february / march 2014
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FLOORS
february/march 2014 | vol 32 no 01 www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Industry News
Special features
Regular Reports
FrontCover
04 Love Your Home with Carpet Court
15 Carpet & Rugs
12 Overseas News
01 Shaw Contract Group
20 Floating Floors
14 Airstep Retailer of the Month: Melbourne Floors & Rugs, Brighton, Richmond and Clayton, Victoria
06 Airstep Australia steps out 08 The WoolSet team is moving 10 News from Dunlop Flooring 11 Kennards Concrete Care relocates
23 Entrance 24 Surfaces Today 30 Alternative Flooring 36 Software 41 Cork 45 Logistics
47 Business 50 Exhibition Calendar Advertisers Index Subscribe Now
Flooring Feb/March 2014 3
News Love Your Home with Carpet Court To celebrate the screening of The Block: Fans v Faves, Carpet Court is on a mission to fund a renovator’s dream by offering customers the chance to win the cost of their flooring back through the Love Your Home promotion. Love Your Home is a nationwide promotion that will help Carpet Court customers make their renovation budget stretch further. Customers that purchase flooring, blinds or tiles from selected Carpet Court ranges from 26 January until 31 March could win back everything they spend. There’s one cash prize of up to $15,000 on offer and to be eligible customers must purchase from Provincial Lane, Urban Lifestyle, Studio Selections, Gaia Wool Collection,
ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Curtis Email: jennifer.curtis@elitepublishing.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Ashley Cooper Email: ashley.cooper@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION MANAGER Georgia Gilmour Email: georgia.gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd EXHIBITION ORGANISERS & PROMOTERS Elite Media & Marketing Pty Ltd P O BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au
4 Flooring Feb/March 2014
Designer Style, Selected tiles and selected fabrics from the Custom Made Blinds range only. To enter the Love Your Home competition, Carpet Court, customers must describe in 100 words or less what they would love to do with the money they win back. Carpet Court ambassador and judge on The Block, Darren Palmer said the Love Your Home promotion will free up the lucky winner’s renovation budget so
they can splurge on luxury purchases. “All renovators could use some spare cash so the chance to win back the flooring costs is a renovator’s dream.” Darren said. Running over eight weeks, entries opened on Sunday 26 January to coincide with the start of The Block: Fans v Faves on Channel 9 and close Monday 31 March. The Grand Prize winner will be announced on Monday 7 April.
ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Furniture & Bedding Magazine, Flooring Magazine Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Associationt
ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.
Jennifer Curtis – Group Managing Editor
Ashley Cooper – National Sales Manager
"Your Industry – Your Magazine"
A new approach to retrofit flooring Renovating a commercial building? Shaw Contract Group, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and recycler, has your flooring needs covered. We believe restrictive budgets and time frames should not mean a sacrifice on style or the environment for any project. This means superior-performing carpet at the most competitive prices. Our reliability and expertise across all segments means we help get your floors down faster, with minimal disruption to your tenants. And our diverse range is available immediately or within short lead times, so you’ll always find what you want, when you want it.
Contact us to find out more or to order an ‘In Stock. In Australia’ swatch of carpet tiles today.
1434
Australia 1800 556 302 shawcontractgroup.com.au
New Zealand 09 574 0640 jacobsens.co.nz
News Airstep Australia steps out Airstep Australia continues its push to lead the way into the Australian and New Zealand flooring markets with the most comprehensive range of flooring underlays covering all segments of the market. The range covers the residential and commercial markets with rubber latex, recycled rubber, synthetic fibre, hair jute blends, polyurethane foam and EVA foam underlays. “The next step forward in convenience for our customers will be to expand
our product portfolio into adhesives and accessories,” said general manager Paul Verschaeren. “During February we launched our Airstep adhesive and carpet gripper range into the Australian market. The convenience of purchasing all of these products from one supplier will certainly improve the retailer and commercial contractor’s business efficiencies. “Our goal is to assist our customers to be more successful.”
NSW distributor appointed for DuraCore DuraCore has welcomed South Coast Decorative Concrete Supplies to its team of distributors. “Located in Bomaderry, South Coast, NSW, Ian
and his staff at South Coast Decorative have completed their training in the DuraCore range of products and are looking forward to supporting their customers and sharing their extensive knowledge of these tried and tested products,” said Contreat’s Andrew McLeay. “Concrete waterproofing and curing has never been so affordable,” he said. “The new DuraCore products have hit the market without an expensive price tag whilst not compromising on quality.”
Gerflor’s Nick Cross voted number one Gerflor Account Manager, Nick Cross was voted Victorian Country Representative of the Year. Retailers from across Victoria cast their votes for the prestigious award that recognisd the popular flooring personality’s
commitment to customer service. Gerflor’s Managing Director, Chris Low said Gerflor was proud of Nick's achievement and believed it was a true reflection of the service Nick provides to his valued Gerflor customers.
New appointment at Protect Crete Oxtek Australia /Protect Crete has announce the appointment of Louise Tebble as National Sales Manager. Louise has a very strong background in the construction industry working closely with both specifiers and builders. She will be based in the company’s Sydney office but will work closely with all distributors and specifiers in the eastern states. Louise will also play an important role in the launch of the new Oxtek branded range of concrete products to be launched in March.
6 Flooring Feb/March 2014
“We have worked successfully with Louise on some very large projects in the past and are delighted to now have her as part of our team," said Protect Crete managing director, John Daymond.
Premium Floors launches new-look website Premium Floors has launched an all-new website www. premiumfloors.com.au. The redesigned and engineered website aims to look good on a range of screen sizes including
smart phone, tablet, laptop and desktop. Moreover, the rejuvenated website features live product filtering and users can find their closest dealer through a postcode search.
SOMETIMES
SINGLE
IS A LOT EASIER.
THE NEW ARDEX WPM 368 IS HERE SINGLE PART BARRIER ARDEX WPM 368 is the first and only single part, subfloor moisture barrier membrane for flooring applications. No mixing, no wastage and no more risk of mistakes. It even has a built in mechanical key, so no more sand broadcasting. WPM 368 is water based making it environmentaly friendly and suitable for use in confined spaces. WPM 368 will save you money on materials, save you time on the job and will remind you everyday, that single is a whole lot easier. For more information, contact ARDEX on 1300 788 780 or visit www.ardexaustralia.com
News Traxx Construction Products goes red Traxx Construction Products and Scanmaskin, a European premier brand in surface preparation, have joined forces in Australia and New Zealand. Managing Director of Marketing and Sales for Scanmaskin, Paulo Bergstrand said: “We are delighted to have the Traxx team on board with our brand. “They cover the entire region of Australia and New Zealand with experienced, talented and motivated sales professionals, supported by a first class team of sales support, repair and logistics specialists”. Traxx Managing Director, Lloyd Williams was delighted with the new arrangement. “We have worked with Scanmaskin for some time now with an own branded product, but with Scanmaskin’s fast global growth, it makes serious sense to ‘go red’, given the massive brand recognition that the product is getting as a result of expansion not only in Europe, but in USA and North Asia. “We are very excited about the future of the Scanmaskin products, knowing what is currently in the pipeline and the ambitions of the company.”
Homes featuring sustainable natural product win awards Livos Australia is very proud to be part of a number of winning designs at recent events. Featuring beautiful floors ranging from internal and external timber to concrete, the award winners showed great support for the diverse finishes that can be achieved using safe and natural products without compromising on quality. At the 2013, 18th annual Building
Beaumont Tiles to open $11m distribution centre Beaumont Tiles plans to open a $11m facility to service its stores across New South Wales. The distribution centre will be situated in Western Sydney at Huntingwood and is expected to be operational early 2014.
FreeFit
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8 Flooring Feb/March 2014
Green Tag certification for Wicanders Wicanders products have received Global GreenTagCert Certification (GreenTag), an Australian environmental quality label that has distinguished the products of Amorim Revestimentos’ premium brand – Wicanders. This certification was achieved thanks to Wicanders ecological and health aspects and manufacturing processes.
Design Awards of Victoria, which showcased a wide range of budgets and types of structures, Livos's range was featured in three of the winning designs. Winner of the Building Design of the year 2013 was Rose of South Yarra by Wilson ID; winner of the best environmental sustainable design – residential, was Nunawading by Maxa Design and winner of best efficient design – residential, was Campbells Creek House by LiFEHOUSE, which has also won the 2013 BPN Sustainability Award for Single Dwelling in 2013 in Sydney.
The WoolSet team is moving After 10 years at Noble Park, the WoolSet is relocating to the Newfurn Head Office in Bulleen, Victoria. WoolSet was purchased by Newfurn in October 2012 as an ongoing business focusing on the promotion of premium wool carpets. Currently the WoolSet has 18 members throughout Victoria and Tasmania, with plans to expand nationally to 34 selected members. A collection of exclusive Australian wool products has been launched under the International Wool Collection label, a registered and trade-marked label to WoolSet. A new website, www.woolset.com.au has also been launched.
60010-1 Spotted gum
This joint statement is made as an open letter to the flooring trade from Premium Floors Australia and GP Embelton.
6008-1 Blackbutt
It results from a dispute regarding copyright in laminate flooring designs owned by Premium Floors Australia. In 2008 Premium Floors undertook to develop a unique range of laminate flooring decors based on Australian wood varieties (inset left).
6009-1 Jarrah
Embelton acknowledges that the ownership of copyright of these designs resides solely with Premium Floors Australia and is covered under the copyright laws of Australia. This should be seen as an important step in enforcing the intellectual property rights with regards to unique flooring designs.
60011-1 Sydney blue gum
Premium acknowledges that Embelton’s importation of these designs into Australia had no malicious intent. Both parties have reached an amicable settlement and agreed on terms that allow Embelton to continue to sell these designs.
