Issue Date:9/19/2005
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Issue Date:9/19/2005
Hardwood Floors E-News Monday, September 19, 2005 Issue 272 Next issue published October 3, 2005 Deadline for items: September 28, 2005 Send news to [email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------NWFA Members Provide Assistance to Katrina Survivors
The NWFA estimates about 171 NWFA-member wood floor companies are located in the disaster area affected by Hurricane Katrina. Many NWFA members have responded to the catastrophe by offering “in kind†assistance to peers ranging from equipment loans, discounted credit rates, temporary housing and permanent jobs. There is now a section on the NWFA Web site for those in affected zip codes to see the offers made by other members for assistance. In addition, the NWFA Board of Directors unanimously approved waiving 2005-2006 membership fees for members located in designated disaster areas.
Frank Macaluso, sales and marketing manager of Southeast Hardwood Flooring Distributors Inc., (Mandeville, La.) whose headquarters location is on New Orleans’ “North Shore†of Lake Ponchartrain, is one distributor who considers himself very fortunate. “We have been very blessed that some of our really, really good friendsâ€"our distributor friends and some of our manufacturer friendsâ€"just sent tons of stuff and helped out those guys down here that don’t have anything. I’ve even had a manufacturer donate flooring and a customer up in Alabama who offered to install it, and people have donated money and things like Wal-Mart or Home Depot cardsâ€"anything we need,†Macaluso says. His business was down for two weeks, and he had to use a generator for power, along with a limited workforce, since many of his employees are still scattered around the nation. Macaluso and his family were displaced while his home was flooded with about 6 inches of contaminated water, but he was able to move back in last Friday. After all the destruction, Macaluso is looking to the future. “Our business in Florida’s panhandle, northern Alabama and northern Louisiana is going full guns,†Macaluso says. “We’ve lost our New Orleans local business, but in 90 days to six months, I expect there to be the largest building boom this company has ever seen.â€
President John Troendle of Crescent Hardwood Supply (New Orleans) had to move his flooring operations from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, although his business only suffered from minor wind damage. “I have to run truckloads back and forth between the two cities. I just feel like a yo-yo. But it’s good because it has kept my mind off of worse things,†Troendle says. He, too, is very grateful for the help he has received from manufacturers. “A number of businesses have bent over backwards for us, told us whenever we need help to let them know. It’s difficult to pay the bills when I haven’t gotten mail in three weeks,†he says. Troendle will be allowed to move back into his New Orleans location on Tuesday, but he only has half of his original team with him. “About half of the people are back, and about half are still all over the country, and there’s no place for them to go, so it’s a real nightmare on that end. But, at least I haven’t been looted at allâ€"wood floors are a lot more work than plasma TVs,†he says.
Robinson Lumber & Flooring (New Orleans) was also spared major damage from Hurricane Katrina, says Vice President-Flooring Division, Joe Buckhaults. “We have been to our warehouse facility in Chalmette, La., which was one of the hardest cities hit by the storm, and it’s OK. The damage to inventory is minor, and it did not flood. It was one of the few areas in Chalmette that didn’t flood,†Buckhaults says. He has moved his company to Laplace, La., 30 miles outside of New Orleans, and has a storage facility in Mobile, Ala., currently holding most of Robinson’s inventory so the company can make and receive shipments. Luckily, his house was safe, since he lived north of New Orleans, but many of his employees have lost their housing and are scattered around the Southeast. “This is all temporary, though. We will be moving back into our office in New Orleans, and we will move back into our warehouse facility in Chalmette,†Buckhault says.
Dri-Eaz Products Inc. (Burlington, Wash.), along with US Products, Microban Systems and GE Sensing, is planning to send two semi-trucks to the Gulf Coast full of supplies necessary to start the process of turning uninhabitable flooded structures into spaces people can occupyâ€"flood pumpers, extraction wands, Vortex ventilators, moisture detection instruments, and 2,592 gallons of antimicrobial and sanitizer chemicals. Additionally, Dri-Eaz plans to donate 50 percent of the revenue from its September and October Applied Structural Drying Schools to the American Red Cross. The value of the products donated is more than $254,000, and the donated revenue from the classes exceeds $65,000. In addition, Miltec UV (Stevensville, Md.) has announced it will contribute a portion of its September sales to the American Red Cross, and distributor Wanke Cascade (Seattle) has teamed up with Forbo Linoleum, Bambo Bamboo and WE Cork to donate a portion of its sales to those in need.
