The Stocklilsts - May 2013

Stocklistswith6 May 2013 FlooringNews

The

BRITAIN’S No. 1 FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE FOR THE RETAIL AND CONTRACT MARKET

visit us at the buying group show in Solihull to see for yourselfand read about the ‘Opportunity of Opulence’ on page 46

2 THE STOCKLISTS May 2013

Advertisers

StocklistsThe

FIRST FOR FLOORING NEWS AND DATA

Classified advertising............................................................................page 66, 67

� carpets/rugs/tiles � woods/laminates/smooths � fibres � underlay � accessories/services/organisations � wholesalers/distributors � adhesives

Carpet Company DirectoryOur line-up of the leading players pages 12-13

Carpet Trouble-shooterAll about stains, spots and shading pages 10-11

Carpet TypesThe starter guide for picking a pile page 5

UnderlayUnderstanding underlay types and selection page 9

Wholesaler Distribution DirectoryNational & regional guide to distributors pages 14-16

Woolsafe: the carpet care guideHow to protect and clean wool carpets pages 6-7

UK manufactured Carpet Cutting MachinesWWW.CARPETCUTTINGMACHINES.CO.UK

FlooringFactsheets

AdhesivesExpertise advice from F Ball page 4

Buying GroupsChoosing the right organisation for you pages 8

Monthly ‘Stocklisters’ shown in BOLD

Index Page Contact Price No No List Date

�ABINGDON 37 01274 655694 —

� AVENUE 39 +32 5665 3211 —

�ADAM CARPETS — 01562 82 9966 —

� BGNFS 53 — —

�BONDWORTH 18 01562 745000 June 2011

� BRITISH WOOL 52,65 01274 688 666 —

�BROCKWAY CARPETS LTD. 19 01562 828200 Feb 2012

� BRONTË 20 01282 862736 —

�CAMPAIGN FOR WOOL 65 — —

�CARPENTER BC 01457 861141 —

� COLUMBIA FLOORING 21 0208 443 3322 —

�CORMAR — 01204 881234 —

� EARTHWERKS 63 07402 746944 —

� F. BALL 4 01538 361633 —

� FITA 50 01159 506836 —

� FLOORWISE 16 01509 673974 —

� FURLONG FLOORING 22,23 01772 696787 Nov 2010

�GEORGIAN — 01827 831430 —

�GREENDALE 49,51 01432 852000 —

� INTERFLOOR 43 01706 213131 —

� LANO 45 00800 5266 5266 —

� JOHN LANHAM WATTS 24 01937 588511 —

�KINGSMEAD 35 01827 831424 —

�MANX 59 01827 831436 —

�MASTER WEAVERS 25 01562 754382 —

�MERRYFIELD — 01422 373799 —

�MOHAWK 26 01480 479830 —

�NICF 50 0115 958 3077 —

�NOVOSTRAT 48 00353 61 339287 —

� RACKHAMS 27 020 85319225 —

� SENSA 47 01675 433501 —

� SOLENT WHOLESALE CARPET 28 01243 774623 May/June 2013

� STS FLOORING DISTRIBUTORS 29 0845 341000 Jan 2013

�TELENZO 30 01422 374417 —

� THE FLOORING SHOW 41 01423 779967 —

�T & E DISPLAY GROUP 63 0121 585 7600 —

�WESTON HAMMER 31 0845 644 9090 —

3THE STOCKLISTS May 2013

Published by Mayville Publishing Co Ltd., 219West Ella Road,West Ella, Hull HU10 7SD Tel: 01482 659396 Fax: 01482 659397 www.thestocklists.comSales Director: Diane Martin. [email protected] Publication Director: David Spragg Founded by Roy Spragg in 1973. ISSN 2046-7338

© Mayville Publishing Co. Ltd. 2013. Every care is taken in compiling this magazine, but the proprietors assume no responsibility in the effects arising therefrom.

ISSUE 458: 6 MAY 2013

FlooringNews starts on page 33

Showtime in SolihullManufacturers line up their latest launches for key buying groupsevents - preview page 53-61

News

15 May 2013See pages 53-60

THE BUYING GROUP SHOW THAT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE MANUFACTURERS THAN ANY OTHER UK EVENT

Axminster’s retail revivalRescue focuses on residentialpage 40

Brintons is backing BritainNew investment in Kidderminster

page 40

Laughing at underlaySpot the red flecks in Cloud 9page 42

Gem of a launchRegency’s new jewel in their crownpage 46

Knot woodDennis Flower looks at the latest non-wood vinyl decorspage 62

Voice of the Trade“Consumers go to independent

retailers for advice, not to be shown 20 different twist ranges!”

- Shaun Lewis, Victoriapage 66

Adhesives

Flooring Factsheet


TUFTED

With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpet producedtoday is tufted. It takes about an hour to make a roll of carpet thatmight take eight hours to weave. To make tufted carpet, hundreds ofyarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primary backing fabricto form loops or tufts, which may be left as is or cut. A heavy adhesive coating is applied to hold the tufts in place and asecondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability. A wide variety of styles and textures can then be created using various techniques.

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 three loopheights to create informal, random textures which are very forgiving formarks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas andbusy 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 should beheat set. The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending together toform a very elegant finish. Saxony textures show footprints and vacuummarks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home. Moretextured 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 is aversatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours.

Velvet • Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have alevel 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 fibres lyingin 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 of colours).The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints and stains socut and loop is good for high traffic areas and general purpose roomsin 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

V

Velvet/Plush Frieze

Twist Berber

S

Saxony Sha

Shag

Flooring factsheet

Carpet types


Flooring factsheetCarpet care guide from WOOLSAFE

Entrance or walk-off matsThe use of entrance mats at all outside entrances tothe house is highly recommended, as they willsignificantly reduce the rate at which the carpet willsoil. They should be of adequate size to allow streetdirt to be removed from shoe soles and must becleaned regularly themselves.

Regular MaintenanceRegular cleaning will extend the life of a carpet andmaintain its appearance. Vacuum clean regularly andthoroughly, which removes gritty dirt that can damagethe fibres.

Deal with spillages as soon as possible,preferably the moment they occur.

Beware of products claiming to be safe on all fibres,including wool. It might be true, but if it does not havethe WOOLSAFE Mark, it is not endorsed by most carpetmanufacturers!

Never use any detergents such as dishwashingliquids, soaps or other cleaners recommended forgeneral household use. Although they may clean thecarpet satisfactorily they will almost certainly causeproblems such as rapid re-soiling, colour bleeding orother damage to the pile or backing of the carpet.

Use only WOOLSAFE approved products

WOOLSAFE-approved carpetcare products have beenindependently andscientifically tested and aresafe and effective forcleaning and maintaining alltypes of carpets and rugs.

Housekeeping Tips for Carpets and Rugs

Services for RetailersCustomer carpet care HELPLINE If you have trouble dealing with customer querieslike “How do I get red wine stains out of my carpet?”Just give them our HELPLINE 01943 850 817and we’ll give them the correct advice. Simple.

Certified Operator NetworkFor experienced, specialist wool carpet cleanersyou can trust visit: www.woolsafe.org/find/a-registered-carpet-cleaner.

WOOLSAFE Registered InspectorsSolve disputes with customers with ourindependent carpet complaint Investigators. Justvisit: www.woolsafe.org/find/a-registered-carpet-inspector and call your nearest inspector.

WOOLSAFEApproved ProductsHave confidence in the cleaning product yourecommend, use the WOOLSAFE ApprovedProducts Directory it contains only safe andeffective carpet cleaning products. For spotremovers visit: www.woolsafe.org/spotremovers

Carpet Care LeafletsWe offer to help you develop custom carpet careliterature and we also offer generic carpet careleaflets designed to be given away with each cut ofcarpet. Correct carpet maintenance shouldstart from day one.

Web pages and Links We offer to help you develop custom carpet carepages for your website or you can link to ourwebsite’s carpet care pages for up-to-date andaccurate advice.

Contact us by email, telephone or post to:

The WOOLSAFE Organisation49 Boroughgate, Otley, LS29 8NRTel: 01943 850817 E-mail: [email protected] or visitwww.woolsafe.org

The WOOLSAFE Organisation – promotingquality carpet and rug care since 1991.

Europe – North America - Australia WOOLSAFE The Retailer's single source solutionfor carpet care advice and services.

Periodic CleaningWhen the carpet or rug reaches a stage where itcould do with a really good clean, you can either dothe job yourself, or you can call in a specialist carpetcleaning company.

If you are considering cleaning the carpet or rugyourself make sure to use only WOOLSAFEapproved products. Look for the WOOLSAFE Markon the bottle or package.

It is best to engage theservices of a professionalcarpet & upholstery cleaningcompany.To get a really expertjob done entrust the work to aWOOLSAFE accredited carpetcleaning company.

These companies are fully trained, have been inbusiness for a considerable length of time, aremembers of one or more recognised professionaltrade associations related to the cleaning industryand have a reputation for top quality service. Andthey use only WOOLSAFE-approved cleaningagents on your wool carpets and rugs!

If you have a problem with a carpet or rugthat requires an independent inspector, a network ofcarpet complaint investigators, trained and registeredby The WOOLSAFE Organisation is availablethroughout the UK and Ireland.

WOOLSAFE Registered Inspectorshave extensive experience ininvestigating the causes for carpetcomplaints based on their practicalinvolvement with carpets and rugsover many years.

They are fully qualified toinvestigate carpet and rug complaints on-site onbehalf of carpet manufacturers, retailers, cleaningcompanies and carpet owners. They can carry out orcommission tests where required, and will providecomprehensive reports.

To contact an inspector in your area call 01943 462127, email: [email protected], orvisit: www.woolsafe.org / Private Householder /Registered Inspectors

The Green WOOLSAFE

Mark identifies thoseproducts that not onlyare the most suitablefor wool and other qualitycarpets, but also havethe rightenvironmentalcharacteristics.


maintenance • cleaning • spot removal • protection • inspection

The Clean Carpet you Expect... the Service you Deserve

www.servicemasterclean.co.uk

Environmentally Aware forSuperior Carpet Carewww.envirodri.com

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.

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 – ifunsure, 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 plenty offresh air ventilation

• Always thoroughly rinse out water-based spotterswith clean water

• Dry the spot, if possible, with a hair dryer

Treatments1. Blot with white kitchen roll or paper tissues

2. Vacuum clean

3. Cold water

4. Warm water

5. WOOLSAFE-approved carpet shampoo solution(diluted)

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)

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

More 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 2 6 5

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 impossible toremove completely in which case the assistance of aprofessional carpet cleaner is required.

Life inspired cleaning innovationswww.bissell.com

WOOLSAFE ApprovedCarpet Cleaning Products

www.prochem.co.uk


Flooring factsheet

How to decide whether to join a buying group –and which one…

• Evaluate all buying groups as they all work differently

• Talk to the main marketing contact and/or a memberof the committee

• Get a list of members and call up two or three for a‘real-world’ view

• Establish your territorial exclusivity – where’s the nextnearest member of each buying group

• Ensure you understand the financial arrangements, anyfees that would relate to your membership, how thebills are paid and whether your fees are refundable if itdoesn’t work out. Ask the buying group for aconsultation to estimate your potential savings

• Review all the extra benefits and services to see whatyou would actually use

• Check out the product ranges offered including theown-label options and the UK/European mix

• Ensure you understand any rules that may limit yourflexibility to run your business the way you want

Why join?Buying groups have been a highly successful feature ofthe floor retailing scene in the last decade or so, givingindependents the extra edge they need to competeeffectively with the retail park chains.

More than 1000 retailers are now members of one ofthe several buying groups which operate in our sectorand the numbers are slowly, but steadily growing.

While the benefits of bulk buying power are self-evident,the resistance to the buying group concept among non-members appears to be centred on fears ofsurrendering some control to a committee – and mostparticularly compromising long-established relationshipsand negotiated terms with current suppliers.

The bottom line is the bottom line. A retailer sellingacross a broad range of products is likely to improvemargins within a buying group – but you don’t need aleap of faith to join up. Ask the buying groups for answers...

Buying Groups

Pick the right one

www.smg-group.co.ukContact: Mike SymondsTel: 0118 932 3832

[email protected]

www.greendalecarpets.co.ukContact: Rob HardingTel: 01432 852000Fax: 01432 852005

[email protected]

Key benefitsIncrease margins

• Group purchases to get beneficial rates

• Rebates

• Exclusive higher-margin products

• Special promotions

One of the key reasons to join a buying group is tobenefit from the discounts they negotiate as a bulk buyerfrom manufacturers. The way discounts and rebates arepassed on to members varies between groups so makesure it’s absolutely clear how this will be done. You’ll needto work out how this compares with discounts you havealready negotiated locally with preferred suppliers.

Increase sales

• ‘Best of both worlds’ proposition

•Wider ranges and exclusive products

• POS, displays and merchandising support

Your customers will like the proposition that you areindependent but with the buying power of a group – thisgives them (and you) the ‘best of both worlds’ withpersonal service and competitive pricing. Most groupswill also offer you ‘own label’ ranges and support withpoint-of-sale, merchandising and displays. Centralstockholding may also be on offer.

Access professional services

• Business services

• Financial services

• IT and internet support

•Training and workshops

• Professional bodies

Some buying groups offer an excellent range of otherservices which may be valuable to your business. Financialservices include invoice factoring, credit, loans andinsurance. Some of the more sophisticated groupsoffering marketing packages, software systems to helpyou run your business operations and customisedwebsites ready to use. Relationships with professionaland training organisations can also offer discounts.

Network with other independents

• Members-only exhibitions with preferredmanufacturers

• Regular meetings

• Regional workshops

• Supplier presentations

• Helpline

A lot of retailers enjoy the buying group environment ofbeing independent but not alone out there on the HighStreet. Groups hold regular meetings and some havetheir own trade shows, regional meetings and workshopsto help you develop your business. The network givesyou someone to call when you need advice on, forexample, an unusual installation, a technical consumercomplaint, legal issue or business dilemma.

www.flooringone.co.ukContact: Glenn HardingTel: 0121 683 1426

[email protected]

Metro Groupwww.carpet1st.co.ukContact: Jill CowardTel: 01204 393539

[email protected]

Associated Carpet Groupwww.smartercarpets.co.ukContact: Richard Moore

Tel: 01942 [email protected]@smartercarpets.com

www.beautifulflooring.co.ukContact: Paul PhillipsTel: 01892 [email protected]


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 combination ofthickness and density is all important as a thick underlaywith low density may not perform well. Typically, thethicker the underlay, the better quality it will need tobe – 11mm is often used for luxury installations with9mm 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 new underlayis always required, the only decision is which type. It’salso 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 densities – and its light weight helpshandling. 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 when comfortis desired.

Benefitswww.numa-online.co.uk

www.underlay.com

www.interfloor.com

www.interfloor.com

www.carpenter.limited.uk

www.floorwise.co.uk

Types

Sponge rubber Crumb

Combination PU foam


COLOUR MATCHINGCarpets are produced in batches - known as creels- and usually each batch produces between 500m2

- 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creelsize. Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remainsconstant, and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colourreproduction will vary from batch to batch.However production is matched back to theoriginal or master sample to ensure that thecolour remains ‘within a commercial tolerance’.

This process if not an exact science and acommercial tolerance is subjective butnevertheless is usually the professional judgementof the head dyer based on his/her experience.

A greater level of tolerance is required on blendedcolours (Heathers etc). To ensure perfect colourmatching it is advisable that a single width be usedin any installation requiring exact colour matching.

