Blog

New tariffs are causing flooring dealers across the country to worry about rising costs, shrinking margins and price-conscious customers. But instead of seeing this as a setback, the smartest dealers are using it as a wake-up call to refine their pricing, sales...

Ray Mancini, Jr., left, UCX CEO, with Brian Green, chief sales and marketing officer, North America. Oxon Hill, Md.—At a time when private equity is infiltrating distribution, it’s comforting to know that a family-owned business can still thrive among the...

Abbey reinvigorated its educational programming for this year’s convention. Abbey Carpet & Floor kicked off its annual convention in Tampa, Fla., earlier this month with a plethora of new programs and initiatives for its members as well as a refreshed trade show...

For years, beige and gray were the go-to colors in the residential carpet market. Now, as consumers look to bring warmth and personality into their spaces, the market has shifted to soft surface featuring patterns and bolder colors. “The use of color—and specifically...

Export, Pa.—Karndean Designflooring is introducing Karndean Design Aesthetics, holistic perspectives that shape the look, feel and function of an entire space. Each aesthetic represents a distinctive style and mood, with curated flooring recommendations to help...

Brampton, Ontario—Shnier, Gesco LP, one of Canada’s leading national flooring distributors, announced that it has secured exclusive distribution rights for Armstrong-branded products in Newfoundland and Labrador. This exclusive partnership strengthens Shnier’s...

Cairo, Egypt—i4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, announced that Kamston Company has selected i4F drop-lock technologies for its new SPC flooring production facility in the surrounding area near here. “We are delighted...

It’s that time of the year again (tax time). And that means business owners are looking for ways to pay as little money as possible to the federal government. Whether they use tax deductions, tax credits or any other means of reducing their tax burden, one way to do...

What’s the best way to alienate your customers? Take away the things you did for them that your competition did not. The things that set you apart. The things your customers appreciated. Because when you eliminate the differentiators that made you a preferred retailer...

Industry disruption, while potentially unsettling, can be a catalyst for positive change, innovation and growth, ultimately benefiting consumers and the economy. As the flooring industry knows, disruption often forces companies to rethink their models and embrace new...

Raleigh, N.C.—Recently, The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) hosted its Spring Meeting here, bringing together key industry leaders from companies including Mohawk Industries, Cali Floors, Swiss Krono, Mannington, Shaw Industries, Classen,...

Calhoun, Ga.—Karastan expanded its resilient line by presenting LuxeCraft Serenity, a premium WPC addition complementing its existing SPC offerings. The collection’s two sophisticated styles, Summerhill Chase and Wyndham Shores, provide exceptional durability, comfort...

Fredrik Alfredsson, formerly global head of sales, has been appointed CEO of Bjelin Group. Hannover, Germany—As Bjelin seeks to enter a new phase of growth with a strong industrial focus, the company has appointed Fredrik Alfredsson as CEO while Magnus Eriksson was...

Justin Wirpel and the Flooring OS team welcome visitors to its booth at TISE 2025. Software solutions are evolving at a rapid pace, bringing innovative features—like AI-driven customer service, cloud-based platforms and easy at-home measuring—that support the selling...

Nashville, Tenn.—The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) has announced the latest group of elite contractors achieving Five-Star Accreditation, a distinction that sets the highest standard for professionalism, craftsmanship and industry expertise in the tile...

Adam Cnaani Montebello, Calif.—Republic Floor, a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative flooring solutions, has appointed Adam Cnaani to vice president of sales. With a long history in sales leadership and strategic growth, Cnaani is now set to oversee...

Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) released a new “Tuesday Tips” this week. In the series, WFCA experts presents short video tips for improving customer service and optimizing staff performance. In the end, it’s all about understanding the importance...

Since laminate flooring emerged in the U.S. market more than 30 years ago, it has remained a popular category among end users, particularly home center shoppers, bargain hunters and renters. But over the past 10-15 years, we have seen other hard surface...

Calhoun, Ga.—The National Institute of Certified Floor Covering Inspectors (NICFI) extended a warm welcome to the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) as it enters the independent inspector certification industry following the acquisition of FCITS. The NICFI said...

Valencia, Spain—Tile of Spain manufacturers returned here for the 41st edition of Cevisama, the international fair for ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings. This year’s fair was held from February 24 – 28, 2025 at Feria Valencia, located in the center city here....

