the stocklists - october 2012

Stocklistswith1 October 2012 FlooringNews

The

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

Carpets that sell with confidenceAsk your local representative for

more details - see pages 22-23

Furlong thanks everyone who crowded around their stand atHarrogate to see the season’s best sellers with the latest

colours in Satisfaction and class-leading point-of-sale

SHOW-STOPPINGSatisfaction!

2 THE STOCKLISTS October 2012

Advertisers FlooringFactsheets

StocklistsThe

FIRST FOR FLOORING NEWS AND DATA

Classified advertising................................................................................. page 71

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

Monthly ‘Stocklisters’ shown in BOLD

Index Page Contact Price No No List Date

� ADORE 43 01675 433075 —

�BONDWORTH 18 01562 745000 June 2011

�BRITISH WOOL 58 01274 688 666 —

�BROCKWAY CARPETS LTD. 19 01562 828200 Feb 2012

� BRONTË — 01282 862736 —

� CAMPAIGN FOR WOOL 59 — —

�CARPENTER — 01457 861141 —

� COLUMBIA FLOORING 20 0208 443 3322 —

� CORMAR — 01204 881234 —

� CYBERGOLD 53 01494 761814 —

� DYNE — 0161 877 8877 —

� F.BALL 4 01538 361633 —

� FELLS 51 01977 662211 —

� FITA 70 01159 506836 —

� FLOORWISE 16 01509 673974 —

� FURLONG FLOORING 22,23 01772 696787 Nov 2010

� GEORGIAN 70 01827 831430 —

� INTERFLOOR 35 01706 213131 —

� KINGSMEAD 47 01827 831427 —

� LANO — 00800 5266 5266 —

� MANX 33 01827 831 434 —

�MASTER WEAVERS 24 01562 754382 —

� MERRYFIELD BC 01422 373799 —

� MODULEO 37 — —

�MOHAWK 25,45 01480 479830 —

�NICF 70 0115 958 3077 —

� NOVOSTRAT — 00353 61 339287 —

� QA PRODUCTS 39 0151 427 6000 —

� RACKHAMS 26 020 85319225 —

� SIMON CHARLES 67 0800 126 750 —

� SKILLS GROUP 51 0845 308 1400 —

� SOLENT WHOLESALE CARPET 27 01243 774623 Sep/Oct 2012

� STS FLOORING DISTRIBUTORS 28 0845 341000 May 2012

�TELENZO 29 01422 374417 —

� THE FLOORING SHOW 41-56 01423 779967 —

�T & E DISPLAY GROUP 67 0121 585 7600 —

�WESTON HAMMER 30 0845 644 9090 —

AdhesivesExpertise advice from F Ball page 4

Buying GroupsChoosing the right organisation for you pages 8

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

Wool Fibre PageA checklist of natural fibre characteristics page 17

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

UK manufactured Carpet Cutting Machines

WWW.CARPETCUTTINGMACHINES.CO.UK

3THE STOCKLISTS October 2012

Published by Mayville Publishing Co Ltd., 219 West 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. 2012. Every care is taken in compiling this magazine, but the proprietors assume no responsibility in the effects arising therefrom.

FlooringNews starts on page 31

ISSUE 451: 1 OCTOBER 2012

Wool WeekBold campaign to boost fibre fashionSee our Gallery of showcase carpets

page 60

Laminate revivalInterest builds in matt laminates pages 40

MerryMats!

Get yourself a nice littleChristmas bonus with‘impulse buy’ festive matsfrom The Stocklists!See page 57 for details

Stick flicksF Ball’s new TV channel for videos pages 56

Tile styleSmart carpet options

pages 34

POSibilitiesCompact concept in POS

pages 36

Sunny HarrogateThe Flooring Show defies the gloom with a smart show page 41-55


Adhesives

Flooring Factsheet


TUFTED

With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpet

produced today is tufted. It takes about an hour to make a roll of

carpet that might take eight hours to weave. To make tufted carpet,

hundreds of yarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primary

backing fabric to 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 a

secondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability.

A wide variety of styles and textures can then be created using

various techniques.

LOOP PILE

Berber • 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 effect

underfoot. These carpets are available in an assortment of colours and

may be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop.

Level loop • When all the loops are of the same height, a highly

flexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casual

appearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres.

The tight loop texture tends to hide marks so it’s a good blend

between luxury and practicality.

Multi-level loop • The loops vary to two or sometimes three loop

heights to create informal, random textures which are very forgiving

for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas

and busy 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, pebbly

texture. Frieze carpets are very durable and hide footprints, dust and

dirt, which makes them suitable for heavy traffic areas.

Saxony • Saxony textures are made of twisted yarns, which should

be heat set. The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending together

to form a very elegant finish. Saxony textures show footprints and

vacuum marks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home.

More textured variations improve the practicality of saxonies.

Twist • The popular twist carpet is the cut-pile standard. The yarn is

tightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature and the result is

a versatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours.

Velvet • Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have a

level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is then

sheared 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 easily

and the colour looks different from place to place because fibres

lying in different directions reflect the light differently. A luxury for

occasional rooms.

CUT AND LOOP

When some of the pile is cut and other left as loop, a variety of

surface textures and patterns can be created (in a variety of

colours). The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints and

stains so cut and loop is good for high traffic areas and general

purpose rooms in the home.

Shag pile • Shag pile has varied in popularity. The pile is up to

50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surface

flattens easily and lacks durability.

BONDED

Bonded carpets (sometimes called ‘fibre-bonded’ or ‘fusion bonded’)

are created by firing fibres into an adhesive material – the fibres are

not stitched into the backing in any way. The technique is principally

used 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 to

the house is highly recommended, as they will

significantly reduce the rate at which the carpet will

soil. They should be of adequate size to allow street

dirt to be removed from shoe soles and must be

cleaned regularly themselves.

Regular MaintenanceRegular cleaning will extend the life of a carpet and

maintain its appearance. Vacuum clean regularly and

thoroughly, which removes gritty dirt that can

damage the 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 have

the WOOLSAFE Mark, it is not endorsed by most carpet

manufacturers!

Never use any detergents such as dishwashing

liquids, soaps or other cleaners recommended for

general household use. Although they may clean the

carpet satisfactorily they will almost certainly cause

problems such as rapid re-soiling, colour bleeding or

other damage to the pile or backing of the carpet.

Use only WOOLSAFE approved products

WOOLSAFE-approved carpet

care products have been

independently and

scientifically tested and are

safe and effective for

cleaning and maintaining all

types of carpets and rugs.

Housekeeping Tips for Carpets and Rugs

Services for RetailersCustomer carpet care HELPLINE If you have trouble dealing with customer queries

like “How do I get red wine stains out of my carpet?”

Just give them our HELPLINE 01943 850 817 and we’ll give them the correct

advice. Simple.

Certified Operator NetworkFor experienced, specialist wool carpet cleaners

you can trust visit: www.woolsafe.org/find/a-

registered-carpet-cleaner.

WOOLSAFE Registered InspectorsSolve disputes with customers with our

independent carpet complaint Investigators. Just

visit: www.woolsafe.org/find/a-registered-carpet-

inspector and call your nearest inspector.

WOOLSAFEApproved ProductsHave confidence in the cleaning product you

recommend, use the WOOLSAFE Approved

Products Directory it contains only safe and

effective carpet cleaning products. For spot

removers visit: www.woolsafe.org/spotremovers

Carpet Care LeafletsWe offer to help you develop custom carpet care

literature and we also offer generic carpet care

leaflets designed to be given away with each cut of

carpet. Correct carpet maintenance shouldstart from day one.

Web pages and Links We offer to help you develop custom carpet care

pages for your website or you can link to our

website’s carpet care pages for up-to-date and

accurate advice.

Contact us by email, telephone or post to:

The WOOLSAFE Organisation

49 Boroughgate, Otley, LS29 8NR

Tel: 01943 850817

E-mail: [email protected] or visit

www.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 it

could do with a really good clean, you can either do

the job yourself, or you can call in a specialist carpet

cleaning company.

If you are considering cleaning the carpet or rug

yourself make sure to use only WOOLSAFEapproved products. Look for the WOOLSAFE Mark

on the bottle or package.

It is best to engage theservices of a professionalcarpet & upholstery cleaningcompany.To get a really expert

job done entrust the work to a

WOOLSAFE accredited carpet

cleaning company.

These companies are fully trained, have been in

business for a considerable length of time, are

members of one or more recognised professional

trade associations related to the cleaning industry

and have a reputation for top quality service. And

they 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 of

carpet complaint investigators, trained and registered

by The WOOLSAFE Organisation is available

throughout the UK and Ireland.

WOOLSAFE Registered Inspectorshave extensive experience in

investigating the causes for carpet

complaints based on their practical

involvement with carpets and rugs

over many years.

They are fully qualified to

investigate carpet and rug complaints on-site on

behalf of carpet manufacturers, retailers, cleaning

companies and carpet owners. They can carry out or

commission tests where required, and will provide

comprehensive reports.

To contact an inspector in your area call

01943 462127, email: [email protected], or

visit: www.woolsafe.org / Private Householder /

Registered Inspectors

The Green WOOLSAFE

Mark identifies those

products that not onlyare the most suitablefor wool and other quality

carpets, 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 –

if unsure, 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; work

into the spot with a small, soft brush or sponge

• Take care with applying solvents to bitumen-backed

carpet tiles

• When using solvents always ensure there is plenty

of fresh air ventilation

• Always thoroughly rinse out water-based spotters

with 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 stronger

spot removers. Some stains you may find impossible

to remove completely in which case the assistance of

a professional carpet cleaner is required.

Life inspired cleaning innovationswww.bissell.com

WOOLSAFE ApprovedCarpet Cleaning Products

www.prochem.co.uk

Home of the Legendary CleaningProduct - Carpet Power

www.ozkleen.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 ifit doesn’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 of

the floor retailing scene in the last decade or so, giving

independents the extra edge they need to compete

effectively with the retail park chains.

More than 1000 retailers are now members of one of

the several buying groups which operate in our sector

and 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 of

surrendering some control to a committee – and most

particularly compromising long-established relationships

and negotiated terms with current suppliers.

The bottom line is the bottom line. A retailer selling

across a broad range of products is likely to improve

margins within a buying group – but you don’t need a

leap of faith to join up. Ask the buying groups for answers...

Buying Groups

Pick the right onewww.smg-group.co.ukContact: David LewisTel: 0118 932 3832

[email protected]

www.greendalecarpets.co.ukContact: Rob Harding

Tel: 01432 852000Fax: 01432 852005

[email protected]

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

Tel: 01942 [email protected]

[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 bulkbuyer from manufacturers. The way discounts andrebates are passed on to members varies betweengroups so make sure it’s absolutely clear how this will bedone. You’ll need to work out how this compares withdiscounts you have already negotiated locally withpreferred 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 –this gives 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.Financial services include invoice factoring, credit, loansand insurance. 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 andworkshops to help you develop your business. Thenetwork gives you someone to call when you needadvice on, for example, an unusual installation, a technicalconsumer complaint, legal issue or business dilemma.

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

[email protected]

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


www.flooringone.co.ukContact: Glenn Harding

Tel: 0121 683 [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 combinationof thickness and density is all important as a thickunderlay with low density may not perform well.Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it willneed to be – 11mm is often used for luxury installationswith 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.

In a tight market for margins, underlay for carpet and

laminate flooring offers retailers one of the best

opportunities to add value to every sale – with good

profitability, trade-up potential once benefits are

understood and high satisfaction levels with customers.

But 50% of carpet is still sold without new underlay!

Retailers should create an assumption that new

underlay is always required, the only decision is which

type. It’s also a good target-setter for sales staff.

Setting up in-store demonstrations so customers can

walk on samples with different grades of underlay and

feel the difference has shown excellent results – some

manufacturers 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 whencomfort is desired.

Benefits

www.numa-online.co.uk

www.novostrat.com

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 ascreels - and usually each batch produces between500m2 - 3000m2 in a single width, depending onthe creel size. Whilst the recipe used by the dyerremains constant, 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 onblended colours (Heathers etc). To ensure perfectcolour matching it is advisable that a single widthbe used in any installation requiring exact colourmatching.

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 notbe from the same batch as current productionand therefore should be used as a guide and notan exact 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 isonly a small fraction of the total fibre contained inthe carpet.

PULLED LOOPSPulled loops occur only in looped pile carpetwhere one or more loops in the continuous pileis pulled through the primary backing of thecarpet. 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 offendingend level with the rest of the pile. They should notbe left as this could result in further loops beingpulled and developing into a ladder.

SPROUTINGOccasionally an odd tuft or two can work its wayto the surface and stand proud of the rest of thepile. This is probably due to one end of the tuftbeing 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. Theyshould never be pulled out.

SHADINGShading occurs because the pile of the carpet hasbecome crushed, flattened or brushed in adifferent direction to the natural lie of the pilewhilst in situ. This causes light reflection atdiffering angles resulting in the creation of lightand dark patches on the carpet. This will occur onall pile fabrics but can be more noticeable onplainer carpets because the shadows created bypile pressure will not be disguised by a heavypattern 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 ofthe carpet changes direction and thus reflects lightat different angles showing the effects of shadingwhich can become permanent. It is also describedas ‘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 disguisethe effects. It can occur quite quickly afterinstallation. A tremendous amount of research hasbeen carried out over many years by manyinstitutes to determine the cause of thisphenomenon but none of it has proved conclusive.There is no commonly known manufacturingprocess which can cause or cure this phenomenonand therefore it is not a manufacturing fault. Forfurther information 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 considerabletime, 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 spreadthe load and the net result is a larger area of lessdeeply indented 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 tobe evaluated 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 upthe pile can be beneficial. Care must be take notto over 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 greateror lesser degree dependant on the amount oftraffic to which it is subjected and the construction(tuft density/pile fibre/height/weight) of theproduct concerned.