N.B. Carpets which are laid with the pile travellingin different directions, even though they be fromthe same batch will appear not to match.

For further information please check with themanufacturers recommendations.

SAMPLESThe samples held by individual retailers may not befrom the same batch as current production andtherefore should be used as a guide and not anexact colour match.

SHEDDINGAll cut pile carpets will lose short fibre, which iscreated during production when spun yarn is cutfor tuft formation. These fibres fall onto thesurface 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 fibre is onlya small fraction of the total fibre contained in thecarpet.

PULLED LOOPSPulled loops occur only in looped pile carpetwhere one or more loops in the continuous pile ispulled through the primary backing of the carpet.This is usually due to some local condition,possibly some sharp object which has caught in aloop in situ and has resulted in a pull. Pulled loopsare easily dealt with by trimming the offending endlevel with the rest of the pile. They should not beleft as this could result in further loops being pulledand developing into a ladder.

SPROUTINGOccasionally an odd tuft or two can work its wayto the surface and stand proud of the rest of the pile. This is probably due to one end of the tuft being longer than the other i.e. J shaped tuftinstead of V shaped. Remedial action merelyrequires that the offending tufts be scissortrimmed level with the rest of the pile. They shouldnever be pulled out.

SHADINGShading occurs because the pile of the carpet hasbecome crushed, flattened or brushed in a differentdirection to the natural lie of the pile whilst in situ.This causes light reflection at differing anglesresulting in the creation of light and dark patcheson the carpet. This will occur on all pile fabrics butcan be more noticeable on plainer carpets becausethe shadows 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 the capacity tostore it. Static is caused by the build up of staticelectricity upon personnel in a dry environmentand is discharged when a person makes contactwith an object which can conduct electricity (i.e.door handle or filing cabinets, etc).

The static charges will vary in intensity dependingupon the individual, air humidity and the contactmaterials. Static is more usually associated withsynthetic materials as they do not retain moisturevery well but it can and does occur with wool invery dry room conditions.

Preventative measures include the introduction ofmoisture into the room or in situ carpettreatment.

FADING ON WOOLCarpets made from wool can and do fade in use.The degree of fade can vary depending on thecolour chosen and the local conditions to whichthe carpet is subjected.

Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violetlight which is found in daylight, but is acceleratedwhen sunlight shines directly onto the carpet. Thishas the effect of lightening or “Bleaching” thecolour just as exposure to sunlight will lightenhuman hair. Wool is after all animal hair.

Protection should be given to carpets exposed tosuch conditions just as you would protect otherfurniture or fabrics.

A complaint on fading would be consideredjustified if it failed to meet the required shadestandard when tested to the British StandardBS1006 (1990).

This information is given by

responsible manufacturers

to help you help your

customer to make

an informed choice.

The original carpet tile

Flooring factsheetCarpet trouble-shooter • shedding • pulled loops


PILE REVERSAL(SEE SHADING)

Like shading, this occurs when the pile or nap of thecarpet changes direction and thus reflects light atdifferent angles showing the effects of shading whichcan become permanent. It is also described as‘watermarking’. This can happen to every carpetconstruction be it Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, HandWoven, Persian, Chinese, Indian or even CoirMatting. Like shading it can be more apparent onplain carpet because heavy patterns can disguise theeffects. It can occur quite quickly after installation.A tremendous amount of research has been carriedout over many years by many institutes todetermine the cause of this phenomenon but none of it has proved conclusive. There is nocommonly known manufacturing process which cancause or cure this phenomenon and therefore it is not a manufacturing fault. For furtherinformation please check with individualmanufacturers recommendations.

INDENTATIONSWhen a carpet is subjected to a heavy point load,such as under the legs of furniture, it isunreasonable to expect the carpet not to indent.Usually, the longer the load is in place, the longerwill be the time for the pile to recover. In the caseof very heavy loads in place for a considerable time,the recovery time can be very considerable.

It must be remembered that it is not only the pileof the carpet that becomes indented. the underlaywill also indent and the backing of the carpet mayalso distort into the indentation in the underlay.Some underlay’s will recover well and some lesswell depending upon their composition, thickness,density etc.

The use of cups below furniture legs can spread theload and the net result is a larger area of less deeplyindented carpet.

The ability of a carpet to recover from a heavystatic load can be measured in the laboratory, usingthe test method described in BS 4939 and manymanufacturers will have data on this aspect ofcarpet performance. In this test the carpet isloaded for 24 hours and the degree of recovery ismeasured after 1 hour and 24 hours. Since thereare so many different underlay’s however, it is veryrare for the recovery from a heavy static load to beevaluated on carpet and underlay.

Often normal maintenance (vacuum cleaning witha rotating brush machine) will speed up recoverybut in the case of serious indentations the use ofan iron and damp cloth or a steam iron togetherwith a blunt darning needle to carefully tease up thepile can be beneficial. Care must be take not toover wet the carpet, of course.

FLATTENINGFlattening will occur as a result of traffic whicheventually flattens the pile particularly in the mainareas of use. All pile fabrics will flatten to greater orlesser degree dependant on the amount of trafficto which it is subjected and the construction (tuft density/pile fibre/height/weight) of the productconcerned.

SOILINGSoiling is usually the result of some local conditionto which the carpet has been subjected to, ormaintenance, or lack of maintenance programme.There is nothing we as manufacturers can do toprevent soiling in use. There are several types ofsoiling which are quite common:

Spillages - Liquids such as soft drinks, cordials orany drink which contains sugar, particularly hotdrinks, is likely to leave a stain. In such instances,professional help should be sought.

Shampoo - if incorrectly applied, can leave stickysoap residues in the fibres which can result in thesoiling reappearing quite rapidly.

Dust - which is carried on draughts can soilcarpets in various ways, apart from the obvioussoiled edges, at gaping skirting boards for instance,dark lines appearing on surface might suggestairborne dust vacuum-drawn through poorly fittedfloorboards. Sometimes the shape of floorboardscan be seen quite clearly. Air borne dust sometimesshows itself as spots on the carpet, this is due tothe air carried on a draught under the carpetescaping through minute holes both in the underlay and the carpet, leaving dust deposited on the pile much like a filter action. In suchinstallations, the use of a lining paper is essential as a preventative measure.

It is the responsibility of the retailer to advise theconsumer when the carpet is measured of anypoorly fitting doors, skirtings, or floorboards andthe consumers responsibility to ensure anyremedial work to seal draughts, is carried outbefore the carpet is fitted, if a resulting complaint isto be avoided.

INSTALLATIONSTelephone National Institute of Carpet Fitters(NICF) for further information – 0115 958 3077.

This information is given by

responsible manufacturers

to help you help your

customer to make

an informed choice.

• sprouting • shading • static • fading • pile reversal • shedding • flattening • soiling


Abingdon Flooring 01274 655694

Adam Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W Ww 01562 829966

Alternative Flooring 01264 335111

Associated Weavers Tw Tu 01422 431100

Avena Carpets Ltd Tu Ww 01422 330261

Axwoven Carpets Ltd Ax Be 0121 550 5788

Axminster Carpets Ltd Ax Be Tw 01297 32244

Bajong Carpets NV Tu Tw W +32 56783250

Balta Industries Tu Tw W Ww +32 56 62 2211

Beaulieu International Group Be Pr Tu Tw +32 56 67 66 11

Belvedere Carpets Tu W 020 8800 [email protected]

Betap Tufting BV Tu Tw W +31 383 861 060

BIC Carpets Be Tw W +32 56 23 54 10

Bizspoke Custom Carpets Be Tw W 01924 488882

Blenheim Carpets Ax Be Tw W Ww 020 7823 3040

BMK 0113 380 5333

Bond Worth Ltd Ax 01562 745000

Brintons Ax Tu Tw W Ww 0800 505055

Brockway Carpets Ltd Tw W 01562 [email protected] www.brockway.co.uk

Bronte Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W 01282 862 [email protected] www.brontecarpets.co.uk

Burmatex Tu 01924 262525

Cavalier Carpets Ltd Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww 01254 268000

Christy Carpets Tu 019078 308777

Clarendon Carpets Tw 01675 433066

Classis Carpets Tu W Ww 0870 020 1725

Condor Carpets BV Tu +31 38 4778911

Cormar Carpets Ltd Tu Tw W 01204 881 [email protected] www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Couristan Carpets Ax Tu W Ww 800 223 6186

Craigie Carpets Be 01294 558400

Creative Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W 0116 284 1455

Creatuft Carpets Tu W +32 56 35 4444

Custom Carpet Company Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww 01737 830301

Dan-Floor UK W 0844 9151000

Domo Floorcovering Pr Tu Tw +32 55 335211

Drury Lane Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W 01254 296829

E & WE Carpets W 01562 825952

Edel Telenzo Carpets Ltd Tu Tw W 01422 374 [email protected] www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk

Enterprise Weaving Co Be Ww 01562 745030

Fells Carpets Ww 01977 [email protected] www.fellscarpets.co.uk

Fetcham Furnishings Ltd Tw 020 8944 6220

Fletco Taepper A/S Tu W +45 96 60 3000

Firth Carpets & Flooring Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww 01484 721529

Furlong Flooring Tw W 01772 696 [email protected] www.furlongflooring.co.uk

The Stocklists

Carpet Company Directory

Edel Telenzo’s Bakerloo Brockway’s VogueMohawk’s Cherbourg Check

Belvedere Carpets


Gaskell Wool Rich Tu Tw W 01827 831525

Gaskell Mackay Carpets Ltd Ax Tu Tw W 01429 892525

Georgian Carpets Tu Tw W 01827 831430

Godfrey Hirst (GB) Ltd Tu 0800 526696

Halbmond Teppichwerke Be Pr Tu +49 037 421 420

Heckmondwike FB 01924 410544

ITC Be Pr Tw Tu 0032 51 424 411

John Lanham Watts Carpets Ax Tw Ww 01937 588511

John Evans Ltd Ax Tu Tw W 07850 935301

Joseph Hamilton & Seaton W 01827 831400

Kingsmead Carpets Tu Tw W 01827 831 424

Lano NV Ax Pr Tu Tw W Ww +32 56 65 [email protected] www.lano.com

Le Tissage d'Arcade Ax Ww +32 05685 4747

Lecaflor Ltd Ax Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww 0800 78 33 712

Leigh Spinners Ltd Tw 01942 673232

Louis de Poortere W +32 56 393 386

Lusotufo Tu 01388 664101

Manx Carpets Tw W 01827 831 434

Master Weaver W Ww 01562 754 382

Mayfield Carpets Tu Tw W 01706 639 866

MID NL Be +31 38 851 8700

Modulyss Be Tu Tw Pr +32 52 457211

Mohawk Europe 01480 [email protected] 01480 471304www.mohawkinternational.com

Mr Tomkinson Tw Ww 01827 831 450

Ossfloor UK 01675 433031

Penthouse Carpets Tu Tw W 01706 341231

Phoenox Textiles Pr Tu 01484 863227

Pownall CarpetsTw W 0845 6528811

Roger Vanden Berghe.NV Tu Ww +32 56 73 57 11

Ryalux Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W 0845 652 8811

Sans Frontieres Ltd Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww 0844 5611977

Shaw Home Foundations Tu 01675 433 501

Signature Carpets Be Tu W 01422 845075

TAT Carpet 07976 607657

Tapibel NV Pr Tu Tw 01623 481 221

Tasibel NV Tw +32 52 499600

The Grosvenor Wilton Co W Ww 01562 701456

The Sultana Carpet Co Ax 01299 822300

The Wilton Carpet Co Ax W Ww 0845 296 8850

Thomas Witter UK Ltd Tu Tw 0870 1128318

Timzo Tufting Industry BV Tu +31 38 385 4477

Tisca Tiara Tu Ww 07860 911748

Trendy Tuft Designs Be Tu Tw W 01274 855080

Ulster Carpets Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww 02838 334433

United Carpets & Beds Tw W Ww 01709 732 666

Victoria Carpets Tu Tw W Ww 01562 749300

Vorwerk 08700 104484

Westex Carpets Tu 01274 861334

Weston Hammer W 0845 644 9090

Whitestone Weavers Ltd Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww 01429 892555

Wilkies Carpets Tw 0113 307 9955

Woodward Grosvenor Ax Tu Tw W Ww 0800 526696

Wool Classics Tu Ww 0207 349 1560

Woven Carpets of Kidderminster W 01299 827477

Bronte’s Cream Shagpile Cormar’s Berwick Wellington Stripe from Ulster

KEY TO CODES:Be: Bespoke • Pr: Printed • Tu: Tufted • Tw: Twist • W: Wool • Ww: Woven Wilton

If you would like to be included in this section or upgrade your listing, please contact Diane Martin on +44 (0)1482 659396

or email [email protected]

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


The StocklistsWholesale Distribution DirectoryNationalMercadoLeeds0113 [email protected]

Fells CarpetsGoole01977 [email protected]

North EastCarpet & Flooring Gateshead0191 482 [email protected]


Floorwise (North East) Ltd Birtley - see Floorwise p16

Vanguard CarpetsRedditch0845 601 1189customerservices.redditch@carpetandflooring.co.ukwww.vanguardcarpets.co.uk

Wood Floor SalesRedditch01527 511888help.redditch@carpetandflooring.co.ukwww.woodfloorsales.com

North West A&A CarpetsManchester01204 [email protected]

D. M. Miller LtdManchester0161 205 [email protected]


Green Tree DistributionStone, Staffordshire01785 [email protected]

Lee Floorstok LtdLiverpool - see Floorwise p16

Lee Floorstok LtdManchester - see Floorwise p16

MCA Floorwise LtdMorecambe - see Floorwise p16

Mytton Flooring Norwich - see Floorwise p16

Millbrook CarpetsDarwen01254 [email protected]


Carpet & FlooringManchester0161 786 6800manchester@carpetandflooring.co.ukwww.carpetandflooring.co.uk


MidlandsCarpet & Flooring Birmingham0121 421 9131birmingham@carpetandflooring.co.ukwww.carpetandflooring.co.uk

DMS Flooring SuppliesNorthampton0845 643 [email protected]

Floorwise D & J LtdSoutham - see Floorwise p16

Green Tree DistributionStone, Staffordshire01785 [email protected]

J J Wholesale & Distribution LtdBirmingham0121 765 [email protected]

RPS FlooringMansfield Woodhouse - see Floorwise p16

STS Flooring DistributorsWatford08454 342000

[email protected]

www.stsflooring.com

see page 29 for details



Woodall Brothers Ltd Shrewsbury - see Floorwise p16

EastBeds FlooringBedford01234 [email protected] www.bedsflooring.co.uk

Faithfull FloorcoveringSuffolk01473 [email protected]

STS Flooring Distributors LtdCambridgeTel: 01954 [email protected] page 29 for details



South EastAcorn Carpet AccessoriesBromley, Kent - see Floorwise p16

Ashmount Flooring SuppliesLtd Tottenham0208 808 [email protected]

Beds FlooringBedford01234 [email protected] www.bedsflooring.co.uk

Are you a Wholesaler?If you’re not listed here, please call Diane Martin on 01482 659396.


