Stocklists The
1 November 2021
with
FLOORINGNEWS
BRITAIN’S No. 1 FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE FOR THE RETAIL AND CONTRACT MARKET
Primo Tweeds
by
Create your
Masterpiece.
Have you ordered your award winning showroom stand?
Stocklists The
ISSUE 560 : NOVEMBER 2021 Published by Mayville Publishing Co Ltd., 219 West Ella Road, West Ella, Hull HU10 7SD @thestocklists Tel: 01482 659396 Fax: 01482 659397 www.thestocklists.com Sales Director: Diane Martin. diane@mayvillepublishing.co.uk Publication Director: David Spragg Founded by Roy Spragg in 1973.
THE MAGAZINE THAT’S ALL ABOUT FLOORING
100 pages ALL ABOUT FLOORING • NEWS starts p27
What’s new for ’22
Advertisers Monthly ‘Stocklisters’ shown in BOLD Index
The full round-up of the latest products and launches featured at The Flooring Show, Harrogate pages 54 –85
H ABINGDON FLOORING
62
01274 655694
H ADAM CARPETS
69
01562 822247
Ht ASSOCIATED WEAVERS 4-7,49,56-59 01422 431100
+32 56 653 211 t AVENUE 79
GOLD RUSH! Check out the best of the best Gold winners in the Flooring Innovation Awards 2021.
See pages 44-52
t BERRYALLOC
47
+32 5652 8480
t BRAMPTON CHASE
8-9
01604 664855
o CARPENTER 100
01457 861141
H CAVALIER CARPETS
52
01254 268000
s COLUMBIA FLOORING
10
0208 443 3322
H CONDOR CARPETS
31
+31 38 477 8911
H CORMAR FC,65
01204 881234
H CRUCIAL TRADING
46
01562 743747
H FELLS CARPETS
—
01977 662211
11,50,55
01538 361633
n F. BALL
Home time trends
Rita Bancroft forecasts for 2022 page 37-41
n FITA 36
01159 506836
n FLOORWISE 97
01509 673974
H FURLONG FLOORING
01772 696787
48
0845 6801231
t HATHAWAY FLOORING
17
0161 872 8003
H HUGH MACKAY 18,45
01429 892555
n INTERFLOOR
01706 213131
Gaia is major new brand for AW page 56
Join the Q
Qfloors concept is new package page 66
Avenue updates best-seller page 27
Velveteer revealed
Abingdon’s fine new polyester page 62
46
01622 534041
t KAHRS
15
023 9245 3045
35
01386 820 100
and all the latest business news page 34
FlooringFactsheets Adhesives Buying Groups Carpet Company Directory Carpet Trouble-shooter Carpet Types
Adam experiments as tastes change page 69
The industry’s knowledge-bank 86
LVT Directory
88
87
LVT Options
89
–
Underlay 94–95
90–91
Wholesalers 96–97
98
Woolsafe: the Carpet Care Guide 92–93
ISSN 2046-7338 © Mayville Publishing Co. Ltd. 2021. Every care is taken in compiling this magazine, but the proprietors assume no responsibility in the effects arising therefrom.
2,16,42-43,64 0161 443 0970
t LEOLINE
53
0800 032 3970
n MERRYFIELD ENGINEERING
3
01422 373799
t MODULEO
29
01332 851500
n NICF 36
0115 958 3077
o NOVOSTRAT
41
00353 61 339287
20-21
01706 639866
19
01274 905411
H THOMAS WITTER 25
01429 892555
H PENTHOUSE CARPETS
10% flooring inflation Evolving colour choice
33,51,67
H ITC
s KELLARS
Tougher Titanium
12-14,60
t HARVEY MARIA
t KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING
Polyester power
Page Contact No No
o TEXFELT
s TRADECO 22 07833 660451 n UNIFLOOR
71
n UZIN-UTZ
77
0845 6030906 01788 530080
t VERONA
23
0113 244 4984
Ht VICTORIA FLOORING 26,63
01562 749300
o WILSON UNDERLAYS
01924 451138
24
Classified Adverts ................................... pages 99 H carpets/rugs/tiles t woods/laminates/smooths n accessories/services/organisations = fibres o underlay s wholesalers/distributors l adhesives
MERRYFIELD CARPET CUTTING MACHINERY British Manufactured Carpet Cutting Machines THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Visit ‘Merryfield Carpet’ on YOUTUBE to see our full range of cutting machines or call 01422 373799 3
4
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Share your Sedna #sednacarpet www.sedna-carpet.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
A UK brand since 1964
5
WATC H T HE F IL M AND DISCOV E R OUR AWA R D WI N N IN G
Always a trailblazer when it comes to branding, Associated Weavers reinvents the in-store display & brings an experience unseen in the flooring business. With traditional samples and an intuitive digital module, Invictus® luxury vinyl flooring invites the customer on a fun-todo purchasing journey.
DIS PL AY
6
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
GREAT FLOORING • INVINCIBLE PERFORMANCE
Share your Invictus #invictuscarpetflooring www.invictus.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
A UK brand since 1964
7
Discover
our latest Large collection
Plank
Modern wood designs available in both stunning large plank and contemporary herringbone sizes Herringbone
Large Plank
8
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Become a Protected
Gold R E TA I L E R
European Oak in large plank and herringbone sizes
Versatile Modular Stands Limited Availability Register your interest and pre-order now
New Designs launching soon!
Gold Standard We Value Partnerships Full marketing support Showroom displays First class sales team Fast, flexible delivery
bramptonchase.co.uk/retailers
01604 664855 bramptonchase.co.uk
Luxury Vinyl Tiles THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Luxury Click-fit Planks 9
Columbia Flooring plc
The Leading Country Wide Carpet & Flooring Suppliers We can supply you with virtually any make of carpet and flooring at GUARANTEED maker’s list price... Delivered direct to business premises FREE OF CHARGE. For a Speedy and Efficient Service
Call US NOW!!! 020 8443 3322
sales@columbiaflooring.co.uk www.columbiaflooringplc.co.uk Opening Times: Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am to 12 noon Tel: 0208 443 3322 Fax: 0208 805 2346 TRAFALGAR TRADING ESTATE, JEFFREYS ROAD, ENFIELD, MIDDLESEX, EN3 7TY.
10
1970 – 2020
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Introducing the new F. Ball Centre of Excellence.
We are delighted to present our redesigned training and demonstration facility at our Staffordshire headquarters, with restyled course content to offer a more dynamic,
• Expert training from the F. Ball technical team • Free to attend
hands-on learning experience.
• Hands on training
BOOK YOUR PLACE!
• Improves awareness of latest product innovations • Specialist courses available
Call us on
• New four day masterclass for apprentices
01538 361633 or book online at
www.f-ball.com
• Includes a behind the scenes tour of the F. Ball production facility • FREE F. Ball tool kit when you attend F. Ball training courses
We Listen, We Learn, We Lead
F. Ball and Co. Ltd. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
F. Ball Centre of Excellence Churnetside Business Park, Station Road, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7RS
11
12
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
acheetham@furlongflooring.com
M 07966 263571
ALAN CHEETHAM GTR MANCHESTER, CHESHIRE M 07970 163372
GRANT MILLER WEST SCOTLAND
gmiller@furlongflooring.com
www.furlongflooring.co.uk
New website
enquiries@furlongflooring.com
Email enquiries
tel: 01322 628707 fax: 01322 698733
London Sales
tel: 0845 520 0800 fax: 01452 222515
Gloucester Sales
tel: 01772 696787 fax: 01772 311921
Preston Sales
dstyles@furlongflooring.com
M 07983 446969
DEAN STYLES NORTH EAST, EAST COAST
mshutt@furlongflooring.com
M 07970 158594
MIKE SHUTT BIRMINGHAM/ STAFFORDSHIRE, SHROPSHIRE
mmorrisr@furlongflooring.com
M: 07973 403450
MARTYN MORRIS SOUTH YORKSHIRE
mprice@furlongflooring.com
M: 07968 828516
M 07976 311434
acairnie@furlongflooring.com
MARTIN PRICE YORKSHIRE
ALAN CAIRNIE EAST SCOTLAND
WE’RE LOOKING AT SERVING YOUR BUSINESS FROM
Furlong Flooring. The people who can deliver your success.
A TOTALLY NEW ANGLE!
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
pfletcher@furlongflooring.com
M 07816 217561
PETER FLETCHER HAMPSHIRE & DORSET
joconnor@furlongflooring.com
M 07816 217550
JACK O’CONNOR SOUTH BUCKS, BERKSHIRE, WEST LONDON, SURREY (OUTSIDE M25)
zbilgrami@furlongflooring.com
M: 07793 244620
ZEE BILGRAMI SOUTH, SW & SE LONDON
dspendiff@furlongflooring.com
M 07791 890861
DARREN SPENDIFF KENT
jakien@furlongflooring.com
M 07791 891024
JOHN AKIEN EAST & WEST SUSSEX
jbone@furlongflooring.com
M: 07816 217548
JAMIE BONE N.W, NORTH, EAST & CENTRAL LONDON
athompson@furlongflooring.com
M 07816 217565
ANDY THOMPSON ESSEX, HERTFORDSHIRE
plovell@furlongflooring.com
M 07816 217549
PAUL LOVELL NORFOLK, SUFFOLK & CAMBS
enquries@furlongflooring.com
TBA LEICESTER, WARWICKSHIRE
cmcmaster@furlongflooring.com
M 07872 964685
COLBY McMASTER NOTTS, STAFFORD, SOT, DERBYSHIRE & LINCS
NEW PORTAL! Order online 24/7 with live stock checking. Ask your rep for details.
Competitive, best-selling products - all available right away from UK stock – with rapid logistics that ensure you get what you need, when you need it.
swaithman@furlongflooring.com
STEWART WAITHMAN DEVON & CORNWALL M 07794 048413
tconway@furlongflooring.com
M 07791 891025
M 07794 048414
tbailey@furlongflooring.com
TONY CONWAY BEDS, NORTHANTS, OXON & BUCKS
jbrimble@furlongflooring.com
M 07794 041266
JASON BRIMBLE AVON & GLOUCESTERSHIRE
bthomas@furlongflooring.com
M 07794 048809
BEN THOMAS MID & WEST WALES
TIM BAILEY SOUTH EAST WALES & HEREFORDSHIRE
jgray@furlongflooring.com
M 07957 459642
JOHN GRAY MERSEYSIDE, WIRRAL & NORTH WALES
mdowson@furlongflooring.com
M 07980 786265
MARK DOWSON PART LANCS, FLYDE COAST & CUMBRIA
FULL UK COVERAGE FROM STOCK.
13
Veneto The luxury carpet range that completes our Soft Touch collection
● Silky, sophisticated saxony carpet ● Priced between our popular Aria and Spirito ranges for even more choice ● Affordable luxury ● Available with our exclusive Combibac® backing
Use with under floor heating
Free 7 year wear and stain warranty
Carpet protected from moths & pests
Combi-bac. The ultimate backing for carefree installation
FIRST CHOICE FLOORING FOR EVERY ROOM CARPET • VINYL • LVT • LAMINATE • HARDWOOD
www.furlongflooring.com Dartford 01322 628 700 • Preston 01772 316155 • Stonehouse 0845 520 0800 14
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Kährs Impression Dovecot
Inspired by nature. Designed by expertise.
KÄHRS IMPRESSION
Large format: 220 x 1829 mm (wood) & 457 x 914 mm (stone) Wear-resistant, patented ceramic coating Rigid SPC Core for excellent strength and stability 5G Click locking technology IXPE Sound-reducing backing, 20 dB Suitable for underfloor heating
Lifelike appearance with registered embossing Extra-large formats in eight wood and eight stone designs One of the most robust ceramic coatings on the market. For impressions that last a lifetime.
Available now. Contact Kährs UK for more information: www.kahrs.com | sales@kahrs.com | 023 9245 3045 THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
15
Create the perfect space with... Our Carpet, Vinyl, SPC, Artifical Grass & Laminate showroom stands.
FORMA
sales@kellars.co.uk 16
0161 443 0970 THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Beautiful floors for beautiful spaces
FOR THE BEST PALLET PRICING CONTACT HATHAWAY FLOORING
8MM & 12MM
EASY FIT
FAST DELIVERY
L2C LOC
V
4 BEVELS
0161 872 8003 I sales@hathawayflooring.com I hathawayflooring.com THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
REGISTER EMBOSS
SA O M RD PL ER ES F R TO EE DA Y
AGT Effect laminate flooring delivers impressive authenticity thanks to its deep register in emboss surface finish. Available in 8mm AC4 and 12mm AC5 specifications, Effect comes in 14 original looks. Available from Hathaway Flooring for delivery across the UK.
17
18
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
SPRING BOND ECO-ENGINEERED UNDERLAY
SAFE & SOUND…
in the knowledge that SPRINGBOND UNDERLAY is…
GREENER, CLEANER, QUIETER & SAFER • Guaranteed to be made from 85% recycled plastic bottles & 100% recyclable at end of life • Hypoallergenic – The only carpet underlay to be awarded the Allergy UK seal of approval • Tested and proven to be chemical free and virtually zero VOC’s • Industry leading acoustic properties – 57db • A sustainable and safer alternative to PU foam
Luxuriously comfortable underlay that won’t cost the earth Available in 11mm, 9mm and 7mm (double stick contract) variants with short lead times.
MADE IN UK
Get in touch – 01274 905411 THE STOCKLISTS October 2021
www.springbond.co.uk
dB PROUD TO SUPPORT
Meet the team... F I N D Y O U R L O C A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E H E R E SCOTLAND & BORDERS
NORTH EAST, CUMBRIA & ISLE OF MAN
NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES
YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER
Stephen Cawley
John Pringle
Ian Henderson
Christine Searle
07718 762236 stephen.cawley@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07825 991405 john.pringle@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07974 141919 ian.henderson@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07939 051608 christine.searle@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: All Scottish regions
Areas covered: Cumbria, Kirby Lonsdale via. Carnforth, Isle of Man, Cleveland, Northumberland, Durham, Tyne & Wear
Areas covered: Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire (inc. SK9, SK10, SK11), Greater Manchester (inc. SK1 to SK8, SK12, SK14 to SK16), Clwyd, Gwynedd
Areas covered: North Humberside, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire
WEST MIDLANDS, WORCESTER
SOUTH YORKSHIRE & EAST MIDLANDS
SOUTH EAST, LONDON HERTS & ESSEX
SOUTH EAST, LONDON
Sue Chapman
Chris Gee
Emily Davis
Guy Legg
07801 538763 sue.chapman@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07919 047930 chris.gee@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07753 983714 emily.davis@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07801 357622 guy.legg@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Herts, Essex, North & West London
Areas covered: Kent, South & Central London, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex
Areas covered: Gloucester, Avon, West Midlands, Shropshire, Hereford & Worcester
Areas covered: Humberside, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire,
EAST MIDLANDS & SOUTH EAST
EAST ANGLIA, CAMBS & BEDFORDSHIRE
SOUTH WEST
SOUTH COAST & CHANNEL ISLES
Simon Beeby
Martin Hunter
Graham Wood
Nigel Woollard
07775 913380 simon.beeby@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07711 353982 martin.hunter@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07825 171482 graham.wood@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
07767 213236 nigel.woollard@ penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Somerset, Devon, Cornwall
Areas covered: Berkshire (Split), Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Channel Isles
Areas covered: Berkshire (Split), Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire
Areas covered: Cambridge, Bedford
NORTHERN IRELAND & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
WALES
Herbie Montgomery
James Thomas
07774 695333 herbiehsm@gmail.com
07932 458032 juncture2002@aol.com
Areas covered: Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland
Areas covered: West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Gwent, Dyfed, Powys
Agent For Penthouse Carpets Ltd
Agent For Penthouse Carpets Ltd
Working for the independent retailer To find out more, call our sales team on 01706 639 866 or visit us at:
penthousecarpets.co.uk
Penthouse Carpets Buckley Carpet Mill, Buckley Road, Rochdale. Lancashire OL12 9DU • Fax: 01706 860 577 • Email: sales@penthousecarpets.co.uk 20
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Wentworth A
TOUCH
OF
LUXURY Colour shown: Perivale
At Penthouse we’re always working hard to give our retailers what they want; superb quality, easy-fit carpets in up to the minute shades. That’s why we’ve added 7 gorgeous new on-trend options to our Wentworth range, offering a touch luxury that won’t break the bank. We never compromise on quality, which means that we select only the finest wool rich blends to give amazing depth of colour and durable good looks. Expertly crafted by the dedicated team at our employee owned mill in Lancashire; Wentworth is available in 40oz and 50oz, and 4m and 5m guaranteed full widths. Penthouse quality – naturally.
For samples and further information please call 01706 639 866 or visit penthousecarpets.co.uk ST Y L E | C O LO U R | C O M F O RT THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
21
TR ADECO NEW PRICE LIST – NOVEMBER 2021
Updated Rates Exclusively for The Stocklists Magazine Trade Price List
PATTERN BOOK RANGES
Cuts Unit Rate
Rolls Unit Rate
Westminster Saxony – 2200gr/m2 – 100% Millsoft Polypropylene Heavy Weight Saxony
£11.23/m2 +VAT
£8.99/m2 +VAT
Luxe Super Soft – 1450gr/m2 – 100% Polyester Micro Fibre Tech Soft Touch Fine Cut Pile
£8.38/m2 +VAT
£6.99/m2 +VAT
Velvet Soft Touch – 40mm Artificial Grass 65% Polyethylene / 35% Polypropylene Exterior Grade Mix
£8.99/m2 +VAT
£6.80/m2 +VAT
Violet – 32mm Artificial Grass 70% Polyethylene / 30% Polypropylene Exterior Grade Monofilament Mix
£10.25/m2 +VAT
£7.85/m2 +VAT
Wilder – 47mm Artificial Grass 70% Polyethylene / 30% Polypropylene Exterior Grade Monofilament Mix
£10.65/m2 +VAT
£8.25/m2 +VAT
Tradeco’s famous Grade A & second choice clearance job lots. A. Category Clearance Roll Stock B. Category Clearance Roll Stock C. Category Clearance Roll Stock D. Category Clearance Roll Stock E. Category Clearance Roll Stock F. Category Clearance Roll Stock G. Category Clearance Roll Stock H to Z Categories are available in same pricing pyramid structure
N/A £1.50 m2 N/A £2.50 m2 N/A £2.99 m2 N/A £3.50 m2 N/A £3.99 m2 N/A £4.50 m2 N/A £4.99 m2 Continued as above
“DON’T FORGET” MAKE SURE TO REGISTER YOUR NEW TRADE ACCOUNT TODAY sales@tradeco.uk – 01144 000 120 or contact our trade sales manager Ms Chloe Wright on 07833 660 451 + We are also looking for new sales reps/agents to join our team, apply now to chloe@tradeco.uk
BULK DEALS DEAL 1
Grade A 80/20 woold twist and wool Berber clearance package. Average of 2500m2 stock lot – equal to 1 x 7.5tonne lorry load. Mixed job lot in various sizes, colours, and types. Full load of materials as allocated. While stocks last.
£1.95m2 +VAT
MAKE SURE TO TRY TRADECO’S SECOND CHOICE PACKAGES 2 Starting at just £1.50m +VAT
With more then 7,000 Rolls of Job Lot & B Grade stock deals, Tradeco has become the leading name in the UK’s volume clearance carpet industry.
EVEN MORE QUICK CLEARANCE DEALS ENDLESS JOB LOT SPECIALS AVAILABLE ON ON 07833 660 451 OR 07586 993 821
INDUSTRIAL GRADE CARPET TILES • 1000 x 1000 mm Heavy Duty • 100% Nylon, PVC Backed Now just £8.99m2+VAT
LIMITED STOCK AVAILABILITY
DEAL 2
A grade Tapibel Contract Carpet. 25 roll package deal. Mixed colours and qualities. Limited stock availability.
