Surface & Panel Q2 2018

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RETAILERS CAPTURE CONSUMERS’ ATTENTION POP-UPS HELP REDEFINE RETAIL FIREFIGHTERS’ LOCKERS DONATED BY MACO, WILSONART SPORT CHEK'S AWARD-WINNING STORE DESIGN DELIVERS SALONE DEL MOBILE 2018

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Room to Run—Reprise At the end of last year, I wrote about the upcoming decade and how exciting it could be for panel processors in North America. Across all segments, including office, kitchen, fixtures and furniture, the consumption of particleboard and MDF will steadily increase.

We’ve seen this coming for some time. Decorative surface materials have achieved an impressive level of realism. It is so good that the consumer doesn’t bother to ask the age-old question: Is it solid wood?

Ninety-nine percent of consumers cannot identify the material. It is no longer a point of contention. If the product looks great, performs and meets a price point, it sells. Our industry has truly experienced a sea change in the last five years. It wasn’t that long ago that decorative surfaces were easily identified as “plastic laminate.” They looked like it, felt like it … and sold like it. Today, these same laminates have finishes and textures that defy reality, opening the door to dramatically increased specification and use.

But we have a problem.

According to Frank Goecke of Poyry Management Consulting, who recently presented at the Composite Panel Association spring meeting, we can expect a compound annual growth rate of 5 percent in residential interiors. Impressive, but hold on. While the United States is the largest market in the world and will be for the next 50 years, we trail the rest of the world in the production of composite panels. We produce only 10 billion square feet of particleboard and MDF. Eastern and Western Europe combined produce more than 45 billion square feet. Much of the European production is from larger, more highly automated facilities, which tend to be far more “downstream integrated” than anything in the United States.

It is no secret that our market is the envy of the world. Everyone would like to do business here. We have already seen a great deal of RTA cabinetry and furniture imported from Asia and Eastern Europe. If we don’t control our destiny, someone else will.

Arauco’s new Grayling, Michigan, facility is nearing completion and will add important capacity in the heart of our industry. Egger is building a new facility in North Carolina and will be an important player in the future.

The Arauco and Egger investments are great news, but they might not be enough. If our industry and the production of laminated composites is to be on par with Eastern and Western Europe, we need to double the North American productive capacity. If we don’t, the void will be filled by imported product.

We are just finding out what the Europeans have known for years. Simply this: Every aspect of panel processing is highly sophisticated, technologically advanced and light years ahead of any other wood processing system (read solid wood).

If you break it down to the individual components of panel processing, it becomes clear. Panel saws, edgebanders, drilling equipment and CNC machining centers are all connected. Robotics and material handling have dramatically reduced unskilled and backbreaking labor. It is now possible to produce an edgebanded product with no visible glue line. Lights-out facilities have existed for years, and there will be more of them.

All this sophistication and advanced technology would be useless if the raw material was as variable as solid wood. Composite panel products can be produced to within a couple thousandths of an inch in thickness, length and width.

“... panel processing rules the world and will continue to in the years ahead. The only question is exactly how big of a role North American production will play in that world dominance.”

This highly automated industry was built around the one thing it absolutely had to have: a raw material input that never varied. It is for this reason that panel processing rules the world and will continue to in the years ahead. The only question is exactly how big of a role North American production will play in that world dominance.

John Aufderhaar | President | Bedford Falls Communications | john@bedfordfallsmedia.com | 920-206-1766 surface&panel

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6 A Whole New Experience Retailers are using bricks and mortar and online shopping in tandem, often employing experiential retail as a powerful way to provide consumers with personal, engaging experiences.

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14 High Expectations Lionesque’s pop-up stores help redefine retail.

22 Disruption = Opportunity Renowned ‘chief disruptor’ Wujec headlines 2018 Material, Technology & Design Symposium. [ D E P A R T M E N T S ]

3 From the Publisher 64 From the Editor 66 Advertiser Index

26 A Sense of Pride Lockers donated by Maco, Wilsonart produce more than just better organization for firefighters.

30 Kings Mountain International Stands Alone As the only press plate manufacturer for the decorative surfaces industry in the Western Hemisphere, Kings Mountain International takes its position seriously.

34 Renaissance in Retail Sport Chek delivers with award-winning store design.

44 You Asked What Questions in the Candidate Interview?

A human resources professional offers advice for business owners in the hiring process.

P U B L IS H E R

John Aufderhaar President | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-206-1766 john@bedfordfallsmedia.com

48 Curve Appeal Winning entry in Formica competition designed to give illusion of movement from all angles.

52 Salone del Mobile 2018 Eurocucina returns with consistent emphasis on super matte, textured wood, stone and marble.

CONTENT

Scott W. Angus Editorial Director | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-261-1947 scottangus47@gmail.com

62 Digital Printing Symposium at IWF 2018 This can’t miss event will reveal the world’s most advanced material, technology and design ideas.

A DV E R T ISI N G

Ryan Wagner VP Sales & Marketing | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-261-1945 rwagner@bedfordfallsmedia.com G R A P H I C D E SI G N — P R I N T P U B L I C AT I O N S

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RETAILERS CAPTURE CONSUMERS’ ATTENTION POP-UPS HELP REDEFINE RETAIL FIREFIGHTERS’ LOCKERS DONATED BY MACO, WILSONART SPORT CHEK'S AWARD-WINNING STORE DESIGN DELIVERS SALONE DEL MOBILE 2018

ON THE COVER:

In response to changes in the retail landscape, the Lionesque Group designs pop-up stores such as this one in Soho for M.Gemi Italian shoes.

Surface & Panel is published quarterly by Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094, telephone 920-206-1766. John Aufderhaar, President, Christine Aufderhaar, CFO. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical without written permission from the publisher. Subscription policy: Individual subscriptions are available, without charge, to manufacturers who engage in panel processing, qualified service providers and suppliers. Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscribers. One year subscription to non-qualified individuals: U.S. $50, Canada/Mexico $75, all other countries $100, payable in U.S. funds. Single issues are $15, and must be prepaid. Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever. Printed in the U.S.A. Postmaster: Send address changes to Surface & Panel, 440 QUADRANGLE DR, STE E, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440-3455. Please direct all subscription questions to: Surface & Panel, 440 QUADRANGLE DR, STE E, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440-3455; or call: 630-739-0900 option 1; or e-mail: subscriptions@cds1976.com

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© MO DAOUD PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF CALLISONRTKL

A Whole New Experience Retailers Find Innovative Ways to Capture Consumer Attention B Y

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Bricks or clicks?

In the evolving world of retail, savvy businesses know it’s not just one or the other that boosts their bottom lines.

Instead, those retailers are using bricks and mortar and online shopping in tandem, often employing experiential retail as a powerful way to provide consumers with personal, engaging experiences.

Often referred to as experiential retail, shopping, buying or purchasing, it’s a concept that typically involves a store in which consumers do more than buy.

Through a store’s engaging and interactive design, often including panel-based fixtures and casegoods, customers experience a brand or product and therefore create a memory that fosters a strong relationship with the retailer.

“Every store is trying to create a unique experience in their environment to capture an audience,” said Jamie Poulos, design director for OPTO International,

LEFT: AN EXAMPLE OF OUTSTANDING EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL, THE FINISH LINE STORE IN CHICAGO WAS DESIGNED BY CALLISONRTKL, A GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND DESIGN FIRM. BELOW: B8TA, A HARDLINE SPECIALTY STORE IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNED BY GENSLER, BRINGS PRODUCTS DIRECTLY FROM START-UP MANUFACTURERS TO THE CONSUMER.

To that end, Rossman said forward-thinking retailers are taking advantage of this by: • Making the store a community gathering space.

• Offering in-store education about products and services • Staging in-store events that appeal to their target demographic.

• Providing additional services such as product customization, design consulting or repair services.

• Providing more product demos, sampling and services.

As examples, Rossman pointed to several retail stores that are succeeding with experiential retail, a couple of which recently won Shop! Design Awards.

B8TA: STORE OF THE YEAR

The hardline specialty store in Santa Monica, California, is said to be a harbinger of retail’s future because of the way it changes the experience for consumer electronic retail, the role of a bricks-and-mortar store and even the relationship between customer and manufacturer. The store, pronounced “beta,” brings products directly from start-up manufacturers to the consumer, captures data from handson consumer interactions and feeds it back to the makers to help research and development and marketing efforts.

Designed by Gensler, the store is divided into light and dark CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 �

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLEET WOOD FIXTURES

a designer and manufacturer of retail store fixtures.

“We help retailers curate the experience by offering them retail displays that capture the consumers attention.”

That often means OPTO works with retailers to design a floorplan that moves the consumer around the store.

