The with 5 October 2009 Stocklists The with BRITAIN’S No. 1 FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE FOR THE RETAIL AND CONTRACT MARKET 7 December 2009 Flooring News 4 & 5 – METRE WIDTHS – available in available in 40 oz 50 oz – PER SQ YARD – 80% Wool • 20% Polypropylene Broughton Twist Broughton Twist Broughton Twist DISTRIBUTED BY FURLONG FLOORING Ask your representative for details - see page 23. Manufactured by REGENCY CARPETS Now we’re the natural choice with the launch of our new British wool twist backed up by the service, quality and value that has made Furlong famous for competitive carpets
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The
with5 October 2009
StocklistsThe
with
BRITAIN’S No. 1 FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE FOR THE RETAIL AND CONTRACT MARKET
7 December 2009 FlooringNews
4&5– METRE WIDTHS –
avai
labl
e in
avai
labl
e in
40oz50oz– P E R S Q YA R D –
80% Wool • 20% Polypropylene
Broughton TwistBroughton TwistBroughton Twist
DISTRIBUTED BY FURLONG FLOORINGAsk your representative for details - see page 23.
Manufactured by
REGENCY CARPETS
Now we’re the natural choicewith the launch of our new British wool twist backed up by the service, quality and value thathas made Furlong famous for competitive carpets
SL Cover December 09 26/11/09 12:10 pm Page 2
SL Cover December 09 26/11/09 12:10 pm Page 3
Monthly ‘Stocklisters’ shown in BOLD
s AFS ...........................................................................16..................020 8805 8620 .........April 2009.........
H AXMINSTER CARPETS.........................................44..................01297 32244.............—.......................
= BRITISH WOOL ..............................................34..................01274 688 666 .........—.......................
H BROCKWAY CARPETS LTD. .................17,49 ............01562 828200 ..........Dec 2008 .........
H BRONTE ...............................................................—..................01282 862736 ..........—.......................
o CARPENTER ......................................................39..................01457 861141 ..........—.......................
H CARPETS OF KIDDERMINSTER. ........18,19 ............01299 827477 ..........Aug 2008 .........
s COLUMBIA FLOORING .............................20..................0208 443 3322 .........—.......................
H CONTEMPORARY LIFE........................................IFC................01254 296829 ..........—.......................
H DYNE..........................................................................30..................0161 877 8877 .........—.......................
H EDEL TELENZO................................................21,55 ............01422 374417 ..........—.......................
H FELLS .......................................................................24..................01977 662211 ..........—.......................
n FITA ............................................................................59..................01159 506836 ..........—.......................
s FLOORING ONE...................................................31..................0121 683 1427 .........—.......................
n FLOORWISE .......................................................13..................01509 673974 ..........—.......................
H FURLONG FLOORING .................................22,23 ............01772 696787 ..........July 2009 ..........
n HARROGATE FLOORING SHOW ...................33..................01423 779967 ..........—.......................
s LITTNER HAMPTON...................................—..................0208 520 8474 .........—.......................
H MOHAWK ............................................................25..................01480 479830 .........—.......................
n NATIONAL FLOOR SHOW...............................37..................0207 921 8415 .........—.......................
n NICF.........................................................................59..................0115 958 3077 .........—.......................
s RACKHAMS........................................................26..................02085319225............Oct/Nov/Dec09
H ROELEE CARPETS..........................................—..................01254 676766 ..........Sept. 2007 ........
H RYALUX.....................................................................53..................0845 652 8811 .........—.......................
s SOLENT WHOLESALE CARPET ..............27..................01243 774623 ..........Nov/Dec 2009
n STAIRRODS UK LIMITED.........................36..................01207 591176 ..........—.......................
s STS FLOORING DISTRIBUTORS .........28..................0845 341000.............July 2009............
n T & E DISPLAY GROUP ............................35..................0121 585 7600 .........—.......................
n TRIPLE KING...........................................................3 ....................01274 582056 ..........—.......................
n WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION ...............4,5.................01943 850817 ..........—.......................
Woolsafe: the carpet care guide...................................................4-5Carpet trouble-shooter....................................................................6-7Carpet types .........................................................................................8Underlay.................................................................................................9Pattern book.......................................................................................10Wholesaler Distribution Directory ........................................11-13Carpet Company Directory .....................................................14-15
StocklistsThe
THE UK’S TOP FLOORING NEWS AND DATA SERVICE
7 December 2009Published by Mayville Publishing Co Ltd, 219 West Ella Road,West Ella, Hull HU10 7SDTel: 01482 659396 Fax: 01482 659397 www.thestocklists.comSales Manager: Diane Martin [email protected] Publication Manager: David Spragg. Founded by Roy Spragg in 1973.
Hot shots of 2009Feature: A gallery of our stunning product photography ................................43-56
Launch pad for 2010Feature: Which new ranges are ready to take off in the New Year? .....................40-41
Radical plan after ‘perfect storm’ in Euro marketBalta asks competitors to consider consolidation ..................................38
CBI heralds return to growth for flooringBusiness News: Sales strengthen amid fears for 2010.................................................38
Scrooge or Santa?Forum: How have suppliers and customers treated you this year?.....39
Floor shows gain momentumHarrogate ‘ahead of expectations’ on trade support ............................30Birmingham NEC announces first exhibitor list.......................................42
Domotex 2010All set for the season’s showcase event in Hannover ............................29
Creative competitionFlower on Flooring: The increasing roll of designers ........................60,61
Jumping the skills gapVoice: Richard Harris of F. Ball talks about investment in training........58
The British Wool ColumnCalendar pin-ups where wool is the star ..................................................34
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS!
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:36 pm Page 3
Flooring factsheetCarpet care guide from WOOLSAFE maintenance • cleaning • spot removal • protection • inspection
General Rules for Spot Removal• Soak up liquids with white kitchen roll, tissues, toilet
roll or clean cloth
• Scoop up or scrape off solids
• Try to identify unknown spots prior to treatment –if unsure, use solvent first
• Always work from the edge of the spot inwards
• BLOT, do NOT rub
• Use small quantities of spot remover at a time,applied to a cloth, NOT directly to the spot; workinto the spot with a small, soft brush or sponge
• Take care with applying solvents to bitumen-backedcarpet tiles
• When using solvents always ensure there is plentyof fresh air ventilation
• Always thoroughly rinse out water-based spotterswith clean water
• Dry the spot, if possible, with a hair dryer
Periodic CleaningWhen the carpet or rug reaches a stage where it coulddo with a really good clean, you can either do the jobyourself, or you can call in a specialist carpet cleaningcompany.
If you are considering cleaning the carpet or rug yourselfmake sure to use only WOOLSAFE-approvedproducts. Look for this mark on the bottle or package:
WOOLSAFE-approved carpetcare products have beenindependently and scientificallytested and are safe andeffective for cleaning andmaintaining all types of carpetsand rugs.
Regular MaintenanceRegular cleaning will extend the life of a carpet andmaintain its appearance.Vacuum clean regularly andthoroughly, which removes gritty dirt that can damage the fibres.
Deal with spillages as soon as possible,preferably the moment they occur.
Housekeeping Tips forCarpets and RugsEntrance or walk-off mats
The use of entrance mats at all outside entrances to thehouse is highly recommended, as they will significantlyreduce the rate at which the carpet will soil.They shouldbe of adequate size to allow street dirt to be removedfrom shoe soles and must be cleaned regularlythemselves.
Protective treatmentsMany carpets come with a protective fibre treatment toreduce problems with staining and soiling.These treatments,while effective in many ways, are not bullet-proof and willeventually wear off. Quick response to spills and regularcleaning is still required.
Carpets that have no protector applied by the manufacturercan be treated after installation on the floor by a WOOLSAFE
accredited carpet cleaning company. (To find the nearestWOOLSAFE Certified Operator in your area visit ourwebsite: www.woolsafe.org and go to the PRIVATEHOUSEHOLDER section.)
Beware of products claiming to be safe on all fibres,including wool. It might be true, but if it does not have theWOOLSAFE mark, it is not endorsed by most carpetmanufacturers!
Treatments1. Blot with white kitchen roll or paper tissues
6. WOOLSAFE-approved spot remover for water-based stains
7. WOOLSAFE-approved spot remover for greasy/oily stains
8. Absorbent paper or paper tissue and hot iron
9. Chewing gum remover (solvent or freeze type)
10. Nail varnish remover or acetone
11. White spirit or turpentine substitute
12. Surgical spirit (ethyl alcohol or ethanol)
13. Rub with a coin
14. Rub gently with coarse sand paper
15. WOOLSAFE-approved disinfectant or deodorizer
16. Rust remover
17. Carpet re-colouring kit(Treatments used by professional carpet cleaners)
TheWOOLSAFE
Mark hasgone Green!
The WOOLSAFE Organisationhas teamed up with eco-labelling authorities Green Sealand EcoLogo in NorthAmerica, to enable thoseWOOLSAFE approved productsthat are ecologically responsibleto be recognised andpromoted as such.
The Green WOOLSAFE Markidentifies those products thatnot only are the mostsuitable for wool and otherquality carpets, but also havethe right environmentalcharacteristics.
Chemspec Europe is one ofthe first WOOLSAFE Licenseesin the UK to have a ‘green’product certified. It is expectedthat other products will followshortly.
Vacuum Cleaners - the Choice of Cleaning Professionals
www.sebo.co.uk
British Wool makes a BetterCarpet... Naturally
www.britishwool.org.uk
This information is provided with thesupport of WOOLSAFE members for thebenefit of all carpet retailers and fitters.
Never use any detergents such as dishwashing liquids,soaps or other cleaners recommended for generalhousehold use. Although they may clean the carpetsatisfactorily they will almost certainly cause problemssuch as rapid re-soiling, colour bleeding or other damageto the pile or backing of the carpet.
It is best to engage the services of aprofessional carpet & upholstery cleaningcompany.To get a really expert job doneentrust the work to a WOOLSAFE
accredited carpet cleaning company.These companies are fully trained, havebeen in business for a considerable
length of time, are members of one or more recognisedprofessional trade associations related to the cleaningindustry and have a reputation for top quality service. Andthey use only WOOLSAFE-approved cleaning agents onyour wool carpets and rugs!
If you have a problem with a carpet or rug thatrequires an independent inspector, a network of carpetcomplaint investigators, trained and registered by TheWOOLSAFE Organisation is available throughout the UK and Ireland.
WOOLSAFE RegisteredInspectors have extensive experiencein investigating the causes for carpetcomplaints based on their practicalinvolvement with carpets and rugs overmany years.
They are fully qualified to investigate carpet and rugcomplaints on-site on behalf of carpet manufacturers,retailers, cleaning companies and carpet owners.They cancarry out or commission tests where required, and willprovide comprehensive reports.
To contact an inspector in your area call 0800 731 5688,email: [email protected], or visit: www.woolsafe.org/ Private Householder / Registered Inspectors
Easy SpotsSpot or stain Try 1st Try 2nd Try 3rd
Blood 5 6 3
Burn/scorch marks 13 14
Butter 7 5
Candle wax 8 7
Chewing gum 9
Chocolate/cocoa 5 7 6
Cola 3 5 6
Cream 7 5
Egg 5 6
Floor wax 7 5
Fruit juice 3 5
Gravy and sauces 5 6
Herbal tea 3 6
Metal polish 5
Mustard 5 6
Oil and grease 7 5
Paint (emulsion) 3 5
Shoe polish 7 5
Tea 3 5 6
Difficult SpotsSpot or stain Try 1st Try 2nd Try 3rd
Artificially coloured drinks 3 6
Bleach 3 17
C/heating radiator fluid 5 6 16
Coffee 4 6
Felt-tip pen 7 or 11 12 5
Furniture polish 7 5
Glue/adhesive (plastic base)10 11
Ink (fountain) 3 6 5
Ink (ballpoint pen) 12
Lipstick 7
Milk 4 5 15
Nail varnish 10
Paint (oil) 11
Rust 16
Soot 6 5 2
Tar (asphalt) 7
Urine (fresh stain) 3 5 15
Urine (old stain) 6 15
Vomit 5 6 15
Red wine 1 6
These may require repeated attempts with strongerspot removers. Some stains you may find impossibleto remove completely in which case the assistance ofa professional carpet cleaner is required.
