Issue Date:6/13/2005
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Issue Date:6/13/2005
Hardwood Floors E-News Monday, June 13, 2005 Issue 265 Next issue published June 27, 2005 Deadline for items: June 22, 2005 Send news to [email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------NWFA Intermediate School Travels to Baltimore
The NWFA held its latest Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School June 8-10 in Baltimore. NWFA Technical Director Steve Seabaugh led the school assisted by volunteer instructors including Kathleen Freeman, Absolute Coatings Inc.; Shields Jarrett and Rob Johnson, Basic Coatings; Larry Beers, Beers Hardwood Floors; Dave Erickson and Bob Burton, BonaKemi USA Inc.; Robert Kilchenstein, Chesapeake Hardwood Flooring; Mike Farrell, Clarke American Sanders; Steve Crawford, Dura Seal; Ricardo Pairazaman, Finishing Touch Hardwood Floors; Paul Ruiz, Glitsa American Inc.; Sharon Smith, Global Market Partners Inc.; Jonathan Sands, Hard Surface Consulting; John Mullen, John Mullen Hardwood Flors; Janet Sullivan, Lenmar Inc.; Robert Humphreys, Majestic Wood Floors Inc.; Tom Peotter, Oshkosh Floor Designs Inc.; Curtis Richard, Primatech Inc.; Daniel Riter, Signature Hardwood Floors; Jeremy Treece, Trinity Custom Hardwood Flooring; Sprigg S. Lynn, Universal Floors Inc.; and A.J. Winstead, Virginia Abrasives Corporation. The lead distributor for the event was Derr Flooring.
Manufacturer News
In 1905, Carl Johnson moved his family to Idaho Falls, Idaho, and purchased an existing planing mill. That was the beginning of Johnson Brothers Planing Mill Inc. (Idaho Falls). Nowâ€"100 years laterâ€"Johnson Brothers remains family owned and operated. The company has been holding monthly prize drawings to help build excitement for its 100th Year Grand Celebration to be held September 15-16. This event will include an open house, a BBQ and a charitable golf tournament. Johnson Brothers’ business operations consist of several divisions; one of which is the manufacturing of wood flooring, custom moldings and quality architectural casework, it says.
DriTac Adhesive Group (New York) is celebrating 50 years as one of the top manufacturers of premium adhesives for the wood flooring industry and installation products, it says. The company was originally established in 1956 and has been a division of Basic Adhesives Inc. for 20 years. Today, DriTac supplies the flooring industry through a network of authorized flooring distributors across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Mapei Corporation (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) co-sponsored a series of lectures for students at the University of Miami School of Architecture this spring, as well as for architects and others in the community. The series was part of the students’ preparation for spending a semester studying abroad in Italy. Mapei has extended an open invitation for students to visit its world headquarters in Milan. “We think we can give the students a unique perspective on products they will one day be specifying for the construction of their architectural designs,†says Nick Di Tempora, president of Mapei Americas.
WarmlyYours (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) has announced it has entered into a licensing agreement to manufacture and market a new line of floor warming systems with the Honeywell brand. The new systems will be introduced to the DIY market with four warming kits targeted for installation under hardwood, tile and stone floor coverings, and the new home builder and contractor markets with a series of 37 warming “rolls†measuring up to 78 feet in length that can be combined to satisfy almost any floor warming project, the company says. All systems will be introduced by WarmlyYours with Honeywell controls and the company’s exclusive 24/7 lifetime technical and installation support service.
People News
Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring (Papineauville, Quebec) has announced it has established three new and distinct vice presidencies to maximize and harmonize the opportunities of the Lauzon, Eterna and Dubo brands. Louis Morin has been named vice president, strategic and international development. Formerly with Boa-Franc/Mirage for 11 years, he will be responsible for implementation of Lauzon’s vision, including accountability for strategic planning of the hardwood flooring arm, growth and development opportunities in international markets, prospecting and contract negotiation, and strategic acquisitions and alliances. In addition, the sales and marketing departments will now operate as two distinct groups to expand product and service potential. To that end, René Dionne has been named vice president, marketing. Dionne was formerly vice president of marketing with Venmar Ventilation and Broan Nutone Canada. Robert Coveney has been appointed senior vice president, sales. Previously vice president, sales and marketing for Lauzon brands, Coveney will now oversee the Lauzon, Eterna and Dubo sales organization. Ron Savoie will continue to serve as vice president, sales, responsible for the Eterna and Dubo brands. The current sales and customer service structures will remain in place.
Allwood Import LLC (Portland, Ore.) has promoted Jason Warner to general manager. Warner will continue to head up sales in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. In addition, Nathan Carter has been named sales manager and installation specialist. Carter comes to Allwood with more than six years’ experience with installation, sanding and finishing. He will focus on expanding the nationwide distribution channels for the complete line of Allwood products.
