Flooring Feb/March 2017

feb/march 2017

REad more on p 14

Earthy Tones, Contemporary & Eco-Friendly.

In keeping with our customer promise to fulfil your expectations and keep up with current trends, we have now released an all-new range of contemporary inserts for our Vantt 5500 architectural entrance matting range. Available with our ever popular variety of anodised aluminium colours, but now with more matting insert colour options, we offer you more creativity in the entrance area than you’ve ever had before. That’s Classic.

Low Impact For the Environment LIFE® products.

te

Sla

y

Cla

Environmentally compatible production and tested for a better living environment

hur

lp Su

t

bal

Co

a

Lav

architectural solutions for the traversed environment.

www.classic-arch.com Melbourne • Sydney • Brisbane Adelaide • Perth • Auckland Copyright © 2016 - Classic Architectural Group Pty Ltd

T 1300 244 377 E info@classic-arch.com W www.classic-arch.com

Do you want to be part of Australia’s Largest Flooring & Blinds Retailer?

As an owner-operator in Carpet Court, you’ll be joining an established corporate organisation built on a growing network of dynamic local family businesses.

It’s the best of both worlds!

You’ll have the freedom of running your own business, backed by the security of knowing you’re a vital part of one of Australia’s most successful retailers.

We are looking to expand our family into these areas around Australia: Victoria - Eltham South Australia - Mt. Gambier and East Adelaide Western Australia - Kalgoorlie and Geraldton Please contact Brett Talbot Ph: 0499 800 702 Brett.Talbot@carpetcourt.com.au

New South Wales - Murwillumbah Queensland - Northlakes, Fortitude Valley, Caloundra, Atherton and Dalby Northern Territory - Alice Springs Please contact Greg Zeegers Ph: 0488 079 326 Greg.Zeegers@carpetcourt.com.au

Get in touch with us today.

www.carpetcourt.com.au

incorporating

FLOORS

feb/march 2017 | vol 35 no 01 www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Industry News

Special Features

Regular Reports

FrontCover

10 Coffs Carpet Court Leads the Gerflor Sales Race

18 Focus On: Stepping Forward with Vinyl Recycling

24 Airstep Retailer of the Month: Choices by Swintons, Swan Hill, Victoria

01 Choices Flooring

11 Mapei Celebrates 80 Years 14 Bringing Inspiration to the Fingertips of Over One Million Decorators - Choices magazine launched

4 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

32 Havwoods Launches New Flooring Designs

46 Exhibition Calendar

INTRODUCING THE NEW AUSTRALIAN TIMBER 1.8M LUXURY VINYL PLANK RANGE Here at Dunlop Flooring, we have just unveiled our latest range of Heartridge LVP: a flexible construction,1.8m range of Australian Timber decors. They have been carefully recreated by way of scanning genuine Australian Timber samples, and great attention has been paid to every little detail and feature that goes into each plank. No repeated pattern will be found within any 1.8 meter length thus ensuring that each colour has 5 unique planks and a total of 10 unique plank options when reversed.

Dimensions 5 x 189 x 1855 mm Wear Layer 0.55mm

Jarrah

All Heartridge floors come accompanied with the documentation that you need to place this product in all manner of settings, including: Fire, Slip, Acoustic, VOC, Dimensional Stability and Adhesive Recommendations. The subtle colour variations, the authentic grain and natural feature, and the popular 1.8m length make this the most stunning range of Australian Timber vinyl in the flooring market.

Construction Flexible, 100% virgin PVC with fibreglass stabilising layer Available In Blackbutt, Brushbox, Jarrah, Northern Spotted Gum, Southern Spotted Gum, Tasmanian Oak

For more information contact Dunlop Flooring on 1800 622 293 or visit heartridge.com.au

Upfront Welcome to a new year and our first official issue of Flooring magazine for 2017!

MEET THE TEAM

It’s a great edition with an eye-opening feature in our ‘Focus On’ section on Vinyl Floor Recycling.

With the new year, there are also some new faces, so be sure to read-up on those new industry appointments in the ‘News’ section at the front of the magazine, together with some interesting news from the big and small players in our vibrant industry.

This issue also takes a colourful look at new rugs and floating floors; which are guaranteed to impress!

Make sure to check-out our ‘Airstep Retailer of the Month’ article. This month we’re in Swan Hill.

Vicky Cammiade Publisher

There’s also a bumper crop of overseas news as well as our ‘Preparation, Installation and Care’ section to keep you busy. Be sure to check-out an interesting article on disability in the workplace in our ‘Business’ section and there’s much, much more to keep you occupied until the next jam-packed edition of Flooring…

Happy reading and we always welcome your feedback.

Enjoy!

Ronnie Gramazio Editor

Ronnie Gramazio Editor

Ashley Cooper National Sales Manager

Got Something to Say? We welcome your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts on Flooring Magazine or on the flooring industry in general.

Send your comments to ronnie.gramazio@elitepublishing.com.au

www.flooringmagazine.com.au 6 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

Philip Ashley Technology Editor

finishes& SURFACES

THEpreview OFFICIAL & review of brand new products > Annual PUBLICATION FOR FINISHES > Innovative ideas, aspiring projects & SURFACES EXHIBITION > Distributed to leading specifiers, interior designers, retailers and newsagencies Australia wide

Published by

www.elitepublishing.com.au www.infotile.com/publications

For more information and advertising opporturnities please contact: Vicky Cammiade

Phone: +61 3 9890 0815 Email: vicky.cammiade@ elitepublishing.com.au

Flooring>Carpet>Tile>Stone>Veneers>Vinyl>Laminate>Paint>Glass>Timber>Concrete

News Choices Flooring Welcomes New Owners Choices Flooring is pleased to welcome Sanjay Purswani, Lincoln Smith, Lynn and Barry Hawkins, and Michelle and Richard Bligh into the Choices Flooring family.

After contributing over 12 years on the Board of Directors, Greg Braithwaite resigned as a Director in late 2016. Coinciding with his resignation, Greg also made the decision to sell Choices Flooring by Braithwaites (SA) to Sanjay Purswani.

Excited to take the reins from Greg, Sanjay is looking forward to developing strong relationships within the local community.

From South Australia to Victoria, the next generation of Smith’s has taken over Choices Flooring by Fletchers in Geelong. After working as an installer for seven years and then three years in the

showroom, Lincoln Smith has taken over the business from his father Graham Smith, enabling him to take the next step in his career.

Up in New South Wales, Lynn and Barry Hawkins purchased Choices Flooring Batemans Bay from former store owner Vicki McCann.

With strong business backgrounds, Lynn and Barry are excited to develop the store to ensure it continues to grow from strength to strength Last, but certainly not least, Choices Flooring’s newest members, Michelle and Richard Bligh took over Choices Flooring Parkes (NSW) after selling their security screens and awnings business. Michelle and Richard are excited to be part of the Choices Flooring family as they focus on further developing their new business.

Newly Appointed National Sales Manager at Kenbrock Ivan Pannone commenced with Kenbrock early January as the company’s National Sales Manager. He brings a wealth of experience to Kenbrock. After starting his flooring career with Karndean for 14 years, rising to the position of National Sales Manager, he joined Amtico, and subsequently QEP, in the same capacity. Ivan stated : ”The reason I joined Kenbrock was because of the

8 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

great reputation the company enjoys in the market, and its high quality products. Together with the team, our aim is to bring in further innovative Flooring solutions and continue the high standards set by Kenbrock”. Trevor Morris, the MD of Kenbrock, sees Ivan as the ideal person to unite Kenbrock in pursuing its goals of both growth and excellence.

Feast Watson Launches New Matt Look Decking Finish Premium timber care brand, Feast Watson, has launched its new Matt Look decking finish, designed to meet consumer demand for a more natural look on outdoor decking and furniture.

Offering a lower sheen to the ‘wet look’ effect common with most timber finishes, and available in three shades – Natural, Jarrah and Merbau – Feast Watson’s Matt Look Deck allows users to enhance the look of exterior timber, as opposed to changing its natural colour completely.

Matt Look Deck uses a modified, water-based oil formula that combines the advantages of both treatments – penetrating like an oil but with the drying time of a waterbased product – to deliver impressive and long-lasting results, fast!

“We’re entering into the main season for outdoor entertaining, so now’s the time for giving exterior timber a new lease of life,” said Jessica Green, Feast Watson Brand Manager.

“Where other timber care brands tend to offer solely a ‘wet look’ finish, we appreciate that our customers have diverse tastes and so have sought to align our range

Feast Watson Ambassador and iconic Aussie furniture maker, Mark Tuckey

accordingly; particularly as the trend for organic outdoor design gathers pace,” added Jessica.

Thanks to its unique formula, which boasts exceptional water, UV, mould and dirt-resistant properties, Matt Look Deck makes for easy cleaning, while simultaneously protecting timber against even the harshest of weather extremes; resulting in a finish that looks fresher for longer.

Matt Look Deck will be available in 1L, 4L and 10L sizes, along with a 250ml sample size for customers to experiment with colour options.

welcoming another addition

to the Choices Flooring family

e r o t s w ne in

m enha k c e B A) (W

Choices Flooring would like to welcome their newest members, Frances and Andy Ferdinand into the Choices Flooring family.

Originally from the UK, Frances and Andy moved to Australia in 2006 which allowed Andy to set up his own Property Management business and Frances to continue her nursing career, specialising in Orthopaedic and General Surgery. After 10 years owning and operating his business, Andy decided it was time for a change and opened a new Choices Flooring showroom in Beckenham (WA), known as Choices Flooring Cannington.