For information
• On a WOOLSAFE Certified Carpet CleaningCompany nearest to you,
• A free copy of the Directory of WOOLSAFE CertifiedProfessional Carpet Cleaners,
• A free copy of the Directory of Registered CarpetInspectors,
• Or just advice on anything to do with carpet care,
contact:
The WOOLSAFE Organisation49 Boroughgate, Otley, LS21 1AG,Tel: 01943 850 817E-mail: [email protected] or visit: www.woolsafe.org
Life inspired cleaning innovationswww.bissell.com
WOOLSAFE ApprovedCarpet Cleaning Products
www.prochem.co.uk
Home of the Legendary CleaningProduct - Carpet Power
www.ozkleen.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS December 2009 5
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:36 pm Page 5
COLOUR MATCHINGCarpets are produced in batches - known ascreels - and usually each batch producesbetween 500m2 - 3000m2 in a single width,depending on the creel size. Whilst the recipeused by the dyer remains constant, and isfollowed to the letter, in each separateproduction the colour reproduction will varyfrom batch to batch. However production ismatched back to the original or mastersample to ensure that the colour remains‘within a commercial tolerance’.This process if not an exact science and acommercial tolerance is subjective butnevertheless is usually the professionaljudgement of the head dyer based on his/herexperience. A greater level of tolerance is required onblended colours (Heathers etc). To ensureperfect colour matching it is advisable that asingle width be used in any installationrequiring exact colour matching.N.B. Carpets which are laid with the piletravelling in different directions, even thoughthey be from the same batch will appear notto match.For further information please check with themanufacturers recommendations.
SAMPLESThe samples held by individual retailers maynot be from the same batch as currentproduction and therefore should be used as aguide and not an exact colour match.
SHEDDINGAll cut pile carpets will lose short fibre, whichis created during production when spun yarnis cut for tuft formation. These fibres fall ontothe surface of the pile and appear as ‘fluff’. The effect varies with yarn type and may beremoved without detrimental effect upon thecarpet by vacuum cleaning. This excess fibreis only a small fraction of the total fibrecontained in the carpet.
PULLED LOOPSPulled loops occur only in looped pile carpetwhere one or more loops in the continuouspile is pulled through the primary backing ofthe carpet. This is usually due to some localcondition, possibly some sharp object whichhas caught in a loop in situ and has resultedin a pull. Pulled loops are easily dealt with bytrimming the offending end level with therest of the pile. They should not be left as thiscould result in further loops being pulled anddeveloping into a ladder.
SPROUTINGOccasionally an odd tuft or two can work itsway to the surface and stand proud of the restof the pile. This is probably due to one end ofthe tuft being longer than the other i.e. Jshaped tuft instead of V shaped. Remedialaction merely requires that the offending tuftsbe scissor trimmed level with the rest of thepile. They should never be pulled out.
SHADINGShading occurs because the pile of the carpethas become crushed, flattened or brushed in adifferent direction to the natural lie of the pilewhilst in situ. This causes light reflection atdiffering angles resulting in the creation oflight and dark patches on the carpet. This willoccur on all pile fabrics but can be morenoticeable on plainer carpets because theshadows created by pile pressure will not bedisguised by a heavy pattern or design.
STATICCarpets do not produce static but like otherhousehold fabrics and objects have thecapacity to store it. Static is caused by thebuild up of static electricity upon personnelin a dry environment and is discharged whena person makes contact with an object whichcan conduct electricity (i.e. door handle orfiling cabinets, etc).The static charges will vary in intensitydepending upon the individual, air humidityand the contact materials. Static is moreusually associated with synthetic materials asthey do not retain moisture very well but itcan and does occur with wool in very dryroom conditions.Preventative measures include theintroduction of moisture into the room or insitu carpet treatment.
FADING ON WOOLCarpets made from wool can and do fade inuse. The degree of fade can vary dependingon the colour chosen and the local conditionsto which the carpet is subjected.Fading can be caused by exposure to ultraviolet light which is found in daylight, but isaccelerated when sunlight shines directlyonto the carpet. This has the effect oflightening or “Bleaching” the colour just asexposure to sunlight will lighten human hair.Wool is after all animal hair. Protection should be given to carpets exposedto such conditions just as you would protectother furniture or fabrics.A complaint on fading would be consideredjustified if it failed to meet the required shadestandard when tested to the British StandardBS1006 (1990).
Like shading, this occurs when the pile or napof the carpet changes direction and thusreflects light at different angles showing theeffects of shading which can becomepermanent. It is also described as‘watermarking’. This can happen to everycarpet construction be it Axminster, Wilton,Tufted, Hand Woven, Persian, Chinese, Indianor even Coir Matting. Like shading it can bemore apparent on plain carpet because heavypatterns can disguise the effects. It can occurquite quickly after installation. A tremendousamount of research has been carried out overmany years by many institutes to determinethe cause of this phenomenon but none of ithas proved conclusive. There is no commonlyknown manufacturing process which cancause or cure this phenomenon and thereforeit is not a manufacturing fault. For furtherinformation please check with individualmanufacturers recommendations.
INDENTATIONSWhen a carpet is subjected to a heavy pointload, such as under the legs of furniture, it isunreasonable to expect the carpet not toindent. Usually, the longer the load is in place,the longer will be the time for the pile torecover. In the case of very heavy loads inplace for a considerable time, the recoverytime can be very considerable.It must be remembered that it is not only thepile of the carpet that becomes indented. theunderlay will also indent and the backing ofthe carpet may also distort into theindentation in the underlay. Some underlay’swill recover well and some less welldepending upon their composition, thickness,density etc.The use of cups below furniture legs canspread the load and the net result is a largerarea of less deeply indented carpet.The ability of a carpet to recover from a heavystatic load can be measured in the laboratory,using the test method described in BS 4939and many manufacturers will have data onthis aspect of carpet performance. In this testthe carpet is loaded for 24 hours and thedegree of recovery is measured after 1 hourand 24 hours. Since there are so manydifferent underlay’s however, it is very rarefor the recovery from a heavy static load to beevaluated on carpet and underlay.Often normal maintenance (vacuum cleaningwith a rotating brush machine) will speed uprecovery but in the case of seriousindentations the use of an iron and damp clothor a steam iron together with a blunt darningneedle to carefully tease up the pile can bebeneficial. Care must be take not to over wetthe carpet, of course.
FLATTENINGFlattening will occur as a result of trafficwhich eventually flattens the pile particularlyin the main areas of use. All pile fabrics willflatten to greater or lesser degree dependanton the amount of traffic to which it issubjected and the construction (tuftdensity/pile fibre/height/weight) of theproduct concerned.
SOILINGSoiling is usually the result of some localcondition to which the carpet has beensubjected to, or maintenance, or lack ofmaintenance programme. There is nothing weas manufacturers can do to prevent soiling inuse. There are several types of soiling whichare quite common:Spillages - Liquids such as soft drinks,cordials or any drink which contains sugar,particularly hot drinks, is likely to leave astain. In such instances, professional helpshould be sought.Shampoo - if incorrectly applied, can leavesticky soap residues in the fibres which canresult in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly.Dust - which is carried on draughts can soilcarpets in various ways, apart from theobvious soiled edges, at gaping skirtingboards for instance, dark lines appearing onsurface might suggest airborne dust vacuum-drawn through poorly fitted floorboards.Sometimes the shape of floorboards can beseen quite clearly. Air borne dust sometimesshows itself as spots on the carpet, this is dueto the air carried on a draught under thecarpet escaping through minute holes both inthe underlay and the carpet, leaving dustdeposited on the pile much like a filter action.In such installations, the use of a lining paperis essential as a preventative measure.It is the responsibility of the retailer to advisethe consumer when the carpet is measured ofany poorly fitting doors, skirtings, orfloorboards and the consumers responsibilityto ensure any remedial work to seal draughts,is carried out before the carpet is fitted, if aresulting complaint is to be avoided.
INSTALLATIONSTelephone National Institute of Carpet Fitters(NICF) for further information – 0115 958 3077.
With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpetproduced today is tufted. It takes about an hour to make a roll ofcarpet that might take eight hours to weave.To make tufted carpet,hundreds of yarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primarybacking fabric to form loops or tufts, which may be left as is or cut. Aheavy adhesive coating is applied to hold the tufts in place and asecondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability. A widevariety of styles and textures can then be created using varioustechniques.
LOOP PILEBerber • Berber carpets look like and are named after a handmade,bulky wool carpet made by the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia.The loops are made from thick or bulky yarns of wool, nylon,polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effectunderfoot.These carpets are available in an assortment of colours andmay be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop.
Level Loop • When all the loops are of the same height, a highlyflexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casualappearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres.The tight loop texture tends to hide marks so it’s a good blendbetween luxury and practicality.
Multi-level loop • The loops vary to two or sometimes threeloop heights to create informal, random textures which are veryforgiving for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for hightraffic areas and busy family rooms.
CUT PILE Freize • Frieze (pronounced free-say) carpets are similar to saxony,but the yarns are more tightly twisted and should always be heat set.They have a dense, low pile surface which creates a coarse, pebblytexture. Frieze carpets are very durable and hide footprints, dust anddirt, which makes them suitable for heavy traffic areas.
Saxony • Saxony textures are made of twisted yarns, which shouldbe heat set.The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending togetherto form a very elegant finish. Saxony textures show footprints andvacuum marks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home.More textured variations improve the practicality of saxonies.
Twist • The popular twist carpet is the cut-pile standard.The yarn istightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature and the result isa versatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours.
Velvet • Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all havea level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is thensheared to give a smooth finish.With very little twist in the yarn, the
WOVEN
Woven carpet may be in a tiny minority of today’s production but
still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for
prestigious installations.
Axminster • The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing
as it is woven and cut to length, creating U-shaped tufts to give a
velvety surface.The process locks in the fibre to create a carpet of
high durability and performance retention as well as a luxury feel.
The process allows for intricate designs and colours to be used –
although modern trends mean that the traditional patterned
axminster has given way to current fashion trends for plain carpets.
Wilton • Wilton woven carpets are produced in a similar way to
axminsters – the principal difference being that a continuous fibre
is woven all the way through.The carpet can be sheared to create
a range of cut and loop textured effects.The result is a high quality
carpet of unrivalled durability.
Flat weave • Manufactured in the same way as wilton, flat
weave is a loop pile which allows the yarn to be woven across a
wider area to created a flatter, more textured effect.
ends blend together which then further enhances the overall finish.These carpets tend to ‘shade’ with heavy use. Footprints show easilyand the colour looks different from place to place because fibreslying in different directions reflect the light differently. A luxury foroccasional rooms.
CUT AND LOOPWhen some of the pile is cut and other left as loop, a variety ofsurface textures and patterns can be created (in a variety ofcolours).The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints andstains so cut and loop is good for high traffic areas and generalpurpose rooms in the home.
Shag pile • Shag pile has varied in popularity.The pile is up to50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surfaceflattens easily and lacks durability.
BONDEDBonded carpets (sometimes called ‘fibre-bonded’ or ‘fusion bonded’)are created by firing fibres into an adhesive material – the fibres arenot stitched into the backing in any way. The technique is principallyused for commercial carpet tiles.
Tip Sheared Level Loop
Random Sheared Multi-Level Loop
Velvet/Plush Frieze
Twist Berber
Saxony Shag
Tip Sheared Level Loop
Random Sheared Multi-Level Loop
Velvet/Plush Frieze
Twist Berber
Saxony Shag
Tip Sheared Level Loop
Random Sheared Multi-Level Loop
Velvet/Plush Frieze
Twist Berber
Saxony Shag
Tip Sheared Level Loop
Random Sheared Multi-Level Loop
Velvet/Plush Frieze
Twist Berber
Saxony Shag
Flooring factsheet
Carpet types
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:36 pm Page 8
Flooring factsheet
Good underlay will...• Improve underfoot comfort• Increase appearance retention, reducing flattening• Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear• Improve thermal insulation and warmth• Increase sound insulation• Smooth out sub-floor imperfections• Last the lifetime of the carpet
Poor or old underlay will...• Feel hard and unwelcoming• Reduce carpet life• Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots• Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly• Not meet British Standards
How thick? A maximum of 12mm is recommended (working withgripper will be difficult thereafter) but rooms with heavytraffic will need a thinner, denser pad.The combinationof thickness and density is all important as a thickunderlay with low density may not perform well.Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it willneed to be - 11mm is often used for luxury installationswith 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.
In a tight market for margins, underlay for carpet andlaminate flooring offers retailers one of the bestopportunities to add value to every sale - with goodprofitability, trade-up potential once benefits areunderstood and high satisfaction levels with customers.
But 50% of carpet is still sold without new underlay!
Retailers should create an assumption that newunderlay is always required, the only decision is whichtype. It’s also a good target-setter for sales staff.
Setting up in-store demonstrations so customers canwalk on samples with different grades of underlay andfeel the difference has shown excellent results - somemanufacturers offer point-of-sale units.
Underlay
Sponge rubberThe market’s most popular underlay is available in flat orwaffle patterns in a wide range of weights for differentapplications. It performs well for comfort and has adurable spring retention.
