Johnson City, Tenn.—Designed to give architects and specifiers a “desktop showroom” of its Avenues prefinished engineered commercial wood flooring line, Harris Tarkett has made a new sample folder available. The heavy-duty, bi-fold sample kit measures 8-1/2X11-in. and holds 30 samples—three each of the five species and colors in the line, in both 3-in. and 5-in. widths. The cover and inside cover feature Avenues installations. Text on the back offers both complete specification and installation information. “Avenues is one of the first prefinished commercial floors that gives architects and specifiers a high-performance hardwood floor with the warmth and beauty of real wood, not a plastic imitation like many products in the marketplace,” said Bill Clossin, vice president of marketing for Harris Tarkett. “The Avenues sampling system is a desktop showroom that show-cases the design appeal and installation versatility of the product line.”

Avenues features Harris Tarkett’s commercial alumide finish that incorporates greater levels of aluminum oxide than the company’s residential formula. As a result, Avenues offers excellent performance and maintenance features, noted Clossin. “In standard Taber abrasion tests,” he said, “the commercial alumide far outperformed competitive products, confirming it as the most abrasion-resistant finish on any commercial hardwood floor. “In addition, the finish provides a durable surface that is easier and less costly to maintain than other hardwood options,” Clossin added. Avenues is a five-ply engineered plank with a square-edge treatment. It is 3/8-in. thick and is available in 3-in. and 5-in. widths in random lengths up to 42-in. Species and colors include: Red Oak Natural, White Oak Natural, Hickory Cornsilk, Hickory Carmel and Maple Natural.

Real wood moldings include quarter round, reducer and stair nose. Avenues carries a three-year commercial finish warranty and a 25-year structural warranty. It can be sanded and refinished up to two times, when performed correctly by a professional floor refinisher. For more information visit www.harristarkett.com.

In other news, Dave Polisky has been promoted to vice president of technical services. He had been Midwest regional sales manager. Polisky replaces Don Conner who has left Harris Tarkett. In his new post, Polisky will have several key responsibilities, plus new oversight duties, noted Jim Morando, Harris Tarkett’s president. His immediate priority will be to enhance the company’s H-T-U curriculum to assure that the popular two-day program helps participants achieve even higher sales and profit growth. Polisky will be relocating to Johnson City from Chicago. He will also qualify all new product concepts to assure they support the company’s quality directives as well as offer distinct competitive advantages.

Additionally, Polisky will have oversight responsibility for the Consumer Affairs department. “Dave’s extensive experience in hardwood installation and retail sales will be key as we work to make our H-T-U curriculum even more valuable to our customers in helping them grow their sales and profits in the hardwood segment,” said Morando. “Just as important, Dave knows our product line and he knows how to sell it.” Polisky joined Harris Tarkett in 1999 as East Central regional sales manager. In 2001, he was named Midwest regional manager. He increased sales in his regions by double digits during his tenure. Polisky has owned and managed his own home building and wood flooring contracting business and has managed a speciality wood flooring retailer, both of which give him a broad base of experience and an in-depth knowledge of residential and commercial sanding, finishing and flooring installation techniques and procedures, noted Morando. He also has assisted in classes for the National Oak Flooring Manufacturing Association (NOFMA).