“When designing a store, we incorporate subtle hints of the brand through the finishes and materials to help curate the experience for the consumer,” Poulos said. “The in-store experience is personalized by the environment, by the product selection and by the sales associate that helps the consumers with their purchases.”

Jo Rossman is publisher/editor of Shop!, the global trade association dedicated to enhancing retail environments and experiences. It represents more than 1,500 companies from 30 countries.

Retail is evolving, Rossman said, and retailers are looking to use all of their platforms as effectively as possible.

“In some cases, that might mean rightsizing the number of stores in a portfolio while improving the integration of digital services into the store environment,” Rossman said. “In other cases, retailers that started out online are opening physical stores to better understand their customers, meet shoppers’ tactile and fit needs, expand their reach, better connect with consumers and so forth.”

As consumers become more comfortable with different ways to shop, Rossman said, retailers have gained the luxury of using their brick-and-mortar floor space to do much more than display product. If retailers don’t have to stock as much inventory because they can ship directly to their customer, floor space is freed for other uses.

“Now the store can be a place to forge and maintain brand connections with consumers on a deeper level,” she said.

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“b8ta is fascinating from a retail perspective. It’s a real draw for their customers who know they can go into the store and see, touch and play with the latest and greatest in consumer electronics.”

KEVIN BOO, FLEETWOOD’S ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ON B8TA

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sides. The light side, with porcelain flooring and stained oak fixtures, focuses on individual products. The dark side, with engineered dark oak wood flooring and black walls and ceilings, is targeted toward complex interactions and immersive experiences.

Leesport, Pa-based Fleetwood provided millwork and fixtures. “b8ta is fascinating from a retail perspective,” said Kevin Boo, Fleetwood’s account executive on b8ta and several other Genslerdesigned projects. “It’s a real draw for their customers who know they can go into the store and see, touch and play with the latest and greatest in consumer electronics.”

Boo said several retailers traditionally grounded in online and catalog operations are opening retail stores that give customers inperson experiences.

High-end home retailers Frontgate and Ballard Designs are two examples.

“It’s been really interesting to me to see retailers going toward bricks and mortar,” he said. “You’ve got new concepts like b8ta, but now we’re seeing these other companies open stores. “(Frontgate and Ballard) both have a huge following, and they know where to open so they can give customers a chance to touch and feel and then order without hesitation. Bricks and mortar and online really complement each other. Some people are satisfied to read the specs only and order. Others want to experience the product first.”

COTY FUME SCENT LOUNGE: FIXTURE OF THE YEAR

Designed by dkstudio architects, the store in Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre features impressive millwork, fixtures and visuals engineered, fabricated and installed by Toronto-based Evenstscape.

Conceived to attract millennial shoppers, Coty’s scent lounge offers a digital and interactive experience that engages sight, sound, touch and smell. Highlights include a complex curved interactive bar, a spiraling overhead canopy and an arc of freestanding digital towers that can each represent an individual brand or, combined, offer a full digital concert of images and videos.

The glistening display bar features double curves and an exaggerated cantilever. The fixture’s MDF substructure supports a cladding CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 �

Retail is evolving, and retailers are looking to use all of their platforms as effectively as possible.

JO ROSSMAN, PUBLISHER/EDITOR OF SHOP!

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PHOTO COURTESY OF EVENTSC APE

JO ROSSMAN

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When it comes to connecting customers to brands in a retail setting, panel-based fixtures and casegoods can play an important role.

Jo Rossman, publisher/editor of Shop!, said modular fixtures can be designed for easy reconfiguration of space to allow for special events and classes. Some fixtures are even being used as temporary stages or runways in-store before reverting back to hold merchandise and displays.

Consultation bars and community tables are other store furnishings that can be crucial to retail experiences.

“Panel-based furniture has, in our experience, been extremely helpful in allowing our clients to tailor their in-store experiences to the changing tides of their business,” said Michael Trenary, a senior designer with CallisonRTKL. “Panel-based fixture systems afford our clients the flexibility to change their stores and stories in unprecedented ways almost overnight.”

Panel-based systems also give retailers the ability to incorporate flexible storytelling elements–both static and digital–to enhance the in-store experience.

“From a holistic experiential standpoint, the use of these systems gives customers a reason to keep coming back to the store because they can always expect something new to see and engage with, whether it’s a change in one particular moment within the store experience or the overall store itself,” Trenary said. n

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of heat-formed solid-surface material. The cantilever is made from a specialized high-density material shaped with 5-axis milling. The solid-surface top with its beveled edge is 4 inches thick. To form the curved base, nine layers of ½-inch-thick solid-surface material were milled into smooth contours using a combination of CNC and hand finishing.

The towers surround the fragrance bar and are covered in a durable matte black laminate chosen for its resistance to scratches, heat, shock and fingerprints.

“We are seeing more projects that incorporate interactive digital technology,” said Elaine Allen-Milne, Eventscape’s marketing manager. “These designs provide consumers with a sense of personal engagement with the products and environments. Once they have a personal connection with a brand, they are more likely to share it on their own social media channels, attracting more potential customers.”

FOSTERING THE CONNECTION

Rossman said another example of outstanding experiential retail is a Finish Line store in Chicago designed by CallisonRTKL, a global architecture, planning and design firm.

“For the Finish Line project, we incorporated panel systems in a number of different ways to support a number of different experiences,” said Michael Trenary, a senior designer with CallisonRTKL.

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© MO DAOUD PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF CALLISONRTKL

Panel-Based Systems Play Key Roles In Experiential Retail Environments

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© MO DAOUD PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF CALLISONRTKL

Cowhorn Vineyard & Gardens Photo: Claire Thorington Design Builder: Green Hammer

The design gives Finish Line flexibility to quickly and efficiently change displays while also giving each brand within the store the opportunity to layer in its own identity.

Trenary agrees there’s a perceived competition between bricks-and-mortar stores and online shopping.

But the two work best in tandem, he said.

“Both channels have their strong suits,” he said. “It’s easy to go to a website, instantly find and purchase, for example, your favorite shampoo and have it delivered to your door within an hour while you’re out for brunch with friends.

“But on the flip side, physical stores have many strong suits that digital can’t compete with. Trying on clothes is impossible on a mobile app. Live chat and digital messaging can’t beat face-toface customer service. Those are the places and experiences in the retail environment where we as designers focus our efforts.”

CallisonRTKL, he added, wants in-store environments to go beyond novelty and kitsch in order to foster the connection between the consumer and the brand through storytelling and interpersonal interaction. s&p

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High Expectations Lionesque’s Pop-Up Stores Help Redefine Retail B Y

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iven that pop-up stores are quickly assembled and short term by definition, you might think that customer expectations for them would be lower than they are for more permanent retail locations.

You would be wrong. In fact, customer expectations are higher for pop-ups.

“Pop-ups aren’t new anymore. What’s consistent is the expectations are different,” said Melissa Gonzalez, founder of The Lionesque Group, an agency of retail strategists and pop-up architects. “When a consumer goes to a pop-up store, they 100 percent expect to get an experience, have an aha moment, share on social because social currency is all about sharing what you’ve experienced.

“When you go to a permanent store, those expectations aren’t as high. You’re kind of surprised if it has that element. With a pop-up store, it’s expected that it will have that element,” Gonzalez said.

The Lionesque Group, based in New York City, is a key mover in the pop-up movement.

The explosion in online shopping has rocked retail, forcing the closure of thousands of

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“When a consumer goes to a pop-up store, they 100 percent expect to get an experience, have an aha moment, share on social because social currency is all about sharing what you’ve experienced.”

MELISSA GONZALEZ, FOUNDER OF THE LIONESQUE GROUP

physical shops and a major rethinking of what stores should be. Popups are among the more innovative and successful responses.

Gonzalez, who founded The Lionesque Group in 2009, describes herself as a retail futurist. She also is founder of the retail intelligence platform Clark, chief pop-up retail architect of Loudon, Virginia’s Smart City development and author of “The Pop-Up Paradigm: How Brands Build Human Connections in the Digital Age.” RETAIL FORMAT PIONEERS

“We are retail format pioneers—thought and execution leaders in popup retail, helping brands and developers rethink and reformat what’s possible in brick and mortar spaces,” Gonzalez said.

Lionesque’s services run the gamut from conceiving a strategy to design to scouting a location to hiring staff to building out and executing a store’s creation to using the latest analytics and metrics to monitor traffic, sales and success.

Gonzalez defines a pop-up as “a short-term retail experience” that can be as brief as three days and as long as a year but typically is six months or less. Pop-ups have been around for a decade or more, but they picked up momentum about 2013, she said.

“At that time, we were really seeing the store format change, how much square footage was actually needed,” she said. “So we tried to maximize the experience per square foot.”