£3m2 +VAT
END OF SEASON
LAST MINUTE GRADE A ARTIFICIAL GRASS DEALS Windsor Velvet 40mm
• Stauf Adhesive PUK 447 • Stauf Adhesive D3/D5/D8
just £9.50
PER TUB +VAT
(ON ORDERS OF MORE THAN 52 TUBS)
Grey Slate LVT – slight second choice • 300mm x 600mm x 5mm – 2.20m2 per pack
from just £5.50m2+VAT based on minimum 100m2 quantity
£7.99 £6.80m2 +VAT Violet 32mm
£8.25 £7.85m2 +VAT Wilder 47mm
£8.75 £8.25m2 +VAT THE UK’s LARGEST NATIONWIDE INDEPENDENT CARPET, FLOORING & ARTIFICIAL GRASS WHOLESALER Call Tradeco on 01144 000120 / 07833 660451 Visit our main warehouses at: Unit 1, Kiveton Park Ind Est, Manor Rd, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S26 6PB
22 SLOCT21 - Tradeco page 221021.indd 1
8mm & 10mm contract felt carpet underlay. Grade A. • 14.7 sq m. per roll • UK 100% recycled material
from £13.99+VAT per roll based on more than 100 rolls ordered Rubber Crumb Underlay – GRADE B non-composite • 5mm/6.5mm/7mm Thickness
from just £11 PER ROLL +VAT per roll based on more than 100 rolls ordered THE STOCKLISTS November 2021 22/10/2021 16:08
Exclusive to Verona ClickLux is a collection of 10 premium, realistic planks reminiscent of natural wood, but with several added benefits. Our new, next generation SPC (stone polymer composite) is extremely durable, waterproof and rigid, making it suitable for both domestic and commercial projects. ClickLux features an easy to install locking system, without the need for messy adhesives and there’s no need to worry about a separate underlay, as ClickLux already has underlay built in to each plank.
Get in touch today to find out more about our extensive marketing materials including a bespoke display stand, sample swatch book, inspirational consumer brochure and lifestyle imagery. Dean Smith National Sales Manager 07917 972 500 dean.smith@veronagroup.co.uk Chris Lamb Business Development Manager North/Scotland 07909 039 867 chris.lamb@veronagroup.co.uk www.veronagroup.co.uk • sales@veronagroup.co.uk • 0113 244 4984 THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
23
Revolutionary
New Carpet Underlay For
Underfloor Heating Systems
Up to 10% Better Heat Transfer - 46oC Heat Transfer Recorded On a 200kW UFH System 10mm Thickness - Feels Fantastic Underfoot Perforated Air Pockets Allow Faster Heat Transfer
FREE SAMPLE
Incorporates Flame Retardant Foam For Excellent Safety Standards Faster To Fit Compared to Heavier Traditional UFH Underlays
or email sales@wilsons-underlays.co.uk
Pr
Call 01924 451 138
ud
Membe
r
Of
Get your Free Sample delivered today
o
Larger 15m² Rolls For Quicker Installation
Midas Tartan Midas Tartan A superb quality range that effortlessly adds character and style to any space. Available in 14 timeless colour patterns to suit every decor.
SCOTLAND MARK VINTER M: 07775 902 376
NORTH WEST & CUMBRIA JOHN ROSTRON M: 07973 733208
NORTH EAST BECKY GIBBONS M: 07970 491 215
EAST MIDLANDS STEVE FURNISS M: 07773 384 787
YORKSHIRE ALDO BERETTONI M: 07971 173 560
WEST MIDLANDS DEAN STANLEY M: 07572 758010
OXFORDSHIRE, WILTSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE ANDREW JEFFERIES M: 07831 457102
SOUTH EAST & LONDON ANDREW GOLDSMITH M: 07432 119 220
NORTHERN IRELAND GARY O’BOYLE M: 07831 220 675
CORNWALL/DEVON/ SOMERSET/DORSET BRENDAN HART M: 07850 130221
SALES DIRECTOR
SALES OFFICE
SOUTH WALES, BRISTOL, & GLOUCESTERSHIRE PAUL POWELL M: 07968 186150
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND LARRY WHITE M: 0862 594 126
KEITH MORGAN M: 07710 701063
T: 01429 892537 T: 0844 7252 034
THOMAS WITTER Support your British manufacturer
V IE W LO G IST ICS , PARK VIE W ROAD E AST, H A RTLEPOOL, TS25 1 HT THE STOCKLISTS October 2021
E: S A L E S @ T H O M A S W I T T E R . CO M
W W W. T H O M A S W I T T E R . CO M
T: 0142 9 8 9 2 5 3 7
25
Coming Soon... TUDOR TWIST
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CLASSIC • REGAL
Contact your us to find out more or request an update on existing POS. For more information please contact the sales team on 01562 749300 or email sales@myvictoria.co.uk 26
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
FLOORINGNEWS Sustainable design showcase The TRENDCollection from Granorte continues to push the boundaries in sustainable design, bringing four collections that showcase the versatility of cork at its very best. From the collection itself, through to its website, brochures, point-of-sale and video; TRENDCollection spreads awareness that cork is a floor of the future designed perfectly for the modern home. TRENDCollection provides retailers with a comprehensive range to satisfy consumer demand for products that address a desire for sustainability and style with the added elements of durability and practicality.
What’s new for ’22 The full round-up of the latest products and launches featured at The Flooring Show, Harrogate – pages 54 –85
The TRENDCollection boasts superior resistance and stability while combining the beauty of wood looks, the durability of vinyl, the comfort of cork and the ease of click installation. The range tackles the sustainability and material concerns of the most eco-conscious consumer, being created using recyclable and reusable materials and constructed without the need for Orthophthalate resins. For homes looking to use cork’s powerful aesthetics as a driver in the interior, NATURTrend celebrates the many natural looks of pure cork with 12 nature inspired cork veneers. DESIGNTrend sees high-definition direct digital print onto a cork décor layer with a click HDF core and cork base layer available in 16 designs SOLIDTrend is available in 10 wood and two stone designs. Its rigid polymer core results in a stable waterproof product and a thin 5mm thickness makes it easy to install and VINYLTrend features 31 designs with a wide spectrum of wood looks, trend-focused concrete and textile-effect basket weave. and designers.
T 01785 711131
www.granorte.pt
Home time trends Rita Bancroft reports on design themes for 2022 – pages 37–41
Golden stars The best of the best of this year’s Flooring Innovation Award winners – pages 44–52
Tougher Titanium Avenue has updated its hugely popular Titanium XT collection, introducing new designs that are ready to continue its success. With designs such as the gold lined hexagon of Treviso and the futuristic geometric of Jester, the new-look Titanium XT collection from Avenue is certainly one that’s ready for today’s design conscious homeowner. Add in classic limestone tiles, herringbone woods, classic oak planks and concrete effects, and this is a rounded collection that holds something for every home. Titanium XT is made for the toughest spaces, so whether a busy open plan living space or a home office that’s used more than ever, it’s stylish looks stay looking that way. Supremely durable, Titanium XT is the Avenue floor to choose for homes that need a long-lasting and easy to look after finish. Equipped with Superguard for better resistant to stains and a surface that’s simple to keep clean, as well as featuring added slip resistance, Titanium XT’s performance is among the very best. “Titanium XT has always been a popular option for homeowners that wanted something tougher than the norm,” says Stuart Reeves, sales director, IVC Group. “With this latest update we’re making sure that it continues to be a favourite for those heavily used areas, or simply, for those homes that demand the best. The super modern designs look really sophisticated and there’s also new takes on the classic wood and tile looks that have made it such a popular part of our collection.” Available as part of the Avenue Collection 2021, the new look Titanium XT comes with a 15-year warranty.
www.avenuefloors.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS THE STOCKLISTS November November 2021 September 2021
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FLOORINGNEWS Profiles for the perfect finish floorwise is stocking a wide collection of profiles so whether you’re working in wood, LVT or carpet you can achieve the perfect finish. From the in-demand Zenith wood, laminate and LVT profiles to the premium Max Reflections range and the best-selling Classic, floorwise trade counters across the UK and Ireland provide retailers and installers with great value profiles ready to tackle any on-site finish requirement. Richard Bailey, managing director, floorwise, says; “Our wide assortment of profiles ensure that no matter what the hurdle, our network of distributors and trade counters have ready access to the answer.” Zenith brings superb levels of versatility for wood, laminate and LVT floors in a range of wood effects, as well as matt silver and matt gold finishes. With stick-down cover strips in popular wood looks such as grey oak and dark oak, Zenith has become an exceptionally popular collection. For commercial or high-quality domestic applications, Max brings complete peace of mind in aluminium or sim-brass effects in single edge, dual edge and extra-wide cover strip. Max Reflections is floorwise’s answer to the perfect finish, matched to today’s door furniture, switch and socket finishes. In real chrome and a premium brushed steel nickel effect, Classic has long been the mainstay of the floorwise profiles collection, providing standard sim brass and aluminium finishes across a broad range of applications. With cover strips, dual and single edges and z-edge, Classic is impressively versatile, offering installers a great ‘go to’ that’s ready to handle any profile challenge. T 01509 673974
www.floorwise.co.uk
Capturing the collection The new Richelieu lectern from Louis de Poortere provides access to a choice of more than 140 colours in exquisitely crafted woven wool-rich wall-to-wall carpet and runners. Delivering an incredible 144 colour options, there’s no doubt that Louis de Poortere’s Richelieu wilton collection provides formidable choice and a colour for everyone. So, the Belgian weaving maestro has had quite some challenge in capturing the collection on a lectern that’s compact enough for flooring and home interior stores. The result is a lectern with a small footprint that manages to showcase Richelieu’s extensive colour palette as well as its six wallto-wall carpet qualities and numerous runner styles. The lectern uses clever layout and storage to house colour chips, feeler samples and full sizes swatches so that browsers get the full hands-on experience. Alan Russell, sales director UK, Louis de Poortere, says; ‘The new Richelieu programme is highly flexible, with customers able to choose any colour in any style or quality into stock in four weeks. It is the result of a complete overhaul of our wilton carpet production. “While this flexibility is great for homeowners, displaying it is not without complexity, so we’ve thought hard about how people engage with carpet when purchasing. As a tactile product, it’s important that we use the sense of touch to let people explore Richelieu and so through some clever design we’ve managed to create a display that achieves this, as well as communicating the quality that comes with every Louis de Poortere piece.” In an elegant black finish that catches the eye, the new lectern is now available from Louis de Poortere. www.louisdepoortere.com
Vital vinyl luxury Vitality is the new luxury vinyl collection from Leoline, bringing the ease of vinyl on a roll with the premium natural look of luxury vinyl tiles. Available as part of the Leoline Collection 2021, Vitality brings wood and concrete effect sheet vinyl floors that look and feel more genuine. Made possible by IVC Group’s expertise in making LVT floors, Vitality combines the original texture and optical clarity of luxury vinyl tiles with the fast and easy fitting of cushion vinyl. Selected designs within Vitality also feature deep v-grooves for a defined plank effect and even more authentic look. Stuart Reeves, sales director, IVC Group, says; “We’re really excited about Vitality as it makes the look of quality luxury vinyl much easier to achieve and more obtainable. It certainly looks more authentic than many cushion vinyl ranges, but is no more costly to install and is just as easy to look after.” With a range of oak effects – from pale grey through to deep brown – as well as on-trend herringbone and the concrete look of Oxley, Vitality holds a look for many styles of home. So, whether country cottage bathroom or an urban apartment’s kitchen, Vitality delivers a water-resistant seamless finish that’s made to last. Protected with Superguard for enhanced scuff and stain resistance and easier cleaning, Vitality is available in two, three and four-metre widths to suit all room sizes with the minimum of waste. With added slipresistance and a 20-year warranty, Vitality is ideal for use throughout the home, bringing a floor that’s wonderful to look at, safe underfoot, easy to look after and long-lasting.
www.leoline.co.uk
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO MAKE IT MODULEO
®
Winners in the 2021 Flooring Innovation awards, Moduleo® are continually delivering on trend floors designed to appeal to consumers and drive demand; from chic, soft greys to bolder finishes and beyond. MORE MORE MORE DESIGNS COLOURS AFFORDABLE THE STOCKLISTS THE STOCKLISTS November November 2021 2021
Discover more at moduleo.co.uk 29 29
FLOORINGNEWS Exhibition ahoy F. Ball and Co. Ltd. will showcase its range of products for creating flawless flooring installations in marine and offshore environments, including its recently launched fast-track, pressure sensitive adhesive for luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs), Styccobond F58 PLUS, at this year’s Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Europe. Exported globally, F. Ball’s Maritime Equipment Directive (MED) certified products have been used to install flooring in some of the world’s most prestigious cruise ships, as well as polar exploration vessels, Mediterranean super yachts, New Orleans paddle steamer showboats, and offshore oil rigs.
Instant style
All of the company’s products for marine applications are tested in accordance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. These include adhesives for almost every type of decorative floorcovering.
Technical specialists from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have provided a cost-effective alternative to completely removing and replacing a weakened screed as part of a flooring refurbishment at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, part of Aberystwyth University. John Lord Flooring, based in Bury, was contracted to install rubber floorcoverings over two floors of the centre’s main building, a total area of approximately 1,400m2. The building was constructed in 1970 and was extended in 2000. It was also subject to flooding in 2020. Both the ground floor and first floor had concrete substrates, and the first floor also had a small section of raised access timber flooring. Flooring contractors were faced with an extremely rough screed with weak patches, unsuitable for the application of subfloor preparation products and the installation of floorcoverings. Some weak sections were mechanically removed, leaving about 75mm thickness to be made up. A structural engineer confirmed that the concrete bases were, otherwise, structurally sound. New P5 chipboard was affixed to the wood subfloors with screws and glued at the joins.
F. Ball’s newest adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS, enables LVT tiles and planks to be secured from just five minutes. Developed as a ‘transitional’ adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS transitions from a wet-lay adhesive when initially applied to a subfloor, through a semi-wet stage to become fully pressure sensitive. Fibres in the adhesive provide resistance to lateral movement, preventing vinyl tiles and planks from moving around when working. When used as a wet-lay adhesive, it is also suitable for the installation of rubber sheet and tile floor coverings up to 2.5mm thick. T 01538 361 633
www.f-ball.co.uk
It is often necessary to completely remove and replace a weakened screed. However, F. Ball technical representatives called upon to conduct a site assessment were able to recommend a less costly and time-consuming solution to make the surface suitable to receive floorcoverings, including quickly raising the level of floors where sections had been mechanically prepared. Contractors therefore applied a single coat of F. Ball’s Stopgap F77 solvent-free epoxy waterproof surface membrane over the entire area to obtain a continuous barrier against subfloor moisture and then used F. Ball’s Stopgap 600 Base deep section levelling compound to raise the level of floors where weak patches of screed had been removed. T 01538 361 633
www.f-ball.co.uk
Experienced enhanced James Dewar of Ian Dewar Interiors is the first Master Installer to be presented his badge as the Academy for Excellence in Flooring resumed its training calendar after temporarily closing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Established in 1997, Ian Dewar Interiors is a family-run firm based in Manchester that has gained a reputation for providing professional and high-quality flooring installations to homes and businesses. “Having been a flooring fitter for over 20 years I was a little sceptical as to what I would gain from the course,” said James Dewar. “However, I did learn a great deal and I’m happy to say that there’s a clear difference between fitting laminate and fitting laminate the Quick-Step way.” James attended the Academy for Excellence in Flooring’s intensive three-day Master Installer Laminate & Wood programme. The course sees a mix of classroom knowledge and practical training and assessments, with a pass or fail outcome, and qualified Master Installers are provided with a wide range of business enhancements on completion. Lee Thompson, technical manager, Academy for Excellence in Flooring; “The three-day Master Installer course is a challenge for installers of all abilities, regardless of how many years they’ve been fitting wood and laminate floors. “As James was installing Impressive Patterns, which requires precise planning, the task was even more challenging. He’s now one of the most highly skilled installers in the industry and proud holder of a Master Installer badge.” www.quick-step-academy.co.uk 30
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Premium quality. Guaranteed
Condor Carpets bv Euroweg 3, 8061 SB | P.O. Box 21, 8060 AA | Hasselt, The Netherlands T (+31) 38 477 89 11 | F (+31) 38 477 89 22 | info@condorcarpets.nl
W W W . C O N D O R - G R O U P. E U THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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FLOORINGPEOPLE Dedicated to delivering Verona quality Following the launch of its flooring collection, Verona has recruited three new members of the team to drive forward this new category for the business. With a focus on independent retailers and developing distribution across the UK, the new sales team has ambitious targets to meet and will be liaising closely with customers to provide sales materials to ensure retailers can effectively sell the full flooring portfolio to consumers. A group of highly experienced, subject experts, the new flooring team will be led by National Sales Manager, Dean Smith and supported by Business Development Manager for the South, Adam Curran, and Business Development Manager for the North, Chris Lamb. ean, who joins the team from UK D Flooring Direct, has high hopes for Verona’s floorcoverings portfolio with his long-term vision to create a flooring collection that is affordable without sacrificing quality. He says: “Our focus is to supply customers with original and innovative products across a range of price points. Drawing upon Verona’s extensive expertise of supply chain management, marketing and customer service, I’m confident we can move into a new market with ease and give retailers a constant supply of new products that will excite their customers.”
Dean Smith
Adam Curran
Chris Lamb
Another recruit with vast knowledge of the floorcoverings sector, Chris Lamb, joins with 13 years of experience working for some of the most prominent manufacturers and distributors in the market. He comments: “I am extremely confident in Verona’s abilities to become a leading supplier of floor coverings. Verona’s current structure, expertise and success within the tiling sector will offer the flooring division a strong foundation to replicate their previous and ongoing accomplishments but with flooring products. “We have new launches coming soon with the first of our highly anticipated SPC LVT Click Tile ranges. This product has limited exposure and distribution in the market and will complement our current wood plank SPC LVT, Clicklux, offering the consumer a wide variety of designs in both wood plank and tile-effect. Our new Hydroclick Laminate also offers something completely different with a choice of chevron, herringbone, vintage patchwork and Victorian tile designs.” It’s well known that the team at Verona are a credit to the company’s success. When asked why he decided to make the move to Verona, Adam Curran commented: “The people. Whilst interviewing, it was clear that it’s the people that makes Verona tick, and I wanted to be part of that team. “The role also provides an opportunity to help shape the direction for Verona’s new category, which is something any sales manager would relish. I’ve worked within flooring for around five years, across carpet and flooring, wearing plenty of different hats, including sales assistant, warehouse, trade counter and even the occasional delivery driver, but this is the most challenging and diverse role yet.” T 0113 244 4984
www.veronagroup.co.uk
For the love of wool Emily Davis has hit the road, rolling out Penthouse Carpets to the West Midlands and Worcester area as the company’s latest sales representative. After studying for a textiles degree, Emily worked in the custom rugs business of Crucial Trading before joining Gaskell Wool Rich in her first role in sales. “I loved working for a niche wool business and when I was out in the field I knew how well-liked Penthouse Carpets was for the quality of its products and the outstanding service,” says Emily. “So I knew I would love it here and I feel privileged to work for a great manufacturer in this sector.” Emily’s territory for Penthouse is Gloucester, Avon, West Midlands, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester. Known as the “rep with the zoo” by many of her retailers, it’s a surprise that Emily’s love of wool doesn’t exted to keeping sheep alongside the dog, horse and donkey that keep her busy outside working hours! M 07753 983714 • www.penthousecarpets.co.uk Emily Davis
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Everyday heroes
All-round Winners to suit every budget ttt
Our Brio, Zest, Jazz and Citra underlays have had an upgrade! We understand the need for underlay that works well in most areas of the home. This upgrade improves the performance of our Brio, Zest, Jazz and Citra products by switching from single-scrim to a twin-scrim design and improving density, Jazz has upgraded from 98kg/m3 to 145kg/m3. Manufactured right here in Britain and made of 100% recycled foam, they come with the Tredaire seal of quality. From living rooms to bedrooms, the flexibility of our Brio range is made with everyday practicality in mind.