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 dustsometimes shows itself as spots on the carpet, thisis due to the air carried on a draught under thecarpet escaping through minute holes both in theunderlay and the carpet, leaving dust deposited onthe pile much like a filter action. In suchinstallations, the use of a lining paper is essential asa 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 complaintis to 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 LtdBe Tu Tw W Ww 01562 829966

Alternative Flooring 01264 335111

Associated WeaversTw Tu 01422 431100

Avena Carpets LtdTu Ww 01422 330261

Axwoven Carpets LtdAx Be 0121 550 5788

Axminster Carpets LtdAx Be Tw 01297 32244

Bajong Carpets NVTu Tw W +32 56783250

Balta Industries Tu Tw W Ww +32 56 62 2211

Beaulieu International GroupBe Pr Tu Tw +32 56 67 66 11

Belvedere CarpetsTu W 020 8800 0740

[email protected]

www.belvederecarpets.co.uk

Betap Tufting BVTu Tw W +31 383 861 060

BIC CarpetsBe Tw W +32 56 23 54 10

Bizspoke Custom CarpetsBe Tw W 01924 488882

Blenheim CarpetsAx Be Tw W Ww 020 7823 3040

BMK 0113 380 5333

Bond Worth LtdAx 01562 745000

BrintonsAx Tu Tw W Ww 0800 505055

Brockway Carpets LtdTw W 01562 828200

[email protected] www.brockway.co.uk

Bronte Carpets LtdBe Tu Tw W 01282 862 736

[email protected]

www.brontecarpets.co.uk

BurmatexTu 01924 262525

Cavalier Carpets LtdAx Be Tu Tw W Ww 01254 268000

Christy CarpetsTu 019078 308777

Clarendon CarpetsTw 01675 433066

Classis CarpetsTu W Ww 0870 020 1725

Condor Carpets BVTu +31 38 4778911

Cormar Carpets LtdTu Tw W 01204 881 234

[email protected]

www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Couristan CarpetsAx Tu W Ww 800 223 6186

Craigie CarpetsBe 01294 558400

Creative Carpets LtdBe Tu Tw W 0116 284 1455

Creatuft CarpetsTu W +32 56 35 4444

Custom Carpet CompanyAx Be Tu Tw W Ww 01737 830301

Dan-Floor UKW 0844 9151000

Domo FloorcoveringPr Tu Tw +32 55 335211

Drury Lane Carpets LtdBe Tu Tw W 01254 296829

E & WE CarpetsW 01562 825952

Edel Telenzo Carpets LtdTu Tw W 01422 374 417

[email protected]

www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk

Enterprise Weaving CoBe Ww 01562 745030

Fells CarpetsWw 01977 662211

[email protected]

www.fellscarpets.co.uk

Fetcham Furnishings LtdTw 020 8944 6220

Fletco Taepper A/STu W +45 96 60 3000

Firth Carpets & FlooringBe Pr Tu Tw W Ww 01484 721529

Furlong FlooringTw W 01772 696 787

[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 RichTu Tw W 01827 831525

Gaskell Mackay Carpets LtdAx Tu Tw W 01429 892525

Georgian CarpetsTu Tw W 01827 831430

Godfrey Hirst (GB) LtdTu 0800 526696

Halbmond TeppichwerkeBe Pr Tu +49 037 421 420

Heckmondwike FB 01924 410544

ITCBe Pr Tw Tu 0032 51 424 411

John Lanham Watts CarpetsAx Tw Ww 01937 588511

John Evans LtdAx Tu Tw W 07850 935301

Joseph Hamilton & SeatonW 01827 831400

Kingsmead CarpetsTu Tw W 01827 831 424

Lano NVAx Pr Tu Tw W Ww +32 56 65 [email protected]

Le Tissage d'ArcadeAx Ww +32 05685 4747

Lecaflor LtdAx Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww 0800 78 33 712

Leigh Spinners LtdTw 01942 673232

Louis de PoortereW +32 56 393 386

LusotufoTu 01388 664101

Manx CarpetsTw W 01827 831 434

Master WeaverW Ww 01562 754 382

Mayfield CarpetsTu Tw W 01706 639 866

MID NLBe +31 38 851 8700

ModulyssBe Tu Tw Pr +32 52 457211

Mohawk Europe01480 479830

[email protected] 01480 471304

www.mohawkinternational.com

Mr TomkinsonTw Ww 01827 831 450

Ossfloor UK 01675 433031

Penthouse CarpetsTu Tw W 01706 341231

Phoenox Textiles Pr Tu 01484 863227

Pownall CarpetsTw W 0845 6528811

Roger Vanden Berghe.NVTu Ww +32 56 73 57 11

Ryalux Carpets LtdBe Tu Tw W 0845 652 8811

Sans Frontieres LtdBe Pr Tu Tw W Ww 0844 5611977

Shaw Home FoundationsTu 01675 433 501

Signature CarpetsBe Tu W 01422 845075

TAT Carpet 07976 607657

Tapibel NVPr Tu Tw 01623 481 221

Tasibel NVTw +32 52 499600

The Grosvenor Wilton CoW Ww 01562 701456

The Sultana Carpet CoAx 01299 822300

The Wilton Carpet CoAx W Ww 0845 296 8850

Thomas Witter UK LtdTu Tw 0870 1128318

Timzo Tufting Industry BVTu +31 38 385 4477

Tisca TiaraTu Ww +41 71 791 0111

Trendy Tuft DesignsBe Tu Tw W 01274 855080

Ulster CarpetsAx Be Tu Tw W Ww 02838 334433

United Carpets & BedsTw W Ww 01709 732 666

Victoria CarpetsTu Tw W Ww 01562 749300

Vorwerk 08700 104484

Westex CarpetsTu 01274 861334

Weston HammerW 0845 644 9090

Whitestone Weavers LtdAx Be Tu Tw W Ww 01429 892555

Wilkies CarpetsTw 0113 307 9955

Woodward GrosvenorAx Tu Tw W Ww 0800 526696

Wool ClassicsTu Ww 0207 349 1560

Woven Carpets of KidderminsterW 01299 827477

Bronte’s stand

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 at

www.thestocklists.com


The StocklistsWholesale Distribution DirectoryNationalMercadoLeeds

0113 3802900

[email protected]

www.mercado.co.uk

Fells CarpetsGoole01977 [email protected]


North EastCarpet & Flooring Gateshead

0191 482 7373

[email protected]

www.carpetandflooring.co.uk

Fells CarpetsGoole

01977 [email protected]


Floorwise (North East) Ltd Birtley - see Floorwise p16

Vanguard CarpetsRedditch

0845 601 1189

customerservices.redditch@

carpetandflooring.co.uk

www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk

Wood Floor SalesRedditch

01527 511888

help.redditch@


www.woodfloorsales.com

North West A&A CarpetsManchester

01204 701188

[email protected]

www.aandacarpets.co.uk

D. M. Miller LtdManchester

0161 205 9949

[email protected]

www.dmmillerltd.spaces.lives.com

Fells CarpetsGoole

01977 [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 CarpetsDarwen

01254 703999

[email protected]


0845 601 1189




Carpet & FlooringManchester

0161 786 6800

manchester@




01527 511888

help.redditch@



MidlandsCarpet & Flooring Birmingham

0121 421 9131

birmingham@



DMS Flooring SuppliesNorthampton

0845 643 5601

dmsnorthampton@

dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk

Floorwise D & J LtdSoutham - see Floorwise p16

J J Wholesale & Distribution LtdBirmingham

0121 765 4994

[email protected]

Mattys Wholesale Carpets Birmingham

0121 359 2001

[email protected]

RPS FlooringMansfield Woodhouse

- see Floorwise p16

STS Flooring DistributorsWatford

08454 342000

[email protected]

www.stsflooring.com

see page 28 for details


0845 601 1189





01527 511888

help.redditch@



Woodall Brothers Ltd Shrewsbury - see Floorwise p16

Green Tree DistributionStone, Staffordshire

01785 818005

[email protected]

EastBeds FlooringBedford

01234 341234

[email protected]

www.bedsflooring.co.uk

Faithfull FloorcoveringSuffolk

01473 822341

[email protected]

www.faithfulls.co.uk

STS Flooring Distributors LtdCambridge

Tel: 01954 781142

[email protected]

www.stsflooring.com

See page 28 for details


0845 601 1189





01527 511888

help.redditch@



South EastAcorn Carpet AccessoriesBromley, Kent - see Floorwise p16

Ashmount Flooring SuppliesLtd Tottenham

0208 808 2158

[email protected]

www.ashmountflooring.co.uk

Are you a Wholesaler?If you’re not listed here, please call

Diane Martin on 01482 659396.


The StocklistsWholesale Distribution DirectoryBeds FlooringBedford

01234 341234

[email protected]

www.bedsflooring.co.uk

Carpet & FlooringBow

020 8525 5691

[email protected]


Carpet & Flooring Camberley

01276 672100

[email protected]


Clifford Floors Strood

01634 285900

[email protected]

Culpeck Strood

01634 299000

[email protected] .com

Columbia FlooringMiddlesex

020 8443 3322

[email protected]

www.columbiaflooring.co.uk


DMS Flooring SuppliesHemel Hempstead

0845 643 5344

[email protected]

DMS Flooring SuppliesMilton Keynes

0845 643 5320

[email protected]

Faithfulls Service CentreKent

01322 285001

Faithfulls Service CentreWalthamstow

0208 498 3040

[email protected]

Faithfull FloorcoveringSuffolk

01473 822341

[email protected]

www.faithfulls.co.uk

Kent Flooring Supplies LtdChatham

01634 668668

[email protected]

www.kentflooring.co.uk

Littner HamptonLondon

020 8520 8474

[email protected]

www.littnerhamptoncarpets.co.uk

Potts & Ward, Woodcocks LtdBrighton

01273 557211

[email protected]

www.pwwflooring.co.uk

RackhamsLondon

020 8531 9225

[email protected]

www.rackhamsltd.co.uk


Salesmark Lancing - see Floorwise p16

Solent Wholesale CarpetWest Sussex

01243 774623

[email protected]

www.solentwholesale.co.uk


STS Flooring Distributors Orpington/Croydon

0845 434 1000

[email protected]

www.stsflooring.com



0845 601 1189

customerservices.redditch@carpet

andflooring.co.uk


Wessex Flooring Amesbury - see Floorwise p16


01527 511888

[email protected]


South West Carpet & Flooring Bristol

0117 316 0555

[email protected]


Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth - see Floorwise p16

Fitwell Flooring LtdNewton Abott - see Floorwise p16

Solent Wholesale CarpetWest Sussex

01243 774623

[email protected]

www.solentwholesale.co.uk


STS Flooring DistributorsThame (Oxford)

01844 213555

[email protected]

www.stsflooring.com



0845 601 1189


andflooring.co.uk



01527 511888

[email protected]


ScotlandCarpet & FlooringGlasgow

0141 427 8456

[email protected]


C. K. Davie Ltd Aberdeen - see Floorwise p16

C. K. Davie LtdDundee - see Floorwise p16

Headlam Scotland North Lanarkshire

01698 831 000

[email protected]

www.headlamscotland.co.uk

Neil Smith Ltd Glasgow - see Floorwise p16

WalesCarpet & Flooring Bristol

0117 316 0555

[email protected]


Mattys Wholesale Carpets Birmingham

0121 359 2001

[email protected]

Roma Flooring Neath - see Floorwise p16


0845 601 1189


andflooring.co.uk



01527 511888

[email protected]


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 16Bromley, KentTel: 020 8462 0422 Fax: 020 8462 0927

C. K. Davie Ltd 1AberdeenTel: 01224 820077 Fax: 01224 822344

C. K. Davie Ltd 2DundeeTel: 01382 226533 Fax: 01382 226544

Fitwell Flooring Ltd 20Redruth, CornwallTel: 01209 214344 Fax: 01209 211162

Fitwell Flooring Ltd 19Newton Abbot, DevonTel: 01626 835935 Fax: 01626 834334

Floorwise D & J Ltd 13Southam, WarksTel: 01926 814922 Fax: 01926 817899

Floorwise (North East) 5Ltd Birtley, County DurhamTel: 0191 410 7070 Fax: 0191 410 6116

Lee Floorstok Ltd 8 LiverpoolTel: 0151 708 7420 Fax: 0151 708 7241

Lee Floorstok Ltd 7ManchesterTel: 0161 231 8080 Fax: 0161 231 8787

MCA Floorwise Ltd 6Morecambe, LancashireTel: 01524 33517 Fax: 01524 381852

Mytton Flooring 14Norwich, NorfolkTel: 01603 624387 Fax: 01603 612888

Neil Smith Ltd 3GlasgowTel: 0141 552 1141 Fax: 0141 552 0623

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 4 BelfastTel: 028 9075 3202Fax: 028 9075 3901

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 9Dublin 10Tel: 00353 (0)1 626 3913Fax: 00353 (0)1 626 3960LoCall: 1850 445 746 (ROI)

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 10LimerickTel: 00353 (0)61 227 100Fax: 00353 (0)61 227 000LoCall: 1850 445 745 (ROI)

Roma Flooring 15Neath, West GlamorganTel: 01639 633001 Fax: 01639 646116

RPS Flooring 11Mansfield Woodhouse,NottinghamshireTel: 01623 624198 Fax: 01623 620931

Salesmark 17Lancing, West SussexTel: 01903 750522 Fax: 01903 851111

Wessex Flooring 18Amesbury, WiltshireTel: 01980 625888 Fax: 01980 676969

Woodall Brothers Ltd 12Shrewsbury, 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

1

2

3

45

6

789

1110

12

1315

16

17

18

19

20

14

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

THE BEST CARPET WOOL

Wool carpets have a historic reputation for quality because as afibre it is known to withstand pressure and have excellentappearance retention properties. The best wool for carpetproduction is ‘strong’ wool and this is grown on sheep breeds foundin Britain and New Zealand. Most carpets will contain both BritishWool and New Zealand Wool because British Wool is more bulkyand resilient and offers texture and unique heathery shades tocarpet, whilst New Zealand wool is softer and whiter andparticularly good for plain, lighter shaded ranges. Combining the twowithin a blend for carpet yarn gives manufacturers the perfectqualities for carpet.

100% wool or 80/20 – 80/10/10 wool richWool has yet to be matched by any man-made fibre; it has superiorstrength and does not need other fibres to improve itsperformance. However manufacturers choose to use synthetic fibreswithin the yarn blend for a number of reasons. These include fibreflexibility, dyeing, heat setting, stain resistance, durability and cost.These wool rich compositions offer industry standard carpets whichwill perform well in the home.

Flooring factsheetWool fibre

THE BENEFITS OF WOOL CARPET

PracticalStrong and Resilient – Wool carpet will provide superior performanceover many years as it can offer unique resilience and long lastingdurability. The natural crimp of wool offers valuable ‘bounce-back’ so thatpile compression is resisted and the effects of tracking and shading arereduced – maintaining good appearance over many years.

Easy care – Wool is a natural fibre that has an inbuilt resistance to soilingdue to its natural oils and its outer surface of microscopic scales and as aresult additional anti-soil treatments are not necessary. Simply vacuumingthe carpet will keep it looking good and whilst wool initially repels spills,prompt and complete blotting with white paper towels or an absorbentcloth is advised and will address many household spillages.

ComfortSoft and Warm – Wool carpet adds luxurious underfoot comfort andwarmth to the home and acts as an insulator improving heat retentionand energy efficiency.

Peace and Quiet – Wool carpet absorbs sound and cushions the homeagainst echo and room to room noise transfer.

SafetyFire Retardant – Wool is naturally fire resistant, has a slow ignition rateand tests show that it is self extinguishing within seconds. It meets manysafety regulations without additional treatments and is favoured incontract locations for this reason.

Fall Friendly – Carpet cushions and so provides a softer floor whichprotects against serious injury in falls by the very young or the elderly.

Internal EnvironmentIndoor Environment – As a natural ‘smart’ fibre with a complex physicaland chemical structure, wool helps to create a balanced atmosphere inthe home. It breathes and absorbs humidity in the air, releasing it whenthe atmosphere becomes dry and helps improve air quality by absorbingairborne toxins in indoor air.

Anti–allergy – The minute scales on the fibre’s surface will hold fine dustuntil vacuumed which helps to reduce floating particulate in theatmosphere. Wool does not give off harmful emissions or promote thegrowth of bacteria and wool is not a food source for dust mites.

Eco/Environmental Natural and Sustainable – Grown on sheep, which graze freely, wool isboth 100% natural and fully sustainable. As shearing is a necessary part ofanimal husbandry this means that every year there is a fresh supply ofwool available for the carpet manufacturing industry.

Energy Efficient – Wool is energy efficient in the home and also in carpetproduction.

Biodegradable – Wool fibre is biodegradable in soil and will producenitrogen, sulphur, carbon dioxide and water which are all plant nutrients.