The change was driven by people’s growing ability to shop online and have everything they need at their fingertips without leaving home. Plus, people were busier than ever and trying to squeeze more into their available hours. Retail stores needed to provide something different to make it worth people’s time to visit.

“Your time and ability to go to stores is lessened because we pack our day with so much stuff. So when we go to a mall today, you only go on average to two stores, not spending hours there. When you go get something, it’s usually with a purpose, and you’ve already done research online.

“When you go to the in-store experience, you are just expecting something a little different now. Some locations lend themselves to be transactional hubs. For others, customers are like, ‘OK, I’ve researched online, but there are lot of things I can’t answer online that I have to answer at a physical location.’”

FAR LEFT: THE BED SANCTUARY AT

THE THRIVE GLOBAL POP-UP LEFT: MELISSA GONZALEZ, FOUNDER OF THE LIONESQUE GROUP BELOW: TOUCHES OF OLD WORLD

ITALY APPEAR IN A MODERN SETTING—THIS SOHO POP-UP FOR M.GEMI, WHICH BRANDS ITSELF AS A SELLER OF ITALIAN SHOES “MADE THE OLD WAY, SOLD THE NEW WAY.”

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Unfortunately, many long-time retailers are overbuilt and are struggling or closing because they haven’t caught up with what consumers want, which are experiences, Gonzalez said.

One of the challenges of developing a pop-up is finding that sweet spot between investing enough to make the experience fulfilling for customers and not going too far given the likely short-term nature of the outlet.

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“A lot of brands think, ‘Oh, I’ll go to market more effectively by doing a pop-up. It will be fast and cost-effective and all of that stuff.’

But they underestimate a lot. You are still exposing your brand to the consumer market, and you still have put your best foot forward. And the expectations are actually even higher,” Gonzalez said.

Lionesque’s clients include digital brands that want to test the viability of a physical location. Lionesque is also seeing more wholesalers targeting direct to consumer channels.

“They want to create branded experience stores,” Gonzalez said.

“They are not necessarily going to stop having wholesale, but they want to create more of that emotional connection with their consumers.

They generally do it for the short term, but if the market works, a lot of them start thinking that maybe they should have a physical store.”

Pop-ups are typically 5,000 square feet or less. “It’s just not a common thing any more to open a 20,000- square-foot location,” she said.

About 25 percent of Lionesque’s customers end up converting

their pop-ups to more long-term locations, Gonzalez said.

BUILDING A SET

In effect, when Lionesque builds a pop-up, it is building a set, she said.

“So we’ll take inspiration from the full experience that you want to have, and we’ll try to find our high points and low points and build that set that’s not going to break the bank.

“A lot of time what I see clients do is they pick their one or two key Instagrammable moments that they’ll invest more in to bring that experience into the store. But maybe go a little more basic in the shelving to offset that they spent $10,000 on an Instagrammable installation.”

So what creates the in-store experience that today’s consumers demand and pop-ups are offering? And what, exactly, is Instagrammable?

“What we want to do is inspire their inner-creative, inspire them to be content creators for you. And to learn something today that they are going to want to share,” Gonzalez said.

For example, people love giant green screens that create beautiful and exotic backdrops for customers’ pictures, she said. Interactive technology such as virtual reality works well in many locations, but it must be purposeful, and it doesn’t make sense for all brands.

One of Lionesque’s clients, Leesa, created the Leesa Dream Gallery that uses virtual reality to take customers on an immersive experience guided by an Olympic champion.

“It’s like a dream that you are taken on by their brand ambassador, Michael Phelps, so it’s a cool experience for the customer, and it’s good for the brand because now they are going to lie on the bed longer because they are going on this cool journey, and he is subliminally getting them to lie on the mattress longer to really understand how comfortable it is.”

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ABOVE LEFT: ONE OF LIONESQUE’S CLIENTS, LEESA, CREATED THE LEESA DREAM GALLERY THAT

USES VIRTUAL REALITY TO TAKE CUSTOMERS ON AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE GUIDED BY OLYMPIC CHAMPION MICHAEL PHELPS. ABOVE RIGHT: FORMICA SOLID SURFACE IS USED ON THE CASH WRAPS AT ODE A LA ROSE FLOWER STORE IN NEW YORK CITY. LEFT: AMONG THE COMPANY’S FAVORITE MATERIALS TO OFFER AESTHETICS AND DURABILITY IS HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE FROM WILSONART. HPL IS PROMINENT IN LIONESQUE’S POP-UP FOR MADISON REED COLOR BAR. 16

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COMMUNITY, TRANSPARENCY

A POPUP STORE IN SOHO IN NEW YORK CITY WAS DESIGNED TO HELP LAUNCH THE RADEN LUGGAGE BRAND IN 2016. IT FEATURED A “COLISEUM” OF 365 SUITCASES SIGNIFYING THE TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

Community building is also a big thing for retailers trying to create experiences. In some cases, like-minded brands that have similar missions or sell complementary products will co-host events or share space for what’s called co-retailing, Gonzalez said.

For example, athletic apparel stores will host free yoga and Pilates classes. “You might not need yoga pants every time you go, but now there is a community feel around these brands, and it’s who you are going to think of most when you need that product.”

Transparency is another attraction in some of today’s top retail locations. Food stores are especially suited for sharing important information with customers, such as what’s organic and what’s not GMO, through graphics and interactive monitors, Gonzalez noted.

Gonzalez had a hard time picking her favorites from among the 150-plus pop-ups that Lionesque has helped build, but she singled out a store in Soho in New York City designed to help launch the Raden luggage brand in 2016. It featured a “coliseum” of 365 suitcases signifying the travel opportunities available every day of the year.

“A big trend in design is that the product is the hero, and you kind of design the store around that. That was a really fun one,” she said.

She also is partial to a bookstore that Lionesque helped open for Penguin Random House in Puerto Rico, The Bookmark Boutique.

Lionesque replicated a rainforest, and the store has a zip line running from the front to the back of the store, with a green living wall CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 �

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in the back. “It was all about bookmarking your next adventure, so the zip line stairs were all books,” she said. “You could take a picture and put your face in the cover of a book and share that on social.”

“It was cool to share the pure joy of people being excited by the physical book,” she said.

POP-UP MATERIALS

To set the stage for pop-ups, Lionesque mostly selects costeffective materials that help tell the story while saving money for Instagrammable features. For permanent locations, durability becomes a bigger part of the conversation, so designers often go with plywood instead of MDF or laminates instead of stained woods, Gonzalez said.

Among the company’s favorite materials to offer aesthetics and durability is high pressure laminate from Wilsonart. HPL is prominent in Lionesque’s pop-up for Madison Reed Color Bar, which specializes in hair colors.

Formica solid surface is a good choice for cash wraps, Gonzalez said, citing Ode a la Rose flower store as a prime example.

Lionesque is also a big fan of marble and terrazzo. In 2017, it brought touches of old world Italy to a modern setting in a Soho pop-up for M.Gemi, which brands itself as a seller of Italian shoes “made the old way, sold the new way.” The store featured marble stairs, a part-marble shoe display and a terrazzo-tiled bar. Portico shelving units helped complete the Italian look. s&p

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Disruption = Opportunity Renowned ‘Chief Disruptor’ Wujec Headlines 2018 Material, Technology & Design Symposium

W TOM WUJEC

hen your title is “chief disruptor,” you aren’t intimidated by technologies that are permanently changing the way we conceive, design, manufacture and sell products. Instead, you embrace those technologies and see opportunities where others see threats.

Tom Wujec is chief disruptor at Autodesk—the Oscar-winning industry leader in 3D computer animation technology and one of the world’s largest software companies—and he revels in sharing today’s exciting opportunities during his celebrated talks on innovation.

Wujec will share his illuminating insights as keynote speaker at the 2018 Material, Technology & Design Symposium at the CPA Fall Meeting on Sept. 23-25 in Nashville. For the second year, the symposium is being co-sponsored by Surface & Panel magazine and the Composite Panel Association in conjunction with CPA’s Fall Meeting.

The symposium is a high-powered, must-attend event that brings together leaders of the composite panel and decorative surfaces industries, along with users and specifiers of those products. Among attendees are CEOS, architects, cabinet makers, component suppliers, distributors, furniture manufacturers, industry suppliers, interior designers, store fixture manufacturers and students.

“The event provides a unique opportunity for companies that use composite wood to network and learn from each other and from CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 �

THE 2018 SYMPOSIUM WILL BE AT THE BRAND-NEW JW MARRIOTT IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, ADJACENT TO THE MUSIC CITY CENTER AND JUST STEPS FROM THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS OF LOWER BROADWAY. 22

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“The event provides a unique opportunity for companies that use composite wood to network and learn from each other and from our CPA members, who represent the very best panel producers and surfacing companies in North America.”

