Flooring June-July 2016

june/july 2016

The Choices Flooring Magic Carpet Ride 2016 One of the best retail flooring conferences hits Vietnam.

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For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis Chief Executive Officer Mobile: 0400 400 036 Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au Jason Verstak Group Manager - Marketing Mobile: 0498 136 395 Email: jverstak@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com.au

incorporating

FLOORS

june/july 2016 | vol 34 no 03 www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Industry News

Special Features

Regular Reports

FrontCover

04 Signature's newest members

14 Inaugural FAV awards night

01 Choices Flooring

05 Laticrete celebrates 60 years of industry firsts

18 Buying Groups

16 Airstep Retailer of the Month: Hoppens Carpets, Cairns, Qld

30 Carpet & Rugs

06 Classic launches all-new product catalogue

38 Floor Preparation

10 Mercedes Trophy 2016

44 Luxury Vinyl

34 Software 41 Featured Products 56 Business 58 Exhibition Calendar Advertisers Index

Flooring June/July 2016 3

News Signature’s newest members Due to strong business growth, Signature has announced a number of new appointments to support the business going into the future and to continue to enhance their presence in the marketplace.

Cameron Bath has been a long term employee at Signature and, at the tender age of just 22, has worked his way up through the company to become their youngest Area Sales Manager. Cameron will be servicing parts of the Victorian residential sales.

Glenda Cathersides joins Signature with a wealth of prior experience developing and working with corporate and national accounts, especially within the flooring

industry. Glenda will be working in a newly created role out of NSW as the Corporate Accounts Manager for the commercial division of the business.

Damien Ryan has been appointed to the newly created role of Technical Manager in Signature’s head office. Damien will be assisting the after sales department and brings with

Cameron Bath

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Curtis Email: jennifer.curtis@elitepublishing.com.au 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 – Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412 Email: annette@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au

4 Flooring June/July 2016

him essential knowledge and technical skills from previous flooring industry experience.

Fiona Aird has knowledge and experience looking after architects and designers in her previous roles in the plumbing, textile and carpet industries. Fiona has come on board as another valuable member of their Victorian sales team for the commercial division.

Glenda Cathersides

Damien Ryan

Growing into new segments, Signature has appointed Clem Sturgess as Timber and Laminate Sales Manager for the NSW residential area. With specialised knowledge and experience working in hard surfaces particularly, Clem will help to grow a completely new market segment for Signature as he progresses with the company.

Fiona Aird

Clem Sturgess

PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd 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 Jennifer Curtis – Group Managing Editor

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.

Ashley Cooper – National Sales Manager

"Your Industry – Your Magazine"

News Laticrete celebrates 60 years of industry firsts Karndean Designflooring unveils new Da Vinci collection new collection by product designers.

Following the Da Vinci unveiling, attendees were given the opportunity to participate in a workshop on how to use Karndean’s design components including design strips, borders, laying patterns, and plank and tile sizes in order to help craft a unique space.

Karndean’s technical specialists also provided an overview on luxury vinyl installation and the importance of proper adhesives. Rounding out the night, guided tours of the showroom, office and distribution centre offered a glimpse into the mechanics of the Karndean business.

Karndean Designflooring unveiled their striking new wood and stone look Da Vinci collection at an exclusive trade night in May, 2016.

Held at the Knoxfield head office in Melbourne, flooring retailers and commercial flooring contractors across Victoria viewed the striking designs up-close and were given a behind-the-scenes look into the processes and inspirations for the

For 60 years, Laticrete has been focused and committed to bringing improvements and innovation into building materials and products.

This tradition lives on today and is evident in the caliber of products Laticrete continually introduces to the market.

Laticrete is all about product innovation with advancements achieved in the areas of waterproofing, soundproofing, floor warming, adhesives, mortars, grouts, concrete solutions and more.

Laticrete products are industry accepted, code approved and backed by 100% materials system warranties, thereby assuring a successful installation each and every way. However, their best guarantee is their legacy with more than half a decade of experience with industrial, commercial and residential installations in every imaginable climate around the world.

Laticrete methods, materials and technology have been field and laboratory proven by architects, engineers, contractors and owners.

Offering an array of low VOC and sustainable products, Laticrete products contribute to LEED certification, exceed commercial/residential VOC

building requirements, and are backed by the most comprehensive warranties in the industry.

Circa 1962.

Laticrete founder, Dr Rothberg with his wife seen on site in 1963.

Timber flooring for new commercial applications New timber cassette and timber concrete composite (TCC) flooring systems are set to deliver spans of up to 10m while increasing structural efficiency.

Two new free Technical Design Guides from WoodSolutions www. woodsolutions.com.au provide design descriptions and full engineering details.

Although little used in Australian commercial and retail construction, timber composites have been extensively specified in bridges.

In Europe, however, timber composite systems have been widely applied since the early 1920s, largely owing to steel shortages following the First World War. Now, two new WoodSolutions Technical

Design Guides; #30 – Timber Concrete Composite Floors and #31 Timber Cassette Floors provide engineers, architects and building designers with the information they need to gain the benefits of these exciting timber flooring options.

The new guides are based on the results of years of research by the Structural Timber Innovation Company

(STIC), a unique collaboration between Australian and New Zealand commercial and academic partners to create innovative structural timber solutions. Part of the Expan prefabricated construction system, future Guides will cover long span LVL portal frames and trusses and innovative moment connections.

News

Classic launches all-new product catalogue Teaming up in the Book Bunker Melbourne’s Royal Children's Hospital opens a new chapter of literacy, learning, and adventure thanks to Choices Flooring Niddrie and Signature Flooring.

Teaming up with Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, they brought patients comfort, adventure, and fun in the new Book Bunker, which last month officially opened its doors to a whole new chapter of literacy and learning.

With the community at the heart of their businesses, Choices Flooring Niddrie and Signature Flooring generously offered their services to bring the latest flooring designs to the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Book Bunker, an initiative fully owned and operated by Scholastic Australia.

“It was a privilege to partner with Signature Flooring and Scholastic

Australia on this very special project,” said Scott Shearer, owner and manager of Choices Flooring Niddrie.

“Seeing all the smiles on the children’s faces just puts the icing on the cake.”

“Generosity from Choices Flooring Niddrie, Signature Flooring and other Melbourne-based companies has been overwhelming,” said Sharon Turner, Philanthropy Manager at Scholastic Australia. “Thanks to this support we have been able to develop an inviting and stylish environment for patients, while also providing the very best selection of books available.”

The Book Bunker is run by a dedicated team of volunteer librarians and marks the second one set up

by Scholastic Australia, which aims to have one established at every major children’s hospital across Australia.

PUBLIC NOTICE The Elite Publishing Group, with offices in various states, has been actively pursued by the ACCC and, in 2014, a notice of the proposed deregistration of this company was initiated by ASIC. The Elite Publishing Group is not in any way affiliated or connected with our company Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd – Publishers of well-known B2B magazines – which has been in business for well over 30 years.

Visit us at: www.elitepublishing.com.au

6 Flooring June/July 2016

Classic Architectural Group has released its new Edition 6 product catalogue.

This high quality publication is packed with over 200 pages of user friendly information including quality product photos and diagrams, detailed product information, case studies, colour guides and care and installation guides.

Classic’s spokesperson commented: “Not only do we continue to enhance and orchestrate the seamless and aesthetic experience of public space, but our comprehensive Edition 6 catalogue will be an enhancement to the quickreference shelf of every flooring contractor as well!”

New sponsorship for 2016 The Fremantle Dockers announced Choices Flooring as the official shorts sponsor and Gold sponsor for the 2016 Toyota AFL season.

“We were delighted to welcome Choices Flooring as our official shorts sponsor for the 2016 Toyota AFL Season,” said Fremantle Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich.

“Choices Flooring joined the Fremantle Dockers as a corporate partner in 2003 and has been a long term supporter of the club. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding partnership.”

“We are extremely pleased to be associated with such a professionally based organisation such as the

Fremantle Football Club,” said Newfurn’s General Manager – Marketing, Jason Verstak.

“As long time partners, we are excited that our association has become even stronger in 2016 and look forward to the season ahead.

“With the Fremantle Dockers playing 11 home games and 11 away games this season, the partnership will no doubt provide greater brand awareness for the Choices Flooring group, reiterating their brand promise to Australian consumers and highlighting their market positioning as Australia’s most progressive retail floorcoverings group,” concluded Steve Rosich.

News

Quick-Step Floors shone at Australian Fashion Week Synonymous with sophistication, innovation and fashion, Quick-Step was selected as the flooring of choice for a suite of fashion parades in the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia in May. The iconic Carriageworks contemporary multi-arts centre played host to a number of fashion parades during Australia’s flagship fashion festival.

More than 660 m² of Quick-Step’s laminate was laid, transforming Carriagework’s floor in the Box, Runway and Theatre to impressive and sophisticated catwalks for the models and fashion designers.

Signature is growing One year ago Signature Floors celebrated its 25th anniversary, which represented a colossal milestone for the company. A year on and more milestones are about to take place due to the overall business growth, with many more planned for the years ahead.

Directors Anthony O’Halloran and Robert Herten are at the helm of this family-owned and operated company, and are keen to explain what lies ahead.

“We have been very happy with our past performance to date, and we’re growing strongly year on year.” said Anthony. “We’re expanding as a company into new territories such as New Zealand, and this is a rather exciting time for us.”

Signature is also venturing into new hard surface flooring categories, having recently launched laminates back into its offering; however, there’s even more to come over the next few months with the addition of an engineered timber program expected to hit the market mid-year. This is in addition to the recently released products in the preexisting categories of carpet, carpet tile, sheet vinyl, LVT, rubber, needlepunch and Axminster.

Signature has also acquired land next to its current existing head office and warehouse, and plans are already underway to build an additional 9,000 m2 warehouse and office space, with part of it to be operational by 2017. With larger stock holding capacity, more products will be available “in stock” providing quicker turnaround times.

Signature is very peoplecentric, and the directors know the importance of having the right mix of employees and culture.

“We like to support and give opportunities to our staff, no matter where they are in our organisation.” said Anthony.

SIgnature has recently made new appointments to a number of areas of the business both internally and externally. By broadening and specialising roles they have been able to focus acutely on specific customer needs, further assisting the full service spectrum. “We have specialists and experience in all areas of flooring, which makes us very agile.” Rob added.

“We’re passionate about pushing boundaries in design and innovation – offering exciting options for all flooring categories,” concluded Anthony.

Robert Herten, Bill O’Halloran and Anthony O’Halloran at the Signature function to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary. Bill O’Halloran founded the company as New Floor Distributors before it was renamed Signature.

8 Flooring June/July 2016

We’re hiring!

Timber & Laminate Sales Managers • Positions available in NSW, VIC/TAS, SA and WA • Be part of the dynamic team at Signature Floors • Career growth opportunity Signature Floors is a leading provider of quality floor coverings to residential and commercial markets, developed and designed for the Australian market. Our ranges vary from the latest innovations in carpet and contemporary vinyls for the home, to durable carpet tiles, custom woven carpet and resilient flooring for all matter of commercial applications.

We are now expanding into the Timber and Laminate Flooring space and need four more sales professionals dedicated to these markets. They will complement our strong teams currently in NSW, VIC/TAS, SA and WA. Whilst experience in Timber and/or Laminate, or Territory Management would be an advantage, we are looking for people who are primarily like minded and willing to do what it takes to get the result.

The key tasks and responsibilities of this role will include: - Ability to convincingly present product features & benefits to retailers and their staff members, installers and architects/ designers.

- Build a loyal customer base.

- Analysis of key competitors.

- Identify market opportunities.

- Travel will be required within your state or territory.

A positive attitude, the ability to work collaboratively with others and integrate into our existing sales team is a must.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is driven and looking to grow professionally, whilst contributing to the growth of new market segments in our proactive marketing-based organisation.