After 10 years owning and operating my Property Management business, I felt the need to further develop my skills and work on improving my weaknesses. I approached Choices Flooring and due to the support and guidance I received from Central Office, it was evident that they were a forward thinking group which made my decision an easy one. Frances, the team and I are really looking forward to an exciting and successful future with the Choices Flooring group.

- Andy Ferdinand

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis

Tim Drew

Chief Executive Officer

Group Manager - Retail Development

Mobile: 0400 400 036

Mobile: 0425 751 756

Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au

Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com.au

News

The Rebirth of Environmentally Conscious Design Eco-friendly design has been evolving over recent years and 2017 brings a renewed focus on green interiors– in every sense of the word.

Pantone’s Colours of the Year announcement in December of Greenery as the must-have hue for 2017 was somewhat of a catalyst, turning the interior industry’s focus back towards the concept of sustainable living.

In the past, green design has largely centred on the functional elements of the home such as energy conservation to reduce carbon footprints. Today however, its ethos has fully transcended product design for home interiors too.

Responding to growing consumer demand for sustainable materials and manufacturing, Carpet Court has extended its range of timber flooring options with the launch of its new, eco-friendly Stockmans Ridge collection. Sustainably sourced and FSC certified, Stockmans Ridge production yields up to five times more finished product than traditional engineered floors from the same amount of Australian hardwood, making it a perfect flooring option for the environmentally conscious.

Taken from the Sydney Blue Gum, Spotted Gum, Jarrah, Grey Ironbark,

Blackbutt and Brush Box timber species, each of the six styles within the Stockmans Ridge collection offers a distinct grain and gradient of tone that meshes flawlessly with a variety of colour palettes.

Carpet Court’s Arc Bamboo range is also sustainably sourced from dedicated plantations that are regrown in five to six-year cycles and are officially accredited from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

If homeowners are searching for an environmentally conscious carpet alternative, the Redbook Green carpet range from Carpet Court uses one

of the latest breakthroughs in textile innovation – renewably sourced biopolymer Sorona®.

Sorona® is made with 37% renewable material, which gives the carpet a natural fibre base. Production also carries a significantly lower environmental footprint than other polymers on the market. The final result is that Redbook Green carpet delivers an eco-chic result that promises style and durability for the long-term.

Coffs Carpet Court Leads the Gerflor Sales Race Simon and Fiona McCredie and their team at Coffs Harbour Tile and Carpet Court have taken out Gerflor Premium Partner of the Year 2016.

Situated on the Pacific Highway, half way between Brisbane and Sydney, Simon and Fiona’s business services the 75,000 residents of Coffs and its surrounding area.

Working alongside their team of 10 staff and the contract installation team of five, Simon and Fiona outsold all other Gerflor Premium Partners around Australia to win a luxurious Qualia resort package. The couple is now 10 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

planning the timing of their return to Hamilton Island.

“I have been to Hamilton Island twice before but only ever driven past Qualia on a golf cart. This is a dream come true,” Fiona said.

Fiona believes a number of elements combined to generate strong Gerflor sales.

“I think the fact that we have the Gerflor display here in our showroom and it works really well. Also the time and effort that Gerflor puts into training our team and bringing everyone up to speed on the products.

Gerflor marketing is also a factor because we have a lot

of people contact us and they have obviously Googled or surfed the Net before coming in and asking to see Gerflor products,” Fiona said.

“Vinyl planks are a big thing at the moment and we have been selling a lot of that. The consumer wants a good quality product at a good price and they like the colour options that you have in there as well,” Fiona said.

With strong sales kick starting their 2017 campaign, Fiona and Simon will be keen to back up their success and the current Gerflor offering is making it easy to sell to their customers.

Fiona and David McCredie (centre) welcomed a visit by their Gerflor representative, Kelcie Davis (left) and NSW State Manager, Bruce Booker to congratulate them on their award.

Mapei Celebrates 80 Years Mapei has a long, proud history which has always been closely connected to their capacity for ground-breaking research and innovation. Mapei has been manufacturing chemical products for the construction industry since 1937. Thanks to the inherent quality and innovation of their products and technology, Mapei is the ideal partner for architects, builders, designers, contractors and clients operating on prestigious, eco-sustainable projects and sites worldwide.

For 80 years Mapei has been helping to improve people’s quality of life by researching and producing chemical products for the construction industry. They are fully committed to working and operating with the utmost respect for ethics, health, safety and social and environmental responsibility.

Their emphasis has always been on innovation as a means of developing products so that they meet their client’s requirements and at the same time, respect the needs of the environment.

Mapei manufacture over 5000 products, across 16 Product Lines that include adhesives, sealants, special grouts, waterproofing membranes, admixtures for

concrete, levelling compounds, bonding primers and the like. Aimed specifically at the needs and evolution of the market, Mapei products combine perfectly with integrated systems that offer their clients the most specific and advanced solutions in the building industry.

Mapei offer technical product training courses

all around the world as they believe these courses play an important role for contractors to perfect application techniques and present the latest product developments in the building industry.

The Mapei Group is made up of 70 production plants in 5 continents, across 32 countries. Mapei ship more than 25,000 tonnes of product each day.

Mapei invest 5% of their annual turnover into their 18 R & D laboratories where 12% of Mapei staff are employed. Mapei’s research scientists work within a global network with the Corporate Research Centre in Milan acting as a central analysis laboratory and central hub to coordinate the activities of the other 17 laboratories.

Mapei Australia recently built a new manufacturing plant and premises at Wacol in Brisbane which is further enhancing their production output, keeping in line with incredible sales growth. The new plant boasts a modern laboratory, product testing facilities, sales offices, warehousing and a colourmapping facility for Sports Flooring products. Mapei Australia also has offices and warehouses in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide and Technical Sales staff in North Queensland and Perth.

Mapei will continue to grow by building on the knowledge and relationships from both within and outside the company and they are looking forward to many more years of supplying Solutions of Excellence to the building and construction industries.

Flooring Feb/March 2017 | 11

Choices Flooring Bunbury and Rockingham

redesign their showrooms for the ultimate customer experience Transforming the Australian retail flooring experience as we know it, Choices Flooring continues to expand the number of showrooms undergoing their innovative Store Evolution program with Choices Flooring Bunbury and Choices Flooring Rockingham (WA) being the latest stores to complete the state-of-the-art refit.

Choices Flooring’s Store Evolution program aims to provide an unparalleled in-store experience. This is demonstrated by the showroom layout, inspiring product displays and industry leading technology of the Inspiration Station which allows consumers to visualise over 2,000 different flooring options in their own room images.

Choices Flooring Bunbury owners, Raelene and Daniel Knox decided to undergo the transformation in order to enhance their consumer’s in-store experience and gain a strong competitive advantage.

Owners of Choices Flooring Rockingham, Veronica and Bevan Surtees embraced the Store Evolution and updated their showroom in just three weeks.

The feedback we have received from new and existing customers about this transformation has been overwhelmingly positive. The Inspiration Station has been a significant point of difference for us compared to our competitors and I am certain that this move will take our business to the next level.

- Raelene Knox

We wanted to create a showroom like no other in our region, and with the help of Central Office, we have achieved just that!

- Bevan Surtees

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis

Tim Drew

Chief Executive Officer

Group Manager - Retail Development

Mobile: 0400 400 036

Mobile: 0425 751 756

Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au

Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com.au

News The Evolution of Style Flooring and Interiors Since its inception in 1981 the WoolSet brand has served the group well, however as consumer lifestyles continue to evolve the WoolSet brand started to come to a point of irrelevance.

In order for the group to continue to prosper they have embarked on an exciting new chapter within the group’s history, transitioning from WoolSet to Style Flooring & Interiors.

Officially launched to both members and alliance partners at the National Members Meeting in September, the transition to Style Flooring & Interiors allows the group to emotionally connect with their consumers, as well as provide a solid platform for future growth.

Following the recent public launch, consumers’ response to the re-brand has already exceeded expectations.

Attracting thousands of visitors within the first weeks of January (80% of which were new), stylefloors.com. au is quickly gaining traction with Australians who want to decorate their home.

Visitors are spending more than a minute longer on the website than what they did on the previous one (woolset.

com.au). With the continued support of strong Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) strategies, there is no doubt that stylefloors.com.au will continue to grow, setting a solid online presence for the group.

The Style Flooring & Interiors group are also very excited to have started the New Year with a new member, Mega Flooring in Mandurah, Western Australia. Owner, Kevin Balkwill and his team have over 35 years’ experience within the flooring industry.

This experience teamed with their comprehensive product offering enables them to provide consumers with an outstanding decorating experience.

QLD Technical Sales Rep Appointed Neil Warden, Laticrete Australia National Sales Manager, has announced the appointment of Shane Anderson to the position of Queensland Technical Sales Rep for Laticrete Australia.

Shane joined the team in January this year.

Shane is a tiler by trade and comes to the company with

14 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

many years of experience in the tile and stone industry having previously worked in technical sales positions. Shane is joining Laticrete at an exciting time for the company, and he will be working alongside Mitchell Haw in Queensland, Joe Tabone and Craig Hunter in New South Wales and Erin Fraser in Victoria.

Bringing Inspiration to the Fingertips of Over One Million Decorators This month Choices Flooring launched their fourth edition of Inspiring Choices magazine in both print and digital format, to bring flooring inspiration to the fingertips of over one million decorators.

Produced by Choices Flooring’s in-house team, this year’s edition maintains over 100 pages of inspiring flooring trends categorised by room type and welcomes the introduction of four room overlays in print and pick-your-style pages in digital, that engagingly demonstrate the impact different flooring choices can have in the same room.