Manufacturer News
Mannington Mills Inc. (Salem, N.J.) has announced it will institute a price increase of 4 to 6 percent across both residential and commercial product lines, effective October 17. The company cites the impact of Hurricane Katrina along with an already difficult combination of rising fuel, energy and raw material costs as the reason for the increase.
Absolute Coatings Inc. (New Rochelle, N.Y.) has announced it will hold a national contest for the best hardwood floor installation utilizing Absolute Coatings finishes. The contest runs from September to November and is open to all flooring professionals who are members of the Absolute Rewards Program and whose installed or restored floor has been exclusively finished with Absolute Coatings at an actual job site. The winner of the contest receives a free trip for two to New York City that includes airfare, car service, a Broadway show, meals and a hotel for three days and two nights. For more information, visit www.absoluterewards.com.
Brazilian Direct Ltd. (Quakertown, Pa.) has donated 2,200 square feet of 5-inch Brazilian cherry to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia St. Isidore’s Church in Quakertown, Pa. The installation work was donated by Scheller Hardwood Floors Inc. (Lemoyne, Pa.), Barefoot Floors (Troy, Pa.), Lehigh Valley Hardwood Flooring (Allentown, Pa.), Applegate Hardwood Flooring (Langhome, Pa.) and McCants Enterprises LLC (Allentown).
Mirage/Boa-Franc Inc. (St. Georges, Quebec) has announced the Red and Yellow Fall Event for Mirage Maestro Dealers in the U.S. and Canada. The promotion is designed to award cash incentives to Maestro dealers for the sale of selected Mirage hardwood flooring products from September 12 to November 6. The promotion provides incentives for sales of red oak and yellow birch hardwood flooring with stained or natural finish from Mirage’s classic and engineered collections. Distributor representatives will also be given the chance to win one of 20 $500 cash prizes. For more information, visit www.miragefloors.com or call 800/463-1303.
Selta Hardwood Flooring (Columbus, Ohio) has upgraded its UV finish line with Dubois roll coating technology used when applying the Trustor Coatings WearMax Ceramic finish. Selta now provides a lifetime residential warranty and five-year commercial wear warranty, as well as slip resistance. For samples, contact [email protected].
Distributor News
Philadelphia Floor Store (Conshohocken, Pa.) is now a distributor of the Century hardwood flooring line in both prefinished and unfinished products. Its territory responsibilities are central and southern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania (from State College, Pa., and east), Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland.
New Beginnings Authentic Floors (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), a manufacturer of wide plank prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring, available in domestic species as well as reclaimed oak, pine, hickory, maple and chestnut, is seeking dealers and distributors. For more information, contact Jim Eckes at 866/844-4448 or e-mail [email protected].
Lon Musolf Distributing (Vadnais, Minn.) will host a grand opening celebration September 28 from 4-8 p.m. for its new showroom and machine repair shop located in Waukesha, Wis. All vendors are invited, and the company will provide a pig roast and beverages, and give away prizes including a 2005 Yamaha Bruin 4X4 ATV.
W.D. Flooring LLC (Laona, Wis.) has announced it has increased its production 100 percent in the Superior Flooring mill it purchased last July. The expanded capacity will allow the company to pursue distributors in new markets, the company says. W.D. says that its sales have increased 40 percent over 2004.
Industry Events
A flooring industry delegation represented both U.S. and Canadian firms in the 6th China International Floor Coverings & Carpet Fair held at the Chinese International Exhibition Center in Beijing September 13-16. The delegation was sponsored by the Chinese International Exhibition Corporation (CIEC) and organized by Dave Spreen, president of Dave Spreen Enterprises Inc. Spreen and Steve Johnson of Butler-Johnson gave presentations focusing on the U.S. flooring industry. Other presenters discussed developments in the Chinese flooring industry in the last year, how Chinese laminate flooring manufacturers confront anti-dumping and trade barriers, and business opportunities for the flooring industry in China related to preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
People News
Preverco (St-Augustin-de-desmaures, Quebec) has hired a new U.S. sales manager, Mark Murphy. Murphy formerly was vice president of sales and marketing for Prestolam’s North American market.
Kunzle & Tasin US Inc. (Fort Lee, N.J.) has two new representatives: Michael Longshore, of A & M Enterprises, who will cover Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Louisiana and New Mexico, and Randy Moore of R.C. Moore & Associates, who will cover Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Nevada.
TRB Flooring (Holly Ridge, N.C.) has announced the addition of two employees. Preston Graham will manage the shipping and receiving department, and Rick Hayes will work with him in the warehouse.