The StocklistsWholesale Distribution DirectoryCarpet & FlooringBow020 8525 [email protected]

Carpet & Flooring Camberley01276 672100camberley@carpetandflooring.co.ukwww.carpetandflooring.co.uk

Clifford Floors Strood01634 [email protected]

Culpeck Strood01634 [email protected] .com

Columbia FlooringMiddlesex020 8443 [email protected] page 21 for details

DMS Flooring SuppliesHemel Hempstead0845 643 [email protected]

DMS Flooring SuppliesMilton Keynes0845 643 [email protected]

Faithfulls Service CentreKent01322 285001

Faithfulls Service CentreWalthamstow0208 498 [email protected]

Faithfull FloorcoveringSuffolk01473 [email protected]

Kent Flooring Supplies LtdChatham01634 [email protected]

Littner HamptonLondon020 8520 [email protected]

Potts & Ward, Woodcocks LtdBrighton01273 [email protected]

RackhamsLondon020 8531 [email protected] page 27 for details

Salesmark Lancing - see Floorwise p16

Solent Wholesale CarpetWest Sussex01243 [email protected] page 28 for details

STS Flooring Distributors Orpington/Croydon0845 434 [email protected] page 29 for details


Wessex Flooring Amesbury - see Floorwise p16


South West Carpet & Flooring Bristol0117 316 [email protected]

Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth - see Floorwise p16

Fitwell Flooring LtdNewton Abott - see Floorwise p16

Solent Wholesale CarpetWest Sussex01243 [email protected] page 28 for details

STS Flooring DistributorsThame (Oxford)01844 [email protected] page 29 for details



ScotlandCarpet & FlooringGlasgow0141 427 [email protected]

Headlam Scotland North Lanarkshire01698 831 [email protected]

Neil Smith Ltd Glasgow - see Floorwise p16

WalesCarpet & Flooring Bristol0117 316 [email protected]

Roma Flooring Neath - see Floorwise p16



IrelandProvincial Floorcoverings LtdDublin - see Floorwise p16

Provincial Floorcoverings LtdBelfast - see Floorwise p16

Provincial Floorcoverings LtdLimerick - see Floorwise p16

Are you a Wholesaler?If you’re not listed here, please call Diane Martin on 01482 659396.


Acorn Carpet Accessories 14Bromley, KentTel: 020 8462 0422 Fax: 020 8462 0927

Fitwell Flooring Ltd 18Redruth, CornwallTel: 01209 214344 Fax: 01209 211162

Fitwell Flooring Ltd 17Newton Abbot, DevonTel: 01626 835935 Fax: 01626 834334

Floorwise D & J Ltd 11Southam, WarksTel: 01926 814922 Fax: 01926 817899

Floorwise (North East) Ltd 3Birtley, County DurhamTel: 0191 410 7070 Fax: 0191 410 6116

Lee Floorstok Ltd 6 LiverpoolTel: 0151 708 7420 Fax: 0151 708 7241

Lee Floorstok Ltd 5ManchesterTel: 0161 231 8080 Fax: 0161 231 8787

MCA Floorwise Ltd 4Morecambe, LancashireTel: 01524 33517 Fax: 01524 381852

Mytton Flooring 12Norwich, NorfolkTel: 01603 624387 Fax: 01603 612888

Neil Smith Ltd 1GlasgowTel: 0141 552 1141 Fax: 0141 552 0623

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 2 BelfastTel: 028 9075 3202Fax: 028 9075 3901

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 7Dublin 10Tel: 00353 (0)1 626 3913Fax: 00353 (0)1 626 3960LoCall: 1850 445 746 (ROI)

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 8LimerickTel: 00353 (0)61 227 100Fax: 00353 (0)61 227 000LoCall: 1850 445 745 (ROI)

Roma Flooring 13Neath, West GlamorganTel: 01639 633001 Fax: 01639 646116

RPS Flooring 9Mansfield Woodhouse,NottinghamshireTel: 01623 624198 Fax: 01623 620931

Salesmark 15Lancing, West SussexTel: 01903 750522 Fax: 01903 851111

Wessex Flooring 16Amesbury, WiltshireTel: 01980 625888 Fax: 01980 676969

Woodall Brothers Ltd 10Shrewsbury, ShropshireTel: 01743 441584 Fax: 01743 441629

floorwiseNational Network of Floorwise Distributors

Award-Winning Flooring Accessories

HEAD OFFICEFloorwise Group Limited,

Floorwise House, 22 High Street, Kegworth, Derby DE74 2DA, UK.

Tel: 0044 (0)1509 673974 Fax: 0044 (0)1509 674841

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23

4

567

98

10

1113

14

15

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www.floorwise.co.uk • www.carpetunderlay.netwww.signaturewoodfloors.com • www.siennawoodfloors.com

www.floorwise.co.uk • www.carpetunderlay.netwww.signaturewoodfloors.com • www.siennawoodfloors.com

GRIPPER UNDERLAY PROFILES ADHESIVES & SCREEDS


RegionalWholesalers’

DirectoryYour local service guide

- see pages 14-16

Wholesalers:To list your wholesale business for a nominal monthly charge,

telephone 01482 659396 or email [email protected] and we’ll send you all the details.





The Leading Country Wide

Carpet & Flooring Suppliers

www.columbiaflooringplc.co.uk

CALL US NOW!!!020 8443 3322

We can supply you with virtually any make of carpet and flooring atGUARANTEED maker’s list price.......

Delivered direct to business premises FREE OF CHARGE.For a Speedy and Efficient Service

TRAFALGAR TRADING ESTATEJEFFREYS ROAD

ENFIELD MIDDLESEXEN3 7TY

Tel: 0208 443 3322Fax: 0208 805 2346Opening Times:

Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.30pmSaturday 8.30am to 12 noon

ColumbiaFlooring plc


BEN THOMASM: 07794 048809 MID & WEST [email protected]

JASON BRIMBLEM: 07794 041266 AVON & [email protected]

TIM BAILEY M: 07794 048414 S.E. WALES & [email protected]

STEWART WAITHMAN M: 07794 048413 DEVON & [email protected]

Preston Sales tel: 01772 696787 fax: 01772 311921Newport Salestel: 01633 283959 fax: 01633 275454London Salestel: 01322 628707 fax: 01322 [email protected]

The most colourfullaunch of 2013A stunning new luxury carpet with engineeringexcellence for the finest finish, 20 superb colours,dazzling performance and ground-breaking3D POS graphics - see page 45 for details!

Yorkshire& NorthEast

Wales &SouthWest

BOB CHRISTIE M: 07980 786264 MERSEYSIDE, WIRRAL & N. [email protected]

ALAN CHEETHAMM: 07966 263571 GREATER [email protected]

CRAIG MELLINGM: 07970 269730 CUMBRIA, CHESHIRE & FYLDE [email protected]

DES BEST M: 07968 828516 NORTH EAST/EAST [email protected]

REG SYKES M: 07973 403450SOUTH [email protected]

RAY ANDREW M: 07973 719801 EAST LANCS/[email protected]

NorthWest

ALBERTBARKSHIRE & [email protected]


Scotland

SouthEast JOHN AKIEN

M: 07791 891024 S.W LONDON, SURREY (INS. M25)[email protected]

TONY CONWAY M: 07791 891025 BEDS,NORTHANTS, OXON & [email protected]

PAUL LOVELL M: 07816 217549 NORFOLK, SUFFOLK & [email protected]

PETER FLETCHER M: 07816 217561 HAMPSHIRE,DORSET & SURREY (OUTSIDE M25)[email protected]

DAREN STEDMAN M: 07816 217548 N, N W & E LONDON, [email protected]

London

COLIN RICHFORDM: 07970 163372 WEST [email protected]

ALAN CAIRNIEM: 07976 311434 EAST [email protected]

CHRIS ALLCOCKM: 07872 964685NOTTS, DERBYSHIRE & [email protected]

MIKE SHUTTM: 07970 158594 BIRMINGHAM/STAFFORDSHIRE, [email protected]

MARTYN REAM: 07968 324598 LEICESTER/[email protected]

DARREN SPENDIFF M: 07791 890861 [email protected]

IAN COLLACOTT M: 07816 217550 MIDDLESEX, W. LONDON, [email protected]

RAYMOND SMITH M: 07816 217565 [email protected]

Midlands

Seeing isbelieving...Find your rep here andask him to show youOpulence right now!

IAN ROBERTSON M: 07816 217563 E & WEST [email protected]

John Lanham Watts Carpets LtdWool Loft House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby. LS22 7DN

Email: [email protected] Web: www.jlwcarpets.comTel: 01937 588511 Fax: 01937 588557

An R-Griffith Company

RepresentationYorkshire, Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Mr S Fletcher07831 818989

Lancashire, Cheshire,Merseyside, GreaterManchester, Derbyshire and North Wales Mr A Powell07540 112998

West Midlands,Leicestershire, Warwickshire,Hereford &Worcester,Staffordshire, Shropshire andPowys Mr S Campbell07921 439419

Cleveland, Durham, Tyne & Wear,Northumberland & CumbriaMr R Conway07967 721529

South Wales, Avon & Gloucestershire Mr P Thomas07850 934849

Cornwall, Devon, Somerset,Dorset and WiltshireMr A Owen07971 362087

Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex,CambridgeshireMr J Hart 07889 264466

Berkshire, Bedfordshire,Buckinghamshire,Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire& NorthamptonshirePeter Lawrence 07802 422810

Kent, West Sussex, EastSussex, SurreyTony Cook 07860 205377

Contract SalesMr Gary Kendall07802 661944

Northern IrelandMr Matt Mckillen07732 263678

Republic of IrelandMr A M Dunne00 353 872593060

John Lanham Watts Current RangesCastle Howard 4m 10 Row Axminster Richmond Court 4m 10 Row AxminsterKirkham Abbey 4m 9 Row AxminsterBayton House 4m 9 Row AxminsterBedale 4m 8 Row AxminsterDuchy 4m 8 Row AxminsterDuncombe Park 3.66m 9 Row AxminsterRaby Park 3.66m 7 Row AxminsterMoortown 3.66m 8 Row Axminster Rolls OnlyHarrogate Velvet 4m Velvet 100+ ColoursWool Loft Velvet 4m & 5mWool Loft Weave 4m & 5m Chunky Wool LoopWool Loft Designer 4m & 5m Quality 80/20 Twist

Goodacre Current RangesLakeland Tones 3.66m 8.5 Row AxminsterLakeland Charm 3.66m 8.5 Row AxminsterLakeland Heathers 3.66m 8.5 Row AxminsterNaturally Herdwick 3.66m 9 Row AxminsterRoyal Coniston 3.66m 7 Row AxminsterRoyal Cumberland 3.66m 8 Row AxminsterRoyal Kendal 3.66m 9.5 Row Axminster

BESPOKE CARPETSJohn Lanham Watts carpets would be happyto submit a price for any bespoke carpetproject. We can provide a completelybespoke Axminster in terms of any designand any colour from as little as 100sqm. We are also happy to price for anyhand tufted requirement. We can help youwith design work and can prepare Kibbytrials for your consumer’s consideration.

We also have stock of MoortownContract Rated Axminster (picturedabove) for where timing and budgets areconstrained.

Please contact us at [email protected]

REWARD VOUCHERSWe are very happy to announce that we are reviving our popular voucher reward scheme for 6 monthsfrom the 1st March.Every time you sell any JLW or Goodacre Carpet cut you will earn 50p per sqm in a Love2rewardvoucher. These vouchers can be spent at most high street stores and can also be redeemed as M&Svouchers. The retailers include River Island, Toys R Us, Argos, H Samuel, BHS, Iceland, Wilkinson, Matalan,Halfords, Boots and over 70 others. Recipients can also swap their card funds for many more gift cardsand vouchers, such as John Lewis, and M&S at Love2choose.co.uk. See the sales office or your JLW agentfor details. Don’t miss out!

See m

ore on our website at

www.jlwcarpets.com


Sandhurst RangeThe Wilton Sandhurst range is woven with 24 beautifuland modern colours. This plain twist is a great choice forboth domestic and commercial markets.

Introducing the UK’s newest weaver, now open inKidderminster with high levels of stock for rapid delivery.

Modern carpets manufactured using traditional values

Contrast RangeA cut and loop range weighing in at 47oz comes in 6 modernand exclusive colours. Unique contrast pattern provides thisWilton range with a vibrant and strong presence.

Honeycomb RangeThis cut and loop range features in 6 natural and warmcolours. Made out of 100% new wool, the bee hive typeof texture our Honeycomb range adds additional warmth.

Chequers RangeA loop range weighing in at 35 oz and comes in 6colours with a unique chequers board like pattern. 100% new wool ensures high quality texture feel.

Marble Planet RangeThis range is made of 80% new wool and 20% nylon andis ideal for commercial and heavy domestic use. Itfeatures 8 strong and passionate colours.

Seascape Surf RangeOur Wilton Seascape Surf range features 6 colours and ismade out of 100% New Wool, ideal for commercial aswell as domestic markets.

Baroque Cameo RangeWith the 10 strong commercial colours, the medallion patternin combination with pindots makes this range ideal forballrooms, function rooms and public areas.

Baroque Pindot RangeThe traditional pindot pattern makes this range ideal for hotelrooms and receptions. Weighing in at 40oz our Baroque Pindotrange, this Axminster range has 10 strong commercial colours.

Trellis RangeThe range features 8 soft and natural colours whichmakes it extremely pleasant and warm. Made in 80%New Wool and 20% Nylon for the commercial market.

Tartan RangeMasterWeaver AxminsterTartan range features 6 modernand vibrant colours, combining traditional Tartan designwith modern and vibrant colours.

Tel: +44 (0) 1562 754382Fax: +44 (0) 1562 861 074Sales: [email protected]: [email protected]

www.masterweaver.co.uk

MasterWeaver LTD. Stourport Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DYl17QL. England

• Wilton Hardtwist Cut Pile • 80% New Wool, 20% Nylon, 1458 g/m2 • 4m • Extra Heavy Wear

• Wilton Cut & Loop Pile • 100% New Wool, 1594 g/m2 • 4m • Extra Heavy Wear/Heavy Commercial

• Wilton Cut &Loop Pile • 100% New Wool, 1187 g/m2 • 4m • Heavy Wear/Medium Commercial

• Wilton Loop Pile • 100% New Wool, 1187 g/m2 • 4m • Extra Heavy Wear

• Axminster Cut Pile • 80% New Wool, 20% Nylon, 1255 g/m2 • 3.66m • Very HeavyWear/Medium Commercial

• Wilton Cut Pile • 100% New Wool, 1246 g/m2 • 4m • Very HeavyWear/Medium Commercial

• Axminster Cut Pile • 80% New Wool, 20% Nylon, 1356 g/m2 • 3.66m • Extra Heavy Wear/Heavy Commercial

• Axminster Cut Pile • 80% New Wool, 20% Nylon, 1356 g/m2 • 3.66m • Extra Heavy Wear/Heavy Commercial



Wilton Sandhurst

Wilton Contrast

Axminster Contrast

Axminster Marble Planet


Michael YoungerLondon North07881-502506

James WhiteLondon SW Postals,Surrey (West of A24), Beds,Berks, Bucks, Herts (Westof A1) 07881-502508

Paul Henson Essex (Outside M25)Cambs, Suffolk, Herts(East of A1) 07837-295379

Phil WheelerLondon SE Postals, Kent,Surrey (East of A24) &Sussex 07881-502507

Anthony Stapleton Sales Director 07881-502505 / 020-8498-2845

Area Sales Executives

We also stock Ball & Young Underlays,Accessories, Entrance Matting and offer a

Special Order Service on products fromvirtually every flooring manufacturer in

existence! 48 hour Delivery Service on allBalterio Laminate Ranges.