PU (polyurethane) foamPU foam is a relative newcomer to the market, typicallymade from recycled foam offcuts.The foam providesexcellent comfort and performance levels with lots ofthickness options - and its light weight helps handling.The product can be re-cycled again after use.
Crumb rubberFlat and dense, crumb rubber is good for heavy footfall - offering maximum protection but a little less comfort(and very good over stair nosings).
Laminate underlayThere’s still an opportunity to sell underlay with laminateflooring, improving the acoustic performance of the floorand helping the boards float above any imperfections inthe sub-surface.
CombinationA rubber crumb base with a felt top layer offers a goodcombination of protection, durability and comfort. It alsoallows carpet with seaming to bed into the top felt.
Underfloor heating underlayAlways ask if there is underfloor heating. Most manufacturersoffer specialised products. Underlay and carpet with acombined tog rating up to 2.5 can be used - which meansthe underlay would normally have a tog rating of 1.0.
FeltThis traditional (but environmentally friendly) underlay ismade from recycled fibres - wool, jute and synthetic - tocreate a firm, dense pad with excellent thermal insulation.Still a very popular choice among contractors whenstretch fitting woven carpets
Pre-tackified underlayA self-adhesive single stick underlay in both needlefeltand PU. A removable system for heavy use whencomfort is desired
Benefits
www.underlay.com
www.numa-online.co.uk
www.interfloor.com
www.texfelt.co.uk
www.interfloor.com
Specialists in pre-tacked underlays,soft fibre boards & Roberts Tools.
Every time you see a web or email address in The Stocklists,you can click straight to it from our online edition atwww.thestocklists.com
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:37 pm Page 15
16 THE STOCKLISTS December 2009
PLUS A VAST RANGE OF ACCESSORIES AND TOOLS FOR CARPETS AND LAMINATESContact our sales office or your area representative for prices on any of the above ranges. We also offer a fast service on non stock items. Phone our showroom manager for prices and samples. Our latest price list is dated November 2009.
REP DETAILS:Ashley Best Tel: 07976 916752 Surrey , Hampshire, South LondonNick Hart Tel: 07771 967609 Essex, East LondonKarl Goult Tel: 07957 685428 North London, West London, North West London, Middlesex,
Herts., Beds., and Bucks.David Holmes Tel: 07974 190677 Kent, South East London
CARPENTERS PU UNDERLAYSGREENSTEP 15 m2 8mm PU UnderlaySUPER GREEN STEP 15 m2 10mm PU UnderlayRICHSTEP 15 m2 9mm PU UnderlayDEEPSTEP 15 m2 11mm PU Underlay
Kidderminster Trading EstateSpennells Valley RoadKidderminsterWorcs DY10 1XSNew trade price list effective 1st December 2008
MASTER CRAFTSMAN FORTEEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/CONTRACT 80% WOOL/20% NYLON40oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS
CRAFTSMAN ELITEEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/CONTRACT 80% WOOL/20% NYLON50oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS
AMOREEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER45oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS
TWINFOLD FINE TWISTEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER50oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTH
CRESTAEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER40oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTH
CRESTA SUPREMEEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER50oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTH
ASPENHEAVY/ EXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 80% WOOL/20% POLYPROPYLENE50 oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS• Please note - the lighter weight in this quality has now been discontinued
BERBER TWIST CLASSIC EXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER
4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS
SHETLAND EXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 100% TWO PLY PURE NEW WOOLMade with a natural mix of undyed Shetland & Norwegian Wool 4 METRE WIDTHS
CAVENDISH HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 100% PURE NEW WOOLChoice of 18 Stylish Shades 4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS
VOGUE EXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 80% PURE NEW WOOL, 20% NYLON TWO FOLD YARN
PLAIN 4 & 5 METRE WIDTHS, STRIPED 4 & 0.66 METRE WHIPPED RUNNER
FLORIANEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER60oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTH
EXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% ACRYLIC/7% POLYESTER/42oz PILE WEIGHT (ORION TWIST) + 60 oz (ORION MAJOR) 3% POLYPROPYLENE• Please note - the lighter weight in this quality has now been discontinued 4 & 5 METRE WIDTH
FAIRFIELD TWISTEXTRA HEAVY DOMESTIC/GENERAL CONTRACT 80% WOOL/10% NYLON/10% POLYESTER40oz PILE WEIGHT 4 & 5 METRE WIDTH
REPRESENTATIVES:Mr. T. Bradley Tel: 07968 835201 S. Humberside, Lincs.,Notts, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire,North Hertfordshire.
Mr. S. Perks Tel: 07968 835205 W. Midlands, Northants., Beds, Warwickshire, Worcs,Herefordshire, Shropshire
Mr. S. Stead Tel: 07968 835204. North Humberside,Yorkshire, The North East
Mr. A. Finch Tel: 07970 693752. Sussex, parts of Surrey, SouthCentral & South West London
Mr. R.I. Hart Tel: 07968 835202.Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, S.E London
Mr. M. Humphreys Tel: 07968 835203 Hampshire, Dorset,Berkshire, Isle of Wight, Channel Isles, parts of Surrey
Mr. R. Venn Tel: 07968 835206.South Wales, Bristol, South West, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire,Devon, Cornwall
Mr L. Little Tel: 07918 081782Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales, Cumbria, North Staffs
Mr D. Milstead Tel: 07841 565349Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, South Beds, South Herts,North London
We would like to remind all customers that we have our ownDEDICATED TRANSPORT FLEET
offering a timely and efficient delivery service.
Contract and bespoke service available.
For all commercial enquiries please refer to sales reps/agents. For information or visit our new user friendly website
www.carpetsofkidderminster.com
CONTEMPORARY AND TONAL AXMINSTERS
AGENTS & REPRESENTATIVES
Scotland Rodger Adams mobile: 07970 023 159
North East /Cumbria John Reid mobile: 07973 741 445
Lancashire, Yorkshire &North Wales Martin Lees mobile: 07974 413 992
Lincolnshire, East Midlands East Anglia, Essex & Hampshire Mario Sorano mobile: 07989 589 124
West Midlands Robin Rowberry mobile: 07831 434 244
North & West London,Home Counties & Bedfordshire Lee Palmer mobile: 07774 101640
South West/South Wales Andrew Jefferies mobile: 07831 457 102
South London/Surrey/Sussex & Kent Tony Cook mobile: 07860 205 377
Chateau Royale
3 ply well established pindot in 12 colourswith 2 border options
Beaufort Court3 ply modern simple designs on pindot groundavailable in 12 colourways, 2 designsMazarin & Crystal NEW
Florenza3 ply subtle natural tonaltextured yarns NEW
80% WOOL, 20% NYLON Grade 5, Heavy Wear,
supplied in 3.66m
80% WOOL, 20% NYLON Grade 5, Heavy Wear,
supplied in 3.66m
80% WOOL, 20% NYLON Grade 5, Heavy Wear,
supplied in 3.66m
Beaufort CourtMazarine Crystal • Available in two designs
Natural EleganceThe Ultimate in style and luxury
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:37 pm Page 19
20 THE STOCKLISTS December 2009
Columbia Flooring would like to thank all its customers for their fantastic support this year.
We hope you have a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
TRAFALGAR TRADING ESTATEJEFFREYS ROAD
ENFIELD MIDDLESEX
EN3 7TY
Tel: 0208 443 3322Fax: 0208 805 2346
ColumbiaFlooring plc
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:37 pm Page 20
THE STOCKLISTS December 2009 21
OUR SALES TEAMGreater London as far as N. Circular on north side of Thamesand as far as M25 on south side,Surrey, some of Bucks, MiddlesexBerks, Oxfordshire.John A ConstableT: 01622 685397 M: 07836 734322Kent, Sussex, Hampshire Robin CroughtonT: 01892 669699 M: 07710 393966
Lincs, Leics, Northants,Notts, Derbyshire Jim OsborneM: 07738 642934Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales Philip HambletonT: 01925 740050 M: 07966 397676Yorkshire & North Lincs John AlsopT: 01904 762471 M: 07860 572220
Cumbria and North East Jimmy ThomsonT: 01835 863180 M: 07767 702928ScotlandTim TindalT: 01436 671421 M: 07836 705620Channel Islands, Isle of Wight John Eastlake T: 01323 896141 M: 07885 398858Northern Ireland Jim OsborneM: 07738 642934
DOMOTEX BECKONS! COME AND JOIN US We’re all working hard towards our next big diary date – Domotex, inHannover, from 16-19 January. If you’re planning to visit this, Europe’sbiggest and most important flooring event, then we hope you’ll comeand find us in our usual spot, stand E42 in Hall 6 and stop for some
refreshment!
Domotex is the mostimportant exhibitionin Edel Telenzo’scalendar so we makea big splash and it’sthe ideal opportunityto see what’s going to be coming along in 2010.
That includes the new Hudson and Lawrence very attractivelypriced100% wool qualities – textured and plain designs in sixearthy, neutral shades, which will be available in rolls only. AndChelsea, a luxurious 3-ply yarn Pure New Wool low level loop, ineight gorgeous shades of greys, browns, taupe and mushrooms.
Plus, there’s our exciting new contract tiles programme, which hascome along leaps and bounds since Harrogate. Fleur is a lovelythick cut pile frisée and Vancouver a heavier cut pile, both in100% solution dyed polyamide with modified bitumen backing, in eight attractive colours.
WINDSOR PROVES ANINTERNATIONAL HITOur new two-tone stripey 50-50 quality, Windsor, isproving extremely popular, both for contract and domesticsettings – worldwide! A customer has just supplied a luxuryhotel on Broadway, New York City with acres of it! See here how good it looks in a restaurant dining room.
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:37 pm Page 21
We tick all the boxes!
Best-selling products at every price point
Large group stock-holdingExtensive tufting expertise Effective service systems Fast delivery fleet
As a UK manufacturer and distributor, Furlong’s objectiveis simply to offer its customers the best of all worlds interms of price, service and quality - a partnership thatretailers can rely on and a comprehensive product rangethat consumers will respond to.
Furlong’s wholly-owned manufacturing company,Regency Carpets, is one of the UK’s top three tufters witha modern plant located in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
A long-term programme of substantial investment hascreated a major production facility for both 4m and 5mwide carpet and the new backing plant commissioned lastyear is now fully on line.
As a result, the company can produce hundreds ofthousands of square metres of carpet every week,covering all the key sectors – stain resistantpolypropylene, wool twist, wool natural and many others.
Being in control of its manufacturing means Furlong cancontrol the cost base and the quality to provide a rangeof products that is competitive at each of the pricepoints. Manufacturing also means they can manage stockmore closely and respond to changes in demand so thatthe right carpet is always ready for dispatch.
Furlong’s nationwide distribution network operates acrossthree depots – London, Preston and Newport – using adedicated fleet to carry rolls and cut lengths to ourcustomers usually within 24 hours.
Furlong’s product development team has created aportfolio of products matched to the diverse needs ofdifferent customer groups, rooms styles and performancerequirements. Regency’s stain-resistant ranges use theirown ‘Carefree’ fibre which is bleach cleanable and offeredwith a warranty for absolute confidence. New ranges areintroduced several times a year to keep the offering freshand interesting and respond to consumer trends andcolour shifts.
Furlong have paid particular attention to the presentationof the product range to consumers with a market-leadingmodular POS system which they will deliver and designto suit your store.
Furlong believes in working in partnership with their customersto provide products and services that ticks all the boxes.
Investing in quality and service
the aim is simply to offer customersthe best of all worlds in terms of price, service and quality
SIMON BRENNERM: 07791 891024S.W LONDON, SURREY (INS. M25)
IAN COLLACOTTM: 07816 217550MIDDLESEX, W. LONDONBERKSHIRE
DARREN SPENDIFFM: 07791 890861KENT
RAY SMITHM: 07816 217565ESSEX
ADAM HOLLYOAKEM: 07816 217548N, N W & E LONDON
3 quality3 choice3 availability3 service3 price
The Regency range ofstain-resistant carpetsticks all the boxes:
GEORGE WISELYM: 07967 148665SCOTTISH SALESDIRECTOR
COLIN RICHFORDM: 07970 163372WEST SCOTLAND &CUMBRIA
ALAN CAIRNIEM: 07976 311434EAST SCOTLAND
• Mix and match up to10 units.
• Islands, triangles, corners and walls.
• Unique, stylish, interlocking design.
• Total service - design, delivery andinstallation.
High impact POSFurlong’s innovative new modular displayshave been launched with the top 10 Regencystain-resistant carpet ranges to suit everystyle and consumer budget.