60012-1 Brushbox
News News from Dunlop Flooring
FCA supports Government’s move to update franchising code
A big congratulations goes out to Andrew Spence, National Sales Manager at Dunlop Flooring on his impressive milestone – 25 years of service at Dunlop Flooring. Andrew started as a young man on the factory floor and, over time, has built a solid rapport with his customers and colleagues. Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer for Australian women with 38 women a day being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. During October Harvey Norman
The Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) has welcomed the government’s decision to introduce recommendations from last year’s Franchising Code of Conduct review in early 2014. On 6 January, Bruce Billson, the Minister for Small Business told the Australian Financial Review the coalition would implement the changes sooner rather than later in order to “maintain world-class regulatory support for a crucial part of the economy”. The FCA was involved in the initial code review in early 2013 and met with both previous and current governments and senior staff in the Department of Innovation and Treasury to discuss potential changes to the code. The general manager of the FCA, Kym De Britt said these meetings had been very positive and collaborative in nature, with both parties
Andrew Spence
and Carpet One stores got behind the charity to create awareness in store and promote this worthy organisation. They embraced the colour pink and dressed up their stores with balloons, streamers and even cut out underlay in the shape of a pink ladies.
working together to provide the best outcome to the sector as a whole. “Franchisors, franchisees, academics, small business associations like our own and other stakeholders all took the opportunity to contribute to the review, resulting in fair and robust recommendations,” he said. At the National Franchise Convention last October, Minister Billson stressed the franchising industry plays an important role in the national economy. De Britt added the FCA is looking forward to continued collaboration with the government in 2014 as changes to the franchising code are implemented. “What we now need to see is an updated regulatory framework that will keep Australia at the forefront of best practice franchising globally, where it belongs," he said.
Start your engines
Carpet One Bendigo Floor & Home
Harvey Norman Thomastown
10 Flooring Feb/March 2014
As part of its Colour Gard promotion, Signature Floors treated some residential retail customers to a day at the race track with their very own heart-pumping, adrenaline filled Hot Laps. All customers worked hard to attain the particular requirements, with winners from Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia prevailing. Initially, there were clear nerves among some customers at the mere thought of travelling at speeds of up to 200km/h in a real life V8 race car, so some of the Signature sales representatives also attended the selected events for good moral support. By the commencement of the first
lap though the nerves had all but disappeared, with most customers not wanting the experience to end.
OverseasNews Kennards Hire Concrete Care relocates to Richmond A long term plan has come to fruition for Kennards Hire Concrete Care, which has relocated its branch from Clayton in Melbourne’s southeast to the inner city suburb of Richmond. The new branch is located on Murphy Street and sits between the major thoroughfares of Victoria Street and Bridge Road, ensuring easy access for customers. It is conveniently located within close proximity of the Melbourne CBD and surrounding suburbs as well as the Monash and Eastern freeways. Kennards Hire Concrete Care General Manager, Rob Machin said that the move to Richmond is something they've been planning for a while, but waited until
the ideal location became available. “A large number of our customers based in the CBD and city fringe prompted the move,” Machin explained. “We can provide faster delivery times from Richmond to those customers, while still serving our customers in the northern and western suburbs efficiently.” With two branches in NSW and Victoria, and one in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, Kennards Hire Concrete Care has seen significant growth in demand for specialised floor and surface preparation equipment all over Australia. “The opening of the Richmond branch signifies our commitment to the construction and flooring
industries,” Machin added. “Future expansion plans across Australia and even into New Zealand will solidify Kennards Hire Concrete Care as the leader in this field.” Kennards Hire Concrete Care at Richmond is also conveniently located a couple of doors down from specialist branch, Kennards Hire Lift and Shift and only a few
streets away from a Kennards Hire branch, completing a Kennards Hire triangle. “Being so close to the other branches allows a customer to order equipment from all three and arrange to have them sent to site in a single delivery,” said branch Manager Craig Evans.
introduci
n
g WoolSet are proud to introduce The International Wool Collection, a new and exclusive collection of premium wool carpets. Available in 6 ranges and 75 beautiful colours. NEW and EXCLUSIVE to:
18 stores across NSW, VIC, TAS
woolset.com.au
Overseas
Domotex 2014 delivers impressive performance Domotex 2014 – the world’s flagship fair for carpets and floorcoverings – came to a highly successful conclusion on January 14, having attracted approximately 45,000 visitors from more than 80 nations. “Domotex 2014 has delivered an impressive performance thanks to its uniquely international appeal, high attendance, the wellreceived ‘Innovations@ DOMOTEX’ concept, plus a considerably more buoyant mood in the industry,” stated Dr. Jochen Köckler of organiser Deutsche Messe. 1,350 companies from 57 different nations showcased their latest products and collections with the industry making a strong showing in terms of quality and innovativeness. The mood in the exhibition halls made it clear that the mood in the industry had
12 Flooring Feb/March 2014
taken a considerable turn for the better, with exhibitors speaking of greatly improved business prospects and an anticipated upturn in sales. Making its debut this year, the “Innovations@DOMOTEX” showcase put a fresh spin on Domotex as a trendsetting event with plenty of fresh ideas to offer. The concept – which is aimed at sparking heightened interest in select innovations and designs on show by participating exhibitors – proved to be a major success. Innovations@DOMOTEX provided visiting professionals with a convenient and inspirational source of orientation and information, while the Innovations@ DOMOTEX Talks featured well-known personalities from the architecture scene and fostered valuable dialogue on a host of topics related to floorcoverings.
Around 57% of the show’s visitors came from outside Germany – approximately two thirds of them from other European countries, plus around 20% from Asia and about 10% from the Americas. The biggest visitor nations included the United Kingdom, Turkey, the Netherlands, the United States and Italy. In terms of the caliber of its visiting professionals, Domotex delivered right on target, with over 70% indicating that they play a major role in their company’s purchasing decisions. The main visitor categories consisted of wholesale and retail buyers – at 25% and 34%, respectively. Purchasers from home furnishing and furniture retailers as well as architects were also well represented. Attendance by members of the skilled trades was clearly on the rise, reaching 25% of the total.
The second edition of the Wood Flooring Summit (Hall 9) was a major success, serving as a networking hub for the international parquet and laminate flooring sector. The Skilled Trades Hub provided an extensive array of exhibits and presentations involving practical solutions of interest to parquet and floor layers, interior decorators and painters. A special display entitled Frst Rug Avenue demonstrated how traditional oriental rugs can serve as a perfect complement to trendy interiors. And the best hand-woven carpets were honored by the industry’s key competition: the Carpet Design Awards, which drew participation by 329 international designers, with 33 entries making it to the final round. The next DOMOTEX will be staged from 17 to 20 January 2015.
Available for download on the
Retailer of the month
Doing it differently Melbourne Floors and Rugs, Richmond, Brighton and Clayton, Victoria By Jennifer Curtis
W
hile many floorcoverings retailers start out as floor layers, just as many come to the business through a background in flooring sales of some sort. Izak Rogers is one of the exceptions. Izak is a businessman pure and simple. For him, it is the love of being in business and seeing his business flourish and grow that is his motivating force. Izak owns Melbourne Floors and Rugs, which has three locations in Victoria – in the suburbs of Richmond, Brighton and Clayton. Each one has a large, well displayed showroom selling a comprehensive range of floorcoverings to the consumer. However, the retail outlets are only one part of Izak’s business.
14 Flooring Feb/March 2014
He also owns Melbourne Carpet Layers, which provides floor layers to other flooring businesses as required as well as undertaking floor laying for the Masters group of DIY stores. “I have around 40 layers working for me,” said Izak. “This includes some of the oldest and most experienced layers in the industry. “I have a healthy respect for my layers and the work they do and, in return, they will do anything for me. I only have to call them and say I have a problem and they will work through the night for me if necessary. “I hold them to a high standard but we don’t have
any of the ‘us-them’ mentality that is prevalent throughout the industry. We are like a big, close-knit family” Izak’s experience in the floorcoverings industry started 10 years ago when he bought a Solomons Carpets franchise. While this provided him with valuable expertise, he wanted to expand further. “I wanted to make my own decisions on how to run my business and what products I sold so I made the move and opened my first independent floorcoverings store in Brighton,” he explained. In the last two years, one store became two and eventually three, servicing the domestic requirements of most of the inner city and South Eastern suburbs.
A complete family business, the Brighton store is managed by Izak’s father, Leon and the Richmond store by his uncle, Sam Hipsz while Izak’s wife, Tatum, deals with all the administration and his brother-in-law, Richard, is the warehouse manager. The Clayton venue houses the business’ large warehouse as well as an Accu-Cut measuring and cutting machine. The premises are situated on a large corner block with easy access for trucks delivering product as well as the vans and utility vehicles belonging to the installers. As well as being the business brain behind everything, Izak also does the measuring and quoting for the business. “I love selling to customers,” said Izak. “That is the best part of the job. “They often ask me for my advice because I am really good with colours
and design too. In fact, some people have been known to give me carte blanche, they are so confident of my abilities. “I don’t get involved in big commercial projects – they don’t interest me – and I avoid builders. I prefer domestic jobs or work for real estate companies. With his growing reputation, Izak doesn’t need to advertise – much of his work comes via word-of-mouth referrals. And, as his business continues to grow, he expects to add more stores to his portfolio. He also has plans for his floor laying business. “I want to start a school for floor layers,” he explained. “I have some of the most experienced layers in the industry working for me and it would be good to be able to pass on that expertise to a younger generation.”
