Issue Date:1/5/2004
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Issue Date:1/5/2004
Hardwood Floors E-News Monday, January 5, 2004 Issue 228 Next issue published January 19, 2004 Deadline for items: January 14, 2004 Send news to [email protected]
Manufacturer News Sheoga Hardwood Flooring (Middlefield, Ohio) is defending a trademark infringement charge by HomerWood Hardwood Floors (Titusville, Pa.) based on its use of the term "Character Grade." Sheoga has used the phrase since the company was founded in 1982, says Pete Miller, Sheoga's president. Sheoga has hired Michael Garvey of the intellectual property law firm Pearne & Gordon LLP (Cleveland, Ohio) to defend it.
Wellmade Floor Coverings International (WFCI) (Wilsonville, Ore.) has opened a new showroom at 26300 S.W. 95th Ave., Suite 103, Wilsonville, OR 97070. The showroom features many new bamboo and wood products for distribution. For more information, call 866/582-0848 or visit www.bamboofloorings.com.
Custom Dream Floor Inc. (Gardena, Calif.) currently is seeking a large hardwood flooring manufacturer interested in licensing its new hardwood flooring. The chosen company will receive the rights to manufacture, market, distribute and sell the patent-pending product. For more information, contact Jirina Jordan at 310/323-2526.
Venteak Corp. (Miami, Fla.) has opened a new warehouse in Palmdale, Fla., managed by Tim Hampton. Hamtpon can be reached by phone at 323/445-8531 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Distributor News Design Flooring Distributors (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) has expanded capacity with a new warehouse at 3815 Commerce Loop, Orlando, FL, 32808. The new phone and fax numbers are 407/295-4011 and 407/295-5007, respectively. The company distributes Anderson Hardwood Flooring, Kährs, Mirage, WFI and unfinished specialty wood flooring and currently is planning a move to a new Pompano Beach location to complete its second phase of expansion. Ed Micklos is the Orlando branch manager and purchasing manager for all unfinished wood flooring.
Importer/Exporter News VerMeister SRL (Mornico Al Serio, Italy) has announced the exclusive establishment of VerMeister USA (Seattle) as the North American importer of its complete line of finishes and adhesives. For more information, contact Nathaniel Prior, president of marketing, VerMeister USA, 417 N.W. 65th St., Seattle, WA 98117, call 360/653-1706, 866/413-5667 or 206/251-6627 (cell), or e-mail [email protected]. Vermeister USA's technical support staff can be reached by e-mailing Craig Munson at [email protected]. The company's Web site is www.vermeisterusa.com.
Association News NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (Memphis) re-elected Sam Sharp, Partee Flooring Mill (Magnolia, Ark.) as its president for 2004. Sharp has served as the president of the association since June 2003. John Clark, Cherrybark Flooring (Hazelhurst, Mass.) was elected vice president. Board members elected to three-year terms expiring in 2006 are: Bill Buchanan, Buchanan Hardwood Floors (Aliceville, Ala.); Ray Spivey Jr., Cumberland Lumber and Manufacturing Co. (McMinnville, Tenn.); and Sharp, who was named to a three-year term as director in conjunction with his role as president. These three join Tommy Maxwell, Maxwell Hardwood Flooring (Monticello, Ark.), Jim Duke, Memphis Hardwood Flooring (Memphis), Keith Waldrop, McMinnville Manufacturing Co. (McMinnville, Tenn.) and Clark serving two-year terms expiring in 2005; and Jon Smith, Smith Flooring Inc. (Mountain View, Mo.) and Paul Stringer, Somerset Wood Products (Somerset, Ky.), serving one-year terms expiring in 2004.
People News Mapei (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) is expanding the support roles within its sales force in Texas. Rick Walters has joined the company as floor covering specialist for Texas. He has 20 years' experience in the floor covering industry and will work alongside the Mapei technical sales representatives in the major Texas cities. Brian Haugh joins the company as technical sales representative for the central Texas territory. Haugh has more than 10 years' experience in the ceramic industry.
On the Web Coverings, a trade show for floor coverings such as ceramic tile, natural stone and wood, has launched a newly refurbished Web site at www.coverings.com. The site is now organized for easier navigation and includes seven trade areas with content customized for each segment's particular needs.
Job Watch Premium Green Bamboo (Suwanee, Ga.) is looking for an outside sales rep to provide bamboo flooring and accessories to the public. All applicants must be self-motivated, energetic and driven to succeed. Interested parties should contact Bin Liu at 770/614-8009 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or e-mail a rÈsumÈ to [email protected].
Mark Your Calendar While at Surfaces 2004, plan to attend the "How to Prevent Delinquent Accounts Receivable" seminar presented by Tek-Collect, the NWFA-endorsed member benefit program. The seminar will cover how to regain control over account receivables; how to shrink internal costs and collect more of your money faster; how to reduce accounts going past 90 days; how to use credit as a sales tool to expand the business; how to save 60 to 75 percent on collection costs; and how to get customers to pay on your credit terms. For more information, contact Jack Curenton at 866/414-4500, ext. 412, or e-mail [email protected].
The UV and EB technology exposition and conference, e5 2004, will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., May 3-5. At the event, presented by RadTech-The Association for UV and EB Technology, representatives from IKEA, Armstrong World Industries, Premier Coating & Finishing and more will share their experiences and offer insight on why and how their companies moved to UV/EB. A special application session will be presented, covering flooring, molding, cabinetry, doors, windows and millwork, as well as furniture and specialty applications. Leading industrial and consumer product companies will be discussing troubleshooting with UV/EB, transitioning to UV/EB and the benefits of converting to UV/EB technology. For more information, call 240/497-1242, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.radtech.org.
The NWFA will exhibit at Domotex 2004 at the Hannover Fairgrounds in Hannover, Germany, Jan. 17-20. Domotex is the world trade fair for carpets and floor coverings. Six NWFA member companies will exhibit in the NWFA Pavilion in Hall #9-Casablanca SA, Dimension International, Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring, Porta-Nails, Powernail Company and Smith & Fong Company. For more information, call 609/987-1202, or visit www.domotex.de or www.hfusa.com/domotex.
NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association will offer its next NOFMA-Certified Wood Flooring Inspector School March 13-17 at the Holiday Inn Select Memphis East in Memphis. The five-day course will be limited to 20 participants and is intended for floor covering inspectors, home inspectors and those in wood flooring related businesses. Applications must be submitted by mail for acceptance. For more information or to request an application, contact NOFMA at 901/526-5016 or e-mail [email protected].
Mullican Flooring (Johnson City, Tenn.) will offer its Mullican Tech 101 classes, designed to provide a better understanding of hardwood flooring, Feb. 23-24, March 15-16, May 24-25, July 19-20, Sept. 20-21, and Oct. 18-19. Mullican provides materials, meals and hotel accommodations. To register, call 800/844-6356, or e-mail Val Paulson at [email protected].
NWFA Member Services Sharpen your installation skills with one of NWFA's Education Series videos. Conduct affordable training with "Repairing a Finish" (learn how to repair the three most common finish imperfections); "Board Replacement" (proven techniques for repairing and replacing existing wood flooring flaws); "Installing Prefinished Wood Flooring" (a comprehensive prefinished wood flooring installation tool); or "Pride and Professionalism" (learn how to make your company customer-focused). Members can purchase videos for $15. Contact NWFA to order in VHS, CD or PAL formats. For more information, contact the NWFA at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international).