National Sales TeamScotland. Jimmy Thompson Mobile 07767 702928Helen Thompson Mobile 07903 583806
North East England (Teesside, Tyneside, Northumberland).Mark Ponting Mobile 07725 249439
West Yorkshire.Mike Craggs Mobile 07808 572593
West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire.Chris Hook Mobile 07796 155375
Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Wirral, North Wales, MerseysideCharles Gordon Mobile 07590 355887
North Yorkshire, North / South Humberside,Lincolnshire.Mike Matthews Mobile 07710 126115
Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Fylde.Joe Smith Mobile 07860 475482
Sheffield, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershireand East Midlands.Adrian Garner Mobile 07921 408950
South Wales, Staffordshire, Worcestershire,Shropshire and West Midlands.Peter Stoneman Mobile 07985 279842
East Anglia, Essex, Herts and Norfolk, .Jon Marsh Mobile 07861 240555
Kent, Surrey and Sussex, London.Jon Marsh Mobile 07861 240555
Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, WiltshireHampshire, Bristol and Isle of Wight. Martin Pow Mobile 07968 117889
Distributors ofDistinction
Telephone: 01977 662211
Featured product - Memory Foam Mattress
We continue to be successful in a difficult market placeand due to innovative product and design we arethankfully ahead of last year and against all this year’ssales budgets.We are proud to announce an expansion of our strongpartnership with Carpenter with the launch of the SleepBetter Memory Foam Mattress using NASA technologymemory foam (Visco Elastic) developed for the Spaceshuttle seating.Please contact your Representative or Agent for more details.
FELLS - LEADERS IN QUALITY WOVEN WILTONS
Fells Carpets take pride in having the most comprehensive
Wilton collection available in the UK today and we
continually work hard with design teams all around the
world to come up with innovative design and colour. Our
continual commitment to this product type along with our
vast experience, allows us to keep ahead and to provide the
market with the very best products available.
MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL
MOHAWK ALSO MANUFACTURE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS UNDER THESE BRANDS
Mohawk United Kingdom1 Chester RoadColmworth Business ParkEaton Socon, St. NeotsCambridgePE19 8YT
Tel: 01480 479830Fax: 01480 471304
UK Sales Offi ce
American Velvet 3.66m I 65oz
100% StainmasterTactesse Nylon
Butter Pecan* 3.66m I 52oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Casual Allure 3.66m I 48oz
100% Ultrastrand Nylon with Scotchgard
Certain Success* 3.66 & 4.57m I 42oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Coastal Charm* 3.66m I 29oz
100% Everstrand PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Colour Cachet 3.66m I 55oz
100% StainmasterTactesse Nylon
Eloquence 3.66m I 86oz
100% ANSO Caress
Knightsbridge 3.66m I 65oz
100% Wear-dated Durasoft Nylon
New Century 4.0m I 100oz
100% Polyester with Scotchgard
Paint Box* 3.66 & 4.57m I 65oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Park Avenue II* 3.66 & 4.57m I 80oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Rainbow Sherbert* 3.66 I 52oz
100% Mohawk Everset PET with Scotchgard
Royal Palace II 4.0m I 95oz
100% Polyester with Scotchgard
Sera Bella 3.66m I 91oz
100% Ultrastrand Lissé with Advanced Repel
Shag-A-Delic 3.66m I 50oz
100% Ultrasrand BCF Nylon
Shimmering Sands 3.66m I 46oz
100% Ultrastrand Lissé with Advanced Repel
True Winner* 3.66 & 4.57m I 62oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Tula Rosa 3.66m I 65oz
100% StainmasterTactesse BCF Nylon
Vivid Luxury 3.66m I 70oz
100% Ultrastrand Lissé with Advanced Repel
Weston Hill* 3.66m I 30oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Carpets marked * on Environmental Tombola
100% recycled carpetMohawk International takes old plastic bottles and turns them into beautiful, luxurious carpet...
Hard to believe we know, but a plastic bottle you drink from today could one daybecome fibres in Mohawk’s carpet.
Polyethylene terephthalate (P.E.T) is the top quality resin required in the production of plastic drinks bottles. When recycled, it can be extruded into fibres that are far superiorto lower-grade synthetic virgin fi bres used in making other brands of carpet yarns.
Mohawk recycles over 3 billion plastic bottles each year. By controlling everyaspect of the recycling process,Mohawk guarantees the highest standards of performance in its luxurious and beautiful carpet.
From bottle to floor - that’s how we do it.
EUROPEAN STOCK RANGES
Make the most of the consumer’s love of all things green with the new Environmental Tombola featuring carpet manufactured from 100% recycled material
“Mohawk recycles over 3 billion plastic bottles each year.”
MohawkPET_A4.indd 1 3/4/09 16:28:27
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:37 pm Page 24
MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL
MOHAWK ALSO MANUFACTURE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS UNDER THESE BRANDS
Mohawk United Kingdom1 Chester RoadColmworth Business ParkEaton Socon, St. NeotsCambridgePE19 8YT
Tel: 01480 479830Fax: 01480 471304
UK Sales Offi ce
American Velvet 3.66m I 65oz
100% StainmasterTactesse Nylon
Butter Pecan* 3.66m I 52oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Casual Allure 3.66m I 48oz
100% Ultrastrand Nylon with Scotchgard
Certain Success* 3.66 & 4.57m I 42oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Coastal Charm* 3.66m I 29oz
100% Everstrand PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Colour Cachet 3.66m I 55oz
100% StainmasterTactesse Nylon
Eloquence 3.66m I 86oz
100% ANSO Caress
Knightsbridge 3.66m I 65oz
100% Wear-dated Durasoft Nylon
New Century 4.0m I 100oz
100% Polyester with Scotchgard
Paint Box* 3.66 & 4.57m I 65oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Park Avenue II* 3.66 & 4.57m I 80oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Rainbow Sherbert* 3.66 I 52oz
100% Mohawk Everset PET with Scotchgard
Royal Palace II 4.0m I 95oz
100% Polyester with Scotchgard
Sera Bella 3.66m I 91oz
100% Ultrastrand Lissé with Advanced Repel
Shag-A-Delic 3.66m I 50oz
100% Ultrasrand BCF Nylon
Shimmering Sands 3.66m I 46oz
100% Ultrastrand Lissé with Advanced Repel
True Winner* 3.66 & 4.57m I 62oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Tula Rosa 3.66m I 65oz
100% StainmasterTactesse BCF Nylon
Vivid Luxury 3.66m I 70oz
100% Ultrastrand Lissé with Advanced Repel
Weston Hill* 3.66m I 30oz
100% PET Polyester with Scotchgard
Carpets marked * on Environmental Tombola
100% recycled carpetMohawk International takes old plastic bottles and turns them into beautiful, luxurious carpet...
Hard to believe we know, but a plastic bottle you drink from today could one daybecome fibres in Mohawk’s carpet.
Polyethylene terephthalate (P.E.T) is the top quality resin required in the production of plastic drinks bottles. When recycled, it can be extruded into fibres that are far superiorto lower-grade synthetic virgin fi bres used in making other brands of carpet yarns.
Mohawk recycles over 3 billion plastic bottles each year. By controlling everyaspect of the recycling process,Mohawk guarantees the highest standards of performance in its luxurious and beautiful carpet.
From bottle to floor - that’s how we do it.
EUROPEAN STOCK RANGES
Make the most of the consumer’s love of all things green with the new Environmental Tombola featuring carpet manufactured from 100% recycled material
“Mohawk recycles over 3 billion plastic bottles each year.”
KKeenntt,, SSuurrrreeyy,, SSuusssseexx,, SS..EE.. LLoonnddoonnCaretaker – Richard Chappell 07881-502507Territory Vacant – Call Antony Stapleton on 07881-502505 for more details.
SSaalleess OOffffiicceeAntony Stapleton 0208 498 2845 M. 07881 502505
CALL THE SALES OFFICEFOR OUR NOVEMBER 9THPRICE LIST SUPPLEMENT!
STOP PRESS...An exciting opportunity has arisen on our South Eastern Territory - Call 07881-502505 for more information – join Ralph and the team? – Call now!
IVCMaster GripPrestoCAVALIERCountry CollectionHamlet Parish and VillageLEIGH SPINNERSAtlasVelourTHOMAS WITTERInnovationsC&HHomestyle LVT - planks and tiles
Solent Wholesale Carpet Company LtdCARPET, FLOORCOVERING & ACCESSORY WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORSTTeelleepphhoonnee:: 0011224433 777744662233 Fax: 01243 533636 E -mail: [email protected] Website: www.solentwholesale.co.uk Zola Park, Barnfield Drive, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6UX
We carry other products not listed above, and can also provide a swift specialorder service on non stock lines. Our reps and sales office would be pleasedto answer all enquiries. Our last Price List is dated November/December 2009.
STOCK UNDERLAYSGoldtred CollectionCirrusCumulusNimbusSilver LiningCloud Nine ContractCloud Nine Super ContractDurafit 500Durafit 650Cosi 8mm & 10mmHeatflow CollectionRomaBlue HeavenWillow GreenTreadmore
SL Front December 09 26/11/09 1:37 pm Page 28
Ball’s investment showcase
Balta focuses on fashion
The Balta Group will be prominent at Domotex with all Balta businessunits - Balta Rugs, Balta Broadloom, ITC and Balterio - showing theirnewest products, demonstrating that the Balta Group continues to investheavily in technological innovation and design.
Balta Rugs, Balta Broadloom and ITC are located in Hall 6, stand A30 andC42 - Balterio is located in Hall 7, stand C28
Balta Broadloom sees Domotex as the ideal international forum to launcha wide array of new collections. Balta will focus on a range of new wovenproducts; wool twists and shaggies. Highlights include:Vintage Wilton, anexciting collection of stylish vintage patterns in refined natural colours;Perfect Match, a trendy wool collection coordinating plain colours with astriped pattern carpet; and Heather Twist: a Stainsafe PP Saxony in heathercolours, available in different weight options.
ITC, the biggest all-round supplier of polyamide carpet in Western Europe,focuses on creativity and design in 2010.This is the year of different colourcompositions in 3D structures and of slightly different aspects.
Different yarn and colour blends, in combination with special weave anddesign constructions, dictate the Balta Rugs landscape in 2010. During theDomotex show Balta Rugs will demonstrate, a variety of new productranges to show its trendsetter position in the market.
T 0056 62 23 16 www.baltagroup.com
FlooringNews7 December 2009
29from The Stocklists December 2009
F. Ball and Co. Ltd. will be using its presence at Domotex 2010 to present the results of its £8 million investment programme in newmanufacturing and training facilities, and the benefits these will deliver to its customers throughout Europe.
The new 30,000ft2 factory has enhanced F. Ball’s production capacity to meet the increased demand for its high performance Stopgap subfloorpreparation products, including the reformulated, latex-free Stopgap Green Bag and Stopgap Blue Bag smoothing underlayments. Meanwhile, theindustry-leading facilities and comprehensive training courses provided at F. Ball’s new training school will help to improve skills within the flooringindustry, reinforcing the company’s market-leading position and commitment to promoting best practice.
Richard Harris, Marketing Manager at F. Ball, comments:“Together, these developments demonstrate F. Ball’sstrength in that despite the current economic climate,we have been prepared and able to contribute suchsignificant and long term investments.”
“Domotex continues to provide a valuable platformfor F. Ball to meet with existing customers, as well asbuilding new relationships in the wider internationalflooring industry. Experienced members of the sales,marketing and liaison departments will be on thecompany’s stand, ready to welcome visitors anddiscuss their flooring needs in Hall 7, stand B45.”
Additionally, F. Ball will showcase its updated technical literature at the event, including the updated 2010 RAG and the new Flooring InstallationProducts Brochure.
T 01538 361633 www.f-ball.co.uk
DOMOTEX 2010 Hannover, January 16-19, 2010
Funky Stripes – a now trendy PP twist from Balta
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:21 pm Page 29
30
News
FlooringNewsDecember 2009
Harrogate show gains strength
The new Harrogate Floor Show has seen the industry delivery on its promises of support for thetraditional home of the flooring trade fair to be held next September.
Organisers are ahead of expectations in signing exhibitors for the event with more than 40 companiesalready committed including leading industry names. “We are well ahead of where we dared hope to be,”said show organiser David Wildman. “Everyday brings us more support and this is shaping up to be afantastic show for the trade.”
Last month, David announced a long list of committed exhibitors which included Abingdon, Cormar, F Ball,Furlong and several Headlam companies.This month, more key players including Victoria Carpets, Lano andEdel Telenzo have joined the event.
“The support from such substantial flooring companies has given the event real strength and purpose goingforward” said David. “The industry seems to have made up its mind that Harrogate is the place to be inSeptember 2010.”