…AIRSTEP UNDERLAY …“THAT’S CONFIDENCE” www.airstep.com.au • Bonded Foam Underlays • High quality Natural Rubber Underlays • SBR Double Bond Commercial Underlays • Floating Floor Underlays • Recycled Textile Underlays THE COMPLETE UNDERLAY COMPANY Manufactured and distributed by AIRSTEP AUSTRALIA LTD, PO Box 166 Dandenong Sth Vic 3175 Ph: VIC/TAS 1800 803 545 NSW 1800 802 926 WA/SA/NT/QLD 1800 806 375 Fax all states (03) 9706 8553 In New Zealand distributed by
Jacobsen Creative Surfaces Auckland (09) 574 0640 Wellington (04) 4954 300 Christchurch (03) 3664 153
Carpets&Rugs
Shaw releases locally designed collection Shaw Contract Group Australia has released a new in-stock carpet tile collection, Pacific, designed specifically for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Taking its inspiration from the Pacific’s beautiful black sand beaches, the Pacific collection has been developed to deliver on style and value. According to Shaw Contract Group Australia Managing Director, Denis Peltier: “The Pacific collection is our answer to the demand for a collection with a neutral colour palette that can be used to complement bold contrasting colours in smaller projects to large retrofit or basebuild projects where performance and value are the focus. “The collection is also part of our ‘In Stock. In Australia’ range, meaning our customers can have stock onsite within 48 hours of confirming an order,” he added. There are six styles within the collection boasting a colour palette of cool greys and blacks. Each style is named after black sand beaches in the Pacific region spanning from New Zealand to Hawaii. Piha boasts a cross hatch design that offers an organic effect with a subtle contrast
16 Flooring Feb/March 2014
of colour when installed while Waimea boasts a tweed like appearance. The fine broken lineal pattern of Muriwai delivers a subtle pattern while Karamea features a broken lineal pattern. Both Muriwai and Karamea are available in two colours. Taharuu’s unique colour patterning, layered textures and smart graduations of block lineal pattern allow for endless installation options. Te Henga utilises the same block lineal pattern as Taharuu but with a more subtle graduation of colour. Both Taharuu and Te Henga are designed to let you mix dye lots imperceptibly and install tiles randomly, so there is no need to hold extra stock or follow a certain installation pattern. The Pacific collection is Cradle to Cradle Certified CM Silver and uses premium Eco Solution Q fibre. All tiles feature EcoWorx backing, which is certified with the highest level of GECA certification and a Green Star ‘Level A’ product rating according to the Green Building Council of Australia. EcoWorx carpet tiles are 100% PVC free and are backed with an environmental guarantee for reclamation and recycling.
Bridge Inn Hotel transformed Still boasting its original exterior from 1891, the Bridge Inn Hotel is an iconic and longstanding local haunt to those in the Mernda and Whittlesea area of Victoria. In conjunction with Power House Projects, Signature Floors was able to assist in the mammoth transformation of this “little pub on the corner”. The brief called for a carpet design that would fit into the existing heritage building interior of the hotel in the gaming area, entry, bistro and playroom. The design needed to be organic with earthy tones to depict the rural landscape, whilst still complementing the rest of the general interior design look and feel. Overall, the job required over 340 lineal metres of carpet to be designed and installed. Signature Floors’ Axminster Carpet was chosen for the
job at hand. The carpet’s unique blend of hardwearing British and New Zealand wool produces a hospitality grade carpet, which performs exceptionally well in harsh conditions. Its resilience in withstanding heavy foot traffic and soiling over many years made it a good fit for this project. The resulting product’s custom design mimicks the natural flow of the creeks and rivers of the area, juxtaposed in other areas against deconstructed, indigenousinspired protea patterns. The complementing colour ways and pattern of the carpets is what makes these areas both stand apart and work together as a whole for the hotel. Following the 15 months renovation that took place, the Bridge Inn Hotel has been transported from its 1891 horseback haven to a 2014 modern, contemporary social hub that stands tall today.
THE NAME
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Carpets&Rugs
Introducing Godfrey Hirst Spot Out As Australia’s largest carpet manufacturer, Godfrey Hirst knows all about carpet care. That’s why they are excited to introduce Godfrey Hirst Spot Out Carpet Stain Remover. This non-toxic, quick and easy to use carpet cleaning spray helps remove stains as well as prevent re-soiling. It’s Australian made and helps remove a wide range of stains, including grease, oils and protein based stains such as gravy, eggs, milk and some tannin based stains.
Godfrey Hirst Spot Out Carpet Stain Remover is suitable for all carpet types, including wool, is certified by WoolSafe, and will not deteriorate carpet fibres. Made with a PH neutral formula, it’s gentle on carpet but tough on stains. This ready-to-use solution also removes food spill odours. Godfrey Hirst Spot Out Carpet Stain Remover is available to all carpet retailers in a shelf ready display carton of 12 x 500ml bottles.
BE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE 137 members and growing
For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis Chief Executive Officer Mobile: 0400 400 036 Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au
Tim Drew Group Manager - Retail Development Mobile: 0425 751 756 Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au
choicesflooring.com.au
Floating
Introducing Godfrey Hirst Floors The largest carpet manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere, Godfrey Hirst has taken its flooring fashion expertise and now released a new range of laminate, engineered timber, bamboo and vinyl flooring solutions. The new Godfrey Hirst Floors brand incorporates German made laminate coupled with natural Australian and exotic hard woods, beautiful wide board oaks with distinct distressed and ochre finishes, strand woven bamboo and luxury vinyl planks all featuring sleek, contemporary design.
“Colour and finish were key in developing the ranges,” explained Andrew Henderson, Godfrey Hirst Floors National Manager referring to the fresh colour palette, which introduces charcoal tones and pared back neutrals. • Godfrey Hirst Laminate offers the striking look and feel of timber without the hefty price tag. The laminate print layer offers the highest quality ultra‐ realistic natural aesthetic, while the wear layer provides a heavy duty product for busy homes. The 5G locking system ensures stability, strength and ease of installation. • For customers who prefer authentic timber, Godfrey Hirst Timber is also available in multiple widths, species and finishes, creating a showpiece for any home. “A mix of traditional and modern colours with both polished and rustic finishes were selected to complement emerging interior colour trends,” said Henderson, “as well as to complement our top selling carpet colours.” • Godfrey Hirst Floors Timber also features the 5G locking system. Unlike solid timber floors, which can take weeks to install and finish, engineered boards can be installed and walked on the same day. • Godfrey Hirst Bamboo is a stylish, strong and durable, cold pressed, strand woven board. Including a variety of carbonised shades, these bamboo boards are high quality, heavy duty and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited. • Godfrey Hirst Floors Vinyl plank is heavy duty, suitable for wet areas including bathrooms and commercial kitchens. This modular option is fuss free flooring for
20 Flooring Feb/March 2014
high traffic areas without compromising on look and underfoot feel. Available in modern colours and classic finished looks, vinyl plank provides a complete look for any home. • To complete the package, Arriba and Arriba Plus underlay can be used with all Godfrey Hirst Floors. Matching trims and accessories including staircase nosing are available for all ranges to create the perfect finished home environment. All Godfrey Hirst Floors are backed with Australian warranties to ensure the customer’s floor looks great for years to come and Godfrey Hirst has local after sales support you can count on. The sleek, customer friendly display stands take up minimal floor space and are a striking addition to any showroom. Take home sample swatches are conveniently sized for carry while still being large enough to demonstrate the products’ look and feel. All flooring products are warehoused in Australia for short lead times, providing the same world class delivery times as the company’s existing carpet offerings. Godfrey Hirst is now a onestop-shop for flooring.
Enhancing sustainable design Woodcomfort Oak plank flooring by Wicanders provides a natural feature in a sustainable boutique apartment complex. The Maling boutique apartment complex located in the Canterbury suburb of Melbourne highlights how the use of sustainable materials and thoughtful design can achieve stunning results. The apartment building is designed focused delivering intelligent and environmentally sustainable architecture that reflects in-depth usage of materials, form and texture that is both lavish and timeless. To further enhance the sustainable design elements
the designers specified the new range of Wicanders Woodcomfort plank flooring. Woodcomfort plank flooring provides real oak visuals combined with the unique benefits of the patented Corktech system developed by Wicanders. The Corktech system provides an, all-in-one
assembly, delivering classleading acoustic benefits necessary for modern living and thermal performance to enhance the living interaction within room environments. The Woodcomfort range is, pre-finished with desirable real oak wood visuals in a range of
contemporary range colours. It extremely hard wearing and is fast to install utilising the patented Valinge locking technology. With its ‘built-in’ cork underlay one step of the installation process is removed saving valuable time and costs associated with the flooring installation.
www.underlayking.com.au FOR THE BEST PRICES IN TOWN CONTACT US NOW FOR PRODUCT INFO & SAMPLES 8mm Blue • 9mm Yellow • 11mm Gold • 8mm Red (NSW) 100% Au Owned stralian & Made
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Ph: (03) 9408 9522 Fax: (03) 9408 9544
lity a u q h hig ts produc
Floating
Main photo: Rusticity remains the key: Light or medium earth tones and tactile textures are the trendsetters in the new laminate flooring collections. – Photo: Kronotex Below: Timber with a "used" look is represented in several varieties by European manufacturers. – Photo: Kaindl Bottom: Why always oak? Softwoods such as rich spruce decors are also gaining in popularity. – Photo: Meister
Rustic laminate floors with texture European laminate flooring manufacturers are kicking off the new laminate flooring season with a wealth of creative decoration ideas. Light and medium earth tones like greige are now the order of the day for flooring, while larger and wider sizes are bang on trend. Modern yet rustic boards appeal to the senses with their distinctly tactile textured surfaces, installed using innovative synchronisation technology. Rustic remains a key theme in current laminate flooring ranges. Oak continues to dominate wood decors with its almost inexhaustible decorative potential. Yet floors with the appearance of delicatelygrained ash or elm, or rich softwoods such as spruce and larch, are also rapidly gaining in popularity. In general, demand for decor that resembles
22 Flooring Feb/March 2014
elegant wood varieties is on the rise. Meanwhile, dark colours have seen a slight decline, with the collections of European manufacturers instead presenting a varied spectrum of natural grey and beige tones – a trend that originated in the field of interior decor and which is now taking international flooring markets by storm.
All types of surfaces, from A to Z A considerable amount of wood decor in the laminate sector no longer appears in its natural version but rather with a discreet white or grey haze. The rustic "used look" appears in several varieties of commercial products, from construction timber styles with imitation cement traces, to laminate flooring that feels brushed, planed or freshly sanded.
