FLOORtalk

Evan Hackle CEO, Tortal Training and Ingage Consulting discusses hiring and retaining employees and the role of training in a retail environment.

Chris Ramey, president the American Marketing Group and The Home Trust international discusses satellite marketing, how it works and the opportunities it holds for retailers.

Jim Buckles, industry consultant and CEO of startup Mobile Direct Flooring, discusses this new, owner-operated, van-based, franchised, retail concept.

We continue our #LookingBackSeries with Amy Costello and Kayla Lowrie with Armstrong Flooring. In October 2019, Floor Trends spoke with Amy and Kayla about their roles in the company and their individual journeys in the flooring industry that has landed them where they are today. Here, they provide an update on how the last 2 years have impacted the company’s sustainability efforts, its product development, and shared their opinions on how women’s roles in the flooring industry are shifting.

Thomas Baert, president, CFL Flooring, and founder and owner of Domotex Asia Chinafloor, discusses the company’s move to let external private investors join CFL as well as the company’s new U.S. manufacturing operation.

Rochelle Routman, chief sustainability officer, HMTX, provides an update on HMTX’ view of social justice and the company’s JUST 2.0 label status. She dives into the current state of women in the flooring world and how the pandemic has impacted women’s roles within the industry. She also provides advice to women in flooring who are looking to advance and to women who are considering flooring as a career choice.

Robert Varden, vice president, CFI, discusses the International Certified Flooring Installers Association’s (CFI) partnership with The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and what that means for flooring installers and the industry.

What do flooring retailers need to know about entering ecommerce? John Simonson, president, Webstream Dynamics, shares tips on budgeting for a ecommerce site, building a service team and formulating an effective marketing plan.

Joe Yarbrough, president, Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) reviews what the association has done in 2021 and what's in store for 2022 to help promote carpet and rugs to consumers.

The tile installation community did well through the pandemic, according to Bart Bettiga, executive director, National Tile Contractors Association— despite supply chain issues and pricing fluctuations. Find out why Bettiga thinks that installers need to rebrand themselves and keep gaining certifications to keep the money rolling in.