FLOORtalk

Reuben Potter, owner of Floors By Southern Boys in Manchester, Tennessee, is grabbing consumer attention through traditional marketing methods: billboards, vehicle signage, and sponsoring local groups and events. Listen as we discuss why self-promotion—and professionalism—are important for the independent flooring installer.

Southwind Building Products celebrates its 30th anniversary during a transformative period marked by significant investments and strategic shifts. We recently spoke with Drew Hash, president and CEO of Southwind, to learn more about the company’s recent wins and what the future looks like as its owner, F9 Investments, looks for new partnerships.

Leaders at the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) offer an update on the organization’s progress in increasing awareness and recruiting people to flooring installation, how they are connecting individuals to quality flooring installation in the industry, and how they are providing scholarships for training.

Bob Peoples, executive director of Carpet America Recovery Effort, discusses the complexities of carpet recycling, technological advancements and California's AB 863 bill, which could significantly impact the flooring industry and carpet recycling efforts.

The International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI) recently acquired the Natural Fiber Installers Certification (NFIC), a specialized training and certification organization focused on natural fiber flooring products. NFIC Founder PJ Arthur and Steve Abernathy, COO of the World Floor Covering Association, share how the acquisition will make certification more accessible to installers and promote the craftsmanship of natural fiber installations.

David Winkler, regional director of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 5, discusses the importance of training, provides insight into the inner workings and benefits of IUPAT, and dispels some common misconceptions about trade unions.

Three leading flooring distribution companies—The Belknap White Group, JJ Haines & Company, and Swiff-Train Company—recently merged to form a new brand, Ultimate Customer Experience (UCX). UCX CEO Ray Mancini discusses the merger, his outlook for 2025, and the future of distribution.

Florim USA is the largest single-site porcelain tile manufacturer in the United States. Don Haynes, environmental health and safety and sustainability manager, discusses Florim USA's efforts towards carbon neutrality and recent investments in energy efficiency and green practices.

Despite an industry-wide residential slowdown, MSI continues to expand its business through innovation, domestic manufacturing and supply, and the addition of distribution centers. Raj Shah, co-CEO of MSI, shares his outlook on rigid core flooring and higher-end products like engineered hardwood and quartz countertops.

Get an inside look at the art of flooring design through the eyes of Audra Keiber, Mohawk’s director of design & development. In this episode, Keiber gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Mohawk Design Summit, bringing retailers and designers together to forecast 2025 and 2026 trends and product ideation.