Modern synchro-pore printing enables the authentic transfer of a wide variety of surface structures, from fine veins and pores to deep, distinctive knots. This rustic nature particularly comes into its own in the new rural-style wooden floorboard collections, which are increasingly being offered in longer and wider floorboard sizes. Several European manufacturers and suppliers, grouped together under the association EPLF (European Producers of Laminate Flooring), took advantage of Domotex 2014 and the second Wood Flooring Summit in Hannover, to showcase their latest products. Here, visitors explored a host of creative designs and discovered the newest technological innovations in European laminate floor production.
Entrance
Introducing Pedigree Entrance Zone Karndean Designflooring has launched a new entrance protection product, Pedigree Entrance Zone, that’s designed to fulfil the exacting requirements of the trade, architects, designers and facility managers alike at an affordable install cost. Pedigree Entrance Zone is totally waterproof and rotproof. Special scraping fibres provide a passive barrier that removes and contains soil and moisture from shoes without
people having to stop and wipe their feet. It then release this soiling easily during regular in-situ cleaning. The product adds function, enhances appearance and saves money. The choice of colours and patterns adds style and function in almost any setting whilst keeping other floorcoverings protected against unsightly and abrasive soil, therefore extending its life and appearance retention.
Introducing Pedigree Entrance Zone • Scraping fibres remove dirt and moisture with every footstep • Captures and holds over 5 litres of water per square metre • Easy to clean with standard vacuuming equipment Designed to capture soil and moisture passively as people walk across, Pedigree Entrance Zone adds function, enhances appearance and will save you money. At entrances, the choice of colours and patterns add style and function whilst further into the building, Entrance Zone keeps other floorcovering investments protected against unsightly and abrasive soil, and therefore looking better and lasting longer.
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SurfacesToday
Bosch launches new bagless vacuum Bosch has launched its latest range of Runn’n compact bagless vacuums to complement the existing Bosch Relaxx’x bagless range. The new Runn’n ProSilence and ProEssential models are exceptionally quiet and powerful to operate. They are also compact, weighing just 5.8 kg. Jam-packed with a host of innovative features, these all-rounder vacuums will ensure superior cleaning results at minimal effort every time. Perfect for smaller households, the affordable new Runn’n range features Bosch’s unique SilenceSound System – innovative material such as sound controlled motors, insulation materials, optimised airflow and sound reduced accessories result in some of the quietest vacuums available in the market.
Also unique to the new range is Bosch’s SensorBagless System, which intelligently notifies the user when the filter needs to be manually cleaned. Constant airflow measurement ensures the vacuum is always performing optimally and the filter is only cleaned when required, minimising maintenance and removing any ongoing filter costs.
Makinex Jackhammer Trolley The Makinex Jackhammer Trolley (JHT) is a demolition tool for removal of floor tiles, adhesive residue, vinyl and cork from concrete and wooden surfaces. The trolley itself carries the majority of the weight of the jackhammer, relieving the pressure and strain from the operator. With built-in shock absorbers, the JHT cuts down on vibration impact, which essentially means less back pain, operator fatigue and injury. Manufactured from steel components and finished in a high quality silver zinc plating, the JHT will keep the unit looking new for as long as possible while protecting it from corrosion. It is made up of a main frame, a base frame, the handle assembly and the hammer clamp assembly. Optional attachments such as a wide chisel and tile smasher are also available to suit specific applications.
Since the JHT was first introduced in 2005, this unique invention has undergone a series of ongoing upgrades and improvements to allow for a truly evolutionary solution for demolishers. Makinex has recently released a new and improved design, reconfiguring the frame so the handle bar position is higher for better ergonomics.
LokDots system is designed to be installed on floors with up to 95% relative humidity. “Better still LokDots provides an alternative to wet adhesives and virtually eliminates the issue of VOCs making it ideal for use in occupied spaces,” he said. Shaw’s LokDots pressure sensitive adhesive for the installation of EcoWorx carpet
tile is designed as a solution for high moisture environments and is also ideal for retrofit projects. The Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Silver product eliminates mess and curing time and can be installed over concrete, VCT, VAT, cutback, raised access floors, pressure sensitive and multipurpose adhesive and wood.
Your Rapid RH specialists Shaw Contract Group Australia is making it easier to avoid expensive moisture damage issues with their extensive range of Rapid RH products. A stockist of Rapid RH since 2011, Shaw is Australia’s largest distributor and stockist of the Rapid RH range with over 15 products in stock including the Rapid RH 4.0 Starter Kit for concrete and the MMC220 Extended Range Moisture Meter for timber floors. According to Shaw Contract Group Australia General Manager, Paul McCosker, stocking the Rapid RH range of products gives their customers a complete flooring solution. Created by Wagner Meters, the world’s leader in moisture measurement technology,
24 Flooring Feb/March 2014
the Rapid RH 4.0 system is designed solely to measure relative humidity (RH) and tests for moisture in the heart of the concrete slab, not just on the surface like other moisture tests. Using the Rapid RH 4.0 system’s results the correct floorcovering and installation method can be selected, installation can be scheduled and the stress and cost of moisture related claims after a job is completed can be avoided. “At Shaw, if moisture is an issue we do have a solution,” Shaw Contract Group Australia General Manager, Paul McCosker said. “Our EcoWorx carpet tile installed using the nontoxic and odourless
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*Terms & Conditions apply. Promotion ends 30 March 2014. Prices correct as at 1/02/2014 and are subject to change without notice. Prices exclude GST. ® Shaw Contract Group is a registered trademark of Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathaway company.
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Endless advertising opportunities
Classic enhances shelf space Classic Architectural Group has released its all-new 2014 product catalogue. Based on feedback received, the company has altered the format this time and compiled all its products into one bookstyle catalogue. The result is a high quality publication packed with over 200 pages of user friendly information including quality product photos and diagrams,
detailed product information, case studies, colour guides and installation guides. Classic’s spokesperson commented: “Not only do we continue to enhance the safety and aesthetics of public space, but our new comprehensive 2014 catalogue will be an enhancement to the quickreference shelf of every flooring contractor now as well!”
Identity Matters’ ClearStep Mat is a unique, high quality marketing tool now available for immediate supply. This exciting print media offers endless advertising opportunities for increasing brand awareness and delivering targeted messages. The ClearStep Mat is suitable for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications including retail, showroom, tradeshow, manufacturing and sports complex flooring. The semi-rigid 1.9mm thick PVC has no cheap fillers and consists of a single layer, which means colour will not peel off. The PVC handles both heavy foot and vehicle traffic and does a great job resisting many chemicals and substances. A full range of backing materials such as rubber and anti-fatigue sponge is available.
Features include: • repositionable, reusable, recyclable; • suitable for retail, showroom, tradeshow flooring as well as gym, aquatic and sports complexes; • suitable for vehicle and heavy traffic; • no adhesives necessary; • slip and tear resistant; • available up to three metres wide in roll and sheet formats; • three surface patterns – ceramic, coin and diamond; • five year ultimate image protection; • suitable for both indoor and outdoor use; • AS/NZS 4586:2004 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface material; • specifically designed for UV curable, latex and solvent ink.
Colour design options for hardwood floors Loba has taken a trend from Scandinavia and perfected it with a new product: the reactive stain LOBASOL ActiveColor offers more design options for parquet and hardwood floors with attractive contrasts and colour effects. As a pre-treatment for the impregnating oils LOBASOL HS 2K ImpactOil and ImpactOilColor, the stain enhances the wood’s natural grain and makes it possible to create vibrant plays of colour, even with 3D effects.
26 Flooring Feb/March 2014
LOBA offers a sample set as well as trial sizes to help users compare colours. With ActiveColor stain, Loba is embracing the design trend towards rich colour contrasts. Available in the colours grey and brown, it brings out the wood’s natural grain. It is suitable for tannin-rich woods, like oak and can be used for creating natural colour effects, such as the look of smoked wood. Lively surface designs can be produced and even 3D effects or floors with a rustic, antique look.
SurfacesToday
RST10 aluminium stair nosing RST10 Safety Stair Tread Nosing is specially designed for installation over new and existing steps and stairways. It is applicable where pedestrian safety, appearance and stair longevity is of a particular concern and particularly used when it comes to providing the highest possible safety rating to external wet areas As one of Floorsafe’s most popular stair nosings it exceeds the requirements of the Australian/New Zealand Standards for anti-slip AS4586:2004 (slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials) and the National Construction Code. This quality aluminium angle also conforms to the new compliance regulations.
Manufactured with four carborundum inserts this tough and durable stair nosing is ideal to be installed on exposed outside stairway steps to provide the upmost in safety. The width of 75mm complies to the AS/NZ Standards 1428.1 and access mobility Part 1. Luminous contrast AS1428.1:2009. Floorsafe Australia can provide a Luminous contrast percentage reading to the customer if the surface colour the product is going to be installed upon is provided. Available in 4000mm lengths or custom cut to required size, it can be drilled and screwed through one of the carborundum strips or fixed with a suitable adhesive to most substrates.
Fast, accurate measure of concrete slabs The portable CTG.600 concrete thickness gauge from Taylor Tools helps provide relative humidity (RH) readings by quickly and accurately measuring the thickness of concrete slabs without the need to drill, core or excavate the slab. ASTM 2170 states that RH readings must be taken at 40% of the thickness of the slab, which begs the question: how thick is the slab? Traditional methods for making that determination involves drilling a hole through the slab, which can compromise the underlying moisture barrier and does not allow for variations in slab thickness or corrugated pan profiles with elevated slabs. The hand-held, batterypowered CTG.600, however, provides accurate (± 1/4” on
Beauty and Quality
a 6” slab), non-destructive readings in less than three seconds. It can measure concrete from eight to 180 centimetres thick and results can be easily downloaded to a PC spreadsheet.
