It is Floor Covering Trade Show Season

Every year at this time floor covering manufacturers have regional and national trade shows to show new introductions and stimulate awareness of their products. Last week I attended Mohawk Industries and Shaw Industries regional show in Atlanta, Georgia (at separate locations). Neither Mohawk nor Shaw participate in the national convention (Surfaces) held in Las Vegas, Nevada. About 90-95% of the other manufacturers do. The Surfaces show is more convenient for the dealers because you have all the mills in one location. All the majors such as Beaulieu America (carpet), Quick-Step, Mannington Mills (Mannington Laminate, Mannington Hardwood, Mannington Adura, and Mannington Commercial Carpet), Anderson Hardwood, The Beaulieu Group (Berry Floor Laminate and Alloc Laminate), Nafco Luxury Vinyl Tile and many, many, more. Not only carpet manufacturers and flooring manufacturers, but related equipment producers, sundries producers, and carpet padding and laminate underlayment manufacturers. All showing their wares to about 40,000 retail floor covering dealers from across the USA as well as some international visitors.

All will offer special pricing concessions for show attendees. I always take advantage of as many of these carpet deals and flooring bargains as possible to pass on to the customers of American Carpet Wholesalers. This year will be no different except I expect to see more specials given the state of the housing market and the overall state of the economy.

This show is geared toward the residential flooring market. NEOCON is the commercial trade show held annually in Chicago, Illinois.

Suffaces 2008 Floor Show and Convention

I just returned from Surfaces 2008 (Floor covering dealers and manufacturers annual convention). Because of the state of the economy and housing market, it was not nearly as crowded as in previous years. But all in all, I have to say that it was one of the better shows I have attended. Lots of new products, updating of some older dependable ones and an exciting new brand.

It was not possible to see every new entry. Previously I had made appointments with some of my major suppliers to see their new wares and to take advantage of some market specials. Mannington Mills was quite hospitable. There were some new additons to their Mannington Adura Tile and Plank line and a great market special. I bought a truckload. Mannington Laminate Floors and Mannington Hardwood Floors had some beautiful new additions. Mannington and the R A Siegel Company (my distributor for Mannington) gave me $100 in chips for my visit which I promptly turned into $300 while walking back through The Venetian Hotel casino.

But the most exciting part of the show for me was the introduction of "Bliss". A new carpet brand by Beaulieu USA (one of my major partners). I will give you more info on Bliss in my next post.