Exhibitor bookings have been motivated by a 20% reduction in the price of floor space compared to 2009.Also, the new idea of opening on a Sunday, September 5th, has been welcomed by the trade as anopportunity to create a more enjoyable atmosphere at the event. “We’re looking to create an event that’s alittle more welcoming, friendly and, dare I say, fun,” says David. “I want people to enjoy doing business and Ithink that if we provide a warm welcome and better facilities, people will do better business.”
The Harrogate Flooring Show has appointed Wendy Adams Associates as the event management team forthe show with Wendy Adams and Danielle Brown providing in-depth experience in marketing andadministration.
The event has also negotiated with Destination Harrogate, a group made up of all the main hotels in thearea, to agree a package of accommodation rates for the event which are expected to be lower than the2009 rates.
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:21 pm Page 30
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Tarkett has launched a brandnew, indispensable cataloguethat details the completeportfolio of Tarkett commercialresilient floorcoverings offeredin the UK. In a handy A5 size,its 104 pages are packed full oftechnical product information,colour and design details for allranges.
This includes the 30 Tarkettproduct ranges thatcorrespond to the BRE GlobalGreen Guide Online genericspecifications for vinyl, linoleumand safety floors, whichachieve a summaryenvironmental rating of A+within the major use areas ofHealthcare and Education.Further information onTarkett’s Balanced Choiceapproach to sustainability canalso be found within theintroductory pages.
Mike Harrison, Marketing Manager for Tarkett said: “We are very excited about thenew catalogue, which brings together our entire product range in one handyreference for the first time. It’s been designed as a truly comprehensive guide toall Tarkett’s Intelligent Flooring Solutions and will be a great benefit to flooringcontractors and distributors alike.”
The catalogue is divided into distinct product ranges for ease of reference andspeedy navigation, with specialist solutions, such as sports floors, acoustic andelectro-static floorcoverings, also clearly listed.
T 01622 854040 www.tarkett-commercial.com
32
News
FlooringNewsDecember 2009
Tarkett’s essential reading
Cormar trains to gain The course attendees with Cormar’s Steve Flesher (far left), Ray Morganof the Flooring Guild (6th from left) and Cormar’s Steve Tapp (far right)
adore to work with Headlam
Independent retailers were given the chance to boost their sales skills thanks to Cormar Carpets, the UK’s leading tufted carpet manufacturer. Inassociation with the Flooring Guild, the UK training and education centre for flooring industry, a three day ‘Selling Quality Carpets’ course was held atCormar’s factory in Bury, Lancashire, exclusively for its customers.
Ten people, from retailers around the country, attended the course led by Ray Morgan of the Flooring Guild. Content included understandingproduction methods, planning and estimating and an introduction to professional retail skills. Attendees were also given a chance to look roundCormar’s impressive facility and certificates were presented on the final day.
“We actively encourage retailers to invest in their business through training,” says David Cormack, marketing director of Cormar Carpets. “Customersare more informed, selective and demanding than ever before so it’s in everyone’s interests to ensure staff are really knowledgeable and well-informed about the product they are selling. “However for many independents the time and cost element means that training isn’t always apriority. By sponsoring the course we gave those interested an opportunity to attend a concise and informative course for a nominal fee. Andfeedback was extremely positive.”
T 01204 881234 www.cormarcarpets.co.uk
Exclusive distribution rights for the product line-up ofadore luxury flooring has been agreed with the HeadlamGroup plc.With a unique position in the market placethanks to the world’s first LVT featuring licensed andpatented click profiles, adore luxury flooring will bechannelling distribution of its adore and adore touch LVTproducts through Headlam’s extensive distributonnetwork throughout the UK.
This exclusive distribution deal marks their official entryinto the UK supply chain of contractors and retailers.European CEO, Paul Brady explains:
“This announcement comes on the back of what was ahighly successful launch at the National Floor Show andunderlines our commitment to the UK sector. As part ofthe world’s largest LVT manufacturer and one that isrenowned for high levels of product innovation, we knewthat it was imperative to find a UK distribution partnerwith a similar approach to us and we have found thatwith Headlam.We believe we have begun a natural andmutually beneficial relationship.”
adore luxury flooring will work closely with Headlam toensure market penetration and to provide both retailersand contractors with the necessary support for theentire product portfolio.
“Because we manufacture every single component inadore and adoretouch flooring, including the lockingprofile, we have complete control of the floor’sproduction and this means products of a very highstandard,” continues Paul.
T 0845 6021881 www.adorefloors.com
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am
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34 FlooringNewsDecember 2009
The British Wool columnThe British Wool column
The December issue of Country Homes andInteriors Magazine features a free calendarsponsored by British Wool. This is the best sellingissue of the year for CH&I and the calendar is theirmost popular free gift throughout the year.Featuring several British Wool images includingcarpet room set shots, the publication have given ita very British textile orientated style to mirror theBritish Wool...Origin is everything campaign’ whichthe publication feel is perfect for their reader.Each calendar month features the aboutwool.comwebsite information, helping to point peopletowards this informative and inspirational consumerwebsite.“Country Homes and Interiors approached us tosponsor their calendar and we felt it was a greatopportunity to target the right kind of consumerfor British Wool. It is a stylish magazine gift and weare delighted that we have been able to take thisoffer up and promote the fibre, our website andBritish Wool product in this way,” Bridgette Kelly,Public Relations Manager at the BWMB said.
Adam Carpets introduceRustic Berber Twist
Kingsmead Carpets has introduced acompetitively priced new range to jointhe extremely popular Triple Twist BerbersCollection.
Available in eighteen natural heathershades, this range offers three differentqualities – Super, Elite and Luxury andeach carries a wear guarantee - up tofifteen years for the luxury quality.
“This British Wool range offersguaranteed wear and a highly attractivecarpet to the consumer, particularly forthose that have a defined budget for theirroom,” Martin West of KingsmeadCarpets said.
Triple Twist Heathers is available in 4 and5m wide and is available directly fromKingsmead on 01827 831424 or via anationwide selection of distributors.
Kingsmead launches Triple Twist Heathers
After perhaps one of the toughest years for retailing in recent history, many will be glad tosee 2009 come to a close.Whilst it has produced plenty of casualties along the way, it
seems, in some quarters at least, that orders have improved in recent weeks. Perhaps that is an indicator that the recessionfear that grabbed the UK has settled a little. Property movement – particularly new-build is the big requisite for all interiors basedindustry and that is still sticking due to lack of banking investment and employment security.At British Wool, wool prices have held steady in the last few months and the demand is good – all indicators that there is some activityin the textile industry. British Wool has carried on with our many promotional activities throughout the year, introducing a new campaign,new consumer website and working closely with consumer publications to promote British Wool ranges to the consumer.Business goes on and we all have to ensure that marketing and promotion continue so that we are ready for when the market returns.”Ian Hartley, CEO at the BWMB said. “We want to wish our friends in the retail flooring industry a very Happy Christmas and here’shoping that there will be sustainable and improved trading conditions in the New Year.”
End of Year message
British Wool sponsors CountryHomes & Interiors Calendar 2010
Triple Twist Heathers by Kingsmead Carpets
British Wool sponsored the CountryHomes & Interiors Calendar for 2010.
Adam Carpets has introduced a new British Woolrange - Rustic Berber Twist. A junior partner fortheir popular Kasbah Twist range, this range isavailable in twelve distinctive heather shades all ofwhich have taken inspiration from seed and spiceshades including the lighter natural shades ofCaraway and Saffron through to the darkerPeppercorn and Cumin tones and with two subtlegreens – Cardamon and Anise and a warm pinkpaprika shade.This stylish twist-pile range features berber slubs andhas a content of 80% wool, 10% nylon and 10%polyester. It is an 1/8th gauge construction with asecondary back and is suitable for heavy domesticwear, so a good choice for main living areas and thehall and stairs.“Rustic Berber Twist is a very good addition to the Kasbah Twist range and offers a highly qualitycarpet for the home with the heathery tones bringing interest and practicality to the floor,”Tony Hardwick, Sales Director at Adam Carpets said.The Rustic Berber Twist Collection is available now from Adam Carpets on 01562 829966.
Rustic Berber Twist Collectionby Adam Carpets
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35from The Stocklists December 2009
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36
News
FlooringNewsDecember 2009
Smarter, greener, softer
Everyday ease of living and a beautiful softness mark Smartstrand carpets from MohawkInternational as perfect for the home, while a 60% reduction in greenhouse gases and 30%lower energy consumption in manufacture mark them as a great environmental choice.
More than this, the Triexta fibre of Smartstrand carpets is made up of 37% Bio-PDO a rapidlyrenewable resource made from corn, making it the first synthetic domestic carpet range to bemade in part from renewable materials.
Smartstrand carpets are not only permanently stain resistant and colourfast; they are also exceptionally hardwearing and suitable for use in livingdining, bedrooms, stairs, hallways and landings across the nation. In fact, carpets featuring Smartstrand are just an all-round great choice.
With shaggy styles as well as luxurious velours and conventional twist piles, Smartstrand carpets also bring a kaleidoscope of colour to the home,with delicately poised neutral tones offset by bold and rich purples. All of these colours and textures are captured in their essence on MohawkInternational’s dedicated Smartstrand tombola.
“For retailers looking towards innovation as a marker for success, Smartstrand carpets are definitely ahead of the pack,” says Howard Lindsay ofMohawk International. “A wide and diverse range of colours and textures and the great story of Triexta fibre will undoubtedly prove to be a majorattraction in the first place.Yet that is before the real world practicalities of permanent stain protection, beautiful softness and excellent durability playtheir part.We are confident that Smartstrand carpets are the future and will prove an irresistible temptation for many homeowners.”
T 01480 479830 www.themohawkgroup.com
Stairs dress for success
A fresh coat of paint, some decorative wallpaper, new furniture and some brand newand practical wood or laminate flooring can do wonders to a hall, making a beautifulentrance to a home, but what about the stairs?
Perhaps a lick of paint, or maybe a runner, or maybe a brand new staircase? Or maybea brand new look thanks to Stair Make-Over, a simple tread-over-tread systemdesigned to turn old staircases into brand spanking new ones.
Available in five different finishes, from dark wenge to light maple, Stair Make-Over is asimple DIY kit that makes transforming staircases easy for home renovators.With stairssupplied in two tread packs and everything conveniently calculated through thewww.stairmakeover.com website, it really couldn’t be any easier for homeowners toget the staircase they’ve always wanted.
And for the retailer Stair Make-Over makes great sense. Easy to stock and carriedaway from store, Stair Make-Over makes transactions simple with no estimating or home visits required. Further to this, Stair Make-Over is backedby comprehensive marketing support to make it an even more tempting proposition:
“With installation DVDs, a comprehensive website, literature, point of sale and a very special in-store display, Stair Make-Over has the support thatretailers need and this proven formula has already seen success on mainland Europe.With much to gain for retailers looking for something fresh andexciting, we will also be on-hand to provide sales training and to make sure that retailers get the best value from this great new products,” concludesRonnie Houben, UK Sales Manager, Stair Make-Over.
T +31 40208 6222 www.stairmakeover.com
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37from The Stocklists December 2009
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Business News
FlooringNewsDecember 2009
‘Perfect storm’ in Euro market
A ‘perfect storm’ of market challenges for the European flooringindustry has prompted the biggest player Balta to suggest a radical planthat would consolidate the continental industry.
In an unprecedented move, Balta has issued an invitation to itscompetitors to join forces to overcome the economic downturn thatis rumoured to be threatening the viability of key companies in the sector.
Industry commentators in Belgium have talked of a ‘market collapse’and estimate exports are 26% down with sales declines of up to 40%for some participants. A recessionary decrease in demand hascombined with increased raw material costs for synthetics and a poorexchange rate for sterling for a carpet industry that is around 50%dependent on importing into the UK.
“The combination of these factors is the perfect storm for ourindustry,” says Geert Vanden Bossche of Balta. “It is a very serioussituation and we believe some consolidation is needed.We have sentout a signal that we are interested in joining forces.”
Balta, whose operation includes brands such as Balta Broadloom, BaltaRugs, Balterio and ITC, appear to have secured their own position. “Insome of our business units we are running flat out and achievedconsiderable success in volume sales and in gaining market share,” says Geert.
Balta is a major supplier to CarpetRight among others and admit thattheir sales growth is at the expense of margins as the mix has movedto lower average prices, combined with the relative weak poundsterling. "Rather than investing in additional capacity we are willing toconsider consolidation to avoid a build-up of overcapacity."
Balta are looking for true consolidation and make clear they are not ona buying spree to mop up rivals in a recession. “We do not have fatwallets,” says Geert and equity swaps or vendor loans could beanother mechanism to fund the change. Likely partners would need tobe of sufficient size to make the move worthwhile – a minimumturnover of Euro 50m – 100m is likely.