NATURAL EFFECTAnconaCashmere 4&5MCountry Treasure 4&5MChallenger BerberGold FieldsHopscotch 2012Houndstooth Tweed 4&5MIvory Coast 2012Lavenham 4&5MLondon Life 4&5MLong Melford 4&5MNew Sahara 4&5MPromenadeRocca San Salvador 4&5MSilver StateSloane Square 4&5m

SAXONY / SHAG PILEEndeavourGrand SlamHalf CenturyNew CenturyPeerlessSaxon KingSilken SaxonySomerset 4&5M‘Stay at Home’ SaxonySuper PeerlessSweet Seduction 4&5M

CORD, NEEDLEPUNCH &ENTRANCE MATTINGBedford GelBoleroExplorerHippo MatGalaGrand SquareLineaMagnum MatMagnus MatScorpio 2013Supacord

TWISTS - STAIN RESISTAtmosphereBriar TwistClyde 2013Clyde & StripesDublin Heather Dublin Twist 2011Fairfield Supreme 4&5MGrandeur 40Heathertwist DesignHeathertwist Supreme 4&5mMoorland TwistPembridge TwistPortmanRhapsodySalt ‘n’ PepaStainfree Rugged Twist 4&5MStain-Tex Twist 4MStartwist / Startwist Supreme 4&5M

TWISTS - WOOLCitation TwistDiscovery 4&5MEden Twist 40/50 4&5MIconic Twist 40/50 4&5MInspire Twist 30/40Palace Twist 50/60 4&5MParamount 30/40 4&5MThe Berber Twist Collection 40/50 4&5MUltimate Textures 4&5MUltimate Berber Twist 4&5MUltimate Twist 40/50 4&5MUltimate Luxury 4&5M

VELOUR / VELVETDesigners Dream

WILTONParallel Lines

GRAPHICS / CONTRACT GELSArena Endurance

VINYL / SMOOTH FLOORINGCasino RoyaleChampionEclipse 2012 - Part IEclipse 2012 - Part IIMojo 2012Supergrip IIThunderballValu Grip+

CARPET TILESBedford CordCapital PlusHeuga 727MagnesiumNeutronPositronProtonQuark

Call now to receive a copy of our latest

special price guide!

PALATIAL! That’s our latest masterpiece! Palace Twist is available in a 50oz (Blenheim) and 60oz (Buckingham) qualities and it is an amazingbit of carpet. Our unique double shearing facility means the finish is the finest you have ever seen ,and our hand-picked colours will suit any installation, and any need. Whilst we’ve been bleating onabout the benefits of ‘Perlana’ yarn (and there are many!), there is no substitute for ultimate qualityand this is a truly classic piece of floorcovering!

Don’t be a sheep!Maintain your independence!

For a traditional service, a familiarface and products you can trust,

flock to Rackhams!

VICTORIACastillionCeltic Heathers Crown TwistEasiCare - Full CollectionGaelic HeathersImperial VelvetNatural Companions (Sisal, Chenille, Ridge)Natural Style CollectionOptions 288Regal TwistRustic Jewels

LANOBoleroCampus X-tremeChiselhurstFortunaGrandeurHeather Twist DesignHeather Twist SupremePembridge TwistSentinelStartwist Coll

BALTACasablancaDesert Twist DeluxeFiestaHigh FlyersHighland TweedGala Cord-all options in stockGala EditionMarrakeshMoorland TwistNobilityRosemountSaxon KingShetland Shepherd Twist - 2013 ColoursStainsafe FavouriteSuper WiltaxTechnoTilehurstTwisty

LUSOTUFOCeltic Horizon MandalyPavillion VelvetSafiSintra BoucleTangierTitan & Tital DiagonalTwist BerberUniqueValenciaVenus Saxony

CORMARApolloBerwick 40/50Home Counties 42/50Living NaturalsMalabarOaklands 32Oaklands 42Oaklands 50Primo ChoicePrimo PlusSensationSensation Feeling

BROCKWAYAmore Stripe CollectionAvantiCavendishCresta 40/Cresta 50Jubilee CollectionOrion/Orion MajorPortland

DOMOBriar TwistCabaretFestival TwistHeather TwistPlaygroundSaffron SaxonyScorpio

IVCClassic LimestoneComfylux Extra ExpressionsFantasy - New coloursFusionIsafe ApexIsafe OneMaster GripPlanet Precious MetalsPrestoTile StylesUltimate DesignUltimate OakUltimate MineralsVictoria

ITCBelgraviaConcertoHeritage CollectionPalace

TAPIBELCachetMelodyReedsSysoltex Homested/Aran/Crofter

IDEAL carpets Athena DublinDublin HeathersExplorerEnduranceFashion/GalleryGrass CollectionHeavy Tread MarsMotor CarProntoSweet HomesYucatanvinyls Celtic Stone - New ColoursChessComfort GripFlexifloor GrandiosoJazzMagnumSherwood Oak Studio entrance mattingAlicanteHeavy TreadOrotex - CeylonOrotex - MatrixlaminatesEssentials (previously Casa)Cottage

MOHAWK CARPETSCentury Collection

- Century- Half Century

Freedom GelPresidential Collection

- Independence- Liberty- Freedom (4&5M)- Splendor

Super Freedom

MISCELLANEOUSBEST WOOL CARPETSGlobeCAVALIERCelebrationsCountry CollectionHamlet Parish and VillageC&H Homestyle LVT - planks and tilesLEIGH SPINNERSAtlasVelourTHOMAS WITTERInnovations 50oz & 60ozPARAGONToccarre Carpet Tiles

Solent Wholesale Carpet Company LtdCARPET, FLOORCOVERING & ACCESSORY WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORSTelephone: 01243 774623 Fax: 01243 533636 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.solentwholesale.com Zola Park, Barnfield Drive, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6UX.

CHECK STOCK, PLACE ORDERS AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT 24/7 ALL THROUGH OUR WEBSITE

We carry other products not listed above, and can also provide a swift special order service on non stock lines. Our reps and sales office would be pleased to answer all enquiries. Our last Price List is dated March/April 2013.

Oxford, Berks, Bucks, Beds, Hants, Middlesex & Herts. . . . . Ian Cardrick, [email protected], mobile: 07973 406329Sussex E & W, Surrey, South London & Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . John Robson, [email protected], mobile: 07973 898453Hants, Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucs, & I.O.W. . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Ayling, [email protected], mobile: 07973 406799Accessary Sales and IT Specialist (All Areas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke Crooks, [email protected], mobile: 07966 664379


STS Goldline Stock CarpetsAbbey Twist 30/40Aston TwistBernwood DesignBernwood TwistBernwood SupremeBernwood Heather SupremeBlenheim Twist 40Blenheim Twist 50Cherwell CordClassic Berber TwistFairfield CreationFairfield SupremeHarrier Supreme GelOrinoco IIRavensbury Twist 32/40/50ScalaSerenitySupersava EliteSupersava Heathers Supersava StripeValley Berber TwistValley Classic TwistEdel TelenzoHerculesLawrenceLimaPumaBalta Stock CarpetsGala CordStainsafe Shepherd TwistMarrakesh

Lano Stock CarpetsBoleroFairfield CreationFairfield SupremeGrandeur 40Heather Twist DesignHeather Twist SupremePembridge Twist PortmanScalaScala SolutionsStartwistStartwist SupremeCormar Stock CarpetsApolloBerwick 40/50Forest HillsLiving NaturalsMalabar TexturesNatural Berber TwistOaklands 32/42/50Primo ChoicePrimo DelightPrimo PlusPrimo TweedsPrimo UltraSensational OriginalSensation New FeelingTown & CountryBeauleu InternationalDublin EliteDublin HeathersRanger

Fibre BondedEcocord SupacordCarpet Stock TilesAlpha LineAscotBeckenhamCheltenham CollectionClipper IICroydonCroydon ImpactHeuga 727 (Interface)KestonLafitte (Gradus)Latour (Gradus)SaturnSeries Collection (Interface)Stock UnderlaysBlue HeavenCirrusCloud Nine ContractCloud Nine Super ContractCosi 8mm & 10mmCumulus Durafit 500Durafit 650Xpress 8mm &10mmGoldtred CollectionHeatflow CollectionNimbus Willow GreenRoma Silver LiningTredaire EliteTreadmore

NEXT DAY DELIVERY WWW.STSFLOORING.CO.UK NEW PRICE GUIDE APRIL 2013

Did You Know?STS Flooring Distributors Ltd stock a large rangeof carpets and carpet tiles via our 5 depots.

08454 341000 • ORPINGTON • CROYDON • WATFORD • CAMBRIDGE • OXFORD (THAME) • 08454 342000

REGIONAL MANAGER -NORTHERNRachel Sherwood 07801 762724

REGIONAL MANAGER -SOUTHERNDana Baldock 07801 762725

AREA MANAGERS -NORTHERN Dave Lowman 07500 847758North/East London, Beds, Bucks, Herts,Middlesex, Northants, Warwickshire,Wiltshire, Gloucestershire

Phaedra Duncan 07738 329714Berkshire, Oxfordshire

Steve Osman 07919 128401Essex, Cambs, Suffolk, Norfolk

AREA MANAGERS -SOUTHERNMirka Mihulcova 07500 847566South/West London, W Sussex, Berks, Hants, Surrey

Vicky Langley 07962 646847Surrey, W Sussex, Hants, South/WestLondon

Paul Jeffery 07717 218024South/East London, Kent, E Sussex


30 THE STOCKLISTS May 201330 THE STOCKLISTS May 2013

OUR SALES TEAMGreater London as far as N. Circularon north side of Thames and as faras M25 on south side, Surrey,Middlesex, Sussex, KentJohn A ConstableT: 01622 685397 M: 07836 734322E: [email protected] & North Lincs John AlsopT: 01904 762471 M: 07860 572220E: [email protected], Cornwall, Somerset, DorsetBrendan Hart M: 07850 130221E: [email protected], Leics, Northants, Notts, Derbyshire, North East Jim Osborne M: 07738 642934E: [email protected] Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks,OxfordshireNiall Martin M: 07866 735772 E: [email protected] Wales, Bristol,Gloucestershire, Wiltshire Andrew Jefferies M: 07831 457102E: [email protected], Cumbria & Isle of ManJohn Rostron M: 07973 733208E: [email protected] Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambs,Essex, Herts, Norfolk, SuffolkJonathan Hart T: 01621 817992 M: 07889 264466 E: [email protected] MidlandsPaul BrewerT: 0121 4277117 M: 07798 745181E: [email protected] Manchester, Cheshire, North Wales Philip HambletonT: 01925 740050 M: 07966 397676E: [email protected] TindalT: 01436 671421 M: 07836 705620E: [email protected] Islands, Isle of Wight John Eastlake T: 01323 896141 M: 07885 398858E: [email protected] Ireland Gary O’Boyle M: 07831 220675E: [email protected]

Tel: 01422 374417 or 01422 371226 Fax: 01422 377452 Email: [email protected] Unit B7 Warhurst Road, Lowfields Business Park, Elland, W. Yorkshire HX5 9DF

YOUR HEAD OFFICETEAM CONTACTSOperations Manager: Lesley Inman M: 07703 337989 E: [email protected]

Chief Executive Phil Hartley M: 07711 407820E: [email protected]

We have a couple of specialdeals on at the moment -Nature Wool and selectedcolours of Burford Bridge areboth on offer currently for just£9.99 per sq m (rolls only).

Spring FeverJim Osborne has recently added the north east to histerritory and is on a mission to get to know all ourcustomers in the area as soon as possible. So if you’re inthe north-east, expect a call from Jim if you haven’talready had one.

Agency Changes

HIGH HOPES FOR OUR NEWQUALITIES AND COLOURSIt’s show time thismonth – and we’re verymuch looking forwardto the Buying GroupNational Flooring eventon 14-15 May. We hopeto welcome lots of youthere. We think our newstand presentation willreally help us stand outfrom the crowd.

And of course we have highhopes for our exciting newqualities, Mayfair, a lovelytextured Brussels Bouclé high-low looppile in seven new shades; and the bold multi-striped Hammersmith in three colourcombinations. We feature both of these here in new photos from Holland. We think the newcolourways in our other Tube Collection qualities – Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Mainline are alsolikely to fly, as they’re such appealing shades.

Mayfair in Iron

Hammersmith

Mainline

Hammersmith in Westbourne ParkHammersmith in Westbourne Park


Tel: +44 (0)845 644 9090local call rate

Fax:+44 (0)845 644 9191

[email protected]

www.hammercarpets.com

Please visit our website atwww.hammercarpets.comfor online cutting requests and more information on

our products, or telephone 0845 644 9090 (local rate)

to speak to one of our telephone sales team

OUR UK SALES TEAMMr Ron FeweryTel: 07976 244892London, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Steve Acton Tel: 07957 836207Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset.

Mr Gary Foster Tel: 07515 283872East Anglia, Northamptonshire.

Mr Martin LeesTel: 07522 740954North Wales, Lancashire,Yorkshire, Tyneside.

Mr Derek Boyd Tel: 07940 320708Scotland.

Mr Lee Palmer Tel: 07774 101640Channel Islands.

Mr Jonathan Gorman Tel: 07815 121660Northern Ireland.

Mr Mark GarbettTel: 07840 664757Bristol & the West Country.

Mr Keith StevensTel: 07710 160166Midlands & South Wales.

Jacs Designer tonal loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths.

Natural Lines Super luxurious 100% Wool loop pile available in 4m and 5mwidths.

Queen Tweed A fine heavy domestic berber loop pile in 100% Wool availablein 4m and 5m widths.

Denver A stylish heavy domestic tonal loop pile in 100% Wool, available in 4mand 5m widths.

Oklahoma A heavy domestic berber loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4mand 5m widths.

Supreme Stripe A heavy domestic tonal stripe in 100% Wool loop pile.

Supreme Boucle Our best selling level loop 100% Wool product available in12 up to the minute colours in both 4m and 5m widths.

Las Vegas A chunky luxurious loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5mwidths.

Sisal Boucle and Sisal Berber Natural fibre textured loop pile ranges intwo styles.

The Stone Fibre Collection Our unique flat woven quality in manyfashion styles and colours available in 4m and 5m widths.

Orlando A chunky loop quality with a thick latex backing for a luxurious feel.

BESPOKE DESIGN CARPET FROM HAMMER CARPETSYou may not have heard of them but Hammer Carpets in Denmark are the largest manufacturer of Colortec bespoke design carpets in the world.Colortec is a state of the art tufting machine that uses computer controlled technology to manufacture any design in a maximum of 8 colours. This tried and tested manufacturing method is up to 10 times faster than Axminster and exactly replicates the appearance, unlike a printed design carpet. If you would like more details of this type of carpet and to find out how competitive and easy to use it can be then please call your Sales Agent or our Sales officewho will be happy to help. Below:Colortec bespoke carpets used in the cabins and suites onboard Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2.


retailers respond to industry issues

Is there still a problem in our industry in finding people to do the quality installations you need? What needs to happen to improve the situation? Are you prepared to getinvolved in apprenticeship schemes?

Let us know how the installation industry could improve to help you do better business.

Inform the industry and take the survey...

Fitter famine?How big is the skills gap? Can you find theright kind of fitters? Is there enough training?

Latest research says the industry is short of more than 1,700 fitters, despite a big push on training and an increasingfocus on apprenticeships.