JACKSON MORRILL, PRESIDENT OF CPA

GUESTS ENJOY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE MATERIAL, TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN SYMPOSIUM, HELD IN SAVANNAH IN 2017.

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our CPA members, who represent the very best panel producers and surfacing companies in North America.” said Jackson Morrill, president of CPA. Besides top speakers such as Wujec and trailblazers in the industry, the symposium features an exhibit hall with dozens of companies displaying innovative products ranging from the latest in textured composite panels to creative new surface materials and components.

“We at Surface & Panel and CPA are passionate about panel processing and providing a platform for this remarkably dynamic industry to highlight the latest and greatest in all facets of the business—from technology to design to application," Publisher John Aufderhaar said.

“We see the symposium as a natural extension of this mission as we work with CPA to create a forum for companies that use composite panels to come together with the North American panel processing industry to share ideas, learn about trends and see the latest offerings in composite panels and surface décor,” Aufderhaar said.

“The networking opportunities are endless.”

Wujec has worked with a diverse range of clients, from the largest automotive and consumer product manufacturers to visual effects and gaming companies. In his talks, he explores why innovation matters, why it is a vital engine of economic growth and how to foster it within any organization—from plucky startups to billiondollar legacy companies.

Working closely with Fortune 100 companies, he is counted on to create innovation practices at all stages, from strategic planning to design and implementation. Now—and with his latest book, The Future of Making—he brings his vision of disruptive innovation to global audiences, demonstrating how the entire process of imagining, iterating, constructing, manufacturing, distributing and selling products has changed in unprecedented ways.

He’s also been a leading advocate of making work visible within a company, of transforming ideas into images that enhance clarity and engagement, leading to intelligent and successful new products, services and processes. Thanks to Wujec, revolutionary companies unafraid of the disruptive landscape are creating profound new ways of understanding their employees, customers, markets, channels and products. He has brought several award-winning products to market and has published a number of influential books, including Return on Imagination, Five Star Mind, and Pumping Ions—works that have been translated into more than a dozen languages. His book, Imagine Design Create, was released at TED 2011 to rave reviews.

The 2018 symposium will be at the brand-new JW Marriott in downtown Nashville, adjacent to the Music City Center and just steps from the bars and restaurants of Lower Broadway. s&p For more information on the Material, Technology & Design Symposium— including registration and room reservations—go to sandpsymposium.com.

“We at Surface & Panel and CPA are passionate about panel processing and providing a platform for this remarkably dynamic industry to highlight the latest and greatest in all facets of the business—from technology to design to application.”

JOHN AUFDERHAAR, PUBLISHER OF SURFACE & PANEL MAGAZINE 24

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A Sense of Pride Lockers Donated by Maco, Wilsonart Produce More than Just Better Organization for Firefighters B Y

T

S C O T T

he volunteer fire department in Moffat, Texas, just outside of Temple has 20 spiffy new lockers and a renewed sense of pride, thanks to the community spirit and generosity of Maco Manufacturing and Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces.

The lockers are made of attractive and durable thermally fused laminate (TFL) and utilize coordinated edgebanding. Maco—which manufactures furniture, desks, shelving and other casework for schools and municipalities—built the lockers with donated materials from Wilsonart. Both Maco and Wilsonart are based in Temple.

Dennis Frankum, a volunteer firefighter with the Moffat department, sparked the discussion that led to the new lockers. Frankum also does maintenance work at Maco, and he liked what he saw at the plant.

“He approached me one day about how much he liked our work and how he wished they had a better solution to organize their equipment,” said Rachael Beaty, office administrator at Maco. “At the time, they were just stacking all of their equipment on plastic chairs.”

Frankum had a general idea of what the department needed, and he gave Beaty drawings that showed what he thought would work best.

There was only one catch: The department is all volunteer and has limited resources for large projects.

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A N G U S

Maco had recently begun using Wilsonart’s thermally fused laminate, and it was a big seller, so Beaty reached out to Wilsonart’s Coordinated Surfaces Sales Manager Steve Hubbard to see if the company could provide TFL for the lockers. With plenty of material in stock at Wilsonart’s new Oxford, Mississippi, plant, Hubbard secured the OK to donate the materials.

Beaty had Frankum poll the firefighters on which colors and finishes they liked best. She sent the favorites to Hubbard, and he indicated which ones were available for donation. The final choices were Slate Gray with a matte finish for the shelves and Florence Walnut with a fine velvet texture finish for the locker walls and backs.

Beaty sent Maco’s contract draftsman a few sketches, and he made a digital model of what the lockers would look like. In early January, Maco volunteers built the lockers and installed them at the fire department.

Moffat Fire Chief Brian Falkenberg said the new lockers mean more than a way to better organize equipment.

“Speaking as the chief, I would say that the lockers have brought the crew together and have given them a sense of pride,” Falkenberg CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 �

“Before we received our new lockers, we had no place to stage our turnout gear or personal items to keep them organized. Now, the lockers not only have a professional look, but plenty of room. Three wall hooks per cubical give plenty of room to hang gear. This allows us to suit out faster, improving our response time.”

— DENNIS FRANKUM

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“Our new lockers not only look more professional but have the ability to hold all the gear in a neat and orderly fashion that also allows us to organize our additional equipment in one place.”

— SCOTT BENSON

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said. “As a department, this is something we can all be very proud of.”

Interestingly, Maco and the Moffat Fire Department had a history even before Frankum brought them together for this project. In 2007, Maco’s manufacturing facility in Belton, where it had operated since its founding in 1973, was destroyed by fire. The fire was one of the biggest in Belton’s history, and 13 departments from around Bell County fought the blaze. Among them was the volunteer crew from Moffat.

In April 2008, four months after the fire, Maco found its new—and current—home in a 120,000-square- foot plant in Temple.

Maco is a big fan of Wilsonart and its materials, and at least 65 percent of its units contain Wilsonart products, Beaty said.

“We have used Wilsonart as a vendor for a long time and have been very happy with their products and customer service, which is why we have had the tendency to switch to their products when available.” s&p

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“Before getting the lockers, bunker gear would get mixed up from one firefighter to the next. The new lockers brought organization and a sense of pride to the whole crew. This sense of pride has been contagious and built teamwork with Moffat FD.” — RHEA COOPER

Innovation through experience

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Kings Mountain International Stands Alone As Press Plate Manufacturer

A

KINGS MOUNTAIN FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2005 IN KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA, ABOUT 35 MILES WEST OF CHARLOTTE. 30

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s the only press plate manufacturer for the decorative surfaces industry in the Western Hemisphere, Kings Mountain International takes its position seriously.

Not only does KMI invest in state-of-the-art equipment and rebuilds to meet the market’s continually changing demands, but the company prides itself on being at the cutting edge of product innovation.

More than 10 years ago, for example, KMI was one of the first plate manufacturers to align a press plate with décor print to create a synchronized final product for laminate flooring. Now, with the expansion of synchronized designs into thermally fused laminate, KMI is capitalizing on its technical expertise to respond to the market. To capture and document its manufacturing developments, the company has patented its Syncro Registration® or SR® process.

“KMI’s focus is on our customers and how we can continuously improve to better serve them through design, service and new technologies,” said Steve Wagenknight, president and CEO. Kings Mountain first opened its doors in 2005 in the beautiful, small town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, about 35 miles west of Charlotte. Wagenknight selected the region because it offered a central location to service all segments of the decorative surfaces industry—laminate flooring, thermally fused laminate (TFL) and high pressure laminate (HPL)—throughout North and South America.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 �

Certified. Sustainable.

Eco-Certified Composites are Among the Greenest on Earth.

What are Eco-Certified Composites?

ECC stands for Eco-Certified™ Composite, as defined in the stringent ECC Sustainability Standard and Certification Program for composite panel products – specifically particleboard, MDF, hardboard and engineered wood siding and trim.

What makes a composite panel Eco-Certified?

Composite panels that carry the ECC mark are manufactured in facilities that are certified to meet the stringent requirements of the ECC Sustainability Standard.

ECC panel manufacturing facilities meet rigorous environmental requirements utilizing objective-based criteria and annual on-site audits. Each must ensure that its composite panels meet the stringent California Air Resources Board (CARB) formaldehyde emissions regulations AND achieve at least three of the following requirements:

• • • • •

Demonstrate a Carbon Footprint Offset Use Local Wood Fiber Resources Use Recycled/Recovered Wood Fiber Minimize Wood Waste in Manufacturing Hold a Valid Wood Sourcing Assessment or Certificate

In the future, ECC will incorporate EPA TSCA Title VI emission requirements into the program.

What about LEED v4 Credit?

• MATERIALS AND RESOURCE (MR) CREDIT: Building Product Disclosure Optimization – Environmental Product Declaration • MR CREDIT: Building Product Disclosure Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials

Who sponsors ECC Certification?