Balta are not naming preferred partners for consolidation and it isearly days for the discussions. Companies including AssociatedWeavers, Beaulieu, Domo and Lano will be considering the situationwith interest.
Behind the scenes, Balta’s owners Doughty Hanson are a UK privateequity fund looking for an exit and a bigger Balta would contribute to abetter proposition in a turbulent market.
It is also an opportunity to fill gaps in the Balta product portfolio andthe company is known to be looking to build its position in contractflooring, carpet tiles, needle felt and synthetic grass.
This drive has been given more power with the appointment of newCEO Jules Noten in January, followed quickly by Carl Verstraelenjoining as Chief Financial Officer in June.
UK market news
CBI reports carpets ‘return to growth’
High street retailers saw their fastest growth in more than two years inOctober, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey, withfurniture and carpets retailers among those to enjoy increasing sales.
During October, 41% of respondents said sales had risen, while 33%said they had fallen.The resulting +8% balance was the highest sinceDecember 2007. Retail confidence continues into November, with a+19% balance expecting sales growth, the most positive sentimentsince July 2007.
CBI data for the period showed that carpeting was among the productareas that are now seeing growth again after a "difficult year", helping tocontribute to an overall increase in spending in the year to Octoberand the most positive results for two years.
The connection between floor furnishings and the housing market wasnoted by CBI Distributive Trades Panel chairman Andy Clarke, "It isheartening to see signs of life in sectors related to the housing market,particularly those retailers selling white goods and furniture, who havehad a torrid two years."
Mohawk expect improvement
US carpet firm Mohawk managed to post a third-quarter profit aheadof expectations despite a 21% drop in sales when the companyreported to shareholders last month. Net income was £21 million.
Mohawk chairman Jeff Lorberbaum said the trading outlook was toughbut with some signs of hope: “Our European business, which isprimarily residential, is being impacted by low consumer spending andcompressed housing sales, similar to the US, and appears to bestabilizing. “The stronger euro is making exports outside of Europemore difficult and negatively influencing pricing. ”
Carpetright gain from Allied
Carpetright are expecting a stronger second half performance by theend of 2009 after the second consecutive quarter of rising sales withthe retail chain gaining market share and benefiting from the demise ofAllied Carpets earlier this year.
Chairman and Chief Executive Philip Harris said the overall floorcoverings market fell over 20 percent in the last six months but added:“"Although we expect the overall UK/Ireland market to be down, weexpect to have a good second half". But he cautioned that in 2010shoppers might be kept out of showrooms by the general election,TVcoverage of soccer's World Cup and tax hikes for higher earners.
Victoria looking to recovery
An 84% fall in profits headlined the financial results of Victoria Carpetsin November after losses in the company’s operations in Ireland andCanada but the UK position remains profitable after an 11% fall inrevenues from £12.4m to £11.1 million.
Victoria chairman Alexander Anton said: “The global recession hascontinued to impact the trading landscape in all of the geographies inwhich the Group operates.
“Despite the difficult trading conditions, the UK operation hascontinued to invest in new products for the residential sector, whichshould benefit trading in the second half.
“Looking beyond this,Victoria is very well positioned so that whenrecovery in the markets does occur, the business is in good shape tomove quickly to exploit and benefit fully from improved conditionsboth at home and overseas,” he said.
“It is a very serious situation and we believe some consolidation is needed.”
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39from The Stocklists December 2009
retailers respond to industry issues
This month’s Flooring Forum is looking for your business reporton the past year and wants to examine the prospects for thefuture.
Have suppliers helped or hindered? Have you benefited frommore competitive pricing by manufacturers and wholesalers - orhave you seen margins squeezed and tighter credit andaccounts chasing?
Have customers traded down on quality and price – or simplynot traded at all – and which sections of the market have heldup best.
What do you want the industry to do to generate somegrowth in 2010? – is it more important to have more newproducts with more value or just ease the pricing and credit onexisting ranges?
And finally, we have some questions about the Government’srole,VAT and the banks – so a good opportunity to work offsome aggression!
Scrooge orSanta?How did your customers andsuppliers treat you in 2009? Was itas bad as you feared – and does itlook like a Happier New Year?
The online survey takes less than fourminutes and it’s anonymous and doesn’tneed any form filling. Please help usinform the industry.
Visit www.thestocklists.com and click onthe survey banner to take part.
Flooring Forum - Let’s hear it!
Our platform for retailers to respond to trade issues and informthe industry about the problems and opportunities they face onthe High Street.
Each provocative topic for debate is linked to an anonymousonline survey and there’s a soapbox feature where retailers cansound off about the subject.
A full report and analysis of the results will feature in the nextmonth’s magazine.
If you have a topic you would like debated, let us know. DOMOTEX 2010 Visit Hall 6, Stand 59
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40 FlooringNewsDecember 2009
Launch pad What’s taking off early in 2010
Balterio launches newnatural stoneQuality laminate flooring producer Balterio,launches Pure Stone, a new collection oflaminate tiles combining ease of use and thewarm feeling of laminate with the character ofnatural stone.The new collection, featuring tileswith a rectangular format, will be available in 4decors: Limestone White, Limestone Tobacco,Belgian Blue Flamed and Belgian Blue Honed.
In addition to exclusive decors and extensiveoptions for a perfect finish, Balterio also opted forlarge, square sizes (120 cm x 40 cm tiles).Theyare very popular all over the world for residentialand professional applications. Large tiles can addan extra aesthetic dimension to a room bymaking it appear larger.This gives smaller roomsand offices a modern and sophisticated look.Thelarge sizes also have fewer and very tight joints.This makes a room even bigger.They are easier toclean and less expensive to maintain.
“In developing our new tile collection, we havefocused more on the character of the floor,”says Franky Terrijn, marketing manager atBalterio. “Natural stone has a majestic look thatcan easily be lost if all the details are not right.This is why we decided not to include anyjoints, and work with a subtle v-groove instead.We have also provided an extra large tile in ourrange and a substantial range of accessoriesincluding straight baseboards, quadrants andvarious types of profiles for an enhanced finish.”
T + 32 56 62 80 77 www.balterio.com
Ecovise woven wiltonstake the eco initiativeThere is a growing awareness in consumers tobuy Eco friendly products. Nowadaysconsumers are more influenced by social andenvironmental aspects when choosingproducts. Ecovise has taken an initiative andhas introduced 100% Eco friendly carpetsmade with all natural products.
Ecovise is an environmentally consciouscompany which prides it self in long termsustainability at the heart of its operations.TheEco-Friendly range of Wilton woven 100%natural wool carpet has been introduced forthe first time.These carpets are made with allnatural products considering the environmentalaspect and are therefore completely recyclableand biodegradable.They are woven withblended woollen yarn with no dyes andchemicals and with backing of natural productslike jute and cotton which all come fromsustainable sources.
Eco range of environmentally friendly Wiltonwoven carpets are introduced specificallykeeping in mind the eco-conscious consumer.The Eco range of carpets offers 10 excitingnatural shades carefully selected by blendingvarious distinct original wool shades. Furtherfive excellent striped designs are also availablewithin this range.To compliment and offer acomplete flooring solution, stair runners in 14 various designs are also being launchedvery shortly.
T 07766 494060
Cavalio on-trend for 2010Cavalio are delighted to announce the launchof two new products, Clic and Artigo, tocomplement their current range.
Clic combines the advantages of luxury vinylflooring with a high quality HDF backingcomplete with cork underlay. It uses theUniclic self locking system which enables theplanks to be laid on floors with minimalpreparation and negates the use of glue. Thecork underlay offers a marked improvement insound reduction. The range features a mix ofauthentically grained wood, travertine and slateplanks in 20 colour/design options and theplanks are sized at 305mm x 915mm. Clic willbe available from January 2010.
The stunning Italian manufactured rubberrange Artigo, takes contemporary living thatlittle bit further. Hygienic by nature, giving adense and sealed surface, it’s durable and veryresistant to wear which makes it an excellentchoice for walking comfort and considerablenoise reduction. Artigo is the perfectalternative for children’s playrooms, lofts andhome gym areas but for a more stunningeffect, looks fabulous in bathrooms andkitchens. In a range of dramatic colour optionsfrom spectacular ‘Love Red’ to the moretraditional ‘Metal Grey’, Artigo is right on trendfor the new season.
T 01782 569800 www.cavaliofloors.com
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41from The Stocklists December 2009
10FlooringLaunch Pad2010
InterfaceFLOR show new modular conceptInterfaceFLOR has launched a new flooringconcept:The Versaflex System. The patent-pending system enables hard and soft surfacesto be combined in a single installation for thefirst time and reflects InterfaceFLOR’s strengthin innovation and sustainability on every level – from its design and manufacturing rightthrough to its installation and end of life.
The Versaflex System has been developed withcomplete versatility and portability in mind,making it ideal for fast-changing retail andoffice environments. It is six times quicker toinstall than a conventional ceramic or porcelainfloor and can be walked on immediately afterit is laid, resulting in minimum downtime anddisruption to business.
Also, it is installed in such a way, using a uniquegrid system with flexible grout and withoutdamaging the sub floor, that it can be easilyreplaced or re-used. Customers can create awhole new look, change layouts or repair anydamage simply by removing and replacingindividual tiles. It is even possible to take upthe entire system, so that if you move officesor premises your floor can move with you.
T 01274 69069 www.interfaceflor.co.uk
Edel Telenzo to winwith ChelseaChelsea is the latest addition to Edel Telenzo’sever popular 100% wool collection, that’sbuilding up to be a predicted best seller for 2010.
It’s a smart Brussels style low level loop designusing 3 ply yarn and Actionbac backing,available in 4 and 5 m width, and in rolls or cut lengths.
Suitable for heavy domestic or generalcontract applications, there are eight greatplain shades in contemporary earthy tones –sea salt, cream, ash, sand, driftwood, cork, mudand graphite.
Edel Telenzo will be rolling out Chelsea atJanuary’s Domotex trade fair in Hannoveralong with Hudson and Lawrence, twoattractively priced wool qualities that come intextured and plain designs in six earthy,neutral shades.
T 01422 374417www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk
Furlong’s wool debutBroughton Twist is a major new launch fromRegency Carpets which is going to make a bigimpact in the trade.
Furlong Flooring will be distributing this debut80/20 twist and sampling is just starting to goout to retailers to support promotion in theNew Year.
Broughton Twist is available in 4 and 5 metrewidths and in two weights - 40 oz and 50 oz - and is manufactured in the UK. with Britishwool.
“We reckon we are now the natural choice,”says Neil Valentine. “Our customers expect theservice, quality and value that has madeFurlong famous for competitive carpets andnow we can do it with wool.”
T 01772 696787 www.furlongflooring.co.uk
Keep up with the market in 2010 with The StocklistsFlooring News - the flooring industry’s newspaper...
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F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s high performance subfloor preparation products andflooring adhesives have been installed at St. Charles Hospital, London.Specified for the main reception area and a number of access and servicecorridors by flooring contractors Shedon Interiors Ltd., F. Ball’sreformulated, latex-free Stopgap Green Bag provided excellent smoothingproperties and a seamless finish for the hospital floor. Styccobond F46,designed specifically for vinyl floorcoverings, was used to secure theChrysalis and Ethos vinyl floorcoverings selected by the hospital.
Located in North Kensington, London, the facilities at St. Charles Hospitalinclude a minor injuries unit and a rehabilitation department for theelderly. As part of continued maintenance at the Grade II listed building,the floors in the main reception area and main corridors were beingrefurbished. As such, the existing vinyl floorcovering, screed and adhesiveresidues were removed using mechanical means, prior to priming thesubfloor using undiluted Stopgap P131. A general purpose neopreneprimer, Stopgap P131 prevents smoothing underlayments drying out toorapidly and promotes their adhesion to the subfloor.
To create a smooth surface for the vinyl floorcovering selected for thehospital, Stopgap Green Bag 114 was installed directly onto the primedsubfloor surface at a thickness of 7-8mm. Offering a high compressivestrength, Stopgap Green Bag 114 is ideal for heavy-duty interiorapplications.With excellent flow and self-smoothing properties,
Stopgap Green Bag 114 provided ease of installation for the 500m2 area ofthe hospital’s main reception area and corridors.
42
News
FlooringNewsDecember 2009
Healthy help for hospital floor
Tarkett Eclipse premium floorcovering atManchester Royal Infirmary
Birmingham show invests in future
An ‘exceptional event’ is promised by the National Floor Show organiserswho have moved the event to Birmingham for September 2010. “We’replanning a show that the flooring industry can be proud of,” says Sunny Patel of UBM Live.