Environmentally Assessed – Wool is an environmentally responsible fibrethat has been measured in terms of its ecological impact. A Life CycleAnalysis study carried out by Leeds University to ISO 14040 standard forBritish Wool concludes that it compares favourably when measuredagainst man-made fibres.

SAFE EASY-CAREDURABLE COMFORT

British WoolThe Planet Friendly Fibre for Carpetaboutwool.com



Bond Worth Fiori Meadow axminster 4-5201 classic scroll intertwined with richly detailed modern accents manufactured with 80% pure new wool 20% nylon available 4.00m wide.

From our Fiori axminster Collection full portfolio available to view online at www.bondworth.co.uk

Townshend Works, Puxton Lane, Kidderminster,Worcestershire, DY11 5DFT+44(0)1562 745000 F+44(0)1562 732827


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 at

GUARANTEED maker’s list price.......

Delivered direct to business premises FREE OF CHARGE.

For a Speedy and Efficient Service

TRAFALGAR TRADING ESTATEJEFFREYS ROAD

ENFIELD MIDDLESEX

EN3 7TY

Tel: 0208 443 3322

Fax: 0208 805 2346

Opening Times:

Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm

Saturday 8.30am to 12 noon

ColumbiaFlooring plc

� quality

� choice

� availability

� service

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The Regency range of stain-resistant carpetsticks all the boxes:

THE STOCKLISTS October 2012

Covering the country...

JOHN POWERS M: 07792 477312 SALES MANAGER: BEDS, BERKS, BUCKS, HAMPS, MIDDX,NORTHANTS, OXON, W&S LONDON, SURREY, [email protected]

RICHARD RICHMAN M: 07791 891044 AREA SALES MANAGER: NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, CAMBS,N&E LONDON, ESSEX, KENT, SUSSEX & [email protected]

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

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

MARTYN REAM: 07968 324598LEICESTER/[email protected]

Midlands

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

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

REG SYKES M: 07973 403450SOUTH [email protected]

Yorkshire & North East

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

JASON BRIMBLEM: 07794 041266AVON & [email protected]

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

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

Wales & South West

Lighten up! Our new illuminated lecterns for

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Wood Floor Specialist

22


. quality and serviceCAREFREE Carpets are

distributed by

www.regencycarefree.co.uk

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

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

DARREN SPENDIFF M: 07791 [email protected]

RAYMOND SMITH M: 07816 [email protected]

London

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

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

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

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

South East

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

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

TBAEAST SCOTLAND

COLIN RICHFORDM: 07970 163372WEST [email protected]

Scotland

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

ALAN CHEETHAMM: 07966 263571GREATER [email protected]

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

North West

Sandhurst RangeThe Wilton Sandhurst range is woven with 24 beautifuland modern colours. This plain twist is a great choicefor both 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 additionalwarmth.

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% nylonand is 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



Ian PullingerLondon N,W, NW & EPostals, Essex & Middx(Within M25) 07881-502506

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 aSpecial Order Service on products fromvirtually every flooring manufacturer inexistence! 48 hour Delivery Service on all

Balterio Laminate Ranges.

GRAPHICS / CONTRACT GELSArena EnduranceSentinel

NATURAL EFFECTAnconaCashmere 4&5MCountry Treasure 4&5MChallenger BerberGold FieldsHopscotch 2012Houndstooth TweedIvory Coast 2012London Life 4&5MPromenadeRocca Rustic TreasureSan Salvador 4&5MShetland/Shetland Design 4&5MSilver StateSloane Square 4&5m

SAXONY / SHAG PILEChamonixCleopatraHalf CenturyNew CenturySaxon KingSomerset‘Stay at Home’ SaxonySupreme EleganceSweet SeductionTennessee

CORD, NEEDLEPUNCH &ENTRANCE MATTINGBedford GelBoleroExplorerHippo MatGalaLineaMagnum MatMagnus MatRackcord 2012ScorpioSupacord

TWISTS - STAIN RESISTAtmosphereBriar TwistChislehurstClydeDesert Twist Deluxe 4&5mDublin Heather Dublin Twist 2011Easy HeathersFairfield Supreme 4&5MHeathertwist DesignHeathertwist Supreme 4&5mHelmsleyMoorland TwistPembridge TwistRhapsodySalt ‘n’ PepaStain-Tex Twist 4&5MStartwist / Startwist Supreme 4&5M

TWISTS - WOOLCitation TwistDiscovery 4&5MEden Twist 30/40/50 4&5MIconic Twist 40/50 4&5MInspire Twist 30/40Paramount 30/40 4&5MSuper Sixty 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 LinesRenaissanceUltimate WiltonOaklandVINYL / SMOOTH FLOORINGBlackjack Casino RoyaleChampionChequersEclipse 2012 - Part IEclipse 2012 - Part IIMojo 2012Puregrip XLSuregrip XLThunderball

CARPET TILESBedford CordCapital PlusHeuga 727MagnesiumNeutronPositronProtonQuark

Call now to receive a copy of our latest

Summer of Sportspecial price

guide!

In the year that price is King,Rackhams are proud to remain

the King of prices!!

RALPH’S TOP TIP!Dukes, Reds, Talk Of The South, Faces... There was a time when every Friday night would find merubbing my fleece round the legs of some lovely ladies on a sweaty nightclub dancefloor. Yet suddenlyI find myself at home on a Friday night, is it my advancing years or could it be the installation of‘Stay at Home’ Saxony back in the barn that is keeping me there? The luxury is sublime... I just can’tseem to tear myself away from this level of comfort... I really must be getting old... hang on, is thatThe Bee Gees I hear... You Should be Dancing...? It is! Where’s my jacket, I’m off...!


VICTORIACastillionCeltic Heathers Crown TwistEasiCare - Full CollectionGaelic HeathersImperial VelvetNatural Companions (Sisal, Chenille, Ridge)Options 288Regal TwistRustic JewelsTudor Twist Coll

LANOBoleroCampus X-tremeChiselhurstFortunaHeather Twist DesignHeather Twist SupremePembridge TwistSentinelStartwist Coll

BALTACasablancaDesert Twist DeluxeFiestaFusion Happy DaysHigh FlyersHighland TweedGala Cord-all options in stockMoorland TwistNobilityRosemountSaxon KingShetland Shepherd TwistStainsafe FavouriteSuper WiltaxTechnoTwisty

LUSOTUFOCeltic Horizon MandalyPavillion VelvetSafiSintra BoucleTangierTitan & Tital DiagonalTwist BerberUniqueValencia

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

BROCKWAYAmore Stripe CollectionAvantiCavendishCraftsman EliteCresta 40/Cresta 50Orion/Orion MajorRadnor 30/Radnor 40

DOMOAbsolute LuxuryBriar TwistCabaretFestival TwistHeather TwistMountain PeaksPlaygroundPortofinoPrimaScorpio

IVCClassic LimestoneComfylux Extra ExpressionsFantasyFusionMaster GripPlanet Precious MetalsPrestoTile StylesUltimate OakUltimate MineralsVictoria

ITCBelgraviaConcertoConsulHeritage CollectionPalace

TAPIBELCachetMelodyNevadaReedsSysoltex Homested/Aran/CrofterToscana

BEAULIEU carpets Adventure TwistAthena DublinDublin HeathersExplorerEnduranceFashion/GalleryGrass CollectionHeavy Tread MarsMotor CarProntoSelectionsSweet HomesYucatan

vinyls Celtic Stone - New ColoursChessComfort GripGrandiosoJazzMagnumSherwood Oak Studio Sonata Urban

laminatesEssentials (previously Casa)Cottage

MOHAWK CARPETSCentury Collection- Century- Half Century

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

MISCELLANEOUSCAVALIERCelebrationsCountry CollectionHamlet Parish and Village

LEIGH SPINNERSAtlasVelour

THOMAS WITTERInnovations 50oz & 60oz

C&H Homestyle LVT - planks and tiles

PARAGONToccarre 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 September/October 2012.

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

DID YOU KNOW?STS Flooring Distributors Ltd stock a large range

of carpets and carpet tiles via our 5 depots

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

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

REGIONAL MANAGER - NORTHERN

Rachel Sherwood 07801 762724

REGIONAL MANAGER - SOUTHERN

Dana Baldock 07801 762725

AREA MANAGERS - SOUTHERN

Mirka Mihulcova 07500 847566South/West London, W Sussex, Berks, Hants, Surrey

Vicky Langley 07962 646847Surrey, W Sussex, Hants, South/West London

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

STS GOLDLINE STOCK CARPETSAbbey Twist 30/40Aston TwistBernwood DesignBernwood TwistBernwood SupremeBernwood Heather SupremeBlenheim Twist 40Blenheim Twist 50Cherwell CordChislehurstClassic Berber TwistFairfield CreationFairfield SupremeGladiator SupremeHarrier FeltHarrier GelHarrier Supreme GelHeathdaleMedicareMulticare Classic New Valley TwistOrinoco IIRavensbury Twist 32/40/50ScalaSerenitySupersava Elite

BALTA STOCK CARPETSGala CordNew Shepherd Twist

EDEL TELENZOHerculesLawrenceLimaPuma

NEXT DAY DELIVERY WWW.STSFLOORING.CO.UK NEW PRICE GUIDE SEPT 2012

LANO STOCK CARPETSBoleroChislehurst Fairfield CreationFairfield SupremeHeather Twist DesignHeather Twist SupremePembridge TwistSapphireScalaScala SolutionsStartwistStartwist Supreme

CORMAR STOCK CARPETSApolloBerwick 40/50Forest HillsLiving NaturalsMalabar TexturesNatural Berber TwistOaklands 32/42/50Primo ChoicePrimo DelightPrimo PlusPrimo TweedsPrimo UltraSensationTown & Country

BEAULIEU INTERNATIONALDublin EliteRanger

FIBRE BONDEDEcocord Supacord

CARPET STOCK TILESAscotBeckenhamCheltenham Clipper IICroydonCroydon ImpactHeuga 727 (Interface)KestonLafitte (Gradus)Latour (Gradus)SaturnSeries Collection (Interface)

STOCK UNDERLAYSBlue HeavenCirrusCloud Nine ContractCloud Nine Super ContractCosi 8mm & 10mmCumulus Durafit 500Durafit 650Goldtred CollectionHeatflow CollectionNimbus Willow GreenRoma Silver LiningTredaire EliteTreadmore



ChelseaOlympus

Chelsea

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]

Yorkshire & North Lincs John AlsopT: 01904 762471 M: 07860 572220E: [email protected]

Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, DorsetBrendan Hart M: 07850 130221E: [email protected]

Lincs, Leics, Northants, Notts, Derbyshire Jim Osborne M: 07738 642934E: [email protected]

Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks,OxfordshireNiall Martin M: 07866 735772 E: [email protected]

South Wales, Bristol,Gloucestershire, Wiltshire Andrew Jefferies M: 07831 457102E: [email protected]

Lancashire, Cumbria & Isle of ManJohn Rostron M: 07973 733208E: [email protected]

East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambs,Essex, Herts, Norfolk, SuffolkJonathan Hart T: 01621 817992 M: 07889 264466 E: [email protected]

West MidlandsPaul BrewerT: 0121 4277117 M: 07798 745181E: [email protected]

Greater Manchester, Cheshire, North Wales Philip HambletonT: 01925 740050 M: 07966 397676E: [email protected]

North EastRebecca Gibbons M: 07970 491215E: [email protected]

ScotlandTim TindalT: 01436 671421 M: 07836 705620E: [email protected]

Channel Islands, Isle of Wight John Eastlake T: 01323 896141 M: 07885 398858E: [email protected]

Northern 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]

Once again we’re pleased tosay we had a very goodHarrogate. We are trulygrateful to all our customers– old and new – who tookthe time to come to theshow and to visit our stand.

Response to some of thenew ranges in the pipelinehas been very encouraging –and we should know soonexactly what will be put intoproduction in 2013. Our newTube Collection stripe,Hammersmith, with its boldwide multi-stripe pattern,was very well received,along with new colours (in the grey scale) for the existing Tube Collection ranges,Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Mainline and Centrepoint. Our new contract quality stripey 100%Edelon polypropylene, Rio de Janeiro, was also very well received. New collections inproduction - the 50-50 Highbury, Islington, Hampton Court and our velvety textured

100% polyamide, Casablanca - also continue to receiveyour chorus of approval.

We really appreciate customers’ feedback– and we thinkyou like giving it too – so thanks to all: your views reallydo count!

We’re now quite well settled in to our newoffices (phones are all working now!) andloving the extra space, inside and out.How we managed before we just don’tknow. It’s certainly making everyone’s job alot easier and more pleasant. The only partleft to sort out is our trade showroom here– it’s been quite a while since we’ve hadone.This should be up and running by theNew Year – we’ll be sure to tell you allabout it when it’s ready.

HERE IT IS – HERE WE ARE!

Please don’t dismantle or deface your tombolas and lecterns, which take time to replenish andspoil your display for other customers. We have a very fast, very efficient sampling service forup to three samples per request which all our stockists can use - either by telephoning us athead office or via the website.

May we respectfully suggest...

Paddington in cafe au lait

Our new office from theoutside: we’ve got loadsof parking!

The new look Edel Telenzo stand at Harrogate, boasting thecompany’s fresh new corporate id, was busy as usualthroughout the three-day show.

Congratulations to James Browne of Rodgers of York, winner ofthe iPad in our Harrogate show free prize draw, seen here(right) receiving his prize from our Yorkshire agent John Alsop.

HARROGATE DELIVERS AGAIN

Weston Hammer UK16/17 Byford Court

HadleighIP7 6RD

Tel: +44 (0)845 644 9090Fax:+44 (0)845 644 9191

[email protected]

Please visit our website atwww.weston-carpets.co.ukfor 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, Cumbria, Manchester, Liverpool.

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 Steve Fletcher Tel: 07831 818989Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Tyneside.

Mr Keith StevensTel: 07710 160166Midlands & South Wales.

Bespoke Design carpet fromHammer CarpetsYou may not have heard of them but Hammer Carpetsin Denmark are the worlds largest manufacturer ofColortec bespoke design carpets in the world.

Colortec is a state of the art tufting machine that usescomputer controlled technology to manufacture anydesign in a maximum of 8 colours.

This tried and tested manufacturing method is up to 10times faster than Axminster and exactly replicates theappearance, unlike a printed design carpet.

If you would like more details of this type of carpet andto find out how competitive and easy to use it can bethen please call your Sales Agent or our Sales officewho will be happy to help.

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 5m widths.

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

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

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

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

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

Supreme BoucleOur best selling level loop 100% Wool product available in 12 up tothe minute colours in both 4m and 5m widths.

Imperial Boucle A heavy domestic loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths.

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

Royal Velour A luxurious velour in 80% Wool/20% Nylon in 5m wide.

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

The Stone Fibre CollectionOur unique flat woven quality in many fashion stylesand colours available in 4m and 5m widths.

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

New stands

We are pleased to announce the arrival of two new in-store display stands that hold all of our collections.

If you are interested in having one of these units,please contact your local sales agent or our sales office.


1 October 2012

FlooringNews

31from The Stocklists October 2012

Designer chic and cheap

Contractors and specifiers working on budget sensitive projects can nowachieve a stylish design-led look for less with the contemporary GO2carpet tile collection from Mohawk.