Underlay tech specs: Brio: 8.0mm, 100kg/m3 density, 2.2 tog Zest: 10.0mm, 100kg/m3 density, 2.6 tog Jazz: 9.0mm, 145kg/m3 density, 2.4 tog
For more info visit: interfloor.com
THE STOCKLISTS November October 2021 2021
Citra: 11.0mm, 145kg/m3 density, 2.9 tog
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FLOORINGBUSINESSNEWS Flooring inflation at 10%
Domotex plans “compact re-start”
Flooring inflation continues to surge forward, against the trend of the wider economy, as suppliers pass on the cost increases of recent months.
The leading global flooring fair, Domotex in Hannover, has announced a “compact re-start” for the event in January 2022 with a scaled down exhibitor list.
The latest ONS data shows that the growth in consumer prices overall actually slowed slightly in September at 3.1%, compared to 3.2% in August.
So far just over half the usual number of exhibitors have committed to the event which opens January 13–16.
But inflation on carpets and other flooring rose to 9.6% compared to 8.4% the previous month. The furniture sector is experiencing even higher inflationary pressure and pushed beyond 10% in September, compared to 8% in August. Dean Turner, an economist at UBS Wealth Management, said: “The forces pushing prices up are set to increase in the coming months, which suggests that inflation will be moving up before the end of the year. The good news for households and firms is that the price pressures should ease next year.”
High demand “will continue into 2022” Current levels of high demand for flooring will continue into 2022 says leading UK flooring company Victoria plc. “The demand for flooring experienced this year has primarily come from existing home owners redecorating. However, the Board expects demand to continue next year and beyond, due to the high level of housing transactions that has been experienced in many of the Group’s key markets this year,” said the company in a halfyear trading update to its shareholders. The group said its profits would be ahead of the consensus market expectations when it reports its results for the financial year ending 2 April 2022. The statement added; “The UK logistics operation, which is going from strength to strength, continues to provide a compelling service proposition to Victoria’s customers, flooring retailers, driving market outperformance in Victoria’s UK soft-flooring business.” The group also commented that the supply and pricing issues with material had “eased somewhat” and were not impacting prodction but pointed out that energy and other costs were continuing to rise.
Carpet import growth slows The surge in carpet imports slowed in the summer but trade from the UK’s key partners in Belgium still showed doubledigit growth. The latest data for August 2021 shows total imports were up 10.7% on the same month last year according to figures from HM Revenue & Custom analysed by The Furnishing Report. The total value of imports for the first six months of 2021 was £467.8 million, a 58% increase on 2020 figures and 4% up on 2019 as European companies raced to catch up post-lockdown. But the summer slowdown, brings that year-to-date figure down to a 48% increase. Belgian imports rose 16.4% in August to £19.6 million with Dutch trade up 4.3 percent to £15.8 million. Goods shipped from India were 49 percent higher year-on-year at £6.3 million but Turkish imports fell 11.7 percent to £9.45 million.
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Covid passes, compulsory face masks and 1.5m social distancing will be applied to visitors but organisers are hopeful of good face-to-face attendance and are planning virtual events for those who don’t make it. “Many of our exhibitors and market partners are keenly interested in getting together again to kick things back into high gear. Others are still facing pandemic-related challenges and risks that they regard as possibly limiting when it comes to on-site participation,” explained Sonia Wedell-Castellano, Global Director of Domotex.
“Many exhibitors have decided not to take part in Domotex again until January of 2023. Despite this we have opted to take a confident approach” “This means that many exhibitors have decided not to take part in Domotex again until January of 2023. Despite this, we have opted to take a confident and forward-looking approach by staging Domotex in 2022. The show will be concentrated and compact,” she says.
Q4 consumer confidence takes a knock Consumer confidence for big purchases like flooring and furniture has declined for the third month in a row with sentiment “collapsing” for Q4 after a build-up of bad news. The Major Purchase Index by leading analyst GfK has fallen to minus 10 from minus 6 in September. This, which asks consumers if now is the right time to major items like furniture and electrical goods, grew strongly since retail re-opened but has pegged down since August. “After six-months of robust recovery in the first half of 2021, UK consumer confidence has taken a turn for the worse with all vital signs weakening,” says GfK retail analyst Joe Staton. “The sharpest concern is how consumers see the future economy with this collapsing ten points this month just as it did in September. Against a backdrop of cheerless domestic news – fuel and food shortages, surging inflation squeezing household budgets, the likelihood of interest rate rises impacting the cost of borrowing, and climbing Covid rates – it is not surprising that consumers are feeling down-in-the mouth about the chilly winter months ahead.
“After six-months of robust recovery in the first half of 2021, UK consumer confidence has taken a turn for the worse with all vital signs weakening” “Worryingly for British retailing in the run-up to Christmas, there’s a further decline in the intention to make major purchases,” he said. “The financial mood of the nation has changed and consumers could do with some strong tonic to lift their spirits.”
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Multi-format Van Gogh designs. Available in gluedown and rigid core.
Why rigid core?
Why gluedown?
Excellent acoustics
Create intricate designs
Installs over most hard floors
Fully customisable
Preserves existing floors
No expansion gap required
Quick & easy to install
Installation flexibility and product versatility are just some of the benefi ts that can be found in our Van Gogh multi-format offering with simply beautiful floors in both gluedown and rigid core formats. Our Van Gogh range introduces six new wood looks in a larger 56” x 9” plank size, with four of these colours also available in an on-trend (28” x 7”) herringbone.
karndean.com/newvangogh THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Featured floor: Golden Brushed Oak VGW122T
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LOCATION A D EW Now you can tr LOUGHB ain at OROUG H or
Tel: 0115 950 6836 Email: info@fita.co.uk www.fita.co.uk
national institute of carpet & floorlayers
D DE
CALL NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION!
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Vinyl
Sheet Vinyl Installation — Commercial — Basic/Intermediate Sheet Vinyl Installation — Commercial — Advanced Sheet Vinyl Installation — Domestic Sheet Vinyl — Wetrooms Installation — Advanced
Linoleum
Linoleum Installation — Basic Linoleum Installation — Intermediate
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Resilient/LVT Fitting — Basic Resilient/LVT Fitting — Intermediate Resilient/LVT Fitting — Advanced
Wood
Laminate and Floating Wood Fitting — Basic Wood Fitting — Intermediate Wood Fitting — Advanced Wood Sanding and Finishing
Subfloors
Subfloor Preparation — Commercial Subfloor Preparation — Domestic
Supplementary
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national institute of carpet & floorlayers
FITA is a joint venture by CFA and NICF
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FITA provides short training courses, workshops and assessments for both commercial and domestic markets. Both our fully equipped training centres at Loughborough and Kirkcaldy are run by seasoned professional instructors with specialist knowledge of the flooring industry.
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The NICF offers something for all levels of floorlayers, from Apprentice level all the way through to Master Fitter It not only helps me gain work , but gives my customers the assurance that their flooring will be fitted to the highest of standards Making the most of the benefits on offer from the NICF has helped to enhance my fitting and my business to make me stand out from the crowd Give us a try or you will never know if the NICF is right for you!
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Marketing insights
by Rita Bancroft Rita is Director of Bancmarketing and has over 30 years of marketing experience with a proven track record in both business to business and business to consumer multi-channel marketing.
Home time trends for 2022 We have spent more time in our homes over the past 18 months than ever before. The way we combine homelife and work has impacted how we decorate and which palettes we choose - here are the latest trends predicted by key flooring brands. Traditional patterns in contemporary palettes in one trend that Abingdon Flooring has embraced. While walls and accessories take on uniform light neutrals or plain colour blocks, they see floors becoming a star within home interiors, rather than just the supporting partner.
“A movement to brown based tones and warm woody neutrals is the new way forward. Shades of stone, linen, taupe and clay bring both a sense of warmth and sense of calm.” carpet ranges. A selection of these items are highlighted on the mood board shown. Mocha, the most recent colourway to be added to their Flare range, is a great versatile pick and pairs beautifully with almost any colour.
This means pattern is finding its way back to carpet, but with new meaning. Traditional carpet patterns were often focused on bright Abingdon Flooring – Stainfree Wilton, colours synonymous Balmoral Silver with stately homes, yet 2022 interior trends are highlighting how florals and geometrics can use refined contemporary palettes to appeal to a modern, contemporary consumer.
The Dulux Colour of the year 2022 is ‘Bright Skies - an airy and fresh tone that opens up and breathes new life into any space. This transformative shade works beautifully with many of the natural collections from Amtico. Their Form collection of distinctive flooring, incorporates 36 beautiful wood and stone designs. The collection carries organically inspired surface textures and natural colourways, which sit effortlessly amongst modern and traditional spaces alike. For example, the Eventide Oak in Small Parquet creates the perfect calming retreat. Or you could opt for Kura Fennel from their Signature Stones collection, as the softly pitted grey-cream and dusty pink tones compliment Blue Skies perfectly. Ideal for kitchens where you want to connect to the outdoors, or bathrooms where you want to unwind and dream of blue skies.
Amtico – Eventide Oak, Small Parquet
“While walls and accessories take on uniform light neutrals or plain colour blocks, Abingdon see floors becoming a star within home interiors.” Abingdon Flooring has refreshed traditional floral and tartan designs with on-trend colour combinations that fit in perfectly with contemporary homes. Their Stainfree Wilton collection not only supplies the aesthetics, but practicality too with bleach-cleanable yarns. Adam Carpets are seeing a shift away from cooler greys that have filled our homes for the last few years. A movement to brown based tones and warm woody neutrals is the new way forward. Shades of stone, linen, taupe and clay bring both a sense of warmth and sense of calm. Perfect for creating restful living spaces, that can be both smart and comforting.
Adam Carpets – Brave Ground Moodboard THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Many of these warm impartial shades can be found across Adam Carpets plain and pattern
Anyone watching renovation programs over the last few years will know that open plan living is a great way of creating additional space. Often these areas add valuable square metres and can mean the hassle and costliness of upscaling and moving can be avoided. Bringing the outside in through interior choices is a trend that’s only growing in popularity. However, the need to create zonal or intimate space has seen a growing trend for accessories such as screens, rugs and temporary partitions. This rise in broken plan design has seen homeowners juggling the needs for zonal definition while not reverting to a ‘closed wall’ space.
“Anyone watching renovation programs over the last few years will know that open plan living is a great way of creating additional space.” Continued on page 38 37
Marketing insights Avenue Floors – Carbontex Collection, Lumber4
...continued from page 37
One way to achieve this is to include a uniform floor design throughout which adds consistency and nods at the benefits of open plan living, dressing with area rugs or arranging furniture to create that intimate, zoned feel. The Comfytex cushion vinyl collection from Avenue can be laid over a wide range of existing floors, while adding underfoot comfort that’s perfect for open or broken plan living. We’ve all been aware of the rise of working from home practices, from juggling a laptop on the sofa or fighting over space on the kitchen/dining table. Following the pandemic, a new way of working has seen a growing mix of home and office working practices. While homeowners became adept at creating temporary workspaces, a rise in the need to create a permanent spot to study or work will be a key focus in interior design. Combining tech and aesthetics throws up a range of issues for homeowners but does allow them to add a more personal touch to working areas. Incorporating natureinspired materials helps to connect with the outdoors, resulting in a space that allows for creativity and study.
“Made of 100% undyed wools in Herdwick’s uniquely natural pigmentation, the collection is of five available in five neutral colourways to complement all schemes.” addition to the Lakeland Herdwick family.
Brockway – Basketweave, Ambleside
Grown in Cumbria, spun in Yorkshire and tufted in Kidderminster, Brockway Lakeland Herdwick carpets are authentically British. The appearance and rugged durability of the carpets results from the natural resilience of one of Britain’s best loved and hardiest sheep breeds. Made of 100% undyed wools in Herdwick’s uniquely natural pigmentation, the collection is available in five neutral colourways to complement all schemes, choose from: Ambleside, Hilltop, Ramsbeck, Scafell and Silverhow. Suitable for all rooms, staircases and landings in the home, the Lakeland Herdwick collection is the naturally discerning carpet of choice. This year we have seen stain-resistant, bleach cleanable carpets increase in popularity. With families spending more time in their homes and an increase in ‘pandemic pets’, homeowners are looking for ways to make their lives easier, by opting for carpet that can withstand the wear and tear of family life. Cormar Carpets recently launched Primo Tweeds adds a new dimension to their Primo easy clean range and comes with a 10-year stain and wear warranty for added peace of mind. The range is available in 14 contemporary stippled designs ranging from a vibrant red to dappled neutral tones - a fantastic way to introduce new colours to your interiors.
BerryAlloc – Pure Click 55 Collection, Lime Oak
BerryAlloc’s Spirit Pro Click 55 LVT collection is more than up to the task of home office duties, while bringing that natural look that connects to the outdoors and creates a calming place for concentration and study.
Cormar – Primo Tweed, Mineral Grey
Brockway has introduced a new Basketweave design option to its popular Lakeland Herdwick carpet range derived from the very best yarn, comprising the wool of Herdwick sheep, native to the Cumbrian Fells in the Lake District. With the brand new addition for Autumn/Winter 2021, the collection now includes seven ranges of broadloom that is soft and cosy underfoot, yet also hardwearing and robust. A sophisticated loop pile, Lakeland Herdwick Basketweave combines good looks and high performance. The design will lend a subtle yet striking design element to your floors. Specially designed for those that want the hardwearing practicality and high performance of pure wool the Lakeland Herdwick Basketweave is a most welcome 38
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
“Brockway Lakeland Herdwick is available in 14 contemporary stippled designs ranging from a vibrant red to dappled neutral tones.” Textures and subtly designed carpets are becoming increasingly popular as a way of adding an additional element of tone to homes. Hallways and staircases have also benefitted from this trend, with a discreet geometric design being perfect for adding a little personality to these areas. Stair runners are a great way of incorporating this; not only are they a statement feature, but they also add an extra layer of safety. Furlong Flooring, are also seeing a trend towards homeowners looking for easy-care flooring that will also help to insulate their homes and keep their bills down. This is a trend across all construction and interiors, but whilst it might be easy to add flooring insulation to a new build, it is far more difficult in older properties, so owners are looking for other ways to keep the heat in this winter. For Furlong, that means more demand for their ever-expanding vinyl collection: both felt and foam backed vinyl is in demand, not just because of the contemporary decors now available, but because it provides underfoot comfort and insulating properties and is easy to fit even in more difficult flooring areas in period properties.
“Furlong Flooring are also seeing a trend towards homeowners looking for easy-care flooring that will also help to insulate their homes and keep their bills down.”
Karndean Designflooring’s oak designs are the perfect partner for a cosy autumnal colour scheme of rusty red, burnt orange and deep green, pairing natural tones and authentic grain textures with a practical surface that’s comfortable underfoot, easy to keep hygienically clean and suitable for use with underfloor heating. For a modern take on traditional style, the handcrafted elegance of the premium Art Select oak collection is the ideal choice with its intricate designs and realistic embosses. In larger open plan living spaces, a warm honey design such as Morning Oak, available in both full sized and parquet tiles, will add personality and interest. In homes with variable subfloor conditions the Van Gogh
Karndean Designflooring – Country Oak
Karndean Designflooring – Golden Brushed Oak
Furlong Flooring – Optiq Country
“Presenting a wide range of designs, from the gentle mid-brown tones and rustic unfinished timber appearance of Country Oak to the rich colouring and subtle tonal variation of Golden Brushed Oak.” They are also experiencing lots of interest in laminate and engineered wood flooring, which is ideal for use with underfloor heating. Customers refurbishing homes, or looking for more affordable ways to heat properties, are increasingly looking at adding underfloor heating. And no matter the room, all flooring solutions from their carpet ranges through to LVT, laminate, wood and vinyl can be used with underfloor heating systems.
multi-format collection offers the ultimate flexibility to create a room to room look with authentic wood designs in a convenient choice of gluedown and rigid core formats. Presenting a wide range of designs, from the gentle mid-brown tones and rustic unfinished timber appearance of Country Oak to the rich colouring and subtle tonal variation of Golden Brushed Oak, this collection makes it simple to create a unique floor by combining gluedown planks in a bespoke design with the same shade in a herringbone or full sized rigid core plank option over uneven surfaces. Continued on page 40
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Marketing insights ...continued from page 39
Manx Tomkinson – Inspiration
The Herringbone traditional flooring design continues to be a popular choice for homeowners and will feature heavily in 2022 interior trends, and Leoline has increased its range of herringbone floors to tie in with this growing trend. This practical design lends itself well by creating the illusion of space in smaller homes. Think herringbone, and it often conjures up stately home decadence, and it’s this connection that makes it appear a ‘luxury’ alternative to straight plank floor design. With homeowners wanting to make budgets go further, traditional herringbone would typically be off the radar. However, modern alternatives in cushion vinyl mean that these provide a viable option that can be easily obtained and fitted. Another benefit is the ability to create modern and contemporary twists on a traditional pattern, from mixed material combinations to more subtle tones that combine with hygge, scandi, retro luxe, minimalist and maximalist styles.
Manx Tomkinson is proud to launch the first carpet range to utilise the Wool Britannia yarn, named Seasonal Views. Wool Britannia is a yarn which has been developed by the Headlam Group Plc in partnership with British Wool and with the support of Campaign for Wool. Every linear metre of the yarn includes Wool sourced from farms situated in each of our four nations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales, making it a truly British wool. The aim of this yarn is to increase the usage of British wool in carpets and, in turn, help local farmers and the planet. The Wool Britannia yarn, which is manufactured in England, will be launched into multiple ranges of new wool carpets. Jim Robertson, Chairman of British Wool, commented “This is an exciting project to be involved in and one we are confident will drive demand for genuine British wool carpets moving forward, we have been working closely with the Headlam Group for a number of months on this initiative and will be providing ongoing support to ensure the project is a success for all parties, including the British farmers.”
As 2021 draws to a close and 2022 enters the horizon, some design trends are predicted to become more prominent in UK households. One which has gained traction in recent times is nature-inspired or ‘biophilic’ design. Bringing the outside in through interior choices is a trend that’s only growing in popularity - Biophilic design focuses on our human connection to nature and incorporates this at its core.
“Think herringbone, and it often conjures up stately home decadence, and it’s this connection that makes it appear a ‘luxury’ alternative to straight plank floor design.” Leoline – Rapport Collection, Patagonia
The new Seasonal Views range is made exclusively from 100% British yarn - Wool Britannia - sourced from the four nations of our country, spun in Yorkshire and manufactured in Lancashire. The carpet is treated with Ecolan, which is a non-insecticide product that makes the wool carpet moth resistant. There are 16 colours to choose from, and the range is available in both 4m and 5m widths.