Inspiring Choices 2017 also features editorials from The Block All Stars’ Amity Dry, Selling Houses Australia’s Andrew Winter and writers from Australia’s leading home and lifestyle magazines.

These contributions are brought to life through personalised videos within the digital format.

Supported by an integrated marketing communications campaign and comprehensive distribution strategy,

Choices Flooring’s partnership with Bauer Media will again see the magazine distributed to over 500,000 Australians through its integration within Australian House & Garden, Real Living and Homes+ magazines throughout the first half of the year.

Attracting over one million unique visitors to their website each year, Choices Flooring’s website visitors will now be able to experience the interactive digital format of Inspiring Choices, which allows them to view the magazine at any time, on any screen, while still encouraging them to collect a free printed copy from their local store or have one delivered to their postal address.

The innovation behind Inspiring Choices 2017 reiterates the group’s positioning as Australia’s most progressive retail floor coverings group, and as decorators flick through the pages of Inspiring Choices there is no doubt they will find the floor they’ve been searching for.

Rising Star in the West Katherine, Shane and Oscar Thornton welcomed news of their Rising Star success at Narrogin Carpet Court.

Narrogin Carpet Court has been named Gerflor Premium Partner Rising Star 2016.

Strong sales of Texline roll products helped Shane Thornton to increase his overall sales and win him a Hello World travel voucher.

“We have a lot of timber, concrete and back verandahtype floors that people want

to cover. Being a country area there are a lot of old houses and Texline handles the lumps and bumps a lot better than other products,” Shane said.

Narrogin, 190 kilometres south east of Perth, is part of the vast territory serviced by Gerflor’s WA representative, Jemima Immink.

Franchises Offer Customers the Best of Both Business Worlds At a time where going over and above to deliver on consumer satisfaction is a core focus for retail brands, the franchise business model is proving popular in its ability to offer customers an enhanced experience.

A similar model to an independent business, each franchise within the group is locally owned and operated, meaning customers benefit from the same highly personalised service typically associated with smaller businesses. This is supported by the advantages of being part of a wider business network, including improved overall bulk buying power to ensure customers are able to purchase products at the best possible price, and ongoing professional support offered to franchisors across all areas of the business.

With over 200 stores operating across every state

in Australia, Carpet Court has built one of the most vibrant and successful franchisee networks in the country. Its continual growth is indicative of the growing demand for quality flooring products and a superior customer experience, underpinned by a committed, supportive and knowledgeable product team.

“Franchises are proving to be a hugely successful business model for delivering the highest standards of customer satisfaction,” says Kara Norris, Chief Marketing Officer for Carpet Court.

“Because franchisees are both personally and financially invested in the business, they build teams that not only possess the practical skills required to deliver exceptional service, but who also share this ownership philosophy, all of which translates into a better customer journey.”

Michael Tindle Appointed to Kenbrock Sales Team latest being at QEP, working at both retailer and contractor level. With his particular area of expertise being in resilient flooring, Ivan Pannone believes Michael is the right person to deliver the Kenbrock experience to his customers.

Background image courtesy CDK Stone Australia

Michael Tindle has been appointed to the Kenbrock sales team. He commenced on the 1st February as Territory Manager of Southern NSW. Michael brings to the job 5 years of solid experience in the flooring business, the

Widely circulated to key specifiers and all sectors of the industry Proudly supported and endorsed by:

Published by

FOR ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES CONTACT:

www.discoveringstonemagazine.com.au www.infotile.com/publications www.elitepublishing.com.au

Sandie Velkovska Email: sandie@elitepublishing.com.au Phone: +61 3 9890 0815

OverseasNews Domotex Hannover A Success Domotex Asia to Host and showcase for innovations.

After four action-packed days, American Delegation Exhibitors were particularly DOMOTEX 2017 drew to a close, chalking up considerable growth in terms of its exhibitor lineup and the total amount of space booked, and with an even higher percentage of exhibitors and visitors from abroad. A total of 1,409 exhibitors from more than 60 countries showcased their latest innovations to a global audience at the Hannover Exhibition Center, once again impressively highlighting the innovative spirit and high performance capability of the floor coverings industry.

“Thanks to its strong exhibitor lineup, myriad innovations and unparalleled international scope and reach, DOMOTEX has impressively underscored its reputation as the international floor covering industry’s leading marketplace

Domotex Asia: Bigger than Ever DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR – the largest flooring tradeshow in Asia Pacific - opened its online visitor pre-registration portal for its 19th edition which will take place from March 21-23, 2017 in Shanghai, last October. Industry professionals have responded extremely well so far and pre-registration numbers are a booming 36,2% higher than the same period last year.

With less than two months to go, 98% of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2017 is already booked by over 1300 companies. This year due to increasing demand, the organization of the show had to add an extra outdoor hall in order to accommodate the augmenting number of participants from the flooring industry around the world.

Innovations and design will take center stage as highlights 16 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

pleased with the high caliber of the international audience they encountered, while the show’s visitors, for their part, responded enthusiastically to the globally unrivalled array of offerings at DOMOTEX,” remarked Dr. Andreas Gruchow, the Deutsche Messe Managing Board member in charge of DOMOTEX, on the last day of the show.

of the show in 2017. cadex, the international event for connecting, learning and doing business in the design and architecture industry will be held for the second year concurrently with DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR. It will generate stimulating and creative flooring-related displays, conferences, networking events, interactive activities and much more.

The newest and most innovative flooring products will be introduced through the InnovAction Flooring program which, in the last edition of the show, showcased over 400 new products both in the online visitor center and in dedicated areas on-site.

The campaign is designated to give exhibitors ways to expose their brands and promote their products through the most effective channels before and during the show, and enable visitors to connect faster with manufacturers matching their interest.

For the second year in a row, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will host a delegation of leading North American distributors to meet with suppliers from China and Asia. The week-long event will include guided factory tours and previews of product and new emerging technologies as well as a chance to visit exhibitors of the 19th edition of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR which will take place March 21-23, 2017, in Shanghai, China.

Building on the success of last year’s program, the goal is to facilitate further collaboration between the two groups.

While Asia is known to be a leader in product development and innovation, doing business in Asia can still be daunting for many North American companies. “This trip is designed to break down the barriers between Asia’s leading suppliers and North American distributors through greater understanding and shared business objectives,” said Santiago Montero, former long-time publisher and editor in chief of Floor Covering Weekly, who has been tapped to lead next year’s delegation.

“This first-hand look at the quality and scope of Asian manufacturing operations will help foster new ties with North American distributors.

Through a series of guided factory tours and face-to-face meetings, along with frank peer-to-peer discussions among group members themselves, we know we can help distributors deepen their ties with Asian manufacturers to help their businesses grow and thrive in today’s highly competitive market.”

Enos Farnsworth, director of distribution for Denver Hardwoods, noted, “The 2016 Distributor Delegation

trip to DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR was the most productive trip of the year.

This was my first trip to China and I was overwhelmed by the innovation and quality of the manufacturing facilities.

In fact, we scheduled follow up meetings with 3 manufacturers; the new partnerships we developed are part of a private label program our Consolidated Distribution Network will be launching in Q1, 2017. I was impressed with the DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR show, not only the size of the booths and the participation, but I felt I previewed some of the latest technology that would be introduced in the United States.”

Jeff Jaeckle, president, Jaeckle Distributors, added, “For me, the trip confirmed that the major factories in China are definitely high quality operations. I was very pleased with the technology and investment I saw, as well as product development.

Being there also expanded my education on dealing with China on a direct basis.

And just as importantly, it's not often when you have the opportunity network and trade ideas with a great group of peers for five days straight. It was an excellent experience.”

New Concept for Domotex 2018 DOMOTEX continues to undergo further development and enhancement, featuring a new exhibition layout and the introduction of an annual keynote theme in 2018, plus an even stronger focus on trends and innovations.

“This further development of DOMOTEX in a number of key areas corresponds to changing market requirements and the industry’s continually evolving needs,” explained Dr. Andreas Gruchow as the responsible member of Deutsche Messe’s Managing Board. “We will throw an even more exciting spotlight on floor covering innovations and trends and offer added value for new exhibitor and visitor categories,” he continued.

The new exhibition layout will involve a reorganization of product categories, providing trade visitors with even better orientation and a superior market overview.

“Up to now we had been assigning exhibitors exclusively according to product

categories. Many exhibitors however carry more than just a single category. Since the range of offerings from many exhibitors has undergone this development and the relevant product categories are increasingly beginning to overlap, while at the same time certain segments have also been growing rapidly over the last few years, we needed to make a change,” reported Gruchow. “So, in line with the wishes of numerous exhibitors and visitors, we are moving hand-made carpets and rugs from halls 14, 15, 16 and 17 into halls 2, 3 and 4. Mats and clean-off systems will remain in the eastern portion of Hall 4.

Machine-made carpets from halls 2 to 5 will be moved to halls 5 to 7. Hall 8 will feature innovative, design-oriented providers of modern, handmade rugs. This will mean an even stronger physical concentration of hand and machine-made rugs, in accordance with the wishes of

our exhibitors,” commented Gruchow. In addition, the organizers will be turning Hall 9 into a base for lifestyle and brand-oriented enterprises from the entire range of product categories in a setting dominated by the annual DOMOTEX keynote theme.

Carpets from halls 5 and 6 will be moving to Hall 11, while resilient floor coverings and luxury vinyl tiles as well as parquet, wood and laminate floorings from halls 6, 8 and 9 being grouped together in halls 11, 12 and 13. The exhibition organizers are taking particular care to meet the needs of exhibitors who are carrying an increasing number of floor covering types. In a related context, the application and installation sector will move from Hall 7 to Hall 13.