UBM has also published their first list of exhibitors which shows some 25companies that have confirmed their attendance at the event. Key players onthat list include Associated Weavers, Adore Floors, Asiatic Carpets, Karndeanand Bajong.
UBM have set out to convince doubters in the trade about the move to theNational Exhibition Centre in Birmingham after industry debate about thevenue switch and the launch of a rival event in Harrogate which is goingahead at the same time.
“We’re very aware of the situation the flooring industry is faced with and aredisappointed that companies are being forced to decide between the two,”said Sunny. “The NEC is a first class venue and we think it’s about time thatthe event started to live up to its name and become a truly national event.”
UBM Live have been running the event in Harrogate for the last nine yearsand the show has attracted over 4000 visitors at its peak but in recent yearsaudience levels have declined to around 3000.They say the move to the NECBirmingham is the best plan to halt the slide.
“The National Floor Show 2010 is gaining momentum and we’re thrilled withprogress,” said Sunny. “We can help exhibitors drive their business forwardand deliver a real return on their investment.
“UBM Live is prepared to invest in the show’s long-term future.We have thefull support of our board which means the industry will be able to benefitfrom our commitment to the event,” said Sunny
T 0207 921 8415 www.nationalfloorshow.co.uk
NationalFloorShow
The National Flooring Show at NEC Birmingham runs from Tuesday, September 7 – 9.
The UBM show team: Bottom row (from left to right): Abigail Maas, FieldSales Executive; Sunny Patel, Group Sales Manager; Andrew Vaughan, EventDirector; Sam Cande, Sales Director & David Del Greco, Sales Executive.Top row:Chloe Brownett, Event Administrator ; Charlotte Cowdrey, Event Coordinator; IsabelHokken, PR & Marketing Assistant; Kali Nicholson, Senior Marketing Manager;Claire Corbett, Senior Financial Analyst; Sam Fisher, PR Manager; Lucy Cheeseman,PR Executive; Mirabelle Chatterjee, Group Operations Director; Isabelle Ansell,Operations Manager.
Recently reformulated to avoid the use of natural rubber latexcontent, Stopgap Green Bag is now a low odour and protein-freeproduct. As well as enhancing the product’s excellent smoothingproperties, the protein-free formulation will help to preventbacterial growth, thereby ensuring that the new floors continue tosatisfy the hospital’s strict hygiene requirements.
T 01538 361 633 www.f-ball.co.uk
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FlooringNews44
Axminster Carpets have prepared a bank of new photography to present their ranges in a stylish and contemporary fashion. This is the 100% wool woven axminster Filigree in honeysuckle.
T 01297 32244 www.axminster-carpets.co.uk
HOT SHOTS
2009
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from The Stocklists 45December 2009
Ulster Velvet is the only genuine wilton velvet on the market and is available in 5 colour matching widths including thenew 5m wide option. Ulster Velvet is luxurious flooring at its finest, presented in a sophisticated and elegant colour palette.
T 028 38 334433 www.ulstercarpets.com
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46 FlooringNews
Balterio applied their advanced ChromeZone technology to the new Grandeur collection to give it asubtle lustre and add to the quality feel of a long, wide plank design to enhance large spaces.
T +32 56 62 80 81 www.balterio.com
HOT SHOTS
2009
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47from The Stocklists December 2009
Brintons showcase a simply chic carpet - the True Velvet range gives an understated feeling of luxury.From daring bold colour to natural earthy tones, True Velvet brings a sense of timeless glamour to the home.
T 01562 820000 www.brintons.net
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48 FlooringNews
FLOR by heuga demonstrate their modular soft flooring expertise using carpet tiles from the company’s new designer-createdPuzzle Pieces/2 range. With 21 spectrum-spanning harmonious colours and a soft cut-pile texture (part of the Tonal Trends concept),
Puzzle Pieces/2 is the ideal solution for modern-minded homeowers seeking comfort, quality, practicality and choice.T 0800 4384 2266 www.florbyheuga.comHOT SHOT
S
2009
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49from The Stocklists December 2009
Brockway know how to make an entrance with this powerful photograph which showcases Vogue – a stunningrange of co-ordinated stripe and plain carpets available in four eye-catching colour palettes
T 01562 828 200 www.brockway.co.uk
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50 FlooringNews
Kahrs reflected a trend towards some of the darker wood styles with this dramatic presentation of their oak range Classic Nouveau in grey which has a brushed surface and distinctive bevelled edges to emphasis the plank format
T 023 9245 3045 www.kahrs.com
HOT SHOTS
2009
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51from The Stocklists December 2009
Karndean. With inspiration taken from Australian and New Zealand hardwoods coupled with the larger plank size found with natural timbers, it’s not hard to see whyKarndean’s Van Gogh range boasts exceptional designs and huge popularity. Van Gogh not only offers a resilient LVT floor but also brings significant benefits to the installer, such
as a quicker installation and lower costs not forgetting the benefit to the end user of design and versatility. T 01386 820107 www.karndean.co.uk
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52 FlooringNews
Kingsmead’s Lothian is a classy 80/20 twist manufactured in the UK with British Wool in four and five metres.The new roomset photography demonstrates the range’s modern colour pallette based on mineral themes.
T 01827 831424 www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk
HOT SHOTS
2009
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53from The Stocklists December 2009
Ryalux showcase William Classics - a fabulous range of twists, velvets, plain and striped loops made from New Zealand Wool.The 4 textures are designed to work perfectly on their own or co-ordinate beautifully, to create a contemporary look in any home.
T 0845 652 8811 www.ryalux.com
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54 FlooringNews
Bostitch demonstrated that tools can benefit from effective photography with this excellent presentation of the new manualhardwood nailer - the MFN201-E which doesn’t need an air compressor and uses a ratcheting drive to ensure clean striking.
T 08701 630630 www.bostitch.co.uk
HOT SHOTS
2009
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55from The Stocklists December 2009
Edel Telenzo’s Hot Shot for 2009 has to be the Piccadilly multi-stripe, flagship of the highly successful Tube collection. A 1/8 gauge 100% wool1130gsm loop pile, it’s ideally suited for heavy domestic and general contract use and in colours co-ordinating with the plain Centrepoint range, has been
specified for a wide range of domestic and commercial interiors. T 01422 374417 www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk
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56 FlooringNews
IVC Stepper is the latest range of LVT plank flooring which includes self-adhesive installation for consumers seeking to transforminterior design quickly with maximum value . Stepper is available in four wood style collections – Silhouette, Balance, Passion and
Essential - and each is available in a variety of wood decors with a 10-year guarantee. T +32 56 65 32 11 www.ivcgroup.com
HOT SHOTS
2009
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News
57from The Stocklists December 2009
Porridge produces underlay!
Screed success for newcomer
Despite being a recent introduction to the Floorwise Pro Screedcollection, Pro Screed F.5000 Extra 2 Part Latex Mix SmoothingCompound has quickly become one of the top sellers from the rangeand is available now from all Floorwise distributors.
With a synthetic latex formula, F.5000 Extra is highly versatile and extremelycost competitive, making it a natural all-round solution for contractors.Capable of levelling uneven substrates such as concrete, sand/cementscreeds, metal, terrazzo, quarry tiles, asphalt and old bituminous residuesF.5000 EXTRA is self-smoothing and has excellent flow.
The low odour formulation means that F.5000 Extra is suitable for usein occupied areas and as it is protein and casein free, it is also suitablefor use in biologically sensitive areas.
Another big advantage for F.5000 Extra is its drying time, allowing theinstallation of loose laid floorcoverings after just eight hours and bondedcoverings after just 24 hours at 20°C.The two-part – powder and liquid– smoothing compound can be applied in normal applications up to10mm thick and as a bulked compound between 10 and 20mm.
“F.5000 Extra is part of a new generation of synthetic latex screeds thathave almost universal application properties,” explains Richard Bailey,Managing Director, Floorwise. “With the ability to be used over a variety
of substrates and in the majority of locations including sensitive onessuch as healthcare and food preparation locations, it makes a great all-round choice for the contractor.What’s more F.5000 Extra is also verycost competitive and delivers great value on a daily basis.”
With a coverage of 5m2 for applicationsof 3mm in thickness, F.5000 Extracomes in 23kg powder and 5l liquidcapacities and can also be usedas a feather edgecompound to delivereven more value inone all-roundsolution.Whereporous surfaces areto be coveredFloorwise Pro ScreedF5004 UniversalPrimer should beapplied beforehand.
T 01509 673974www.floorwise.co.uk
A world first recycling scheme in Britain’s prison service is being ‘swept under the carpet’!Carpenter, one of the world’s largest foam producers, is converting foam mattresses frompublic prisons across the UK, into underlay. It is expected to save the prison service more than£5million over five years in disposal costs.
“This is the first scheme of its kind and has never been done anywhere in the world.We aredelighted to be a part of it and to be able to make such an impact on waste management,”says Richard Harris, key account sales manager for Carpenter.
Under a new contract agreement with the prison service, mattresses are collected, granulatedand recycled to produce polyurethane carpet underlay which is then sold nationallythroughout the UK.
And it is not just the underlay division of the company that is big on recycling. Every piece ofpolyester wadding produced is made from almost 100% recycled plastic bottles andreconstituted square blocks of foam are converted into a number of everyday products suchas gym mats. Carpenter is also part of the Buy Recycle code.
T 01457 861141 www.carpenter.ltd.uk
Smart companies lead recovery in flooringAt the end of a turbulent 2009 for the UK Floor Coverings industry,Plimsoll have taken a look back at the highs and lows of the last 12months and looked forward to the threats and opportunities facing themarket in 2010.
268 companies in the market are finishing the year in financial difficulty.David Pattison, author of the new report on the the top 1000companies in the UK Floor Coverings industry explains, “Having clungon through the bad times many of these struggling companies are goingto run out of time and fail just before the recovery really takes hold.Sadly, some of them are just too weak to carry on and there will be aspike of failures in the New Year. On the flipside, their demise will bringa welcome reduction in competitive pressure for those left”.
However, among the gloom there have actually been some outstandingperformers. Pattison says “A number of companies have managed toimprove their performance in the latest year.They are part of a band of
460 companies that prove success can still be achieved in thefloorcoverings industry despite difficult trading conditions.They alsoprove that bad companies fail in a recession; good companies simply donot. These companies will lead the industry out of recession with somesmart acquisitions and maintaining their recent success”.
Pattison is also convinced the market is due a prolonged period ofconsolidation with the number of companies in trouble leading toheightened takeover activity. He explains “With too many companieschasing weakened demand it is inevitable that there are likely to be anumber of high profile mergers and takeovers. In all honesty it’s longoverdue. Once demand started to flag it was inevitable companieswould be caught out.This period of consolidation is needed to sort outthe dead wood.We have named 71 companies as the best acquisitionprospects in the market”.
T 01642 626422 www.plimsoll.co.uk
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:23 pm Page 57
58 FlooringNewsDecember 2009
VoiceOF THE TRADE
“Richard HarrisMarketing Manager at F. Ball and Co. Ltd
“What’s the key market issue/challenge today?Steering our way through the current economic situation. F. Ball isfortunate in that demand for our products is still high and continuesto increase. Our commitment to the flooring industry has beendemonstrated by the completion of an £8 million investmentprogramme in new manufacturing and training facilities, both enhancingour production capacity and promoting best practice.
Is price winning over quality in the current climate?Only in the commodities area of the market, where the “cheapest isbest” mentality has always been important.
What’s made the biggest difference to flooring installationin the last 10 years?Flooring contractors now try to follow best practice to ensure thatthere is no come back on their work and that they are paid in full.
What’s the next big thing for installation technologyMoving away from smoothing underlayments that contain naturalrubber latex.At F. Ball, we have reformulated our market-leadinggeneral purpose smoothing underlayments, Stopgap Green Bag andBlue Bag, to remove the natural rubber latex content.This newgeneration of underlayments retains the same high performancecharacteristics of traditional latex products, while enhancing ease ofapplication and extending the areas of use.These products also offerthe additional benefits of low odour and protein-free properties,helping to prevent the growth and prevalence of bacteria, whichenables them to meet the strict hygiene requirements of healthcarefacilities, such as hospitals, and food preparation areas.
Is there still a skills gap in flooring installations? Whatskills require the most development?Yes, unfortunately, there is still a skills gap in the industry, particularlywith regards to subfloor moisture testing and treatment.We believethat all flooring contractors should be fully trained and competent inthis area. Excessive moisture in the subfloor is probably the numberone cause of floor failures but it can be easily avoided if allcontractors acquire the skills to recognise, measure and treat subfloormoisture.