Consisting of two coordinating styles, Mountain Plains and Trail Blazer, thatdeliver a bold statement when used together or alone, GO2 ensures a high-impact aesthetic for a variety of demanding commercial environments.Available in a choice of 12 striking colourways including bright blue Azure,purple-edged Indigo and on-trend grey Graphite, Mountain Plains tiles havemulticolour threads for a heather appearance that adds depth to anyinterior space. The contrasting Trail Blazer stripes include four solid hues withbright lengths of colour running through in order to cast mesmerisingpatterns upon the floor. Choose from the arresting flash design with purplelines on a deep black background or eye-catching shimmer with itsmultitude of blue tones.

“The GO2 collection has been principally designed to offer a cost-effectivesolution to achieving a trend-led appearance for a variety of locations, fromshops and offices to leisure venues and healthcare environments,” explainsHoward Lindsay, RVP International Sales UK, Ireland, Iceland and SouthAfrica, Mohawk Carpets. “With budgets tight at the moment, GO2 fulfils thedemand for exciting flooring options, and the many colours available ensures

there is an option to suit all projects. The ultimate appeal of this range isthat each Trail Blazer tile has several coordinating partners within MountainPlains for a completely fuss-free approach to design that requires minimaleffort, so GO2 is the ideal ‘go to’ choice for time-pressed jobs too.”

Offering performance benefits to match its brilliant appearance, the GO2collection is resilient and hardwearing, rated class 33 suitable for heavy contractuse. Crafted from solution-dyed nylon to ensure exceptional colour clarity andease of maintenance, GO2 tiles will retain their remarkable good looks.

Available nationwide, GO2 products come backed with a full support andsample package from Mohawk.

T 01480 479830 www.mohawkinternational.com

Radiating colour

With a pile weight of 50oz, a tog rating of 1.00 andmanufactured using a 2-ply yarn you can be guaranteed thatVictoria Carpet’s new Radiance Collection will not only offerextra durability but also a luxurious feel.

Radiance has been engineered to reduce premature tracking andshading which helps the carpet to withstand the test of time,teamed with it being a mixture of wool and polypropylene(80/20) the tufted twist combines the softness of wool withmodern fibres.

Radiance is available in two widths, 4m & 5m, and comes with apalette of 20 complementary shades, each accordingly namedafter exquisite gemstones.

Shaun Lewis, Sales and Marketing Director, comments “Radianceis a new take on our existing Crown Twist collection. The colourpalette has been refreshed in line with what we believeconsumers want. There has been a move to more subtle andpastel shades this year and we feel that with our new RadianceCollection there is a shade to suit any interior.”

T 01562 749300 www.victoriacarpets.com

32 FlooringNewsOctober 2012

News

The extra-wide Diamond Gripper from Floorwise has beencarefully developed to offer fitters a superior hold in a variety ofresidential and commercial locations, and with three super products in therange, there’s no need to look anywhere else.

As Richard Bailey, managing director, Floorwise, explains, “Withincreased choice and a greater demand for cost-effective products,the quality of some gripper available nowadays has really gonedownhill. But our Diamond Gripper has been developed with theknowledge of industry insiders to offer a return to the superiorityof carpet gripper of old. “

The Diamond Gripper collection consists of three products prenailed for different floor surface types, including one for concrete floors, one for woodand one dual-purpose for both wood and concrete, making it the ideal product for a variety of installations covering both the residential andcommercial sectors. Broader than standard gripper, the Diamond Gripper delivers greater stability and with an increased number of pins across itslength it gives an improved hold once the carpet has been stretched. This larger amount of zinc-coated rust resistant pins and nails means that theDiamond Gripper offers a superior hold to ensure a tighter and stronger finish, and, because it is pre-nailed, it helps to prevent any damage to the wallduring fitting and allows for a speedier and easier carpet installation.

“At Floorwise we pride ourselves on offering leading products, and the Diamond Gripper is no different,” continues Richard Bailey. “With more andmore carpet available in five-metre widths and a popular choice for larger homes and commercial environments, it’s important that gripper performsjust as well. The broadness of the Diamond Gripper makes it more suitable for power stretching installations so it can be used for big and small installations.”

T 01509 673974 www.floorwise.co.uk

Superb quality German Rustic Oak 191mm engineered lacquered planks from UK Flooring Directdeliver a cosy country look this autumn for consumers and floor fitters looking for the latest trends.

With an on-trend rustic quality, German Rustic Oak features heavy and characterful grain markingsand soft colour variations that bring warmth to any interior. Featuring in UK Flooring Direct’s stylishGalleria range, this flooring is prefinished with a satin lacquer that enhances its natural appeal andgently reflects the light. Giving great protection to the hardwood itself too, German Rustic Oak is agreat choice for consumers looking for country-style charm and is a solid option for fitters looking toprovide both hardwearing and smart-looking wood floor.

The high-quality, super-thick 6mm hardwood wear layer is supported by 11 layers of birch plywoodthat provide fantastic levels of stability and assist with the floor’s impact and dent resistance. Themulti-ply structure of German Rustic Oak offers great resilience, making this flooring an ideal choicefor busy family living areas and high-impact locations such as hallways and landings.

“German Rustic Oak has been designed to appeal to those searching for high-quality flooring thathas an all-important country feel and that will last for generations,” explains Josh Ashby, productmanager, UK Flooring Direct.

German Rustic Oak planks are 191mm wide and come in standard lengths of 1900mm with two starter boards in each pack. Also available in anauthentic brushed and oiled finish. UK Flooring Direct offers fast anytime online ordering for complete ease of purchase.

T 0845 287 5623 www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk

On trend for Autumn

New Metro man

The Board of Directors at The Metro Group has announced the appointment of Steve Depport as their newOperations Manager.

Steve joins the Metro Group from Brintons Carpets, where he worked in the role of Sales Director for a numberof years and prior to this worked with buying groups within the food industry. He brings a wealth of industry andclient development experience to his new role and his long standing contacts in the carpet industry will be ahuge asset to The Metro Group.

Set to be based in Bolton, he will be reintroducing himself to many of The Metro Group members he has metduring his previous role, as well as introducing himself to all suppliers and as many members as possible over thecoming weeks and months.

The Metro Group are very pleased to welcome Steve and believe his industry knowledge and expertise will bean opportunity for the group to grow and raise its profile with members and suppliers.

T 01204 393539 [email protected]

Diamonds are for ever-y one


For more information:

Heckmondwike T 01924 406161 www.heckmondwike-fb.co.ukMilliken T 01942 826073 www.millikencarpet.comVorwerk T 020 7096 5090 www.vorwerkcarpets.co.uk

Flower on FlooringFlower on Flooring

Carpet tiles have movedaway from their imageof providing a limitedrange of options toappeal to those lookingfor creativity and flair.

While carpet tiles wereformerly recognised fortheir adaptability and easeof maintenance, withdamaged or soiled tileseasily replaced, they werenot perceived as aparticularly daring choice offlooring design. This haschanged dramatically inrecent years, asmanufacturers haveintroduced considerablymore designs and textures,while also incorporatingenvironmentally friendlymaterials. Heckmondwikereports that it hasintroduced its new Arrayfibre bonded carpet tiles, to

combine the aesthetic appealof a tufted carpet with the construction and performance onlyavailable from a fibre bonded product.

They feature a mid-width rib design, with a charcoal backgroundenhanced with a subtle linear pattern in six different colourways.Array carpet tiles can be cut onsite without fraying, the companystates, allowing individual flooring designs to be created. These canalso be combined with other colours and textures fromHeckmondwike’s Broadrib range and are backed by a 10-year limitedwear warranty, allowing them to be specified in complete confidence.

Milliken says it iseasy to assumethat carpet tilesare used almostexclusively tocreate solidcolours orregular patterns,but that is notnecessarily thecase. Creativedesign principles,materials andmanufacturingtechniques,applied withimagination andinsight, canproduce anentirely newaesthetic.

The companyhas beeninnovating in thisarea for yearsand has designed

Coming of age

its latest collection to apply colours, texture and patterns in aninnovative way. The Urban Collective range makes the best use of thecompany’s proprietary Millitron pattern technology, as well as itssolution dyed nylon premium tufting capability to offer a choice of fivedesigns that have a highly textural and dimensional aesthetic inspiredby the fractured architectural elements and colours of a dilapidatedcityscape. The new range offers an integral cushion back for addedunderfoot comfort and enhanced durability.

Ian Hammond, Vorwerk Carpets UK director says carpet tiles havebenefited as consumers look to individualise their space and createbolder style statements. "Our Scale Living collection allowshomeowners to do just that," he says. "Created by world-renownedarchitect Hadi Teherani, this collection consists of three distinctshapes, Mesh, Bloom and Cut, and mixes shape, texture, colour andmaterial. Each style interlocks and the proprietary open cell backingallows the shapes to suck themselves to smooth floors. They can alsobe removed and replaced time and time again to create an ever-evolving shape upon the floor."

The company's Floor Sculptures range, accessible through itsrelaunched Fascination Collection, is ideal for this fast-growing carpettile trend, he continues, with two bold designs, Curve and Octagon,and presented in a handy box. Featuring interlinking tiles that can bearranged to suit individual spaces, Octagon is available in three vibrantcolourways. "Featuring a mix of tufted carpet and alcantara tiles, thisdesign is sure to appeal to homeowners who desire a contemporaryinterior,” Mr Hammond concludes.

Further options are provided by the Modular collection from ege,which consists of 48 x 48cm tiles offering numerous design choices.Also including a wide range of modular stock designs in varioustextures and colours, the collection additionally incorporatesenvironmental care and high flexibility, the company states.

Suitable for heavy use, the company's Modular range adheres toDanish Indoor Climate Labelling standards, with features such asimproved sound absorption, low weight, improved ergonomics,dimensional stability and anti-soil protection. Its 100 per cent textilemodular backing also ensures a healthy indoor environment, says the company.

Heckmondwike - strong on design

Milliken’s proprietary pattern technology

by Dennis Flower

Vorwerk has revolutionised consumer tiles

Heckmondwike FB, the fibre bonded carpet specialist, has helped to provide aflooring solution for a recently refurbished sheltered housing facility in Swindon.

More than 1,000m2 of Heckmondwike carpets were installed at the Brain Courtsite by the team at Select Line Carpets and Floorings Ltd, Swindon (Select Line).A different, easily distinguishable finish was chosen for each floor, providing someease to those with short term memory loss issues.

Heckmondwike’s hard-wearing and distinctive Montage floorcovering was usedextensively throughout the Brain Court renovation, with 313m2 of Jade colourcarpet selected for the top floor of the development, 476m2 of Indigo colourcarpets fitted on the first floor and 450m2 of Claret colour carpets installed onthe ground floor. The project was completed with Heckmondwike’s award winningBattleship entrance matting, chosen in a Pebble colour, to create an attractive and practical entrance detail. The Battleship entrance matting is designedto clean shoes and act as an interceptor, keeping Brain Court a clean and hygienic environment for residents, staff and visitors.

Abby Chandler, Marketing Manager of Heckmondwike, said; “The primary concern for everybody connected with this project was to maximise thehealth and well being of Brain Court residents. Our Montage range will not ravel or fray and is anti-slip, which should provide a real benefit to users atBrain Court. The range also provides enhanced thermal properties which conserve heat, ensuring residents are comfortable and management save onfuel bills during the winter months.”

T 01924 406161 www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk

Montage helps healthy home

Fascination station

It’s a corker

With a fresh approach to design and innovative manufacturing techniques, Granorte hasproved time and time again that its striking cork products are the ideal choice for retailerslooking to offer something a little different to their customers.

Belonging in Granorte’s trend-led Studio collection of floating cork flooring and available in achoice of planks, narrow panels and tiles that simply click together, Nobel Select is an inspiringdesign full of character. The lively and warm colour variations of cork help to lift the naturalaesthetic to a higher plane and add depth and interest to interior spaces.

With exceptional environmental properties that respond to the increasing demand for eco-friendly materials in both residential and commercial applications, all Granorte productsincluding Nobel Select are inherently sustainable. Cork trees are unharmed after harvestingand will regenerate repeatedly, making them a great rapidly renewable resource. The honeycomb structured surface of cork ensures thatNobel Select is remarkably resistant to wear and resilient enough to withstand heavy footfall, making it a great choice for high-impact areas.Additionally, cork flooring will not absorb dust so is ideal for allergy or asthma sufferers, and it also offers superb acoustic and thermal insulationproperties. “The high-performance nature of cork has long been overlooked, but the vibrant aesthetic appeal of Nobel Select will propel thisnatural and sustainable material back into the forefront of design,” explains Eduardo Sousa, sales manager, Granorte.

T 01785 711 131 www.granorte.co.uk

Vorwerk Carpets has revealed an innovative and striking new point of sale display specifically designed to showcasethe exciting styles in the recently revamped Fascination Collection.

In a compact size ideal for retailers with limited space, the display is designed in a stylish monochromecolour scheme that sets off the carpets to perfection. Featuring large-format sample cards with

inspirational photography, shelves for large detailed pattern swatches beneath and innovativeattaching hanger units that house individual ranges within the collection, this is an essential

addition for retailers wanting to capture the attention and imaginations of consumers.

“The new POS display is a brilliant resource for retailers, as it showcases the entire spectrum of productswithin the Fascination Collection,” explains Ian Hammond, UK Director, Vorwerk Carpets. “It is such an extensiverange with a variety of colourways, designs and textures, so to have it comprehensively summarised on an equallystylish unit makes a great selling tool for retailers, and a fantastic reference point for homeowners looking fordesign-led and on-trend flooring options.

“The inclusion of aspirational room set photography and detailed pattern swatches on easy-to-access shelvesmeans that shoppers can clearly visualise how the carpets will look in their own home, and also enable them to

view the unusual textures and yarns up close. The hanger units that attach onto the main stand are a greatspace-saving solution for retailers and are brilliant for demonstrating specific carpets, such as the arresting Rosario

design with its iridescent dyed tips and the contemporary speckled Dot.”

T 020 7096 5090 www.vorwerkcarpets.co.uk


News


News


News

Anti-allergy on show

Chop and change

Having made a huge splash across the Atlantic and already makingripples here in the UK, TacFast Systems International’s revolutionarymechanical fix system for flooring is set to get even moremanufacturers on board as it paves the way for multi-floorcommercial locations.

As Jonathan Stone, CCO, TacFast Systems International explains: “TheTacFast system is the quick and simple choice for the whole spectrumof contract installations, and it is particularly suited to businesses thatchange flooring regularly. The unique TacFast interlocking disc and platesystem allows floor tiles and planks to be removed and replacedwithout the need for time-consuming and messy adhesives, giving end-users the freedom to chop and change floorcoverings to suit theirbusiness needs.”

TacFast consists of a unique LocPlate interlocking disc and plate systemthat sits above the subfloor and a hook and loop fastening system thatrapidly attaches the floorcovering to the LocPlate surface. This allowsfor greater flexibility and easier removal than flooring adhesives, makingTacFast very practical for businesses that require fast flooring changes.

“Businesses such as department stores or food halls in busy shoppingmalls often experience a high turnover of different concessions, all ofwhich have different branding and require a different look to set themapart from their competitors. With the TacFast system, zonal-styleflooring can be easily created, “ continues Jonathan Stone. “It’s also theideal option for seasonal promotions or for advertising on floor tiles,and it works with a whole host of different floorcoverings, includingwood and laminate planks, carpet tiles, ceramics, natural stone and LVT.”

T 01527 919891 www.tacfast.com

Vorwerk Carpets has announced that it will be showcasingits extensive range of allergy-friendly carpets at the upcomingAllergy & Free From Show in Liverpool on 27th – 28thOctober, BT Convention Centre, Liverpool, including theexciting range of carpets within the design-led residentialFascination collection.