“This is an exciting project to be involved in and one we are confident will drive demand for genuine British wool carpets moving forward.” Inspired by the landscapes, the people, our towns, cities and countryside, Seasonal Views features a semi plain and heathered collection of carefully curated colours; perfect for modern living. The beautiful colour bank ranges from Urban Grey & Back Roads to Coppiced Ash and Homestead; all evoking memories of Seasonal Views across our nation. 40
Science has proven that nature makes us feel good and benefits our health therefore more consumers are introducing elements of this into their homes, opting for pieces and finishes based on natural materials such as timber and stone. This year Moduleo expanded its engineered vinyl collection, LayRed, to showcase 40 nature-inspired wood styles. In addition to LayRed Woods, there are nature-inspired styles throughout Moduleo’s full portfolio, from stunning Herringbone patterns to natural stone tiles. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
introducing “Bringing the outside in through interior choices is a trend that’s only growing in popularity...” Flooring which is Embossed in Register (EIR) really brings a new level of realism to a room too. A relatively new technology, the ridges pressed into the surface coat of the floor throughout production exactly match the grain of the wood or stone in the photographic layer, meaning EIR gives planks an incredibly realistic finish.
graphite
carpet underlay
Moduleo – Country Oak
When what you really really want is a strong selling good all-round domestic underlay which delivers a healthy margin Graphite is the way to go!. For more information contact: Abingdon Flooring T: 01274 655 694 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk Adam Carpets T: 01562 822247 www.adamcarpets.com Amtico T: 0121 745 0800 www.amtico.com Avenue E: info@avenuefloors.co.uk www.avenuefloors.co.uk Brockway Carpets T: 01562 828200 www.brockway.co.uk BerryAlloc T: +32 56 52 84 80 www.berryalloc.com Cormar Carpets T: 01204 881234 www.cormarcarpets.co.uk Furlong Flooring T: 01322 628707 www.furlongflooring.com Karndean Designflooring T: 01386 820100 www.karndean.com Leoline T: 0800 032 3970 www.leoline.co.uk Manx Tomkinson T: 01827 831450 www.manxtomkinson.co.uk Moduleo T: 01332 851 500 www.moduleo.co.uk
Join the online community on: facebook.com twitter.com
pinterest.com instagram.com
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
youtube.com houzz.com
Graphite is a fine, robust, utility underlay representing superb value for money and which is already a firm favourite with many Retailers and Distributors throughout UK and Ireland. FULLY RECYCLABLE SIMPLE, QUICK AND EASY TO LAY DESIGNED FOR GENERAL DOMESTIC USE EXCELLENT SOUND REDUCTION PERFORMANCE LIGHTWEIGHT ROLLS EXCEED H&S EXPECTATIONS IDEAL FOR USE WITH UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEMS
Graphite is part of the Novostrat range of polyethylene foam based underlays for wood, laminate and carpeted floors. Underlays for every application - from the highest performance to utility – and to suit every budget.
tel: 00353 61-339287 www.novostrat.com info@novostrat.com 41
An evolution of greatness Comfort, Elegance & Performance in Carpets
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
sales@kellars.co.uk THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
0161 443 0970 43
Shining stars! 1. CARPETS NATURAL No Bother Sisal by Alternative Flooring Woodland Heather Twist by Cormar Carpets Durham Tweed by Hugh Mackay Royal Velvet by Victoria Carpets 2. CARPETS – MAN-MADE Stainfree Wilton Collection by Abingdon Flooring
Starring the best of the best This month we focus on the Gold winners – the best in each category of the 2021 Flooring Innovation Awards – selected by our independent panel of judges. “Despite the past 18 months being particularly challenging due to the Covid 19 pandemic, it is extremely encouraging to see the exceptional high standard and quality of the new initiatives and products that have been developed and submitted as entries for the 2021 National Flooring Innovation Awards,” said chairman of the judges, Chris Moffatt.
Anywhere by Alternative Flooring Marble Fusion by Balta Elegance by Furlong Flooring 3. SMOOTHS Carbontex by Avenue Floors Ocean+ Collection by BerryAlloc Hurst Herringbone by Harvey Maria Kährs Life by Kährs 4. DESIGN, CARPETS Wool Enigma by Crucial Trading Grand Designs by Fells Carpets Galaxy by ITC Natural Luxury Flooring • Editor’s Award Natura by Ulster Carpets 5. DESIGN, SMOOTHS Invictus LVT by Associated Weavers Northmore Collection by Harvey Maria Vitality by Leoline LayRed Woods by Moduleo 6. UNDERLAY + ACCESSORIES Feel The Difference by Floorwise renu by Interfloor Q-Range DUO by Quantum Flooring Supplies 7. INSTALLATION PRODUCTS ECO FusionBac by Associated Weavers
FIA’s Bridgette Kelly hands the star to Scott Arundell, of BerryAlloc
Keith Morgan receives the award for Hugh Mackay Carpets
Flowing K Screed by CPG Flowcrete Stopgap Micro Rapid by F. Ball and Co. Ltd F596 Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive by Floorwise UZIN NC 151 Smoothing Compound by Uzin 8. ENVIRONMENTAL Recycled PP Backing by Balta PP Carpet Recycling by Innovate Recycle Limited Ezy-Warm Underfloor Heating System by Iobac 9. MARKETING Colour Tin & Creations by Cavalier Modular POS Displays by Furlong Flooring New Brand Concepts by Kellars Carpet Cake Stand by Victoria Carpets 10. TECHNOLOGY Carmen Companion by Computers for Flooring Virtual Site Visits by F. Ball & Co Ltd
Emmanuel Lioen is presented with the award for Associated Weavers
F Ball’s Darren Kenyon gets the Gold star from Bridgette
More presentation photos from Harrogate on page 52...
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Check out all the Gold winners on pages 45-52 and at www.flooringinnovationawards.com
CFJ Live by Kick-Start Publishing Digital Printing Technology by i4F Patents & Technologies Innovation GOLD winners
TWITTER @flooring_awards
INSTAGRAM flooringinnovationawards
GOLD WINNER • CATEGORY: CARPETS NATURAL Durham Tweed by Hugh Mackay
The smart need for tweed Have you ever noticed how a tweed jacket can compliment any outfit?
Unst in Durham Tweed Barra in Durham Tweed
With this in mind, Hugh Mackay set out to produce a twist pile with these unique characteristics and the result was Durham Tweed. In 16 colours, we believe this range will offer something just that little bit ifferent when paired with the customers soft furnishings. Look out for Durham Tweed, launching early 2022.
T 01429 892555 www.hughmackay.co.uk
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GOLD WINNERS • CATEGORY: DESIGN, CARPETS Galaxy by ITC Natural Luxury Flooring
For architects, interior designers and specifiers, Galaxy with that indefinable wow factor ticks all the boxes! Galaxy is a handwoven and hand sheared carpet in type 6 nylon with a lovely soft silk-like feel. The antiqued look and fine lustred effect in conjunction with a carefully chosen palette of fashionable colours will delight interior designers! This stunning new introduction offers a carpet that reflects pure luxury together with the practicality and benefits of utilising a very durable fibre, a perfect carpet for residential and corporate hospitality locations. Galaxy in 4&5 metre broadloom is also available in made to measure rugs in sizes up to 500cm wide. Piped or visible tape finishing from a selection of different types of tapes is offered to create a stylish and personalized look to a rug; all at one price to ensure simplicity of ordering. www.itcnaturalluxuryflooring.com info@itcnaturalluxuryflooring.com 01622 534041
Wool Enigma by Crucial Trading As designers and creators of floorcoverings for over 30 years, Crucial Trading continuously looks at innovative ways to work with sustainable and natural fibres. Adding to their constantly evolving collections, their technical and creative teams pushed boundaries to create Enigma. This new design provides pattern and texture in a choice of nine colourways, ranging from muted to high volume. With names such as Waterfall Mist and Hidden Cave to Shooting Star and Spellbound in a pattern that zig zags and weaves, we’re completely mesmerised! Enigma is woven from 100% New Zealand Wool – chosen for the purity of its natural colour which enables Crucial Trading to achieve such a fabulous palette for the collection. The tufted loop pile provides a textured pattern that is bold, yet considered. www.crucial-trading.com 01562 743 747
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
GOLD WINNER • CATEGORY: SMOOTHS Ocean+ Collection by BerryAlloc
Water-resistant floors for moments of joy
BerryAlloc Ocean+ – Mood
BerryAlloc introduced hydro+ way back in 2008, making it the original pioneer in 100% water-resistant laminate floors. Ocean+ is the latest collection to take advantage of this technology, bringing a laminate floor that’s completely safe for every room in the house, even bathrooms and kitchens. A hydrophobic coating that BerryAlloc applies to all sides of the plank during the manufacturing process, hydro+ repels water from joints and is combined with airtight locking systems to make Ocean+ completely water-resistant. The collection features impressively lifelike wood and stone designs, offering a choice of modern and classic styles. From elegant oaks to rustic woods full of knots and cracks, there’s 30 original looks to suit any interior, including a stylish stone design and the unique Retro Chic tile to round things off beautifully. Despite its 100% water-resistance, maintaining Ocean+ is no different than any other BerryAlloc laminate. A tough
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Ocean+ – Gyant Light
and highly scratch-resistant surface fights off the signs
of daily life, requiring nothing more than occasional mopping, sweeping or vacuuming. Water-resistant, fade-free, scratch-resistant and with a lifetime warranty, Ocean+ ticks all the boxes of a floor made for modern life.
www.berryalloc.com
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Stylish Flooring for Modern Living A winning design that combines heritage pattern, authentic patina and incredible durability. Discover the award winning Design Series collection of exclusive patterns and MSeries collection of sustainable authentic wood effects. Get in touch for your brand new retail partnership in 2022.
Gold Winner The Northmore Collection harveymaria.com 48
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
GOLD WINNERS • CATEGORY: INSTALLATION Invictus by Associated Weavers
Invincible design sets the LVT agenda The Invictus LVT collection was launched to great acclaim, giving retailers a comprehensive one-stop offer to inspire homeowners with excellent performance, class-leading point-of-sale-support and an impressive design portfolio. Royal Oak
Hudson Stone
Pure Marble
Bergamo
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
The Contemporary Designs are modern, eclectic and always on trend along with the Urban Collection which offers sleek sophistication and cool vibes. On the more traditional side, the range of Country Living styles offers a truly authentic, cosy and natural feel for a more simple aesthetic while the grand, classy impact of the Townhouse Collection makes a more imposing statement.
The Invictus design team continue to set the agenda, delivering fashionable new options including three stone designs – Pure Marble, Hudson Stone, Bergamo – as well as Royal Oak, an eye-catching parquet to add even more breadth to this agenda-setting, high performance range. With its ultra-strong coating and Scratchmaster top layer, Invictus LVT offers outperforming wear protection backed up by 20 and 25-year wear warranties and its waterproof credentials make it suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and hallways.
www.invictus.co.uk 01422 431100
Royal Oak – Nordick & Traditional
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GOLD WINNERS • CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY Virtual Site Visits by F. Ball & Co. Ltd.
On-the-spot video site assessments
www.f-ball.com • mail@f-ball.co.uk 01538 361633
GOLD WINNER • CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL
E zy-Warm Underfloor Heating System by Iobac
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, F. Ball introduced virtual site visits, allowing flooring contractors to receive on-the-spot site assessments and answers to their technical questions via video calls. Having arranged a call, contractors can guide one of the company’s technical service officers around a site using mobile and tablet apps, and instantly receive expert advice on the best course of action for specific flooring projects, including high-performance products needed to achieve optimum results. Site visits are still conducted in person by F. Ball’s regional technical representatives. However, the timesaving benefits of virtual site visits, and their resulting popularity, has led F. Ball to continue to offer them as part of the company’s industry-leading range of technical support.
GOLD WINNER • CATEGORY: CARPETS, NATURAL
No Bother Sisal by Alternative Flooring On the top, it’s the same as Alternative’s other sisal carpets
Ezy-Warm is an incredibly simple and efficient underfloor heating system with one of the thinnest profiles available. Natural radiant heat technology produces superefficient uniform heating versus conventional gas radiators or electric heaters, enabling the homeowner to significantly reduce energy costs and power their heating with renewable energy, for example, from solar panels.
www.iobac.com 0118 434 2814
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But underneath, the backing, it’s not latex so these sisals can be traditionally fitted. Ideal as carpets, rugs, runners and stair runners. The two designs are Sisal Bouclé and Sisal Super Bouclé in a total of eight natural shades that bring out the characterful texture of this natural fibre.
www.alternativeflooring.com THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Introducing
Thickness 9mm Density 160Kg/m³
NEW from
Sustainable recycled underlay Say ‘no ’ to waste Made from 98% recycled materials whilst also being 100% recyclable.
renu® uses ethically sourced and genuinely recycled materials; keeping waste from landfill and being fully recyclable itself. And, the really cool bit is, when your underlay has reached the end of its life, it can be collected and used to create new rolls of renu®!
Discover More www.interfloor.com/renu
Call Us 01706 238810 51
GOLD WINNER • CATEGORY: MARKETING Colour Tin & Creations by Cavalier Carpets
Fast track ready-to-weave axminsters Colour Tin from Cavalier is a fast track ‘ready to weave’ axminster programme based on sixteen stock colours to suit all areas of the contract market place. Perfect when you need short lead times and custom dying is not an option. This allows designers and specifiers the flexibility to create new and exciting designs and colour schemes within a structured colour bank which is ready to weave, on completion of approved samples. Cavalier has a dedicated gallery of designs on its website for people to use as a starting point for the design process. Axminster qualities range from 6 to 10 rows per inch and are available in 3.66m (12ft) and 4.00m widths options. Hot on the heels of ‘Colour Tin’, Cavalier has launched ‘Creations’, which uses the same colour palette to weave a collection of eight 4m wide axminster carpets, inspired by the work of famous painters – all in-stock and ready to roll. Monet from Cavalier’s Colour Tin Creations
www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk 01254 268 000
More stars of the show presented with their Gold awards at Harrogate (see also page 44)
Bridgette Kelly with Hans Lowe of Cavalier Carpets
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Laura Ashall receives the award on behalf of Interfloor
The Stocklists’ Diane Martin stars with Mark Findlay of Harvey Maria
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Vitality Vitality is the new premium vinyl collection from Leoline With original texture and stunning clarity for a true wood plank look, Vitality is a premium vinyl floor that brings your customers a luxury vinyl floor they want at a great price. Contact us on info@leoline.co.uk for the 2021 collection
Making style easy since 1997 @leolineuk THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
WWW.LEOLINE.CO.UK
Leoline is a brand of 53
What’s new for ’22 The full round-up of the latest products and launches featured at The Flooring Show, Harrogate Last month we gave you the snapshots from Harrogate so now it’s time for the detail with reviews from 40 leading companies with their latest and greatest offers for Q4 and 2022. While the pandemic held back product development to some extent as manufacturers focussed on essential production, marketing departments used the time well with several companies substantially overhauling their brand presentation and messaging to the market. But while new products are less plentiful, some of the trade’s main players have launched significant new ranges, some developed last year and held back by the rollercoaster of Covid. In carpets, wool in general and loops in particular are continuing to build in public appeal, and polyester is more popular for its enhanced performance vs. softness, helped by the happy fact that the fibre has increased less in price than PP! More colour is coming through – we say this every year but this time it appears to be true! Blues – both dark and denim – are doing well and flavours of orange are everywhere – it goes so well with grey! And yes, more subtle patterns too and animal prints (lots of leopards) are everywhere. LVT is a shorter discussion – its more and more herringbone and parquet which is universally adored. Muted, faded ceramic designs in tiles make a sophisticated contribution to the smooths offer.
Read our detailed reports from the show on pages 55 – 84
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Review page Abingdon Flooring.............................62 ACG......................................................83 Adam Carpets....................................69 Associated Weavers..................56–59 Ball & Young.......................................81 BerryAlloc...........................................81 Cavalier................................................74 Computers for Flooring..................82 Condor................................................85 Cormar................................................65 CRUK ..................................................80 Cybergold............................................72 Easylay..................................................78 F. Ball....................................................55 Fells.......................................................73 Furlong..........................................60–61 Hugh Mackay......................................73 INNOV8..............................................76 Interfloor.............................................67 Kellars...................................................64 Kenburn...............................................74 Kingsmead...........................................66 Lano......................................................80 Manx Tomkinson..............................70 MasterPiece........................................70 Metro Group......................................84 Penthouse............................................75 Qfloors................................................66 SMG......................................................68 Sonixx...................................................72 Texfelt..................................................75 Tradeco................................................76 Ulster....................................................68 Unifloor...............................................82 Uzin.......................................................78 Verona..................................................85 Victoria.................................................63 Woolsafe.............................................83
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
F Ball
Expertise at speed Speed is of the essence for F. Ball and Co Ltd who impressed visitors to Harrogate with their ambitious, extended stand space that featured a live demonstration area presenting the latest innovations in action. Product demonstrations from the experts in F. Ball’s technical service department were hugely popular and also showcased the training programs that the company delivers at the F Ball Centre of Excellence - a new, state-ofthe-art, facility opened at its Staffordshire headquarters. The training programme has been restyled to offer a more dynamic, hands-on learning experience for installers and the courses, which run all year round, are free to attend – tailored to the needs of apprentices as well as experienced professionals, helping them to keep up-to-date with the latest advances in product technology and installation methods.
One of the latest product innovations being showcased was Stopgap Micro Rapid – a new ultra-smooth flexible floor finishing compound which delivers a seamless feathered edge to fill indentations formed by screws used to secure plywood sheets, as well as the gaps at joints between the panels. It can also be used to repair minor surface defects in a wide range of absorbent surfaces including sand/cement and calcium sulphate screeds. The product is designed to meet demanding deadlines – it is walk-on hard and ready to receive new floorcoverings in just 20 minutes and it does not require planing. F Ball sales director Darren Kenyon said: “we are delighted to be able to utilise cutting-edge technical knowledge to provide flooring contractors with a floor finishing compound that we believe are superior to anything that they have used before.” Stopgap Micro Rapid has been demonstrated at over 60 trade days at wholesalers around the country in the last three months with overwhelmingly positive feedback. it is supplied in 8kg eco pouches which are 100% recyclable and easy to handle and transport.
The need for speed is also delivered in the latest fastdrying formulation from F Ball. The Styccobond F58 PLUS enables LVT floorcoverings to be secured from just five minutes. When initially applied, the products wet-lay adhesive transitions to a semi-wet stage to become fully pressure sensitive. Fibres in the adhesive provide resistance to lateral movement, preventing vinyl tiles and planks moving around when working. T 01538 361633 • www.f-ball.co.uk F Ball’s on-stand demonstration area was a new innovation for the show
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Harrogate REVIEW
Doing business better AW and Invictus rolls out an impressive presentation for retail and contract AW aim to impress on every level and their stunning stand at The Flooring Show didn’t disappoint, dominating Hall M with trade-leading marketing, creative presentation and new launches.
“We mean serious business and when we set out to do something, we do it as well as it can be done,” says Emmanuel Lioen, marketing manager of Associated Weavers. “We work closely with our partners in retail to find out what will make the most difference to help them do better business. We have had great feedback at the show.” AW rolls out class-leading point-of-sales and product presentation across the UK, led by the Invictus brand for both carpets and LVT, plus an impressive portfolio of supporting brands such as Sedna, iSense, StainAway, Viviendi, and now Gaia. “Nobody does marketing like AW but it starts with having the best products in every category to ensure our offer is exactly what consumers want to buy right now,” says Emmanuel. And there is something new for everyone in every department – product development has been in top gear at Associated Weavers despite the challenges of the last 18 months.
The impressive stand presentation dominated Hall M
T 01422 431100 • www.associated-weavers.co.uk
The power of polyester A key new feature for AW is the arrival of its major Gaia polyester brand in the UK - the growing appetite for polyester across the market making this a perfect time to add it to the portfolio.