The newly added halls will be ideally accessible via two additional entrances: The South entrance features a covered connection between halls 9 and 11, leading

visitors directly into either hall, while rail passengers can take a skywalk from the “Hannover Messe/Laatzen” train station directly to the doors of Hall 13.The North 2 and East 3 entrances will remain in operation, with several taxi stands and train stations all contributing to the ideal connections. As in the past, parking lots and ramps will be available along the northern, southern and western perimeters of the exhibition grounds.

Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe AG, and Susanne Schmidhuber, Managing Partner, Schmidhuber, presented the new concept for DOMOTEX 2018 at a press conference in Hannover

Spotlight on Domotex Asia Luxury Brands The carpet sector will occupy once again centre stage at the next edition of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR with 5 halls hosting everything from handmade carpets, wall-to-wall carpets, carpet tiles, woven and machine-tufted carpets, mats, carpet raw materials to latest carpet technology. ‘’In recent years, the carpet and rugs market, has shown substantial growth due to the rising urbanized population, demand for modular carpets and resurgence of the construction industry in developing economies. The residential market will remain the leading end user for carpets and rugs even though the non-residential market is also growing thank to the

rising investment in offices, commercial and institutional construction. In the last few years more and more consumers are also willing to spend money on bringing about aesthetic improvements to their homes or office spaces and this condition is creating a favorable environment for the development of luxury carpets and rugs industry.’’ explains Mr. David Zhong, President of VNU Exhibitions Asia, one of the organizers of the shows.

Following the industry trends, the next edition of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2017 will host Luxury Brands, an exclusive carpets event brought together in collaboration with COVER magazine.

The display will feature a curated selection of high-end hand-made carpets from an exclusive list of international rug brands. Companies that have already confirmed their participation to this exclusive showcase are: Amadi Carpets, Ariana Rugs, Art Resources, Ayka Design, Creative Matters, Knots Rugs, Samad, Tissage, Wool & Silk Rugs and Zollanvari.

The Luxury Brands area, located inside cadex, the design platform of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR in W5 Hall, will have a very special design and will be open only to rug buyers, distributors and VIPs. ‘’Luxury Brands is the perfect platform for a Chinese audience to see some of the best high-

end hand-made rugs brands we have been celebrating in COVER magazine in recent years. The carpets on display will be the best examples of their type and will surely create a buzz at the show. The event will enhance the hand-made rug displays for 2017, offering visitors to DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR even greater scope in flooring.’’ says Lucy Upward, editor of COVER. COVER and DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR wish to bring a selection of the best Western brands to the Chinese market with a range of companies from Asia, Europe, America and Canada. Each firm will bring two of its recent high-end handmade rug designs to dazzle the attendees.

Flooring Feb/March 2017 | 17

FocusOn

Stepping Forward with Vinyl Recycling recycling solutions for commercial vinyl flooring for Australia, and the VCA team are now poised with sufficient preliminary tests, trials and data to calculate the viability of a collection and recycling scheme.

Costs of waste

Governments at all levels in Australia are placing greater emphasis upon recycling and resource recovery. This is because landfills are filling and society is recognising that current habits of disposal are not sustainable. Federal and state governments are investigating a range of measures from targets and bans, levies for specific products and grant incentives.

They have focused heavily on packaging and are also scrutinising the construction and demolition sector.

However, the easy, low hanging fruit has been picked already. While recycling in the home is commonplace,

18 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

there are many issues and hurdles to overcome to set up a completely new recycling system in Australia for materials currently going to landfill, such as flooring from commercial operators.

To make headway in 2016 the NSW Environment Trust allocated $59,500 to the Vinyl Council of Australia (VCA) for R&D work with members in the vinyl industry, universities and potential end market customers. This grant forms part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

The purpose of the project has been to investigate

Flooring industry experts estimate that currently 4,500 tonnes of commercial vinyl flooring ends up in NSW landfills each year, with an estimated 13,500 to 15,000 tonnes generated Australiawide. These figures will continue to grow unless viable end uses for the recyclate stream are identified. It is estimated that this waste to landfill costs flooring contractors in NSW around $350-$400 per tonne to dispose to landfill, and for some this comes to over $10,000 per year.

Vinyl flooring is the material of choice in hospitals, schools and retail.

Made of limestone and vinyl, it is easy to clean, low maintenance, hard wearing and has a long 20+ year life span. But like other forms of resilient flooring, when removed it is often contaminated with flooring residues and glues, making recycling difficult. However, flooring is a priority material governments want to tackle to meet recycling targets for the construction and demolition sector and given evidence from overseas indicating it is recyclable.

The grant funds have been used to employ an academic researcher to work with companies and the VCA to crack the puzzle via chemical and mechanical trials to find economically and technically viable processes and useful products for commercial vinyl flooring recyclate.

This project has looked to the lessons and successes of international flooring recycling projects, such as RecoFloor in the UK, which is an industry-funded product stewardship scheme collecting and reprocessing flooring into products such as road cones and safety barriers.

The team

�We are delighted to have created a team of brilliant minds, innovators and leaders in their fields contributing their time, expertise and

facilities to find a solution to this Australia-wide waste of valuable materials. The grant has helped stimulate industry interest in change and leverage industry investments in recycling solutions,” said the Vinyl Council’s Manager, Industry Recycling Strategy, Helen Millicer.

The team includes a skilled research assistant in chemistry at UNSW, experienced vinyl granulators, a potential downstream re-manufacturer in Boral Roofing and Masonry with a long term option for reuse of the material, and knowledgeable suppliers at Armstrong Flooring, Gerflor, Tarkett and other members of the Vinyl Council including the

Flooring industry experts estimate that currently 4,500 tonnes of commercial vinyl flooring ends up in NSW landfills each year, with an estimated 13,500 to 15,000 tonnes generated Australia-wide. These figures will continue to grow unless viable end uses for the recyclate stream are identified.

Australian Resilient Flooring Association, who are keen to take the flooring industry in Australia into a sustainable 21st century.

The project team has also been liaising with commercial flooring contractors, principally in the Newcastle – outer Sydney area who want to stop sending such vast quantities to landfill and contribute to a more sustainable industry.

Useful discoveries

The project has made a number of important discoveries so far: • The best place to start collections is where there is time and space for a separate collection bin dedicated to commercial vinyl flooring, principally the regional/outer suburban sites where source separation of the waste by flooring contractors

can occur. Once a viable program has been developed and tested, it can be rolled out to more space-confined sites such as in CBDs. • Trying to reprocess heterogenous material is more complex; therefore, homogeneous flooring is the current focus of the project.

• Tests have indicated that the high limestone filler content of vinyl sheet flooring makes it suitable as an additive for durable product uses such as pavers, which have a strong and well established market and manufacturing base in Australia.

The next step for the project is determining economically viable collection and reprocessing systems.

Should that prove successful, the team will move forward

to firm up the material specifications, training, and a collection system with flooring contractors. ”This project shows that the solution to this challenge cannot be found by one organisation alone. The funding support from the NSW Environment Trust has been a game changer in that it has assisted the Vinyl Council to bring together all the key stakeholders required to identify and develop potential solutions”.

This project is one of two recycling research initiatives coordinated by the Vinyl Council of Australia to receive funding from the NSW Environment Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative. For more details on this exciting initiative for Australia contact the VCA or go to the VCA website.

Flooring Feb/March 2017 | 19

Software

Sales Process for Success What sort of salespeople do you employ?

By Chris Ogden, Managing Director, RFMS Australia Likely the answer to this question is we hire the best salespeople we can find.

However, we recognise not all salespeople are created equal, and we often end up with sales staff who are not as strong in sales as we would like. In many flooring businesses, the majority of sales are achieved by a minority of salespeople, and that minority very often includes the owner of the business.

In that respect, the sales team can be likened to a cricket team; not everyone on the cricket team is an opener who can consistently be relied upon to set up a platform of runs for the rest of the team. If the batting order on the cricket team is made up of openers, top order, and middle order (or tail enders); how many tail-ender salespeople do you have on your team? Everyone on the cricket team spends time in the batting nets and working with coaches, learning the same techniques, because, for success, the tail needs to be as short as possible.

In many flooring businesses, the majority of sales are achieved by a minority of salespeople, and that minority very often includes the owner of the business.

20 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

2. Sales Consultant (Top Order)

If the batting order on the cricket team is made up of openers, top order and middle order (or tail enders); how many tail-ender salespeople do you have on your team?

Shortening the tail of our sales team improves sales and reduces reliance on our openers.

If you think about your salespeople, into which category do they fall? Let’s think in cricket terms:

1. The Order Taker (Tailender)

You will see your order takers following your customer around the showroom, answering questions as they arise, finding and collecting samples. Order takers sell out of their own pocket and according to their own taste; they have little or no influence on the customer and sales are primarily driven by price, not by value.

This person takes the initiative, leading customers around the showroom in response to the customer’s needs. They have a good level of product and installation knowledge, and they inspire confidence. However, they either don’t follow up on leads, or they follow up ineffectively; they lose focus on following up as they start to work with new customers; this is a fundamental flaw in their process, and it leads to lost sales opportunities.

3. Salesperson (Opener)

Gives the customer the attention and service they need throughout the sales process, they follow up effectively and relentlessly.

Not necessarily natural salespeople, they are people who understand the process required to make sales, and they follow that process rigorously. If this person has a bad month the store has a bad month.

The goal for any business owner is to create a sales machine that will operate independently of the owner.