If you believe you have either the experience or knowledge that could help Signature to become more successful in our new Hard Flooring segments, in any of the states mentioned above, we want to hear from you!

The appropriate remuneration package will be designed for the right person based on experience and ability. If you think you’d be interested in joining part of a dynamic, forward thinking company and culture, please apply directly to Robert Herten at robert.herten@signaturefloors.com.au. Your application and interest in this role will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Signature Floorcoverings Pty Ltd, 13 Wurundjeri Drive, Epping Victoria 3076 signaturefloors.com.au

News Mercedes Trophy 2016

Randwick TAFE graduation awards Laticrete was invited by Randwick TAFE, NSW, to sponsor a new perpetual award for Outstanding Student in the area of Certificate lll in Wall and Floor Tiling at Randwick TAFE for the 2016 annual graduation evening in May 2016.

The inaugural award is the prestigious Dr HM Rothberg Trophy for Outstanding Achievement for Stage 3, for the final year of students.

Students also received their much awaited TAFE certificates on the night.

Dr HM Rothberg was the founder of Laticrete and the thin-bed mortar, 4237 Latex Additive, which has helped shape the future of the tile and flooring industry.

Award recipient Nurudeen Adeleke of Bel Castro Tiling, Sydney, with Jennifer Keeley, senior TAFE teacher and Craig Hunter, Laticrete’s NSW Technical Representative.

Laticrete is a firm supporter of TAFE NSW, providing education, training and materials, and helping to develop current and future generations of tradespeople that come through this much valued, skills and learning centre.

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Among the 82 lucky finalists who made their way to the MercedesTrophy National Final in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, with the hope of making the World Final in Stuttgart, Germany was a single representative from the flooring industry.

Keith Bromfield from Solomons, Osborne Park, WA qualified by scoring an unbelievable 50 points at Joondalup Country Club last December.

The MercedesTrophy is an exclusive series of invitational golf tournaments conducted around the world and has been running since 1989. Each year over 65,000 players from more than 60 countries tee off in local, regional and national events, competing to qualify for the MercedesTrophy world final.

“The event final was an expirience that money just can not buy and is probably the most desired amateur golf competition you can play in,” said Keith. “All players and partners converged on Sanctary Cove to be treated like stars and be pampered by the Mercedes team. For example, each night when we returned to our rooms Mercedes had placed gifts for both players and partners, which was just a fantastic touch of class.

“The weekend started with the Thursday night welcome dinner hosted by Mark Baretta (Sunrise sports presenter) who was the MC all weekend. The dinner guest speakers included five time world motorcycle champion Micheal Doohan and LPGA multiple winner Racheal Hetherington.”

Events at the competition included the chance to win a brand new not released yet Mercedes SLC180 convertible while the 12th hole par 3 saw players go head to head against Racheal Hetherington in “ beat the pro”.

“You had to get closer to the pin than her on your tee shot – I did manage to beat her,” said an excited Keith.

While the golf was being hotly contested the partners were being treated to a cooking class by renowned Sbs and Melbourne restaurateur of Baha, Shane Delia.

The final gala dinner was very impressive with Micheal Klim as guest speaker.

“Every player and partner were all winners and felt like it. The Mercedes hospitality was second to none,” said Keith. “The whole weekend was about the players and partners having the experience of a lifetime.

“I came eighth with 65 points. The winning score was 77.”

Kenbrock welcomes Michael Sinclair to Kenbrock Flooring.

Michael has grown up in the flooring business with both his grandmother and his father having been flooring retailers in the past. Michael himself is an electrician by trade and has also worked in flooring retail.

Having run his own business as a flooring installer for some years, he brings practical experience to the position. He is now teaming

up with his father, Barry Sinclair, who has been the WA State Manager for Kenbrock for many years, to cover the area north of and around Perth.

welcoming another addition

to the Choices Flooring family

e r o t s w ne in

le

a Parkd

Choices Flooring would like to welcome their newest member, former AFL footballer Shane Valenti into the Choices Flooring family. After playing for Melbourne FC, Shane continued to play in the VFL where he played for Port Melbourne and Noble Park and won two JJ Liston Trophies back to back. After working in Sales and Account Management at Coca Cola Amatil for seven years, Shane decided it was time for a change and opened a new Choices Flooring showroom in Parkdale (VIC).

I had some contacts within the floorcoverings industry and was looking to challenge myself. I approached Choices Flooring and due to the support and guidance I received from Central Office, it was evident that they were a group I would like to be apart of.

The Store Evolution program was a huge highlight for me, and really gives my store a point of difference. Myself and the team are really looking forward to an exciting and successful future with the Choices Flooring group.

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 11

News

A major transformation When Mike Wales purchased his business, Yarra Valley Floors in Lilydale, it would be fair to say that it had been somewhat neglected.

Formally known as Lilydale Floorcoverings, a member of Independent Carpet Retailers (ICR), the store has been in operation in Lilydale for almost 20 years. Mike purchased the store in May 2014 and has been busy making a major transformation of the business since then.

“Just over a year ago I resigned from the ICR/ Flooring Xtra Group and joined The WoolSet Group. It has been and still is a work in progress to drag it into the

21st century,” said Mike. “The interior was extremely dated.

“With the help of The WoolSet Group and, in particular, their General Manager, Andrew Verstak, I have turned this shop around.”

Having been in the flooring industry for over 45 years, Mike is well known throughout Australia and New Zealand from his previous position as Showroom Manager for Karndean International.

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Tarkett attends World Economic Forum’s Asean Summit in Malaysia Tarkett attended the World Economic Forum’s ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on 1 and 2 June.

The ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) summit celebrates 25 years of the shaping of the regional agenda in South-East Asia, culminating in the launch of the free trade ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Rod Brookes, Managing Director of Tarkett Asia attended the event to engage in various sessions and meetings, during the two days.

Tarkett joined the World Economic Forum as a Partner Company in January 2016 as a dual member, covering the Global Challenge initiative on the ‘Environment and Natural Resource Security’ and as an Industry Partner for ‘Infrastructure and Urban Development’. The World Economic Forum brings together the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape

global, regional and industry agendas at international summits.

“I am delighted to be part of this important summit,” said Tarkett Asia Managing Director, Rod Brookes. “At Tarkett, we are committed to delivering environmentally responsible products that contribute to people’s health and wellbeing in the built environment. This is an imperative today in the face of fast urbanization, a growing world population and the pressure on natural resources.

I am looking forward to discussing this and other challenges at the meeting.”

Recently, Tarkett was a contributor to the new WEF report, “Shaping the Future of Construction: A healthy outlook and how to make it a reality”, published in April – part of WEF’s Industry Agenda project exploring how the engineering and construction sector can drive sustainable business growth.

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Ensuring safety on the track Three phase planetary grinder, the Schwamborn DSM800, powered through MotorSports pit stop to ensure safety on the track.

In the entrance to the boxing / alley area there was a layer of old coating that needed

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Classed as hard work, the project was made easy thanks to the production and power of the DSM800 three-phase concrete floor grinder with dust extraction from All Preparation Equipment.

BE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE 144 members and growing

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Lewis Chief Executive Officer Mobile: 0400 400 036 Email: alewis@choicesflooring.com.au

Tim Drew Group Manager - Retail Development Mobile: 0425 751 756 Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com.au

IndustryAwards

Inaugural FAV awards night The Flooring Association of Victoria (FAV) held its inaugural awards night to recognise innovation, ingenuity and excellence over multiple disciplines at the Atlantic Docklands on 18 June.

This was the first FAV Industry Awards Night and was well attended by over 290 sponsors, members and guests. The night was attended by many of the leading lights of the Victorian flooring industry and was a success.

The night was also to present a Life Membership Award to Barry Coveney in recognition of Barry`s service to the flooring industry over many years.

Dave Robertson, Vice President of FAV, presented Barry with his award and gave the attendees present an overview of Barry`s contribution to the foundation of FAV and his outstanding service and excellence to the flooring industry over many years. Barry`s award was very well received by all the industry participants who attended the night.

The 2016 award winners were announced by the

14 Flooring June/July 2016

Master of Ceremonies Mike Larkin and presented by FAV`s President Ben Van Der Veen. These awards were divided into six categories; Education, Health Care, High Rise Residential, Low Rise Residential, Office Fit-out and Hospitality.

Ben Van Der Veen, in addressing the attendees, commented on the extremely high quality of workmanship and professionalism that each of the award categories attracted and the difficulty the awards judges had in assessing each individual nomination.

In organising the awards night FAV wishes to highlight the outstanding contribution the nominated companies have in providing quality workmanship and professionalism to our industry. FAV also wishes to acknowledge the flooring industry sponsors who contributed very generously towards the success of the night.

It is intended that FAV Awards Night will be an ongoing event and FAV looks forward to nominations for next year`s event.

Award Winners Categories

Company

Location

Education

J J Carpets

Flinders Christian College

Health Care

Floor 91

Vic Comprehensive Cancer Centre

High Rise Residential

Omnifloor

Swanston Square

Low Rise Residential

Guyetts Carpets

Private Residence Brighton

Office Fit Out

Trump

Eastern Innovation Bus Centre

Hospitality

Armstrong / Fink Textural\

Lido Cinema

Retailer of the month

H

Diverse and challenging Hoppens Carpets, Cairns, Far North Queensland Philip Ashley reports:

16 Flooring June/July 2016

oppens Carpets is an independent flooring supplier and installer in Far North Queensland servicing what is possibly one of the biggest areas of any flooring store in Australia. From the tip of Cape York to Townsville and all the way west to the Gulf of Carpentaria, the area is about the same size as Germany or Thailand. Add to that the many islands in the Great Barrier Reef and you have a massive footprint that is both diverse and challenging.

Hoppens Carpets is located in Cairns and has been operating since 1974 when Bob and Marina Hoppen purchased Major Carpets, an existing business. Within a few years they relocated to new premises and renamed the business Hoppens Carpets.

Over the years the business has grown and a new purpose built showroom and warehouse in 2012 has recently been expanded to over 2,000 m2: quite a substantial size for a regional area. And they’re not finished yet, with plans to extend the showroom and rework the warehouse now that they have “lived” with it for a few months.

The growing business is now operated by Wayne and Marlene Hoppen. Since 2012 their contractor team has expanded to 14 people and they have taken on one new administation person and two new sales staff, one of whom has experience in artificial turf, which has seen good growth and is a new market opportunity.

“Our staff knowledge is so important,” said Marlene.

“Things are changing in the industry; new exciting products are coming through regularly and we need to be up-to-date with all aspects to be able to sell with confidence.” Wayne added: “We wouldn’t be able to grow if we didn’t have the right people with us and our team is excellent.”

Wayne is committed to the apprentice training program and past apprentices still work in the business. He’s taken on two more in the past few years and is pleased with the training delivered at TAFE, saying it meets their needs and “keeps up with the industry”. These apprentices go to trade school in Brisbane for three weeks once a year, a trip of 1718 kilometres each way.

Hoppen’s clientele includes government departments, tourism operators, hotels, new domestic and commercial builds and refurbishments.

They don’t specialise in anything: such is the nature of the region that they have to be able to do everything. Recent high-profile clients include Rydges Esplanade and Holiday Inn hotels where every floor was carpeted to a tight quality and time deadline. Another example is marine carpet for reef boats and floating pontoons. Installers may need to stay on the pontoon or boat a few nights but, unfortunately for them, it’s a green zone so no fishing!

Hoppen’s business philosophy is that they are “in the business of developing returning customers”. This comes back to treating their customers well. A period of limited growth in the Cairns region is over and Hoppen’s is surfing a wave of rejuvenation, refreshed energy and positivity.

A working day at Hoppens starts out at 7-30am with Wayne organising the contractors.