The online survey takes less than fourminutes and it’s anonymous anddoesn’t need any form filling. Pleasehelp us inform the industry.

Visit www.thestocklists.com and clickon the survey banner to take part.

Flooring Forum - Join our panel

The Forum is the platform for retailers to respond totrade issues and inform the industry about theproblems and opportunities they face on the High Street.

You can join our online survey panel and you’ll beinvited every two months to contribute your views -it’s anonymous so you can say exactly what you think.

To join the panel, visit www.thestocklists.com and click on the Online sign-up button.

You can create a carpet websitefor your business in5 minutes.

Fill out a form for five minutes and we’ll have a good-lookingflooring industry website online for you within 5 days*. Then you can update it, add to it or ignore it for ever!

Flooring stores don’t generally need anything too fancy – most of the time, visitorsare just trying to find out your phone number, your opening hours or wherethey can park! Or they’re just checking if you look professional.

The Floorsites package from The Stocklists offers:

� 7 ready-made pages of flooring industry content covering the key sectors ofcarpets, vinyls, laminates, etc.

� Instant online editing – if you can type, you can customise these pagesyourself anytime to add latest offers and news… or leave them as they are –we put all your contact information in there anyhow.

� Choose photos from our library to make your site unique – or upload yourown images.

� Link to Google Maps – let visitors find you quickly and see where to park

� Auto-email form to let customers contact you direct

* The site takes a bit longer to set up if you already have a website or address.

A Floorsite from The Stocklists costs £390 for the set-up and the first year – and £90 per year thereafter (exc. VAT).

Check out what your site would look like atwww.thestocklists.com/floorsites or contact David Spragg at [email protected] or call 01845 576101.

NO OBLIGATION ‘TEST DRIVE’...We set up your site free-of-charge for a month. If you don’t like it, you don’t pay. There’s nothing to lose!

We’ll have it online for you within5 days.If you don’t like it, it will cost younothing.If you do like it, it will cost you£390 + £90/year.

6 May 2013

FlooringNews

33from The Stocklists May 2013

Visitors to the Interiors LDN event (19-21 May) will have the chance tosee the brand new Re/cover green resilient flooring collection by Vorwerkand view its high-grade ecological elastomeric construction up close.

Set to take the design and specification markets by storm, the organicpolyurethane Re/Cover green floors are produced from almost 90%regenerative raw materials, including extracted castor and rapeseed oil, inorder to offer exceptional environmental benefits as well as the durabilitydemanded by high-impact commercial locations. Available in two-metrewidth, Re/Cover green floors achieve best-in-class low life-cycle costs andmeet LEED requirements.

A further collaboration between Vorwerk and internationally recognisedarchitect Hadi Teherani, this cutting-edge collection consists of 30 stunningdesigns that draw inspiration from everything around us, from the naturalenvironment right through to the digital world. Created to coordinate withVorwerk’s Scale Living moveable carpet tiles as well as the Scale and FreeScale ranges, a particular highlight of the Re/Cover green collection isthe shimmering-effect ‘Sparkling Colours’ floors that are inspired by the waylight dances across water at sundown.

Vorwerk will also be unveiling its recently redeveloped woven broadloomcollection of contemporary contracted-rated carpet, Nandou, at InteriorsLDN. Featuring a robust loop pile carpet construction, the Nandoucollection consists of five new product variations spanning a total of 46colours for complete flexibility. Abstract design patterns and high-techprinting methods combine to create stunning coverings for any floor andthere are two-frame, three-frame and jacquard weave options, as well themonochrome Uni and sleek Design Gloss ranges.

T 020 7096 5090 www.vorwerk-carpet.com Stand W31

Dramatic recoveryMaker’s dozenThe latest offering from the ever-popular StainSafe collection byBalta Broadloom, A Dozen Stripes, is set to appeal tohomeowners up and down the country looking for moderncarpet designs to revitalise interiors.

The collection consists of three designs in four vibrant colourways:Baseline; a plain cut pile twist, Dreamliner ; a heather cut pile twistand the loop and tip sheared Oneliner, making it a range definedby choice and variety with a style to suit all rooms.

Crafted from 100% StainSafe polypropylene and with acomfortable Texflor felt backing, this on-trend collection possesseslasting good looks thanks to its easy to clean properties andhardwearing nature. Bleach cleanable, A Dozen Stripes carpets aresuitable for even the busiest of homes and will provide ultimatepeace of mind even in areas prone to spills and stains with fiveyearwear and StainSafe® warranties.

“Striped carpets have always been a popular choice for areas suchas stairs and hallways, but we are now noticing a trend for usingthese type of linear patterns in larger rooms too,” commentsGeert Vanden Bossche, marketing director, Balta. “A Dozen Stripesallows retailers to tap into this increasing demand by offeringhomeowners eye-catching striped designs in a variety of differentfinishes. It’s great value, stylish and incredibly practical.

“With many more developments up our sleeves, retailers can besure that we will continue to provide them with up-to-date andon-trend stain resistant carpets that have widespread consumerappeal,” he said.

T +32 56 62 22 11 www.baltagroup.com

NewsNews

Put a cork in it

34 May 2013 FlooringNews

Showcasing the finest in eco-friendly design and containingan impressive 93% pre-consumer recycled content, theTradition collection of cork floors by Granorte is the go-tocollection for retailers looking to provide discerningshoppers with green and stylish products for the home.

Repurposing the cork waste left over from the wine stoppermanufacturing industry, Tradition floors are available in either asolid or veneered constructions in a total of 36 stunningdecors. With a whole variety of colourful designs available,from the striated Expression to multi-faceted Canyon andcontemporary grey Champagner Weis, there is bound to be afloor to capture the imagination and to suit all design tastes.

With a wealth of practical benefits, such as increasedunderfoot comfort, heat insulation and sound absorption, corkfloors are becoming increasingly popular among savvyconsumers looking for high performing materials. Great valuetoo, this range is ideal for retailers looking to diversify theirproduct portfolio.

“The demand for eco-friendly flooring products continues toincrease, and we are seeing a rising number of customerswho want to know about the origins of the materials thatthey purchase for their homes,” comments Paulo Rocha,product manager, Granorte. “The Tradition collection allowshomeowners to relax in the knowledge that their flooring hasbeen harvested from a sustainable and natural source, hasbeen created using formaldehyde-free manufacturing methodsand, crucially, means no compromise on style.”

T 01785 711 131 www.granorte.co.uk

The brand new Aqua Woods collection of luxury vinyl from leadingonline retailer UK Flooring Direct is steadily rising in popularitythanks to a combination of incredibly realistic designs and unbeatableperformance qualities.

With many designsachieving outstandingratings through the UKFlooring Directindependent customerrating system, the AquaWoods collection iscertainly capturing theimagination ofhomeowners up anddown the country.Available in nine on-trend colourways,including the calmingpale White Oak rightthrough to the richtones of DoubleSmoked Oak andMidnight Oak, one ofthe major reasons forthis luxury vinylcollection’s popularity isits sheer choice andvariety.

“Created by ourspecialist in-housedesign team, each AquaWoods floor iscompletely exclusive to

us,” comments Josh Ashby, product manager, UK Flooring Direct. “Withhigh quality and authentic surface finishes as well as a wealth of practicalbenefits, such as moisture resistance and a simple ‘click’ installationsystem, it’s no wonder that the collection is really taking off. Many ofour customers are choosing Aqua Woods for areas prone to spillagesand wetness such as bathrooms and kitchens, but we are also seeingthese floors used in other areas of the home too, from living roomsthrough to hallways.”

Offering fantastic value without compromising on quality, Aqua Woodsfloors feature a protective wear layer suitable for heavy domestic use.With bevelled edges on all four sides for ultimate authenticity, it is clearthat these stunning planks are setting the benchmark high for luxuryvinyl click flooring.

The Aqua Woods range is available exclusively through UK Flooring Direct.

T 0844 327 0000 www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk

Oak exclusives

Thinking of joining a buying group? We can help you decide....Read our Buying Groups Factsheet on page 8 for information about the benefits of joining a buying groupand how to choose the right one for you.


Kingsmead CarpetsRelay Park, Relay DriveTamworth, B77 5PR. UK

Tel: +44 1827 [email protected]

News

Inspired by cutting-edge interior design, the brand new Ultimate Designcushion flooring collection by Avenue Floors is set to add a chic andcontemporary feel to on-trend homes.

Comprising a diverse array of 20 modern styles that include stone, tile andwood look decors, Ultimate Design will appeal to a wide range of tastes.Those preferring the dramatic tones of dark grey and midnight will benaturally drawn towards floors such as Barcelona D in jet black and the cleanlines of Morgane tiles in grey, while those with earthy and neutral design tastes will be more than satisfied with the subtle stripes of Marloes in brownand the authentic wood appearance of Noblesse.

Providing exceptional practical benefits such as durability and ease of maintenance as well as ensuring lasting good looks thanks to a dirt-repellent PUlacquer finish, Ultimate Design is suitable for heavy domestic use and is capable of standing up to the demands of even the busiest of homes. Availablein two, three or four metre widths, it is the ideal range for rooms both large and small.

“Ultimate Design is the latest offering from the extensive Avenue collection and it is something that we are very excited about,” comments VictoriaHemelaer, product manager, Avenue. “Inspired by the latest interior fashions, the collection will allow retailers to offer customers pioneering stylescombined with the superb value that our floors are famous for.”

Ultimate Design floors are supplied with a 10-year guarantee and also come with a dedicated and eye-catching point of sale unit.

T 0800 032 3970 www.avenuefloors.co.uk

Chic choices

QEP UK have launched the new Roberts website www.robertsuk.co.uk, packed with helpfulproduct information on the Roberts range of flooring installation tools, adhesives & accessories.

The new user friendly website gives customers detailed, technical information and close-upphotographs of all the quality Roberts products. There is also a company history from Robertsbeing founded by Roy Roberts back in 1938, through to the present day where Roberts is nowintegrated into the QEP UK operation and will be fully managed from their UK offices anddistribution centre in Lytham St Annes.

Responsible for inventing and improving many of the most common flooring tools that are in use todaysuch as smooth-edge carpet gripper and hot melt carpet seaming tape, Roberts continue to introduceinnovative, new products that address the new challenges of today's professional.

The Robert Range has undergone a complete overhaul with the introduction of a comprehensive range ofaluminium profiles, adhesives and carpet gripper, complementing the world renowned range of flooringtools and accessories for the professional installer.

T 01253 789180 www.robertsuk.co.uk

Web tools from Roberts

The sumptuous Alderley Edge carpet from Crown Floors is renowned for its plushtexture and array of sophisticated colours, and now retailers can take advantage ofthe range’s natural appeal by rewarding themselves with the generous double pointspromotion that is now available to Crown Floors Loyalty Club members.

A tufted 3/16” cut pile with a weight of 1,350g/m2 and a beautifully shaggy appearance,Alderley Edge sets the benchmark high in terms of superior texture and exceptionalunderfoot comfort. Crafted from 100% easy to clean polypropylene, this carpet issimple to keep looking good, making it a very popular choice with busy homes lookingfor opulent styles with a practical touch.

Available in a choice of nine elegant shades on the large Crown Floors POS wall unit,including rich cream Princess Gown and iridescent dark silver Gothic Stone, AlderleyEdge also comes in two brand new icy blue and pink colours that are only available onthe smaller lectern unit to ensure there is a carpet to suit all interior schemes.

“Alderley edge is an exceptionally popular design for all areas of the home, especially bedrooms and living rooms thanks to its lavish look andsupreme comfort, and now retailers can take advantage of its popularity through current promotion with the Crown Floors Loyalty Club,” commentsJames Caldwell, UK sales coordinator, Crown Floors. “The double points offer is also available on another popular range, Reigate Fort, so retailers willbe able to claim twice as many points, which they can then redeem against a wealth of products from designer sunglasses to the latest gadgets.”

T 0800 0773301 www.crownfloorsloyaltyclub.co.uk

Close to the edge



News

Building the businessDesigner Contracts, the UK’s largest supplier of floorcoverings to thenew build sector, has appointed three new members of staff to service itsexpanding business needs.

The company has appointed Louise Gay as assistant health, safety and HRmanager, joining the established team at the company’s head office. Alsojoining the company are Simon Lovett and Ann Moore. Simon will helpdevelop the recently opened Thames Medway region as sales manager andbrings with him 17 years’ worth of industry knowledge. Ann’s role ascontracts manager is based in the northwest where she will assist in thisexpanding region.

Said MD, Peter Kelsey: “Over the past 12 months, the company has seen considerable growth and it’s been essential to recruit new members tothe team to continue providing the very best customer service and look after our new customers.”

Prior to joining the business Louise worked for a world class manufacturer and supplier of surface finishing solutions based in the south-east. Annpreviously worked within the energy saving market, where her skills as a sales support manager will allow her to drive the Designer Contractsbusiness forward in her new role as contracts manager. Simon began his career in the industry in 1996 and has worked his way up the ladderfrom being a warehouseman at a leading carpet supplier to his new position as sales manager at Designer Contracts.

T 01246 854577 www.designercontracts.com

The new Ultimate SmartStrand display unit by Mohawk is takingretailers by storm thanks to its ability to entice shoppers with itsincredible choice and variety. Comprising an array of styles all crafted from the beautifully soft anddurable SmartStrand fibre, which is partly made from corn, the UltimateSmartStrand POS unit is designed to meet a wide range of design tasteswith carpets to suit many different homes. Featuring stunning textured carpets such as Cascade Forest and Dramatic Flair in sophisticated shades of taupe, cream and grey, as well as aseemingly endless choice of standard SmartStrand colours and qualities, one of the main draws of the Ultimate SmartStrand stand is theluxurious appeal of one of the newest additions to the range – SmartStrand Silk. Delivering never-felt-before softness, SmartStrand Silk carpetsprovide unrivalled underfoot comfort and are ideal for creating opulent living and bedroom spaces.“The Ultimate SmartStrand collection is so extensive, it is only natural that it is housed on a suitably stunning display stand,” commentsHoward Lindsay of Mohhawk. “With the whole host of SmartStrand styles available to view and feel upon the unit, including the latest super-soft incarnation, SmartStrand Silk, the POS unit allows retailers to demonstrate the diverse nature of the collection to shoppers and inspirethem with the many possibilities available.”T 01282 606992 www.mohawkinternational.com

Smart display strand

Leading cork manufacturer Granorte has invested in a hard-hitting consumer PRcampaign in order to support its retailers and to increase awareness of itsextensive product collections amongst homeowners up and down the country.“PR is an incredibly important aspect of any business strategy, and we view it as away of generating genuine excitement about our products and real selling leads,”comments Paulo Rocha, product manager, Granorte. “As a result of cultivating relationships with key media in the home interest sector,both nationally, regionally and online, we have managed to secure fantasticcoverage which has led to our to retailers experiencing high volumes of enquiriesfrom members of the public who want to find out more about us and the floorsthat we offer.”Working in conjunction with interiors PR agency Select First, most recentlyGranorte floors have featured in widely read national consumer interior titles suchas Country Homes & Interiors, Homes & Gardens, Good Homes, Real Homes,Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms and Your Home, as well as regional lifestyle titlesincluding Living North and Index Magazine. In 2012, the brand was featured in theSunday Times Home supplement, and has also been referenced in the Independent’s sister newspaper, i.

