Issue Date:5/3/2010
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Issue Date:5/3/2010
"We have re-committed ourselves to meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers. We're going to become much more flexible and responsive, and we're going to focus on relationships, service and value. That will be the cornerstone of our company going forward," Jeff Hamar said.
The Hamars sold Galleher to Itochu in January 2007, a high water mark for the company and the construction industry. In May 2009, Jeff Hamar retired from Galleher, but he was later asked to return in a part-time senior advisor roll, which he did in January 2010. Next, Itochu asked the brothers to re-purchase the company, and today Jeff Hamar is again working full-time at Galleher.
Jeff Hamar said Galleher is seeking additional product lines and that Galleher will continue to vend products from Itochu.
The Hamar family first purchased Galleher in 1980 from descendents of Burt Galleher, who founded the company in 1937 in south central Los Angeles. Since then, it has grown to comprise 11 warehouses and service all of California, Arizona and Nevada. The company has 140 employees.
NWFA Takes Manhattan The NWFA held an Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School April 20-22 in New York; 36 students attended the sold-out school. Led by NWFA's Steve Seabaugh, volunteer instructors included: Jim Schumacher (3M), Kathleen Freeman (Absolute Coatings Inc.), Anthony Palandro (Anthony Palandro Flooring Inc.), Martin Ceballos (Bona US), Bill Rice (Bostik Inc.), Paul Laurenzi (Delmhorst Instrument Co.), Steve Bewsher (Dura Seal), Brian Gamet (Glitsa American), Janet Sullivan (Lenmar Inc.), Brett Butler (Lenmar Inc.), Greg Mihaich (Norton Abrasives), Daniel Boone (Powernail Company Inc.), Patrick Donworth (Powernail Company Inc.), Bill Pruner (Powernail Company Inc.), Steven Tolli (S/L Certified Inspection Service), and Cesar Abella (Splinters Wood Floors LLC).
Manufacturer News Exmam-Exportadora de Madeiras Amazonica Ltda. (Belem, Brazil) ceased operations at the end of 2009 after more than 30 years of manufacturing and exporting hardwood flooring. The company is looking to sell its Belem plant and equipment, including four flooring lines, optimizers, kiln dry equipment, exhaust system and more. Interested parties should e-mail Director Alex James at [email protected].
During the first quarter of 2010, Mohawk Industries (Calhoun, Ga.) posted net income of $21 million; Mohawk lost $106 million during the same period in 2009. The company had $1.3 billion in sales, a 2 percent increase from $1.2 billion in the same quarter last year. Mohawk Chairman and CEO Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum attributed his company's performance to the economy's bottoming out, cost reductions and higher than expected foreign exchange rates.
Armstrong World Industries (Lancaster, Pa.) posted a net loss of $19.4 million during the first quarter of 2010; Armstrong lost $11.2 million during the same period in 2009. The company had $659 million in sales, a 1.3 percent decrease from $668 million in the same quarter last year. Armstrong's wood flooring sales of $124.3 million in the first quarter of 2010 grew 2 percent from $121.8 million in the prior year's quarter. The company attributed its net loss to a volume decline in most commercial and residential markets.
Distributor News Wasa Hardwood Company (Fountain Valley, Calif.) has been named a distributor of WOCA hardening oil finish in California and Nevada for importer WoodCareUSA LLC (Atlanta). Wasa Hardwood has promoted WOCA products in the area since 2008.
Triangulo Exotic Hardwoods (Chesapeake, Va.) has named the following distributors and their areas served: BR Funsten (Manteca, Calif.), northern California; TriWest (Los Angeles), Southern California; T & L Distributing (Houston), Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi; William Bird (Charlestown, N.C.), North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle; SunCrest (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Florida; and All State Distributing (Wayne, N.J.), New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Triangulo is a vertically integrated Brazilian flooring manufacturer that has operated primarily as a private label flooring provider until now. In addition to marketing its product to distributors, Triangulo will continue to offer private label flooring to its existing branded partners. For more information, visit www.triangulo.us or e-mail Triangulo Vice President Doug Leigh at [email protected].
Dealer News During the first quarter of 2010, Lumber Liquidators (Toano, Va.) posted net income of $7 million, a 36.8 percent increase over $5.1 million during the same period in 2009. The company had $151.2 million in sales, a 22.1 percent increase from $123.9 million in the same quarter last year. Its same-store net sales increased 8.0 percent while last year during the first quarter they fell 5.8 percent. The company opened 11 new locations during the quarter. The company also announced its plans to enter Canada in the fourth quarter of 2010.
People News Horizon Forest Products (Raleigh, N.C.) and Long Floor (Richmond, Va.) have announced the recent addition of five employees: Bridget Nordlie, purchasing assistant (Raleigh, N.C.); Seth Johnson, inside sales (Chesapeake, Va.); Will Lawrence, inside sales (Richmond, Va.); Keith Dunn, inside sales (Richmond, Va.); and Matt Strader, inside sales (Charleston, Va.).
DriTac Flooring Products LLC (Clifton, N.J.) has named Ed Micklos southeast regional sales manager; Micklos is responsible for sales and service to all distributors in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Micklos has over 25 years of sales experience in the flooring industry.
By the Numbers
Mark Your Calendar The NWFA will hold an Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School on June 9-11 in Mobile, Ala. For more information, visit www.nwfa.org, e-mail [email protected], or call 800/422-4556 (U.S. and Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international).NWFACP will hold a Wood Flooring Inspection School on May 17-20 in City of Industry, Calif., followed by a Certified Inspector test at the same location on May 21. Students will receive specialized training on conducting wood flooring inspections, including information on substrates; maintenance; identifying problems, causes and cures; installation, sand and finish methods; and report information gathering and writing. The school costs $1,495 for NWFA members; non-members can attend for $1,700. The cost for the test is $250 (members) or $350 (non-members).
George Hedley will hold Profit Builder Circle Boot Camp events June 24-25 in Indianapolis; July 15-16 in Orlando; and July 23-24 in Newport Beach, Calif. These seminars are designed for business owners who want more time, money, freedom, loyal customers and less stress. To register, contact Hedley at [email protected] or 800/851-8553.
Job Watch Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC (Reidsville, N.C.) is seeking an entrepreneurial person to develop styling and marketing material for a new flooring line that utilizes its ecoGRAIN grain enhancement technology. Résumés should be sent to Premiere Finishing & Coating President Jeff Beach at [email protected].
WoodCareUSA LLC is seeking qualified independent sales representatives to market WOCA hardening oil finish in several regions of the U.S. These representatives will introduce and educate distributors and dealers/contractors about the WOCA oil system, as well as follow up with customers in the region. A good knowledge of wood flooring and wood floor finishes is required. The representative will receive training in application, maintenance and problem-solving, and will be accompanied for initial customer visits. To inquire, contact John Thafvelin at [email protected] or 404/431-4887.
Hardwood Floors ad deadline May 5 is the deadline to reserve ad space in the Hardwood Floors June/July 2010 NWFA Wood Floor of the Year 2010 Issue. For more information, contact Publisher Kris Thimmesch at [email protected] or 800/722-8764, ext. 107.
NWFA Member Services NWFA members can save on all their office products needs through the Office Depot Business Services Division. Members can shop for supplies, furniture, toner, machines and copier paper, by phone, fax, Internet or in-store. To get your discount, you must sign up for the program. Contact Kristina Binder at 888/263-3423 or [email protected] for more details.