Almost all qualities of carpet within the Vorwerk range areclassified as ‘suitable for allergy sufferers’ by the GermanStandards Authority TÜV Nord as well as recommended byDAAB (the German Allergy and Asthma Society). The carpetcollection has also been found by the GUI to ‘have anoutstanding capacity for tying up fine dust and succeed inreducing toxic concentrations of fine dust in the air of a roomto a significant degree’.

“The official recognition that we have so far achieved for theallergy sensitive nature of our carpets proves that we belongat the Allergy & Free From Show,” says Ian Hammond, UKsales director, Vorwerk Carpets.

“The exhibition represents a great chance for us to tap into anew group of potential customers, allowing us to explaindirectly to homeowners just how our carpets can contributeto their everyday comfort. The many different vibrant optionswithin our revamped Fascination collection prove that allergy-friendly style can be lively and eye-catching.

Vorwerk Carpets will be exhibiting at Stand 7.

T 020 7096 5090 www.vorwerkcarpets.co.uk

Adhesive’s instant appeal

F. Ball has reformulated its Styccobond F66 solvent-free, contact adhesive. With improvedperformance in securing both horizontal and vertical floor and wallcoverings, the newproduct also boasts a quicker drying time, thanks to a brand new application technique.

The innovative sponge applicator, for use on non-absorbent surfaces, makes the solvent-freeadhesive easy to apply and creates an ‘instant bond,’ which is key to the installation of vertical coverings. Styccobond F66 is also ideal for securing mosttextile-backed wall and floorcoverings, including PVC, rubber and cork, as well as staircase nosings and skirting edgings. For absorbent surfaces, such asconcrete subfloors, the adhesive should be applied with a notched spreader. Commenting on the development, marketing manager, Richard Harris, said: “F.Ball remains dedicated to updating and developing its existing range of products to the highest possible quality and standard, utilising the latest technology,and considering the most effective tools and application techniques.”

With a long open time, making it an optimum product for larger installations, F66 now dries in around 30 – 40 minutes, which can be accelerated further bydirecting warm air across the adhesive, improving drying times to between 5 and 10 minutes. Its low odour, solvent-free formulation provides a safe, highperformance alternative for projects in clinical or sensitive settings, such as hospitals or schools, where cleanliness and hygiene is of the utmost priority.

This updated Styccobond F66 formulation is also approved by Det Norske Veritas for use in marine floor installations and now carries the IMO Wheelmark logo.

T 01538 361 633 www.f-ball.co.uk


News

More and more retailers are signing up to recycle their carpetwaste as they recognise the twin benefits of potential disposalcost savings and the ability to offer an enhanced customerservice, according to Carpet Recycling UK.

Increased numbers of outlets throughout the UK accepting alltypes of waste carpet for re-use or recycling along with innovativeand diverse end uses for the material are contributing to greaterdiversion of this bulky waste from landfill. In Yorkshire andLancashire, retailers have the opportunity to recycle their post-installation off-cuts.

CRUK, the industry-backed association for recycling and reusing waste carpet, attracted interest from more than 125 people who visited its stand andseminar programme at September’s Harrogate Flooring Show. It also announced that Flooring One, a subsidiary of Associated Independent Stores(AIS) which is one of the biggest central buying and marketing organisations in the country, has joined Carpet Recycling UK as an associate member.

“This year’s event revealed significant raised awareness of CRUK’s activities and it was apparent that the perception and profile of CRUK had risensubstantially during 2012,” commented CRUK Director Laurance Bird after the three-day event. “This is tremendously encouraging as we worktowards our target of 25% landfill diversion by 2015.”

Extensive pilot trials involving sorting and collection of post-installation wastes are being evaluated by Carpet Recycling UK members to optimise thelogistics cost and effectiveness of various methods. Laurance said that increased levels of enquiries and interest revealed the sector is recognising thatcarpet waste is an issue and is more willing to explore carpet recycling ideas than ever before.

T 0161 440 8325 www.carpetrecyclinguk.com

Ever-increasing numbers of people are choosing laminate as their preferredchoice of floor covering, says Balterio..

Appearance, simple installation and easy cleaning are just a few of the qualitiesthat make laminate so popular. Laminate provides all the advantages of wood,such as the authentic look and feel, but none of its drawbacks, affirms FrankyTerrijn, Marketing Director at Balterio.

Light authentic colours have been fashionable for a considerable time, and thiswill continue to be the case, in laminate too. Demand for Pale colours remainshigh in times of an an uncertain economic future, since they give a moreoptimistic ambience. The dominant trend is toward natural, authentic, honestmaterials: concrete, porcelain, metal, wood, copper, oiled leather, matt stone. Thetone is matt. Smooth laminate is no longer all that popular - the trend is movingtowards authentic and classical. Contemporary consumers don´t want just a´look and feel´ like that of real parquet or wood floors, but also the acousticsthat go with them.

Laminate is in. It assures comfort, it’s wear-resistant, budget-friendly and virtuallyindistinguishable from real wood. “We’ve conducted years of research in orderto find a way to imitate real wood floors as perfectly as possible, and the resultsare simply stunning,” says Franky Terrijn.

T +32 5662 8081 www.balterio.com

Ready to recycle

Laminate’s back in fashion

Xperience Plus in Ventian Cypress

MerryMats!

Get yourself a nice littleChristmas bonus with‘impulse buy’ festive matsfrom The Stocklists!See page 57 for details

Every year, the Harrogate show provides more reasons to be cheerful than theindustry thinks it is reasonable to expect. This year - the event’s 50thanniversary - there was a buzz and energy, and repeated reports of strongbusiness, to keep even the cynics happy.

The lure of sunshine after a gloomy Summer may have accounted for a small reduction infootfall together with the regrettable absence of some manufacturers who have chosennot to participate in our only all-industry event. But visitor numbers were very healthy ataround 3,000 and many exhibitors said they had the best show in years. The new ownersefforts to make a difference in the presentation was apparent.

“The organisers have done everything to make this a show with a difference and theyhave done an excellent job,” said Peter Kimmins of Georgian.. “It is a great forum tosustain our relationships,” said David Cormack of Cormar.

“We’re very bullish and have had the best first day we’ve ever had here,” said MartinWest of Kingsmead. “You never know what you might pick up at the show and we havemet many new accounts,” he added. “The industry needs to take these opportunities toovercome the market negativity and Harrogate is a good platform to talk things up anddemonstrates reasons to do better business,” said Neil Valentine of Furlong Flooring.

The exhibitor list of more than 120 suppliers were full of ideas and there were manynewcomers who added extra opportunities. The maxim that you owe it to your businessto go to the Show has never been truer – missing out on a new angle or extra revenuestream has never been more dangerous. The next few pages of the magazine cover someof this years highlights.

The organisers – Wendy Adams and Paul Scott with a highly profession team of staff –only took on the show last year and have already implemented some smart moves. Theseminar series was right in the middle of the show, creating a buzz and keeping people inthe halls. The design ideas to inspire retailer displays was highly innovative.

continued overleaf...

Sunny side up Show success “defies market conditions”

“It was gratifying to see the supportfor the show from all sectors of theindustry, and we are thankful for theloyalty shown by the core group ofmajor exhibitors who have helped toensure a highly successful event,” saysWendy Adams, the show’s EventDirector.

“Visitors also appreciated the factthat this year attendance at allelements of The Flooring Show – the exhibition,seminar programmes, networking events and even carparking and wireless internet access – were free ofcharge to all with a business/professional interest in theflooring industry.”

“We see the Harrogate show as being very much afixture in the flooring year and in spite of indifferenttrading conditions it was, once again, very much asuccess” said David Cormack, Marketing Director of

Cormar Carpets. “We launched anew range – Primo Choice – atthe exhibition and got anextremely good reaction. Thisyear’s business seminars were wellreceived – as was the free parkingfor the duration of the show. Andwe saw retailers from all over theUK and Ireland, with Sunday beingone of the busiest days. So overall,at Cormar, we were very satisfied!”

The Flooring Show 2013Now planning begins in earnest for The Flooring Shownext year in Harrogate. “We are delighted to have seena high level of rebookings and many positive commentsfrom exhibitors,” says Paul Stott, Marketing Director.“We introduced several new elements to the event in2012 and will be continuing to adopt new initiatives toensure that next year’s show is bigger and better and isorganised to top international standards to reflect wellon the highly important industry it serves.”

Product reviews start on page 44.

Next month: Harrogate trends andproduct reviews part 2.

HarrogateReport

Around the halls there was a “less is more”feel to manufacturers’ offers.



Harrogate show report

continued from the previous page..

For the last two or three years, some suppliers have been runningaround re-vamping, re-colouring and generally re-inventingthemselves, spreading what little jam they have in the productdevelopment budget as thinly as possible.

The financial situation hasn’t improved any and while several manufacturers in the qualitysector are suggesting steady performance, the middle market is reporting that while salesare holding up, margins have been under even greater pressure.

But it’s noticeable that manufacturers are coming to the market with fewer but smarternew ideas. Innovation is focussed on giving retailers what they need to do better businessrather than trying to ‘look busy’ by re-dressing old offers.

There were some clear trends.Carpet is going soft – deep pile, soft touch fibres are all around and the success ofsaxonies is unabated.

Stripes are still striding forward – and if you didn’t think there was much more tobe done with carpets most successful fashion story, look again at some clever new ranges.

The trend away from wool continues with established wool manufacturers continuing to build their synthetic offers. Maybe more fundamental isthe greater acceptability of polypropylene in a market once unshakeable from its adherence to 80/20.

Colour is stronger – grey maybe the new beige but other stronger colours really are coming through in the latest palettes – and selling!

• Next month we will report in detail on each of these key trends.

In other highlights around the halls…Goodacre is back after years in the wilderness with John Lanham Watts about to renew ouraffection for this most traditional of all axminster makers.

50/50 wool blends continue to be a popular option to mitigate wool prices with notable offersfrom Manx and Georgian.

Any colour custom services show there is still consumer demand at the top end of the scale withBrockway entering this high-end segment for the first time and Bronte reporting brisk business.

Underlay manufacturers continue to fill niches we didn’t know existed but are doing so with flair andimagination – cost-effective budget products alongside top quality newcomers which are selling well.

Technology continues to add value with systems like F Ball’s new internet TV channel and Cormar’scustomer portal making a real contribution to helping retailers and fiiters get the job done quicker

and better – not to mention Vorwerk’s venture into robotic carpet cleaning.

Training and, especially apprenticeships, are now a high profile part of theflooring industry landscape – thanks to Government funding of highly

effective schemes – which will go a long way to redress the skillsimbalance in the sector.

Our detailed review of new products andlaunches starts on page 44.

Inspiration for store display at Harrogate- more in next month’s magazine


News

Harrogate show review


LanoLano Carpets captivated visitors at The Flooring Show with its stunningnew product launches and the sheer variety of luxurious and high-quality carpets on offer.

Featuring on a dedicated POS unit, the extensive Ultimo Collectionimpressed visiting retailers with its assortment of attractive carpet stylesspanning all colour spectrums and textures. Highlights at the Harrogateshow included the just launched Mayfair Velvet Supreme, as well as thesumptuous Bamboo Luxe, Bamboo Weave and Impression.

Unveiled at Harrogate for the very first time, Fortuna mesmerised visitorswith its three-coloured polypropylene yarn and supremely soft texture.Updates to the popular Easy Care Collection were also revealed, includingthe stylish Fairfield Creations range consisting of four bold vertical stripedesigns that coordinate with eight plain carpet styles. This harmonisingcollection can be used to create ultimate synergy in the home and isfantastic for laying in hallways and landings, with stripes used on staircasesand subtly contrasting plains fitted in corridors.

T 00800 5266 5266 www.lano.com

CrownCrown Floors used the Harrogate show to launch an exciting new POS lecterndisplay especially designed for retailers with compact space.

Consisting of four Crown Floors designs, including the luxurious Dapdune Wharf with arange of striking colours and a collection of patterned Crown Wilton, this unit alsohouses two exclusive new ranges that have guaranteed consumer appeal. Heavy twistedsaxony Dunotter Castle is available in an array of 10 appealing colourways and on-trendshag pile Kingston Lacey captivated visitors with its soft and sumptuous texture. Withunderneath storage and sample books of the full Crown Floors range, this unit onlytakes up one m2 of floor space.

Visiting retailers were also able to view the seven recent exclusive additions to the mainCrown Floors wall unit. With a wealth of styles to choose from including quality 100%British wool loops Hardwick and Meaton Hall, durable easyclean twist SissinghurstCastle and the sophisticated look of Alderly Edge, there was a carpet to suit every taste.Retailers were also impressed by the wall unit’s generous sample sizes, clear productsignage and sophisticated spotlight detailing – a winning combination in the quest totempt consumers.

T 0800 0773301 www.crownfloors.co.uk

ItecThe Itec Invisiweld system proved an instant hit at Harrogate with its timesaving andcost-friendly nature when compared with traditional hot welding methods.Completely watertight for ultimate peace of mind, Invisiweld can be used for allcommercial and industrial applications, and its invisible seam means that the sametube can be used on any design combination.

“It was a great chance for us demonstrate how our innovative Invisiweld system worksto save time when fitting commercial projects,” said Jason Barrett of Itec ContractFloors. “It remains that our floors can be either hot or cold welded, but Invisiweld isfaster, more cost-effective and more forgiving to slight errors, providing an improvedaesthetic.”

Itec’s impressive range of acoustic flooring with sound-deadening properties was alsoon display for visitors, with the Axento and Silento ranges taking centre stage. The idealsolution for contractors and specifiers looking for sound absorbent flooring thatimproves the ambience of sensitive locations such as care homes and hospitals rightthrough to those looking for floorcoverings for busy, noisy commercial environments,these designs offer 18dB of sound insulation, are rated R10 slip resistance and aretreated with a HyperGuard+ PUR wear layer.

T 0800 0323 970 www.itecfloors.co.uk


Abingdon Abingdon are establishing themselves as one of the leadinginnovators in our industry and came to Harrogate with a range ofnew ideas that kept their stand buzzing all week.

A range of clever coordinates called Boutique was a star attraction –a collection of 5 bold pin stripes and 10 plains in on-trend subtleshades with one colour-change in each option to give maximumflexibility. “What a reaction!”, said Abingdon’s Martin Peace.“Everyone has loved it and we’re the only one in the market withmulti-width on this so there’s no waste.”

Abingdon have also gone soft. Reflecting a rise in the popularity ofdeep indulgent pile, they have launched Stainfree Caress. Thecompany has the advantage of spinning it’s own polypropylene sothey have spent some time on the technology of this one to createa finer yarn with twice the usual number of filaments. Caress lives upto its name as a result with a great touch in a range of soft coloursand a stainfree branding that gives consumers the confidence to put

this anywhere in the house. Multi-width is being introduced forCaress in the coming weeks.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Abingdon alsointroduced Rugged Twist, a very tightly twisted robust carpet in11 colours and 4 and 5m width. “It will take a lot of hammerand is a saleman’s dream as a bomb-proof offer,” said Martin.

T 01274 655662 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk


F Ball Always ready to embrace technology, innovative F Ball now have their own TV channel toinform and maybe entertain installers about their comprehensive range of adhesives andfloor-laying products.

iBall Player is an impressive internet video portal modelled on the BBC’s popular iPlayer andbrings together more than 30 videos showing best practice for different products andinstallation challenges.