T 01785 711 131 www.granorte.co.uk

Cork’s got it covered


Louise Gay Simon Lovett Ann Moore


Business News

Brintons is backing Britain

Brintons Carpets has demonstrated its commitment to UK manufacturing by selecting its Kidderminster plant for the next phase of expansion of its High Definition Weave technology.

Don Coates, Brintons MD, commented: “Our brand reputation is built on design innovation, product excellence, technical expertise and customer focus; it’s essential we continue to invest in all of these areas to ensure our future success.” High Definition Weave isa pioneering technology developed by Brintons to weave carpets and rugs in up to 32 colours, giving customers unrivalled design definition and colourchoice.

Brintons manufactures in the UK, Portugal and India, and having made the decision to sell its Chinese operation last year, it will focus on existing plants.Brintons employs over 500 people in the UK across its Kidderminster and Telford sites and this latest investment will create new jobs in both locations.“Investing in the UK will bring a real boost to not only the local economy, but also to British carpet making as a whole.” said the company.

Following the closure of Axminster’s yarn operation in Buckfast, Brintons plans to expand its spinning facility in Telford, increasing processing capacity byover a third to support the companys sales growth plans.

Coates comments, "We have a very clear view of how we deliver value for our customers; our mission is to make the world a more beautiful place,which we have been doing for over 200 years. We have a fantastic employee ethos with tremendous commitment to the business and the Brintonsbrand; we will go the extra mile to help our customers achieve their goals.”

Brintons is also committed to Investing in people and has announced the launch of the Brintons Apprenticeship programme. Brintons will berecruiting around 8 engineering apprentices between the Telford and Kidderminster sites.

Coates explains, “Our customers are incredibly discerning, so we work hard to stay one step ahead. We have just filed our company accounts thatreport a significant turnaround, so we are in a strong position to invest in our people, products and our unrivalled technology. This is good news forour business and a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the management team and of all our employees, and of the support from ourcustomers. Of course there is still a lot of work to do, but I am confident that we will be successful in our goal of continued business growth.”

Following the rescue of Brintons out of administration by US private equity firm Carlyle Group at the end of 2011, Brintons says it has a strong ownerbacking management and is able to fund growth through investment and acquisition.

T 0800 505055 www.brintons.net

Retail is key to Axminster revival

Axminster has a “passion to succeed” says managing director JoshDutfield after the company re-opened for business on April 8 and nowhe’s starting a campaign to ask retailers to get behind the company tosecure its revival.

A focus on the residential market and a drive to create new products thatwill win back younger consumers to the brand are promised in the re-launch of the company which was rescued from administration.

A consortium led by local business people and backed by CentricCommercial Finance Ltd has bought the business for an undisclosed sum.The deal secures 100 jobs but 300 employees have had to be maderedundant as the company scales back its manufacturing operations and thecompany’s yarn production facility at Buckfast remains closed.

Managing director Josh Dutfield said he was "happy and excited" about thedeal to rescue the business. "It's been a very difficult and tricky few weeks. But, overall, I'm delighted at where we are, and very muchlooking forward to the future. I would like to thank our customers, suppliers and employees who have been behind the efforts to save thebusiness throughout this difficult period.” Most of the management team remains in place. Sales director Steve Upperton, however, has leftbut said he was “proud to have worked for such a great company” and wished them well.

Faced with tough trading in export and contract markets, Axminster will rejuvenate its focus on residential carpets, capitalising on its brandvalues and “Britishness” but making sure that they are re-aligned to appear to a younger generation of buyers.

“The new company will see a restructure of the business which will focus on its retail network and the consumer/domestic side of thebusiness. We will safe guard the future of this well respected heritage brand with a new, focused approach on our core markets and thevalues of premium quality product and exceptional service,” said the company. “Axminster will continue to design, develop and produceAxminster carpets in East Devon and will work closely with other British manufacturers in order to provide a more efficient and effectivesupply chain solution which will be structured to meet the needs of today’s marketplace demands.”

“This fantastic brand and company will go on making world-class product here in Axminster ; we march forward with pride and with apassion to succeed,” said Josh. “We will be starting a campaign to regenerate the brand and to encourage on-going support for the futuresuccess of the business.”

T 01297 33533 www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

“This fantastic brand and company will go onmaking world-class product. We march forward

with pride and with a passion to succeed”

Recycling success

Advancing the cause

Designer Contracts, the UK’s leading supplier of floor coverings to the new-build sector, has been named as one of the official flooring contractors for the charity, Advance.

A charitable organisation which works across 42 local authority areas in England, Advance owns and manages more than 1,500 properties. It alsoprovides accommodation for 2,500 people with a learning disability or mental health condition. Said Designer Contracts md, Peter Kelsey: “We aredelighted to be one of the official flooring contractors to Advance. We will be providing a selection of floorcoverings to cater to the requirements anddemands of each property within the network.”

Over the past two years, Designer Contracts has expanded considerably. As well as Advance, the company works with The Anchor Trust, England’slargest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for the over 55’s with retirement properties at over 1,000 locations across the country. It alsoworks with the Home Group, which places over 120,000 people per year into a home.

Said Peter : “We have a vast selection of products to suit every market: from the home building sector that requires luxury floorcoverings such asAmtico, to social housing charities looking for a range of practical, hardwearing options. We carry large stocks, which means our customers receiveproducts within an extremely short lead time.” Designer Contracts has fully staffed offices and warehousing in 12 regions across the UK. As well asflooring, the company supplies curtain, blind, furniture and lighting packs to the new-build industry and has a full show-home interior design service.

T 01246 854 577 www.designercontracts.com

Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief have partnered for a second yearwith leading UK carpet underlay manufacturer, Ball & Young, torecycle the PU Foam Red Noses.

Red Noses bought during the campaign in March will be collectedfrom Sainsbury’s supermarkets nationwide and taken to its factoryin Corby, Northamptonshire to be washed and prepared forrecycling. They will start a new life as part of Ball & Young’s award-winning Cloud 9 range of underlays. It takes a day to turn theminto underlay and the red flecks from the Red Noses can be easilyspotted throughout the underlay.

Katherine How, Sainsbury’s Comic Relief Partnership Manager, said:“The success of Red Nose Day shows our customers want to helptransform lives across the UK and Africa. We also know they careabout the environment so we’re making it really easy for them torecycle the Red Noses. It’s good news for the environment and it’shelping Comic Relief supporters make an even bigger lasting impact.”

Ann Shaw, Sales Director at Ball & Young, said: “The Noses will beprocessed in our state of the art factory where they will bechipped, bonded and rejuvenated to attain the quality necessary forour carpet underlay. The enthusiasm from customers andemployees has been tremendous and we’re pleased to continueour work with Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s.”

Red Nose Day supporters can bring their Red Noses toSainsbury’s supermarkets nationwide where they are beingcollected until the 31st March 2013. Putting all waste to positiveuse, as well as finding opportunities to re-use it, is a key part ofSainsbury’s work around environmental sustainability and is one ofits targets to achieve by 2020 as set out in its industry-leading20x20 Sustainability Plan.

T 01536 200502 www.underlay.com

Laughing at underlay

42 FlooringNewsMay 2013

News

Recofloor, the UK’s vinyl flooring take-back scheme, celebrated theenvironmental commitment of its recycling champions at its annualAwards Event at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in March.

Flooring companies, contractors and distributors, who recycled 450tonnes through the scheme in 2012, collected trophies and certificates innine major award categories plus Gold and Silver groupings from guestspeaker and Sky Sports presenter Gary Newbon.

Praising the sustained efforts of Recofloor’s 470 registered collectors,Project Manager Jane Gardner, said: “Communication across the entireflooring supply chain has been crucial to the scheme’s success andcontinues to drive these remarkable achievements, which represent a bigstep forward for the sector as a whole.”

Since its 2009 inception by flooring manufacturers Altro and Polyflor,Recofloor has collected 1,259 tonnes of smooth offcuts, smooth upliftedvinyl and safety offcuts for recycling back into products, such as newflooring - an equivalent saving of 1,007,200 kg – or 1,007 tonnes - ofCO2. This total volume equals nearly 420,000m² or enough to cover 58football pitches. This year’s collection target is 600 tonnes.

The Recofloor Awards are comprised principally from last year’s results,but they also recognise those collectors who have made significantcontributions to the scheme in various ways.

Gary Newbon commented: “As someone who feels very strongly aboutrecycling, I was thrilled to be invited to present these awards for such aworthwhile scheme. It’s a great success story!”

T 0161 355 7618 www.recofloor.org


News

The Pro Screed collection of self-levelling screeds from Floorwiseis for fitters and contractors looking for top-performing and greatvalue smoothing compounds.

Meeting all subfloor preparation needs, the Pro Screed rangeconsists of products designed to give a complete preparationsolution that ensures the best possible results for the task at hand.

The collection includes the popular and versatile synthetic latexF5000 Extra Smoothing Compound that is suitable for manydifferent substrates including those with bitumen adhesive residueremaining. Supplied in 23kg bags that provide 5m2 of coverage at3mm thickness, F5000 Extra has a quick walk-on drying time ofaround 90 minutes under normal conditions, making it a great choicefor time sensitive projects.

The water-based Floorwise F5001 Water Mix Smoothing Compoundis another great value solution. Suitable for the levelling andsmoothing of uneven substrates, it can be used over a variety ofexisting subfloors including concrete and cement as well as ceramictiles to alleviate the need for uplifting. F5001 can be applied inthicknesses from 1.5mm up to 10mm and can be poured or

pumped over the surface, makingit ideal for both large and smallinstallations. With a walk-ondrying time of around 2 hoursunder normal conditions andgiving off only a very low odour,this screed is a popular choicefor contractors and comes in25kg sacks.

“The Floorwise Pro Screedcollection has become knownfor its winning combination ofvalue and performance, and is avery popular range for fitters andcontractors that seek out highquality smoothing compoundsthat deliver time and time again,”comments Richard Bailey,managing director, Floorwise.

T 01509 673974www.floorwise.co.uk

Need to screed?

The Master Installer programme at the Quick-Step Academy has cemented the training centre’sreputation as the number one destination for installers looking to expand their skillset and reap therewards that come with being accredited by one of the largest flooring manufacturers in the world.

Providing exceptional value for money, the intensive three-day Master Installer course has proved aworthwhile investment for many fitters, with numerous trainees reporting a direct increase in sales aftercompleting the programme. Designed for professionals with at least two year’s experience of wood andlaminate flooring installations, the course builds upon existing knowledge of evaluations, screeds andadhesives as well as the technicalities of more intricate fittings.

“The Master Installer course is incredibly comprehensive, and for its entire duration fitters undergo a seriesof installation challenges before being assessed on the final day,” comments Darren Robinson, training anddevelopment manager, Quick-Step Academy. “But crucially, unlike many other schemes, we do not just handour trainees a certificate after completion before showing them the door for good. Instead, we activelywork to promote their skills and workmanship to consumers through a variety of channels to ensure thatthe course is worth their time and effort.”

All Master Installers will have their details on the ‘find an installer’ section of the main consumer Quick-Step website at www.quick-step.co.uk, whichreceives thousands of visits per month, and retailers will have access to specialist point of sale and marketing support if they offer the Master Installerservice. “Thanks to our dedicated marketing efforts, consumers are now very aware that they simply will not get the same benefits if they do not usean approved Master Installer. The two year manufacturer’s guarantee that supports all Quick-Step Master installations is a serious attraction in theseaustere times, so we encourage fitters to find out just how we can help their business.”

www.quick-step-academy.co.uk

F. Ball and Co. Ltd., is launching a new ‘Project of the Month’ initiativefor members of its Loyalty card scheme.

The opportunity, whichencourages flooringcontractors to showcasetheir completed flooringinstallations using F. Ball’srange of high performanceproducts, via the websitewww.f-ballrewards.co.uk,offers members thechance to win prizes andsome of the mostinteresting projects may potentially bepublished as case studies in well-respected trade magazines.

From flooring in healthcare or education services, to luxury leisurefacilities, this is a chance for fellow flooring contractors to share theirwork and be in with a chance to win a prize of a £50 Argos voucher. The‘Project of the Month’ may also be awarded for a flooring installation,where contractors have successfully overcome a particular problem, suchmoisture or subfloor contamination, by using F. Ball products.

To enter the Project of the Month, contractors simply complete anonline form on the F. Ball Rewards website, providing some generalinformation about their project. There is also the option to uploadphotographs to support their entry.

It is hoped that the additional feedback obtained from the installationsput forward will help offer additional support to the wider flooringcommunity, as well as providing F. Ball’s technical team with usefulinformation to continue developing innovative subfloor preparationmaterials to bring to the flooring market. The loyalty card scheme isalready approaching 2,500 members, who regularly enjoy 2.5% cashbackon F. Ball purchases.

Richard Harris, Marketing Manager at F. Ball and Co. Ltd., comments: “The ‘Project of the Month’ initiative for our Loyalty Card members is aperfect way to highlight the wonderful flooring installations that are takingplace, as well as supporting contractors who are using F. Ball products.”

T 01583 361 633 www.f-ball.co.uk

Install awards

Know and grow

Need to screed?


News

Opulence is a deep 60oz luxury carpet that oozes comfort from its resilient 2-ply polypropylene yarn. The secret to its success is the density at 42m fibrefilaments per square metre and engineering excellence that Regency have beendeveloping create a fine triple-sheared pinpoint finish.

“There had been some discussion in the market that Furlong had gone a little bitquiet and when that happens, the people who know us well, know we must be upto something big. This is it!,” said Neil Valentine.

“The product is absolutely superb – I don’t think we’ve ever ticked as many boxesfor the retailer in a product launch as we have with Opulence,” he said.“And combined with the quality and superb colour bank of the newrange, we’ve launched a revolutionary point-of-sale presentation withadvanced 3D and image phase technology that will attract attention andconsumers will notice that there’s something very different in the stores now.”

The market for “affordable luxury” has been performing strongly over thelast year and a number of product introductions have sought to capitalizeon this trend. Opulence aims to be the latest and greatest and outsell allcompetitors’ products with its range of benefits.

Available in 4 and 5m, Opulence in available in vast range of 20 UV lightfastcolours with strong, indulgent tones alongside popular neutrals. And ofcourse, the Carefree credentials are all there – resistance to the toughest stainsand bleach cleanable, all backed up by a 10-year wear and stain warranty toreinforce consumer confidence.

As the polypropylene sector has become more sophisticated, the Regency rangeshave been segmented across three brands: the entry-level Regency EasyCare,mainstream CareFree and the luxury CareFree Prestige where Opulence takespride of place alongside current best-sellers Satisfaction and Elegance.

The new range gets its debut showing at the Solihull buying group event in Mayand sampling and stands are rolling out to retailers right now. For those that can’twait that long, visit pages 22 and 23 to find the local rep who can show you thenext big thing in consumer carpet appeal!

T 01772 316155 www.regencycarefree.co.uk

Seeing is believingPOS innovation has taken an exciting new turn withthe presentation of Opulence using a highly specialisedtechnology to create unique 3D images and a video-like effect on the product lecterns - without the needfor videos or electricity.

“We have worked hard with our designers toget this just right,” says Neil. “Consumershave never seen anything like this in aflooring retail store before and it will stop

them dead in their tracks.”

Two technologies havebeen applied. The 3Dapproach issometimes seen onhigh-end DVDcases and createsa holographiceffect which isused to great effectby Regency Carpetsto present thediamond crystal thatis the leading brandimage of Opulence.

The second trick is advanced imagephase printing to give a sequence of images dependingon the angle of viewing.