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Solving a problem as old as nails Excalibur Extractor Nail Pliers were born out of the need to re-use and recycle trim and mouldings in the restoration and renovation of old historic homes. With one single easy motion, Excalibur Extractor Nail Pliers are the easiest and fastest way to pull exposed headed or smoothed-body nails, carpet
nails, tacks, staples, rusty or damaged fasteners and pneumatic fasteners. The new and patented Excalibur Extractor Nail Pliers are simple but effective and feature parallel autolocking jaws with serrated teeth and a large curved heel, which dramatically reduces any damage to the surface. By gripping on the exposed end, Excalibur Extractor Nail Pliers grab so effectively that they can be used to pull fasteners through trims and mouldings in restoration work and remodelling. Exposed nails can be pulled through formwork so that it can be re-used. The harder the pull on the long non-slip cushion grip handles, the tighter the grip. No more snapping or shearing from use of traditional frontend nippers, claw hammers and other grippers. They are ideal for the removal of tacks from carpet edging strips during carpet replacement. Excalibur Extractor Nail Pliers are made in Taiwan to the exacting standards and requirements of the American inventor/designer and of Excalibur Tools Pty limited.
Nail Pliers The easiest and fastest way to pull exposed... • Nails • Rusty or Damaged Fasteners • Carpet nails • Tacks • Staples
GECA cleaning and paint products now recognised by the GBCA More GECA standards have been approved by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) meaning products certified under them will contribute to achieving credit points for Green Star projects. Following the GBCA’s announcement in October to expand its existing Assessment Framework, GECA applied to get its Paints and Coatings and Cleaning products standards recognised. Now approved, products certified under GECA’s Cleaning Products standard contribute to achieving credit points to projects being certified under the GBCA’s new Green Star Performance tool. “This is an exciting moment for GECA and its licensees,” said Rupert Posner, GECA CEO. “Many of GECA’s standards are already recognised by the GBCA, helping specifiers working on Green Star projects to achieve more points.
Now the important areas of paints and coatings and cleaning products will also benefit Green Star professionals and those looking for recognition under the GBCA’s new Green Star Performance tool.” Products certified under GECA’s Paints and Coatings standard: • contribute to achieving credit points under the Reduced exposure to pollutants credit to projects being certified under the Green Star Interior tool; • contribute to achieving credit points as part of the Indoor Environment Quality VOC credit under the Green Star Design and As-built tool GECA will also apply to get the current Adhesives standard and the Adhesives, Fillers and Sealants standard being developed approved by the GBCA once clarification has been given around VOC limits for general adhesives.
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AlternativeFlooring
The polished concrete industry: a year in review By Transitions Polishing and Grinding, Queensland As a new year commences, we reflect upon the year that has passed and for those in the polished concrete and decorative flooring industry it has certainly been a year filled with notable changes. Such changes have ultimately resulted in a shift in perceptions of concrete flooring products and the customer’s expectations in the market. Polished concrete is possibly the fastest growing flooring solution in the Australian commercial sector. This growth is not only due to the extensive list of benefits that the product offers but also the hard work, dedication and commitment of the contractors in the industry, who continually deliver high quality and lasting flooring solutions. Recent times have proved difficult for the construction industry as a whole and with the slowdown in work comes increased competition amongst contractors for survival. For polished concrete contractors this competition has ignited a price war and, as a result no one, including the customer, is winning. The reality is that contractors who choose to partake in extensive price-cutting are lowering their profit margins, many below cost, and to overcome this are resorting to corner cutting methods and the delivery of inferior specifications. Customers who take advantage of contracts with unrealistic prices are, in turn, receiving a substandard version of what should be a premium product. The end results are floors that are aesthetically unappealing, hard
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30 Flooring Feb/March 2014
to maintain, have a short life span and ultimately lower the reputation of polished concrete floors. These are all characteristics that contradict the primary reasons for installing a polished concrete floor to begin with. The poor quality works being completed by these contractors is not only damaging the reputation of a premium flooring product but making it extremely difficult for the companies who remain committed to providing high quality products and customer service to remain competitive in the market. The success of polished concrete and related concrete flooring products will only remain if this commitment is shared and delivered by all contractors, with their focus remaining on the longterm benefit to the customer and the product alike. Despite shifts in the market, 2012/2013 has also brought about some positive results for the industry with many architects, big-box retailers, large corporations and government bodies recognising the benefits in specifying polished concrete and decorative concrete floors and pledging their ongoing commitment to utilising these products in their
future developments. This is a great step forward for the industry and the products we provide. Transitions Polishing and Grinding wants to empower their customers, industry personnel and key decision makers with accurate, unbiased information on how to make more informed decisions regarding the concrete flooring products they specify and how to analyse and compare the quotes they receive to ensure that all requirements are accounted for. The company wants to re-educate and re-establish polished concrete as a premium-flooring product. Transitions Polishing and Grinding wants all polished concrete contractors to work collectively towards the shared benefit of the products to strengthen the industry as a whole.
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Ucrete DP20 delivers premium result When leading Australia prepackaged food company, Primo Moriatis Fresh (PMF), was looking to establish its new fresh salad and soup preparation and packaging facility in suburban Sydney, the focus was set squarely on quality and performance. From the high-tech custom made processing equipment through to the type of the flooring used, all aspects of the state-of-the-art facility had to meet PMF’s strict quality, hygiene and performance standards. With that in mind, when it came to selecting an appropriate flooring solution for the facility, PMF wanted to be sure that it would be able to withstand the regular temperature cycling and harsh operating environment while also providing a safe, slipresistant floor that is hygienic and easy to clean. Andrew Pulsford, Director with specialist flooring contractor Ironbark Flooring,
commented: “Choosing the right flooring solution for a food processing facility such as this is critical – faults and failures can, quite literally, bring processing to a stop. “Together with the obvious hygiene requirements – especially with fresh, readyto-eat foods – the floor at the PMF facility has to be able to cope with the heat from the soup processing line and the thermal shock of high temperature cleaning in a refrigerated environment. It also has to be able to withstand mechanical damage from equipment and provide a safe, slip-resistant surface in a wet environment.” The answer to this challenge came in the form of Ucrete DP20 from Master Builders Solutions. Specifically developed for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, Ucrete DP combines outstanding strength and non-slip performance characteristics with a finish
which is non-tainting, nondusting, microbiologically inert and extremely easy to clean. It also offers exceptional resistance to aggressive chemicals, heavy impact and temperatures from -40ºC to 120ºC. In addition, the Ucrete family of products is approved globally by HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points scheme) as a suitable floor surface for food preparation facilities – and is the only floor surface so endorsed. Ucrete DP20 also meets the requirements of the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4586:1999 Slip Resistance Classification of New Pedestrian Surface Materials for slip resistant pedestrian surfaces in “high slip risk” areas. “Ucrete DP20 provided us with the idea flooring solution for the Sydney Primo Moriatis Fresh Salad and Soup facility in Sydney,” Andrew Pulsford said.
“PMF had previously used Ucrete in another one of their facilities in Queensland and that worked extremely well, so it was an obvious choice for the Sydney facility.” Constructed in a refurbished building next to the existing PMF processing facility in Homebush, the floor in the Fresh Soup and Salad facility was first shot-blasted and had minor repairs made. This was followed by a 9mm thick trowel application of Ucrete DP20 across an area of approximately 1,000m2. “As was the case with the Queensland floor, everyone is extremely happy with the results at the facility,” Andrew Pulsford said. “The floor went down well and the finished result looks good. “Most importantly, with Ucrete DP20, we can be confident that the floor will continue to perform and look good for years to come,” he concluded.
The ASB North Wharf project ASB Bank’s new head office is the most advanced office building of its type in New Zealand. It is at the forefront of new workplace buildings within Australasia and internationally. The building incorporates the latest sustainable features, which utilise space and energy efficiently, providing employees with a safe, healthy and sustainable workplace and draws many visitors to the vibrant Wynyard Quarter in Auckland Harbour. During construction the high profile building was the largest construction site in New Zealand and one of the most unique. Fletchers Construction Ltd, the main contractor,
32 Flooring Feb/March 2014
approached Polished Concrete Ltd at the end of 2011 because of its previous work at the Christchurch Airport. Fletchers’ client had specified that they wanted a visually stunning floor that would be an architectural feature and also contribute to the sustainable eco-qualities of the building itself. Fletchers felt they were the right contractor for the job, and Polished Concrete saw this as an amazing opportunity not to be missed. Intensive consultation with Fletchers and the client was
undertaken during the design process to finalise details such as mix design, slab design, grinding methodologies and the staging of the work, including proper procedures to protect the slab during construction. No detail was to small as Polished Concrete made sure transitions from wall to floor and concrete to timber would be flawless. The in-depth consultations proved useful to all involved as they were able to identify methods and materials that would save money and ensure the client would be
getting just what they asked for, a visually stunning eco-friendly architectural feature floor. Breaking free of the traditional architectural resin floor, Polished Concrete made use of a special black oxide concrete mix. This mix, along with the Husqvarna HiPerFloor Premium system (3000 grit resin diamonds), resulted in aesthetically pleasing, durable floor. A large area of timberinlay flooring which had to be accommodated within the polished concrete presented a challenge around its perimeter. The edge levels were polished to laser accuracy, within a millimetre, to create stunning flush details.
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Meeting pharmaceutical cleanroom standards Food producers and manufacturers are increasingly aware of the potential problem associated with exposure of their product to contaminants. Exposure to biological agents, fungus and
bacteria during production has recently proven to have a significant impact on food producers businesses and brand profile. Refurbishment of production facilities often has to be carried out “live” with works close to processing lines. This has the potential to expose product to particle contaminants from flooring that emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Sikafloor PurCem polyurethane/concrete flooring has proven a tough, durable floor for the food industry for over 20 years. High impact, abrasion and chemical resistance coupled with fast turnaround time installation make it the choice of many manufacturers worldwide.
In recognition of the higher hygiene and exposure standards demanded from the industry and its clients, Sika has subjected PurCem to rigorous testing in Europe and Australia. As a result the company has announced that Sikafloor PurCem has been accredited with the same standard that its pharmaceutical flooring range has, which is the European Fraunhofer CSM- IPA approval. To receive this accreditation, the product had to pass the standard for particle emissions as well
as resistance to harbouring biocides as per European standard ISO - 846. PurCem has also passed the Australian Green Building Council of Aust.V3 IEQ-13 for VOC emission. The pass level for the accreditation is 140 grams per litre as VOC: PurCem registered less than one gram per litre, bringing it close to zero emissions. The new AgriBio Centre at Latrobe University in Melbourne recently selected 22 PurCem in its cleanroom research rooms to provide the necessary combination of high durability and hygiene.
