GREAT SCOTT!: Here are two good signs, indications the economy may be rebounding. First, Jane Walker informed me that the just-concluded CFI convention in Kansas City, Mo., was a resounding success. Installers came from around the country to make this the premier event of its kind in the annals of the industry. Second, she told me that Steve Scott of Carpet Weavers, a multi-store chain in the Midwest, is searching for quality installers. So, if business is slow in your area and you are willing to relocate, contact Scott at Carpet Weavers, 1971 E. Pershing Rd., Decatur, Ill. 62526, or call his cell: 309.838.5904. That’s it. A great convention and a better-than-average year for Carpet Weavers.

GOOD DEED: Carpet One Floor & Home also enjoyed a successful convention held recently in Orlando, Fla. At the conclusion of the event, the group donated to Habitat ReStore in Venice, Fla., more than 1,700 sq. ft. of carpet and cushion used in the exhibit hall display areas during the convention. This is the third consecutive year Carpet One has made such a donation, after each semi-annual event. “We’re glad that Habitat can find a new home for these floors and we look forward to continuing our donations at future conventions,” said Eric Demaree, president of Carpet One. The generosity of Leggett & Platt, Tuftex, Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries was also acknowledged as making the donation possible.

ONE MORE: The National Wood Flooring Association ( NWFA) is offering free registration to all who attend its 2010 convention at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in Washington, D.C., March 22 to 25. Ed Korczak, NWFA executive director and CEO, cited the faltering economy and explained, “Our members have told us that they must reduce the number of their employees that can attend our show each year. We looked at our budget carefully and found ways to cut expenses so that we can offer free registration to anyone in our industry who wants to attend.” And here’s what awaits 2010 attendees: All the same programs and events, and the Education/Expo package, which includes 14 educational sessions, the trade show, lunch each day during the Expo, and a happy hour during the last hour of the Expo. For more information, visit nwfa.org and click on the Convention and Expo link.

SORRY, BOSS: I don’t understand much about computers, but this bit of info seemed noteworthy. Nearly half of office employees access Facebook during work and companies lose an average of 1.5% of total office productivity as a result. Actually, that’s not so bad; it’s less than 10 minutes a day. That’s hardly grand theft. Facebook and Twitter have been designated social networking tools and a survey was conducted to learn how office workers interact with these processes. They found 77% have a Facebook account, and nearly two-thirds of them access it during working hours and do so for an average of 15 minutes a day; 87% of those who access Facebook at work couldn’t define a clear business reason for doing it, and 6% never access Facebook anywhere else. Well, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.

QUIZ: The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors surveyed its members and among the questions was this very important and very telling query: Which of the following ad media have you cut most over the last two years? Yellow Pages, 24.55%; newspaper, 22.73%; radio, 8.18%, television, 7.27%, and the largest segment—37.27%— responded “none of the above.” The smart marketer and merchandiser realizes which channels to hold on to longer. Those who will survive this recession are the 37.27% who opted for “none of the above” and continued to use all means of communications with customers.