Article Number : 2157 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 7/24/2007 8:19:11 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=2157 |
| Abstract | FAREWELL: In 2005, Honeywell International sold its carpet fiber business to Shaw Industries. Last week, it announced that it will shut down nylon production at its Anderson, S.C., plant by the end of August, signaling the end of Honeywell’s participation in the nylon fiber business in the U.S... |
| Article | FAREWELL: In 2005, Honeywell International sold its carpet fiber business to Shaw Industries. Last week, it announced that it will shut down nylon production at its Anderson, S.C., plant by the end of August, signaling the end of Honeywell’s participation in the nylon fiber business in the U.S. On July 2, Invista acquired the assets of Honeywell’s nylon 6 bulked continuous filament (BCF) business in Asia-Pacific, including its plant in Shanghai, China. That completes Honeywell’s divestiture of its entire nylon fiber business and opens new vistas for Invista. With the acquisition, the company plans to integrate the production and marketing of type 6 nylon BCF into its business offering in Asia-Pacific for the commercial, residential, transportation and rug segments. CRITIQUE: Steven Spivak wrote an impressive review of a new rug book and cleaning guide, noting “it will change the way many flooring retailers, professional cleaners, rug aficionados and our greater Restoration Industry Association community will think and learn about Oriental, area and specialty rugs.” “A Comprehensive Guide to Oriental & Specialty Rug Cleaning” by Ellen Amirkhan and Aaron Groseclose contains 400 pages and more than 900 photographs and illustrations, most in full color and spectacular. A large portion of the book, which was four years in the making, is devoted to hand-knotted rugs; a rug cleaning guide spans 18 chapters, and the authors manage to cover virtually every significant aspect of the rug business. For anyone involved in rugs in any form, to any extent—this is must reading. SAFE AT HOME: Former catcher for the Los Angeles Angels and seven-time Gold Glove winner, Bob Boone, who also played in four All Star Games, is co-owner of B&B Mill Sales, a floor covering store in Orange, Calif. Boone and Bill and Jodi Case are good friends as well as business partners, and his connection to the Angels seems to be good for business. Boone’s celebrity attracts people and when he’s in the store lucky customers buy carpet and go home with an autograph. B&B Mill Sales sells a lot of Wear-Dated carpet and its logo is all over Angels Stadium, on the jumbotron, on backlit posters lining the baseball park, in program ads and in other permanent signage throughout the facility. The retailer ties its own advertising into the Wear-Dated campaign at the stadium, so Boone supports his old team and his new business. BRIGHT SIDE: With the housing market depressed and investment-home sales down significantly, there is one bright spot in the building market: vacation-homes. The share of vacation-homes rose 4.7% to a record 1.07 million homes in 2006, making up 14% of all home sales. Primary-residence sales fell 4.1% last year to 4.82 million. The huge jump in vacation-home sales was made possible by the increasing number of consumers who are of prime buying ages. The profile of the typical vacation-home buyer in 2006: 44 years old, with a median household income of $102,200. Usually these vacation homes were a median of 215 miles from the owner’s primary residence. First, second or third home, they all need flooring. CHIEF CHIEF: The room at the end of the corporate corridor is getting crowded. It began with president but soon came the chief executive officer, then chief operating officer, then chief financial officer. Some even have chief marketing officer and chief technology officer. Well, move over guys, make room for the newest chief—chief sustainability officer. These are not just environmental watchdogs, but environmental chiefs who help companies profit from the push to go green. The next move? They’ll need a chief of chiefs. Welcome aboard. |