The Composite Panel Association (CPA) developed the ECC Sustainability Standard, including its pioneering Carbon Calculator. CPA administers the ECC Certification Program in North America as a third party certification agency accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• MR CREDIT: Building Product Disclosure Optimization – Material Ingredients • MR CREDIT: Furniture and Medical Furnishings • INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (EQ) CREDIT: Low-emitting materials

www.ECCproduct.org

The Composite Panel Association is committed to advancing and certifying the sustainability of industry products for residential, commercial and industrial uses.

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“KMI’s focus is on our customers and how we can continuously improve to better serve them through design, service and new technologies.”

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“When we opened for business in 2005, I remember traveling North America seeking customers,” said Don Jones, corporate director of sales. “The great feeling is when we achieved new customers, they became long-term customers and are the backbone of our success.”

KMI produces press plates with chemically and mechanically etched finishes, along with mattes and mirrors. It also offers refurbishing (removal of chrome and replacement of finish) and reglossing (removal of chrome and adjustment of surface to required gloss level) services.

Beyond press plates, KMI provides precision-grinding and polishing services for the global aerospace industry and is ISO 9001:2015/AS9100D certified. On the lighter side, Apple and the NFL’s Carolina Panthers worked with KMI to produce large stainless-steel logos for their global showrooms and stadium suites, respectively.

In a drive to expand its product portfolio to the decorative surfaces industry, KMI on Jan. 1 became the sole sales agency in North America for press pads from Heimbach Specialties of Belgium and Marathon Belting Ltd of England. Heimbach Specialties and Marathon Belting manufacture Thermax™ and UltiMat™ pressure compensating pads used in TFL, HPL and flooring. The pads also are used to produce plywood and veneer panels.

KMI’s leadership team comprises veteran industry professionals with the knowledge and experience to guide their customers toward the proper solution or value proposition that meets or exceeds their needs. Along with Wagenknight and Jones, the team includes Martin Endert, director of graphic arts; Fran Vahle, sales director for press plate and press pads; Reiner Groth, technical director; Bill Trautman, technical sales; and Melissa Bilotta, plant manager.

Endert and his graphics team work individually with customers to create new, unique finishes, featuring textures that reflect the haptic influences of today’s market. Endert publishes design booklets twice a year that reflect his thoughts from Heimtextil and Salone del Mobile.

KMI has nearly 100 employees, and its 130,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is located on an 18-acre site, giving the company ample room for expansion.

“KMI is well-positioned to bring value to our customers in the Americas through our manufacturing expertise, commitment to continuous process improvement and convenient U.S. location,” Vahle said. “Furthermore, KMI understands the necessity to listen and work closely with our customers and their key suppliers, such as printers and treaters, to create a pleasing final product.”

KMI will exhibit at the International Woodworking Fair (IWF), Building C, Booth 2440, in August. s&p

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Renaissance in Retail Sport Chek Delivers With Award-Winning Store Design

W

B Y

S U Z A N N E

V A N

G I L D E R

hen Sport Chek, Canada’s largest sports retailer, expanded and redesigned its flagship store at the Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto, it created a shopping experience exemplifying what is necessary to thrive in today’s retail economy.

The brick-and-mortar store is a critical component of the omnichannel experience expected by tech-savvy consumers. It uses best-in-class technological features to seamlessly blend in-store and digital shopping, creating an “endless aisle approach.”

“There is a lot of competition from online retail,” said Brenda Jones, a partner at Stoever Jones Design in Calgary, Alberta. “So how do you fight back?

The store environment gives people the touchy-feely experience, but that alone isn’t enough. With the redesign, Sports Chek’s parent company, FGL Sports Ltd., wanted to create more entertainment for people, as well.”

The Yorkdale store delivers. A 40-foot ellipse with integrated LED lighting serves as a portal into the space, which went from 25,000 to more than 44,000 square feet. Curved podiums feature holographic displays while interactive kiosks allow customers to research and shop online from within the store.

BRENDA JONES There is technology to evaluate golf swings, and a treadmill

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analyzes how people run. An RFID tagging system connects every piece of footwear to a specialized display. Shoppers can place a shoe, and everything about the product and availability comes up on an integrated monitor. Throughout the store, 257 digital screens mounted on walls and installed into custom-built display tables provide a highly interactive, entertaining and empowered shopping experience.

The design challenge was to combine technology and merchandise into high-end sleek features while creating a unified look with clean lines and shapes. To accomplish this, FGL, which is owned by Canadian Tire, called upon established partnerships.

“We’ve worked with FGL for 20 years, as has Milltech Millwork in Edmonton,” Jones said. “With the client and Milltech, we developed all the fixtures. Many were designed from scratch.

Then we handed them to Keith at Milltech to do his magic.”

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS TECHNOLOGY

Keith Waldbillig is the general manager and one of the founding partners of Milltech Millwork. The company specializes in complicated architectural millwork and works with clients throughout Canada and the United States. Its portfolio includes projects ranging in size from a single custom law office to Rogers Place, the Edmonton Oilers’ new NHL arena. Designed for multi-use and premium experience, the prestigious project is the first LEED-silver certified facility of its kind in Canada and received

Sport Chek flagship store at Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto Completed January 2016 FLG Sports 2017 SHOP! AWARDS

• Silver Award: Specialty Store over 25,000 square feet • In-Store Communications Award: Digital Technology Screens • Visual Presentation Award: Kaleidoscope Wall 2017 RETAIL DESIGN INSTUTUTE AWARDS

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STATE OF THE MARKET: To say retail design is a tough market segment is an understatement.

Retail took a beating in the 2008 recession and continues to be in decline—even as the U.S. economy experiences the second longest (though weakest) recovery in history.

According to a recent Credit Suisse report, the market segment is failing at a record rate, with shopping mall and store closings 40 percent higher than at the 2008 peak.

But it is not all doom and gloom. Opportunity abounds for retailers willing to shift their models to serve shoppers rather than shareholders. The corresponding case study about Sport Chek’s award-winning store redesign program—and the engineering prowess necessary to fabricate for a changing marketplace—exemplifies modern retail done right.

Many factors underlie the dismal reports, and they can be broadly separated into two categories: circumstances beyond control and organic consumer buying trends retailers can harness for growth.

THE INEVITABLE

Some of the most devastating factors currently dragging down the retail market are the long-term results of untenable business practices.

As Bloomberg explained in a recent feature, many established chains are overloaded with debt—often from leveraged buyouts led by private equity firms. For years, companies have side-stepped bankruptcy by refinancing. At best, it’s unsustainable.

Lenders are becoming increasingly leery in the wake of big names such as Toys “R” Us (the third-largest retail bankruptcy in U.S. history) failing to pay the piper. The worst iterations, such as the ruination of Sears, are downright cannibalistic.

Another cause of retail apocalypse is an over-supply of malls. It began in 1954 when the U.S. Congress introduced accelerated depreciation into the tax code. The intention

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Retail Rising From the Ashes was to stimulate investment in manufacturing by allowing a business to set aside some of its income, tax-free, to pay for the eventual cost of replacing capital investments.

Mall developers exploited this, and other tax loopholes, to accelerate the depreciation for new construction. The deductions in the first few years after a shopping center was built were so large that malls were losing money, at least on paper, resulting in huge tax benefits.

Combined gains dramatically outperformed investment in the stock market.

Money poured into real-estate investment companies. Prices went through the roof.

Investors pulled out as much money as possible for a few years using accelerating depreciation, sold the property for significant profit, and then repeated the cycle with more expensive new construction. It was a bonanza. As a result, between 1970 and 2015, the growth rate of malls was over twice the growth rate of the population. Yet despite the new construction, mall visits declined by 50 percent between 2010-2013 with further declines reported in each successive year.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Despite the financial intrigue playing out in the retail market place, consumer confidence is through the roof, unemployment is at a historic low, and the economy keeps growing. People want to shop.

This is where profound changes in consumer buying habits come into play.

According to Digital Commerce 360, e-commerce represented 13 percent of total retail sales in 2017, a 16 percent increase

over 2016. That’s the highest growth rate since 2011.

Even when people aren’t buying online, they are shopping online. A report recently published by the Ecommerce Foundation revealed that 88 percent of consumers research products on the internet before buying in-store.

The reverse phenomenon also occurs.

Sometimes referred to as “showrooming,” consumers in the digital age will examine merchandise in a traditional brick-and-mortar retail setting before buying.

No discussion of consumer buying trends would be complete without mentioning millennials. Though 18-34 -year-olds make up the majority of online shoppers (and their spending increases every year), one of the characteristics of the cohort is valuing experiences over things. This presents new opportunity for the brick-and-mortar channel.