F. Ball has just opened a new £1 million training centre to ensure thatwe deliver quality training with our products to the trade. Located atour manufacturing headquarters in Cheddleton, Staffordshire, the newtraining centre features state-of-the-art conference facilities and twolarge practical demonstration areas.Available to all flooringcontractors, of all skills levels, courses will cover subfloor preparationand adhesive selection.
Does poor training and technique let down theperformance of your products?It can sometimes, but our products are designed to have a high degreeof tolerance to give the installer as much flexibility as possible.
How loyal are your customers?If customers are able to buy the right branded product for their job,when they want it, at a price they are prepared to pay, why would theygo anywhere else? F. Ball’s Contractor Loyalty Card was createdearlier this year to thank and reward our loyal customers.As well astaking advantage of exclusive discounts and promotions, loyalty cardmembers are also able to receive the latest product informationbefore anyone else. Registration for the scheme is quick, easy andfree-of-charge, with application forms available from F. Ball wholesalersand on our company website.
How much do consumers care about whether a productis British-made?From a consumer’s point of view, the main benefit of using British-made products is that they can be delivered quickly. Our nationalnetwork of over 120 wholesalers ensures that F. Ball products arereadily available throughout the UK and Ireland. Moreover, skilledmanagement of our vehicle distribution fleet enables us to provide anext day product delivery service to distributors anywhere inmainland UK. Delivering products within the UK also helps us tominimise the impact of transportation on our environment.
Do you think customers are prepared to pay extra toprotect the environment? Sometimes, but I think it is the responsibility of manufacturers like usto lead the way by building environmental protection into ourbusiness as standard, not as an added extra.At F. Ball, we arecommitted to implementing policies and processes that reduce theenvironmental impact of all aspects of our business, including efficientuse of resources, raw materials and energy, as well as reducing ourwaste and carbon emissions.This commitment has culminated in ourmanufacturing headquarters, being awarded ISO 14001 certificationthis year.All manufacturers should strive to reach the ISO 14001environmental standard, where continuous improvement inenvironmental protection is built in to the psyche of the business.
If you could ask installers/fitters to change one thing,what would it be?Please continue to improve your knowledge of new trends, techniques, andtake advantage of training opportunities to refresh and enhance your skills.
How important is a national trade show to your business?It is vital for the trade to continue to exhibit its products. Harrogatein September is the natural home for the flooring trade and long mayit continue.
“We are committed to implementingpolicies and processes that reduce theenvironmental impact of all aspectsof our business”
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:23 pm Page 58
Stand out from the crowd and have a say in the futureof your industry
NICF 4c St. Mary’s Place, The Lace Market, Nottingham NG1 1PH
The NICF covers all types of flooring including carpet, laminate, luxury vinyl tile, timber and sheet vinyl fitting, and are the driving force behind raising standards of floor covering installation.
By supporting the NICF and becoming an active member you can have a voice in the future of your chosen industry along with all the other benefits you see listed below:
www.nicfltd.org.uk
• Enhance your company image• Free listing on the NICF website and broaden your
opportunities for work• Free business support helpline with Croner Consulting• Technical advice line• Great discounts on FITA training courses• Discounts on quality workwear and tools• Keep up to date with industry news with Free subscriptions
to Stocklists and the Contract Flooring Journal• Free newsletter
FITA - kindly sponsored by
Visit www.fita.co.uk for details of all FITA training courses available along with our booking form which is available for download.
CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON:
0115 950 6836 or visit www.fita.co.uk
Fita Training Centre LoughboroughUnit 10, Windmill RoadLoughboroughLeicestershire LE11 1RA.
Are you working in the flooring industry but need further skills to widen your client base? Or perhaps you are a new beginner in flooring and need training to go one step further?
If so, then why not contact FITA, the Flooring Industry Training Association. Co-founded by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF), FITA has courses to suit not only real beginners just getting started in the industry but upskilling courses aimed towards seasoned professionals too!
FITA has a fully equipped training centre at Loughborough in Leicestershire. Our wide range of courses are presented by experienced instructors with specialist knowledge of the flooring industry. All course content can be used as evidence towards an NVQ in Floorcoverings.
Sharpen up your fitting skills with fita BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:23 pm Page 59
60 FlooringNewsDecember 2009
NewsNews
A growing number of flooring manufacturers arerecognising the potential benefits achievable throughthe use of the creative process to create products thatstand apart from the competition, protecting marginsfor suppliers and retailers alike. By offering productthat is not available elsewhere, both are provided withthe means to move away from price comparison andmake much needed profit to reinvest in their businesses.
An example of the above is the recently-introduced Tonal Trendsrange from modular flooring supplier FLOR by heuga.The range ofloop pile carpet tiles was designed by textile colour consultant Cenkof Cenkstudio and consists of 21 new colours, each of which fallswithin eight nature-inspired chromatic groupings, includingearthenware, woodcarving, foliage and graphite.
'We were inspired by natural elements such as stone, minerals andsmoked wood, by the spectrum of colours found in foliagethroughout the seasons and by the interplay of colours found inarchitecture: stone, steel, glass and brick,' said Cenk. 'For TonalTrends, we used colours that give a depth and intensity to thematerials without appearing saturated.We chose warm neutralswhich work very well in combination with shaded greys and deeperaubergine, purple and green colours.'
These groupings form the basis of trends within interiors and designmore generally, for example in the latest wallcovering, furnishing andfabric designs from the leading designers and manufacturers.TheTonal Trends palette is designed to connect and flow with the otherelements that make up a room, ensuring that however adventurouscustomers choose to be with their carpet design, a harmoniousaesthetic will be achieved throughout the scheme.
Brintons is another manufacturer with a reputation for deliveringdesign-led product to the market, in this case for over 200 years.The company has worked with well known designers, in addition toits own highly skilled creative team, on both brand advertising andproducts and states that it is important to find a synergy whenselecting whom to work with.
'The Llewelyn-Bowen Collection was developed because there was areal desire by Brintons and Laurence to promote patterned carpetthrough great design that creates stylish interiors which areaccessible to everyone,' said a spokesperson. 'The resultingLlewelyn-Bowen collection by Brintons looks at the home as astylish interior. Each item is influenced by some of Laurence’sfavourite art movements.' 'This collection takes the very best designelements of history and gives them a contemporary twist.Whateveryour personal style, you will find a design that both complementsand accentuates your living space,' said Llewelyn-Bowen.
Another example of successful collaboration is that of BrockwayCarpets and Joanna Ramsden of Wools of New Zealand.Thisresulted in the launch of the company's Vogue collection last year,consisting of striped and plain carpets in four colour palettes andfeature shades specified by Ramsden's forecasts for 2009. Brockwaystates that the colour palette demonstrates how different coloursand designs can work together and has helped to broaden its appealto a more design savvy audience.
Having its own on-site manufacturing means that it can afford toexperiment with new ranges and test ideas relatively cost-effectively,says the company.The success of its Vogue collection is reported tohave provided Brockway's team with a number of ideas to developin the future.
Flower on FlooringFlower on Flooring
Designed for life
“The Llewelyn-Bowen Collection was developedbecause there was a real desire by Brintons and
Laurence to promote patterned carpet through greatdesign that creates stylish interiors which are
accessible to everyone”Brockway’s Vogue Fusion Palette
Brintons BT Manior
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:23 pm Page 60
61from The Stocklists December 2009
Newsby Dennis Flower
Vorwerk chose to work with celebrateddesigner Ulf Moritz due to his profoundknowledge of textiles proven by his manyinternationally successful creations.Theresult, described by Moritz as 'A prêt-à-porter collection with a touch ofcouture', saw a collection of numerousloop structures, top-twisted threads in afrizzed look, fine pearl structures and pointedly large-nubbedsurfaces and a voluminous shaggy look delivering an internationalperspective on interiors.
Colours range from violet to red, cobalt-green to blue, or gentlershades like honey, chocolate and camel.The company has establisheda strict vetting procedure before retailers can become Ulf Moritz byVorwerk stockists.There is now an exclusive club of just 500retailers worldwide which have qualified as members.
Paul Hardiman is product development and design manager forVictoria Carpets and told Stocklists magazine: 'The influence ofother elements used to create an interior is important, so I try andkeep abreast of the trends that are moving in these areas.' By usingthe Internet and attending trade shows, he is able to react toemerging trends and states that the company also produces rangesthat are different in colour, texture and design that may influenceothers. 'These are achieved by keeping one eye on what's happeningin the market place and one on the future trends.The skill of thedesigner is to take all of these influences in colour, design andtextures to create a product that is commercially acceptable butdifferent enough to move forward.This is the fine line the designertreads!'
Whitestone Weavers has also found that the key to a successfulportfolio of carpet collections is keeping an eye on current trends,trialling new designs and colour, but by additionally ensuring time isallowed for this. Phil Hartley, the company’s sales director, said:'Patience is the key when working on new product. Many companiescan be time pressured whereas we would rather be entirely happythat the product is right before launching. Maintaining a broad viewof the interiors industry is also imperative to keep your designscurrent.
“The skill of the designer is to take all of theseinfluences in colour, design and textures to create
a product that is commercially acceptable butdifferent enough to move forward.”
'The new Durham Cathedral collection shows us revisiting patternand it took around 18 months for us to be fully satisfied that we hadit right. I am convinced that this is the way carpet trends are heading.Although this collection is quite a muted tone on tone nod topattern, it shows that people are not afraid of pattern any more andparticularly the younger end of the market are looking at this fortheir homes.'
Contemporary Life is another fashion conciousdesigner label in flooring and its work withWools of New Zealand designer JoannaRamsden has the latest Urban Life collectionwith a striking colour pallette including thetrend-setting Fashionistas range which isupdated twice a year for true trend tracking.
Most laid back among the designer set,perhaps, is the reknowned Jeff Banks for whomrug designing is something of an obsessivehobby.The beneficiary of his prolific output isAsiatic Carpets and their original and colourful range bear testament to his talent.
Ulf Moritz by Vorwerk Delano
Flor by heuga’s Tonal Trends by Cenk
Ulf Moritz
Jeff Banks
Joanna Ramsden
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:24 pm Page 61
62 FlooringNewsDecember 2009
FOR SALE
FOXISuper PlusThe Rug Tamer! Keeps Rugs In Their Place
COMBINATION UNDERLAYSNEEDLEFELT UNDERLAYS
EGALSOFT STICKDOWN UNDERLAY
For orders and further information, please ringP&R Ratcliffe (Underlays) Ltd.Burnley, Lancashire BB10 3BH
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RUG ANTI-SLIPSAllstop and Allstop Plus, RUGSTOP and anti slip rubber
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As a leading foam carpet underlay and accessories manufacturer,Gripperland is supplying millions of rolls of carpet underlay for theworldwide market, now we would like you to join our busy team.
The right candidate will be experienced and knowledgeable inthe carpet underlay industry and be self-motivated - and ideallyhave a reliable customer network in the carpet underlay industry.You should be able to work at home as well as conduct field sales.
A good commission scheme is available for the right candidate.
SL Back December 09 ss q6 26/11/09 1:24 pm Page 62
StocklistsThe
ClassifiedSITUATIONS VACANT
RESTORATION TECHNICIANS
Opportunities exist immediately NATIONWIDE
Applicants must have knowledge of the carpet or upholstery industry.
Restoration experience is an advantage but not essential, although you must have the ability tocommunicate at all levels.
In return we offer, comprehensive training, a company vehicle and excellent salary package.
In the first instance applications in writing with full C.V.(including a recent passport photograph) and current remuneration to:
Gordon Newton, Field Operations Director, Independent Inspections Ltd, 6 Fulwood Park, Caxton Rd, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs PR2 9NZ. E-mail: [email protected]
Due to the introduction of new business and continued expansion of the country’s leading Insurance Carpet and Furniture Inspection Service the opportunity has been
created to recruit additional
CARPET CLAIMS INSPECTORS
Opportunities exist immediately NATIONWIDE
Applicants must have a comprehensive knowledge of the carpet/furniture industry.
Estimating/quality valuation experience and essentially the ability to communicate at all levels.
In return we offer, comprehensive training, a company vehicle and excellent salary package.
In the first instance applications in writing with full C.V.(including a recent passport photograph) and current remuneration to:
Gordon Newton, Field Operations Director, Independent Inspections Ltd, 6 Fulwood Park, Caxton Rd, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs PR2 9NZ. E-mail: [email protected]
Due to the introduction of new business and continued expansion of the country’s leading Insurance Carpet and Furniture Inspection Service the opportunity has been
created to recruit additional
SL Cover December 09 26/11/09 12:10 pm Page 4
We are a professional carpet underlay manufacturer,offering a wide range of foam carpet underlay at asignificantly lower price to fulfil wholesale requirements.