Hicksville, N.Y.—In 1996 Floor Covering News and the World Floor Covering Association joined forces to form the Award of Excellence, an annual competition that allows those in the trade a say as to who are the best floor covering manufacturers in their respective categories as well as the Best Overall Manufacturer.

Ten years later, the Award of Excellence not only continues to do what it originally set out to do —provide a vehicle for retailers, installers, distributors, contractors and designers to voice their opinion for the manufacturers they feel help them the best in running successful, profitable business operations—it has also become the industry standard by which mills judge themselves on achieving their customer service missions.

For the past nine years, manufacturers have touted Floor Covering News’ Award of Excellence as the one true measure of industry success because it is awarded to them by their customers. Executives from last year’s top two companies— Mohawk Industries and Mannington Mills, respectively, summed it up the best about the value manufacturers place on the Award:

“It’s an indication of the quiet commitment of our people, our values and our mission…to support the retailer,” said Ed Williams, Mohawk’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, and Ed Duncan, senior vice president of residential marketing for Mannington, noted, “To be recognized in this way tells us we are doing the right thing, and we are grateful to the loyal retailers who voted for us.”

One of the reasons why the Award is such a success is because of its sponsor, the WFCA. By having the industry’s largest retail advocacy group on board denotes the true importance of this competition to both the manufacturer and its direct customers.

“The WFCA is proud to co-sponsor the annual Award of Excellence program with Floor Covering News,” said Chris Davis, the organization’s CEO. “WFCA is committed to enhaning quality in our industry and this competition is designed to recognize and reward quality.”

Al Wahnon, FCNews’ editor and publisher, said, “We are honored by WFCA’s sponsorship of this prestigious event and its coveted awards. It is fitting the association representing the largest group of flooring retailers in the world is a co-sponsor of a program that involves retailers, who help elect the recipients of the Award of Excellence.

The participation of the WFCA in the Award of Excellence program adds another dimension to the industry’s most respected competition.” This year’s competition is once again open to any mill participating in one of the six floor covering categories—Carpet, Area Rugs, Resilient, Hardwood, Ceramic and Laminate.

Not only will each manufacturer be eligible to win in its respective segment, it has the chance to take home the coveted Best Overall Manufacturer title. As it has done from the beginning, the Award of Excellence maintains a true Democratic format in that there are no entry fees as voters cast their choices from the heart for the companies helping them the most.

By having the contest open to manufacturers of all sizes—not just those who pay a fee—the playing field is leveled, which ensures the winners they are truly the best-of-the-best. “The procedures that have been put in place ensure these awards are open to all floor covering manufacturers of the product categories represented, regardless of company size, affiliation or origin,” Davis said.

“Most important, the voter gets to make all the choices, just as it is in the marketplace.” Voting for the best manufacturers is simple. A ballot appears on page 18 of this edition and will running through the Feb. 20/27, 2006 issue. Eligible voters (everyone except manufacturer personnel) is asked to write the top three companies—from first to third—in each category as well as for the Overall Best Manufacturer.

The deadline to submit a ballot is Feb. 28, 2006. At that time, votes will be counted by an independent third party and the winners announced at a gala ceremony in the spring. In addition to ballots being in the print edition, FCNews wants to ensure everyone eligible to vote can, so people can submit their choices via, mail, e-mail (fcnews @optonline.net), fax (516/932-7639) or through our Web site (www.floorcoveringnews.net) no later than Feb. 28 in order to counted.

Also, ballots will be made available at Surfaces. When selecting a particular company over another, use the following criteria to make your choice: design, service, value, performance, quality, professionalism of sales force and management responsiveness. In addition, keep the following three important business components in mind:
• Ease of doing business, including order entry, order tracking, timely delivery and implementation of B2B supply side management systems;
• Quality of merchandise, such as design aesthetics, high standards of manufacturing quality and shipping products according to the order, and
• Customer service, incorporating speed and fairness of claims resolution and cost of claims resolution. “We’re excited about the program,” Davis concluded, “and look forward to our second decade with Floor Covering News.”