“We have been able to bring all our video content into one place and organise it intocategories that create a valuable knowledge base for installers and specifiers,” says F Ball’sRichard Harris (pictured right). Check www.iball.tv for details.

On the product front, Styccobond F66 has been re-born – a solvent-free, contact adhesivewhich gives an instant bond, especially suitable for vertical surfaces. A new applicator spongehas been designed to optimise its effective use.

A giant set of scales poses a weighty matter that has become an industryissue in adhesives – selling by weight or volume. “We are sticking withlitres – are you?” says the F Ball slogan, making the point that a 15 litre tubcan have as much as 30% more content than the 15kg products that arestarting to find their way into the market place.

The kg packs are popular on the continent but causing some confusion inthe UK about what exactly you are getting for your money!

T 01538 361633 www.f-ball.co.uk

A good head for business! Abingdon have introduced a printed swatch of each colourway on all their headers.

47October 2012from The Stocklists


GeorgianGeorgian Carpets are a great example of flexible innovation toensure the enduring appeal of their product range.

Some 80% of sales are still wool but there launch of a popularcollection of polypropylene saxonies in the Spring – Delph, Cottageand Higham – has now been followed up by their first PP Twist tobe launched as Beau Twist – an old name with a new purpose in life.

Georgian were one of the companies to launch wool lookalikeWoltec at last year’s Harrogate show and the fibre accounts forabout 20% of sales says MD Peter Kimmins. “There’s lots ofcompetition in this sector but our stands out. We find once retailershave made their first sale of Woltec, they get the confidence to carry on.”

Meanwhile, to cover all the bases, Georgian has launched a 50/50“affordable” velvet – their first velvet offer for some years.

T 01827 831430 www.georgiancarpetsuk.co.uk

KingsmeadKingsmead have been attracting considerable attention since they launchedheir smart top quality Artwork collection of stripes and co-ordinating plainsat Harrogate last year so they’ve build on that success with Artwork“Special Edition” - pictured right with Martin West.

Created by top carpet designer Joanna Ramsden of Wools of New Zealand,Artwork has 10 new stripe combinations and 2 extra colours in the matchingplains – a dove grey and terracotta.

And Kingsmead’s soft sell just got stronger with the launch of Silk Supremealongside Silk Centenary to give 70 and 100 oz/yard options in this deepSaxony which is available across 11 colours and in 4 and 5m.

T 01827 831424 www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk

Regency CarpetsRegency Carpets were benefitting from what they call their best ever advert– a clever take on the success of the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ books by E.LJames which appeared in The Stocklists’ Harrogate Guide as a pattern book‘50 Shades of Beige’ by Noel Furlong.

“This is the most talked about advert we have ever done,” said Neil Valentine,of Regency distributors Furlong. “We have had an unbelievable response andthe humour has made a serious point – that we have a leading position in theshades of beige which is what most consumers really want,”he said.

“And now it’s already 54 shades of beige,” jokes Neil andRegency’s best selling Satisfaction range has just added 4new beige colours to keep the range absolutely on-trend.

T 01772 316155 www.regencycarefree.co.uk


49from The Stocklists October 2012 49from The Stocklists October 2012

Carpet Recycling UKCarpet Recycling UK showcased a major new initiative thatdemonstrates the tangible benefits of recycling.

CRUK members, Anglo Recycling Ltd. are taking uplifted carpetfor recycling and producing a range of wool-rich underlayproducts under the name of Recowool. Retailers can sell theproduct to demonstrate to their customers how this “virtuouscircle” of recycling delivers benefits. “It is a great story to talkthrough the opportunities in recycling,” says CRUK’s LauranceBird. “This demonstrates a closed loop approach which hascreated a lot of interest.” The project is currently running in theNorth of England but CRUK hopes to grow this across the UK.

A bacon butty promotion in the Harrogate café (pictured rightwith Matt Charlton) helped show visitors digest the new initiative!

T 0161 440 8325 www.carpetrecyclinguk.com

MapeiMapei were majoring on wood flooring at the Flooring Show withan upgraded, comprehensive range of adhesives, screeds, primersand other installation products which aims to grow their businessin this sector in the UK.

Their latest launch (pictured left with Sarah Ridgway) is Silwood, anew water-based acrylic sealant with a special flow technology thatmeans it can be applied with very little waste and joints can becompletely filled. The product is available in a wide range of colourswhich realistically reproduce the tones of most common woodproducts. Solvent-free for low environmental impact and saferworking conditions, Silwood creates long-lasting seals.

T 0121 508 6970 www.mapei.com

MohawkMohawk unveiled its brand new Ultimate SmartStrand displayat the Flooring Show to much appreciation from visitingretailers. A central unit featuring 16 qualities of high-performance and luxurious carpet styles crafted fromSmartStrand fibre collections, retailers were impressed by thesheer choice of designs on offer.

Also housed on this visually striking unit is Mohawk’scomprehensive Ultimate Collection, comprising 6 qualities; SuperFreedom, Freedom, Splendour, Liberty, Independence andCarnival with an array of colours and widths which provides174different options! The beautifully textured Dramatic Flair andCascade Forest collections complete the carpet line-up.

“We had our most successful show to date, and it was great tomeet so many new faces,” says Howard Lindsay of Mohawk.“The Ultimate SmartStrand unit is a fantastic tool for retailers toexplain the benefits of SmartStrand fibre to homeowners and tohelp them find a style and quality to suit their individual needs.”

T 01480 479830 www.mohawkinternational.com



Brockway Brockway unveiled their brightest new collection Solar at Harrogate – a premium 2-ply80/20 with nylon in 4 and 5m with a colour bank designed by Wools of New Zealandexpert Joanna Ramsden.

The range comprises 64 plain colours - including Loganberry, Pomegranate, Tangerine andForget-me-not - plus a set of 7 contemporary co-ordinating stripes. “This is a top qualitytwist with a stunning range of colours and as we have a reputation for stripes, we wantedto add that signature to this range,” says Charles Annable. Brockway almost invented stripeswith the launch of their acclaimed Vogue collection.

If 64 colours isn’t enough for you, expect to hear more from Brockway about their new“any colour” service which offers an affordable customised carpet as small as 25m2.

T 01562 828200 www.brockway.co.uk

Telenzo Lesley Inman, Edel Telenzo UK operations manager says: “Once againwe’re pleased to say we had a very good Harrogate. We are trulygrateful to all our customers – old and new – who took the time tocome to the show and to visit our stand. Overall it seemed as thoughfootfall was down – it’s just a shame the retailers don’t support theevent and the exhibitors more.

“Response to some of the new ranges in the pipeline has been veryencouraging – it would seem retailers enjoy the opportunity to havesome input into what actually ends up going into production. Our newTube Collection stripe, Hammersmith, with its bold wide multi-stripepattern, was very well received, along with new colours (in the grey scale)for the existing Tube Collection ranges, Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Mainline andCentrepoint. Our new contract quality stripey 100% Edelonpolypropylene, Rio de Janeiro, was also very well received. Newcollections in production - the 50-50 Highbury, Islington, Hampton Courtand our velvety textured 100% polyamide, Casablanca - also continue toreceive a chorus of approval.

Congratulations to James Browne, of Rodgers of York, winner of our prizedraw to win an iPad.

T 01422 374417 www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk

CormarCormar started their polypropylene Primo range 10 years ago and the pace of theirdevelopment of this collection has accelerated in the last two years with the rise of wool pricesand increasing quality and acceptability of synthetics.

Earlier this year, the deep and desirable Sensation was launched togreat acclaim and now Primo Choice has filled a remaining gap inthe collection with a tenth-gauge easy clean heaher twist in twoweights – Super and Elite - with a little fleck in a contemporary setof 12 colours.

The result is a comprehensive collection of polypropylene productsat every price point from entry-level Apollo to the ‘affordable luxury’of Primo Plus – all underwritten by Cormar’s attention to qualityand superb service.

T 01204 881234 www.cormarcarpets.co.uk


Get involved!!Fells Carpets are launchingits new front end web siteto accompany the businessto business web site whereyou can place orders,check accounts and check stock.

Consumers will be able toview all of our collectionsand then find a nearestretailer.

If you want to be involvedsimply email your detailand ask for your B2Baccess to our web system.

Email us [email protected] your login detail.

We require youraccount name andnumber.

Your full address detailincluding post code.

Your preferred username and password.

If you already have a Fells Carpets B2B login then you will be included in the new web sites customer search, If you have any questions or do not wish to have your address detail on our web site then please contact

Fells Carpets on [email protected] or call us on 01977 662211


John Lanham Watts Goodacre is about to bounce back into the limelightfollowing a landmark deal for John Lanham Watts (JLW)which will double the size of its operation.

The industry has great respect for the top quality carpets andclass-leading axminster designs of the Kendal-based business ofGoodacre Carpets including its famous Lakeland collectionssuch as Royal Kendal and Royal Cumberland and the NaturallyHerdwick range.

The Goodacre business which dates back to 1893 went intoadministration in 2001 and the brands and ranges were lateracquired by Woodward Grosvenor, part of Brintons. But itsvisibility in the market has been small… until now.

“We can arrest the decline of Goodacre and build on the greataffection and reputation that the brand has in the marketplace,”says JLW director Alex Watts (pictured above left with Shaun Miao. “It is a very good fit for us and the timing is perfect with an increasing interest in the very traditional axminsters.”

The deal to take over the Goodacre brand from Woodward Grosvenor brings with it the complete designbank as well as sampling and event display stands – there are 5 major collections and 52 colourways in total.

Wetherby-based JLW are becoming an interesting player in the quality market. Last year, they became the Europeanarm of the Rizhao Griffiths Textile, a Chinese carpet maker with considerable fire-power based on 25 electronic jacquard gripper broadlooms.

T 01937 588511 www.jlwcarpets.com


Winning with Cormar Visitors to this year’s Floor Show in Harrogatehad even more reason to visit the Cormarstand – the company was offering customersthe chance to win an iPad a day!

Said marketing director David Cormack: “Ourstand was as busy as ever and the promotionwent down really well. Over the three days wehad 350 entries – and the three winners seemeddelighted with their prizes.”

The lucky winners were: Steve Parson of AstraCarpets, Kirby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire(pictured above left with Cormar MD Tony Judge);Chris Walker of Jim’s Carpets, Leeds; WilliamEastham of Potts and Ward Woodcocks, Brighton.


Quick-Step Academy Quick-Step Academy underlined the importance of its courses at this year’s Flooring Showin Harrogate, while the government-endorsed scheme of which it is a member, Trustmark,revealed website search figures of over 25,000 for flooring installers since January 2012.

The only Government endorsed scheme of its kind in the UK, Trustmark covers everythingfrom aerial installers to tree surgeons, providing consumers with a source of high quality reliableand trustworthy tradespeople that are independently assessed and follow a strict code ofpractice. Quick-Step Master Installers can be registered with Trustmark, thanks to the Academy’spartnership with the scheme. And to show just how powerful this partnership is, some 3,700searches a month for floor covering installers are undertaken on the Trustmark website.

“The Trustmark scheme is a great way for consumers to feel confident,” explains Quick-StepAcademy training and development manager, Darren Robinson. “At the Flooring Show weunderlined to visitors the Academy’s importance in building a future of qualified installers and areputation for excellence, by investing in the young and making sure qualified installers are givenreal advantages in business.

www.quick-step-academy.com

Mastercraft RugsMastercraft are celebrating their 30th anniversary this yearsince leading Bradford wool merchant Michael Dicksonstarted the business in Bradford by accident - he took acontainer load of Greek rugs in payment for a bad debt on a shipment of wool fibre and had to figure out how tosell them.

Mastercraft have been thriving ever since and established aleadership position with UK retailers for top quality rangesand innovative designs that are constantly refreshed andrenewed. One of the company’s strongest sellers is Matahari,a smart rug with a short, dense chunky feel and this year newon-trend colours have been added in a move away fromneturals including greens, terracotta and reds.

The attractive thick and thin fibres of the shaggy Twilightcollection have now been joined by two new colours, tealblue and the re-introduction of green – making a greatcollection of 16 colours in all.

Robert Dickson is pictured celebrating with NatalieGreenwood.

T 01282 694565 www.mastercraftrugs.co.uk

53October 2012from The Stocklists



British Wool British Wool were looking anything but sheepish with a bold displayof brightly coloured animals adorning their stand and a good storyto tell about promoting the fibre strongly in the forthcoming WoolWeek.

Their new marketing director Tony Oakland-Smith joined the woolboard in March from a background in non-flooring retail and DIYsectors and is writing the new communications plan for the business.

“We are aiming to work more closely with retailers to see how wecan promote wool in partnership,” said Tony who noted that the risein wool pricing had been arrested and that the UK was starting to seenew wool producers coming back into the market after years ofdecline in their numbers.

T 01274 688666 www.britishwool.org.uk

Manx Manx have been busy inventing new approaches to acompetitive market and their busy stand during theFlooring Show bears out that they have come up witha couple of winners to make the retailers life moreinteresting!

The success of the Easy Living polypropylene collectionwill be enhanced with the addition of Royal Kingdom, aclassy range of co-ordinates with 8 stripes and plains insubtle, trendy mix and match colours. The simple 2-colour stripe is both elegant and, of course, easier to fit.

Wool is of course not forgotten at Manx and their first50/50 range Natural Shades was attracting a lot ofattention with a robust 3-ply yarn optimizing the quality of this new cloth.

T 01827 831434 www.manxcarpets.co.uk

J2 FlooringJ2 Flooring arrived in the LVT market a couple of years ago tomake life a little easier for retailers who wanted a betterrelationship with their suppliers in this sector and this focuson independents has prompted an exciting new development.

J2 is offering a full range of 8 best selling oak decors which theywill mount on a customised display system with the retailersown designs and branding. Each of the products can be re-named to ensure maximum protection from price comparison atthe nearest retail park or website. It was a popular offer atHarrogate and the company is planning to roll out the idea to itstile products next year.

T 01704 536421 www.j2flooring.com

55from The Stocklists

NovostratIn this Olympic year, Tony Taibi at Novostrat won a second silver to addto his existing gold and silver achievements with the launch of Argento– a competitive mid-range underlay for laminates and wood floors as asister product to the Sonic Gold and Comfort Silver high density foamunderlays that have been selling very successfully.

“The market has seen a lot of poor quality, low density foam underlaybeing imported and we want to protect retailers with affordable underlayso you don’t have to compromise between price and performance,” saysTony. “Novostrat sells peace of mind with no comebacks which is anincreasingly valuable commodity in this demanding market.”

T 0035 361 339287 www.novostrat-insulation.com

Associated Carpet Group ACG understands that retailers are looking for more support thanever to protect their showrooms from the competitive threat of theinternet and home fitters so the buying group has built an impressiveown brand programme to give stores that extra advantage.

“Buying group’s can make a real difference to a retailer’s business andwe have been really encouraged by how beneficial ACG membershipcan be,” says ACG’s Richard Moore. “The bottom line is that memberscan grow their business more profitably by focusing on the preferred listof ACG suppliers.

“ACG have focused on a range of initiatives that give retailers a realcompetitive advantage. As more retailers control their overheads therehas been a growing interest in what ACG can offer. It’s all aboutadvancing our members margins without interfering in the running oftheir business. The benefits are straight forward and are presented to allenquiries from retailers. We evaluate just how attractive this can be andin many cases we are seeing more retailers joining,” says Richard.