We have little control over how a salesperson sells, but we should have a process covering all key sales activities (in a later article we can talk about what those key sales activities are). Salespeople should have a budget, and we should have a system to monitor how well they are performing against budget.

If they are falling behind, we need to be there to nudge them back on to the process, and to coach them in those key sales activities.

The goal for any business owner is to create a sales machine that will operate independently of the owner.

Access to timely and accurate data about how our salespeople are performing is key to achieving our sales goals; do you know your confirmed sales, delivered sales, pipeline, conversion rate and GP? By salesperson?

These key stats make for meaningful discussions with salespeople. If you see the need for this sort of information but struggle to access it from your current business systems, the RFMS team would be pleased to show you how RFMS can assist you to improve sales performance. I welcome your enquiry and can be contacted at the email address below.

Chris Ogden was a successful flooring retailer and is now an industry consultant and Director of RFMS Australasia, a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Chris can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER? Layers Diary Financials Debtors Quotes Stock

Mobile Sales Measuring Reporting Projects Sales

The Flooring Software leader for more than 30 years Clients in Australia and NZ since 1999 Over 8,000 ooring businesses already using RFMS worldwide Cloud hosted options available Flexible and ready for Retail, Commercial and Distributor Fully integrated solution, including tablets and laser measure

Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012

www.rfms.com

salesau@rfms.com

Software Electronic Quantifying – What Might be Holding You Back?

If you haven’t yet embraced electronic measuring and quantifying, you are missing an opportunity to improve your business. If your competitors have, they will be enjoying a competitive advantage.

The majority of flooring retailers recognise the potential benefits of using IT to improve this aspect of their business, but many hold back. Why? Three common reasons: 1. Lack of time. We are all time poor, and if we are expert at quantifying using traditional methods, re-learning using a computer or a tablet feels like a waste of time. We should instead, consider any time spent learning as an investment in our business. It may cost us some productivity in the short term, but this is quickly paid back with increased sales and improved accuracy and efficiency.

2. Lack of confidence. How can a computer or a tablet accurately quantify product? What if we come to rely on it and it makes a mistake?

The majority of flooring retailers recognise the potential benefits of using IT to improve quantifying, but many hold back.

Electronic quantifying has been around for more than twenty years. Most products on the market have been

through generations of development and are being used in flooring businesses in New Zealand and Australia with great success. You will not be a guinea pig; we know it works.

The reality is we are more likely to make a mistake than the quantifying software is.

3. Our staff. Staff left to their own devices, will not drive improvements to our business. They are as averse to change as we are, so given the opportunity, they will stick with what they know. Introducing IT into our business in any shape or form is an exercise in change management. As business owners, we need to have the vision to improve our business, and it takes effort to bring our staff along with us.

RFMS Measure is the industry’s leading quantifying solution. If you would like to trial it in your business contact me at the email address below and I will be happy to get you going with a 30-day free trial.

MEASUREMOBILE 3 the best mobile estimating software in the industry FREE DOWNLOAD AT:

• EASY TO USE • STORE IN THE CLOUD • ACCESS ANYWHERE

Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.measuremobile3.com 22 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

salesau@rfms.com

TILE TODA TODAY DAY DA AY F U L LY E N D O R S E D B Y T H E A U S T R A L I A N T I L E C O U N C I L

Tile Today magazine is designed to promote new products and technologies to virtually every tile outlet, tile fixer and specifier in Australia.

CIRCULATED AUSTRALIA WIDE TO: • Tile importers and retailers • Leading architects, designers and builders • Tile fixers • Pool builders, landscapers and renovators

Proudly supported and endorsed by:

Leading the Industry

Published by

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au www.infotile.com/publications www.elitepublishing.com.au

Retailer of the month

Community is Everything Choices by Swintons, Swan Hill, Victoria

By Philip Ashley

24 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

S

tephen and Lynne Heslop operate Choices

by Swintons out of Swan Hill in Victoria, just a short walk from the Murray River. A fairly small town of some 20,000, Swan Hill is renowned for its easy drinking red and white wines, a pioneer settlement and country lifestyle. Like any small country town everyone seems to know everyone else and Stephen and Lynne have become wellknown identities in the local community. The store is still named after the original owner because in a small town like Swan Hill, history is everything.

The history goes back to 1959 when Roy Swinton was instrumental in the formation of Newfurn Ltd. Roy’s son Jack was elected to the board of directors of Newfurn Ltd. where he served for an astounding 33 years. During this time Newfurn became Carpet Choice and then Choices Flooring. Stephen had worked for the business as Swinton’s Home Furnishers when he left school at 17 and had convinced Jack to let him have a go at improving the carpet side of the business.

In the first two years Stephen increased sales by 50% and profit by 10%. From that day Jack said “Whatever you need to do, just go ahead, no need to come to me about anything.” The confidence was well rewarded and Stephen and Lynne went on to build a solid, reputable business. Jack Swinton retired in 1995 when

Lynne and Stephen Heslop took over the management of the business but the partnership with Jack and Judy Swinton continues to this day.

Choices by Swintons “specialise” in every type of floor coverings in both domestic and commercial installations. The bulk of their work is domestic including a Ministry of Housing contract but recent commercial projects include the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club, Tooleybuc Sporting Club and the Swan Hill Club. Their work can be found as far away as Port Fairy near Warrnambool on the Victorian coast and Murrayville in the far west of the state. Their “area” is unlimited but they try not to step on anyone else’s toes. It’s a lean operation with Stephen and Lynne running the retail outlet; four sub-contract installers and one floating floor installer. They’ve had apprentices before but most country kids want to end up in the city so it’s not easy keeping them.

In the 40-odd years Stephen has been in the business buying habits have changed.

In the past people would come in and ask for cash discounts but that doesn’t happen anymore. Stephen attributes this to the excellent Choices network where “Everything is priced in the store with installation and sales are very well advertised. People see that we are transparent and they don’t very often ask for

discounts.” Reflecting on the changes to the store, Stephen said “We used to sell from samples hanging on a stand and now we sell from proper flooring displays, more of a boutique experience.

Our buying group is brilliant and keeps us up to date on all of our products including ceramic tiles; carpet; vinyl; timber and floating floors. A record year last year and a great start to 2017 paints a great picture of the current state of the industry.”

Stephen and Lynne love the business they’re in and “love coming to work.” They both grew up in small country towns of less than a few hundred residents so they know the value of community.

Their mission statement is “To be the best at what they do.” Stephen says “If something’s not impossible; it’s possible.”

But Stephen and Lynne don’t stop there; they are as involved in the local community as anyone I have ever come across. A friend’s breast cancer alerted them to a lack of Lymphatic drainage machines at the local hospital so they raised $40,000 through a “pink pedal” ride. Stephen was going to ride from Adelaide

to Swan Hill but Shane Crawford got in before him with his ride to West Australia. Stephen and Lynne organised a card game to raise money for four children who lost their parents in a car accident. They also support junior football including providing boots for a local aboriginal youth. Stephen had seen the boots Rugby League player Jonathan Thurston wore and had a pair painted by an indigenous artist where the painting had meaning about his heritage.

And is there a life outside of flooring?

Stephen would like to play in the Aussie Millions poker tournament. He’s pretty good with a deck of cards; as he says “I go alright.” Some pretty big purses can attest to that but no greater accolade can be bestowed than coming third, some time ago now; to World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem’s second place in an Australian event. Stephen said “It’s going to be hard to hand over the reins but even though we love the industry, we’ll eventually take a backward step.”

When they eventually do, they will certainly have earned it.

…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

Carpet&Rugs

Carpet Design Awards Held at Domotex The world’s finest designer carpets and rugs have been awarded prizes at the 2017 Carpet Design Awards, held at DOMOTEX in Hannover. The award ceremony took place on 15 January, with winners announced in eight categories. The winners were picked from a list of 24 finalists, selected from an initial 386 entries from 21 countries.

This marks the twelfth successive year that DOMOTEX has hosted the top international award for modern handmade carpets and rugs.

Under the chairmanship of multiaward-winning carpet designer Stephanie Odegard from New York, the international jury selected carpets and rugs of outstanding design, quality and craftsmanship. Entries were judged in terms of design and design concept,

materials, execution, texture, structure and quality, as well as sustainability and branding.

The winning entry in the category Best Studio Artist Design: “Vlisco Recycled” by Simone Post; in the category Best Modern Design Superior: “Super Moon” by Sterling Rugs; in the category Best Modern Design Deluxe: “Summit” by Wool and Silk Rugs; in the category Best Traditional Design: “Vase Green” by Ayka Design; in the category Best Transitional Design: “Shiraz sabz”

by Hossein Rezvani; in the category Best Flat Weave Design: “Scandinavian Flatweave 2” by Rug & Kilim; in the category Best Modern Collection: “Unstring by Kavi” by Jaipur Rugs; and in the category Best Transitional Collection: “Alasht Collection” by Edelgrund.

“This year the Carpet Design Awards panel consisted of five judges with very different points of view, drawn from a number of sectors and locations. The result of our wide-ranging professional experience and expertise is a set of winners we believe will make an impact in the world of carpets and beyond”, says Odegard.

The presentation of the Carpet Design Awards at a ceremony attended by numerous guests from the international carpet industry is one of the highlights of the annual DOMOTEX show. The award is highly regarded around the world, not least because its featured entries serve as a rich source of inspiration for carpet dealers, owners of carpet and rug galleries, as well as interior designers as they put together their collections for the new season.

Armadillo & Co Rugs Land at Curious Grace With stores in both Melbourne and Sydney, Curious Grace is now also the home to Armadillo & Co rugs.