Polyester has that key attraction of improved performance over polypropylene but with extra softness and easy maintenance – it’s bleach cleanable – plus an attractive silky touch that makes it a premium product. Gaia has arrived in four ranges in the UK – Indus, Dorado, Tigris and Ganges – and AW has taken advantage of the fibre’s excellent ability to take colour to develop a brilliant colour selection across the collection. Adding to the prestige approach, Gaia benefits from AW’s award-winning ECO FusionBac backing it gives the whole package a soft, natural feel. ECO FusionBac is a unique textile backing, made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. Gaia is set to be a major brand in the UK
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Gaia Tigris
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
Still convincingly invincible The Invictus brand continues to be the powerful portfolio of mainstream ranges that has been so enthusiastically embraced by retailers and AW has been playing to this strength by unrelenting development of the brand.
AW has an impressive portfolio across all sectors
“We have created a real community of followers both in the trade and among consumers,” says Emmanuel. “And consumers are more prepared than ever to invest in their homes so the high quality marketing tools we give retailers allows excellent opportunities to make better sales.”
StainAway The StainAway collection is still the core of many retailers’ mainstream offer and the company continues to invest strongly in the polypropylene brand to make it as relevant as possible, at a competitive price point. So retailers have welcomed the launch of Ultimate Harvest Heathers which plays right into the current popularity of the natural, heathered effect with 14 colourways with a subtle, speckled design.
The online Invictus community (for both carpet and LVT) numbers some 12,500 followers. AW links its social media and Internet activity directly to retailers with excellent technology for use in-store and at home to select options and visualise installations to make the buying process funto-do and as effective as possible.
Ultimate Harvest Heathers
The Invictus carpet collection came to Harrogate with two new ranges – Aurelius and Tiberius – plus an attractive re-colouring of the popular Orion and Sirius ranges with improved yarn which retailers will see in the New Year, featuring updated, on trend colours including the latest pastel hues. T 01422 431100 • www.invictus.co.uk/carpet
Vivendi Karma
iSense Subtlety
Sedna Oshun
Push for polyamide Some of AW’s most active development continues to be in its high performance polyamide fibres which the company has engineered to achieve unique softness alongside the undoubted resilience of nylon. The mainstream range here is Vivendi which has been established as “stressfree carpet for happy people” – a solution-dyed nylon which is therefore bleach cleanable and has impeccable wear resistance. For 2022, Vivendi sees the re-colouring of the Soul and Vibes ranges as well as the introduction of newcomers, Karma and Vitality, to extend the appeal. The super soft and durable set of carpets under the iSense label has seen a whole bunch of recent range introductions including Splendour, Serenity, Subtlety, Suspense and Obsession. Meanwhile, Sedna – the flagship brand which saves sea life by using nylon recovered from abandoned fishing nets and other waste – sees the introduction of a new, cleverly named, range called Oshun.
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
The mainstream range here is Vivendi which has been established as “stressfree carpet for happy people”...
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Harrogate REVIEW
Carefully curating Invictus LVT collections Since Invictus LVT took the market by storm it has gone from strength-to-strength and there are 19 new options in the latest catalogue to ensure that the collection is maintained at the leading edge of consumer demand. As the portfolio grows, the Invictus team has organised the offer into four distinctive categories – Contemporary (on trend and eclectic), Urban (sleek and sophisticated), Townhouse (grand, traditional, and classy), and Country Living (natural, cosy and authentic).
Invictus Urban
Invictus Contemporary
The in-store Invictus LVT presenter is state-of-the-art POS
Each collection has been carefully curated and kept up-to-date and this approach makes it easier for both consumers and retailers to navigate the extensive options both in DryBack and SPC Click and get a good start to make their selection. Of course, that selection process is massively enhanced by the hugely impressive point of sale system that Invictus has engineered to showcase the LVT collections – taking consumers from the sample to a real room set in seconds, removing all obstacles to the sales process.
Invictus Townhouse
Retailers who have bought into the award-winning in-store display from Invictus are very enthusiastic on all the features and benefits of guiding customers through the customer journey With some 40 planks, 13 parquets and 17 stone tiles, there is plenty to choose from for both the mainstream demand and the more adventurous design-led consumer. The random effect of Designer Parquet and the Tropical Forest wood decors fall into that unique eye-catching category along with Concrete Crush and Groovy Granite in tiles. Invictus LVT credentials are well known – exemplary authenticity and ultra-strong performance including the Scratchmaster top layer and robust construction that allow the Primus range to come with a 20 year residential warranty while Maximus is good for 25 years. And the flooring is 100% recyclable and reusable and can be part of the industry’s growing vinyl take-back schemes.
Invictus Country Living
“Retailers who have bought into the awardwinning in-store display from Invictus are very enthusiastic on guiding customers through the customer journey” 58
www.invictus.co.uk AW’s John Matthews and Kelly Johnson with the “toast-rack” THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
The case for AW commercial flooring The launch of AW Commercial Flooring division was a major event for the company at The Flooring Show – establishing a powerful new force in the contract sector which will leverage the full extent of Associated Weaver’s product portfolio. “The power of the group means we can bring the full breadth of our flooring options together to address the needs of this new audience,” said Mark Danbrough, the new Commercial Sales Manager. “We can handle all the different use cases – and in true AW style, we are presenting this in an innovative new way.”
“The power of the group means we can bring the full breadth of our flooring options together to address the needs of this audience.” This innovation is the remarkable commercial project suitcase – a comprehensive sales tool comprising a wheeled case that sits on his own stand and opens up to reveal everything from LVT to carpet tiles and broadloom. Each SKU holds a unique QR-code which leads you to the AW Commercial Flooring visualiser, where you can see your favourite designs in your very own interior (pictured right). The unit is easy to take along to architects and specifiers and a consistent, modular approach to sampling makes matching, comparison and selection easy. The program also includes new Maverick range of commercial wall-to-wall carpet and carpet tiles, made from AW’s iMax solution-dyed nylon in a dense, 10th gauge construction. T 01422 431100 • www.aw-commercialflooring.co.uk AW Commercial Flooring project suitcase
Invictus New England Oak Herringbone
Medusa carpet tiles
Creating flooring champions The AW Academy is all about elevating the business opportunities of the company’s retail partners by ensuring that sales staff have the knowledge they need.
“We are convinced that sales people who know more, sell more,” says Managing Director Gavin Pugh. “Our mission is to turn sales staff into carpet and flooring champions to ensure that our retailers can set themselves apart from the competition.”
Graduating from the AW Academy
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Based at the headquarters of Associated Weavers in Halifax, the Academy is an intensive course that is both insightful and fun to do. The programme kicks off with a technical training session on how carpet and LVT are made and highlights the benefits and installation of these floorcovering options. Then, the sales experts at AW share their vision on the customer experience, efficient in-store sales tools and the importance of colours and brands. 59
Harrogate show preview
Furlong Flooring
Delivering on choice and reliability
Furlong Flooring knows that what retailers want more than anything else is reliability. The right products, at the right price, that turn up at the right time. Easy? Anything but in the turbulent times of the last 18 months but Furlong have made a virtue of keeping faith with their retailers through thick and thin and have been rewarded with loyalty and popularity that was evident at The Flooring Show in Harrogate last month. The key to this success is built on the company’s home-grown credentials, manufacturing in the UK and committing to market-leading levels of stock backed up by a logistics service to match. “We are one of the very few major players where everything is in house,” says Neil Valentine. “Therefore our destiny is in our own hands and we will do everything it takes to protect our customers from the ups and downs in the marketplace.
“There is a big appetite for our kind of business – delivering mainstream best-sellers on time and competitively priced.” “The value of this approach came through in Harrogate – I don’t think in all the 19 years I have been coming here we have had a better show. There is a big appetite for our kind of business – delivering mainstream best-sellers on time and competitively priced,” he said.
Elegance has been updated to enhance its best-seller status
The recent overhaul of Furlong’s impressive point-of-sale systems stood out at the show with a contemporary and coherent appearance including back-lit graphics that make a major impact in store.
First choice flooring The company has also been busy in product development, ensuring a seamless portfolio of ranges matched to each segment of the market to fulfil the Furlong mantra of “first choice flooring for every room.” Highlights at the show included the re-vamp of best-selling Elegance – a recent winner of the Flooring Innovation Award for man-made carpets – to complete Furlong’s comprehensive family of twists. The luxury new range Veneto was also introduced to add some opulence to the company’s impressive range of soft-touch performance carpets.
Veneto adds opulence to the soft-touch collection 60
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate show preview
Furlong ticks all the boxes The key credentials of Furlong Flooring were represented across a series of eye-catching panel presentations at the show...
All the flooring options as a single source for retailers
First choice flooring for every room in the house
Award-winning point-of-sale is a superb showcase for the portfolio
What’s new?
We’ve updated our three best-selling vinyl ranges, as well as la more choice.
What’s new?
We’ve updated our three best-selling vinyl ranges, as well as launching brand-new to give customers CirrusaIII - Strong,range, durable, on-trend vinyl more choice. Building on the popularity of previous Cirrus ranges, Cirrus III g homeowners and commercial businesses the chance to upda flooring in heavy-traffic areas with hard-wearing but stylish viny Available in a range of subtle tile decors and foam backed fo Cirrus III - Strong, durable, on-trend vinyl comfort and energy efficiency, Cirrus III benefits from excellent Building on the popularity previous Cirrus ranges, Investment in stock and logistics The of popular sales portal gives Cirrus III givesresistance Furlong to the highest andcommits heat insulation properties. A strong and durabl homeowners and commercial businesses theavailability chance to update range levels for on-time deliveries, every time instant access to stock of service to dual its customers that gives you the benefits of practicality and style flooring in heavy-traffic areas with hard-wearing but stylish vinyl. Available in a range of subtle tile decors and foam backed for comfort and energy efficiency, Cirrus III benefits from excellent impact resistance and heat insulation properties. A strong and durable vinyl Woods - Our We’ve updated our three best-selling vinyl ranges, as well Cirrus as system launching a brand Furlong’s increasingly popular portfoliorange of smooth flooring completes the one-stop-shop approach a smart, award-winning point-of-sale that gives you the dual benefits of practicality and style. with 10 plank decors more choice. smooth floors. and a growing choice across LVT, vinyl, laminate and wood for competitive-priced, family-friendly Building on the hardWoods offers bo Visitors to the show heard about Furlong’s new focus on vinyl which sees 53 new decors across the collection - updating three best-sellingCirrus ranges for those look and introducing a totally new range to offer exceptional choice - from the subtle finishes of -Cirrus III to hard-wearing the modern styles of now Versatility II. designs Cirrus Woods Our most vinyl, available in We’ve updates updatedisour vinyl ranges, as welltheir as launching a brand-new range, to on-trend give customers Cirrus Woods is ideall Cirrus III - Strong, durable, vinyl The Autumn launch of these thethree idealbest-selling time for retailers to update vinyl offer. 10 plank decors more choice. Building on the popularity of previous Cirrus ranges, Cirrushygienic III gives PU Lacquer Building on theElite hard-wearing properties and popularity of our Cirrus range,impact resis And there was a first look at new additions to the laminate collection including the tough with UniLin excellent homeowners andthe commercial businesses the chance to update Cirrus Woods offerscity-style both traditional plank decors and modern herringbone click system with micro-bevelled edges and its sister range Urban Laminate with sophisticated flooring in heavy-traffic areas with hard-wearing but stylishdelivers vinyl. fantastic valu designs for those for a durable flooring solution. Foam-backed, looks – both of which benefit from the Blue Angel environmental certification, whileAvailable Elite XL looking adds in a range of subtle tile decors and foam backed for Cirrus Woods is ideally suited to high-traffic areas and comes with a Cirrus III Strong, durable, on-trend vinyl CARB2 compliance on emissions for high air quality standards. comfort and energy efficiency, Cirrus III benefits from excellent impact hygienic PU Lacquer coating, protecting against the build-up of dirt. With Building on the popularity of previous Cirrus ranges, Cirrus III gives resistance and heat insulation properties. A strong and durable vinyl excellent impact resistance and heat insultation properties, this vinyl range homeowners and commercial businesses the chance to update Pictora III - Statement vinyl for aand fresh new look range that gives you the dual benefits of practicality style. delivers flooring in heavy-traffic areas with hard-wearing but stylish vinyl. fantastic value for money.
One-stop smooth selection
What’s new?
What’s new?
Our updated Pictora III range gives customers the perfect blen practicality and design. From quirky geo-patterns to traditiona designs, this imaginative, creative range allows customers to l Cirrus Woods - Our most hard-we personality shine through. With a foam backing for enhanced 10 plank decors efficiency and comfort, this range is affordable and easy to cl Building Our updated Pictora III range gives customers the perfect blend of making it perfect for family living.on the hard-wearing properti Cirrus Woods offers both traditional pla practicality and design. From quirky geo-patterns to traditional cottage designs for those looking for a durable designs, this imaginative, creative range allows customers to let their Cirrus Woods - Our most hard-wearing vinyl, now available in Cirrus Woods is ideally suited to high-tr personality shine through. With a foam backing for enhanced energy 10 plank decors hygienic PU Lacquer coating, protecti efficiency and comfort, this range is affordable and easy to clean, Building range, excellent impact resistance and heat making it perfect for family living. on the hard-wearing properties and popularity of our Cirrus Cirrus Woods offers both traditional plank decors and modern herringbone II - Cosy delivers fantasticVersatility value for money. designs for those looking for a durable flooring solution. Foam-backed, Versatility II has a sele Cirrus Woods is ideally suited to high-traffic areas and comes with a look and feel that wil hygienic PU Lacquer coating, protecting against the build-up of dirt. With and contemporary w excellent impact resistance and heat insultation properties, this vinyl range Pictora III - Statement vinyl for a fresh new look for easy installation a Versatility II - Cosy vinyl for the home delivers fantastic value for money. for new builds and an Our updated Pictora rangecosy gives customers blend of Versatility II has a selection ofIIIwarm, vinyl flooring the withperfect a natural practicality and design.the From quirky to T traditional cottage look and feel that will enhance style of allgeo-patterns homes. Featuring modern 01772 696787 designs, thiswood imaginative, allows customers to let their and contemporary and tilecreative designs,range this range has a felt backing www.furlongflooring.co.uk Award winning point-of-sale enhances the one-stop shop approach across the Furlong portfolio Pictora III - Statement vinyl for a fresh new look for easy personality through.acoustic With a foam backing for enhanced energy installation shine and fantastic insulation – making it perfect efficiency for new builds andand anycomfort, room in this the range home.is affordable and easy to clean, Our updated Pictora III range gives customers the perfect blend of making it perfect for family living. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021 61 FIRST CHOICE FLOORING practicality and design. From quirky geo-patterns to traditional cottage designs, this imaginative, creative range allows customers to let their Available in a range of subtle tile decors and foam backed for comfort and energy efficiency, Cirrus III benefits from excellent impact resistance and heat insulation properties. A strong and durable vinyl - Statement for a fresh new look range that givesPictora you theIII dual benefits of vinyl practicality and style.
Harrogate REVIEW
Abingdon Flooring
Gracefully going soft A global pandemic isn’t the best time for product development but the busy Abingdon stand at The Flooring Show demonstrated what you can do with carefully selected initiatives to meet the mood of the market and keep flooring fresh for consumers. “Some of our developments have been held back almost 2 years because of the pandemic along with the issues with yarn and logistics,” said Martin Peace. “But we have been keen to move forward with some important launches that are set to be among our future best-sellers.” In fact, Abingdon have gone soft over lockdown with the launch of two striking new polyester ranges. Velveteer looks like a real winner as a newcomer to the Love Story collection. With a beautiful finish and that lovely lustre of polyester, Abingdon has brought 30 smart colours – 10 greys, 10 plains, but then 10 fresh and vibrant colours to appeal to the more fashion conscious.
“This feels so different and has a lovely handle,” says Martin. “Polyester is more competitive than nylon and offers superb softness, but it has that extra performance that makes it family proof and because this is solution dyed polyester, it is bleach cleanable – this has gone down so well at the show.”
Another addition to Love Story will arrive in January. Wild Silk is distinctively different – a colourful berber fleck, almost like confetti, which is unique in its construction and difficult to make (and copy!). 50% of Wild Silk is polyester yarn from Abingdon’s Romance range blended with a coloured yarn in space-dyed polyester – all of which, again, as the performance with softness credentials this fibre enjoys – is going to be a really interesting entrant into the market next year. Staying soft, but this time in Abingdon’s carefully engineered polypropylene yarn, is Aristocrat, a subtlety heathered partner to the popular plains Sophisticat range in a very attractive new pallete of colours. And finally, for people who like a lot of carpet for their money, there is new 70oz Indulgence. “This is a real handful of carpet,” said Martin. “Lots of people still really like a heavy saxony and this is the heaviest carpet we can make.”
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Indulgence is part of the Stainfree collection and as well as its depth of fibre, this launch also shows the increasing appetite for colour including some beautifully sumptuous soft pastels.
T 01274 655662 • www.abingdonflooring.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
Smarter smooths
Victoria’s Design Flooring portfolio for LVT is also getting a major makeover to bring together the Distinctive and Universal brands and Harrogate visitors got the first sight of the smart and simplified approach to smooths. “We have spent a lot of time listening to what retailers want and developing a clean approach to our marketing in this key sector to make everything easy and accessible,” says James. Colour coded samples and the clever Stick-me/Click-me labels help the process with, for example, all the Landscape planks and the 12”x24” Landscape tiles available as both click and dryback. A new SPC option with a 0.30 wear layer has been introduced alongside a 0.50 herringbone. Retailers will start to see the Victoria Design Flooring rolling out in style early in 2022.
Victoria
The new Victoria – elegance and accessibility Wow! Victoria is just looking so lovely these days with a complete brand transformation as MyVictoria which has accelerated the company into the fast lane of fashionable flooring for families in every sector of the market. Victoria has managed to combine elegance with accessibility and their superb stand at Harrogate captured style to perfection. “We have reimagined our whole approach across the business with the main aim to make it easier for consumers to shop Victoria, giving retailers better access to highquality sales,” said James Caldwell, Sales Director for Victoria Carpets & Design Floors.
The family of carpets For carpets, this approach has meant the creation of three families of products – Natureborn for wool, EasiCare for manmade ranges and Luxuria for unashamed opulence – the best of the best. Super new point-of-sale presentations have been developed to present these collection to best effect with striking new graphics and smart information panels. Victoria has been busy developing their natural fibre collection. A star of the show was the immaculate 100% wool Royal Velvet, based on the original Royal Victoria now coloured in 20 fashionable shades. Tudor Twist is at the core of Victoria’s 80/20 offer, a large range in 36 colours and two different weights which has seen an impressive re-colouring to bring in blues, reds, pink and gold’s alongside the mainstream palette. And Victoria’s especially elegant, chunky loop pile carpet Habberley – made from 70% wool and 30% Tencel – is adding two new designs including a straight set ridge and a complimentary herringbone. A centrepiece of the Victoria stand was the impeccable Luxuria Velvet - the company’s first nylon 6.6 product which won a Flooring Innovation Award on its introduction last year and made its debut at the show to the appreciation of visitors. In the Easicare man-made department, new Ultimate Expressions adds heathered options to the popular Ultimate Impressions range and the new Heartland Heathers range extends the choice with a family-friendly two-ply collection of 12 colours. The colour pallete for Aura has also been reimagined across 16 options and refreshing to see the range still remaining strong on the emphasis of colour. T 01562 749300 • www.victoriacarpets.com THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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Harrogate REVIEW
Kellars
Unmissable momentum of creativity Few in the flooring sector will have missed the unstoppable rise of independent wholesaler Kellars over the last year who have transformed their business into a major market player with the product portfolio and brands to boost business on the High Street. “We have really moved up a gear and it’s getting a lot of attention,” says Claire Lewis who has directed the design of this transformation since she joined the business in June last year.