T 01942 825520 www.smartercarpets.co.uk

EgalsoftEgalsoft is an innovation in underlay which QA Products haslicenced for the UK market from international underlay expertsEstillon. “This is a fitter’s dream,” says QA’s Phil Brough. “It isquick, easy and clean and can halve the time an installation takes.”

The high performance product is a clever 6.5mm needlepunch feltstructure impregnated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. Thelightweight rolls adhere as soon as they are unrolled eliminating theneed for tackifiers and the top layer will accept any flooringproduct – even coir and sea-grass floors for which Egalsoft isexpected to be the underlay of choice.

In the contract sector, one of the biggest benefits will be seen inuplifting carpets for renewal. Egalsoft will not crumb and nor will itrequire to be scraped away from the sub-floor – saving majoramounts of time and money.

T 0151 427 6000 www.qaproducts.co.uk

October 2012

56 October 2012 FlooringNews

News

Mapei has recently hosted a FeRFA Apprenticeship training sessionwhich leads to an NVQ Level 2 Diploma. Apprentices were given anintroduction to resin flooring at Mapei’s excellent training facilities inHalesowen, which covered two modules ‘Introduction to In Situ Resin Flooring’ and ‘Work Practice and Project Planning.’

Mapei provided an ideal setting having developed a wide selection of technologically advanced resin flooring systems which provide high standards ofquality for each specific area of use including public, private, industrial and commercial applications. Mapei’s Mapefloor range consists of full productsystems including waterproof membranes, primers, multi-layered coatings and quartz systems, with a wide range of colours and wax finishes .Mapefloor Systems can be tailored to meet specific requirements such as chemical resistance, traffic use, hygiene, anti-dust and slip resistance.

Terry Foxley, apprenticeship tutor commented: “The apprenticeship scheme is the most cost effective way for employers to train future resin flooringoperatives to a very high standard. The assistance we get from member companies in hosting these sessions is invaluable and the facilities providedby Mapei have been excellent and make it a great learning experience for our apprentices.”

Mapei hope to continue its partnership with FeRFA, working alongside the proactive professional body to promote resin flooring and its advantagesnow and to future generations.

FeRFA offers two apprenticeship schemes, both of which run for two years and lead to an NVQ level 2 Diploma. Both schemes are supported byConstructionSkills and are fully grant-funded. The schemes involve classroom and practical sessions in addition to employer-supported on-siteexperience such as Mapei offered.

T 0121 508 69710 www.mapei.co.uk

Leading UK adhesives manufacturer F. Ball and Co. Ltd. has launched the ‘iBallPlayer’, the first online television channel to feature a library of advice and bestpractice videos for flooring contractors and industry professionals. The videosare available to watch at anytime, on demand, via www.iball.tv, the first site of itskind to provide access to the most comprehensive collection of product demonstration videos across the industry.

This pioneering technology, unveiled at The Flooring Show, in Harrogate, provides contractors with user-friendly information and high-quality,educational videos to illustrate correct product application methods, as well as explaining the key features of the products, invaluable whenspecifying a flooring installation. In addition, the iBall Player offers explanations as to how to avoid the common pitfalls in flooring projects, using amodern, mobile and engaging format.

Richard Harris, Marketing Manager for F. Ball and Co. Ltd., comments: “F. Ball is delighted to provide the flooring community with the very latest inaccessing technical data and support. We understand that while the fundamentals of installing a subfloor remain much the same, today’s contractorsare accustomed to advances in product development and are becoming increasingly more confident in accessing information delivered throughmodern, mobile devices, videos and interactive content.

“F. Ball remains committed to combining its traditional roots within the flooring industry with the research and development of cutting edgeproducts and technology, such as iBall.tv and the interactive iRAG app, the industry’s most comprehensive flooring adhesives guide.’

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

The WoolSafe Organisation plans to launch a cutting-edge Online Academy in October and the first courses available will include the in-depthFibre Care Specialist programme suitable for professional carpet cleaners and the Carpet Complaint Investigation course

aimed at those wishing to become carpet inspectors, with many more informative training plans to follow.

“At WoolSafe we recognise the importance of evolving our business to meet the changing demands ofour members who increasingly rely on the easy access of online information,” says Steve Bakker, marketingmanager, The WoolSafe Organisation. “The new WoolSafe Online Academy has been designed to providecarpet cleaners with a one-stop knowledge base and training centre that they can come back to time andagain.”

The online courses have been specifically developed to allow trainees to dip in and out of modules to fitaround their working day and to split the course down into smaller, more manageable blocks of learningwhen compared to a full day of classroom-based training. The final exam consists of questions from eachmodule. Successful trainees will receive a certificate of achievement and on passing the qualifying criteria,will be invited to join the WoolSafe Approved Service Provider or Registered Inspector Networks. “This is

an exciting time in our online expansion as we look to engage with existing and new members in a fresh way,” continues Steve Bakker. “We haveplans to diversify WoolSafe training to include programmes aimed at facilities managers, in-house cleaners and retailers as well as further coursesgeared towards professional carpet and rug cleaners and inspectors. And for those who prefer the traditional classroom based learningexperience, we will still be running day courses throughout the year.”

T 01943 850 817 www.woolsafe.org

Apprentice initiative

Reality TV

Online carpet care academy

from The Stocklists 57October 2012

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• 2 of each design per pack

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The British Wool columnWool Week celebratesnature’s most versatile fibreWool Week – the Campaign for Wool’s retail platform for promoting wool products of all differenttypes is due to make an entrance for the third time.

The UK’s biggest celebration of wool will run from 5th to 21st October is encouraging all woolretailers and enthusiasts to ‘Join the Flock’ and promote wool with an event or special promotion.

The campaign instigated by HRH The Prince of Wales to reinvigorate the image of wool andrestore its position to the forefront of the textile world is aiming for another exciting promotionalpush with lots of things happening and not just in the UK but in Europe, the USA, China and Japan.

“We have created a truly flagship international promotion for wool and the beauty of it, is that it isaccessible to everyone - from the wool lover through to the small retail store and the big brandstoo. We want carpet retailers to feel free to create their own promotions and benefit from all theraised publicity on the fibre.” JohnThorley, Chairman of the Campaign forWool said.

Wool train leads the way for LoveWool UKA team of 30 knitting enthusiasts will head off on the East Coast mainline toEdinburgh to knit the Union Jack in the time it returns to London. The Clickety-Clickon the Clickety-Clack is part of the Campaign’s LoveWool UK initiative – whichencourages support at local and regional level.

“LoveWool UK brings a freestyle element to the campaign as it says ‘Join in and takepart in any way you want.’ That could mean a coffee morning, a shop promotion, aspecial offer – a wool challenge or even a sheep run,” explained Bridgette Kelly of theCampaign for Wool.

Wool Week: 15th – 21st October

POS Material from the Campaign isavailable from the Carpet Foundation

New point of sale for CampaignThe carpet world can participate in the campaign by involving their store with theCampaign and celebrating wool. The new and quite stunning sheep POS funded bythe Campaign is designed to give stronger profile for wool in store and so is aperfect way to get involved in a very easy way.

“There is no restriction on what you can do – it can be just about promotingcarpet or it can be something totally fun and just a social occasion,” BridgetteKelly of the Campaign said.

London store will be wrapped in woolThere will be a magnificent presence in central London – with a traffic-stopping,outdoor wool display at Harvey Nichols’ Knightsbridge store.

Harvey Nichols, known for their wild window displays, will wrap theirKnightsbridge store in over-sized, brightly coloured wool yarn. Weaving in andout of windows and around the historic building, the yarn will be joined by a pairof huge knitting needles to create an impressive display. The display will be inplace for two weeks starting October 15th and light up at night!

The yarn will be treated and dyed to ensure it remains waterproof and looksstunning throughout – no matter what the weather. The lights for the installationwill be switched on, on the evening of the Monday of Wool Week 2012.

‘Dramatic installations of this nature are very important to the Campaign’, saysJohn Thorley, Chairman of the Campaign ‘As they really grab the media and helpkeep the profile of wool high, which is the campaign’s aim.’

Wool cars at Covent GardenThe amazing versatility of wool is on display inCovent Garden within two cars – one older, a 1926 three-litre Sunbeam, and the other aSwiss-made concept car called iChange, theultimate electric sports car, capable ofaccelerating to 100km/h in about four seconds.

Pure wool was selected for the greater part ofthe interior in both cars as it offers aconsiderably greater functionality than classicalsynthetics and, in terms of manufacturing anddisposal its environmental characteristics areimmensely superior even to those of cotton.

Clearly both will have broad appeal and willwow the visitors to the Covent Garden Plazawith their dynamic style!


Wool Week Gallery 2012The Campaign for Wool - a showcase of quality

Now in its third year, theCampaign for Wool, spearheadedby HRH Prince Charles, goesfrom strength to strength.

This year’s Wool Week runs from15th- 21st October and retailers andmanufacturers are urged to getbehind it.

This year’s events include the largestball of wool ever wrapped aroundHarvey Nicholls in Knightsbridge;knitters going from London toEdinburgh and back in a ‘knit off ’ onthe train in an attempt to stitch arecord breaking Union Jack flag; and a journey of heritage along theLeeds/Liverpool canal to Yorkshirearriving in Saltaire, a World HeritageSite and the traditional home of theUK weaving industry. There will alsobe a lot of local media activity in the regions.

Don’t miss this wonderfulpromotional window and take theopportunity to celebrate andpromote the industry’s premier fibre.Remember that 75% of all Britishwool goes into carpet and wool hasbeen used for centuries in carpetmanufacturing and is still recognisedas the best fibre for use in carpet.

Point of Sale material, as shown, isavailable with free window stickersand the striking Pods available at£75 each. Call the CarpetFoundation on 01562 755 568 oremail [email protected]


The Campaign for Wool - a showcase of quality

Kashqai by MastercraftFine yarns create the superb collection of Kashqai rugs fromMastercraft which include a gallery of classic Persian styles withstrong accented colours and also contemporary patchworkdesign options.

The rugs are manufactured in finest New Zealand wool which isdensely woven to give a top quality feel. They are available in awide choice of sizes up to 240 x 340cm and as a hall runnersize 67 x 275.

T 01282 694565 www.mastercraftrugs.co.uk

Meaton Hall by CrownFeaturing a sophisticated alternate high and low level loop andcrafted from 100% pure new British wool, Meaton Hall’s tuftedpile provides a warm, textured underfoot feeling and addscharacter to living spaces. Offering a striking look combinedwith resilience and durability, the wool used in Meaton Hall isinherently sustainable and delivers a natural aesthetic. Availablein five muted tones including on-trend Antique Grey and earthyRoyal Estate, there is sure to be an option to suit all interiors.

T 0800 0773301 www.crownfloors.co.uk

Muirdale from BMKAn attractive 80/20 twist which is available in four qualities fromBMK - Muirdale, through Muirdale Super and Supreme up to Ultima.

Suitable for heavy domestic and general contract use, Muirdalecomes in 16 contemporary colours, shown here in Silverdale,and is available in 4 and 5 metre widths.

T 0113 380 5333 www.bmkcarpets.co.uk

Options 288 from VictoriaOptions 288 is a superb twist pile carpet that is a mixture ofboth plains and heathers and in total offers 288 differentcombinations of carpet choices. Options 288 comes in a paletteof 36 contemporary colours, can be ordered in 4 differentweight; starting at 32oz and moving up to 40oz, 50oz, and 60oz.It is also available in both 4m and 5m widths. Made with a blendof wool and polypropylene (80/20), Options 288 combines thedurability of modern fibres with all the resilience and softness of wool.

T �01562 749300 �www.victoriacarpets.com



Durham Twist from WhitestoneWhitestone / Hugh Mackay continues to support Wool Weekand the Campaign for Wool and Durham Twist, their flagship80/10/10 twist offer, with British wool, continues to growstrongly. Extended to 40 colours, in 3 weights & 2 widths, it's areal winner.

Deco Stripe is a 100% British Wool 3ply loop range, stripes andcoordinates offering stylish interior finishes and great combinationpossibilities in 2 widths and 20 colours. Deco is an importantand very successful range from the 'wool rich' portfolio.

T 01429 892500 www.whitestone.co.uk

Ulster VelvetOne of the finest woven wilton products on the market, UlsterVelvet (shown above in Imperial Red) is luxurious and wool-rich,with a texture akin to velvet.

Available in 37 colourways with new colours in the pipeline fornext year, Ulster Velvet is woven in an 80% wool, 20% nylon yarnblend and is suitable for extra heavy wear.

Available in 5 colour matching widths: 5m, 4m, 3m, 2m and 1m,Ulster Velvet enables a reduction in waste and cost by usingUlster’s multi-width offering.

T 028 3833 4433 www.ulstercarpets.com

Castlemead Twist by AdamCastlemead Twist is the original 80/20 ‘hard twist’. It has up to30% more twist in its 2-yarn than other twist carpets and thisensures that its appearance stays better for longer.

It is available in 60 colours including plains and heathers.Castlemead Twist also has options of 4m and 5m widths toavoid seams in those wider rooms. Castlemead Twist is acarpet that pushes the boundaries of colour, quality and style.

T 01562 829966 www.adamcarpets.co.uk

Shag pile from BronteWith pile weights up to an incredible 4.05 kg/m2 (120oz/yd2) in100% wool it is only right that Bronte Carpets should bementioned in any campaign to support wool.

Saxony, Velvet, Shag pile (as pictured in colour Ivory), Twist andHand Crafted Borders are all custom made by Bronte. Selectfrom their extensive colour range or have them match anycolour of your choice via their special dye service, to any widthup to an astonishing 12m wide with no joins and can even bemade to plan shapes to further reduce waste.

T 01282 862736 www.brontecarpets.co.uk


Hampton Court from TelenzoHampton Court, an irregular textured loop pile shown here inmist, one of six ‘greys to beige’ colourways, is one of EdelTelenzo Carpets’ superb new trio of 50% wool 50%polypropylene carpets - also including Islington, a ribbedlooppile; and the two-tone striped Highbury in four colours andfour metre width only - which provide a range ofcomplementary, attractive, sophisticated hardwearingfloorcoverings at a very keen price.

They are all Scotchgarded for optimum stain protection.

T 01422 374417 www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk

from CavalierWOOL is at the very heart of what they do at Cavalier Carpets- it’s the one common denominator at the core of the Cavalierproduct range. For us every week is wool week because nothingcan rival wool both in terms of performance and aesthetics.

Cavalier’s commitment wool is demonstrated by theintroduction of what they affectionately refer to as ‘Dolly’, theirown ‘wool awareness’ device which is used on point of sale todraw the customers attention to all the benefits of Cavalier’sextensive collection of wool and wool blend products.

T 01254 268 000 www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk


Natural Berber Twist from CormarCormar Carpets is home to one of the widest selections ofwool twists and wool loops – berber, heathers and plains, inblends and 100% wool. One of its most popular ranges is theBritish Wool twist collection, Natural Berber Twist (pictured incolour Cluster). Made from 80% British wool, 10% nylon and10% tuftbond, Natural Berber Twist range is available in 12natural flecked shades and comes in three qualities – Super(35oz per sq yd), Elite (45oz) and Deluxe (55oz). Available in 4and 5m widths, it offers great value-for-money and is normallydelivered by Cormar within 48hrs from order.