Flowcrete unveils artistic resin range International resin flooring manufacturer, Flowcrete Group has announced the launch of a new range of artistic resin floor finishes targeting contemporary retail brands and commercial sector clients. The Expressions range features three new systems in a total of 20 new colour ways offering a choice between solid and multi-dimensional marbled colour tones or alternatively a striking galvanised metallic effect to offer the highest artistic design finish on the surface of the floor. The range evokes cosmopolitan sophistication and artistic expression to create floors that are consistently inconsistent but which artfully interplay a raw industrial aesthetic with a soft and welcoming feel. The new product family
34 Flooring Feb/March 2014
draws on the company’s 30 year history of manufacturing seamless resin solutions for both the industrial and commercial flooring markets and offers durable, seamless and easily maintained floor finish albeit with a unique decorative edge. Each system is intricately
trowel applied by hand through Flowcrete’s approved applicator network, using a number of creative techniques, to deliver a oneof-a-kind surface that can never be fully recreated. David McNeece, International Marketing & Business Development
Manager for Flowcrete welcomed the new line. “We anticipate the Expressions range to be popular with a wide-range of retail clients, particularly with fashion, accessories and cosmetic brands.” “Not only does the new Expressions line create a striking impression at ground level, it offers clients a number of performance advantages over alternative materials including excellent UV-stability, slip resistance and durability – making it an ideal solution for commercial and public settings.” The range includes both polyurethane and polyurea technology and is available in a variety of subtle colour ways and with a choice of decorative effects to create a real talking point at groundlevel.
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Software
Choosing the right IT solution for your business By Nigel Welsh, MD, Laser Measure Australia Pty Ltd So how do you choose the right IT solution for your flooring business when new technology can be old technology as soon as it hits the market? The answer to this question became a little clearer for me after reading a recent article about the top 10 technology trends for 2014 at the recent Gartner Symposium/ ITxpo. Gartner Inc is a world leading information technology research and advisory company. http:// www.gartner.com/newsroom/ id/2603623 . As a consumer, developer and retailer of technology, I am constantly looking at how I can link one App/ System to another with little or no IT skills and just the desire to read. I have, for a number of years, looked at Google and other providers of similar services, as a great example of a group of mini Apps all combined to create the foundation software required for any business solution. It may not be industry specific enough for some businesses at this point in time, however, it is interesting to see how many software providers now link with some of the most popular Cloud based software, like Google, to give their clients the flexibility to work the way they want to work. Google is just one example, there are many providers of cloud based systems designed to give maximum flexibility across many software solutions. It would appear the phone in your pocket, the tablet on your desk, your laptop and desk top PC will become the conduit for much more powerful business software solutions
36 Flooring Feb/March 2014
in the very near future, simply because software developers will provide Apps and software packages that integrate with everything, effectively giving the end user the ability to create a customisable business solution for their business, no matter what it does. The ‘Holy Grail’ is closer than we all think: off-the-shelf business solutions where everything integrates with everything.
The tables below demonstrate how, even now, small businesses can achieve enterprise solutions that only a few years ago were reserved for multi-national organisations with budgets the size of a small country’s GDP. I have written this article to highlight how rapidly technology is changing for all of us and how important it is to consider alternatives to technology challenges within a business.
For example, it is far more cost effective to employ the younger generation which understands technology and can assist with implementation and train the less tech savvy members of staff who possess skills that only come with experience. Effectively, it is no different than linking one software system to another – you just have to create a link that works.
High level generic business software “How it was and how it is” Figure A: Showing what type of software a typical small business ran only a few years ago and in many cases still do. Communication
Storage/ Office software
CRM
Financial/Stock Control
Mobile
Outlook
PC/Servers Local
Outlook Contacts Email Calendars
QuickBooks/ MYOB/Sage
Blackberry/ GMAIL/SMS
Requires Server to link all email and calendars together
Requires a server to link multiple PCS from multiple locations
Requires a server to link all users or everyone runs an individual system
Generally only accessible from the PC it is installed on, stock control not industry specific
Basic email communications on mobile phones
Expensive to run
Creates blocks in communication if stored on individual PCs, expensive to maintain if on a server
Expensive to run server software solutions to link all accounts together
Restrictive to use
Limited communications
Complete Software Solutions struggle to keep up with rapidly changing cloud based solutions and fail to give businesses the flexibility to connect with software and applications that change the playing field overnight
Figure B: Showing an example of what can be achieved today at a fraction of the cost with little disruption to business processes. Mobile Communications
Storage/ Online CRM business tools – Office XL Etc.
Financial/ Stock Control
Social
Drop Box, Sugar Sync Google Docs, Calendars, Salesforce, MS 365
Google Docs, Drop Box, Sugar Sync, Doc to Go
Zero, QB Online
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Google Docs, Salesforce, Zenn Desk, Zoho, MS 365
A typical solution selected from the options above were everything links with everything including industry specific tools Gmail, Calendars, Docs, Sugar Sync,
Drop Box, Docs to Go
Zenn Desk
Zero – API integration with many industry specific software tools
Software
Business management systems for flooring In this article I want to begin to cover some of the benefits we can expect to see in a business after implementing RFMS, a fully integrated management system that has been designed for the flooring retail industry. By Chris Ogden, consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia. It seems that in life nothing worthwhile doing is easy. For those of us who are trying to lose weight or to give up a bad habit or perhaps to introduce some better habits into our life, we find that these things are not easy to achieve. In fact, the process can be difficult and painful. In making changes in our life we are told to visualise the benefits of making the change, to imagine how we will look once we have lost that extra 10kg or how we will feel when we have stopped smoking. Similarly, with our businesses we recognise that there are things that we would like to change or improve but when we try to implement those changes we find it difficult and we wonder if the effort is worthwhile. I know from talking with flooring retailers that we all recognise the need to improve our business management systems but many are daunted by the process of implementing the change. Often they don’t have a clear view of the benefits that will result. In making an investment in your business there are two considerations in terms of cost: the first cost is money, which is easy to quantify; the second is effort, which is less easy to quantify other than to say effort will be required. So what will you get for the investment of money and effort in a fully integrated
38 Flooring Feb/March 2014
system? Let’s talk about what we can realistically visualise about your business once the project is completed. In looking for a return on your investment (ROI) the first thing you want to know is how RFMS is going to give you more money on our bottom line.
in your cheque account it really doesn’t make sense that you allow free access to the contents of your warehouse. On implementing RFMS, you will have the tools and the systems to have the same level of control on your stock as you do on your cheque book. Right away you
“...we all recognise the need to improve our business management systems but many are daunted by the process of implementing the change. Often they don’t have a clear view of the benefits that will result.” If we start with stock control ask yourself how many people have the authority to write a cheque in your business? In most cases only one or two people. By comparison, how many people have access to your stock? Often the answer is that numerous people can access stock and some of them are not even employees. When we consider how much money you have in stock compared to how much money you might have
have started putting money on your bottom line. How do you manage your installers? Whether your installers are employees or contractors you understand the need to keep them productive. If your installers are not getting full days of work then they are under-utilised. Your employees will be a cost centre rather than a profit centre and you run the risk of losing your contractors to other businesses.
Also, jobs not being installed on time will have a detrimental effect on your cash flow; you end up with money tied up in Work In Progress rather than in your accounts payable or in your bank. RFMS provides you with the tools to ensure that product is ordered and available on time; it will remind you of jobs that are ready for installation and give you the ability to manage the productivity of your installers. Half days or full days of lost installation capacity can never be recovered so making sure that this valuable resource is maximised makes your business more profitable. How do you currently control your installation costs? Every time you pay your installers $10 more than you allowed in your costings for the job that’s $10 that is going off your bottom line. RFMS allows you to control and track what you are paying your installers. Any extras charged are flagged and you are in control of whether they are paid or not. Being in control of your installation costs puts money on your bottom line. These are just three areas from which you will get your return on your investment in RFMS. There are of course others and in my next article we will look at other areas where you will see benefits to your business.
Trying to put the pieces together?
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How many systems do you have in your flooring business? You only need one.
The Flooring Software leader for more than 26 years Clients in Australia and NZ since 1999 More than 50 flooring businesses in Australia and NZ (8000 world-wide) Out of the box-requires no development Configured to your exact requirements
Australia: 800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.rfms.com cogden@rfms.com
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Software
Quantifying software – justifying the cost In my earlier article in this issue I have started discussing how you might anticipate getting a return on investment if you were to implement RFMS Business Management Software in your business. Firstly, the cost of quantifying software such as Measure is not high and the process of implementing it in your business is going to take less effort than you think. Whatever the cost and effort, however, you must be satisfied that you are going to get a return on that investment. The philosophy behind Measure is to enable salespeople to generate more quotes, more accurately, more quickly and more professionally. It is from
40 Flooring Feb/March 2014
these fundamental principles that you will get a return on your investment. “You have to be in to win” so the more quotes that you get into the hands of your clients before they complete their decision making process the more likely you are to make the sale. More sales mean more money on your bottom line. We all know that in this industry inaccurate quantifying leads either to winning a job and making no money (or worse) or not winning the job with the same result. Using Measure will ensure accuracy and it removes forever the likelihood of missing a cut or transposing numbers. Removing errors puts more money on your bottom line.
Survey after survey has shown that the best time to get a quote into the customer’s hands is within 24 hours of measuring (in fact the industry trend is to move to closing on the customer’s premises). The longer the period between measuring and quoting the less likely it is that you will make the sale. Using Measure removes the obstacle of finding time to do take-offs with the potential of getting quotes out quicker, generating more sales. Finally, being more professional counts when you are being considered by the customer. If you have been able to use Measure to show waste and to show where the seams will fall then you will be differentiating yourself
from your competitor. If you have used Measure to move or reduce seams to meet the customer’s requirements then the difference between your price and a competitor who comes in lower will be less of an influencing factor in a customer’s final decision. The potential ROI on Measure is significant. The annual cost of Measure is $1400. How many additional jobs would you need to close in just one month to recoup that annual cost? Measure is available for a free 30 day trial at measureflooring.com. Once you have the trial our experienced trainers will provide you with help and support to get you or your staff using and benefitting from Measure.