It can often start out at the airport when a crew needs to do a job at a remote mining town or Aboriginal community. Carpet and other flooring may be shipped by truck or barge if it’s an island location; such is the varied nature of the business.

When Wayne’s not at the shop his passion turns to his collection of restored American cars and the Hot Rodicals car club. A motor mechanic by trade, Wayne restores them himself and with the club. He is also actively involved in several charities including the oncology ward at Cairns hospital.

Hoppens Carpets has been part of the Cairns business community for 42 years. Their passion and customer service has seen them grow into a major flooring supplier in the region and this stands Hoppens Carpets in good stead for whatever the future holds.

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Magic Carpet Ride 2016 – the best yet!

Overlooking the ocean of Non Nuoc Beach and back resting on the majestic Marble Mountain range, the Vinpearl Resort Da Nang, Vietnam, played host to Choices Flooring’s Magic Carpet Ride (MCR) 2016.

With a key focus on culture, Choices Flooring’s MCR 2016 was held over seven days (2 to 9 April) and provided over 360 Choices Flooring members and alliance partners with once-ina-lifetime experiences, such as the Hoi An Street Party and Rice Paddy Dinner.

“What a wonderful family event – in fact, the best ever!” said Embelton Flooring’s Chief Executive Officer, James Embelton. “The biggest problem my wife and I now have is figuring out how to make our next family trip come close to Vietnam – the Hoi An Street Party event was remarkable.’’

In addition to the network events, attendees were given the opportunity to further immerse themselves in the Vietnamese culture. Whether exploring and discovering

“The Magic Carpet Ride 2016 was brilliant, not only was Vietnam an amazing country to visit and see, the experience is one that I will remember forever,” said Signature Floorcoverings Director, Robert Herten. “The night in the Rice Paddy field, linking in with locals and their way of life is a special opportunity.”

Hue’s impressive imperial and royal citadel, pagodas and tombs, to My Son Sanctuary’s cham empire, hundreds of MCR attendees choose to take a step back in time and immerse themselves in some of Vietnam’s most historic sites on the optional tours run by Choices Flooring’s local travel partner, EXO Travel.

As history may not be for everyone, the smell of

18 Flooring June/July 2016

Vietnamese cooking attracted the noses of many other MCR attendees. While making their way to Ms Vy’s restaurant in Hoi An by bicycle or bus, attendees also got the chance to taste cultural delicacies such as pig's ear, jellyfish, and silk worm before hitting the kitchen to put their skills to the test.

“I was extremely impressed with the entire

event – from the location to the facilities, tours and special events,” said Victoria Carpet’s Managing Director, Phil Smith. “Most of all it was the terrific atmosphere, friendliness and culture of the members of Choices Flooring that made the event memorable.’’

Moving from the greens in the kitchen to those outdoors, Vietnam’s most awarded golf course, The Dunes, which was created by Australian golf legend and former world no. 1, Greg Norman, played host to the always popular Airstep Golf Day. The event this year saw 18 teams, including the first ever women’s team, along with their personal caddies hit the greens.

From one play to another, the inaugural Dunlop Flooring Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament saw over 30 players hit the tables and battle it out for their chance to win cash and prizes. From rookies to regulars, local and

international spectators, many members and alliance partners are already talking about the next one, which will take place at the MCR 2018.

Dunlop Flooring’s Alistair Read and Andrew Spence put their best poker faces forward and, as a result, ended up in the winner’s circle. They kindly donated their winnings to local charity – The Kianh Foundation (www.koanh.org.uk) which provides children with special needs in Hoi An and Central Vietnam with education, physical and speech therapy plus life skills and support.

An additional $5,000 was donated by Choices Flooring and Dunlop Flooring, which will enable one child to attend the Kianh Foundation’s learning centre for a year.

However, there’s no question that the signature event this year was the Rice Paddy Dinner, which was hosted within a local farmer's rice field on a custom built bamboo structure. Attendees

“I was extremely impressed with the entire event, from the location to the facilities, tours and special events,” said Victoria Carpet’s Managing Director, Phil Smith. “Most of all it was the terrific atmosphere, friendliness and culture of the members of Choices Flooring that made the event memorable.’’

“What a wonderful family event – in fact, the best ever!” said Embelton Flooring’s Chief Executive Officer, James Embelton. “The biggest problem my wife and I now have is figuring out how to make our next family trip come close to Vietnam - the Hoi An Street Party event was remarkable.’’

hopped off the bus just in time to see the spectacular scene of the sun setting over the rice fields. As they walked across the bamboo bridge, they were transported back to an 1800s Vietnamese marketplace fuelled with entertainment, and of course local cuisine.

“The Magic Carpet Ride 2016 was brilliant, not only was Vietnam an amazing country to visit and see, the experience is one that I will remember forever,” said Signature Floorcoverings Director, Robert Herten. “The night in the Rice Paddy field,

linking in with locals and their way of life, was a special opportunity.”

With a personalised experience from start to finish the MCR 2016 catered for all, fostering lifelong memories and friendships that all make being part of the Choices Flooring family so special.

Unfortunately all good things tend to come to an end.

To close the MCR 2016, attendees gathered poolside to enjoy casual drinks and canapes while exchanging stories and reminiscing on all the highlights that made this the best MCR to date.

Choices Flooring’s inaugural General Excellence in Marketing and Sales (GEMS) Awards showcases outstanding service and sales performances

Dollar Growth in Total Sales Metro Members VIC: Choices Flooring Nunawading TAS: Choices Flooring Kingston QLD: Choices Flooring Centenary WA: Choices Flooring Joondalup SA/NT: Choices Flooring Keswick NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Castle Hill

Country Members VIC: Choices Flooring Wodonga QLD: Choices Flooring Toowoomba WA: Choices Flooring Geraldton SA/NT: Choices Flooring Alice Springs NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Port Macquarie

National Winner Choices Flooring Joondalup WA

National Winner Choices Flooring Toowoomba QLD

Percentage Growth in Total Sales Metro Members VIC: Choices Flooring Nunawading TAS: Choices Flooring Hobart QLD: Choices Flooring Centenary WA: Choices Flooring by Gundrys SA/NT: Choices Flooring by David McLeay NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Narellan

Country Members VIC: Choices Flooring Wodonga QLD: Choices Flooring by Campbells WA: Choices Flooring Geraldton SA/NT: Choices Flooring Alice Springs NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Port Macquarie

National Winner Choices Flooring Narellan NSW/ACT

National Winner Choices Flooring Port Macquarie QLD

Store Person of the Year State Winners VIC: Judy Wallace, Choices Flooring by Thomsons TAS: Ben Holt, Choices Flooring Launceston QLD: Kelli Binning, Choices Flooring Alderley WA: Adam Blackwood, Choices Flooring Joondalup SA/NT: Anne Koler, Choices Flooring Blackwood NSW/ACT: Jenni Lee, Choices Flooring Coffs Harbour

National Winner Ben Holt Choices Flooring Launceston TAS

Jack Swinton Award State Winners VIC: Choices Flooring Niddrie TAS: Choices Flooring Launceston QLD: Choices Flooring Alderley WA: Choices Flooring by Albany Interiors SA/NT: Choices Flooring Eastwood NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Southern Highlands

National Winner Choices Flooring Launceston TAS

Alliance Partner Award Carpet: Victoria Carpets Timber, Bamboo & Laminate: Embelton Flooring Resilient Flooring: Signature Floors Underlay & Accessories: MJS Floorcoverings

Hall of Fame With over 30 years contributing to the Choices Flooring group, industy and local community, Martin Lambert (Marty) is the first member of the GEMS Hall of Fame. Sadly, Martin passed away last year but the award was accepted on his behalf by the Chairman of Choices Flooring, Shane Chillingworth.

Martin Lambert

BuyingGroups

Carpet Court Aust announces new CEO Carpet Court has officially inaugurated James Hayward to the role of Chief Executive Officer to the business.

James brings to Carpet Court nearly three decades of retail and business management experience.

His wealth of knowledge leading membership based organisations, building brands

and market leadership coupled with practical retail strategy is exciting for the business.

James’s inspiring career began in 1988 as a Woolworth’s management trainee where he quickly navigated the program and was appointed Store Manager – the youngest in the country at the time. Moving to Myer,

"My plan is to help evolve the company by overlaying my knowledge of retail and strategy, to showcase and grow the vast range of products and offerings for the local customer to achieve the look they’ll love.”

James Hayward

22 Flooring June/July 2016

James spent nearly five years as a business manager, where ultimately he was responsible for managing menswear and ladies cosmetics in the Sydney city store.

After an International stint with GAP in London, James moved to Melbourne, leading the strategic and operational management of Australia’s first Niketown in Melbourne followed by roles with the Freedom Group.

In 2004 James worked for Telstra as the National Retail Skills and Capabilities Specialist and later, Group Manager Marketing and Visual Merchandising Telstra Branded Channel, responsible for increasing the capability in the 360 store retail network and simplifying the retail marketing offers in stores.

Most recently James spent seven years as CEO of specialist bedding and bedroom furniture retailer, Forty Winks. Alongside newly appointed Carpet Court Chief Marketing Officer, Kara Norris, he relaunched the Forty Winks brand, transforming the business driving growth and market share.

James looks forward to applying his learnings and experience to Carpet Court through working with the board and all the members.

“Carpet Court is in really solid shape through the tireless work of the members, the board, the national support centre team and our fabulous suppliers so, for me, it’s about maximising the company’s growth potential in the Australian market,” James said.

“Since starting, I’ve been travelling, meeting store owners, and it’s clear the network boasts an incredible range of members that are community-based, multigenerational and who truly understand flooring. Many of our members have a

trade background providing a personalised service to our customers.

“Carpet Court is unique in that it offers a home solution for every Australian, beyond just flooring and for every budget.

My plan is to help evolve the company by overlaying my knowledge of retail and strategy, to showcase and grow the vast range of products and offerings for the local customer to achieve the look they’ll love,” James said.

Design Hub magazine To help flooring and interiors customers make the process of choosing the right flooring easier, Carpet Court has launched the second issue of its annual design magazine, Design Hub. Inside the 2016-17 Design Hub magazine readers will find expert tips, tricks and advice from ambassadors Darren Palmer and Shelley Craft, to simplify the process, and showcase a range of products for any project.

The magazine can be viewed and a free copy ordered on Carpet Court’s website: http://www. carpetcourt.com.au/

BuyingGroups

Jack Andersen and Brian Cooper

Andersens maps national expansion Andersens was founded in 1958 in the town of Gatton, just west of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. A philosophy of honesty, integrity and respect, combined with professional, leading-edge business operating systems and practices, has earned them the reputation of being ‘the respected name in floorcoverings’ for over 50 years.

24 Flooring June/July 2016

Since 2000 Andersens Floor Coverings has more than doubled its retail turnover to $90 million as well as recently celebrating its two biggest sales months on record as it enters its 58th year of operation.

The highly regarded familyowned flooring franchise has come a long way from its regional roots in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley. It is now established as the largest retailer in Queensland and

northern New South Wales with robust plans for national expansion.

Boasting 46 brick-andmortar stores and one mobile showroom, Andersens CEO, Brian Cooper attributes the company’s continued growth and success to a number of key factors.

“We have been very lucky to have started the business in Queensland – a state which has seen relative economic

stability. We can work rain, hail or shine and the flooring industry is not reliant on just one industry. When the buildling industry slows down, people tend to renovate and interior design preferences are constantly adapting to changing trends,” he explained.

“Outstanding customer service is our key differentiator and ensures we retain market leadership. The majority of our stores are franchises, with just six company-owned stores.

Many of our franchisees have been with us for upwards of 15 years, some for 25 or more.

“Their passion for the business is a key driver of our continued growth,” he added.

