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With new book, Allman urges retailers to use 'Heart and Mind' selling approach
Retail consultant and NFT columnist Sam Allman has written a new book on improving selling techniques. Called Heart and Mind Selling: The New Secret to Closing the Sale and Winning the Customer for Life, the book offers retailers, franchise owners and industry professionals advice and tips on cultivating customer loyalty and enticing consumers to not only buy, but return to the store again and again.
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"Overwhelmed by support," Multiply back in business after Feb. 8 fire
After an early February fire that swept through a mill in, Ontario, Canada operated by Multiply Forest Products, the company said it is up and running and ready to fulfill orders for its Multiply underlayment and industrial panels. The only thing missing from the product being shipped in the wake of the fire is the familiar green "X" that was used as a guide for installers.
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Flooring industry Gala to benefit FCIF slated for NYC, April 28
The elite roster of floor covering professionals who have been inducted into the World Floor Covering Association Hall of Fame will be honored at a gala dinner in New York City, April 28. The special black tie event is being held to raise money for the Floor Covering Industry Foundation, which assists people in the flooring business experiencing catastrophic illnesses, severe disabilities, or other life-altering hardships.
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Seeking "platform to enter U.S.," Japan's ITOCHU Corp. acquires Galleher
One of the nation's top floor covering distributors, Galleher, Inc., has been acquired by Japan's ITOCHU Corp., the two sides confirmed. The deal is expected to give the 60-year old Santa Fe Springs, Calif.-based distributor an infusion of capital as well as the global resources of its new parent company.
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In memoriam: Craig Lampe, 1945-2007
Craig Lampe, a highly respected figure in the flooring industry who held leadership positions in both manufacturing and distribution, died on January 17, after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 62.
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In memoriam: Howard Olansky, July 22, 1928-December 19, 2006
Howard Olansky, a highly respected journalist and publisher who devoted his career to the flooring business and is widely credited with advancing the industry in a number of key areas, died Dec. 19 in Los Angeles
after a brief illness. He was 78.
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'Heading in the right direction': Amtico revamps its website
The recently launched sustainable flooring line Stratica is a focus of Amtico''s updated website at www.amtico.com. The site not only provides up-to-date product information on Stratica resilient flooring, but includes a link to the dedicated product site www.stratica.com.
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WFCA approves Shaw's stricter warranties; new guidelines 'long overdue'
The World Floor Covering Association said it applauds Shaw’s upgraded 2007 warranty requiring consumers to maintain their carpets using Carpet & Rug Institute approved products. The trade group also said it fully supports further warranty upgrades in 2008 from Shaw that will require cleaning using technicians certified by the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).
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Bentley green products meet gold standard
As a mark of its commitment to environmentally friendly products, Bentley Prince Street has achieved special “green” certification for its standard broadloom and carpet tile products. Specifically, the company has received Sustainable Choice Gold/Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification from third-party certifier Scientific Certification Systems. Bentley Prince Street has also been recognized with California Gold certification, modeled closely after the stringent EPP standards.
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Shaw announces regional markets: 19 dates to keep retailers ‘in motion’
Shaw Industries has announced its slate of winter regional markets. Designed to offer retailers a preview of products and programs planned for the spring selling season, the events will begin in December and run through early February across the United States (with an additional stop in Toronto).
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With ‘green’ operations system, Shaw receives ISO certification
Shaw Industries’ carpet tile manufacturing plant in Cartersville, Ga., recently received ISO 14001 certification for the company’s environmental management system. The system, called SES (Shaw Environmental System), focuses on minimizing the company’s environmental impact, and is closely modeled after ISO 14001 requirements.
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Mannington resilient floors made using recycled gypsum
With an eye toward minimizing its environmental footprint, Mannington Mills announced it has begun using recycled drywall gypsum in place of limestone in portions of its resilient tile. The process, currently used in the company’s Solid Point, Color Point and Brushwork lines, marks the culmination of an extensive research and development project at both Mannington and Construction Waste Management, the supplier of the post-consumer material.
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Invista to buy Honeywell’s nylon 6 business in Asia Pacific
With the goal of making locally produced nylon 6 fiber more widely available to Asian mills, Invista announced it will purchase Honeywell’s Asia Pacific bulked continuous filament (BCF) fiber business. The deal includes the purchase of Honeywell’s Shanghai plant, which produces white dyeable and solution dyed nylon 6 BCF, and processing equipment to make heathered, twisted and heat-set yarns. The purchase is expected to be finalized in early 2007. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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Darant to handle Formica products in six western states
In an agreement aimed at expanding the reach of Formica Flooring laminate products in the western U.S., Darant Distributing Co. has signed on as a Formica distributor. The Denver-based company will serve its home state of Colorado, as well as parts of New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.
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Laticrete founder to fund chem engineering scholarships
Concerned that interest in chemical engineering is on the wane, Laticrete chairman Henry M. Rothberg has vowed to fund 20 scholarships for students pursuing a chem degree at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina
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NAFCD members OK name change
Noting that its membership now goes well beyond U.S, the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors has voted to change its name to the North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors. The move came at the trade group's recent 35th Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif.
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Outlets team-up for ‘store within a store’ strategy
With a plan to offer hard surface products at discounted prices, Alliance Flooring’s subsidiary Color Tile Outlet is partnering up with Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet. . Color Tile has offered to sell their hard items such as laminate and ceramic together with Big Bob’s Flooring’s cash and carry carpets and other specials, the integration slated for early winter and marking Color Tile’s first licensing agreement.
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Clinton, S.C., man arrested in connection with Anderson blaze
Anderson Hardwood Floors released the following statement today concerning the Oct. 10 fire that destroyed nearly half of the company’s Clinton, S.C. plant: ”John Thomas, Director of Public Safety for the Clinton Public Safety Department, announced today that an arrest has been made in the recent fire at Anderson Hardwood Floors located in Clinton, S.C.
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Mohawk sales event: ‘The Fairest of Them All’
Mohawk is promoting its fourth annual Mohawk Anniversary Month sales event with a fairytale theme in keeping with its current ad campaign. Called “The Fairest of Them All," the promotion is backed by national television, print, and Internet ads to draw consumers.
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With new welcome mats, retailer fights breast cancer
With an eye toward raising money for breast cancer research, Carpet One Floor & Home has rolled out nine new welcome mats priced at $21.99. According to the retailer, 25 percent of the sales of these mats will be earmarked for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The special mats, available in eight seasonal patterns and a pet-inspired look, feature the symbolic pink “breast cancer awareness” ribbon in their designs.
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Mannington recognizes three women who ‘Stand on a Better World’
Mannington Mills says that its Stand On a Better World Awards program aims to recognize women who make a difference. With the announcement of this year’s winners, it is hard to dispute that claim. Among the recipients of this year’s awards are the founder of a relief organization for impoverished Nepalese children, a humanitarian who started a non-profit dedicated to helping women and their families in West Africa, and a business leader paving the way for green-certified restaurants.
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