Hand-woven in India, the exquisite rugs are famous for using fair-trade practices and natural sustainable fibres.

Designer Rugs’ Saffron Collection Designer Rugs has an ever-growing collection of hand-tufted and readymade rugs designed by its talented in-house team. All about affordable style, the Saffron collection comprises an array of bold and subtle patterns suitable for a wide variety of residential spaces and light commercial applications Designer Rugs’ in-house team regularly creates new designs for the Saffron collection transforming their own unique visions, patterns, motifs and colour palettes into rugs for a range of interior styles.

26 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

They take inspiration from travel, everyday objects, landscapes, craft techniques and materials, and stay abreast of industry trends and forecasting, working closely and skilfully with architects, designers and specifiers. “Designer Rugs is not just a rug company; we are a design company that makes rugs,” says Yosi Tal, Managing Director of Designer Rugs. “Our clients are looking for something special to create the final aesthetic, and our rugs and the stories embedded in them bring this element of personality to the room.”

Compliant stair nosing solutions for every application.

architectural solutions for the traversed environment.

www.classic-arch.com Melbourne • Sydney • Brisbane Adelaide • Perth • Auckland Copyright © 2016 - Classic Architectural Group Pty Ltd

T 1300 244 377 E info@classic-arch.com W www.classic-arch.com

What keeps floor coaters one layer ahead when deadlines are tight?

As a leading global supplier of polymer solutions in the chemical industry, we lay the ground for a true game changer in floor coatings. Its name: Pasquick®. Its capacity: a field-proven, polyaspartic technology offering the same level of protection and long-term durability as previous multiple-coat systems. The essential difference: Pasquick® features excellent curing properties in line with relevant VOC regulations, and can be applied with your standard working equipment. This allows for a deadline-friendly completion of construction and renovation works – for public infrastructure projects, as well as for many other areas of floor coating. Curious? Contact us on 1300 661 820.

www.pasquick.com

Covestro Deutschland AG, D-51365 Leverkusen · COV00080163

INVENTING A FASTER FINISH FOR YOU

VinylFlooring

A Plank for All Seasons with Gerflor Gerflor’s specialisation in resilient surfaces has resulted in a fresh range of Virtuo vinyl planks joining its product portfolio.

Premium .55 wear layers and 5mm thickness provide practical solutions for the most demanding family life and realistic Australian timber looks are right on trend.

The range is divided into two with the primary difference being the installation method. Virtuo Premium is a range of durable, modular and easy to install planks that can be loose laid.

Virtuo 55 Classic answers the needs of homemakers living in areas that experience extremes of temperature.

The planks are designed for permanent, glued installation to avoid any shrinking or growing with variations in temperature.

Underfloor heating, hours of direct sunlight and fluctuations in maximum and minimum temperatures all have a bearing on whether a loose lay or glued system is most appropriate. With Gerflor vinyl planks, consumers can make an informed choice to ensure long term satisfaction whilst enjoying the quiet comfort of vinyl.

30 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

500 + time saving apps that connect with XERO

MeasureSquare now integrates with

Boost Effciency MEASURESQUARE - XERO INTEGRATION - A SIMPLE COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR FLOORING BUSINESSES LAYERS DIARY LEAD TRACKING SALES DIARY SAMPLE TRACKING JOB MANAGEMENT REPORTING PROJECTS QUOTING

MOBILE MEASURING PLANNING ESTIMATION QUOTING SEAM DIAGRAMS INS INSTALL PLANS LASER DISTO INTEGRATED

INVENTORY POINT OF SALE

500 + time saving apps that connect with XERO

CRM

REPORTING

GROW IT - INTEGRATE IT - GET RID OF IT

Build your custom business software system the way you want IT

Flexibility in business software systems, has typically been the relm of larger organisations, with big budgets. Now there is a solution for flooring businesses of all sizes, a cost effective way to create customised systems that can be adapted to suit any business through periods of growth, new technology developments, new ways customers makes purchases or the next big thing.

PAYROLE + HR eCOMMERCE

Laser Measure Australia Pty Ltd - Email - sales@measuresquare.com.au - Ph- 0731669128, - Web - www.measuresquare.com.au

FloatingFloors

Havwoods Launches New Flooring Designs Havwoods is renowned as a leader in engineered timber flooring in Australia and around the world, developing and supplying a vast range of technologically and aesthetically advanced products.

The industry favourite has now added six new products to two of its most popular collections: the Design from Havwoods herringbone range and Relik engineered reclaimed timber.

The classic herringbone pattern found great popularity in France during the Renaissance and is set to become a key trend in flooring in 2017. Herringbone floors are as subtle and sophisticated as they have always been and look effortlessly elegant in a myriad of architectural styles and projects.

The Design from Havwoods collection comprises a range of products in which the length of the timber blocks are an exact multiple of the width, enabling them to be laid in a herringbone pattern as well as in basket weave and tumbling dice configurations.

The collection has been designed for easy glue-down installation and is available in prefinished and unfinished options.

Relik is Havwoods’ popular collection of reclaimed timber flooring, which includes reproduction as well as genuine reclaimed products. Reclaimed timber is often desired for its character yet its lack of uniformity can make installation difficult and lead to high levels of waste.

A selection of Havwoods’ New Engineered Wood Flooring Designs

32 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

In response, Havwoods developed the Relik collection, which consists of prefinished engineered products that make more effective and efficient use of timber reclaimed from barns, wharfs and docks.

The result is easy-to-fit boards that are stable enough for Australian climates and suitable for use with underfloor heating.

Havwoods is Britain’s foremost wood flooring and decorative cladding company and it has built and earned itself the same reputation in Australia.

NEWS

ADVICE

PRODUCTS

With over 45,000 unique visitors per month and more than 3000 members, Infotile.com is the place to go for all the latest news, product profiles, installation guides and advice dedicated to the ceramic tile and natural stone industries.

For more information or to discuss advertising opportunities, contact: Ashley Cooper ashley.cooper@elitepublishing.com.au Ph: 03 9890 0815 Fax: 03 9890 0087

Access our publications archive and read feature articles in Tile Today, Discovering Stone and Tile+Stone Showcase magazines.

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

Schwamborn Makes Floor Preparation Easier Late nights, long hours, and a short timeframe to get the floor preparation done prior to laying a new covering down means having the right equipment on-hand to do it right the first time.

Schwamborn Concrete Grinders offer a fast, high speed production to make grinding floors, removing glues and getting the desired concrete floors. Taking production to a new level, these Three Phase, German built and manufactured Grinders are being used by commercial floor layers, floor covering stores, fitout and construction companies to prepare floors ready to lay on.

A recent fitout project in Robina Town Shopping Centre, in the heart of the Gold Coast saw the Schwamborn Three phase DSM650S (650mm) Concrete Grinder glide its way across the floor. The contractors were struggling with their previous single phase machine to grind through the heavy trowel marks left by the concretors across 80m2 of a shop fitout.

34 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

After spending a number of days on site with their previous machine and a chat to All Preparation Equipment the boys got onto a Three phase machine and prepared the floor much quicker. The DSM650S has a great combination of power, weight and speed.

In a commercial defit, refurbishment or strip out project there’s a few things to consider with your concrete floor grinding machine to ensure you get the best balance of production, power and performance on each site. No two concrete floors are ever the same which is why you need to make sure the equipment you using is right for you. Sometimes a small change in the diamond shoes you are using helps to get a higher performance. On the other hand diamonds including the PCD (Polycrystalline Diamonds) are needed to break through bulk adhesive and glues on the floor.

Depending on the requirement you need to finish the floor at ready to lay

on will depend on the diamonds you need to use. The lower the grit the more aggressive the cut. For example in a 16 Grit diamond you will see more scratch marks or a larger scratch pattern then what you’ll see in a 60 – 80 Grit diamond. The higher Grit diamonds are used in Concrete Floor Polishing and help to eliminate the scratch marks and flatten the floor.

Schwamborn Concrete Grinding machines have been built to a standard professional contractors demand and expect and boast a workmanship of success for more than 80 years. If concrete floor preparation is something you’d like to learn more about, contact All Preparation Equipment. They are out to help make laying floors easier.

Working not only with Flooring Stores but also with the layers and their subcontractors it’s all about getting the floor preparation and levelling done right – the first time.

QUT University Art Gallery Floor Project Only days left prior to the Grand Opening of the new QUT University Art Gallery opening something needed to happen fast to the entrance to impress everyone. There was hardly time to do the job, but everything was made possible when Jacob and his team from JB Concrete arrived on site with the impressive Planetary Schwamborn Grinder. Easy to use, operate and control, the 530mm machine ground-off the existing product from the floor and ground it up to a smooth shiny concrete floor ready for a coat of sealer.

When it comes to making a tough grinding job easier, All Preparation Equipment ensures their customers have the right equipment, advice and diamond tooling

to grind through floors faster ensuring they get done right the first time. Their German manufactured and engineered machines have been in the industry for more than 80 years and are designed with the contractor in mind.

Grinding is not meant to be a grind.

With this art gallery entrance, they wanted to get it back to the original concrete look. Using the impressive DSM530 Schwamborn Concrete Floor Grinder the boys started with a set of lower grit diamond grinding shoes before working their way up to finer grades to smooth the surface ready for a sealer to be applied.

Being in the surrounds of an art gallery the dust control was critical. The Schwamborn

Grinder allows a fast and easy connection to any vacuum system and using the Ermator S26 meant the dust was easily controlled to ensure the floor was left clean and meant

Concrete Surface Profile Guides A part of laying a floor right is preparing it right. All Preparation Equipment has been working closely with contractors and trainees who have attended TAFE Courses or doing Traineeships in the flooring industry.