Picture title
“Almost everything is new and exciting, and it’s easier than ever for retailers to buy into quality across the full range of flooring.” Kellars grew from a highly respected distributor in North West England into the formidable national force they are today following a major injection of investment in 2018. Today the business has four major depots across the country, many with trade counters and showrooms. The presentation of their portfolio is exceptional, and this year, they have focussed on a new, strong point of sale for their six brands across a wide range of flooring, underlay and accessories – all of which was shown off to great effect in a superb stand at The Flooring Show. A strong creative approach to the brand identity of key ranges is underpinned by attention to detail in product stands and promotional materials. The modular package of point-of-sale that includes lightbox graphics and strong visual themes has been found highly effective by retailers.
The award-winning POS system for Forma LVT
The approach also attracted a Flooring Innovation Award in the Marketing and new Brands Concepts category from a panel of independent judges this year. Having majored on man-made carpets and LVT this year, Kellars expects to extend the portfolio with more wool options in 2022 including a response to the increasing popularity of textured loops.
“We have had a tremendously positive reaction to the new style and have been selling stands in large blocks to retailers who want a coherent, creative look to the store,” says Claire. 64
So Kellar’s momentum will keep moving forward – at pace! T 0161 443 0970 • www.kellars.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
Cormar Carpet Company
Premium popularity
Cormar has the confidence of a market leader – returning to Harrogate showcasing their smart new branding and building on the strength of key bestsellers to extend their appeal to consumers. The new branding looks both professional and friendly at the same time. “We felt it was time to move up a grade with a more modern home furnishing, which conveys the premium carpets for all, at an affordable price message,” said marketing director David Cormack. The style has been carried through into the company’s new point of sale offering, which includes an enhanced wall unit system and two new lectern displays helping retailers better showcase their award winning products to their customers. Both the wall and lectern units now feature removable samples amongst a host of other benefits, to make selling easier in-store.
Portal power
Cormar has an enviable reputation for the ability of its logistics operation and its portal platform to handle order taking with real-time stock and delivery positions 24/7 and never has this been more important than in the recent turbulent times. Now, 50% of orders from Cormar customers come via the online portal. On the day of delivery, customers receive a two-hour delivery slot – usually on the next-day delivery for most options. Despite everything, the system is achieving 96% on-time delivery with the company investing in stock and infrastructure, Cormar has more than 70 of its own vehicles in the distribution fleet – to make it happen. “I didn’t realise just how much our customers love the portal until the challenges of recent months put it to the test,” says Alex Hindle. “When all’s happening around you, having reliable information about meeting customer’s expectations is so important.”
Cormar marketing manager Alex Hindle is pictured with Primo Tweeds
The two key launches at the show were right on the money for modern tastes. Primo Tweeds is a new addition to the well-established and highly popular man-made twist Primo Collections. “We felt there was something missing in that range and we have just what we need now to fill the gap – a distinctive pattern with just the right level of contrast,” said Alex Hindle, Cormar’s marketing manager. Primo Tweeds cleverly blends two 2-colour yarns to create a colour bank of 14 options with the contemporary stipple effect that is a buzz with consumers and interior designers right now. The other popular newcomer was the 80/20 Woodland Heather Twist which is a welcome addition to the company’s successful wool twist collection. This quality 10th gauge heathered range covers lots of options with 14 colours across two weights, Elite and Deluxe. T 01204 881234 • www.cormarcarpets.co.uk
Ella Salvato (left) with Catherine Whelan
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Harrogate REVIEW
Qfloors
Join the Q Qfloors is a smart, spin-off from Hugh Mackay Carpets – a new home for the company’s man-made fibres which brings together 600 options in just six ranges and in one concept that covers just about everything. The focus here is on families – with flexibility and performance. But design and colour is strongly at the forefront alongside the mainstream bestseller categories so expect animal print, geometrics, modern plaids alongside contemporary colour banks of plain and heathered blends – one package with appeal for almost every consumer.
“We think this concept is going to open a lot of doors for us,” said Keith Morgan of Hugh Mackay Carpets. “Inevitably, we are thought of as a top quality wool house and rightly so. But we can turn on the style in man-made carpets too and Qfloors makes it easy for retailers to get right up-to-date with everything they need in one place.” Qfloors will replace the Hasslefree ranges and the brand also expects to introduce a complimentary LVT package next year. T 01429 892555 • www.hughmackay.co.uk
Kingsmead Carpets
Distinctive design development Kingsmead Carpets has enhanced its position in the style sector as the brand becomes increasingly sophisticated in its selection of quality, performance ranges – increasing its appeal along with the opportunity for retailers to trade up their customers.
“We have been looking closely at the position of all our brands to ensure they deliver at every level for each consumer need,” said Scott Hosie, the head of product at Kingsmead’s parent company Headlam. “Kingsmead Is the first to benefit and we are looking for the brand to be more distinctive and design led.” Kingsmead will also be looking at introducing more wool in addition to developing its own yarn plans to provide a unique offer to the market. The new in-house studio will also ensure that everything is delivered subtly on trend. One of the first impacts of this approach launched at the show was the relaunch of Artwork, a favourite of fashionistas for stripes – a beautiful carpet in New Zealand wool that has been re-coloured in 31 options. T 01827 831424 • www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk
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Harrogate REVIEW
Interfloor Seriously sustainable Interfloor went big and green at Harrogate to celebrate the launch of their outstanding sustsainable underlay renu – set to become a game changing product for the company at the forefront of its environmental credentials. renu is made from 98% ethically-sourced recycled materials and is itself 100% recyclable. “Increasingly the issue of sustainability is front of mind for consumers, and therefore for retailers too,” said Laura Ashall, marketing director (pictured right). “renu delivers a responsible, sustainable message in every aspect of its production and presentation.”
Attention to detail
The attention to detail on this agenda is impressive. In addition to its manufacturing standards, the product has a brown, undyed backing and is even printed with water-based inks. The sample wallet has been made out of recycled shoeboxes and the renu packaging is made from 100% recycled plastic – even plastic hangers have been substituted with clever cardboard engineering. A unique wooden display box completes the picture. Interfloor is investing strongly in promoting the impact of this major product launch. The stand at Harrogate was beautifully redesigned to reflect its green status and the company is promoting the product directly to consumers through advertising and, for example, in the Grand Designs magazine. renu was launched in the UK at the end of May and has received a fantastic response so far. Interfloor also have a renu stockist locator online to guide consumers to their nearest retailer. Interfloor is increasingly focussed on the industry’s environmental responsibilities and is working across its portfolio to optimise the sustainability of its product range, including, most recently, the introduction of a new gripper made in Dumfries using wood from sources approved by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). T 01706 213 131 • www.interfloor.com
“Increasingly the issue of sustainability is front of mind for consumers, and therefore for retailers too,” said Laura Ashall, marketing director. “renu delivers a responsible, sustainable message in every aspect of its production and presentation.”
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Harrogate REVIEW
SMG
Pure and simple The buying group SMG has a firm following for its savvy approach to point-of-sale – a key issue for retailers who are seeking own label protection to support their margins against direct selling and Internet operations. SMG offers its members a range of attractive merchandising units under its Pure branding.
“Our POS is incredibly popular and we have some retailers join us just for that reason,” said Linda Thomas, business and marketing manager of the group. “It lives up to its name – we want to keep it pure with a clean, simple and sophisticated approach that is easy to work with for both our suppliers and retailers, and purchaser,” she said. So the group has redesigned its lecterns to take a standard 18” x 18” sample, with no double lecterns. Product information is fixed to the first sample to avoid messy graphics on the head of boards – achieving an elegant simplicity. For extra impact, many retailers have also found the display table an attractive feature – a focal point for store to discuss consumer choice. SMG also launched at the show its new collection of carpet tiles for residential and soft contract opportunities, which comes packaged in a compact library box. T 0118 932 3832 • www.smg-group.co.uk
Ulster Carpets
New hues and wool news The design department at Ulster Carpets took the opportunity of lockdown to take a fresh look at established favourites as well as move forward with new ranges. As a result, the finely scrolled and floral designs of Anatolia acquired some new hues including the increasingly popular denim blues as did the sharp 100% wool loop Habitüs. The floaty ethereal patterns of the Watercolours collection has also gained some of those blues along with dusty pinks and a warm taupe to add more momentum to this popular range bringing it right upto-date. Also displayed at the show were Natural Choice Axminster, a 100% undyed wool carpet in six designs which has a woven jute backing to tick all the right environmental credentials; and also Natura, a 4m wide stock contract product in more than 20 options for those retailers and installers looking for something different in the contract sector. All perfectly complemented by Axfelt. Ulster launched their new 10 year guarantee to retailers at the event. Ulster expects to start the New Year with some other exciting developments, especially for plaids where consumer demand remains strong, as well as more quality wool loops. T 028 3833 4433 • www.ulstercarpets.com
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THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
Adam Carpets
Evolving colour choices
As purveyors of one of the industry’s most extensive colour banks as found in the class leading Fine Worcester Twist, it comes as no surprise that Adam Carpets takes its shades and hues very seriously and continues to evolve them. The company researches the fashion and interiors markets intensely to identify evolving trends and then uses its expertise to interpret these into effective carpet options. The pandemic threw up some surprises. “We were frankly amazed by the change in colour perceptions among consumers pre-Covid versus now,” said Chris Adam, MD (pictured bottom right). “There is no doubt that people are looking for something different after the experience of the last few months.” Adam Carpets is looking to add 10 new colours for Fine Worcester Twist (pictured below left) and brought 18 of these to Harrogate to take soundings from visitors. They were classified into three categories (pictured below right with Chris Adam) - reflecting the competing moods of consumers during the crisis. “It has been fascinating to see how tastes are evolving,” says Chris – and we’ll all have to wait and see which make the final cut. In a departure from plains, Adam Carpets introduced two new colours in the award winning Flare collection of zigzag patterns – and the company hints at more geometrical designs to come with a selection of samples racked up on their stand to gauge reactions from visitors. T 01562 822247 www.adamcarpets.com
“There is no doubt that people are looking for something different after the experience of the last few months.”
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Harrogate REVIEW
MasterPiece
Demonstrating digital efficiency The value and flexibility of digital tools for the flooring industry came to the fore during the lockdown and over the last 18 months and class-leading estimating software from MasterPiece has demonstrated its effectiveness including for ‘remote estimating’ where the customer wields the tape measure, guided by a remote estimator over video. In addition to a project which involved training 70 UK estimators remotely from Australia, the company has been busy finessing the system to add functionality to the measuring, planning and estimating tools that can be used in store and on site. MasterPiece is used by most of the major players in the retail flooring market and the company’s philosophy is to keep the core of the system simple so that newcomers can train up in under an hour to begin getting the key benefits, before adding additional functionality tailored to their needs. In addition to making the tasks of measuring and planning carpets and LVT designs easier, MasterPiece supports the selling process towards closure of the sale, via automated costing, emailed estimates, reduced wastage and rapid application of discounts. T 01737 355831 • www.masterpiece-system.com
Manx Tomkinson
Wool rules Britannia Wool Britannia is a brilliant concept which will be a feature of this year and next – not bad timing with the Platinum Jubilee coming up! – and Manx Tomkinson were proud to give it its debut at The Flooring Show. In partnership with the Campaign for Wool and British Wool, the Headlam Group has created a yarn concept with wool derived from each of the four nations of the UK, making it truly British wool.
“This is going to be a very big thing for the group,” said Claire Kimble. “We are very excited to be part of this and it has had such a great reaction at Harrogate.” The very first range to feature Wool Britannia is the smart new twist Seasonal Views available from Manx Tomkinson in 16 contemporary colours.” And there is a lot else besides going on at Manx Tomkinson these days as the brand moves a little more upmarket, and with little more wool. Other news includes the brand new range Tomkinson Tweed, a beautiful collection of heathered tones in 16 amazing shades and the launch of countryside inspired Natural Rustic, an attractive 100% wool loop in nine colours. Check out the company’s newly launched website to catch up with all the latest. T 01827 831450 • www.manxtomkinson.co.uk Pictured above is national sales manager, Andy Heard. 70
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
acoustic, fast track floor prep system for all resilient floor coverings! Excellent sound reduction of no less than 21 dB
EXPERTS IN SUBFLOOR SOLUTIONS • • • • •
Fast track subfloor preparation Reduces installation time and costs Instant floor levelling Superb smooth finish For the immediate glue-down of vinyl, vinyl sheets, LVT, linoleum, cork, rubber, carpet, etc. • Overcomes many substrate problems
UK Toll Free: 0845 603 0906 www.unifloor-underlay.com THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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Harrogate REVIEW
Sonixx
Keep it quiet The trend towards modern, open architecture with smooth flooring creates an acoustic challenge – Impact and airborne sound can be easily transmitted through floors and across rooms, reducing the comfort of those living spaces. Interfloor set out to address this issue with all their expertise and focus on it in a new business division called Sonnix with the mission to develop easyinstall underlayment solutions for sound insulation. Sonixx has a core range of two high performance products. Resilient 250 is built around a 2.5mm sponge rubber layer which can be used with all types of smooth and textile floorcoverings to achieve an impact sound reduction of up to 19dB, exceeding UK building standards.
Pictured are Simon Miller (left) and Paul Robson of Sonixx
Soundsure 560 forms part of the fabric of a building as a 5.6 mm layer of crumb rubber which isolates floor screeds from the main structure. This solution can achieve a sound reduction of 27dB and as it is made from fully recycled materials, it ticks the boxes for environmental credentials as well. T 01706 238 810 • www.interfloor.com
Cybergold
Supply without a slip Cybergold’s highly effective anti-slip underlay’s and sprays always find a ready market with retailers for their potential to not only gain an add-on sale but also to increase customer satisfaction with the performance of their rug purchases. But some of the supply chain issues of recent months has put the UKbased company in pole position in meeting demand. “Some of our competitors have been relying on supply from Europe or further afield and they just have not been able to offer the reliability and pricing that we can as a British manufacturer,” said Nick Burger of Cybergold. The company’s patented Rug Control technology is available in underlay matting, by rolls or pre-cut sizes, in a range of thicknesses, as well as in a spray solution – all designed to stop drugs moving on all hard floors and carpets. T 01494 761814 • www.cybergolduk.com
The Flooring Innovation GOLD Awards were presented at The Flooring Showing - check out pages 44 + 52 for full details 72
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Harrogate REVIEW
Fells Carpets
Going for bold Fells has become a leading protagonist of pattern and attracted attention at Harrogate not only from visitors for their very latest range Grand Designs but also from the judges of the Flooring Innovation Awards who marked it out as a winner in the Carpet Design category. This collection is the latest in a bold and eclectic portfolio of pattern, covering some small geometric designs and plaids that led by an eye-catching leopard and snakeskin option which was shown off on the stone floor to great effect. A fine velvet finish completes the stylish package but there is performance too – Grand Designs is made with a resilient polypropylene heatset yarn to preserve its lasting appearance and the fibre is fade resistant, stain resistant and bleach cleanable.
“We always set out to be bold and challenge assumptions,” said Carl Cummings of Fells Carpets, “and it’s great when you get the recognition and response that we have out of the show.” Fells also showed a new polyester range Arcadia with geometric patterns printed on a coloured base to create an authentic woven look. T 01977 662211 • www.fellscarpets.co.uk
Hugh Mackay
Durham delights Durham was the destination for Hugh Mackay with a showcase of fine wool carpets on which the company has established its reputation for quality. Durham Twist is a flagship 80% wool carpet which has enjoyed a colour overhaul with 10 fresh new options and a re-working of the colour range with 48 options now in three sets – colours, elements and naturals. All of which has also been worked into the complimentary stripes range too. Now available in two weights instead of three, Keith Morgan commented: “This is a bestselling range and by refining the colour choice and weight options we can guarantee excellent stock levels and service.” Joining the family in January is brand new Durham Tweed, a subtle blend with unexpected flecks of colour that earned the newcomer a prize in the Flooring Innovation Awards. Hugh Mackay were also showcasing the superb Quintessential Twist, the beautifully crafted three-ply satin twist – double sheared for a velvet finish – which was launched to great acclaim just before lockdown and is now reaping the attention it deserves. T 01429 892555 • www.hughmackay.co.uk
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“ This is a best-selling range and by refining the colour choice and weight options we can guarantee excellent stock levels and service.”
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Cavalier Carpets
Family values
Modern new look and heritage family values – Cavalier Carpets attracted attention that The Flooring Show with a bold re-design underwritten by the strapline “The Family Carpet Maker.” And it turned heads – one head in particular! A traditional cavalier’s head was associated with the company’s brand but disappeared several years ago – now it’s back in a modern new style.
“After everything that has happened, we thought it was time to make a statement in our positioning for the future and a lot of that is about securing the family values that have seen us flourish in the past,” said Hans Lowe, who is sales director alongside his brother Nathan as MD. And a lot else has been happening alongside the branding makeover with a substantial overhaul introducing more colour into bestselling ranges such as Pennine Heathers, the Country Collection and Cartouche Velvet as well as three new products… Downtown Loop was launched at Harrogate as a great value quality range and then, coming later in the year or early next will be Patina Loop, a 70/30 loop with 30% Tencel derived from tree bark and then Genteel, a superior wool twist with 10% polyester. T 01254 268000 • www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk
Kenburn
Public pressure for recycling “The public is asking more questions,” says Simon Wells of Kenburn, pointing to the gathering momentum to find better solutions to piling carpet waste up in landfill. Kenburn is the industry’s go-to supplier for carpet crushers, part of a network that links into Carpet Recycling UK as part of a more responsible approach to trade waste. The economics of the solution for larger retail trade distributors speaks for itself compared to increasing skip and disposal costs. “A transformation is coming – we already know of councils that are charging to take flooring waste at their local tips and it looks increasingly likely that consumers are going to get left with the problem,” says Simon. “Retailers need to get ahead of this curve and be ready to gain competitive advantage by offering an uplift and recycling service.” The Kenburn Balex 30 “carpet crusher” reduces the volume of carpet waste by 4:1, reducing the transport costs to ship material to the nearest carpet recycling plant. T 01727 844988 • www.kenburn.co.uk
Super fit champion Congratulations to Matt Bowles of Norwich who won out against stiff competition as the NICF LVT Fitter of the Year in the finals at Harrogate. The £2,000 prize was presented by The Flooring Show event director Alex Butler (pictured right). 74
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Harrogate REVIEW
Texfelt
Performance underlay with bottle Springbond looks different because it is! This eco-engineered alternative to PU underlay has had a strong start in the market since a new manufacturing plant was set up in 2018 in West Yorkshire to upcycle fibres derived from recycled plastic bottles into this distinctively white underlay product.
“This is a product full of benefits with no downside,” says George Elphick of Springbond’s manufacturers Texfelt. “It really is the greener, cleaner, quieter and safer alternative to PU foam underlay – and it is made in the UK to minimise its carbon footprint.” Each roll contains 180 recycled PET plastic bottles and the product, which is available in 7, 9 and 11mm thicknesses, is chemical free, contains virtually zero VOCs and is the first underlay to be awarded the prestigious Allergy UK – Seal of Approval.