Atlanta—FLOR, a high-end area rug brand, officially launched its Spring Collection, which features four new styles as part of the Trina Turk X FLOR collaboration collection. These latest launches are designed to embody the essence of New York City living, building on...

Export, Pa.—Whether it be a quaint carriage house, a beachside motel or a family-friendly home, Karndean Designflooring has worked to provide the suitable luxury vinyl flooring product for a variety of projects. Pennington used contrasting tiles for his own twist on a...

As the boundaries between fashion and interior design remain blurred, the bold statements seen on the 2025 runways are poised to influence how we approach home design and, in turn, flooring. Upcoming fashion trends have the potential to shift how we envision living...

Aksarsay, Turkey—Vitra Tiles has recently made another stride in advancing its sustainability objectives. Its solar power plant (SPP) completed here is now operational, designed to reinforce the company’s commitment to environmentally friendly energy production....

Kankakee, Ill.—AHF Products recently performed a strategic reorganization of its commercial sales teams in an effort to enhance customer offerings and expand nationwide coverage. By combining the strengths of three leading flooring brands—Armstrong Flooring, AHF...

Calhoun, Ga.—Mohawk has refreshed its EverStrand, PETPremier and SmartStrand lines with trending colors and patterns. The company will also be pushing engaging marketing campaigns in an effort to provide differentiation in the flooring category. “We embarked on...

Fads are here today and gone tomorrow, but trends have more stability with the masses and stay around for years to come. Trends emerge as consumers shift with new life, fresh looks and colorful twists. At Shaw Industries, we recognize these mainstay trends in our...

Vero Beach, Fla.—In honor of International Women’s Day, 12 women tile installers gathered at Carpet & Tile Warehouse here to take part in the first-ever all-women Certified Tile Installer (CTI) hands-on exam. This event, organized by NTCA Women in Tile, is said to...

By acquiring Schönox, Sika will further expand its position in the growing building finishing segment. Sika has acquired HPS North America, distributor of the Schönox brand, in a move that will expand Sika’s U.S. presence in the building finishing segment. The...

As long as Americans have pets in their homes—and that number is only growing—carpet mills will be tasked with developing products that stand up to what cats and dogs, and—in the case of Mohawk, rhinos—can dish out. In fact, the pet-friendly carpet market continues to...

Most flooring dealers focus on facts and features in their marketing. They talk about square footage prices, durability and stain resistance. While these details matter, they don’t drive buying decisions. What does? Emotions. And the best way to create an emotional...

In the highly competitive world of retail, manufacturers and regional distributors spend considerable time and resources vying for their share of business from retailers. This often comes down to offering the cheapest price and unique products. However, in the...

Orlando, Fla.—Coverings, North America’s leading international tile and stone showcase and educational conference, has announced an expanded roster of both new and returning programs and activations for Coverings 2025. The highly anticipated event—set for April 29 –...

Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) released a new “Tuesday Tips” this week. In the series, WFCA experts presents short video tips for improving customer service and optimizing staff performance. In the end, it’s all about understanding the importance...

If there’s any sector of the market that has proven to be “inflation-proof” over the past several years, it’s the high-end wood realm. That’s based on both sales activity from the major suppliers as well as anecdotal evidence from the retail community. The thought...

Carolyn Haicl Carolyn Haicl, the new senior vice president of marketing and brands at Shaw Industries, is a brand builder. Her experience as vice president of North America marketing at Electrolux included repositioning the venerable Frigidaire brand, and she was also...

In January, Shaw elevated Jon England—formerly senior vice president of brand—to the position of senior vice president of sales, builder, multifamily and specialty markets. This includes the manufactured housing, modular, marine and other tertiary markets. The primary...

Floors & More has reserved portions of Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., for its annual convention later this month. New venue, new location, new dates and a whole new vibe. That describes the upcoming 2025 Floors & More annual convention, set to take place March...

Vero Beach, Fla.—Daltile has sponsored the all-women Certified Tile Installer (CTI) test here at Carpet & Tile Warehouse. This test is spearheaded by Carpet & Tile Warehouse in collaboration with Women in Tile, the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) and...