This transforms a printed panel into a video-likepresentation - “now you see it, now you don’t.”. This effect is ideal to show how Carefree carpets can make stains disappear and consumers can see thisperformance in action simply by walking past the display.

The opportunityof Opulence

If you thought Furlong Flooring had been alittle quiet lately, get ready for them to makesome noise. The Regency Carpets brand hasbeen building up for the spectacular launch ofOpulence, a breakthrough product that willbe a pace-setter in 2013.



News

Whitestone Weavers has acquired Thomas Witter Ltd in adeal which will take The Group’s turnover to in excess of anestimated £34m.

Thomas Witter carpets are to continue being manufactured inYorkshire but the distribution side is moving to Whitestone’snewly built distribution centre in the North East. The long-standing British brand will reign supreme as a Whitestone-owned subsidiary sitting alongside Hugh MacKay, Gaskell MacKay,Carpet Line Direct, View Logistics and Whitestone Weavers.

“There’s a natural fit with Whitestone so when the opportunityarose it made strategic sense to go for it,” said WhitestoneWeavers’ Managing Director, Steve Byrne. “As another woolhouse with a proud home grown heritage and strong Britishwool standing there are parallels between the two businessesthat should make the transition easier. We look forward toseeing how our ranges can complement each other to offer aneven broader selection of wool blend performance products.”

The Whitestone Group currently employs 95 people at itsHartlepool headquarters. Key sales and operational staff fromThomas Witter will be invited to stay within the business.

T 01429 892518 www.whitestone.co.uk

Wool bond

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death on April 10thof Peter Anton.

Peter was the grandson of GeorgeAnton, one of the founders ofVictoria Carpets, and the Antonname is today synonymous withVictoria. He leaves his belovedwife Jane and son Rupert, togetherwith daughter-in-law Louise andgrandchildren Edward and Henry.Peter worked at Victoriathroughout his career, latterly asSales Director. The funeral andmemorial service took place at theend of April.

Peter Anton

Interfloor has announced it is entering into a consultationprocess regarding the proposed re-organisation of their Dumfriesoperations including the closure of the Heathhallmanufacturing site.

The company plans to retain their accessory manufacturing anddistribution activities in Dumfries, and to consolidate all of their PUunderlay manufacturing at its primary manufacturing centre at thehead office in Haslingden, Lancashire.

Phil Reeder, Interfloor Chairman, commented: “These changes havebeen caused by rising site overhead, raw material and logistics costs,which are critical given that our customer base is concentrated inthe Midlands and South. By concentrating our PU production andinventory in one location we plan to improve the service we offerto our customers.”

Interfloor consolidates





The British Wool column

New Age networking spreads the Wool wordResults on Wool House show that there were 4 millionFacebook and Twitter impressions and 2.4 million had used thedesignated hashtag, which is how they link across the communitynetworks. This shows that these people are positively choosingto engage and support the activity by spreading the word toothers in their own networks and beyond. This contagious ripplemeans that this network is filled with marketing messages thatwill be browsed by someone sat in their home or coffee shopbecause it will come in via their community.

It is the new era of networking and creates empoweredendorsement and it works. “I cannot count the number of peoplewho came to Wool House as a result of Twitter or Facebookpostings, they were following it and then decided to come andsee for themselves, some people came from Cornwall, a ladycame from Germany for the day and another flew in fromSweden – just to see it,” Bridgette Kelly of The Campaign forWool said. Long after the event closes this community will postcontent and maintain new connections all developed during thisactivity and like all communities loyalty to their chosen subjectsand themes is very evident. “More than 520,000 Twitter accountswere reached through this hashtag activity – all of which flaggedup wool and that is brilliant for the industry,” she said.

Influencing sales with social media The importance of all this in the grand scheme of things andparticularly on the way people decide on what they buy – is less easyto monitor and evaluate. Wool carpet and rugs are both a practicaland design led purchase. Inspiring, informing and educating aconsumer starts long before they reach the retail store. Part ofWool House was a dedicated resource room that was filled withbrochures and samples, most of which ran out – another elementwas an informative iPad based educational wool magazine. Browsing is the beginning of most consumer choices – and yetremains truly undervalued because it is hard to define and evaluate.But today, browsing is perhaps the most important of all incentivesales mechanisms because of the way people take their news andcommunications in such a constant way. The media feed to aconsumer in the home or on the move has increased so dramaticallyin the last few years and increasingly people are collating style andvalues through community networks such as Twitter, Facebook andInstagram. Social Media offers minute by minute lifeblood to the promotion ofyour event, story, product. It is quite needy requiring continuous andstructured snippets of news but strategic social media will result in atribal type of following that keeps your activity in the limelight. InYorkshire, ‘Brand Yorkshire’ followers regularly infiltrate the socialmedia channels for an hour every day; it is planned activity that addsstrength and impact to their messages.

Results count in marketing and promotions just as much as in any other area of businessand as the doors closed on Wool House at the end of March – the Campaign forWool’s largest promotion to date - the results of the media programme whichsupported the 17 room exhibition were eagerly anticipated. The Nationals – that is thedaily and weekly papers - are always fickle. The world’s best story can be pushed off thepage by an unexpected event; fortunately Wool House did not suffer from that scenario.It achieved 31 pieces of national print including The Sunday Telegraph, The FinancialTimes, The Times, The International Herald Tribune and The Evening Standard. It wasfeatured in 27 printed consumer publications and there were 148 online features.

In total the event achieved nearly £1.5millionof printed space as calculated on advertisingvalues, which is how these things areevaluated. However, it is the tone of thecontent that makes thedifference in reality. Newsis more than a measure ofspace; it is also naturallyabout the words.However, it is clear thatthe writers wereinspired by Wool Houseand so the commentswere really impressive.“Wool is the new coolfibre, honest, robust,luxurious and versatile”The Evening Standardwrote, “Wool House - Full of design inspiration,most notably the mix of colour pattern and texture” –Easy Living. “A feast for the eyes,” comments GoodHousekeeping.

Media success with Wool House

Wool House makes an entrance

Fox Linton Room

Arabella McNie Room

Kit Kemp Room


SHOWTIME IN SOLIHULL

The Buying Groups’ National Flooring ShowMay 15, 2013Cranmore ParkCranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands,�B90 4LFwww.bgnfs.co.uk

Solihull becomes the capital of carpets and the focus offlooring in May as an unprecedented number ofmanufacturers and suppliers gather to show what’s hotin the industry at the start of the new buying season.

The BGNFS - The Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show on May15 - continues to grow in stature since its launch three years agoand is now seen as a ‘must visit’ event for many retailers who aremembers of buying groups.

ACG, BRM, Metro and SMG and members of other affiliatedgroups will be very welcome - providing they register atwww.bgnfs.co.uk

Richard Moore of Associated Carpet Group spoke for theconsortium: “I would encourage members to take a good look atBGNFS. After attending the event last year I came away feeling veryimpressed with such an excellent venue and a well organised showcentrally located in the UK. It was also important to me that theshow attracted over 60 leading brands exhibiting exclusively toIndependent Buying Group members.

“I passionately believe that the Industry is a much poorer placewithout trade shows, which is why we all need to takeresponsibility and support the BGNFS in order that we can all beproud of what the show represents. It is important therefore tosupport the suppliers who are exhibiting at the event this year.This show is dedicated and focussed on independent retailersresulting in a more productive and intimate atmosphere to thoseboth visiting and exhibiting.

“After talking to both members and directors who attended lastyear I have received nothing but positive comments. The retailers Ihave spoken to, all reported that they found the day of particularinterest and a genuine benefit to their business. I have no doubt byattending the show it will help us all make more informeddecisions with regards to suppliers, products and displays andgenerally will help us to evaluate our business for the future,” said Richard.


Adam Carpets presence at the buying group show this year will all be about firsts!

• First glimpse of two brand new ranges due to launch in the Summer• First look at brand new POS corner units and lecterns• First chance to see brand new innovative Sales Aid which highlights the benefits ofquality wool carpets

• First view of brand new redesigned wall units• First show outing for new range, Artistry• First look at brand new in store display of Roller Banners and Stairs• First chance to see the Fine Worcester colour schemes designed by Farrow & Ball

With all these firsts, don’t forget to make Adam Carpets your first point of call.

01562 829966 www.adamcarpets.com

Adam Carpets

Preview: Showtime in SolihullThe Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show May 15, 2013


Carpet Recycling UK

Responsible disposal alternatives for post-consumer and clean installationcarpet waste will be a key focus for Carpet Recycling UK at the show.

Visitors to CRUK’s stand can learn more about how an expansion in cleaninstallation waste take-back schemes and the development of more than 30outlets processing carpet waste for new uses offer many advantages for retailers.

“Retailers who take positive steps towards sustainable disposal of wastecarpet, such as participation in take-back schemes for clean installation off-cuts, can benefit from enhanced customer perceptions and reduced wastecollections,” says CRUK co-ordinator Jane Gardner.

“Not only are they enhancing their green credentials in helping to divertcarpet and underlay waste from landfill, but they differentiate their businessfrom competitors. This is an added selling point with increasingly eco-conscious consumers,” she continues.

Increased take-back schemes across the UK has led to a rise in productionof non-woven products, such as underlay and mattress pads, fromreprocessed post-manufacture waste and clean installation off-cuts.

CRUK’s promotion of new uses for carpet waste is helping to divert moreof the UK’s annual 400,000 tonnes of carpet waste from landfill with a 21.4%diversion rate – or 85,000 tonnes - achieved in 2012. Its target is 25%diversion from landfill by 2015.

T 0161 440 8325 www.carpetrecyclinguk.com

Kingsmead will use their stand in Solihull to feature theirArtwork Special Edition. Ten fantastic new stripes which co-ordinate with 22 plain shades in the Artwork range.

Everlon Clean Easy will feature on branded lecterns with fourexisting ranges along with a new surprise. Kaleidoscope is acompetitively priced and artistically coloured loop pile stripe in100% wool.

T 01827 831424 www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk

Kingsmead Carpets

Brockway Carpets unveils its latest new product launch featuring the brand’s mostsophisticated collection of stylish natural hues.

Made from 100% pure new British wool, Dakota is a range of premium, textured loop pilecarpets available in six distinctive natural shades, making it the ideal choice for almost anylocation in the home.

The totally natural colour range includes Stone Cable, Wheat Cable, Linen Cable, PebbleCable, Cream Cable and Hessian Cable. The unique strength of this deluxe carpet rangecomes from its rugged cable texture effect and superior 3-ply yarn. Part of the ClassicCollection, Brockway’s Dakota is available in standard 4m and 5m widths.

“Our Dakota range really shows simplicity is the ultimate sophisitication,” commented CharlesAnnable, managing director of Brockway Carpets. “We recognise there is a real appetite fortextured loop pile carpets at the moment from retailers and homeowners alike.

Brockway is supporting the Dakota launch with samples available to new and existing retailers.

T 01562 828200 www.brockway.co.uk

Brockway Carpets

Interfloor has reported on the emergence of a numberof market niches for underlay. This has been driven bythe changing needs of consumers and by the growingnumber of buying group members who are recognisingthe opportunity that this presents.

Steve Woodhead, Interfloor’s marketing director explains,“There is growing demand in a number of niche marketsfor underlay. I define these as premium comfort, high tog,low tog and noise reduction. Our premium productshave been designed to address these niches. “

“For example, Tredaire Dreamwalk and Sensation areideal for premium comfort and high tog needs; DuralayHeatflow is perfect for the low tog requirements ofunderfloor heating; and Duralay Timbermate Excel is theleading noise reduction underlay for wood and laminatefloors.”

T 01706 213131 www.interfloor.com

Interfloor


An array of stunning carpet styles from the Premium Easy Care and Wiltoncollections by Lano Carpets will be on show in Solihull as well as the popularUltimo collection. Offering superb performance benefits and great value, these on-trend designs will entice retailers looking to expand their product offering.

Displayed on elegant and practical lectern units with large sample sizes thatencourage shoppers to touch and feel the sumptuous textures for themselves, thePremium Easy Care Collection is renowned for its stain-free technology and stylishdesigns. Backed by 7-year wear and 10-year stain warranties, these carpets arebleach-cleanable and are the perfect choice for consumers that demand bothpracticality and lasting good looks.

Included in this collection is the brand new Grandeur carpet, made from eco-friendly 100% Perlana fibre that is innovatively made entirely from recycled plasticbottles. Offering the luxurious indulgence of wool carpet with an incredibly realisticwool-like texture and warm to the touch, Grandeur also provides the benefits ofstain-resistant fibre and is available in 14 rich and warm tones in 4m and 5m widths.

Another valuable addition to the Easy Care range is Heathertwist Supreme, which iscreated from 100% Lanoset polypropylene. Providing a clean cut pile finish with a40oz pile weight, this carpet ensures high levels of underfoot comfort and isavailable in 14 sophisticated heathered colours in both four and five-metre widths.Retailers will also be impressed with the popular patterned Heathertwist Design;offering all the same benefits as Heathertwist Supreme, this range is available in 10matching colours with a tweed effect in four-metre width.

T 00800 5266 5266 www.lano.com

Lano Carpets



Whitestone Weavers will be showcasing several new initiatives helping to bettersupport its retailers at The Buying Groups National Flooring Show. These include theintroduction of coordinate stripes in 4m, 5m and 1m widths in selected ranges; newproduct launches; and refreshed, fashion-led colour banks in some of it’s best-sellers.

The long established wool house has also taken the unprecedented step of developingmore polypropylene product with a strong ‘hassle free’ proposition for customers seekinga good quality carpet with minimal care requirements.

“A high wool content is an affordable luxury but it’s not always a practical option forcustomers with small children or pets, for example,” said Whitestone Weavers’ ManagingDirector, Steve Byrne. “We’ve worked hard to champion wool - and will of coursecontinue to do so - but acknowledge that it’s in the retailers' interests for us to provide aman-made alternative that appeals to certain lifestyles. Our ‘Hassle Free’ polyprop line isintended to be just that and has been very well received - so much so that we’re lookingto introduce additional colour lines and more new ranges in the ‘Hassle Free’ family, laterthis year,” said Steve.

T 01429 892 555 www.whitestone.co.uk

Whitestone Weavers

Furlong Flooring

A star of the show in Solihull is likely to be the eagerly awaited new launch fromRegency carpets. Opulence has been added to the company’s Prestige brand andarrives with a market-leading set of credentials and powerful POS innovations.

“We think visitors to the show are going to be seriously impressed with what wehave achieved with Opulence and I can’t wait to show them this real winner,” saidNeil Valentine of Regency distributor Furlong Flooring.

Opulence demonstrates the company’s commitment to technology both in productdevelopment anf promotion. The carpet is a deep 60oz luxury range which has beentriple sheared for a smart high definition finish. Available in 20 colours and with theCareFree performance benefits of cleanability - plus a 10 year warranty - it’s set tobe a major success.

And to make sure consumers don’t miss it, Opulence is presented on an innovativelectern featuring 3D and image phase graphics to create a dynamic, moving display asbuyers walk up to the display.

T 01772 696787 www.regencycarefree.co.uk

Visitors will be able to view the striking patterns and designs that make up thetrend-inspiring Fascination Collection by Vorwerk Carpets.

Consisting of a multitude of broadloom carpet styles as well as bespoke rugs andmoveable carpet tiles, the Fascination Collection has received worldwide acclaimsince its launch to the residential market last year. With a total of 417 variations, thisrange will appeal to retailers looking to offer the ultimate in diversity to customerswho demand only the most vivid and high-impact carpet styles for their homes.