Finium (Frampton, Quebec) has hired Veronique Bolduc as sales and customer service representative. She may be reached by telephone at 866/834-6486, ext. 226, by fax at 418/479-2952 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Powernail (Lincolnshire, Ill.) has appointed three new associates to its direct sales staff. Gary Arnold is now Western regional sales manager. He is responsible for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, and his duties include sales, distributor relationships and new business development. He can be reached at 800/323-1653, ext. 3054. William Pruner has joined Powernail as north mid-Atlantic regional sales manager for New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He may be reached at 800/323-1653, ext. 3055. Bob Dober is now technical services and sales representative and will be working out of the Lake Zurich, Ill., headquarters. He can be reached at 800/323-1653, ext. 3011.
Mark Your Calendar
The NWFA has announced its 2006 technical school schedule:
• Wood Flooring Basics Schools (NOFMA/NWFA/MFMA)
March 21-24 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
September 19-22 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
• Introduction to Wood Flooring (NWFA/World Floor Covering Association)
February 28-March 3 (World Flooring Covering Association, Anaheim, Calif.)
September 26-29 (World Flooring Covering Association, Anaheim, Calif.)
• Subfloor Solutions
May 9-11 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
• Engineered Installation
May 12 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
June 26 (Las Vegas)
September 8 (Miami)
• Custom Factory Finished
November 2-3 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
• Advanced Installation
February 22-24 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
• Expert Installation
October 3-7 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
• Expert Sand & Finish
October 9-11 (NWFA Training Center, St. Louis)
For more information, contact the NWFA by phone at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (international), by e-mail at [email protected], or visit the Web site at www.nwfa.org.
MosBuild, Russia’s largest floor and carpet trade event, will take place April 4-7, 2006, in the Crocus Expo Centre in Moscow. The event promises to showcase a large number of specialized products from the flooring, carpet and ancillary service industries. For more information, visit www.mosbuild.com/eng/flooring.
A Word of Thanks
Craig Huston of Philadelphia Floor Store (Conshohocken, Pa.), along with his wife, Peg, and sons Mark and Scott, wish to thank the many people in the wood flooring industry who have supported them since their son and brother, Timothy Craig Huston, passed away on July 29 at the age of 20. “We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all our family and friends for their overwhelming support extended to us since Tim’s death. Thank you doesn’t begin to explain how touched and truly grateful we are to all of you. You have affirmed to us that Tim loved and was loved by so many people,†the family said in a statement.
Job Watch
Eco Floors Inc. (Mississauga, Ontario) is seeking independent sales representatives who are motivated and goal-oriented for an established Trade Direct hardwood flooring showroom. Fax résumés to 905/828-2318, Attn: Ania Piorkoska, or e-mail to [email protected].
Beijing Rich Minmetals (Beijing) has an opening for a sales representative in its Los Angeles sales office. Applicants do not need to reside in Los Angeles and may work out of the home. Desirable candidates will have sales experience with laminate, bamboo and hardwood flooring. Send résumés to Chen Kangmin, Beijing Rich Minmetals, Room 219, Zhonglin Business Building, No. 12 Hepingli Dongjie Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013, China; fax 86-10-6422-6330, or e-mail [email protected].
NWFA Releases Profit Reports
The NWFA has released the Profit Improvement Report “Remembering the Mistakes of the Past†and the contractor Profit Report, “Working Harder or Working Smarter,†both written by Dr. Al Bates. Also available is the 2005 Distributor Profit Report, which provides a comprehensive set of benchmarks available for financial performance in the industry and identifies the major performance differences between the typical firm and a high-profit firm. Bates shows in the Profit Improvement Report how proactive planning can counter common distributor mistakes made during a period of economic recovery including uncontrolled growth, payroll expense pressures and excessive inventory investment. He provides analysis in the Contractor Profit Report to show how much of a profit increase is driven by improvements in sales and pricing, and he gives guidelines on how to ensure pricing policies will maximize profits. The complete reports are available online at www.nwfa.org. Simply click on the “Services and Supplies†menu option and select the statistical reports link. To request a hard copy of the report, contact the NWFA at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (international).
NWFA Member Services
There’s only one chance this year to attend the NWFA’s Expert Schools. The Expert Installation School will be held October 4-8, and the Expert Sand & Finish School will be held October 10-12. Both schools will take place at the NWFA International Training Center in St. Louis. Because of the highly skilled, hands-on nature of these programs, all students are required to have at least three years of experience in the industry to attend. In addition, students must have completed an NWFA Advanced Installation School to attend the Expert Installation School, and an NWFA Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School to attend the Expert Sand & Finish School. For more information, contact the NWFA by phone at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (international), by e-mail at [email protected], or visit www.nwfa.org.