Las Vegas—Surfaces 2006 is just two months away and will feature more than 1,000 exhibiting companies expected to show their products and services, along with an educational conference program comprised of more than 40 training sessions. The industry’s largest trade show is shaping up to be one of the grandest in its 17-year history.

“Surfaces is the event where floor covering professionals can get the most up-to-date information to grow their businesses and increase their bottom line,” said Michelle Troop, senior show director. “Retailers, builders, architects, designers, distributors and installers from around the world come to Surfaces every year to see the latest floor fashions their customers are asking for and this year will be no exception. From car pet and area rugs to wood, stone, laminate, tile, marble and even mixed media, Surfaces has every product category.”

While the three-day market is set to open on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center here, things actually get going the day before when the Surfaces Education Conference Program begins with a series of three-hour workshops.

“Surfaces is committed to offering flooring professionals the critical information they need to make the right decisions,” Troop explained, “Which is why our educational program features 42 workshops and seminars to choose from in six targeted tracks—Marketing, Business, Sales, Design, Installation and Window Coverings.”

The entire conference is sponsored by Mannington Mills, which yet again is one of the market’s biggest supporters in terms of exhibit space and extracurricular activities. The workshops on Tuesday differ from the seminars offered Wednesday through Friday in that they are three hours long compared to 90 minutes. This gives the presenters time to go more indepth on the subjects.

Floor Covering News is once again taking an active role in the Conference Program as four of its columnists—Kelly Kramer, Lew Migliore, Scott Perron and Warren Tyler—will each host workshops, two of which will be hosting three-hour sessions. Tyler will be speaking about “The Power of Motivational Management,” while Migliore will explain “Why Floor Products Fail.”

As for the 90-minute sessions, Tyler, Migliore, Kramer and Perron will hold seminars. On Wednesday, Perron will talk about “Advanced Marketing for Retailers: R2R.” Thursday, Tyler will discuss, “High-Impact Selling (How to Separate Your Store from the Competition), and Kramer will show attendees “The Art of Selling.”

Many of the sessions qualify for the World Floor Covering Association’s ( WFCA) Certified Flooring credits along with other continuing education units (CEUs) from numerous design associations. For a complete list of seminars and speakers, visit www.surfacesexpo.com Besides the Conference Program, Surfaces will feature numerous educational events, including the third annual Installation Showcase where professionals show attendees not only how quality installation is done but tips and techniques to make sure it is done correctly the first time.

A complete schedule of subjects and times can be found on the Surfaces Web site. In addition, The National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) will once again host a session on Thursday—“Building Relationships by Helping Your Customers Make Money”—for all members of the organization. For more information on any of these events or to register for the show, visit the Surfaces Web site.