Cork
Ultimate comfort by nature Wicanders extols the properties of cork as a floorcovering in its new brochure – Ultimate comfort by nature. CORK IS NATURE
Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. It is harvested by hand when the tree is 25 years old and every nine years from then on, leaving the tree undamaged and able to regrow a new bark. Cork is ideal in terms of the ever increasing demand for conservation of natural resources. Each cubic centimetre of bark contains 40 millions cells in a honeycomb-like structure. Each cell functions as a miniature natural thermal insulator and also provides above average sound insulation and shock absorbing properties.
CORK IS INNOVATION
By embracing ecological and natural materials more often, researchers, architects and designers have been rediscovering cork, coming up with great discoveries and new uses. It is increasingly common to find cork used in decorative and design items following the latest technology, design and green building trends. Awareness of cork’s acoustic, thermal and anti-vibration properties, followed by reduced costs in energy heating, have made it an excellent choice as an insulator and wall or floorcovering material. 42
Flooring Feb/March 2014 41
Cork 41
CORK IS COMFORT
Over the years, Wicanders has developed floor and wall coverings with exclusive properties due to its innovative Corktech technology. By using a unique engineered multilayer structure, which combines state-of-the-art technology with the exclusive natural properties of cork, a higher standard in flooring was achieved, providing the perfect match between beauty, comfort and durability. The uniqueness of Wicanders was achieved by using a prime quality core layer of cork, which provides superior comfort, noise reduction and warmth. An integrated cork underlay reinforces thermal and acoustic properties, resulting in a silent environment and important energy cost savings.
• More silence
Cork is an extremely efficient natural sound absorber because its cells work as an acoustic insulator. Wicanders cork floors can easily cut noise within a room (walking sound), and act as a noise buffer between the floor and the rooms underneath (impact sound), making it exceptionally efficient to use in residential or commercial spaces. Comparing the walking sound between cork and laminate floors, tests confirm that cork floors have an exceptional result reducing the sound up to 53%*.
• More warmth
The natural thermal insulation properties of cork make Wicanders floors very energy efficient providing a pleasant touch, even barefoot, and an optimal floor temperature all year round, which contributes
to an overall comfort. When testing foot temperature in contact with four different materials, cork floors stand out as a solution to retain heat.
• More walking comfort
Cork floors are very comfortable to walk on due to cork’s natural and inherent flexibility providing a unique comfort in movement. • More body wellness Walking on overly hard floors creates energy that moves upward towards our muscles and tendons, causing them to vibrate. This is caused by the impact of our heel with the floor. These vibrations, with time, hurt our feet, legs, lower and upper back, creating an excess of tension. Too soft floors cause fatigue and aren’t easy to walk on – for example, walking on soft sand.
Wicanders cork floors reduce heel strike impacts and related body tensions, but are stable enough to help the foot impulse and provide the needed stability to reduce effort on walking and decrease body fatigue.
• More impact resistance Cork’s elasticity and compressibility allows it to adapt to pressure. When compressed, it doesn’t lose flexibility, recovering its initial shape and volume without suffering damages. Wicanders floors, due to their resilient qualities, have the ability to bounce back from hard impacts. When an object accidentally falls in a cork or in a laminate floor, different results come through.
• More future
Regular extraction of cork is a fundamental contribution for environmental, economic and social sustainability of the rural areas in the Mediterranean region. Wicanders represents a unique balance between the creation of wealth and the protection of the environment. The cork industry is remarkably sustainable: it extracts the cork cyclically from the trees without ever harming them, and turns it into high value-added products while promoting the economic and social sustainability of areas at risk of desertification. Wicanders products actively contribute to reduce global warming, not only through low emissions, but also due to cork’s natural property of retaining CO2. *Study run by Entwicklungs- und Prüflabor Holztechnologie gmbH (EPH) in Germany according to IHD-W 431.
42 Flooring Feb/March 2014
The Best Just Got Better! Tramex, the moisture meter specialists, are proud to announce the release of the new concrete moisture meter
A floor worth bottling The all-new ReadyCork Vita by Premium Floors is naturally hypoallergenic and, with the patented Microban treatment, the growth of stain and odour causing bacteria, mould and mildew is inhibited. With its plank dimensions at 1746 x 194 x 13.5mm, it also features a 3mm cork top layer, an integrated1.5mm cork underlay for impact sound insulation and 9.0mm moisture resistant HDF core. Thanks to its PUR Hot coating surface finish, ReadyCork Vita is extremely hardwearing, resulting in durability beyond nature’s capabilities. The colour palette in the all new Vita range includes five fabulous colours that will invigorate any living space. They
include Oak Antique, Oak Siena, Oak Pearl, Oak Java and Oak Blanc. The beauty and ingenuity of ReadyCork is that it can be easily installed without the hassle of sanding, glue or sealants. In addition to its environmental benefits, there are many practical reasons to choose cork for flooring. Cork flooring is also a good alternative for those who suffer from allergies. ReadyCork also has outstanding sound insulation properties, making it ever so quiet underfoot. Warm in winter and cool underfoot in summer, Ready Cork exudes beauty and functionality and is perfect to use in most areas of the home.
with
Pictured in Kit Form
Perform testing to the latest Australian Standard AS18842012. ASTM F2170 & ASTM F2659 as well as ASTM F2420: The complete moisture and humidity testing kit for concrete and wood, incorporating the Tramex instant moisture test and the new Hygro-i in-situ probe working together to provide a new standard in speed & accuracy which can be used again & again... Don’t waste time and money waiting up to 72 hours for a moisture test when the slab is not ready! Check it first with a Tramex CMEXpert II.
For more information contact Tel: 02 9418 1002 Fax: 02 9498 8576 Email: sales@cornell.com.au
www.cornell.com.au
Cork
Cats choose cork Wicanders Corkcomfort HPS flooring features in a commercial application at Simonds Stadium, home of the Geelong Cats AFL football team. The next phase of the Kardinia Park re-development in Geelong has provided both the sports loving city and its local community with a stadium that is not only world class but also features many new design elements to further enhance the sports and entertainment facility. Designed by Populos Architects, the new stadium enables the sporting organisation and the local community to co-exist with a clever design philosophy. Along with facilities for the viewing and hospitality areas are vital administration and shared community working areas to enable maximum use of the facility throughout the year. These include meeting rooms, two large auditorium areas and a magnificent sports museum.
FreeFit
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Intaglio Sculpture Plank.
Call David Coggins 0419 798 726
44 Flooring Feb/March 2014
The considered design approach has resulted in the specification of the Wicanders pre-finished cork flooring that incorporates its patented Corktech design technology along with a commercially surface coating known as High Performance Surface (HPS). Wicanders HPS commercial surface coating provides the insulating, acoustic performance and durability required to meet and exceed the demands associated with high traffic commercial, retail and public space environments.
Along with its proven Corktech performance characteristics the cork flooring has certainly enhanced the shared working environment providing a warm and inviting natural space without the noise typically associated with populated areas. The colour and pattern selected was Identity Moonlight, provided as a wide plank for a floating installation. With its unique Valinge locking system, it provided a fast, easy installation and cost effective installation process.
Logistics
NLS grows to 3PL with Accu-Cut National Logistics Services continues its growth as a third party logistics (3PL) provider in the floorcovering industry with the recent arrival of a new Accu-Cut X33 carpet cutting machine. A recent move of operations to Camden Park in Adelaide has proved prudent allowing for much more space for storage and the ability to set up cutting operations that are complementary to the established transport and distribution services. Martin Holtman, Director, commented: “We have worked extremely hard and sustained consistent growth over the past five years to provide a quality service for
our flooring customers with transport and storage. “Our customers have shown great trust in us and, with our knowledge and specialisation in handling flooring products, a cutting service was a natural progression for our business. “This has taken the business to a 3PL and we are seeing the demand for an end-to-end service consisting of storage, cutting and despatch not just locally but also interstate. Such growth is tremendously exciting for us.” The recent acquisition of a top of the range Accu-Cut X33 cutting machine is the only one of its kind in Adelaide.
Life is full of choices. When Quality Matters, Make a Clever Choice
Eco Choice Decking™ Environmentally Friendly Bamboo Plastic Composite Decking
> Environmentally friendly bamboo plastic composite > 60% bamboo fibre and sawdust and 30% recycled plastic Martin Holtman, Director (far right) with NLS staff Monique Muchall and Anthony Gates.
> Timber-grain appearance – four natural colour choices > Low maintenance timber alternative > No resealing or staining required > No splintering, cracking, rotting, or warping > Easy to install - suitable for DIY projects
Visit us at www.cleverchoice.com.au
Tel: 0419 399 476 Fax: 07 5604 1194 Email: sales@cleverchoice.com.au Simply go to www.flooringmagazine.com.au and click on 'Free Registration' Simply go to www.flooringmagazine.com.au and click on 'Free Registration'
Logistics
Icehouse extends its service The Icehouse Pty Ltd is a long established packaging print and sampling company operating out of Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. For over 40 years it has serviced the flooring industry with sample cards, stands, brochures and folders for the Australasian market. “We have and are currently working with the majority of Australian flooring suppliers as well as soft furnishing and decorative surface companies such as Warwick, Charles Parson, Pacific Brands, Wattyl, Taubmans, Parbury and more,” said The Icehouse director, Peter Sayer. “After the closure of Paloga early in 2013, and in response to the high demand from the flooring industry,
46 Flooring Feb/March 2014
The Icehouse created a second leg of our business called Icehouse Logistics. This will provide services to the flooring industry including 3PL warehousing, freight and distribution across all metro cities in Australia. The Icehouse currently has its own local fleet of trucks and operated from a 10,000 m2 warehouse in Erskine Park, Sydney, with indoor unloading docks, space for over 10,000 pallets and around 3000 to 4000 rolls of floorcovering. “Whilst Icehouse Logistics is still in final stages of set up mode, we are working on some great customer focused systems combining the needs of the supplier and the customer. We have set up a team of industry
experienced professionals with knowledge of flooring, logistics, transportation and warehousing covering all links in the supply chain,” Peter explained. Heading up operations is Abe Vella, formally of Tarkett Australia, where, for the past 17 years, he worked as national stock control and supply chain manager. “We have been fully functional and operational in Sydney from late October 2013, with expansion plans for Melbourne in 2014 and other states to follow later, as soon as the requirement is there,” said Peter. “In Australia today, competition for freight and warehousing of flooring products is scarce. Our point of difference will be our quality
service offer with our focus on the customer’s needs and expectations for high quality service and care of their products,” said Peter. “Icehouse Logistics customers can have their own access to place orders, track orders and track consignments on our software, which can be fully integrated to almost any software the customer uses. “Our software solution partner, Jaix, is a fully transparent warehouse and freight management system with RF barcode scanning, and track and trace options. “Our move in to the 3PL market underpins the our long term vision to provide a total sampling, warehouse and logistics solution to the flooring industry,” said Peter.