Successful retailers know shopping is more than consumerism. It’s an emotional experience. Doing it in-store provides a type of instant gratification and human connection that can only be found IRL (in real life), as the kids say.

These are the factors retailers can influence by design.

To meet the demands of this dynamic market segment, store fixture manufacturers are engineering solutions that push the leading edge of material and fabrication technologies. In terms of panel processing, retail is the market to watch for innovations in specialty products. The accompanying feature about Milltech Millwork’s work with Sport Chek is a good place to start. n

FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT OF THE RETAIL MARKET:

1. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-retail-debt/ 2. https://newrepublic.com/article/145813/cause-consequences-retail-apocalypse 3. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/03/15/the-terrazzo-jungle 4. http://time.com/4865957/death-and-life-shopping-mall/

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“The store environment gives people the touchy-feely experience, but that alone isn’t enough. With the redesign, Sports Chek’s parent company, FGL Sports Ltd., wanted to create more entertainment for people, as well.”

BRENDA JONES

� CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

the ENR Global Best Projects Award of Merit, Sports/ Entertainment, in 2017, among other accolades.

Milltech’s 85,000 square-foot facility is equipped for flexibility, primarily with Homag machinery. “We have CNC routers and case clamps. Beam saws and edgebanders. We have two of everything, so we have redundancy,” Waldbillig said. “It makes us more competitive and expands our offering.”

A press, guillotine and finishing department allow Milltech to lay up and stitch custom veneer panels. For countertops, the company has in-house v-grooving and solid surface fabrication equipment.

Translucent resin panel processing and LED lighting capabilities round out Milltech’s repertoire.

Yet what brings in the bid invitations is Milltech’s engineering prowess, which exceeds its fabrication capabilities.

“We can take something as simple as a napkin sketch and draw all the 3D CAD work and engineering using Inventor software by AutoDesk. It was originally developed for metalworking. When we are done with the overall design, it gives us a cut-list and generates G-code for all the CNC parts for our millwork, even for compound curves or radial cuts.

“It integrates into our ERP system. Then the data CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 �

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for the same design goes to all the relevant trades on the project. No additional engineering necessary.”

Waldbillig said. “We send blown-apart drawings for the installers, so when the parts come together on the job site, everything comes together precisely.”

PARTNERSHIPS

Milltech’s engineering is a differentiator, but alone it is not enough to make the company immune to the threats of offshore competition, which also invests in similar equipment and can process the same programming.

“With 35 years in the industry, you learn how to build partnerships,” Jones said. “For Sport Chek, we do the project management, design development and code compliance. We provide material specifications but also work with Milltech and their distributors to refine them to ensure the right material is used for each application.

“Sustainability is a big driver in this segment now.

Lots of malls want materials to be Greenguard certified at the very least. It is also a fast-track market, so availability is key. We depend on our distributors to make sure our specifications meet those demands.”

Durability is always a factor in a high-traffic retail CONTINUED ON PAGE 42 �

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environment, and even more so in one designed to be interactive, like the Sport Chek flagship store at Yorkdale. HPL, phenolic-backed metallic HPL and solid surface are used widely throughout the displays and POS pods. Cabinetry is built from TFL. Rounded bulkheads serving as wayfinding devices are made from painted and kerfed MDF. The same basic palette used in the Yorkdale store carries over to all of Sport Chek’s redesigns, though sometimes the criteria and timeline vary based on location.

“We work with Upper Canada Forest Products, Formations and Richelieu to deliver materials that fit the design and comply with LEED, Greenguard or whatever a project requires. If anything happens during production or installation, they have replacements to us quickly. Having people willing to take some of the headache off your plate is a big boon in this industry. Speed to market gives us an advantages over foreign competition.”

Retail is a dynamic marketplace, forcing store brands to reinvent the shopping experience. Meeting the demands of continually evolving design concepts requires a strong interdependency between engineering/design and manufacturing. s&p

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You Asked WHAT Questions in the Candidate Interview?

M

B Y

C L A U D I A

S T .

J O H N

ost business owners are aware that, in the hiring process, it is illegal to discriminate against a candidate based on nationality, religion, age, marital or family status, gender, health and physical ability, military status and, in some locations, sexual identity and criminal background. Many, however, don’t realize that seemingly benign questions can lead a candidate (or court of law) to conclude that you are intentionally or unintentionally discriminating against a protected class.

For example, one of our clients asked a few seemingly harmless questions of two candidates they were interviewing for an HR position.

It is clear the questions were intended to be “get to know you” type questions, such as, “So, are you married? What does your husband do? Do you have kids? How old are they?”

While I’m certain the client did not intend to discriminate against them, the candidates, being HR professionals, were highly offended and withdrew from consideration for the position. It is also quite possible that one or both of the candidates may pursue legal action.

Don’t let this happen to you. If your questions or screening methods could be viewed as having an adverse impact on a protected class, you should avoid asking them.

Here is a fairly comprehensive list of questions and types of questions you should NOT ask. You might want to print this out and review it just before you conduct your next interview.

DO NOT ASK: How old are you or how much longer do you plan to work before you retire? ● What is the date of your high school graduation? ● When or where were you, your parents, your spouse born? ● What is your original or maiden name? ● How long have you lived at your current address? ● Questions about lineage, ancestry or national origin. ● What is your religion or religious practices? ● Questions about race, complexion of skin or attitude about working with co-workers of different race. ● Citizenship (although you may ask if he or she has the legal right to work in the United States). ● Questions about physical characteristics (i.e., weight, height, color of hair, etc.). ●

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A F F I N I T Y

● ● ● ● ●

● ●

●

● ●

H R

G R O U P

What is your marital status?

Do you have or intend to have children?

What’s your gender or sexual identity?

How do you feel about managing a man/woman?

Questions about any medical information (general health, disabilities, past use of sick leave, use of workers’ compensation benefits).

Do you smoke, drink, take drugs?

Dates of military service, type of discharge, or if receiving veteran disability pension.

Listing of clubs, societies or lodges where applicants have membership.

Do you belong to a labor union?

Do you own a car/home?

So, what is OK to ask? While it is not acceptable to ask the questions above, there are often related questions that are perfectly legal to ask, such as: GENERAL:

What is your name?

What is your address? ● Our hours are (describe). Are there any factors, such as commute, access to reliable transportation, personal commitments that would make it difficult or impossible for you to work our required schedule? ● What educational institutions did you graduate from and what degrees or certifications did you earn?

(Do NOT ask dates of completion.) ● ●

NATIONALITY:

Are you legal to work in the United States? (Do not require documentation until post-hire.) ● What languages are you fluent in for speaking/reading/writing? ●

RELIGION:

What days are you available to work?

Are you able to work our required schedule?

● ●

MEDICAL STATUS OR DISABILITY:

This position requires the following physical abilities. (Describe.) Are you able to perform the duties of the position?

●

AGE:

Are you over 18 years of age?

●

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46 �

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MILITARY STATUS:

Are you a military veteran? ● What military skills and experience are you able to bring to this position? ●

Q&A: PAY EQUITY Q: We have always verified a candidate’s previous salary

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND:

(If a security clearance is required or if a clean criminal background is required for institutions such as financial institutions or day-cares/ schools): This position requires a security clearance and/or a clean criminal background. Do you anticipate this being a problem for you?

●

Beyond these tricky areas of inquiry, there are many creative, insightful questions you should consider during an interview. And, whenever possible, we encourage you to ask them in a “behavioral interview” format, which is simply posing the question in the following format: “Tell me about a time when (question).” This will reveal the most detail about the candidate’s experiences, which are always the best predictor for future behavior.

Also during the interview process, it’s important not to require unnecessary documentation, such as a birth certificate, naturalization or baptismal records or require a photograph. All legal documentation should be obtained and processed after the employee has been offered the position.

Do you have a favorite question and wonder whether it’s legal to ask?

Shoot us an e-mail or don’t hesitate to call us. s&p Claudia St. John is president of Affinity HR Group, which specializes in providing human resources assistance to companies.

To learn more, email contact@affinityHRgroup.com, visit www.affinityhrgroup.com or call 877-660-6400.

history early on in the hiring process. Usually, we ask for a copy of a pay stub or a copy of the candidate’s previous year’s tax filing. Is there any problem with that practice?

A: We don’t recommend this practice. First, a pay stub and/or tax return contains revealing information that an employer shouldn’t have pre-hire, such as age, number of dependents, marital status, Social Security number, garnishments, miscellaneous deductions on pay stubs, other deductions on taxes (think medical costs, child care, etc.). Obtaining this information post-hire is acceptable but not pre-hire.

In addition, a few cities and states have moved to prohibit employers from asking for previous salary information altogether, and even more prohibit asking for W-2s & tax returns. The main reason for these laws is for equal pay reasons. People (mainly women) who were underpaid at previous jobs cannot find pay equality if future employers know what they made before and base their offer on that information. Asking for salary history perpetuates inequitable pay.