Four distinct collections, Universal Gloss, Balanced Pureness, Private Treasures andDesign Unlimited have been carefully considered in order to appeal to varieddesign tastes and to provide a high-impact look to transform all decorationschemes. Particular highlights include the shaggy Flow carpet, with its undulatingtexture combining with exposed mesh backing, and the vibrant Modena DesignJardin that makes all fusty floral carpets retreat into the shade with its contemporarygraphic flower design that is screen printed to ensure exceptional colour clarity.

T 020 7096 5090 www.vorwerkcarpets.co.uk

Vorwerk


The latest high quality options from Mohawk Carpets, including a selection of EverStrandroll ranges that represent superb value will be on show in Solihull.

Discovery, Endeavour, Shooting Star, Canyon and Grand Canyon, five styles of EverStrandcarpet, are now available as rolls to enable retailers to keep costs down while still providinghomeowners with high-performing carpet styles. All feature a hardwearing 2-ply constructionand come with lifetime stain protection and 10 year wear and texture warranties for ultimatepeace of mind.

With varying pile lengths, textures and in a diverse colour palette to ensure great variety, thisEverStrand roll range will cater for all design preferences. Discovery has a shaggy feel with aspringy, soft pile, with the other four ranges providing a more uniform texture for asophisticated look. “Making EverStrand available in rolls represents our commitment to offeringmembers of buying groups high quality and stylish ranges at a very effective price point,”comments Howard Lindsay, of Mohawk.

T 01480 479830 www.mohawkinternational.com

Mohawk Carpets

The show will give Victoria Carpets the opportunity to speak to retailers aboutexciting new product launches planned for 2013 as well as other new productdevelopment plans.

Victoria will proudly be showing both Radiance and Natural Style amongst their othercore ranges.

This February saw Victoria Carpets introduce a new loop range into their productportfolio called Natural Style. Containing 8 on trend tones, from natural creams tohints of taupe, grey and lilac, and across 2 designs [Trend and Fashion] Natural Styleoffers 16 options and is perfect for any style of home or interior.

Mark Rooney, National Sales Manager comments; ‘We are looking forward to seeingall buying group members as well as some prospective new ones. This opportunityenables us to discuss and present our plans going forward.’

T 01562 749300 www.victoriacarpets.com

Victoria Carpets


Cavalier Carpets stand at the show will display theircollection of wool rich and 10 year warranty stainresistant ranges.

They will also be introducing a sister product ‘Lupo’, with astriped version called ‘Strata’ with the same sophisticated‘Brussels Weave’ look which offers superb value for money.Made using 100% wool yarn in 6 high fashion colourways

Also on show will be the latest addition to the stylish newPOS collection, a Design ‘a’ Drum Tombola to match thehighly successful ‘Slim Line’ wall units and lecterns.

T 02920 888 223 www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk

Cavalier Carpets


Cormar Carpets will showcase its flagship heavyweight, polypropylene twist -Primo Ultra - at this year’s show. Part of the Primo Easy Clean family, samplesof the newly re-coloured range will be on display.

Containing eight of the most popular plain and heather colours, in a fine tenthgauge finish, this dense pile carpet has enjoyed great success following increasedpopularity of heavyweight stain resistant twists.

Also on display will be Cormar’s recent addition to the winning Sensation range – New Feeling. According to David Cormack: “The popularity of the originalSensation shows no sign of diminishing and the introduction of a lighter weightenabling our customers to sell at another price point, has lifted sales even further.”

Featured on the stand will be all of Cormar’s display units including lecterns, wallunits and the new ‘sales station’. This unit gives retailers the opportunity topromote all the Easy Clean or wool ranges on one free standing unit, which takesup no more than one square metre of floor space.

T 01204 881234 www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Cormar Carpets

Flock Living is keen to talk to potential stockists at the Show. Their 12 ranges,six tufted and six woven, demonstrate that colour, style and design have a rolein carpet. Leading edge, innovative design, combines with an ‘on trend’ colourpalette and sustainability to produce a collection that is distinctive, beautiful andcompletely natural

All are made out of 100% ethically produced Wools of New Zealand Laneve™wool and 3 ply yarn. The wool is fully traceable back to identifiable farmers atsource while the 3 ply yarn enhances the durability and longevity of the carpet sowear performance is excellent as is borne out by their suitability for commercialuse.

Contemporary designs, with intelligent use of colour, combine with cutting edgemanufacturing skills to produce a portfolio that is visually striking and different anda carpet for the consumer that is individual, elegant and hard wearing.

“Come and see us and add a new string to your bow,” says the company.

T 0208 440 8777 www.flock-living.com

Flock Living


Visit www.bgnfs.co.uk toregister and for full details ofexhibitors, opening times andlocation maps of the venue.

The BGNFS event is open tobuying group members only.


Solihull strong on quality

Once again Solihull becomes the showcase for members of Flooring One/AIS buying group this month with the event that has become an essential opportunity to see the new season range launches and POS display innovation from over 60 key manufacturers and suppliers.

Cranmore Park is the venue – next to theheadquarters of the AIS retail buyingorganisation of which Flooring One is part.

The building has a sophisticated, purpose-builtexhibition centre across 30,000 square feetwhich has attracted great acclaim for itsquality environment and professionalism.

Flooring One’s long-established event for itsown members and suppliers opens there onTuesday, May 14th. “Manufacturers have alwaysbeen strong supporters of this event but thisyear I believe the show will again reach newheights,” says Flooring One head Glenn Harding,

”In 2012, I commented on the number ofsuppliers that are now exhibiting with speciallybuilt stands to present their latest products ina highly professional, stimulating and excitingway. This year even more suppliers have sentin design plans for such stands and the qualityis superb!” he said.

The list of exhibitors includes all the mainindustry players such as Abingdon, Amtico,

Associated Weavers, Brockway, Cormar,Interfloor, Mohawk, Pergo, Regency, Ryalux,Edel Telenzo, Ulster, Victoria, leading UK rugdistributors and many more. We are alsodelighted to confirm that Axminster carpetswill be exhibiting.

At the show Flooring One presents their ‘own label’ ranges and new initiatives to re-energise their members with the scale andmix of the full collection and marketingavailable to them. “This year our range reflectscertain key trends such as an increase inpolypropylene carpets, strong colours in wooltwists particularly 2 ply,” says Glenn. “We arealso launching new look POS and ticketing formembers and a new single lectern for Flooring One ranges.”

“Each year we seem to make progress and I am very excited about this year’s show on14 May. It is a wonderful opportunity to speakwith members about the new initiatives andshow them the collection in its full glory!”

“Manufacturers havealways been strongsupporters of this eventbut this year I believethe show will againreach new heights” says Flooring One headGlenn Harding (above).

Flooring One Show is on Tuesday,May 14th (members only).

There will be a full report in nextmonth’s The Stocklists.


NewsNewsNewsFlower on FlooringFlower on Flooring

share from its carpet and real stone and wood counterparts. For bothcommercial and residential environments, end users are looking forways to personalise their space – either to create stand-out effects inthe case of the former or to enhance the way they live in the case ofthe latter - and designflooring is one way to achieve a unique effect."

The ability for LVT to effectively replicate other surfaces can becombined with features such as tramline borders, design edging andcreative laying patterns to create a floor that meets the needs of thecustomer and makes a style statement in its own right, he continues.

continued overleaf

While wood effect has dominated sales of luxury vinyltiles for some time, the growing number of alternativedesigns is also generating increased interest.

The ability of LVT to combine stylish appearance with ease ofmaintenance has seen companies such as Cavalio explore optionsother than wood effects. Its offering now includes a wide variety ofnatural stone designs such as sandstone, limestone, travertine, slateand concrete, in a selection of tile sizes.

"Many customers love the freedom of adapting and personalising theirchosen floor, through use of inlay accessories and precision cutting,"the company states. "At Cavalio we offer both bespoke and standardinlay accessories that are harmonised to balance with the texturesand grains of the tiles across all three collections: Conceptline,Projectline and Lightline."

The company also offers a water-jet cutting service to enhance designflexibility and bring even the most intricate of design floor ideas tolife. "Creating a unique and eye catching floor has never been easier,"it states.

Wineo, which combines the Wintex and Windmöller Flooring brands,finds that its Bacana Stars range, incorporating the patentedWindmöller Connect technology for adhesive-free installation, ratesamong the most successful flooring ranges for contract installations. Itincludes trendy stone finishes, authentic grooving and large tileformats (914 x 473 mm) while combining the advantages of an elastic,'quiet' floor covering that is warm to the feet with the visuallyattractive look and feel of stone.

The 5mm floors additionally include a number of other benefits thathave contributed to their popularity, says the company. "They can belaid easily, silently, cleanly and at speed with minimal effort and canbear loads immediately after installation. With a 0.55mm wear layer(wear class 33/42) they are extremely durable," says Wineo.

Paul Barratt, Karndean Designflooring UK managing director, says:“The vinyl market continues to go from strength to strength, taking

Cavalio specialise in stylish design in woods and natural stone

Wineo’s Bacana Stars range has adhesive-free Connect technology

Seeing the non-wood for the trees

Cavalio’s Grey Slate makes a stunning statement


Karndean’s Opus range is a smart large format tile


continued from page 62

The ability for LVT to effectively replicate other surfaces can becombined with features such as tramline borders, design edging andcreative laying patterns to create a floor that meets the needs of thecustomer and makes a style statement in its own right, he continues.

“There’s particular interest from leisure facilities such as pubs, barsand restaurants, as well as homeowners, in ‘less than perfect’ flooringfinishes. As such, we believe that distressed timber effect floors andhighly detailed stone looks are set to be key looks for the yearahead,” says Mr Barratt.

Victoria Luxury Flooring says the current economy has driven designsavvy customers to seek functional, stylish and affordable flooringwhich offers longevity. This has increased sales of the company’s ‘easyto live with’ Mode products, with customers enjoying high qualityaesthetics in alternative stone and slate flooring designs, replicatingthe natural without any drawbacks. The Mode range additionallyincludes a patented tongue and groove technology and is quick andeasy to install, requiring no adhesive and minimal sub floorpreparation. Available in large tile formats, it offers classic andcontemporary options, from the neutral, clean lines of San MarcoLimestone to the earthy, rustic appeal of Sienna Slate. The Mode rangeis one of several LVT ranges available through VLF's network ofauthorised dealers.

Earthwerks, a Swiff-Train of America company, is a new UK brand inthe luxury vinyl flooring sector and has considerable activity plannedfor the year ahead. This will include the launch of fiveclassic, contemporary and differentiated LVT ranges tothe UK market. "Every product is designed to give youthe feel of its natural counterpart, and if imitation is thesincerest form of flattery, then with our help naturalliving has never been more complimented," it states.

by Dennis Flower

For more information:Cavalio T 0845 345 5404 www.cavaliofloors.comWineo T +49 (0)52 31-6022 5-0 www.wineo.deEarthwerks T 07935 786705 www.earthwerks.comVLF T 01562 749300 www.victoriacarpets.comKarndean T 01386 761249 www.karndean.co.uk

The five launches include Tempo, Tempo Classic, Tempo Clic, JupiterLoose Lay and Salsa, the company's most recent innovation. Thecompany describes Salsa as bringing to the home the true essence of'flooring inspired by natural design'. It recreates the decorative dragpaint effect, so popular with interior designers, and breathing new lifeto aspirational flooring, says Earthwerks.

New trends arrive with each season, says Forbo, but flooring is atimeless design that promises a long lifespan. Its own ranges thereforefocus on classic looks that offer the foundation for making smallerinterior changes to shadow trends and new colour palettes.

"There is great demand for high quality, durable flooring inspired bynatural materials and this is a key trend that is expressed in all of ourluxury vinyl tile collections," the company states. Its popular Noviloncollection features granite and slate effect tiles that combine thetactile character of natural stone with quiet warmth underfoot. It hasalso introduced a range of metallic tiles in roasted copper, aluminiumand steel for a more contemporary look. Its Allura collection isoffered for commercial applications as a versatile range of highperformance floor covering options and featuring stone and abstractdesigns.

David Bigland, Moduleo UK and Eire managing director, says: “Theincreasing popularity of contemporary open-plan living has led to anincrease in demand for Moduleo’s chic European styles. Lightercolours of wood, stone and concrete are particularly in vogue, as theycreate a light and airy feel in any room.

“In line with this, we have also noticed a high demand for our widerplanks and larger tiles, as this trend can also help to accentuate spacein the home.” Part of European manufacturer IVC Group, thecompany employs a team of dedicated designers to create cutting-edge styles across its range of eco-friendly flooring products. Moduleofinds that its most popular non-wood LVT styles include Concreteand Sicilian Slate.

“LVT flooring allows consumers to choose any variety of colours andfinishes. The European trend for cool-coloured flooring and unusualwoods has clearly migrated to the UK market and this is somethingwe expect will continue,” says Mr Bigland.

Eathwerks has launched Salsa with a chic decorative paint effect

Victoria’s San Marco in sophisticated limestone



Shaun LewisSales Director, Victoria Carpets

Voice of the Trade

“ “For manufacturers, what is the secret of surviving in this tough climate?We have to control our costs and make them workharder for us. We must ensure that our stocks are alsounder control and, more importantly, have the stocksthat our customers want to buy. We must continue on the path of self-improvement in all areas of our business, which will give our retailers the service levels they deserve.

And what makes the difference between surviving and thriving?Thriving gives you more profit to work with, surviving doesn’t!

Has the recession been healthy for the industry to forceimprovements in its marketing and efficiency? Recessions are always healthy, as we all becomecomplacent. They bring us back down to earth and make us work harder.

Do you think the flooring industry has reached thebottom of the recession yet?I’m not sure whether any industry has reached thebottom recession-wise. The key thing is what theindividual companies do about it! We intend to succeed,it’s quite simple.

What is the greatest threat to future prosperity in our sector?The threat that we don’t change. As manufacturers weneed to keep updating our products, machinery anddisplays but so also do our retailers - they need tochange as well. Well displayed products, tidy stores,limited ranges are all key to the professional retailer today.

I genuinely believe that consumers go to IndependentRetailers for advice, not to be shown 20 different twistranges all at the same price points!

Will more change in the next 10 years than have changedin the last 10?I would think the next 10 years will bring even moredramatic change that we have seen in the last 10 years.Probably change in the number of trading manufacturers,wholesalers and retailers. Definitely more change in theway we communicate and hopefully in the way we sell tothe consumer, display-wise.

Are the best days of the carpet business behind us?Of course the best days of the industry are not behindus – that’s a normal thought process for humans – livingin the past. Good times will still be there to lookforward to!

What’s your product focus for the next two years?As we always do, Victoria will continue to develop andintroduce new products into our portfolio. Withoutgiving too much away, we intend to improve all of theproduct areas in which we currently trade, as well askeeping an open mind on new yarn innovations.

How do you see the future of wool vs quality synthetic?Synthetics will, of course, continue to grow but you cannever write wool off. The clever part of manufacturing isto be aware of changes in the consumers buying selectionprocess and be ready for them.

What’s the best thing about the carpet trade?The retailers and the camaraderie. I’ve made some good personal friends.

“I genuinely believe thatconsumers go to IndependentRetailers for advice, not to be

shown 20 different twist rangesall at the same price points!”

SITUATIONS VACANT

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Documents

The Stocklilsts - May 2013