All Andersens stores have a mobile showroom component, with the first standalone mobile showroom being piloted in Tamworth, NSW. In just 12 months of operation, the mobile showroom has achieved significant success and is now rated among the top 20 stores in terms of turnover.

“Our customers love the convenience of our mobile showrooms – we’re always available at the time that suits them best. Within each of our existing stores, 70% of the business is conducted in someone’s home rather than the brick-and-mortar showroom.”

“We are planning to expand our reach to 150 territories within the next 10 years via a staged roll-out of both the mobile showrooms and brickand-mortar stores. We are already receiving significant interest in our mobile format from potential franchisees,” Mr Cooper said.

Now CEO, Brian Cooper started as a carpet layer with Andersens in 1979 and assisted Rod Andersen’s son, Jack to grow the business, opening another two stores in Toowoomba in the 1980s. The first official franchise opened in Ipswich in 1952.

New stores open in three states Ipswich local radio station River 949 and Carpet Court invited Ipswich locals to join Carpet Court ambassador and TV personality, Shelley Craft, to open the flooring retailer’s newest store, Ipswich Carpet Court in Bundamba, in May. The event gave locals the chance to celebrate a new hub of home improvement and interior design in Ipswich, while enjoying a complimentary sausage sizzle as well as free face painting for kids and plenty of prizes, including a $1,000 flooring voucher to giveaway.

With more than 12 years’ experience in the flooring industry, store owners, Kirsty and Shaun Barber have the skills and experience to tackle any flooring challenge. The duo ensures they stay up-todate with the latest industry trends, embracing new products and techniques.

The locally owned business is now the newest member of Australia’s largest flooring retailer, joining a network of more than 200 Carpet Court stores nationwide.

Two other new stores to recently join the Carpet Court family are situated in Malaga, WA and Sunbury, Victoria

Shaun and Kirsty Barber with Carpet Court ambassador, Shelley Craft

The Ipswich Carpet Court team

Both the Malaga and Sunbury Carpet Court stores opened their doors in April this year.

The Sunbury is owned by Peter and Christine Taylor, who have over 10 years’ experience with Carpet Court.

“We’re very pleased to welcome them all to the Carpet Court network. We look forward to watching the businesses flourish in the coming years.”

“We’re looking forward to meeting locals and offering our expertise on interior products and installation.

We’ve been encouraging the local community to come down and say hello.

As Australia’s largest retail floor covering group, Carpet Court offers a large range of flooring options at competitive pricing, which we are proud to provide the local community” Peter said.

Malaga store owner, Jeet Singh has over 12 years experience in the

industry, offering some of the best advice in the area.

His handpicked team have considerable experience and stay up-to-date with the latest trends, new products and techniques.

Carpet Court’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kara Norris, is excited to welcome the three new stores to the Carpet Court family.

“We’re very pleased to welcome them all to the Carpet Court network. We look forward to watching the businesses flourish in the coming years,” said Kara.

Flooring June/July 2016 25

BuyingGroups

Fabulous flooring experience Flooring Xtra is a strong brand identity in the market driving high shop traffic.

With its low cost fee structure and the growing store numbers in every state it is an attractive proposition to prospective members. It has exclusive brands and products stocked for group members as well as high exposure to national commercial clients, which is shared amongst the stores.

“Our promise to our franchisees is to inspire them to be passionate, to enable them to be experts in their local communities

and to achieve excellence by delivering reliable, simple systems as well as knowledgeable and progressive guidance,” said Scott Enno, Director, Flooring Xtra.

“With support from people who have actually run a flooring business, group stores have access to experienced and practical support in running their businesses.

“There is an exclusive point-of-sale system that manages everything from loaning samples to customers to quotes, stock, installations

and customer payments.

This makes the running of the stores more efficient, so members can concentrate on the important items. It is also compatible with all the major accounting systems.

“A fabulous flooring experience” is our promise to customers. “Our goal is to deliver a welcoming environment to our customers, where they can have confidence about the flooring decisions they make.”

Being part of a network of over 150 stores across Australia and New Zealand that celebrates independent

Scott Enno, Director, Flooring Xtra

spirit and local community plus aligning it within a strong, bold and fun national brand, Flooring Xtra is a team that openly shares experiences, inspiration and advice, so that everyone in the group has the best opportunity to succeed and be the best in their local market.

This year’s national conference is being held in Melbourne in August.

Industry opportunities for youth Following the launch of the Coalition Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-TrialHire) program, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Minister for Employment Senator Michaela Cash joined Newfurn CEO Andrew Lewis at locally owned and operated Choices Flooring

by David McLeay in Hilton, South Australia, to discuss the huge employment and apprenticeship opportunities available within the Australian retail floorcoverings industry.

Flooring installation may not be the first trade that comes to mind when a teenager says they want to become a tradie; however, as one of the most highly demanded occupations on the National Skills Needs List and a salary much higher than traditional trades, Newfurn, the parent company of Choices Flooring and WoolSet retail stores, is determined to re-position flooring installation within teens minds.

Australia’s steady demand growth means consumers may have to wait up to two months after purchasing their flooring to have it installed

26 Flooring June/July 2016

and, with commencements of trade apprenticeships as a whole declining over 17% last year, it was clear action had to be taken to turn these trends around. Given the absence of a governing industry association, Newfurn took the initiative and, last August, established the Newfurn Training Academy.

The Newfurn Training Academy offers a leading Apprenticeship Program for new flooring installers, Trade Card accreditation for experienced flooring installers and Master Class professional development opportunities for flooring installers, workplace trainers, sales consultants and store owners.

This dynamic new apprenticeship program brings together major flooring suppliers, committed

employers, and other industry specialists to provide extensive hands on practical experience. This is balanced with a purpose built learning management system (LMS) that takes care of theoretical side of the program, enabling each apprentice to access their learning resources and submit assignments and evidence of competence via mobile technology.

Mr Lewis said the launch of the Youth Jobs PaTH program by the Coalition Government would provide further opportunities for youth to develop a career within the retail floorcoverings industry.

“We currently have a massive skills shortage within the retail flooring industry as a whole. With no governing industry association, the launch of our Newfurn

Training Academy was a first step towards addressing this issue,” Mr Lewis said.

“As all our Choices Flooring and WoolSet stores are locally owned and operated, providing opportunities for young people can be a challenge. The Youth Jobs PaTH program will provide our stores with the support they require to provide employment opportunities for young people.

“What’s exciting is that all successful candidates can then continue their career progression within the industry through the Newfurn Training Academy. Whether it’s becoming a flooring installer, interior decorator or owning their very own store, they will become the next generation of leaders in the industry.”

BuyingGroups

Andersens opens its largest store Andersens has officially opened its largest store in the country – Andersens Coffs Harbour – in the expanding Isles Drive industrial area.

Positioning itself among Australia’s best home retail stores, the industrial-inspired Andersens Coffs Harbour showroom has more than doubled its floorspace to allow greater choices for creating a unique and personalised home. Andersens Coffs Harbour engaged local firm Fisher Design + Architecture to plan and complete the contemporary and functional store fitout.

The carpet, hard flooring, tiles, blinds and awnings sections are continually expanding with updated options, with the team at Andersens Coffs Harbour continually striving to source unique materials and new finishes, including environmentally friendly and low emission products.

Andersens Coffs Harbour Franchisee, Peter Meagher and his partner Katrina Mckay travelled

28 Flooring June/July 2016

extensively around Sydney and Melbourne, seeking out the latest retail concepts to ensure they could create a premium homemaker retail experience.

“I am incredibly proud to officially open the brand new Andersens. We have worked hard during the build and the move and I am grateful to all the local businesses who worked with us to create an innovative retail space which inspires. We were delighted with the work of Fisher Design + Architecture, which undertook the concept design. The finished showroom uses colour, texture, and raw materials to provide a neutral backdrop, designed to engage and pull customers through the variety of product displays,” said Mr Meagher.

"We operated the previous Coffs Harbour store for over five years and developed a strong understanding of the needs and wants of our customers.

We essentially outgrew the space so took the plunge to

custom-build a showroom to provide a unique retail experience.

“We now have a space that not just functions well but one in which customers can move between flooring, wall and window coverings to build a total concept.

“It is an exciting time to be a business in Coffs Harbour and I’m very proud of our whole team of dedicated staff who continue to exemplify the Andersens values and deliver a quality customer experience,” he concluded.

"We have worked hard during the build and the move and I am grateful to all the local businesses who worked with us to create an innovative retail space which inspires."

A step ahead of the rest!

Franchise opportunities now available.

From respect comes success.

Andersens was founded in 1958 in the town of Gatton, just west of Brisbane. Perhaps it is our country roots, but from the beginning, Andersens has always maintained that our customers are our livelihood and we are therefore 100 percent committed to ensuring that their satisfaction comes first.

Andersens was founded on the principles of honesty, integrity and respect in all aspects of the business.

This philosophy is still paramount today, and combined with our professional, leading-edge business operating systems and practices, has earned us the reputation of being ‘the respected name in floor coverings’ for nearly 60 years.

This high standard of service and ongoing commitment to our customers means that Andersens is the preferred choice for floor coverings, both for first time customers referred to us by others, and repeat clients who appreciate our old-fashioned service principles.

To ensure your business charges ahead from the word go, Andersens sticks with you every step of the way: We assist you in finding the right location, building and fitting out your store, filling your store with necessary stock, finding and training your staff, and with your help assists with orchestrating your grand opening and 12 month plans. Alternatively, if you are interested in one of our new Mobile operations we can get your business up and running fast.

For a confidential discussion on how owning an Andersens franchise can put you a step ahead of the rest, call Brendan Mulheran on 0448 946 373 or email bmulheran@andersens.com.au

CARPET • TIMBER • VINYL • TILES • RUGS • SHUTTERS • BLINDS • AWNINGS

Carpets&Rugs

Everything old is... New Again Designer Rugs has unveilled New Again by Petrina Turner Design – a collection of four hand tufted rugs referencing family memories and crafts handed down through generations. The collection blends historical reference with contemporary style, and bold colour palettes and textures.

Petrina Turner’s collaboration with Designer Rugs is a full circle moment, perfectly fitting for someone who holds tightly to the places and people that have influenced her life. Petrina began her design career over 20 years ago in the design and production team at Designer Rugs, going on to become their senior designer.

When she moved on to grow her interiors business she left with an invaluable wealth of experience and the support of her Designer Rugs family.

Her passion for rugs did not end there though. Petrina has been creating bespoke rugs ever since that form the centre piece for many her projects.

“I believe you should celebrate everything... cherish those around you... be grateful. The joy in life is in the experiences we share and the stories we tell,” said Petrina.

All designs can be custom coloured and sized to become a part of your own personal story.

What is heathered yarn?

YOUR ONE STOP FLOORING SHOP!

A heathered yarn produces a beautiful, muted palette across the carpet surface enhancing the natural appeal of wool.

Heathered wool carpets, particularly in loop products, are popular at the moment: they give the carpet a rustic, natural look.

Heathered yarns are created when various stock-dyed staple colours (three to five colours of varying percentage by weight) are blended together before carding.

Staple is the loose greasy wool shorn from sheep prior

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30 Flooring June/July 2016

to being scoured or washed.

Scoured staple is then dyed prior to blending, carding and spinning.

The carding process takes these loose blended dyed wool staples, aligns and blends the fibres even further. This produces a carded sliver, a beautiful blend of the coloured fibres that is then spun into yarn.

An example of products with heathered yarns are Hycraft’s Intertwine Char Brown and selected colours of Caribbean and Strand.

Carpets&Rugs

Carpet colour to invigorate education spaces Education Week in Victoria was the perfect time for Feltex to launch its new range of commercial carpet tiles for the education sector. Here are some creative ways carpet colour can invigorate learning spaces.

• The interior trend for education spaces is bright and bold colour. Colour can stimulate creativity in art spaces, uplift energy in hallways or generate calmness in libraries.