George Elphick (left) is pictured with Michael Walsh of Texfelt
As well as excellent comfort and performance characteristics, Springbond also offers class leading acoustic properties with a 57db reduction in sound transfer. T 01274 905411 • www.texfelt.co.uk
Penthouse Carpets
Passion for proper carpet Penthouse is passionate about ‘proper’ carpet and sets the agenda for quality tufted 80/20s across its extensive collection of ranges and The Flooring Show was an opportunity for the company to show how some of its bestsellers are getting even better. The affordable luxury of popular Wentworth has been enhanced with seven new on-trend colours including the increasingly popular blues and pink shades that consumers are selecting this year. Now, this finely crafted range has all the answers in a 18 strong colour bank with availability at 40 and 50oz options and 4m and 5m – with guaranteed full widths! But what’s this! A new loop - and the first for the Lancashire-based company for more than 10 years. The sustained and growing popularity of loop in the market is irresistible and Penthouse has built on the success of its timeless cut pile berber range Crofter to create an attractively textured Crofter Loop in the same nine colourways. “It’s always nice to have a bit of a surprise to show people,” said Gemma Kopczyk, “and it has been a very pleasant surprise, with a great reaction at the show.” T 01706 341231 • wwwpenthousecarpets.co.uk Penthouse MD Shirley Jackson is pictured with company chairman Michael Muschamp
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INNOV8 Samples & Merchandising
Seize the opportunity of smart sampling
In an increasingly customer-centric flooring market, first impressions are all important – whether it is raising the performance of in-store merchandising or responding to consumers who are increasingly enthusiastic about making selections at home from samples they have ordered over the internet. For busy manufacturers and suppliers, these activities are either a huge headache or a major sales opportunity, the difference often depends on who’s doing the work! INNOV8 has become a major player in this sector, building up a reputation for a top quality presentation service since they started nIne years ago from a base in Northamptonshire, covering carpet, wood, laminate, vinyl, LVT, grass and accessories.
“Our business in flooring has just grown and grown,” says MD Charlotte Norton. “Flooring people know that this is a critical part of their sales operation and when they see the quality and attention to detail we can offer, it makes sense to outsource to a professional partner.” The expert merchandising team of INNOV8: Tristan Smalley, Charlotte Norton and James Norton
INNOV8’s sample fulfilment and a complete merchandising package is constantly being developed – and living up to their name, the company has just introduced a laser engraving and carpet taping service and will launch an edge-banding service by the end of this year. T 07870 552261 • www.innov8ltd.com
Tradeco
Back to the future The roll racks are back! Tradeco are boldly going where noone has gone for the last two decades or so – and business is booming! “We’re going back to the nineties,” says Wolfgang Douglas, who runs the wholesaler from a large (and full!) 125,000 square feet distribution centre in Sheffield. “This used to be an important part of the business and it has all but disappeared – until now! Times are tight for many households so there’s a place for specials, B-grade and clearance stock.” And stock is something that Tradeco has in abundance – 7,000 rolls to be precise covering B-grade carpet, underlay, grass and even A-grade wool twist starting at just £1.50 metre squared.
“We have smashed it at the show,” said Wolfgang. “It has been absolutely ridiculously busy and I reckon we have probably sold about £1 million worth of carpet. But we still have plenty more of it to sell, so we are always worth a call.” Tradeco serves nearly 4,000 outlets across the UK with an impressive logistics network to deliver within 48-hours of many orders. T 07833 660451 • www.tradeco.uk 76
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
QUICK, EASY AND COST EFFECTIVE LVT INSTALLATION * OVER CHIPBOARD! With UZIN RR 620 Underlay and UZIN KE 66 High Temperature Adhesive, please visit www.uzin.co.uk for more information.
GRE ALTERNA AT TIV PLYWOODE TO !
* UZIN RR 620 is only suitable for P4-P7 flooring grade chipboard and must be free from contamination, sound, load bearing and free from any cracks or deformation. The chipboard may need to be primed with a neat coat of UZIN PE 260 before installing UZIN RR 620, please see the product data sheet for more information.
UZIN. THE FLOOR BELONGS TO YOU. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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Easylay
Fast not furious For fitters who would rather be fast than furious, Floorfixx from Easylay Systems smooths away all the woes of poor subfloors and gets the job done perfectly and professionally. A range of four floating board systems is designed to cover a multitude of sins without screeds, glues, nails or other fixings – no drying or setting time, no priming, no mixing, no rubbing down and it has no smell.
“This does the job so well and so much quicker and cleaner,” says Laura Roberts of Easylay. “Time saving can be up to 80% so that means same-day installation in many cases and then there are added benefits of acoustic and thermal insulation.” The systems combine two layers of engineered MDF with XPS foam and an interactive adhesive. The result is a highly stable surface that sits above (and protects) the subfloor, ready to take all forms of resilient flooring, carpets and carpet tiles. Floorfixx is part of a portfolio of floor preparation solutions which Easylay offers as a one-stop shop alongside its personal service and advice from a team that has in-depth expertise of every type of installation. T 0344 357 3535 • www.easylaysystems.co.uk
UZIN
LVT installation innovation UZIN and Wolff Tools, brands of UZIN UTZ UK, keep fitters up to date with the latest tools and are focusing this year on LVT in line with the growth of the sector in the UK market. A key innovation is UZIN RR 620 underlay for LVT. This self adhesive underlay can be applied over chipboard to provide a flexible, surface that is immediately ready for floor covering installation – increasing comfort and sound insulation, and avoiding the need for plywood. Paired up with UZIN KE 66 high temperature adhesive, it allows jobs to be completed quickly with minimal effort and save some money in the process. Wolff Tools were also demonstrating the latest range of battery powered tools for LVT installation including high performance floor strippers, mixers for smoothing compounds and the very latest door saw – a real problem solver on site (pictured right with Daniel Leeson). T 01788 530080 • www.uk.uzin.com
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Harrogate REVIEW Fit on top of existing floors Carbontex can be installed over existing ceramic, wood and laminate floors.
Carbontex is the new cushion vinyl collection from Avenue Featuring Luxatex for glue-free installation over a range of floors, Carbontex is the fast and easy way to make homes feel more welcoming. Contact us on info@avenuefloors.co.uk for the 2021 collection
@avenuefloors THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
avenuefloors.co.uk
Avenue is a brand of 79
Harrogate REVIEW
Lano Carpets
Delivering diversity Lano is looking strong with an impressive line-up at Harrogate across the full portfolio of quality man-made products – and a busy flow of visitors were appreciative!
“We had a great show and really enjoyed seeing everyone again so a big thank you to all those people who came by our stand,” said Gary Alp of Lano. “The diversity of our ranges means there is something of interest for everyone and we had plenty of new things to shout about.” Alongside the latest in Lano’s popular Touch Down collection of sophisticated super-soft polypropylene, new ranges for 2022 in Lano’s polyamide X Luxury concept were well received by retailers looking for absolutely on-trend, high end carpet. The remarkable SmartStrand Forever Clean collection – made from a bio-based fibre - is attracting attention for its innovation new point-of-sale which sells the benefits of “the world’s most forgiving carpet.”
SmartStrand Forever Clean - Freedom
Artificial grass is also a key offer from Lano with an increasingly environmental theme. The company launched its new ensō qualities of 100% easily recyclable landscaping grass as well as showing four additional ranges in its Green12345 program. There are now eight landscaping qualities, each one available in five different widths from stock. T 00800 5266 5266 www.lano.com
Carpet Recycling UK
Driving sustainability in textile flooring Carpet Recycling UK recognised a clear change in attitudes towards sustainable solutions for textile flooring waste from key decision-makers at the 2021 Flooring Show. Several key manufacturers, including members and potential members, approached the notfor-profit 107-strong membership association for advice on how they can ‘make a difference’ ahead of any forthcoming legislative/extended producer responsibility changes.
“We are impressed that the sector is concerned about the amount and types of waste being produced and want to reduce this for environmental reasons, and to help reduce costs of disposal,” said CRUK Manager Adnan Zeb-Khan. “Overall, we have 70+ leads to follow up on and a number of these are companies wanting to reassess where their textile flooring waste ends up. “Manufacturers were also talking to us about how they are focusing on including more recycled content within their product ranges and designing products with reuse and recycling in mind at the end of life. Raw material suppliers also enquired about how we can help promote their products to our network as they see us as being the right vehicle to do so. All in all, a very positive show for us!” Set up in 2008, Carpet Recycling UK helps the UK carpet and textile flooring sector to become more sustainable by expanding and promoting options for reuse, recycling and treatment of this waste, recognising it as a valuable resource, and diverting waste from landfill. According to the latest CRUK figures, the industry is diverting approximately 65% of textile flooring waste from landfill. Around 430,000 tonnes of carpet and textile flooring waste arises annually in the UK. T 0161 440 8325 • www.carpetrecyclinguk.com 80
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Harrogate REVIEW
Ball & Young
Setting the sustainability benchmark Ball and Young, as part of the Vita Group, have been pioneers in sustainability and setting the industry benchmark for decades. Ball and Young’s sustainability in the manufacturer of PU underlay for over 25 years, says Ann Shaw, “It’s in our DNA.”
“The wonderful world of the carpet trade was seen at its best at Harrogate as visitors came to support not only Ball and Young’s brand leader Cloud 9 but our whole trade,” said Ann. “This is quite remarkable in today’s very different market place. So a big thank you to the organisers who ensured the safe running of our stand and visitors. We look forward to a very busy lead up to Christmas.” T 01536 200502 • www.underlay.com
BerryAlloc
Planning for UK growth Showcasing its impressive roster of LVT, laminate, HPF and wood floors, BerryAlloc had a hugely successful three days at The Flooring Show. With the FIA (Flooring Innovation Award) winning Ocean+ water-resistant laminate, the super-wide and extra-long planks of Grand Majestic, DreamClick equipped Pure and Style LVT, and the Les Essentiels and Les Exclusifs parquet collections; BerryAlloc’s stand at this year’s show was one not to be missed. Showing innovations designed to make flooring easier to install, easier to maintain, longer lasting and more beautiful, along with clever displays and point-of-sale, BerryAlloc demonstrated to visiting retailers that it is a brand with big intentions in the UK market.
Scott Arundell, sales director UK, says; “After its extended break and with most of us spending a huge amount of time within the same few walls over the last 18 or so months, The Flooring Show was one of the first opportunities for us to demonstrate our impressive and innovative product portfolio to a large audience. It was great to welcome so many people onto our stand. “We’ve big plans for developing our presence in the UK and making BerryAlloc the ‘go to’ flooring brand for homeowners looking for quality products that are fairly priced - improving our retailer network is where this starts. “The Flooring Show provided a chance to talk people through collections and how our displays and merchandising are geared up to maximise return. It’s an exciting time for the brand and we’re looking forward to seeing BerryAlloc floors in more stores right across the country.” T +32 56 52 84 80 • www.berryalloc.com
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Computers for Flooring
Software solutions
Computers for Flooring showcased Carman, its award-winning flooring management software for carpet shops and flooring retailers at The Flooring Show. Carman lets you take control and manage your flooring business and comes in three core solutions: Carman, for companies holding minimal stock; Carman ERP, perfect for small to medium stockholders and multi-site operations; and, new for 2021, Carman Enterprise, for large scale, multi-site stockholders with multiple storage, dispatch networks and retail stores. Other new developments for 2021 include the Carman Companion App, the latest Android release of the Carman Companion app offers ERP and Enterprise users real-time stock visibility at every stage, ensuring total control of stock from goods in through to dispatch. The new Carman B2B Portal is an off-the-shelf framework, fully modified to your business giving an affordable hassle-free solution for B2B and trade sales online. And finally, Computers for Flooring announced an industry first, Carman Business Intelligence, a joint project with the University of South Wales and their data scientists. Its business intelligence translates complex data relating to the Carman user’s business into meaningful, understandable, and actionable information, which in turn can be used to support more effective strategic, tactical, and operational insights for decision-making. T 0845 869 8403 • www.computersforflooring.com
Unifloor
Stability ability If the sub-floor is the problem, Jumpax is probably the solution! To save the time and trouble that is the start of some installations, Unifloor developed its family of fast-track floor preparation systems each tailored to different challenges but all delivering the same outcome – a reliable, stable surface that ensures floors are fitted faster and last longer. Jumpax creates a floating subfloor which smooths over irregularities - eliminating the need for screeds, primers and plywood to allow the immediate glue-down of LVT, vinyl, linoleum and carpet. And the latest product developments shown at Harrogate enhance the stability to accommodate direct stick engineered wood. The Jumpax system is made of two self-adhesive components comprising high performance MDF with FSC certification and a polystyrene film which are available in different thicknesses. As a free floating surface, the subfloor can be preserved as required and the new surface is removable and replaceable. As well as the installation advantages, Jumpax offers excellent sound reduction of up to 22dB and is suitable for use over underfloor heating. T 0845 6030906 • www.unifloor-underlay.com
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Harrogate REVIEW
ACG
Independent advantage The timing of The Flooring Show could not have been better for Jon Richardson, who joined ACG just over a year ago and is responsible for group development. “After all the restrictions of the last several months this was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with members we haven’t seen for a while,” said Jon (pictured left). “There is a lot of positivity surrounding the group’s activities which has created a good vibe across our membership’.
“We focus on increasing profit for our members – working through a practical calculation with retailers considering joining the group to show them how their business can benefit without losing any of their independence,” said Jon. “But it was also clear from the feedback at the show that ACG’s brand is second to none, and our POS has been a great success in protecting our members and their margins,” he added. T 01942 825520 • www.smartercarpets.com
Pictured below (l to r) are Agnes Zsednai, Richard Sudall and Barbara Walker of the Woolsafe Organisation
WoolSafe
Effective environmentalism The focus for Woolsafe at this time is promoting the acceptance of EnviroSeal EGTS:1502, the new environmental accreditation in Europe which is a first for carpet and upholstery cleaning products. The organisation’s mission is to add accreditation to cleaning products through its WoolSafe Approved Mark so professionals can be assured of their efficacy and safety for wool. Now, with the rising eco agenda, the challenge has been to be able to recognise products that have strong environmental credentials but are still effective cleaners.
“There are a huge number of products in the market, making all sorts of claims, but our job is to narrow that down and to certify those that the industry can absolutely rely on,” says WoolSafe MD Agnes Zsednai. “This environmental issue is really gaining momentum and the EnviroSeal accreditation will continue to be a valuable tool to identify the best products with credible environmental claims”. WoolSafe works with manufacturers, suppliers and professional service providers to maintain these high standards and promotes the programme to consumers through internet resources at www.environseal.eu and its popular Carpet Stain Cleaning Guide app. T 01943 850 817 • www.woolsafe.org
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Metro Group
Platform for promotion All buying groups have a bundle of goodies to offer members – you pay your money and you take your choice – and then you make some more money than you would have done otherwise with preferential supplier rates! But if marketing is your thing, then Metro is going to be a top choice with its exceptional offer of a portfolio of merchandising and promotional support that can cover anything from the shopfront through point-of-sale down to your ticketing and business cards.
“We are all about encouraging our members to invest in the promotion of their stores,” says Steve Depport of Metro (pictured right, centre). “A well-presented retailer looks more confident and reassures consumers – and it gives a great platform for better quality business.” The marketing scheme has a very high take-up among members who get a £500 allowance each year to select from a catalogue of marketing options – they can then buy more services at a discounted rate. New members get an introductory £600 allowance. Members can use their own marketing identity, or take advantage of Metro’s popular Carpet 1st own-label brand. T 01204 393539 • www.carpet1st.co.uk
Floor Art Gallery
Artistry on show Creativity at its best was on show at Harrogate with the debut of a welcome new feature - the Floor Art Gallery. The curators of the gallery were Paddy McNicholas who looked after the LVT and Dan Jones showing the textiles. The gallery showed a series of intricate designs and craftmanship and was a popular attraction at the show for visitors. Paddy runs Floor Training Ltd and the LVT Training Centre in Wolverhampton, while Dan Jones is part of the family business Peter Jones Carpets in Telford, and was 2019 NICF Carpet Fitter of the year. Paddy McNicholas • T 07855 400013 • mcnicholasflooring@gmail.com Dan Jones • T 01952 242231 • info@peterjonescarpets.com
Pictured left is Paddy McNicholas and above is Dan Jones
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Harrogate REVIEW
Verona
Celebrating in style Verona is celebrating its 20th anniversary in style this year with a range of new flooring options which are now available to retailers. Made up of various materials, the collection will include a range of luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), stone polymer composites (SPC) and a number of stylish laminate designs. The new SPC range, ClickLux, offers rigid, waterproof, click-fit vinyl in a whole host of options, including 10 plank and eight tile designs for ultimate creative freedom. A 1mm foam underlay is built into each piece The Verona team of: Chris Lamb, Dean Smith, Adam Curran and Brad Saunders. to provide added comfort underfoot, and make the installation process easier. ClickLux comes with a 20-year warranty for domestic use. Visitors to Harrogate were introduced to the Simplicity Natura collection, a capsule collection of trend-led laminates, offering six of the most popular decors, making an excellent starting point for retailers to introduce their customers to a simple but sophisticated flooring solution. Verona has also welcomed a water resistant laminate range with the launch of their innovative HydroClick collection, offering all the benefits of laminate for water-prone areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. The plank designs includes the latest herringbone and chevron options as well as two attractive patterned tile designs for a more decorative finish. “We think we will be able to build our share of the market as I don’t think I have seen a more competitively priced offer of this quality in our sector,” said Dean Smith of Verona. T 0113 244 4984 • www.veronagroup.co.uk
Condor
Competitive quality Condor are coming to the market with a strong story of competitive quality this autumn with new products aimed at increasing profitability for UK retailers.
“The market is looking very positive now and there are a lot of consumers with money to spend on the right quality of carpet,” says Paul Harris of Condor (left) “We have responded with a new portfolio of products that offer enhanced appeal at competitive prices.” The company is also responding to a greater interest in colour. Examples of what’s coming from Condor include an impressive 10 gauge twist with the latest denim blues and on-trend greys and earth colours. And watch out in the New Year for 100% wool loop from Condor with more rustic appeal and more texture in three styles – a cable and two designer loops – across six colours – the kind of carpet in high demand right now. T +31(0)38 477 89 11 • www.condor-group.eu
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Flooring
Factsheet Adhesive Types Acrylic/Resin: Ideal for plasticized PVC and most modern flooring. Bitumen: A tar-like material, bitumen has a high degree of moisture resistance and is used for damp-proof membranes and installing tiles, wood blocks and mosaics. Epoxy Resin: A two-part chemical curing system that is used in aggressive environments such as conservatories, wet rooms, commercial kitchens and exterior installations.
ADHESIVES
SELECTION CHECKLIST
The criteria to select an adhesive will cover the following points. Larger manufacturers offer detailed guides to select the correct adhesive – even indexing floor manufacturer’s products by name to ensure an accurate match. For accurate and up-to-date information consult the F. Ball Recommended Adhesives Guide. Open Time: The time you have to fit the flooring into the adhesive after which the bond will no longer be ideal. The time until the floor may be walked on should be checked.
Polyurethane: An adhesive with rapid bonding characteristics, typically used for wood floors.
Odour: Low odour, solvent-free and low VOC products are increasingly favoured and now have the same performance characteristics of older products.
Polyvinyl Acetate: Typically used for close fitting joints in timber, laminate floors and panels.
Coverage: How thick and how far can the adhesive be spread.
Tackifier: An adhesive for carpet designed to increase the tackiness – or the tack range – of an adhesive.
Application Method: Different adhesives may be applied by roller, trowel or spray.
Water-based Adhesive: Many different types of adhesives now use water as their carrier to avoid odours and flammability issues which are common with chemical solvents.
Strength: Including how quickly the adhesive will “grab” the floor covering and its strength when fully cured. Underfloor Heating: A lot of modern adhesives are suitable for use with underfloor heating but this criteria must be checked where appropriate.
Subfloor: What surface will the adhesive stick to most effectively including concrete, sand cement screeds, levelling compounds, plywood and chipboard. While there are multi-purpose adhesives, specialist products will be better suited to certain surfaces. The porosity of the floor is a key determinant of the type of adhesive to be used and its performance during installation. Special Performance: Certain adhesives are more suitable for damp, humid or high temperature environments. Air Quality and the Environment: The old wisdom that the more it smells, the better it sticks is no longer acceptable to modern consumers and solvent-based products are increasingly replaced by water-based adhesives.
