Hardwood Floors E-News - 11/30/2009

NWFA Forms FSC Procurement Group Citing increased demand for FSC-certified wood flooring, the NWFA has formed the FSC Procurement Group to review and develop systems for private landowners to adopt FSC certification. According to a NWFA release, small woodland owners own about 270 million acres of working forest, but only 2.5 million acres are FSC-certified; the group aims to increase that figure. Other members of the group include the Rainforest Alliance, Domtar, FSC Family Forest Alliance, Scientific Certification Systems, and the Nature Conservancy. The FSC Procurement Group was formed as part of the NWFA's Responsible Procurement Program, which recognizes wood flooring companies that work to sustain forests.

Anderson Becomes NWFA RPP-Certified Anderson Hardwood Floors (Clinton, S.C.) is the first flooring company to become RPP-Certified under the NWFA's Responsible Procurement Program (RPP), which aims to "sustain our world's forests" through establishing responsible forest harvesting guidelines. Anderson began the process in August. Mullican Flooring (Johnson City, Tenn.), Cikel America LLC (Miami, Fla.), Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring (City of Industry, Calif.), Mannington Wood Floors (Salem, N.J.) and Mohawk Industries (Dallas) are currently undergoing audits for RPP certification.

Distributor News ForestCorp USA Inc. (Ramona, Calif.), importer of Australian wormy chestnut hardwood flooring, has named Tom Duffy Company (Fairfield, Calif.) its distributor in California, Phoenix and Nevada; and Kelly-Goodwin Company (Tukwila, Wash.) its distributor in Oregon, Washington and Montana. Both distributors will carry ForestCorp's unfinished hardwood flooring. For more information, contact ForestCorp at 760/855-8510.

Inspection Company News Elliott & Associates Wood Flooring Products has changed its name to Elliott & Associates Wood Flooring Inspections (Toronto); the company formerly operated as a sales agency, however, now it will concentrate on offering wood flooring inspection and education services in the Ontario market. For more information, visit www.torontofloorinspection.com, e-mail [email protected] or call 647/669-9296.

People News Bostik Inc. (Middleton, Mass.) has named Kelly McCarthy of JKM Marketing its manufacturer representative in Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Virginia and Minnesota; McCarthy will represent Bostik's installation products for hardwood flooring, carpet, vinyl, patch and rubber. McCarthy can be reached at 708/205-8605 or [email protected].

Creative At Home Inc. (Burnaby, B.C.) has named Rob Bishop territory manager for Ontario. Bishop has over 25 years' industry experience in retail and distribution.

Lubrizol Advanced Materials (Cleveland) has named Melinda K. Forbes and Ted Garrett of the J.F. Shelton Company (Kent, Wash.) representatives for its West Coast paints, coatings and adhesives. Forbes can be reached at 626/975-6503, and Garrett at 206/930-9675.

By the Numbers

Mark Your Calendar The National Hardwood Lumber Association (Memphis, Tenn.) will award up to five full tuition scholarships to students for the spring 2010 Inspector Training School Program at its Memphis campus. The 14-week program begins January 6, 2010, and concludes on April 9, 2010. Interested parties can download an application form at www.nhla.com; the deadline to submit an application is Dec. 14.

NWFA Member Services Frontline Advisor LLC, a firm dedicated to helping companies make good hiring decisions, is available to help NWFA members minimize hiring risks. Its Sales Map Group assessment identifies strengths and weaknesses of potential sales personnel for $175, while its Hiring Suite identifies skills, attitudes and behaviors of potential candidates for $75. For more information about these programs, contact Allen Minster at 314/315-0679 or [email protected].

Justin Morgan, owner at Piedmont, S.C.-based Palmetto Floors, is the latest winner of Hardwood Floors' Visa gift card giveaway. Morgan won a $25 gift card by visiting the Hardwood Floors Online Resource Center (woodfloorbusiness.com/resourcecenter) and requesting information from the featured advertisers.