• Classrooms should incorporate various colours

to visually invigorate learners and reduce monotony. Consider the age of the learners, as well as the subject and activity, when selecting the carpet colours. Colour in a school environment can enhance or impair learning, as well as affect behaviour and the morale of the learners. Feltex carpets has designed a range of colourful carpet tiles with the education sector in mind. The bold designs are ideal for creating engaging

pre-school or primary environments.

• Use theseeducation carpet tiles as a complete design or incorporate neutral carpet tile into an overall design to create zones, subtle design in quieter learning spaces and colour coding.

• An effective way to organise educational interiors is to use carpet colours for colour coding to assist with wayfinding, create communal areas, quiet zones and multi-functional areas in open spaces.

While colours and patterns are aesthetically pleasing, functionality is most important for the education sector.

Educational facilities need to provide a practical, safe, comfortable and inspiring learning environment.

Feltex carpets and tiles are made to withstand the demands of heavy foot traffic and the general hubbub of a busy educational environment, pre-school to kindergarten, primary school to high school, TAFEs to college and universities.

Training

Committed to education and training In April, Laticrete Australia Technical Manager, Fred Gray, and NSW Laticrete Technical Sales Rep Craig Hunter were invited to spend some time and train the third year tiling apprentice students at Randwick TAFE NSW on Laticrete products.

Time was spent not only in the classroom, but also in practice where the students actively participated in hands on training using Laticrete products.

32 Flooring June/July 2016

The two topics of discussion and training were waterproofing methods and epoxy grouts.

1. Waterproofing methods: The group discussed current Australian standards, product classifications and had handson demonstrations. Students were able to demonstrate with Laticrete Hydro Ban adhesive and sealant as a bond breaker and Hydro Ban liquid waterproof membrane. The students were enthusiastic about being able to use the

product first hand and showed confidence in the material used in a short time.

2. The second topic was epoxy grout, a subject not covered by the TAFE curriculum, and where most trades can find themselves in panic mode when they hear those words for the first time.

Discussions were around the early tribulations of epoxy grout and how it has advanced to become the innovative and productive easy to use grout

that it is today. Also discussed were the requirements of epoxy in specification work for commercial applications for hygiene and cleaning standards and also its emergence and popularity in the domestic residential market for its cleanability by the homeowner.

Students participated in the mixing and grouting of mosaic tile using Spectralock Pro Grout and were amazed at the ease of the cold water clean up.

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Software

Sales process for success Taking charge of the sales process in your business

By Chris Ogden, Managing Director of RFMS Australasia In the last issue, we talked about the value of the leads generated in our businesses and the importance of followup to a sales organisation.

In a future article, we will examine the obstacles to follow-up (why is it so hard?) and how these barriers can be overcome. Before we do that, however, I would like to take a step back and talk about the sales process. We often talk about sales training but very rarely about the sales process.

Sales training is not the same as sales process. Sales trainers talk about obscure things like “enhancing your

ability to engage in powerful win/win conversations”, the “value of authenticity, and the necessity of engaging in customercentric sales conversations” (actual quotes). They make comments like: “the traditional sales approach is increasingly irrelevant in the digital age” (again I am quoting). For the flooring industry, as with most other industries, some aspects of how we interact with customers has changed, and will likely change further, but the principles of selling have not changed. In fact, the successful salesperson of

10 years ago will be just as successful today, if not more so, because of the new tools they have at their disposal.

Sales process, on the other hand, is like giving someone directions to a destination in a city: provided they follow the directions, we can expect, with reasonable certainty, that they will end up at the destination. In the case of a flooring sale, the sales process will take us to a conclusion: either we will close the sale or we will learn that we have lost the sale.

You might know a natural born salesperson: through sheer force of personality,

“…there are some fundamental personality traits required to be in sales, but beyond that, success in sales lies in process.”

34 Flooring June/July 2016

they can sell anything to anybody. Personally, I know only two salespeople who would fit the description.

What they have cannot be taught. All other successful salespeople that I know are process based. Sure, there are some fundamental personality traits required to be in sales but, beyond that, success lies in process.

Usually, that process is something the salesperson has developed themselves but, if the sales organisation is going to be successful, it should be a process developed, managed and monitored by the organisation, and key aspects of it will be consistent across all salespeople.

The success of your salespeople lies in the sales process you have them follow. Your sales process should be simple, it should be transparent, and you must be capable of monitoring it. Where we see that a salesperson is not following the process, we need to be there to nudge them back on track.

If you do not have a sales process in your business, if each one of your salespeople employs a different process (or has no process), then you will be losing sales. In fact, I am going to stick my neck out and say that most flooring businesses could improve their bottom line by a minimum of 20% by adopting and enforcing a prescriptive sales process.

Examples of sales process are beyond the scope of this article, but the foundation of a successful process will be 36

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Software 34 a rigorous follow-up of both samples and quotes. Sales process should have room for the personality and styles of your different salespeople because it is not the goal to have our salespeople acting like robots and speaking by rote. Your sales process should be outlined in a page or two and should cover only those steps in the process that are non-negotiable.

“Sales process… is like giving someone directions to a destination in a city.”

All of which is wonderful but, if we have a sales process, where does the busy owner or manager find the time make sure that it is being followed?

Broadly speaking, a flooring business has two activities, selling product and getting it installed. Installation is highly visible, even tangible. Installation is in your face. We can see all the various components: the product has arrived and is in the warehouse, the worksheets can be picked up and read, the layers calendar is visible, and we can see the installers coming in to pick up the product.

When things go wrong, we hear from the installer, or from the customer, and we can make decisions to remedy the situation.

On the other hand, the sales process is largely invisible: sure, we can see customers coming in and talking with our salespeople but we don’t know what is being said; we don’t know the outcome of these discussions until we might see a deposit paid.

My point is that unless you have tools in place, you can’t see a sale being lost.

The salespeople are busy because that

is what they tell us, but what are they busy at? To most, the sales process is invisible: we cannot measure something we cannot see. Nor can we change a process that is invisible to us.

Which is where IT comes in.

With a management system such as RFMS, designed for the flooring industry, you can gain visibility on what your salespeople are doing.

RFMS provides the platform for an effective sales process: it gives salespeople the tools by which they become more effective salespeople, and it gives managers the tools see what is happening, either at a high level or on a quote by quote basis.

It takes less than an hour to see RFMS in action and it costs nothing. We would love to show you and to answer any questions.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry.

Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

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36 Flooring June/July 2016

salesau@rfms.com

Trends change, market needs change but quality, innovation and technical support will always outlast.

ARDEX Australia, 50 years of continuous innovation in Australia.

FloorPrep

New floor prep products from Roberts

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.

PUBLICATIONS

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

38 Flooring June/July 2016

Recognising the need for a range of floor preparation products to meet the ever increasing demands for high performance, Roberts has introduced the Pro-Prep Series of floor preparation products.

Utilising the technical expertise of both the Roberts Group and that within the broader RLA Group, the products have been upgraded across the entire range to provide superior performance in all areas.

During the development phase, products were tested by several experienced installers, and the comments received were very positive.

Improved performance was seen in all critical elements of the products both at the installation stage as well as final performance of the total installation.

Brent Cartwright, Sales Manager for Flooring Solutions in Southern Australia spoke about the products. “We had been aware for some time of the need to upgrade the performance of our floor preparation products across the board, and we undertook a program of listening to what installers were looking for in quality products. We took those needs on board and worked to develop a new range of products. We are delighted with the results we are seeing.”

Greg Munro, Sales Manager for Flooring Solutions in Northern Australia was also involved in market testing and development. “Many installers we spoke to were looking for an economic way of screeding some floors with a high build product that was affordable and which gave a finish suitable for the direct laying of carpet tiles.

“We believe our new Roberts High Build has achieved exactly that outcome, and we look forward to providing installers

with a quality product at a value for money price.”

Other products, including an improved range of flooring adhesives, are under development right now, and Roberts and RLA hope to be launching these soon.

RLA Group has grown dramatically during the last two years following its acquisition by the Nan Pao Resins Group, a leading global supplier of a wide range of adhesive and polymer technologies based in Taiwan.

Frank Lord, CEO of RLA Group stated: “The ownership of RLA Group by Nan Pao Resins Group has improved our depth of technical knowledge in all areas, and their continual investment in our plant and people, and their cooperation in the development of several new products, means a very strong future for RLA. “Nan Pao is committed to manufacturing in Australia and we believe RLA is well placed to be the supplier of choice – not only to the flooring industry but to the wider range of industries in which we now operate.”

FloorPrep

Track mounted floor lifting machines To make floor removal and floor stripping projects during refit and refurbishment run even faster, the Roll Ro floor strippers are turning tough back breaking work into an easy walk behind or ride on removal project.

The German built Roll floor lifting machines operate on track mounted wheels in order gain ground faster on different floorcoverings. The track mounted wheels allow the machine to get more traction using more touch points on the floor.

Different blades can be connected to the machines.

These blades are a universal fit allowing them to be used on other brands of floor stripping machines.

What sets these mechanical floor stripping machines apart? According to All Preparation Equipment:

• innovative drive technology – the chains on the base of the floor lifters provide around 10 times more surface contact than wheels, preventing the machine from slipping and sliding across the floor: • compact size – =fits through any standard doorway; • works on any 240V power supply to gain full potential in production and performance; Combining the height of German innovation, these powerful floor lifting machines work to maximum width and speed performance. With a powerful industrial engines and movable floor head and tool axis the floor stripping blades and chisel floor removal attachments compensate for uneven concrete floors.

With a range of different blades designed for each machine, a wider range of flooring types can be removed faster.

The benchmark in grinders Terrco floor grinders are known for their durability and for cutting floors fast and flat.

Terrco has had a long history in manufacturing floor grinders. Terrco Inc was founded in 1931 by Peter Vinella under the partnership name Terrazzo Surfacing Machine Company. Terrco is certified as the oldest floor grinder manufacturer in the world.

The Terrco Model 3100-3P floor grinder was introduced in 1969 as a push version with a manual magnetic starter. In the late 1990s, Terrco added variable speed to the 31003P and in 2011 the selfpropelling was added. The self-propelling feature made the 3100-3P 20% more

productive and less fatigue on the contractor’s employees.

The Model 6200 was introduced in 2004 as a push machine with a variable speed to double the production of the 3100-3P. Then the self-propelling feature was introduced in 2007 to further increase production and lessen operator fatigue.

There are many 20, 30, 40 and 50 year plus Terrco machines still working with their original gearboxes and electric motors. With their low running costs, no down time due to repairs and low maintenance, Terrco floor grinders are ensuring the future of the next generations of polishers in your business.

FeaturedProducts

Heartridge goes social Heartridge by Dunlop Flooring launched in 2014, determined to create beautiful floors for Australian homes and businesses.

With three flooring ranges and 18 colours under its belt, Heartridge has established itself in the Australian market in just under two years in both

the retailer and commercial market.

With inspiring images of the Australian, New Zealand and North American wilderness, every photoshoot is carefully considered to reflect their message – bringing the beauty and tranquility of the outdoors into our homes.

“We wanted our customers to know that no matter where you are, the best part about being away is coming home – that home is where the heart is,” said Heartridge Brand Manager, Yvette Fitzpatrick.

"We’ve made sure our brand message is succinct across all our current marketing channels. With this, we knew that reaching our customers on social media was naturally the next step."

The launch of Facebook and Pinterest profiles has already proven to be successful with a loyal following of 2,000 followers on Facebook, and a collection of carefully curated images from the photoshoots on Pinterest, inspiring beautiful home living.

“To connect to our Heartridge customers on Facebook, we always post about upcoming interior projects we are working on and sneak peaks into our photoshoots. We also highlight any new product arrivals and communicate key benefits of our products.

