for the companies which they felt deserved to be named the best in their respective categories, as well as for Best Overall. And, even though attendees were not given prizes or other incentives to cast a ballot, the contest continued its tradition of being the largest competition at Surfaces with another strong showing in the amount of votes recorded. “Those who voted for Awards of Excellence needed no inducements, they understood the significance of the honor and cast their ballots honestly and without prejudice for the companies they believe in—the ones which have helped their businesses thrive,” Matthew Spieler, FCNews’ managing editor told the audience at the awards ceremony.

Chris Davis, WFCA’s CEO, said, “this event is a win-win for everybody. When it started, what the WFCA wanted was to build some loyalty towards Surfaces—to give people another reason to come and exhibit there. What we wanted for the manufacturers was something they could showcase and, what we wanted for the attendees was their right to vote and participate. Of all the contests that have been thought up for the show, this one has turned out to be the most successful in that regard. “It’s great that you have the opportunity,” he explained to the executives, “to hear what your customers say about you and hopefully, you will herald that information to the rest of the world, share it with your employees and everyone else. Obviously, you people are the best-of-the-best and we salute you for that.”

Davis also talked about WFCA’s efforts to help get the flooring industry increased publicity through shelter magazines in the coming months. Michelle Troop of Hanley-Wood Exhibitions thanked FCNews for “allowing us to be part of an industry event which recognizes the manufacturers and the efforts they put forth throughout the year.” As for the future of Surfaces, she added, “We look forward to some changes and feel the show will continue to grow and be the industry’s most important event. As we go into next year, we look forward to working once again with Floor Covering News and the WFCA as we put together another quality market and educational program at Surfaces.” —Louis Iannaco