The famous quote by Benjamin Franklin applies to flooring just as much as anything else, ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’ It’s absolutely essential in laying floor coverings that the substrate is prepared properly as with applying a coating or in the concrete polishing process.

If you’ve ever seen a floor that has had the coating fail, an epoxy coating starting to flake off or a sealer having been poorly applied, or moisture come up in a concrete floor to ruin carpets

of vinyls– you never want to see it again. Based on the Concrete Surface Profiles created by the International Concrete Repair Institute – All Preparation Equipment has put together a number of comprehensive guides for concrete floor preparation online. To read this guide head to www.allprep.com.au today. You can also sign up for their emails which allows you to stay up to date with different industry events and training that is being hosted.

Different machines achieve different finishes or profiles on a concrete floor.

Concrete Floor Grinders are most commonly used, followed by Floor Stripping machines for removing old or existing coverings to Scarifiers, Shotblasters or Scabblers.

minimal clean up.

Another successful flooring project – completed and handover on time, thanks to the three phase Schwamborn Concrete Grinding system.

PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

Temporary Floor Protection Under the Spotlight When you’re looking at what to use for floor protection, there’s a few things to consider before choosing a product. All Preparation Equipment supplies a large range of temporary floor protection products and has put together this handy guide on products that provide impact and dust protection, dirty footprints and water protection.

Temporary floor protection comes in rolls, sheets or bundles, but how you decide on the right one comes down to a number of points.

• What is the surface that needs protecting?

• What type of traffic will be going over it – foot or equipment?

• How long does the floor protection need to be down for prior to handover?

Without considering these factors, you may end up with the wrong choice of temporary floor protection, which often results in a poor performance.

The plastic, sheeting or film will also need to be replaced more often, which means higher costs on time, money and effort. Using the wrong product may also damage the flooring that it was supposed to be ‘protecting’ in the first place.

Rolls of polyweave floor protection.

Polyweave

This double laminated polythene floor protector is woven for superior strength, durability and tear resistance. Recommended as a cost effective solution for all construction projects for surface protection on floor and wall surfaces.

Our Polyweave is ideal for laying over finished floors and vertical surfaces during demolition, construction, or refurbishment.

The most popular because of it’s ease of application, and cost effectiveness per square metre All Preparation Equipment have protected more than 30,000 sqm of floors with it on the last few major floor laying projects.

Corflute

Protective sheeting is lightweight, versatile, easy to cut, can be bent to shape, quick to lay and comes in multiple sheet sizes. This sheeting, is the perfect option for impact resistance on floor coverings. Along with having a double walled impact protection the corflute sheeting is waterproof resistant and suitable for protecting floors, walls, columns and doors and ideal for use as a protective

membrane in planter boxes, retaining walls, subsoil membrane protection or formwork lining boards.

SupaBord

SupaBord is a heavy-duty, temporary floor protection product for construction companies and contractors.

Supabord is a easy to use, reusable temporary floor protector to be used on new or existing surfaces including concrete, wood, tile, stone, linoleum, vinyl composition tile (VCT), epoxy and most other flooring types.

MDF Board

Used on hard floor coverings including, vinyl floors, marble, concrete, cured timber, laminates, polished concrete, If any tools or equipment are being used by trades 36 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

in the area, these also need a certain amount of impact protection as a ‘peace of mind’ protection. Be it a hammer, power drill or hand held scraper – any drop could dent or damage the floor covering.

Self Adhesive film – Available for Carpet or Hard floors

A clear, heavy duty film customised for self-adhesive protection on hard floor surfaces. With a medium tack, our hard floor selfadhesive film is designed for temporary surface protection of tile, marble, timber and vinyl surfaces. Easy to roll over stairs, as a walkway or for complete surface coverage, the film can be laid neat and tight against skirtings, around columns or over worktops and cabinets.

ZERO VOC’S

*

IN INTAFLOORS ADHESIVE RANGE

Some Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are dangerous to human health and cause harm to the environment. Here’s sustainable products for the smarter tradesman. * Zero calculated emitted VOC’s

GoldStix

Premium Carpet Adhesive - Direct stick / Dual bond installation - Premium adhesive Quick, strong bond - Low odour

IronStix

Premium Carpet Adhesive - Direct stick / Dual bond installation - Longer open time - Low odour

UltraStix

Pressure Sensitive Adhesive - Carpet tile / Vct / Dual bond underlay installation - Moisture and alkali resistant up to 80% Rh - Trowel & roller application

Availability on certain products may vary from store to store. Please contact your local trade depot for more details.

SEE OUR RANGE AT www.intafloors.com.au/3-adhesives

LOCATE YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST NSW

QLD

WA SA

Seal and Sons Adelaide: 08 8346 9833 Email: office@deseal.com.au

Intafloors Trade Depot

Gibbon Group

Sydney: 02 8678 5479 Email: sales@intafloorstrade.com.au

Nortth Brisbane & Central Qld: 07 3881 1777 Email: sales@gibbongroup.com.au

VIC

McDonalds Flooring Accessories

Knoxfield: 03 9764 2400 Dandenong: 03 9702 7822 Geelong: 03 5521 6670 Preston: 03 9416 7878 Email: sales@fisdistributors.com.au

TAS

Total Flooring North Hobart: 03 6234 9855 Email: admin@totalflooringtas.com.au

South Brisbane & Gold Coast: 07 5564 9999 Email: daniel@mcdonaldflooring.com.au

FIS Distributors

Kevmor Wholesale Trade Supplies Perth: 08 9277 7177 Email: sales@kevmor.com.au

NEW ZEALAND

Nuplex Construction Products Free Phone: 0508-882-288 Email: ncpsales@nuplex.com

Events

Gearing up for DesignBUILD 2017

In 2017, DesignBUILD will return to Sydney from 3-5 May. It will be the first building and architectural event to be held at the AUD1.5 billion International Convention Centre (ICC) designed by HASSELL and Populous. The keynote speaker has been confirmed as Michael Lockwood, global design director at Populous’ convention centre practice.

Marketing manager, Stephanie Bleakley, said the ICC provides the ideal location to inspire and inform about how grand building visions become realities.

“Delegates will get a unique perspective of the current state of our industry but also receive unprecedented access to this brand new venue, through a series of breakfasts, lunch and cocktail functions, as well as exclusive behind-the-scene venue tours,” she said.

For the first time, DesignBUILD will co-locate with the Australian Institute of Architecture’s national conference.

The event will also welcome first time

38 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

partner, the Planning Institute of Australia, who will also be co-locating its own national conference. The

simultaneous events will help to create an architectural and planning hub at the ICC. DesignBUILD 2017 will see the Sydney launch of DesignBUILD RAW, an initiative to showcase the best in emerging talent, run in partnership with the University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney. Students will be invited to design the two speaker theatres and the incubator pavilion.

In addition to the keynote address, the DesignBUILD speaker series will include lead architects on the ICC project, Paul Foskett and Graeme Spencer, plus a range of industry speakers across various disciplines.

According to the organisers, DesignBUILD 2017 event is already set to be 40% larger than previous year and 60% larger than the award winning 2015 and 2016 events. Registration is now open via www.designbuildexpo.com. au/register

REGISTER TODAY!

EXPERIENCE SYDNEY’S BRAND NEW EXHIBITION VENUE AND JOIN US AT AUSTRALIA’S LEADING EVENT FOR THE ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN INDUSTRY 3-5 MAY 2017

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, SYDNEY

DESIGNBUILDEXPO.COM.AU

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Image Source: ICC Sydney Photographer: Paul Foskett, Populous

Business

Are You a Business Employing People with a Disability?

Find out what support is available to businesses who are breaking down disability barriers…

Did you know that one in five Australians live with disability.

Recently, International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) was celebrated; a United Nations sanctioned day held every year.

The aim of the day is to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance and celebrate the achievements of the 4 million Australians who live with a disability.

with disability is a great way to make a positive change to someone’s life, and also provide an opportunity to tap into to a vast pool of talent to enhance your business’s workplace diversity!

People with disability make up 10 per cent of the total Australian workforce in all types of industries and bring a range of skills, qualifications, talents and experience to Australian businesses.

Employing people with disability

What support is on offer for businesses?

Are you looking to employ staff? Employing people

40 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

The Australian Government provides a range of services

to help businesses create rewarding job opportunities for people with disability.

JobAccess is the Australian Government’s national hub for workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers.

JobAccess can help businesses: • create jobs for people with disability • get financial support for employees with disability and workplace modifications • recruit and retain the right people.

Business innovation – government support to break down barriers Are you researching, developing or commercialising new products or services?

The Australian Government provides a range of services and programs to support business innovation, R&D and commercialisation.

Many businesses are using these to create and commercialise products that break down barriers and empower people with disability.

Case Study – SMART Arm Arm paralysis affects around 80 per cent of people disabled by stroke. The SMART Arm is a non-robotic training device that helps stroke survivors rehabilitate arm function. Because it’s interactive, the survivor can practise independently and direct their own rehabilitation. Expert advice and support through the Entrepreneurs’ Programme Accelerating Commercialisation element is helping the creators of SMART Arm realise its market potential.

Caption Pic: Stroke survivor Adrian Heald and SMART Arm inventor, physiotherapist Dr Ruth Barker.

Industry-led collaborations transforming lives

The Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme supports industry-led research partnerships between business, researchers and the community. CRCs tackle challenges to deliver tangible

outcomes to improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries.