“There’s a lot of flooring products out there so it can be quite confusing, so we always make sure our communication is clear and

informative with short videos and diagrams," said Yvette.

“Launching our brand on Facebook has also helped us learn more about the way our consumers shop. We were able to build the right web tools based on their feedback. Some of these tools include our Where to Buy section, to help our consumers find the closest retailer; Floor Visualiser to see the colours in a room setting; and our Request A Sample, to allow consumers to order a sample directly from our website.

"We’ve just launched our Instagram, which will be another exciting platform to showcase our products and brand.”

If you would like to share your completed Heartridge Flooring projects, follow on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Instagram and send a photo.

• facebook.com/ HeartridgeFloors • pinterest.com/HeartridgeFloor • instagram.com/ HeartridgeFloors • linkedin.com/company/ heartridge-floors • heartridge.com.au

Simpler specs with TarkoSpec Tarkett’s new TarkoSpec product information hub has been developed to provide architects, designers and contractors with all they need to complete flooring specifications quickly and easily.

The resource is packed with comprehensive information across the huge range of Tarkett flooring products including vinyl, luxury vinyl tiles, sports floors, laminates, timber and carpet tiles and will be well worth bookmarking in your search engine.

Once registered, users can search through the extensive Tarkett range by product or category and access the

complete colour offer together with information on the local availability of products.

Building Information Models (BIMs) are available for download for each product together with data sheets, maintenance and installation manuals. A full suite of application brochures and other literature relevant to each product is also available.

Another feature is the ability to download colour swatches and to order physical samples of individual colours for a specific project. Each sample request will be sent to the local Tarkett office for processing and will be delivered within five working days.

Flooring June/July 2016 41

FeaturedProducts

Plays of colour brighten interiors Modern interior design has mastered the sophisticated use of colour. It applies stylistic concepts borrowed from fashion design, such as refreshingly light colour palettes and bold colour blocking, as well as inspiring combinations in innumerable details. When it comes to creating a natural ambiance in any room, beautiful wood floors are still indispensable

and always play a vital role.

Building on the success of its durable, high solid oil systems for the initial treatment of wood floors, LOBA is introducing eight new, light colours to the product line. Customers can now choose from a total of 18 colour options to give existing wooden structures even more colour freshness and fascination.

It all started with a whitepigmented version of the topselling product Lobasol® HS 2K ImpactOil for high abrasion resistance. Responding to the high demand and new trends, Loba soon added further options in exoticwood colours, which are especially well suited for use with attractively priced native woods. With its latest addition of eight new, light colours,

Loba can now offer even more options for adapting the look and feel of wood floors to perfectly suit modern interior designs. Instead of completely changing the colour of the wood, these oils use a gentle colour-pigmentation system, highlighting the wood structures and enhancing the natural grain and unique patterns of the cut wood surfaces.

Hydro Ban membrane Hydro Ban from Laticrete is a thin, load bearing waterproofing/crack isolation membrane that combines optimum performance with unmatched productivity.

Hydro Ban does not require the use of fabric in the field, coves or corners.

It is a single component self curing liquid rubber polymer that forms a flexible, seamless waterproofing membrane that bonds directly to a wide variety of substrates. Rapid drying allows for faster time to tile. It changes in colour from a light sage to an olive green when dry.

Hydro Ban is a low VOC emitting product that has been GREENGUARD certified.

It is a highly extensible Class 3 membrane suitable for immersed installations, internal wet areas and external above ground use.

42 Flooring June/July 2016

Graboplast range expands Entegro Group has launched the Graboplast Muravyl (vinyl wall covering) range into the Australian flooring market.

This newly developed high-performance, flexible wall covering product has a total thickness of 1.5 mm and a 0.5mm wear layer for an extended durability. The

glass fibre in the multi layered product ensures excellent dimensional stability and, thanks to the flexibility and the smooth surface, it is easy to install either vertically or horizontally.

Weldable and washable, Entegro offers the wall covering in 12 colours. Due

to its excellent, anti-static, fire resistance and antibacterial properites, Muravyl is an ideal choice for any commercial wall covering application. The product is supplied in two metre widths by 25 metre rolls and is phthalate, solvent and heavy metal free. It is also 100% recycable.

Embelton underlays gain GECA certification Embelton Flooring has recently achieved GECA certification for two flooring underlay products – the Hush Platinum polyethylene underlay and ImpactaMat acoustic flooring underlay Both products are now certified under GECA’s Floor Coverings standard, meaning they have a lower environmental, health and social impact.

Hush Platinum is a good quality, affordable, high density 2mm thick polyethylene

underlay, suitable for use underneath most hard floating floor applications including timber, bamboo and laminate.

The product comes with an integrated peel and stick design, and utilises lay flat technology, making installation quick and easy.

Hush Platinum also incorporates a 0.6mm dampproof sheet, negating the need for a moisture barrier and helping to keep installation costs down.

ImpactaMat is made from recycled rubber and bound together with a waterproof flexible binder. It's proven to achieve significant reductions in structure-borne noise, while also offering reductions in airborne noise (reflected noise in a room). It is versatile, easy to lay, and can be glued down or loose laid underneath tiles, timber, bamboo, laminate, cork, concrete screeds and even carpet.

Award for good design

Advancements in concrete testing Analysing concrete’s integrity and hardness will help to determine the longevity of its infrastructure. Ultimately, the sounder the integrity, the safer that infrastructure will be over its lifetime.

The Matest Test Hammer is an advanced digital concrete test hammer used to evaluate on site compression resistance and uniformity. Its ‘rebound method’ is in addition to Kennards Hire Test & Measure’s already extensive NDT (non-destructive testing) category. The rebound hammers are used to perform tests on concrete structures and buildings, continually providing information of its compressive strength.

The Matest Test Hammer is portable, highly accurate and high in resolution. The microprocessor unit consists of the standard mechanical

Creativity, innovation and design have come together, winning Makinex Construction Products’ Powered Hand Truck Safe Work Australia’s Award for Good Design.

The revolutionary machine replaces the need for a forklift and has the potential to cut shoulder and back injuries in the workplace by 34%. It is a universal materials handling solution that enables one person to safely lift and load small equipment or bulky goods weighing up to 140kg.

It provides a quick and easy alternative to using a forklift or tailgate loader for small loads.

Since using the Powered Hand Truck, Australian company Kennard’s Hire has seen a 34% decrease in shoulder and back injuries in the workplace.

“A focus on health and safety in design helps

eliminate hazards and risks before they enter the workplace. Good work design can radically transform the workplace in ways that benefit the business, workers, clients and others in the supply chain.” said Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Baxter.

“Makinex is about making inefficiencies extinct and strives towards continuous improvement by looking closely at it’s business to find unique, innovative and practical product solutions that provide the construction and rental industries with a better way to do their jobs and save time, physical effort and money,” said CEO Rory Kennard, who plays an instrumental part in the design and development of many of Makinex’s products.

model C380, but is equipped with an electronic transducer that measures the rebound values and supplies automatically the results on a graphic display.

The data is downloadable (software included), and the instrument is NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) calibrated, which reinforces its ability and accuracy. The Matest Test Hammer continuously and automatically records all parameters in accordance with EN 125042 specifications, before registering and processing data and transferring it to a PC. The Matest Test Hammer meets the industry standards of construction, consulting, engineering, precast and concrete companies, insurance, bridgework, remedial and mining.

Flooring June/July 2016 43

LuxuryVinyl

Da Vinci collection goes to the next level Karndean Designflooring takes its Da Vinci collection to the next level with new wood and stone designs, introducing 14 new wood and 12 new stone designs to its popular Da Vinci collection.

Da Vinci Wood Collection

Popular for its narrow wood effect planks, deep bevel and smooth finish, the Da Vinci wood collection will be enhanced with 12 trendy, new modern rustic designs.

Heavily influenced by the trend towards reclaimed and repurposed materials in architecture and interior design, the 36” by 3” distressed look planks replicate the unique

UltraStripper powerful, safe &

green

Removes Sealers, Epoxy Carpet Glue and Graffiti STRIPS THE TOUGHEST COATINGS An advanced low odour stripper designed to remove conventional coatings from VCT floors and UV i-finish.

Removes multiple coats of Polymer and Wax sealers.

Ultra-Stripper isBUILDING the SAFESTSUPPLY STRIPPER to use in Schools, INTERNATIONAL Hospitals, Nursing homes, Hotels and ibs@physico.com.au Aged Care facilities.

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44 Flooring June/July 2016

look that comes from the transformation of wood over time.

The 12 new planks are split into two groups – the first group is made up of seven designs, including four modern limed planks and three classic oak looks, whilst the second group features three burnt and smoked designs alongside two worn, aged driftwood looks.

Inspired by natural fibres and textiles the soft muted tones of the four Limed Oak designs are enhanced with a striking lime washed finish, accentuating the unique grain details of each plank.

With the slim line planks ensuring that even the

smallest of spaces can be enhanced and in larger areas you can create an impact, the design possibilities with this new collection truly are endless.

Da Vinci Stone Collection Bringing the natural beauty and intricate textures of real stone indoors, the distinct (18” by 12” )(57mm by 305mm) tile designs take inspiration from weathered steel, natural stone and woven fabric and offer a fresh palette of colours to suit any commercial or residential interior.

The three groups – Weathered Steel, Natural Stone and Woven Fabric – explore latest trends in interior design including natural weathering, fossilisation and woven fabrics, and reflect Karndean’s unrivalled ability to take products from the

natural world and recreate them in LVT. “Our product designers have captured new detailing and unique interpretations of real stone with LVT flooring designs that are easy to clean and enduring, without depleting natural resources,” explained Alex Stock, head of commercial sales at Karndean Designflooring.

“As well as offering a contemporary twist on stone designs to choose from, our new Da Vinci opens up a new specification, enabling us to offer our popular 12” by 18” tile with a 0.7mm wear layer and 3mm thickness.”

Introducing additional design variations, the new Da Vinci Stone collection comes with the option of contrasting and complementary borders and design strips.

Now available with a 20 year commercial warranty.

Specialist B2B Publisher Supporting the industry since 1981

To discuss advertising opportunities, contact: Ashley Cooper E: ashley.cooper@ elitepublishing.com.au Ph: 03 9890 0815 Fax: 03 9890 0087

www.elitepublishing.com.au

www.infotile.com

iD LOOSE-LAY LUXURY VINYL TILES The floor is your new playground > Infinite design possibilities > 22 natural timber and stone designs > Create striking patterns > Quiet underfoot > Resilient & easy to clean > Quick & simple to install

www.tarkett.com.au

To see the full iD Loose-lay range and for more information visit www.tarkett.com.au or call 1300 851 484

LuxuryVinyl

Balance Click shines in the Aussie sun

What happens when you combine a glasshouse, a lifesize kangaroo ice sculpture and 12 m2 of Quick-Step’s Balance Click vinyl flooring in the heart of Sydney on a scorching summer day?

46 Flooring June/July 2016

On face value, it was a bizarre combination, but at day’s end, the results spoke for themselves. With most floating vinyl flooring planks on the market, their Achilles’ Heel is direct sunlight. When

it heats up, it expands and lifts, when it cools down, the flooring shrinks and gaps appear. For Quick-Step Balance Click ­– stability is its middle name.

To prove Balance Click’s superiority, the QuickStep Australian team, led

by National Product and Technical Manager, Kendall Waller, created a unique and innovative experiment like no other. The experiment aimed to prove that Balance Click has the lowest rate of movement to temperature change in the world and that it is sunshine proof.

A 4.5 metre by three metre glass greenhouse was built, ready for one of the hottest summer days in Sydney. Next, Balance Click Oak Natural was laid inside the greenhouse. To complete the picture, an ice sculpture in the shape of a kangaroo was positioned on the Balance Click floor before dawn, ready to melt away when the sun came up.