Above All Hardwood Floors Distribution (Prior Lake, Minn.) has added Megan Back and Leslie LeMair to its sales staff. Back and LeMair each bring extensive sales backgrounds to the company. Back will focus on accounts within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, while LeMair will concentrate on sales in other areas, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The addition of Back and LeMair increases the company’s sales staff to seven professionals in two locations. To contact any member of the sales staff, call 800/440-9332.
Derr Flooring Co. (Willow Grove, Pa.) has announced that Richard Derr Holden, executive vice president of Derr Flooring, is celebrating his 25th year with company. Holden is the first member of the fourth generation in the family to do so. He joins his great-grandfather, grandfather and father and various uncles who are members of the company’s 25 Year Club.
Lenox (East Longmeadow, Mass.) has promoted Rich Wuerthele to president of sales. Wuerthele joined Lenox in December 2002 as vice president of sales to lead the transition of the sales organization after the acquisition of Lenox by Newell Rubbermaid in January 2003. In his new position, Wuerthele will be responsible for expanding Lenox sales globally and supporting strategic sales initiatives throughout Newell Rubbermaid’s North American Tool Group.
On the Web
A newly updated edition of “Housing Facts, Figures and Trends,†a reference report previously published annually by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as a print document, now is available as a PDF file on the NAHB Web site at www.nahb.org/reports. The report provides a brief snapshot of various aspects of the building market, including new home starts and sales, average and median home prices, homeownership rates, characteristics of new homes, and more. It will be updated three times a year.
The American Hardwood Information Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.) announces its Web site at www.hardwoodinfo.com. With new tips each week, the site is a source for practical information about American hardwoods and American hardwood floors, furniture, cabinetry, millwork and built-ins, the Center says. The site also features the weekly “Ask Rose†feature, in which author and columnist Rose Bennett Gilbert answers questions about decorating and remodeling.
Job Watch
Sales professionals are sought for wood flooring supplies sales positions in Gardena, Calif., selling to businesses and consumers. Positions have six-figure income potential. Negotiating and closing skills are required. Those interested should fax a résumé to 310/323-4258 or e-mail to [email protected].
Mark Your Calendars
The NWFA will hold a Sales Counselor Certification Test and an Inspector Certification Test July 9 at Alaska Wholesale Hardwoods (Anchorage, Alaska). The Sales Counselor exam will consist of 110 objective, multiple choice and true/false questions that test knowledge on the subjects of maintenance, problems/causes/cures and installation/sanding/finishing. The Inspector Certification written exam consists of 360 objective, multiple choice, true/false questions, that will test knowledge in the areas of substrates, maintenance, problems/causes/cures, installation/sanding/finishing, and report procedures. The primary reference materials and study guides for both tests are “NWFA Installation Guidelines,†NWFA Technical Publication No. C100 titled “Maintenance and Recoating,†and NWFA Technical Publication No. C200 titled “Problems, Causes and Cures.†NWFA members already have received these manuals as part of their membership benefits. Additional copies are available to members as follows: $35 for NWFA Installation Guidelines, $5 for Technical Publication C100 and $2.25 for Technical Publication C200. Publications also are available to non-members. The most recent Sales Counselor and Inspector Certification tests of 2005 took place June 8 at NWFA Headquarters (St. Louis); Cascade Pacific Floor Distributors (Portland, Ore.); Continental Wood Floors & Supply (Bridgeport, Conn.); Horizon Forest Products (Raleigh, N.C.); Banks Hardwood Florida (Miami); Erickson Decorating Products (Chicago); and Trinity Hardwood Dist. (Houston, Texas). The next round of Sales Counselor Certification and Inspector Certification tests will begin on Oct. 12, 2005. For more information on the schedule for these tests, call 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international) or visit www.nwfa.org.
Improve your sales teams’ performance with the NWFA’s new Sales Training workshop. The workshop will be offered Sept. 12-13 at the NWFA’s International Training Center in St. Louis. Intended for both new and experienced sales professionals, the workshop is designed to provide lasting performance improvement. The cost is $595 for NWFA members. For more information, call 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international), or visit www.nwfa.org and click on the “Education and Schools†link.
CarpetsPlus Color Tile (Chattanooga, Tenn.) will host its Annual Summit at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay, Wis., July 10-12. The exhibit hall will feature more than 50 suppliers showcasing the latest floor covering products. The main exhibition focus will center on the expansion of the Color Tile hard surface area of the member showroom, which will include Color Tile Hardwood. The event will be kicked off with a welcome dinner at Lambeau Field.
Resource Book Reminder
Forms for the 2006 Hardwood Floors Resource Book and NWFA Networking Guide have been mailed. The deadline to return the formsâ€"even if there are no changesâ€"is June 18. If you have not received a form, please contact Kimberly Wise at 800/722-8764, ext. 117, or [email protected].
NWFA Member Services
Through the National Wood Flooring Association partnership with DHL Express, NWFA members can save up to 25 percent on air express and ground shipping. More importantly, NWFA members can rely on DHL’s commitment to guaranteed on-time delivery and online customer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To enroll and start saving, call 800/636-2377 today and speak with a dedicated member service representative.