Collaborations such as the HEARing CRC, CRC for Mental Health and Autism CRC enable researchers to work with industry to provide practical solutions that transform lives.

Did you know that people with disability make up 10 per cent of the total Australian workforce? When you're looking for employees, keep in mind that people with disability can bring a range of skills to the workplace.

Advantages of employing people with disability People with disability work in all industries, in many different roles, and bring a range of skills, qualifications, talents and experience to business.

It makes good business sense to employ people with disability. Evidence has shown they tend to: • take fewer days off, take less sick leave and stay in jobs for longer than other workers • have fewer compensation incidents and accidents at work compared to other workers • be more affordable, as recruitment costs are often lower • build strong relationships with customers • boost workplace morale and enhance teamwork.

Preparing your workplace If you’re thinking about employing someone with disability, you may need to make changes to your

workplace to ensure it's accessible.

Most people with disability won’t need changes to the workplace, so it’s a good idea to chat with your employees first.

Changes to your workplace could include: • modifying the physical environment, such as special equipment • accessible car parking • accessible sanitary facilities, such as bathrooms and toilets • accessible room requirements in accommodation buildings • making work arrangements more flexible • training your staff to ensure they feel comfortable with communicating and working with people with disability.

Support for workers with disability

As an employer, it's good to know that there's also support for workers with disability, to help them adjust to their workplace. Here are a couple: • Employment Assistance Fund provides financial help to buy work related modifications and services.

This help is available for people with a disability who

DIAMOND TOOLING

Flooring Feb/March 2017 | 41

Business

are about to start a job, who are currently working, or who need help finding and preparing for work.

• Job Access has information for people with disability about finding work and being supported in the workplace.

Equal employment opportunity (eeo) and anti-discrimination

In Australia, national and state laws cover equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination in the workplace. You're required by these laws to create a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. It's important that as an employer, you understand your rights and responsibilities under human rights and antidiscrimination law. By putting effective anti-

discrimination and antiharassment procedures in place in your business you can improve productivity and increase efficiency.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has

a range of fact sheets to help you develop effective policies and best practice guidelines. The Fair Work Ombudsman also provides education and assistance for employees and employers on

preventing discrimination in the workplace.

Article courtesy of the business.gov.au website. For more information, visit the website.

We moved from a standard computer software package to ClearTile and what a difference! ClearTile’s reporting system is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

Paul Cannizzaro, Director, Designer’s Ultimate Tiles, Victoria

Anti Skid Rug Spray

New

Check out our full range online

If slippery rugs are a problem,

Concrete Grinders Concrete Cure Concrete Densifiers Concrete Repair Concrete Waterproofing

Anti Skid Rug Spray is your solution

The space age solution to an age old rug problem years ahead of other costly yet clumsy alternatives

Moisture Barriers Moisture Meters Polished Concrete Surface Prep Equipment Supa Sander

If stains are your problem why don’t you try

Sandi’s Carpet, Rug & Upholstery Stain Remover

SBC0160

After Distributor wanted for New Zealand

“From time of pour, to finished floor... we’ve got you covered”

Are you getting what you have paid for?

Densi Crete & Moisture Proof are the ONLY 100% Colloidal Silica products in the market!

Densi Crete

CONCRETE SEALERS

3 Can be applied at the time of pour

CONCRETE CURE & SEAL

3 Penetrates concrete

up to 200mm into the substrate

CONCRETE WATERPROOFING

Moisture Proof

MOISTURE BARRIERS

3 Pour or spray onto new or existing concrete

3 Apply floor coverings in just 24 hours …

F

RIE D L N

100%

C

LY TAL

100%

LOID OL

AL

M ON EN

ENVIR

Available at most Carpet and Rug Stores For your nearest stockist ph 0407 435 872

1300 044 625

www.contreat.com.au info@contreat.com.au

Y

Before

Concrete Sealers Coatings Diamond Tools Dust Extraction / Prevention Floor Sanders / Burnishers

SI LI C A

For more info & stockist details visit our website

www.duracore.com.au

Leading Concrete Protection Systems ...

SBC0159

Stops rugs, carpets squares, bath mats, slip on covers from slipping Does not stick or transfer to other surfaces Does not pick up dirt or lint Works on any smooth surfaces.

Helps prevent carpet runners from slipping on carpet Improves grip on fabric covered handles of rackets, golf clubs, baseball and cricket bats

YOUR ONE STOP FLOORING SHOP!

Flooring Feb/March 2017 | 43

ProductUpdate Making Access Issues Disappear Studies have proven that 80% of dirt inside buildings is tracked in from the outside, that it costs around $400 to remove 1kg of dirt and that in an entry with no matting it only takes 1500 people to remove 42% of polish and reduce gloss by 24%.

Not only does soil and moisture take a toll on the life of your floors but it also increases the risk of costly slip and fall accidents.

The team at Classic Architectural is committed to enhance the safety and aesthetics of all entrance areas. With an extensive range of products, they have the perfect solution for any application or budget.

Installing Integra Matting minimises safety risks, maintains the longevity of floor finishes and reduces cleaning costs, all in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Integra Matting by Classic – making your access issues disappear.

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 EDITOR Ronnie Gramazio Email: ronnie.gramazio@elitepublishing.com.au TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley@yahoo.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 GRAPHIC DESIGN Uber Creative Phone: (03) 8513 0208 Email: connect@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd

Style and Versatility The PuntoZero collection features surfaces with different technical characteristics that share the same material and chromatic language. Natural or semi-polished effect to emphasise a mood and style, PuntoZero is also about safety, guaranteed by the use of “Grip” anti-skid surfaces for the 60x120, 20x120 and 60x60 formats. Trade Port supplies the Puntozero range to the NSW market. Contact Trade Port International for more information.

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.

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Association

"Your Industry – Your Magazine" 44 | Flooring Feb/March 2017

Mapei are a world leader in the supply of adhesives for carpet, vinyl, LVT planks, rubber, timber flooring, primers, levelling compounds, moisture vapour barriers, and waterproofing membranes to the building industry.

Mapei possesses all the technology and can supply a complete range of innovative products adapted to all installation systems, on any scale. Mapei offer high performance products with cutting-edge technology to complete a perfect installation every time.

For further information please contact Mapei on 07 3276 5000 Email sales@mapei.com.au Website www.mapei.com.au

Advertisers Index

Exhibitioncalendar

2017 Exhibitions

MARCH 2017 16-19 Keramika

ASEAN’s dedicated ceramic tile event

Jakarta, Indonesia www.keramika.co.id 21-23

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR The leading international flooring show in the Asia-Pacific

Shanghai, China www.domotexasiachinafloor.com MAY 2017 22-25 DOMOTEX 2017 TURKEY

Trade fair for carpets and floor coverings

Gaziantep, Turkey www.domotexturkey.com 22-25

Middle East Covering 2017 Exhibition dedicated to the flooring, wall covering & surfaces industry

Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.middleeastcovering.com AUGUST 2017 10-12 BuildExpo Tanzania 2017

Flooring, interiors and lighting, building and construction material

Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania www.expogr.com/tanzania

Airstep Australia SEPTEMBER 2017 14-17 Furn Expo 2017

International furniture, home textile and carpet exhibition

Erbil, Iraq www.iraqfurnexpo.com 19-22

Habitat Valencia Flooring, furniture, kitchen, lighting, outdoor, home textiles and decoration. www.feriahabitatvalencia.com

24, 25

Ardex Australia

47

Carpet Court Choices Flooring

3 Front Cover, 9, 12, 13

Classic Architectural Group

2, 28

ConTreat

43

Covestro

29

Dunlop Flooring

5

27-28 Architect@Work Germany 2017

Specially tailored contact days for interior designers, architects, designers and consultants. www.architectatwork.de

Gibbon Group

37

GMK Logistics

43

Laser Measure Australia

31

OCTOBER 2017 18-19 Architect@Work France 2017

Specially tailored contact days for interior designers, architects, designers and consultants www.architectatwork.fr

Mapei Australia

45

MJS Floorcoverings

41

Oxtek Australia

Back Cover

RFMS Australasia

21, 22

*** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.

SUBSCRIBE NOW The only bi-monthly specialist business publication for the flooring and floorcoverings industries and trades. Totally pertinent and important to every retailer, manufacturer, distributor, specifier, interior designer, installer and carrier. Flooring Magazine‌. Servicing the domestic, commercial & industrial flooring markets throughout Australia & New Zealand - for over 30 years.

SUBSCRIBE NOW and receive Flooring Magazine free!

REGISTER YOUR DETAILS HERE

(*mandatory)

Name* ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................

Company*: .....................................................................................................................................................................................................

Email*: ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................

Address*: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................

State*:............................................................................................................ Post Code*: .........................................................................

Nature of business*: ..................................................................................................................................................................................

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

RETURN TO: Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd PO Box 800, Templestowe 3106, Victoria, Australia Or FAX to: +6139890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au

ARDEX FEATHER FINISH UNRIVALED PRODUCT UNRIVALED PERFORMANCE FEATHER

FINISH

Rapid Drying Smoothing Compound

ARDEX FEATHER FINISH Rapid Drying - Install floorcoverings after 15 minutes

Excellent Coverage - Skim coat up to 70m2

No primers or additives required

ARDEX Australia Pty Ltd 20 Powers Road Seven Hills NSW 2147 Phone: 1300 788 780 Fax: 1300 780 102

www.ardex.com

                          



®

THE NAME  





 





          

   

iendly y Fr • all 0 nt

•

• G

ee

r

   

VOC g/L .0



nt



Environ me



li nS tar C o m p

a

                                              



®



 

®

AUSTRALIA

THE NAME  