Instead, we recommend companies focus on what they want to pay for the position and make sure they offer the same regardless of sex, age, etc. n

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2 D L A M I N AT E S 46

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100 rings g n i w o r &g strong Looking forward is a great quality for successful companies. Timber Products Company is

committed to the future even as we celebrate our past. Our deep roots feed strong relationships that grow even stronger with each new ring in our history. We’re developing new products and pushing for innovation at the same time we’re improving performance. The companies we work with recognize this and reward us with long relationships.

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Curve Appeal Winning Entry in Formica Competition Designed to Give Illusion of Movement From All Angles

A

n inventive chair designed to give the illusion of movement from every angle is the grand-prize winner in Formica Corp’s 2018 FORM Student Innovation Competition.

Rachel Marie Thompson, a student at Michael Graves College at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, took top honors with her “Deflextion” design, which uses three Formica laminates: Bright White, Graphite Grafix and Black.

“When creating ‘Deflextion,’ I was determined to seek out a way to create a curvature form in a new and unique way,” Thompson said. “This design was inspired by pieces that were created with laser-cutting techniques and origami forms.”

The competition invites students to take on the original 2008 FORM challenge, in which world-renowned designers and architects constructed works of art from Formica products, creating something to “sit upon, lay upon, lean upon or play upon.”

Kimberly Wheeler’s “Carrara Bellis” design took second place, and Sara Camacho’s “Cebra Chair” was third. Wheeler and Camacho also attend Michael Graves College.

The competition drew 52 entries from design and architecture students from around the U.S. They were judged by Melodie Leung from Zaha Hadid Architects, Rob Van Varick and Donald Strum from Michael Graves Architecture & Design, R. Roger Remington from the Vignelli Center for Design Studies and Rochester Institute of Technology, Raphaela Platow from the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center and Renee Hytry Derrington, global design lead at Formica Group.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 �

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“DEFLEXTION," A DESIGN BY KEAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT RACHEL MARIE THOMPSON, WON THE 2018 FORM STUDENT INNOVATION COMPETITION HELD BY FORMICA CORP. THE COMPETITION PROVIDED STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ON THE ORIGINAL 2008 FORM CHALLENGE, WHERE WORLD-RENOWNED DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS CONSTRUCTED WORKS OF ART FROM FORMICA PRODUCTS, CREATING SOMETHING TO “SIT UPON, LAY UPON, LEAN UPON OR PLAY UPON.”

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KIMBERLY WHEELER'S “CARRARA BELLIS” DESIGN TOOK SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE WENT TO SARA CAMACHO FOR HER “CEBRA CHAIR” � CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

“We are thrilled to give the next generation of great architects the opportunity to share their work,” Hytry Derrington said. “The quality and thoughtfulness of the designs submitted to the competition were astounding and make us very excited for the future of design.”

The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, where Formica Corp. is headquartered, hosted an exhibition in late March and early April featuring Thompson’s fabricated design, renderings of the other finalists’ designs and works by Massimo Vignelli, Michael Graves and other prominent architects from the original FORM competition.

The first-place winner receives a cash prize of $1,500; second place receives $1,000, and third place $500. The students also had the chance to get their work in front of some of the most influential architecture and design firms in the industry.

“Having been involved in the first competition in 2008, I very much enjoyed reviewing the range of student design proposals,” Leung said. “These proposals reminded me of the versatility and creative potential of working with Formica Brand products.”

The FORM Student Innovation Competition is open to college students across the U.S. and Canada.

Entries are judged on their use of Formica Laminate colors and patterns, overall design aesthetics, the intersection of design and function, and project statements submitted by the students. More information about the winning students’ designs is available at formica.com/studentcompetition.

Details about the 2019 FORM Student Innovation Competition will become available on that site later this spring. s&p

OTHER ENTRIES IN FORMICA CORP’S 2018 FORM STUDENT INNOVATION COMPETITION INCLUDED CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: NOAH HOWELL'S OPEN AREA BENCH, “INFINITY CHAIR” BY PATRICIO ARROBO, MICHAEL DUMAINE'S “SKELETON OF THE MOON,” “HORIZON” BY KEELY LANGE, AND KEIRA NALTY AND JESSY RIOS' “SURGE.” 50

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Salone del Mobile 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY: SAVERIO LOMBARDI VALLAURI

Eurocucina Returns with Consistent Emphasis on Super Matte, Textured Wood, Stone and Marble B Y

T Y L E R

D

S H A R P E

esign week in Milan was in full force April 16-22 with 20 exhibit halls at Salone del Mobile, 1,841 exhibitors, 434,509 visitors and 500-plus installations and events stationed across the city.

Salone del Mobile highlights the evolution of architecture, interior design, furniture and kitchen fabrication. This year included Eurocucina, a biennial subsection of Salone del Mobile with a focus on everything kitchen, showcasing modern collections from Europe’s elite manufacturers including Fendi, Poliform, Dada, Lube, Scavolini and more.

Salone del Mobile is a driving force of innovation in European furniture and interiors, while Eurocucina provides a platform for global leaders in kitchen fabrication to show off the industry’s evolution and newest advancements in design.

The show was exceptionally well attended. Architects, designers, kitchen dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, local distributors and CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 �

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students from 188 countries flew in from all corners of the globe for a sneak peak of the future of design, hoping to grasp a handful of inspiration to bring back to local markets. Every attendee had its own focus, but for this article, the emphasis will be on the innovation, trends and ultimately future of surface and panels, including an overview of prevalent materials, wood grains, colors, textures, finishes and combinations of panel products.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

PHOTOGRAPHY: SAVERIO LOMBARDI VALLAURI

The congruence and similarities of finishes among the booths were startling. The majority of exhibits included a combination of super matte shades, low-sheen textured wood grains and marble or stone finishes. These three elements were versatile and mixed-matched across designs in many possible combinations of upper/lower/open cabinetry, backsplashes, countertops and island cabinets. Instead of only for marble countertops and backsplashes, concrete and stone finishes were prominent for cabinet doors. This married well with super matte finishes, primarily dark grays and earthy tones that added a soothing sensation to the complexity of the stone finishes.

As for wood grains, white oak, eucalyptus, walnut and rustic red oaks made for beautiful, sturdy, extra thick (2- to 3-inch) countertops, usually embedded with smart and stylish shifting hardware to maximize space.

The consistency of these three elements across Eurocucina’s 115 booths was overwhelming and nearly comical, as if the Eurocucina exhibitors shared notes. I had an open discussion with Roberto CONTINUED ON PAGE 56 �

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Caspani of CLEAF, an Italian company that produces innovative surfaces and solutions for the furniture and interior design industries.

Caspani explained that material trends emerge from the close relation and the continuous exchange of ideas between production companies and architects that spans across architecture, fashion, automotive and much more.

At Salone del Mobile, CLEAF’s surfaces were found across more than 70 booths. CLEAF produces a coordinated system of products–faced panels, laminates and edges–with excellent technical performances and striking tactile and visual sensations, giving life to innovative products. The exhibitors at Eurocucina lean on these products and trends to allow visitors to easily compare booths within a narrower scope. The exhibitors’ goal was to emphasize their craftsmanship and technical capabilities while supporting the global acceptance and evolution of trends in design.

TRENDS—SURFACES

Architects, designers, kitchen dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, local distributors and students from 188 countries flew in from all corners of the globe for a sneak peak of the future of design, hoping to grasp a handful of inspiration to bring back to local markets.

Marble, cement and stone veneers are bold elements that added life to the exhibit, and they are no longer constrained to countertops and backsplashes. These elements had a wide range of finishes, including ultra matte, low sheen, medium sheen and high gloss. Carrara and Dark Emperador marbles broke through as key elements of most exhibits, highlighted with large slabs on 9-foot-high cabinet doors. The authenticity of the stones came through in the texture, especially in matte or low-sheen finishes CONTINUED ON PAGE 58 �

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as a buffed lacquered panel was finished smooth with a mirror-like finish. The cement and stone veneer surfaces continued from the 2016 Eurocucina as we see this trend start to develop more and be accepted in mainstream offerings, adding an industrial feel to a modern design.

Super matte is here to stay. High-gloss finishes were shown in less than 5 percent of Eurocucina exhibits, while no- or low-sheen surfaces were featured on the most highly desired countertops and cabinetry.

Super matte finishes were prevalent in dark, earthy or neutral tones, with white maintaining a classic presence. There was a lack of deep or wild color in these finishes, with hints or specs of blue, green and red with silky, warm aesthetics. High-gloss finishes are not over and may never fully subside, but the growth of super matte is upon us.