Observations began at 4:30am. With an expected top temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, Kendall and his team knew that inside the glasshouse it would get hot, but how hot?

By 2:00pm, the air inside the glasshouse peaked at 45

degrees, with a floor surface temperature at a stunning 66 degrees! The kangaroo sculpture had turned into a puddle on the floor while Balance Click remained flawless.

The Balance Click floor planks had not moved or shifted, remaining flat with no joining gaps. According to Kendall Waller, the temperature experiment provided the clear evidence of Balance Click’s stability and durability, even in the toughest conditions.

“This is the first time that Balance Click has been tested under extreme Australian summer conditions,” he said.

“Thanks to its unique multilayered and re-enforced structure, it remained unmoved at a temperature that was too hot to touch!

Also, an innovative top coating gives Balance Click a consistent, matte and natural looking shine – and the highest ever level of stain and scuff resistance.”

The filmed experiment was presented at Germany’s Domotex Hannover flooring expo. The video was showcased in a dedicated display called “the veranda” to highlight this iconic down under location.

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Wood

Wood is good Planet Ark conducted an online survey in late 2014 to see what Australian’s attitudes and opinions were towards wood.

A literature and empirical studies review and an online survey were conducted late 2014 and released late March last year. It surveyed 1003 Australians aged 14 to 64 and nationally, representative in terms of age, gender and location. It was developed with support from Forest and Wood Products’ Australia’s Wood, Naturally Better program. It reviewed studies analysing the health and well-being benefits of wooden interiors in homes, business, schools and medical facilities.

The survey identified improvements to a person’s emotional state and level of self-expression; reduced blood pressure, heart rate and stress; and improved air quality through humidity moderation.

Australians appear to be drawn towards wood due to feelings of warmth, comfort, relaxation and links to nature but Australians are still confused about wood certification. Their general knowledge about the use of wood and its benefits is low.

A Japanese study compared the initial physiological response of 14 people sitting in rooms with either wooden or steel wall panelling. The pulse and heart rate of each subject was measured every second for 20 seconds whilst facing the panelled wall covered by a curtain, followed

48 Flooring June/July 2016

by 90 seconds with the curtain removed and the wooden or steel panel visible. The study found that exposure to wooden panels significantly decreased the blood pressure of subjects, whilst exposure to steel panels significantly raised it.

An Austrian study examined the heart rates of 30 people who slept in a stone pine bed for three weeks and compared it to their heart rates when sleeping in a wood imitation bed for three weeks.

Sleeping in a stone pine bed reduced heart rates by 3500 beats per day compared to when subjects were sleeping in a wood imitation bed.

The studies examining the effects of wooden rooms and furnishings clearly demonstrate that the presence of wood has positive physiological effects, lowering blood pressure heart rate and stress responses when compared to other material types.

A New Zealand study presented 69 adults with images of 10 modern corporate interiors, chosen from recently published books showcasing contemporary design. Five of the interiors featured significant amounts of wood, whilst the other five featured no wood at all.

Participants were asked to “identify the organisation you would most like to work for”.

The presence of wood products within a corporate environment drastically influenced first impressions, with study subjects considerably more

likely to want to work for organisations that featured wooden furnishings.

Putting all of this into practice is the Dandenong Mental Health Centre, the largest mental health facility in Victoria, designed by Bates Smart and the Irwin Allsop Group. Natural timber is used extensively in the walls and ceilings throughout the building, both inside and out, to create a residential and suburban feeling.

The Martian Embassy in Redfern Sydney is a creative writing centre for young people. The centre is designed to be a fusion between a whale, a rocket and a time tunnel, created by oscillating plywood ribs, red planet light and sound projections in order to provoke fun and unleash creativity. Project partners Will O’Rourke and The Glue Society stated that the warm tones of wood transformed the previously long, dark and unloved shop into a source of inspiration that kids are excited to walk into. The Martian Embassy was a runner up in the Interior Fitout category of the Australian Timber Design Awards.

A common concern raised in regards to the use of wood as a building material is whether or not there is an increased risk of fire.

Engineers and fire researchers today have a significant body of knowledge of how timber constructions perform in fire.

The structural stability of

timber is well understood and importantly it is predictable, allowing timber constructions to be created that meet the same fire safety codes as steel and concrete buildings. This fire resistance increases with the thickness of the wooden elements because when timber is exposed to fire the outer layer burns and turns to char. Charring creates a protective layer that acts as insulation and delays the onset of heating for the cold layer underneath.

In addition to its associated health benefits, the use of responsibly sourced certified wood can have significant positive environmental outcomes and help reduce climate change. Through the process of photosynthesis trees remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it as biomass, mostly wood.

Planting more trees will therefore absorb more carbon and help reduce the impact of emissions. When responsibly sourced wood is used as a building material or to create long-lasting products those items become a carbon store, locking carbon out of the atmosphere. Using wood also means that the use of more carbon intensive, non-renewable materials like concrete and steel can be reduced.

One study, for example, identified that the total energy consumption in the manufacturing of steel beams is two to three times higher, and the use of fossil fuels six to 12 times higher, than manufacturing timber beams.

In New Zealand it has been estimated that a 17% increase in wood usage in the building industry would result in a 20% reduction in carbon emissions from the manufacture of all building materials, 1.5% of New Zealand’s total emissions.

It seems that yes, wood is good and your customers should know about it. The full report is available online at http://bit.ly/1LgoRcR

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A-1164-0616 LATICRETE Pty Ltd 29 Telford Street, Virginia, QLD 4014 1800 331 012 www.laticrete.com.au ©2016 LATICRETE Pty Ltd. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners. *See Data Sheet DS-1134 for complete product information. n

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Commercial

Timber flooring for high-end commercial spaces Timber flooring is a timeless material that never goes out of style, especially in high-end interiors for commercial spaces.

Just like marble, leather, wool or silk, timber flooring is a classic element that, when teamed with quality fittings, fixtures and furnishings, brings luxury to any interior.

According to Godfrey Hirst, handcrafted European oak timber flooring makes it easy to create highend retail, hospitality, apartments or offices.

Godfrey Hirst Regal Oak quality timber flooring features knots, grains, character and natural variation and is easy to install with its 5G Instaclic interlocking system.

Shop Fitting Rooms

Regal Oak timber flooring with its warm tones and lovely imperfections, complements both light and dark interiors.

Use similar tones creates a cohesive space that is dramatic yet restful. Team with midnight and navy shades of blue and add deep, dark velvet and similar jeweltoned decor for a rich, opulent effect.

Art Gallery

Warm and welcoming, a timber floor unifies open-plan designs. Depending on the timber and tone you choose, your timber floor can take centre stage or create a neutral foundation to let the walls, artwork or key pieces be the feature. Floods of natural light bring the tones, knots and grains in this natural timber to life.

50 Flooring June/July 2016

that is simple and functional timber flooring can create a highly personalised shopping experience. Soft shades grounded by a warm timber floor, creates a calming and relaxed atmosphere ideal for beautiful retail spaces.

Restaurant

Cafe

Shoe Store

In retail, merchandise and stock may change but with a quality floor as the foundation, any interior can be easily updated with passing trends. When paired with contemporary design

avoiding timber in the rest of the space or finding tones that match your flooring perfectly.

Multiple timber tones work beautifully when broken up with a contrasting white, black or strong colour. A pale tone for the floor and a dark tone for major furnishings or a darker timber flooring with mid-tone timber elements keep the space structured with a stylish appeal. Timber flooring doesn't have to mean

A dark timber floor doesn't have to mean a lighter palette for the rest of the commercial space. A dark colour palette can create warmth and intimacy, perfect for a restaurant, hotel or fine-dining. The rich colour, textured grain and matte finish contrast beautifully with gloss black furniture, dark blue walls and copper highlights.

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 

®

AUSTRALIA

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

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

Engineered

Big River adds Tas oak to its hardwood flooring range Timber is known for its warmth, unique character and stunning beauty and is an ideal choice when it comes to flooring options.

Offering character and individual richness, Big River has just introduced Tasmanian Oak into its prefinished Australian hardwood engineered flooring range, providing additional flooring options for residential and commercial applications.

Ranging in tone from pale straw through to a richer mid brown, Tasmania oak is a popular Australian species and is the preferred hardwood for a full range of applications including flooring. Big River worked with its Australian logging resources to source and provide expertise in working with this new species.

Tasmanian oak is an addition to Big River’s New Generation flooring range and includes a blonde hardwood alongside the five existing timber species: blackbutt, spotted gum, Sydney blue gum, brushbox and Australian chestnut.

Big River has established a reputation for producing a stable floor that has a thick top layer of Australian hardwood and an engineered hardwood plywood core. This hardwood core guarantees optimum stability between the floorboards with reduced risk of bending and cupping.

Dean Henderson, General Manager Sales & Marketing Big River Group, believes the new product addition will be supported and recognised as an attractive solution

for builders, architects and homeowners. “As long standing timber experts, Big River products are known in the marketplace for quality, strength and ecological values. This hardwood plywood gives strength and dimensional stability requiring no acclimatisation, prior to installation, which many

other brands require,” he said. “Australia is well known for producing some of the most attractive timbers in the world and we are pleased to be able to offer a timber flooring product wthat is easy to install, easy to maintain with all the benefits that come with using a real Australian timber.”

GECA welcomes back Havwoods GECA is pleased to welcome back Havwoods, whose Europlank range is newly certified under the Floor Coverings standard.

This pre-finished engineered range is from a well established producer of onestrip boards and utilises a click fixing system for ease of installation.

All products are suitable for both commercial and residential applications and may be fitted over underfloor heating. The 14.5mm range features a 3mm lamella and carries a 30-year residential warranty, whilst the 12.7mm planks offers an excellent visual appearance with good width and exciting finishes in a very cost-effective board 52 Flooring June/July 2016

with a 20-year warranty. For large projects all 14.5mm finishes are available to order in 12.7mm and 9.2mm thick planks.

"Having GECA certification gives added credibility to our already strong Europlank brand," said David Hickson, General Manager for Havwoods.

"The GECA ecolabel confirms that Havwoods Europlank has been rigorously assessed for its impact over its life cycle and it is safer for our clients, their families and colleagues.

“When you choose Havwoods GECA certified Europlank you can have confidence in the environmental and health claims of this product range."

Globally Proven Construction Solutions 1500 Team members n 100 Countries n 60 Years of innovation 7 Continents n 3 Generations n 1 Family

LATICRETE Pty Ltd

n

29 Telford Street, Virginia, QLD 4014

www.laticrete.com.au l 1800 331 012 Snap for more information.

A-1163-0616 Š2016 LATICRETE Pty Ltd. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners.

Laminate

Reef, rainforest and tropical landscape Native flowers, colourful reefs and tropical rainforests are brought to life in the interior of the new Block D of Cairns Hospital, thanks to a medley of colours and finishes from Laminex Australia.

Constructed as part of a $454.6 million redevelopment of Cairns Hospital, the new Clinical Services Block was designed and built to consider the future health needs of Far North Queensland. In addition to housing 264 beds, it features a state-of-the-art hybrid operating theatre and an additional cardiac catheter laboratory.

Each level has a patient balcony, and rooms have been designed to maximise the view of Trinity Inlet or nearby

mountains. But the natural surroundings aren’t confined to the view from the windows; every part of Block D’s interior, from the reception areas and public amenities to the patient bedrooms and consultation rooms, take inspiration from the reef, rainforest and tropical landscape of Far North Queensland.

“We knew that Laminex Australia would be able to help us achieve the right colour scheme for the hospital, while also providing surfaces that would be easy to clean and maintain, and above all remain practical for their application,” explained Fisher Buttrose Architects’ Senior Architect, Deborah Fisher.