Mayfair Velvet from LanoCrafted from the finest 2-ply 100% New Zealand wool to offerfantastic levels of dirt and crushing resistance, Mayfair Velvetcarpet from the luxurious Ultimo Collection. Offering extremeunderfoot comfort, Mayfair Velvet has a pile weight of 40oz/yd2,for heavy domestic use and Mayfair Velvet Supreme is 56oz/yd2

for heavy contract installations or domestic luxury. Due to aspecial yarn treatment, they will counter the effects of pilereversal, and are inherently mothproof. With the uniqueappearance of fine velvet, both qualities are available in an arrayof 16 stylish colours and in four or five metre widths.

T 00800 5266 5266 www.lano.be



New Ashworth by Manx New Ashworth is a beautiful wool rich twist consisting of 80%British Wool and 20% nylon construction , which gives it extrastrength and helps keep it looking better for longer.

New Ashworth is available in 40oz & 50oz weights in both 4&5metre widths, with 23 colours from popular neutral hues tovery vibrant shades for today's growing demand for strong colours.

T 01827 831434 www.manxcarpets.co.uk

Solar by Brockway Solar is a range of premium wool rich carpets available in sixtyfour vibrant plain colours and seven contemporary co-ordinatingstripes. Expertly designed, the stylish colour range includespopular neutral tones, fashionable greys, bright whites andstunning exotic colours from deep purples, greens and orangesto gentle pinks, lilacs and blues. All 64 Solar plain colours –including Loganberry, Pomegranate, Tangerine and Forget-me-not– are available in traditional 4m and 5m widths. Plus there areseven complementary stripes to choose - all available in 4m.

T 01562 828200 www.brockway.co.uk

Fiori Meadow 4-5201 by Bondworth An Italianate Florentine inspired scroll, inspired by the frescosthat adorn the walls of the Medici villas of Trebbio andCafaggiolo. Crafted with 80% British Wool and 20% nylon fordurability in 8 row traditional woven axminster. Delicate colourgraduations emphasise the designer’s art of combiningcontemporary motif with time honoured accents. Fiori isavailable in 4.00m wide and currently two colour-ways withadditional designs to follow.

T 01562 745000 www.carpetsofworth.co.uk

Treasure Contrast by MasterWeaverTreasure Contrast is our premium wilton cut and loop rangeweighing at 47oz and constructed from 100% new wool. Thisbeautiful and unique wilton range is rated as suitable for ExtraHeavy Wear use.

Using 100% new wool in our Treasure Contrast range ensureshigh quality texture feel and luxury look in any interior.

Available in 4m width and stocked for same day dispatch is agreat commercial and domestic carpet choice.

T 01562 754 382 www.masterweaver.co.uk


The Wool Workshop - selling benefits

THE BEST CARPET WOOL

Wool carpets have a historic reputation for quality because as a fibre it is known towithstand pressure and have excellent appearance retention properties. The best woolfor carpet production is ‘strong’ wool and this is grown on sheep breeds found in Britainand New Zealand. Most carpets will contain both British Wool and New Zealand Woolbecause British Wool is more bulky and resilient and offers texture and unique heatheryshades to carpet, whilst New Zealand wool is softer and whiter and particularly goodfor plain, lighter shaded ranges. Combining the two within a blend for carpet yarn givesmanufacturers the perfect qualities for carpet.

100% wool or 80/20 – 80/10/10 wool richWool has yet to be matched by any man-made fibre; it has superior strength and doesnot need other fibres to improve its performance. However manufacturers choose touse synthetic fibres within the yarn blend for a number of reasons. These include fibreflexibility, dyeing, heat setting, stain resistance, durability and cost. These wool richcompositions offer industry standard carpets which will perform well in the home.

SAFE

EASY-CARE

DURABLE

COMFORT

PRACTICALStrong and Resilient – Wool carpet will provide superior performance over many years as it can offerunique resilience and long lasting durability. The natural crimp of wool offers valuable ‘bounce-back’ so thatpile compression is resisted and the effects of tracking and shading are reduced – maintaining goodappearance over many years.

Easy care – Wool is a natural fibre that has an inbuilt resistance to soiling due to its natural oils and itsouter surface of microscopic scales and as a result additional anti-soil treatments are not necessary. Simplyvacuuming the carpet will keep it looking good and whilst wool initially repels spills, prompt and completeblotting with white paper towels or an absorbent cloth is advised and will address many householdspillages.

COMFORTSoft and Warm – Wool carpet adds luxurious underfoot comfort and warmth to the home and acts asan insulator improving heat retention and energy efficiency.

Peace and Quiet – Wool carpet absorbs sound and cushions the home against echo and room to roomnoise transfer.

SAFETYFire Retardant – Wool is naturally fire resistant, has a slow ignition rate and tests show that it is selfextinguishing within seconds. It meets many safety regulations without additional treatments and isfavoured in contract locations for this reason.

Fall Friendly – Carpet cushions and so provides a softer floor which protects against serious injury in fallsby the very young or the elderly.

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTIndoor Environment – As a natural ‘smart’ fibre with a complex physical and chemical structure, woolhelps to create a balanced atmosphere in the home. It breathes and absorbs humidity in the air, releasingit when the atmosphere becomes dry and helps improve air quality by absorbing airborne toxins inindoor air.

Anti–allergy – The minute scales on the fibre’s surface will hold fine dust until vacuumed which helps toreduce floating particulate in the atmosphere. Wool does not give off harmful emissions or promote thegrowth of bacteria and wool is not a food source for dust mites.

ECO/ENVIRONMENTALNatural and Sustainable – Grown on sheep, which graze freely, wool is both 100% natural and fullysustainable. As shearing is a necessary part of animal husbandry this means that every year there is afresh supply of wool available for the carpet manufacturing industry.

Energy Efficient – Wool is energy efficient in the home and also in carpet production.

Biodegradable – Wool fibre is biodegradable in soil and will produce nitrogen, sulphur, carbon dioxideand water which are all plant nutrients.

Environmentally Assessed – Wool is an environmentally responsible fibre that has been measured interms of its ecological impact. A Life Cycle Analysis study carried out by Leeds University to ISO 14040standard for British Wool concludes that it compares favourably when measured against man-made fibres.

Wool carpets are close to the heart of the UK consumer but with prices rising and increasing competition fromsynthetic fibres, wool has to work a little harder to justify premium pricing. Here’s our ‘Wool Workshop’ - a sellingaid to help to trade consumers up to premium products by selling the benefits of natural fibre.

Contractsbuilding

Rapidly expanding,Designer Contracts,Britain’s largestfloorcovering contractorsto the new-build industry,has opened a third localregional office to cater forincreased demand fromLondon and the south east.

The new 10,000 sq ft unit inBiggin Hill is in addition tothe company’s offices in Brentwood, Essex and the recently openedfacility in Slough. It brings the total number of Designer Contractsregional offices across the UK to 12.

Designer Contracts’ managing director Peter Kelsey said: “The BigginHill facility will allow us to cater for the increased demand from thesouth east and London. We will be able to provide an increased levelof service to our existing client base, while increasing our marketshare in a very significant geographical area.”

The new Thames Medway offices are overseen by regional controller,John Kilmartin. Along with newly appointed Biggin Hill contractsmanager Debbie Bristow and sales manager Adam Baker, John willdrive business at the new facility forward.

The new Biggin Hill facility is indicative of the company’s recentfinancial successes, which saw a 25% increase in turnover to £21.5million for the 12 months to the end of October in 2011 comparedto the same period in the previous year.

As well as the expansion in the south east, the last 18 months hasseen Designer Contracts relocate and expand its Scottish and NorthEast divisions. The company has also acquired the contracts division ofCornwall-based Premier Carpets and expanded its head office.

The business has also increased its interior design services, whichwork with national and regional house builders to create memorableshowhomes with often limited budgets.

Overall Designer Contracts now employs over 150 people. Inaddition to floorcoverings, it offers furniture, lighting, custom-madecurtain and blind packages to new home developers, and has seensubstantial growth in sales in these areas too.

T 01246 854 577 www.designercontracts.com

Tarkett is pleased to announce thatSamantha Boyd has been appointed tothe role of National Sales Manager forHousing. Since joining the company in2006, Samantha quickly establishedherself as a key member of the salesteam, most recently working as BusinessDevelopment Manager for Housing.

Samantha has significant experience inthe flooring industry, having started outwith responsibility for the day to day

running of Boyds Flooring Ltd. Since joining Tarkett, she has built andnurtured close relationships with distributors and contractors,developing prospects and gaining new business. She has also workedwith housing associations and local authorities to maintain andincrease specifications within the social housing sector.

As National Sales Manager for Housing, Samantha now takes onmanagement responsibility for the housing team and will work withthem to increase the housing sector business across all productranges including commercial, residential and wood. She will also beresponsible for growing Tarkett’s residential business and theRhinofloor brand within the highly competitive consumer market,

Ready for the challenges that lie ahead, Samantha said: “I’m lookingforward to leading a forward-thinking team to success within thehousing sector, and to play my part in the overall success of Tarkett inthe UK.”

T 01622 854040 www.tarkett.co.uk

Drop-off centres

Recofloor, the UK’s award-winning vinyl flooring recycling scheme, has added ten newdrop-off sites to its nationwide network across England, Wales and Scotland. The additionof new sites brings the total number of places where flooring companies and contractorscan deposit waste vinyl material for recycling to well over 70.

They are located at N & C Nicobond premises in Glasgow, Cardiff, Southampton, Plymouth, Chadwell Heath, Stoke-on-Trent and Leeds; Headlam inGateshead plus their satellite in Middlesbrough; Beds Flooring in Bedford and Branagan Flooring Services based in Sharston, Manchester.

Commenting on the new sites, Matt Charlton, of Axion Consulting which manages the scheme, said: “The new sites include areas where previouslyRecofloor did not have a presence, so these are a welcome and useful addition to the network. As many of them are in major centres, it means flooringcompanies now have an even greater choice of convenient outlets where they can deposit material for recycling.”

Julian Workman, Northern Operations Manager for N&C Nicobond commented: “Our environmental responsibility is a fundamental and integral part ofour company strategy and is at the forefront of our operations. As major stockists of Polyflor and Altro, as well as the introduction of our own manufacturedvinyl floor tiles, the partnership with Recofloor allows us to significantly enhance our green credentials. With a clear view of the company’s direction andcommitment, we take the vital steps needed, not only to ensure compliance to UK and European Standards and legislation, but more importantly todevelop in new ways that meets the market needs of today without jeopardising the interests of future generations,” added Julian.

This award win in June coincided with the scheme having recycled its 1,000th tonne – an important milestone in its three-year history. Vinyl flooring wastecan be recycled back into new flooring products as well as traffic management equipment, such as cones and sign bases.

T 0161 355 7618 www.recofloor.org


News

Samantha takes national role


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News

The boardroom battle at Victoria Carpets gets increasingly bizarre withone newspaper report comparing the feuding to the worst days of theDallas TV soap opera.

The group is heading for another stormy special general meeting this month(October) called by rebel shareholders with the aim of removing KatherineInnes Ker, the group’s non-executive chairman, and David Garman, a non-executive director.

This group want Alexander Anton – a former chairman and the greatgrandson of one of Victoria’s founding partners – to be appointed to theboard along with Geoffrey Wilding, a former non-executive director. Mr Anton and Mr Wilding resigned as directors in August after the boardrefused to back their proposed incentive scheme, arguing that it encouragedthe break-up and sale of the group.

Ms Ker wrote in a circular that neither Mr Anton nor Mr Wilding had shownwillingness to “commit their time or resources materially to Victoria” and “yethave expected to earn returns in excess of those achieved by most full-timeexecutives.”

Mr Wilding, however, described the allegations as “ludicrous”. He said: “It’seasy to throw those allegations around; it’s an entirely different matterwhether they are true.”

He denied that the former directors have plans to sell off the company ifreappointed to the board. “We have never, ever discussed or proposedputting the company up for sale. The only people who have put this companyup for sale is the previous board.”

Victoria’s board had attempted to sell the group in January, but pulled backafter shareholder opposition.

Victoria board battles on

Leading floorcoverings company Headlam Group hasincreased turnover by 3.9 per cent to almost £280m as itsUK business captured more of the market in the first half ofthis year.

Pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 June rose from £9.9mto £10.4m on sales of £279.4m, compared with £269m in thesame period of 2011.

Revenue increased by 6.6 per cent in the UK, but fell in Europeduring the period by 8 per cent as a result of continued marketcontraction, the company said.

Chief executive Tony Brewer said: "The group's diverse salesand marketing activities, combined with ongoing productdevelopment and a comprehensive logistics service, enable usto support the generally positive trading of our customers, andas a result, we continue to gain market share.

"While a challenging and competitive market environmentpersists, the revenue performance achieved in the first sixmonths has been maintained during July and August. Therefore,assuming trading exhibits normal autumn seasonality, the groupis confident it will achieve its internal objectives for the year.’

Headlam has also just acquired Welsh Flooring Accessories foralmost £0.6m. This distribution business which covers much ofSouth Wales has a turnover of more than £2m, and willcontinue to trade from its Cardiff location.

Headlam gains market share

The media turned out in force again at the 2012 Carpet FoundationRed Carpet Awards. 70 journalists from all the leading home interestmagazines joined judges Sophie Conran, Andrea Maflin, Vanessa Bradyand John Smigielski together with Board Members from the CarpetFoundation manufacturers and retailers at the awards ceremony at Claridge’s.

Now in their 13th year, their popularity shows no signs of waning and it isa ‘want to’ attend event for the media. The last 12 months has seen 25 articles on carpet in magazines and that coupled with all the productplacement activity and other media exposure amounts to £1.8 million of editorial coverage for carpet in the media.

This year saw eight awards given out with the winners as follows: Best Article/Feature - Good Housekeeping (Margaret Caselton); Best Use ofcarpet in a decorating/interior scheme - House Beautiful (Charlotte Boyd); Best work by a freelance - Claudia Bryant (Living Etc); Best Shoppingitem - BBC Homes & Antiques (Katie Hallett); Best Makeover - Your Home; Best Online - allaboutyou.com; Best Wool/wool rich carpet work - TheEnglish Home (Erica Miller): Best exposure for carpet in a real life/reader’s home - BBC Homes & Antiques.

Commenting on the Awards, Rupert Anton said: “The last 12 months has probably seen the most exposure for carpet – ever. When you get amagazine like Good Housekeeping devoting 9 pages solely to carpet, and deliberately trying to win an Award, you know you have a successfulformula. What is more, it was so special, so original and would stop any reader in their tracks – it was a wonderful advertisement for carpet.

”I wish we could invite more retailers so they could see the coverage we get, the support from the media we get, the relationship with the mediawe have – and the power they have. No one else in the UK carpet industry could deliver this. The return on investment is fantastic,” he said.

T 01562 755568 www.carpetfoundation.com

Carpet shows its best features

L to R: Margaret Castelton, Interiors & Gardens Editor;Rupert Anton; and Lindsay Nicholson, GoodHousekeeping Editor


You can create a carpet websitefor your business in 5 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,visitors are just trying to find out your phone number, your opening hoursor where they can park! Or they’re just checking if you look professional.

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

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� Choose photos from our library to make your site unique – or uploadyour own images.

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* 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 573241.

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Thank you to all who

visited our stand at the

Flooring Show

in Harrogate

the stocklists - october 2012

Documents

selection page

pile page

distributors pages

f ball page

shading pages

clean wool carpets pages

furlong flooring

leading players pages