Low-sheen wood grains added identity and natural comfort to the exhibits. The most common species included light white oak, gray eucalyptus, colorful quarter-cut walnut and character-filled rustic red oaks. Wood countertops of 2 to 3 inches were strong and sturdy, completing this transitory illusion of wood and stone.

Color overall was subtle, with many shades and neutral finishes. In the vast majority, bold explosions or fusions of color were rare and stood out in the few exhibits with enough courage to emphasize them.

Color will undoubtedly play an important role in Eurocucina 2020.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SAVERIO LOMBARDI VALLAURI

CONTINUED ON PAGE 60 �

A CDE GHIJKLMNOPQRS TU WXYZ...

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ReinventingService “Service” means many things in the decorative panel supply chain. At Arclin, it means partnering in product development. Technical support to ensure manufacturing efficiency and optimal product performance. And ready accessibility and problem solving from an experienced and highly skilled team of experts in both overlay and resin technology.

Let us show you more.

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For more information or a design portfolio presentation, contact us at decorative.surfaces@arclin.com.

Reinventing TFL More innovation, more designs, more support, more opportunity. There’s more than meets the eye at Arclin.

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GENERAL TRENDS

The craftsmanship of the exhibits was inspiring and masterful.

The degree of detailing generated a sensation of elegance as each exhibitor produced finished displays of pure excellence.

Clean lines define modern kitchens. Angular cabinetry and open shelving were dominant across exhibits with beveled finishes to eliminate handles and decorative hardware. As well, many exhibits included sliding or hidden door systems, adding transitional properties to the kitchen.

PHOTOGRAPHY: TYLER SHARPE

Lighting had a larger emphasis than in past years, illuminating cabinet interiors and adding more value to interior finishes. Linen, leather and soft colors or shades complemented the faced exterior panel finishes.

IWF BOOTH # 2040

Texture is resurfacing with tone-on-tone finishes and textured glass surfaces. Stamped metallic doors result in a wide range of tones brought on from stretches in the metal and reflections of light. As well, linen, textile and abstract finishes have been added to glass to distort the clarity and reflection of the glass inserts.

OVERALL

Salone del Mobile and Eurocucina 2018 did not disappoint. The 115 Eurocucina exhibitors continue to define their own identity with ideas, colors, combinations and craftsmanship. It’s our hope that this overview provides new concepts, opportunities and inspiration to help bring European-inspired design to North American markets. s&p

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digital printing “The fidelity of digitally printed décor has made quantum leaps.

All other print methods will need to improve and adapt to stay current.”

“The Digital Print Symposium will reveal the world’s most advanced material, technology and design ideas. It is a can’t miss event for anyone involved in producing or specifying surface designs and their applications.”

“Digital print will exceed 10 billion square feet in 2018.”

“Flexibility, speed to market, customization and quality are all advantages of digital print. The only thing that can hold it back is…lack of imagination.”

Wednesday—Saturday/August 22—25, 2018

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Panel Processing Retains Key Role as Retail Evolves

“It’s easy to get nostalgic for how things were just a decade or so ago, but the world isn’t going back. It’s best to recognize that, adapt and take advantage of what’s new. Based on the content in this issue, it’s clear that is happening.”

It’s safe to say that today’s retail is not your mom and pop’s retail.

The internet changed many things, but how people shop must be at or near the top of the list.

Consumers can lounge on their couches or sit at their desks and shop by phone or computer. One click, and their purchases are on their way to their doorsteps. It’s just too easy.

So easy, in fact, that brick-and-mortar stores have taken a huge hit. One source estimated that 10,000 stores would close their doors in the U.S. in 2017, many of them because they simply can’t compete with the convenience of online shopping.

While some retailers are giving up, others are responding in the best, most creative ways possible. They are changing the shopping experience and making it worthwhile for people to venture out and see what stores have to offer. So, while the number of shops has fallen and likely will continue to drop, the stores that remain are innovating their way to what could be a bright future.

That’s good news on many fronts. It goods news for cities and towns that rely on brick-and-mortar stores for taxes and jobs. It’s good news for companies that benefit from exposing their products directly to consumers. And it’s good news for the panel processing industry, which supplies many of the materials that retailers use for fixtures, display pedestals, cash wraps, wall coverings and more.

In this issue of Surface & Panel, we explore a number of ways that retailers are evolving in this new world. Many of them involve what is called “experiential shopping.” In his retail trend story starting on page 6, Jim Leute provides details and examples that include strategic floor plans, community gathering spaces, in-store education and events, and immersive experiences.

“Every store is trying to create a unique experience in their environment to capture an audience,” said Jamie Poulos, design director for OPTO International, a designer and manufacturer of retail store fixtures. “We help retailers curate the experience by offering them retail displays that capture the consumers attention.”

My story on the Lionesque Group, starting on page 14, examines how a team of retail strategists and pop-up architects helps companies open mostly short-term stores that expose their products to consumers in the most interesting ways. Lionesque has shepherded more than 150 shop openings and ensures that the investors get the most bang for their bucks, particularly through Instagrammable moments. It truly is a new world.

So, all is not lost for retail—not by a long shot. As a result, panel processing continues to have a future in the sector. In her story starting on page 34, Suzanne Van Gilder writes about how manufacturers in the industry are responding to the changes and finding new opportunities.

One other important note: Vacant space left behind by defunct retailers is being filled by offices, apartments, restaurants and other entertainment venues. What do they all have in common? They use decorative panels for much of their furniture, many of their casegoods and other storage and organizational needs. That can be a win, as well, for panel processing.

Yes, it’s easy to get nostalgic for how things were just a decade or so ago, but the world isn’t going back. It’s best to recognize that, adapt and take advantage of what’s new. Based on the content in this issue, it’s clear that is happening. s&p Scott W. Angus | Editorial Director | scottangus47@gmail.com

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Alfatherm 9 908.301.0600 www.alfatherm.it

Masisa 20 (56 2) 2 7078510 www.masisa.com

American Adhesive Coatings LLC 60 978.688.7400 www.aacchotmelts.com

Materials, Technology, Design Symposium 45 920.261.1945 www.sandpsymposium.com

Arclin 59 877.689.9145 www.arclinTFL.com

Northern Contours 35 866.344.8132 www.northerncontours.com

Biesse 41 877.824.3773 www.biesseamerica.com

Omnova Solutions 17 866.332.5226 www.omnova.com

Boise Cascade 5/67 888.264.7372 www.bc.com

Panolam 11 203.925.1556 www.panolam.com

Button Fix 27 +44 (0)20 8150 7190 www.button-fix.com

Premier Eurocase 68 303.373.9718 www.premiereurocase.com

Cefla 42 704.598.0020 www.ceflafinishing.com

Rehau 55 800.247.9445 na.rehau.com/zerojoint

Chemisol 28 1.39.0331.523.351 www.chemisol.it

Renolit 13 +1.973.706.6912 www.renolit.com

Collins 12 800.329.1219 www.collinsco.com

Roseburg 49 800.245.1115 www.roseburg.com

Columbia Forest Products 53 800.637.1609 www.cfpwood.com

Salice 61 800.222.9652 www.saliceamerica.com

Composite Panel Association 31 866.4Composites www.ECCproduct.org

Schattdecor 29 800.600.6100 www.schattdecor.com

Daubert Chemical Company, Inc. 51 866.368.3983 www.daubertchemical.com

Smartech 32 704.362.1922 www.smartechonline.com

Decotone 33 908.301.0600 www.decotonesurfaces.com

Stevens Industries 43 217.857.7100 www.stevens-wood.com

Digital Printing Symposium at IWF 63 920.261.1945 www.iwfatlanta.com

Stiles Machinery, Inc. 37 616.698.7500 www.stilesmachinery.com

Element Designs 56 877.332.3396 www.element-designs.com

Synergy Thermal Foils 46 954.420.9553 www.synergythermofoils.com

Genesis Products 18 877.266.8292 www.genesisproductsinc.com

Tafisa Canada 58 877.882.3472 www.tafisa.ca

Grass 21 336.996.4041 www.grassusa.com

Timber Products Company 47 800.547.9520 www.timberproducts.com

Hexion Toppan 23 888.443.9466 39 770.957.6447 www.hexion.com www.tia.toppan.com

Interprint, Inc. Uniboard 2 413.443.4733 19 844.302.8585 www.interprint.com www.uniboard.com

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Kastamonu 65 90.216.554.30.00 www.keas.com.tr

Union Tool Corporation 38 574.267.3211 www.uniontoolcorp.com

King Plastic 54 800.780.5502 www.kingplastic.com

Vortex 40 800.355.7708 www.vortextool.com

Kings Mountain International 25 704.739.4227 www.kmiinc.net

Wilsonart 57 800.433.3222 www.wilsonart.com/discover

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