New York—As Havwoods embarks on its 50th anniversary year, the company also announced that Castle Bespoke Flooring has officially joined the global Havwoods family. Meant to forge a powerful partnership in the world of premium wood surfaces, this acquisition is said...

Mountville, Pa.—AHF Products has opted to leverage its 11 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. to serve both residential and commercial clients, meant to ensure that products are in stock and ready for fast shipping. This domestic manufacturing network is meant to...

The flooring industry is facing a critical labor shortage, and the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) is stepping up to address this challenge by establishing local training programs across the country. By partnering with community colleges, technical schools,...

President Trump’s tariffs on America’s three largest trade partners are having ramifications across flooring industry channels. President Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as an additional 10% on Chinese goods, has...

What does a random restaurant in a random town shutting its doors have to do with a floor covering retailer? Absolutely nothing. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t similarities between an eating establishment and a flooring store, and if we think about things for a...

Throughout his campaign, President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, along with additional tariffs on China. On his first day in office, Trump doubled down on that stance, telling reporters that he is considering slapping 25% tariffs on...

Tariffs, immigration, regulations, taxes…these are just some of the policy issues the Trump administration will grapple with in 2025 and beyond. While there are many others, these four have the potential to impact the flooring industry more so than others. Some of...

Calhoun, Ga.—Mohawk is introducing 26 new product offerings and campaign updates to its popular RevWood and TecWood lines to enhance performance, style and sustainability. RevWood Crafted for durability, RevWood flooring is designed to provide superior waterproof...

AHF has hardwood flooring plants in Somerset, Ky.; Beverly, W.V. (seen here); West Plains, Mo.; and Only, Tenn. Plus more locations that manufacture resilient flooring. Mountville, Pa.—As the global trade landscape remains unpredictable, AHF Products is highlighting...

New York—QEP has donated over 60,000 premium sponges to support the disaster relief and long-term recovery needs of the southern California wildfires as well as the ongoing efforts of the Helene and Milton hurricane cleanup. The sponges are heading to impacted areas...

Every two weeks, FCNews seeks out flooring retailers across the country to offer their advice on hot topics of the day. This week, we asked: To what extent has the weather impacted your business this year? Here are their responses: “Just a couple ‘Southern snow days.’...

Las Vegas—The International Surface Event (TISE) opened submissions for presenters at the 2026 conference. The conference is set to be held from January 27-29, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center here. The event intends to bring together over 700 global brands...

Solon, Ohio—Tarkett, a leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, announced it has been rated A level by CDP—a global non-profit that runs the world’s leading carbon disclosure platform—the highest level of maturity a company can...

They might not be household names, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential to make a greater mark on the U.S. market in the near future. For the time being, though, these companies are looking to make some noise in the market by participating in major...

Lancaster, Pa.—ECOsurfaces, powered by Ecore International, introduced its latest collection in the Rx line: Valera RXT. The rubber-backed performance flooring solution is designed for commercial spaces—including healthcare, corporate, education, hospitality and...

Calif.—In response to the devastating wildfires here, Novalis Innovative Flooring has contributed a significant donation to aid in relief and recovery efforts. Partnering with Samaritan’s Purse, a trusted organization known for its disaster relief initiatives, Novalis...

Export, Pa.—Karndean Designflooring has continued its partnership with Ty Pennington—a two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on ABC—this year, inspired by a passion for design. Along with more tips, ideas and inspiration for...

Orlando, Fla.—Fuse Alliance, a leading network of commercial flooring contractors, recently announced the recipients of its prestigious annual awards at the “Innovate to Elevate” conference held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort here from March 1-4, 2025. “We...

Dalton—Interface has announced a refresh of its comprehensive QuickShip program, offering a range of products that ship within two or three weeks based on the project timeline and quantity needs—meant to support easy selection by color, design and price. Interface has...

Florence, Ala.—TMT America has sold its ownership interest in Schönox HPS North America, Inc., to Sika Corporation, reaching a pivotal point in the fourteen-year history of the venture. Thomas Trissle of Schönox HPS North America “We promised Schönox GmbH in Germany...

Flooring adhesives have advanced in recent years, with new products and formulations that are more moisture-resistant, easier to remove and environmentally friendly. Several of the newest offerings were shown at Surfaces 2025, including adhesives that can withstand...