Business
Using numbers to grow sales, profit and cash Most business owners seeking improvement are looking for business growth plans and strategies, and all kinds of small business growth advice is available. By Sue Hirst, CFO On-Call It’s important to focus on the product/service that you sell and the market for it. What is also vital to understand is the impact of the numbers in your business. The numbers that guide you to the desired outcome i.e. sustainability, profit, good cash-flow and business value improvement. If you want to overcome small business growth challenges, you need to know what your targets are, to
ensure you achieve improved profit as well as sales growth. If you want to sell or exit your business, those doing due diligence will want to see numbers to substantiate a price, borrowings etc. They will want to see that business financial controls are in place. If numbers are so important, then the question is, which numbers? Numbers are often thought of as typical financial reports,
such as profit and loss and balance sheet. These are ‘results’ based numbers. The numbers that are more interesting and arguably more useful are those that ‘drive’ the results. They are the ones that set the framework for business growth strategies. Numbers in business relate, not just to financial results, they relate to every aspect of a business as follows:
Product/service: • Number of products/services sold • Number of enhancements/ upgrades • Number of products added/ deleted • Number of quotes issued • Number of jobs in progress Marketing/sales • Number of dollars spent on marketing • Number of leads/enquiries generated 48
Flooring Feb/March 2014 47
Business 47 • Number of prospects in your pipeline • ROI of marketing spend; ie, how much did each enquiry cost to create • Number of website visits, social media followers, likes, tweets, re-tweets, blog posts etc. • Number of leads generated from each marketing tactic e.g. open rate of email marketing messages and engagement with prospect • Numbers of deals done as a result of enquiries or sales conversion rate • Sales growth percentage Operations/finance • Number of products produced • Number of productive/ unproductive labour hours • Number of hours spent on rework • Number of raw materials wasted • Number of jobs finished on time
48 Flooring Feb/March 2014
• Number of jobs without defects • Number of jobs finished on budget • Number of work in progress days
• • • •
Number of inventory days Cost of goods percentage Overheads percentage Number of days customers take to pay • Number of bad debts • Number of days taken to pay suppliers Human resources • Staff turnover • Staff sick days • Number of staff required to achieve growth • Number of contractors required to get work done • Number of staff training events attended/hours • Number of work health and safety events Customer Service • Number of new customers • Number of current customers • Number of customers by class e.g. A,B and C class – focus attention on As • Number of major clients visited • Number of compliments • Number of complaints • Customer retention rate • Number of referrals from customers • Number of customer testimonials These are just some of the numbers you can use to drive efficiency and improvements in business. They are generally referred to as KPIs
(key performance indicators). The challenge for you is to decide on a maximum of say ten of these (any more becomes too onerous). Consider, if you were away from your business for a while, what would be the ten key things you would want to know to be confident things are on track? Focus on these numbers helps to drive a business in the right direction and keep things on track. Most of these numbers can be measured in good business systems. Once they are set up right and targets entered, you can manage by exception; ie, look only at those that fall outside the acceptable criteria. If you have small business growth and development in mind, you simply cannot have your eye on every single transaction, so you need to find ways to be more efficient and effective in order to reach your goals. CFO On-Call is a team of financial and business advisors who work with open-minded people, committed to business growth and achieving success. http://info.cfooncall. com.au
A New Year business checklist There are several strategies to help transform your business so it’s in top shape for the year ahead. By Angely Grecia, MYOB These include revisiting your business plan with a trusted business advisor, investing in new and improved equipment and exploring ways to reenergise your team. Here are six steps to boost your business this year:
1. It all starts with a plan A clear strategic plan is the foundation of any successful business. A detailed, forwardlooking plan covering all key business facets will ensure your activities are geared towards growing your profitability. Review and update your plan now to ensure it takes into account any new developments or opportunities you’ve found and those you expect to work on this year. This could be investing in growing your market share, improving your market intelligence so the business is more competitive, or even aspects as simple as setting sales targets.
2. Seek professional advice The mix of business commitments such as compliance, accounting, payroll, export rules, council codes and employment relations can be overwhelming for many business owners. Take the opportunity now to catch up with business advisors such as accountants and business coaches for advice on the year ahead. This is also a good time to tap into your wider networks to explore what opportunities they think are on the horizon.
3. Review your supplier base One way to boost business performance this year is to
review your current contracts and suppliers to see if you’re getting your money’s worth. Research your suppliers’ competitors to find out their service offering, prices and the discounts they’re prepared to offer for placing regular bulk orders, referrals, ongoing loyalty to their business and so on. Also consider whether a service you currently outsource can be carried out more cost effectively internally or whether you can consolidate your suppliers.
4. Diversify your range
Innovation in products and services can be a sure way to stay well ahead of the competition. Offering a new or improved range to existing customers will help retain them and can also attract new customers. Find the courage to trim away any nonprofitable activities and back the winners. Talk to a professional who can help identify what strategies, products and services deliver the healthiest returns, re-evaluate your margins and benchmark your performance against similar businesses.
5. Update your systems and processes With all the different hats that a business owner wears, getting your systems and processes right is vital to business success. Small business owners are spoilt for choice when it comes to technologies that will improve their efficiencies, such as MYOB’s range of business management solutions that help make business life easier. When it comes to improving processes, consider building a comprehensive
operations manual or finetuning the one you have, and then have staff contribute to discussions on how to improve the way you work as a team.
6. Re-engage your team
It can take some time to get back into work mode after a relaxing holiday, so consider ways you can reignite staff motivation. Perhaps organise a meeting to run through plans for the year ahead. You could also have one-on-one meetings on how individual goals relate to these plans, so your staff understand the important role they play in the business.
Getting your team fired up about projects on the horizon and how they can help the business succeed is a great way to get them back on task and fend off the post-holiday blues.
Wanting a Sea Change... ...To the Beautiful Whitsundays Focus on Flooring Xtra is FOR SALE
Located in Proserpine but servicing the entire Whitsunday Region this busy retail outlet is a growth opportunity. The business employs four fulltime staff + two owners + five casuals + one subcontractor. All areas of the Commercial and Domestic market are strong and carpet, Vinyl, Bamboo and timber constitute the bulk of our sales. We are a family owned and operated business established in 2002 with a strong client base. Freehold or Leasehold options are available and ongoing support and training can form part of the package. Details from Glen 0413 515 106 or email keithall@westnet.com.au
Flooring Feb/March 2014 49
Advertisers Index
Exhibitioncalendar
2014 Exhibitions MARCH 2014 3-5
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles Spring Edition 2014. China International Trade Fair for Home Textiles and Accessories Shanghai, China www.messefrankfurt.com.hk 4-6
EcoBuild 2014 – The biggest event in the world for sustainable design, construction and the built environment London, UK www.ecobuild.co.uk 13-16
IFFS / AFS 2014 International Furniture Fair Singapore ASEAN Furniture Show incorporating the Decor Show and Hospitality 360º Singapore www.iffs.com.sg/ 18-22 C
HTC HomeTextile InterTextile 2014 hina International Trade Fair for Home Textile Guangzhou, China http://htc.fairwindow.com/en/index.htm 25-27 Domotex Asia / ChinaFloor 2014 International Floorcovering Exhibition Shanghai, China www.domotexasiachinafloor.com/en/
28 Mar-1 Apr CIFM Interzum 2014 China International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Raw Materials Fair Guangzhou, China http://cifm.ciff-gz.com/en/index.htm
APRIL 2014 1-4 Domotex Russia ARTPLAY Design Centre, Moscow, Russia www.domotex-russia.com 21-24
Mobtex 2014 Furniture, Furniture Sub-Industry, Woodworking, Home Textile and Carpeting Fair Tripoli, Libya www.mobtextripoli.com/eng 29-2 May Coverings 2014 Tile, Stones and Machinery products Las Vegas, USA www.coverings.com
MAY 2014 28-30
DesignEX 2014 Architecture, interiors, flooring, kitchen & bathrooms, textiles & furnishings and contemporary workplace design Sydney, Australia www.designex.info/
*** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual websites.
Agnews Water Putty 26 Airstep Australia 14 & 15 Archquip 48 Ardex Australia 7 BASF – Master Builder Solutions 33 Carpet Court 13 Choices Flooring 11 & 19 Classic Architectural Products 27 Clever Choice 45 Con-Treat 47 Cornell Group 43 Embelton & Co 9 Excalibur Tools 29 Focus On Flooring Xtra 49 Gibbon Group / intafloors 31 GMK Logistics 41 Godfrey Hirst Australia 18 GTP Australasia 8, 30 & 44 International Building Supply 28 Jacobsen Tredsafe 35 Karndean International 23 Kennards Concrete Care 2 & Back Cover Laser Measure Australia 37 Makinex 28 Premium Floors 9 Protect Crete Australia 17 RFMS Australasia 39 & 40 Shaw Contract Group Front Cover, 5 & 25 Underlay King 21 WoolSet 11
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