Kathy Lakis, lead designer and senior associate at McConnel Smith & Johnson, said the fusing of the exterior landscape with internal spaces is a distinct feature.

“We drew inspiration from the unique botanicals of the region to create an interior that captures the vibrancy and colour of this distinctive landscape,” said Kathy. “As well as using this to create the overall colour scheme, we also applied the randomness of nature, with its unexpected splashes of colour and life, to key points in public areas.”

The result is a wonderfully vibrant, non-institutional

scheme that not only provides a healthy, productive, safe and healing environment for patients and their families, but is also identifiable and iconic.

Laminex Australia’s General Manager Marketing, Tina Randello, said the company is proud to be part of this truly exceptional project.

“The design team has used a wonderful ensemble of Laminex Australia products in a clever and unexpected way to deliver an inviting environment for patients and their families, while also providing a vibrant workspace for the doctors and nursing staff,” she said.

since it commenced trading in 1960, provides the company with access to some of the very finest ceramic tiles and natural stone products produced by leading European and Asian manufacturers. The recent launch of two Beaumont Studios in Malvern, Melbourne and Fortitude Valley, Brisbane provides architects and designers with an opportunity to source a variety of exclusive products.

When the Beaumont Studio in Malvern, Victoria opened inMay 2016, a large number of industry protagonists and design/ construct professionals gathered to view a substantial collection of carefully chosen products, which reflect the very best elements of the prevailing trends in tile, stone and bathroom ware.

The Beaumont Studios contain spaces specifically designed for use by specifiers.

Many of the products on display have never been marketed in Australia before.

As Bob Beaumont cut the ribbon and officially opened this attractive new addition to the pantheon of Beaumont Tile outlets he stated: “This is a space we’ve built for designers and architects.

Striking products from the world over to inspire your design directions.”

Tiles The new Beaumont Studio in Malvern, Victoria provides architects and designers with access to exclusive tile, stone and bathroom ware products in an environment created primarily for their use.

New Beaumont Studio In November 2014, Beaumont Tiles opened its 100th outlet in Manly, Sydney.

Bob Beaumont, the group’s Managing Director said: “Our

54 Flooring June/July 2016

absolute goal has been to be the best at what we do and the growth has followed”.

The buying power that Beaumont Tiles has gained

Bob Beaumont officially opens the second Beaumont Studio.

n e a h m t ades r o F er Tr am rt S

Visit the Intafloors website www.intafloors.com.au

See our extensive range of Flooring Accessories & Tools

AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR LOCAL INTAFLOORS TRADE DEPOT * Availability on certain products may vary from store to store.

Please contact your local trade depot for more details.

www.intafloors.com.au

QLD

Gibbon Group

VIC

NEW ZEALAND

Gibbon Group Newcastle: 02 4951 1002 Email: greg.gardiner@gibbongroup.com.au

Brisbane: 07 3881 1777 Email: sales@gibbongroup.com.au

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

Intafloors Trade Depot

McDonalds Flooring Accessories

Knoxfield: 03 9764 2400 Dandenong: 03 9702 7822 Geelong: 03 5521 6670 Preston: 03 9416 7878

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

Gold Coast: 07 5564 9999

NSW

TAS

Total Flooring North Hobart: 03 6234 9855

SA

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

FIS Distributors

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

Nuplex Construction Products

Business

Top ten survival tips Manufacturers face ever-rising costs and competition. Read on for ten survival tips provided by top industry analysts Sandvik Coromant Global President Klas Forsstrom; well-known Australian market research analyst Phil Ruthven and Guy Morgan with 30 years in plant management at BBK Southfield in the US. 1. Look to the future.

According to Klas Forsstrom, “The key is to work for the future”. During a visit to Australia Klas said: “I mean future technologies and future ways of machining.

Don't be held back by outdated practices. Cut machining time, improve efficiencies and work with new materials”.

2. Maintain your focus.

Do what you do best. Phil Ruthven said: “Concentrate on what you do well and leave the rest to others.”

Guy Morgan agrees: “Pursue the lines of business that are within your core competency”. Mr Forsstrom said specialisation was a growing trend. “Focus on a dedicated area and become known as leaders in your field.”

3. Reinvent your products.

Guy Morgan said: “Suppliers who differentiate their products fare the best. Their success relates as much to their mindset as to the money they invest. A little creativity and outside-the-box thinking goes a long way”.

4. Find new markets.

Klas Forsstrom suggests: “Partnering with your customers and collaborate on new ways to get products to the market place”.

5. Maximise your productivity through enhanced product and process design.

Mr. Morgan advises: “Lean manufacturing focusses on production and its costs.

56 Flooring June/July 2016

Your team should work closely to reduce labour costs through production-friendly components”.

6. Embrace Industry 4.0.

don’t want to be surprised by a supplier that goes bust.” Similarly, look to your retailers; you don’t need them disappearing either.

Forsstrom said this is “About using technology to connect better with customers and how customers interact with your products. If I were in the business of making pens, I'd teach people how to write.

If you’re selling furniture, its important customers know how it’s made and how to care for it”.

8. Improve quality and performance.

7. Pay attention to your supply chain.

9. Invest in your staff.

Guy Morgan advises: “You

Forsstrom admits that he is never pleased with what they've achieved. "If you belong to a winning team, last year isn't good enough.”

Morgan backs this up, saying: “Successful companies gain a competitive advantage by continual improvement.”

A US university study recently found that manufacturers

making investments in training came through downturns better. Billionaire Warren Buffett said of getting the right people: “If you're looking for a manager, find somebody that's intelligent, energetic and has integrity. If they don't have the last, (you can) be sure they don't have the first two. If you have somebody who lacks integrity, you want them to be dumb and lazy”.

10. Invest in your company.

Facilitate total productive maintenance and invest in new technologies to reduce set-up and manufacturing costs and reduce batch sizes.

Don't be held back by outdated practices. Cut machining time, improve efficiencies and work with new materials”.

Essential tasks at end of financial year (EOFY) www.business.gov.au https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/finance-and-accounting/accounting/essential-tasks-at-end-of-financial-year-eofy

End of the financial year is an important and busy time for small business owners, completing bookkeeping, tax returns and begin planning for the new financial year. Putting the hard work in each financial year can help you get your business organised and work smarter in the year ahead.

Here are some essential tasks for your end of financial (EOFY) year to-do list.

Record keeping and compliance

Some of your yearly responsibilities as a small business owner may include: • Summarising income and expenses in a profit and loss statement.

• Conducting a stocktake.

• Summarising your record of debtors and creditors.

• Collating records of asset purchases or expenditure on improvements to assets to calculate depreciation expense claims and for capital gains tax purposes.

• Completing and lodge your income tax returns.

• Lodging yearly reports or returns for PAYG withholding, fringe benefits tax (FBT), Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the taxable payments reporting system.

• Meeting SuperStream requirements.

Find out what tax deductions you can claim Be sure to do your homework and know exactly what tax deductions you can claim.

You may be able to claim deductions if your business: • has set up a website • has motor vehicle expenses • uses diesel fuel

• is based at home • has travel expenses • uses machinery, tools or computers.

you can protect your business. https://www.business.gov.au/ Info/Run/Fair-trading/Scamstargeting-business

Use a registered tax agent

Review your finances

Ensure your tax agent is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB).

There's no protection for taxpayers who use unregistered tax or Business Activity Statement (BAS) agents.

Keep up to date with tax changes starting next financial year

There may be tax changes each year that you need to be aware of. These might include changes in tax breaks and deductions for small business.

Be wary of tax refund scams

There are a number of scams that target small business around tax time. Common tax time scams include: • Tax refund scams where the scammer will claim you have overpaid your taxes and are entitled to a refund.

However, in order for you to receive this refund, they will claim that you need to pay a fee for administration or transfer costs.

• Tax owed scams where the scammer will claim that you've underpaid your tax and will need to repay the amount you owe immediately. In order to make this payment, they may request your credit card or debit card details, or ask you to send money through a money transfer.

Read more about scams targeting business and how

Sit down with your accountant or bookkeeper and review your finances.

Look at whether you met your targets last financial year and what you can do differently next financial year.

Set performance targets for the year to help you stay on track. Create a cash flow forecast to manage any potential shortfalls and ensure you can still pay your staff and suppliers.

Read our tips for improving your business financial position and managing your finance. https://www.business.gov. au/Info/Run/Finance-andaccounting/Finance/Howto-Improve-Your-BusinessFinancial-Position

Review and update your business and marketing plans

Take time to set yourself up for the year ahead. Regularly reviewing and updating your plans will help you to: • remind yourself of your goals and priorities • assess whether your strategies are working • adapt to any new changes in your environment • make the most of new opportunities as they come your way • prioritise and maximise your effort (work smarter, not harder!).

Review your business structure

As your business grows and expands, you may decide

to change your business structure, or to restructure your business. There are different compliance and taxation regulations depending on your business structure.

Read about the tax differences between a sole trader and a company structure. https://www. business.gov.au/Info/ Plan-and-Start/Start-yourbusiness/Business-structure/ Change-business-structure/ Sole-trader-to-a-company/ Tax-differences-between-asole-trader-and-a-company.

Find out more about changing business structures. https://www.business.gov.au/ Info/Plan-and-Start/Start-yourbusiness/Business-structure/ Change-business-structure

Review your insurances

Check that you have the right insurances in place for your business. If your circumstances have changed, you may need to update your level of cover.

Read the product disclosure statements (PDS) for your insurance policies carefully - don't assume you're covered. Look up the definition of certain terms such as floods as they may vary among insurers.

Backup and secure your files

Backup and store your registration, financial and customer data, and other important business documents in a secure off-site location. This can help ensure your business can stay up and running during unexpected events, such as natural disasters.

Flooring June/July 2016 57

Advertisers Index

Exhibitioncalendar

2016/7 Exhibitions

JULY 2016 6-9 AWISA

Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association exhibition

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre http://www.awisa.com/exhibition.html 8-10

Furnitex Connect 2016 Fair for furnishing and furniture industry Brisbane, Australia http://furnitex.australianfurniture.org.au 21-24

AIFF 2016 and Decor + Design Australian International Furniture Fair Melbourne, Australia http://www.aiff.net.au http://www. decordesignshow.com.au

AUGUST 2016 18-21 KOFURN 2016

International furniture and interior fair and international woodworking industrial fair

Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea http://www.kofurn.or.kr 24-27

IWF 2016 International woodworking machinery & furniture supply fair

Atlanta, GA, USA http://www.iwfatlanta.com

Andersens SEPTEMBER 2016 7-10 CIFF Furniture Fair 2016.

China International Furniture Fair

Shanghai, China http://www.ciff-sh.com/en/ 8-11

Furniture China 2016 China International Furniture Expo Shanghai, China http://www.furniture-china.cn/en-us 8-11

Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China 2016

Woodworking machinery, furniture raw materials & supplies

Shanghai, China http://www.fmcchina.com.cn/en-us/ 11-13

NYICS 2016 New York International Carpet Show New York, USA http://www.nyics.com 20-23

Heimtextile Russia 2016 International trade fair for hometextiles, floorcoverings and interior furnishings Moscow, Russian Federation http://heimtextil-russia. ru.messefrankfurt.com/moscow/en/ visitors/welcome.html *** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.

29

Airstep

16 & 17

Ardex

37

Carpet Court

23

Choices Flooring

Front Cover, 11, 13, 20, 21 &

Classic Architectural Group Back Cover Con-Treat

30

DuraCore

10

Flooring Xtra

27

Gibbon Group/Intafloors

55

GMK Logistics

8

India Export Council International Building Supply

31 12 & 44

Laser Measure Laticrete

7 49 & 53

Mapei

47

Oxtek Australia

51

Protecrete International

46

RFMS Australasia

35 & 36

RLA Polymers

39

Signature Floorcoverings Tarkett

9 45

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