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MADE IN THE STOCKLISTS GREAT BRITAIN November 2021
Flooring factsheet Buying Groups Pick the right one How to decide whether to join a buying group – and which one…
• Evaluate all buying groups as they all work differently • Talk to the main marketing contact and/or a member
www.smg-group.co.uk Contact: Mike Reed Tel: 0118 932 3832 info@smg-group.co.uk
of the committee
Why join? Buying groups have been a highly successful feature of the floor retailing scene in the last decade or so, giving independents the extra edge they need to compete effectively with the retail park chains. More than 1000 retailers are now members of one of the several buying groups which operate in our sector and the numbers are slowly, but steadily growing. While the benefits of bulk buying power are self-evident, the resistance to the buying group concept among nonmembers appears to be centred on fears of surrendering some control to a committee – and most particularly compromising long-established relationships and negotiated terms with current suppliers. The bottom line is the bottom line. A retailer selling across a broad range of products is likely to improve margins within a buying group – but you don’t need a leap of faith to join up. Ask the buying groups for answers...
• Get a list of members and call up two or three for a ‘real-world’ view
• Establish your territorial exclusivity – where’s the next nearest member of each buying group
• Ensure you understand the financial arrangements, any fees that would relate to your membership, how the bills are paid and whether your fees are refundable if it doesn’t work out. Ask the buying group for a consultation to estimate your potential savings
Associated Carpet Group www.acgcarpets.com Contact: Jon Richardson Tel: 01942 825520 jon@acgcarpets.com
• Review all the extra benefits and services to see what you would actually use
• Check out the product ranges offered including the own-label options and the UK/European mix
• Ensure you understand any rules that may limit your
www.beautifulflooring.co.uk Contact: Carl Harris Tel: 01892 549050 charris31@sky.com
flexibility to run your business the way you want
Key benefits Increase margins • Group purchases to get beneficial rates • Rebates • Exclusive higher-margin products • Special promotions ne of the key reasons to join a buying group is to O benefit from the discounts they negotiate as a bulk buyer from manufacturers. The way discounts and rebates are passed on to members varies between groups so make sure it’s absolutely clear how this will be done. You’ll need to work out how this compares with discounts you have already negotiated locally with preferred suppliers. Access professional services • Business and financial services • IT and internet support • Training and workshops • Professional bodies Some buying groups offer an excellent range of other services which may be valuable to your business. Financial services include invoice factoring, credit, loans and insurance. Some of the more sophisticated groups offering marketing packages, software systems to help you run your business operations and customised websites ready to use. Relationships with professional and training organisations can also offer discounts. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Increase sales
• Best of both worlds’ proposition • Wider ranges and exclusive products • POS, displays and merchandising support
www.flooringone.co.uk Peter Karra Tel: 0121 683 1426 peter.karra@flooringone.co.uk
Your customers will like the proposition that you are independent but with the buying power of a group – this gives them (and you) the ‘best of both worlds’ with personal service and competitive pricing. Most groups will also offer you ‘own label’ ranges and support with pointof-sale, merchandising and displays. Central stockholding may also be on offer. Network with other independents • Members-only exhibitions with preferred manufacturers • Regular meetings and supplier presentations • Regional workshops • Helpline A lot of retailers enjoy the buying group environment of being independent but not alone out there on the High Street. Groups hold regular meetings and some have their own trade shows, regional meetings and workshops to help you develop your business. The network gives you someone to call when you need advice on, for example, an unusual installation, a technical consumer complaint, legal issue or business dilemma.
www.greendalecarpets.co.uk Contact: Rob Harding Tel: 01432 852000 Fax: 01432 852005 rharding@greendalecarpets.co.uk
Metro Group www.carpet1st.co.uk Contact: Jill Coward Tel: 01204 393539 jillcoward@carpet1st.co.uk
87
Flooring factsheet LVT Supplier Directory
If you would like to be included in this section or upgrade your listing, please contact Diane Martin on +44 (0)1482 659396 or email diane@mayvillepublishing.co.uk
Victorian Treasure by Invictus
Van Gogh Classic Oak by Karndean Designflooring
Studio Designs by Brampton Chase
Abingdon SoftStep info@abingdonflooring.co.uk 01274 655 694 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk
Earthwerks saleseurope@earthwerks.com 0800 689 1657 www.earthwerks.eu.com
Kellars sales@kellars.co.uk 0161 443 0970
Adoretouch +1.631.843.0900
www.adorefloors.com
Alsapan g.folkes@alsapan.com 03 88 59 29 89
www.alsapan.com
Altro enquiries@altro.com 01462 489 516
www.altro.co.uk
Amtico info@amtico.com 0121 745 0800 Aspecta +31 (0) 88 1662500
www.amtico.com www.aspectaflooring.com
Avenue Floors info@avenuefloors.co.uk www.avenuefloors.co.uk Beauflor sales@beauflor.com +32 56 67 66 11
www.beauflor.com
Brampton Chase support@bramptonchase.co.uk 01604 664855 www.bramptonchase.co.uk
Forbo Flooring info.flooring.uk@forbo.com 01773 744 121
www.forbo.com
Furlong enquiries@furlongflooring.com 01772 316155 www.furlongflooring.co.uk Harvey Maria info@harveymaria.com 0330 330 1231
www.harveymaria.com
Lifestyle Floors info@lifestyle-floors.co.uk 01827 831448 www.lifestyle-floors.co.uk Interface interface.uk@interface.com 0800 313 4465 Invictus Info@invictus.co.uk 01422 431100
www.interface.com
www.invictus.co.uk/lvt
IVC – Moduleo + Leoline www.ivcgroup.com Karndean Designflooring 01386 820100
www.karndean.com
www.kellars.co.uk
Kraus sales@qep.com 01283 245430
www.krausflooring.co.uk
Leoline info@leoline.co.uk 0800 032 3970
www.leoline.co.uk
Moduleo salesuk@moduleo.com 01332 851500 Polyflor 0161 767 1111 info@polyflor.com
www.moduleo.co.uk
www.polyflor.com
Quick-Step 08448 118 288
www.quick-step.co.uk
Tarkett 01622 854040 communication@tarkett.com
www.tarkett.com
Victoria Design Floors (Distinctive Flooring/Universal Flooring) info@myvictoria.co.uk 01562 749300 www.myvictoria.co.uk Wineo +49 (0) 5237 6090 info@wineo.de
www.en.wineo.de
Westex 01274 861334 www.westexflooring.com info@westexflooring.co.uk
Landscape Parquet by Victoria Design Floors 88
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Flooring factsheet Vinyl Flooring Vinyl is a fast growing sector of the flooring market due to its durability at relatively low cost and huge range of designs available. Sheet vinyl and cushion floor by the roll are popular but the sector is dominated by LVT. In reality, most of the products sold today are “LVP”, Luxury Vinyl Planks, as wood decors are more popular than ceramics and stone but the term LVT is still used to cover the whole non-sheet market.
Benefits
• Huge choice in terms of decors across wood, ceramic, stone and geometric designs
• I mpressive realism – not just in the design but infinishing
techniques that allow for wood knots you can feel, tiles you can grout, etc. See appearance options.
• Excellent performance in durability for high traffic areas, scratch resistance and cleanability. Vinyl also tends to be much more nonslip than natural materials. Some products are water resistant for bathrooms and kitchens.
www.bramptonchase.co.uk
Product options
• Dry back – a sheet or tile that needs to be fixed to the sub-floor using an adhesive.
• Self-adhesive – tiles with a peel-off backing paper to stick to the
sub-floor. Some tiles have adhesive overlaps to stick to each other rather than the sub-floor.
• Loose lay vinyl – tiles that simply drop onto the floor and rely on
www.invictus.co.uk
a high friction backing to keep them in place – they demand a very sound, level sub-floor but are the easiset type of tile to lay or replace.
Click – tiles that have a mechanical jointing system to attach to • Warm and soft to touch compared to ceramic and stone floors - and • one another (like a locked tongue and groove system) and ‘float’ on a good heat insulator anyhow, and suitable for use with underfloor heating systems.
• Sound reduction – vinyl has neglible impact sound compared
to the tap/click of laminate and transmits less sound and vibration compared to solid floor.
• Considerably cheaper than the ‘real’ thing – both to buy and to fit – and tile/plank approach minimises wastage.
Installation
Installation preparation Vinyl requires a dry, sound, level subfloor as the relative thinness of vinyl and its light reflection performance will quickly reveal imperfections after installation as well as cause potential wear issues. Exisitng wooden/MDF floors may need a plywood underlay up to 6mm thick and then the joints will need to be skimmed or taped. Non-wood sub-floors will need a self-levelling screed to be laid to ensure a suitable base for the floor. A damp-proof membrane may be required depending on sub-floor moisture levels. However, new rigid core products are less flexible and can be laid more easily over existing floors – see Construction.
Top Coating Wear Layer Decor Layer
the sub-floor without being glued down. There are many proprietary versions of the click system which offer fast, clean installation and stability.
www.karndean.com
Appearance options Vinyl tiles and planks cover a hugh variety of sizes and shapes and can be mix-and-matched to achieve an infinite number of designs. Current fashions include extra wide and long planks for wood through to very small planks for wood. Border effects can be easy to achieve in LVT. Other notable options include:
• Embossed – this is where the top clear layer of the tile has been
www.krausflooring.co.uk
embossed to create a realistic texture that matches the style of the stone of wood decor. Registered embossed is the most authentic – the texture matches the design so that, for example, a wood knot or hand-scraped element in the wood design can be felt on the surface of the flooring.
• Grouting and grooving – vinyl tiles can be laid with grouting inlay strips or beads of vinyl for addewd realism – and there are acrylic grouts that can be applied. In wood decors, planks are available with v-grooves or bevelled edges between planks for added realism.
www.myvictoria.co.uk
LVT construction
Top coating – A polyurethane or aluminium oxide coating provides protection against scratches and stains and gives enhances anti-slip. Wear layer – This is a key layer - determining the performance and resilience of the product. A 0.3mm (12 mil) wear layer is a good for heavy wear areas. Commercial installations need 0.5mm wear layers or above with 0.7mm at the top end. The wear warranties and guarantees carried by products will be based on this thickness. Decor layer – This is the decor itself - in essence it is a paper- or filmbased photographic inkjet print. (A few LVT floors have the image printed directly to the surface of the floor but this implies less image definition and different wear characteristics.)
PVC Middle Layer(s) Fibre Glass Layer(s) PVC Base Layer
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
PVC and fibre glass layers – The construction ‘sandwich’ can vary between products but a combination of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) layers for strength and flexibility and fibre glass layers for structural stability may be used. Any click-system profile will be incorporated into these layers. Products often use a combination of recycled vinyl which is cheaper and virgin PVC which lasts longer and is more stable. Rigid core LVT has a solid, less flexible PVC layer with maximum stability which means it can be laid over exisiting, less even flooring without showing imperfections and therefore avoiding wear problems. Base (or backing) layer – The final high density PVC layer varies according to the installation requirement and is designed for taking adhesive or as an ‘underlay’ for loose-lay and click installations. 89
Flooring factsheet Carpet trouble-shooter
• shedding • pulled loops
Fading on Wool
Carpets made from wool can and do fade in use. The degree of fade can vary depending on the colour chosen and the local conditions to which the carpet is subjected. Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violet light which is found in daylight, but is accelerated when sunlight shines directly onto the carpet. This has the effect of lightening or “Bleaching” the colour just as exposure to sunlight will lighten human hair. Wool is after all animal hair. Protection should be given to carpets exposed to such conditions just as you would protect other furniture or fabrics. A complaint on fading would be considered justified if it failed to meet the required shade standard when tested to the British Standard BS1006 (1990).
Soiling
Soiling is usually the result of some local condition to which the carpet has been subjected to, or maintenance, or lack of maintenance programme. There is nothing we as manufacturers can do to prevent soiling in use. There are several types of soiling which are quite common: Spillages - Liquids such as soft drinks, cordials or any drink which contains sugar, particularly hot drinks, is likely to leave a stain. In such instances, professional help should be sought.
Colour matching
Carpets are produced in batches - known as creels - and usually each batch produces between 500m2 - 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creel size. Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remains constant, and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colour reproduction will vary from batch to batch. However production is matched back to the original or master sample to ensure that the colour remains ‘within a commercial tolerance’. This process if not an exact science and a commercial tolerance is subjective but nevertheless is usually the professional judgement of the head dyer based on his/her experience.
Shampoo - if incorrectly applied, can leave sticky soap residues in the fibres which can result in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly. Dust - which is carried on draughts can soil carpets in various ways, apart from the obvious soiled edges, at gaping skirting boards for instance, dark lines appearing on surface might suggest airborne dust vacuum-drawn through poorly fitted floorboards. Sometimes the shape of floorboards can be seen quite clearly. Air borne dust sometimes shows itself as spots on the carpet, this is due to the air carried on a draught under the carpet escaping through minute holes both in the underlay and the carpet, leaving dust deposited on the pile much like a filter action. In such installations, the use of a lining paper is essential as a preventative measure.
A greater level of tolerance is required on blended colours (Heathers etc). To ensure perfect colour matching it is advisable that a single width be used in any installation requiring exact colour matching.
It is the responsibility of the retailer to advise the consumer when the carpet is measured of any poorly fitting doors, skirtings, or floorboards and the consumers responsibility to ensure any remedial work to seal draughts, is carried out before the carpet is fitted, if a resulting complaint is to be avoided.
N.B. Carpets which are laid with the pile travelling in different directions, even though they be from the same batch will appear not to match. For further information please check with the manufacturers recommendations.
Static
Sprouting
Occasionally an odd tuft or two can work its way to the surface and stand proud of the rest of the pile. This is probably due to one end of the tuft being longer than the other i.e. J shaped tuft instead of V shaped. Remedial action merely requires that the offending tufts be scissor trimmed level with the rest of the pile. They should never be pulled out.
90
Carpets do not produce static but like other household fabrics and objects have the capacity to store it. Static is caused by the build up of static electricity upon personnel in a dry environment and is discharged when a person makes contact with an object which can conduct electricity (i.e. door handle or filing cabinets, etc). The static charges will vary in intensity depending upon the individual, air humidity and the contact materials. Static is more usually associated with synthetic materials as they do not retain moisture very well but it can and does occur with wool in very dry room conditions. Preventative measures include the introduction of moisture into the room or in situ carpet treatment. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
• sprouting • shading • static • fading • pile reversal • shedding • flattening • soiling
Flattening
Flattening will occur as a result of traffic which eventually flattens the pile particularly in the main areas of use. All pile fabrics will flatten to greater or lesser degree dependant on the amount of traffic to which it is subjected and the construction (tuft density/pile fibre/height/weight) of the product concerned.
Shading
Shading occurs because the pile of the carpet has become crushed, flattened or brushed in a different direction to the natural lie of the pile whilst in situ. This causes light reflection at differing angles resulting in the creation of light and dark patches on the carpet. This will occur on all pile fabrics but can be more noticeable on plainer carpets because the shadows created by pile pressure will not be disguised by a heavy pattern or design.
Pile Reversal
Like shading, this occurs when the pile or nap of the carpet changes direction and thus reflects light at different angles showing the effects of shading which can become permanent. It is also described as ‘watermarking’. This can happen to every carpet construction be it Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, Hand Woven, Persian, Chinese, Indian or even Coir Matting. Like shading it can be more apparent on plain carpet because heavy patterns can disguise the effects. It can occur quite quickly after installation. A tremendous amount of research has been carried out over many years by many institutes to determine the cause of this phenomenon but none of it has proved conclusive.
Shedding
All cut pile carpets will lose short fibre, which is created during production when spun yarn is cut for tuft formation. These fibres fall onto the surface of the pile and appear as ‘fluff’. The effect varies with yarn type and may be removed without detrimental effect upon the carpet by vacuum cleaning. This excess fibre is only a small fraction of the total fibre contained in the carpet.
Indentations
When a carpet is subjected to a heavy point load, such as under the legs of furniture, it is unreasonable to expect the carpet not to indent. Usually, the longer the load is in place, the longer will be the time for the pile to recover. In the case of very heavy loads in place for a considerable time, the recovery time can be very considerable. It must be remembered that it is not only the pile of the carpet that becomes indented. The underlay will also indent and the backing of the carpet may also distort into the indentation in the underlay. Some underlay’s will recover well and some less well depending upon their composition, thickness, density etc. The use of cups below furniture legs can spread the load and the net result is a larger area of less deeply indented carpet. The ability of a carpet to recover from a heavy static load can be measured in the laboratory, using the test method described in BS 4939 and many manufacturers will have data on this aspect of carpet performance. In this test the carpet is loaded for 24 hours and the degree of recovery is measured after 1 hour and 24 hours. Since there are so many different underlay’s however, it is very rare for the recovery from a heavy static load to be evaluated on carpet and underlay.
There is no commonly known manufacturing process which can cause or cure this phenomenon and therefore it is not a manufacturing fault. For further information please check with individual manufacturers recommendations.
Often normal maintenance (vacuum cleaning with a rotating brush machine) will speed up recovery but in the case of serious indentations the use of an iron and damp cloth or a steam iron together with a blunt darning needle to carefully tease up the pile can be beneficial. Care must be take not to over wet the carpet, of course.
Pulling Loops
Samples
Pulled loops occur only in looped pile carpet where one or more loops in the continuous pile is pulled through the primary backing of the carpet. This is usually due to some local condition, possibly some sharp object which has caught in a loop in situ and has resulted in a pull. Pulled loops are easily dealt with by trimming the offending end level with the rest of the pile. They should not be left as this could result in further loops being pulled and developing into a ladder. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
The original carpet tile
The samples held by individual retailers may not be from the same batch as current production and therefore should be used as a guide and not an exact colour match.
Installation
Telephone National Institute of Carpet Fitters (NICF) for further information – 0115 958 3077.
This information is given by responsible manufacturers to help you help your customer to make an informed choice. 91
WoolSafe factsheet Caring for carpet the right way The WoolSafe Organisation is the UK’s leading authority for the correct care and maintenance of carpet and offers a range of services empowering retailers to build a reputation for great service and consumers to get the most out of their investment.
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The clean carpet you expect... the service you deserve www.servicemasterclean.co.uk 92
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01943 850817 British Wool makes a better carpet... naturally www.britishwool.org.uk THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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Environmentally aware for superior carpet care www.cleantecinnovation.com THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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Vacuum cleaners - the choice of cleaning professionals www.sebo.co.uk 93
Stocklists: Flooring Fact Sheet from Interfloor
Flooring factsheet Eco-friendly underlay Sustainable underlay
Interfloor ‘Says NO to Waste’
renu® is a game changer. Interfloor’s new underlay meets the concerns of our modern world in reducing waste and being environmentally sustainable.
renu® is a sustainable, recycled carpet underlay and is without question the most sustainable underlay in Interfloor’s long history.
It’s made by bringing together raw materials that we save from going to landfill with some that have a positive effect on the environment.
We have used post-consumer waste, car tyres and plastic bottles in the manufacture of our underlay for many years. But with renu® we have gone even further responding to the aspiration for a fully sustainable product. It’s made from 98% recycled materials, using ethically sourced and genuinely recycled materials, which means keeping waste from going to landfill and is 100% recyclable itself! The main body of the underlay is made of foam reclaimed from recycled soft furnishings, this foam is them mixed with a binding agent and subjected to high temperature steam under high pressure. The backing is made from 100% recycled and unbleached paper and we use vegetable-based inks for printing. The facing film is made from an ethically produced, carbonnegative bio-based film made from sugar cane. The sugar cane actively captures CO2 from the atmosphere whilst at the same time releasing oxygen – making this material not just green, but proactively green. Let’s not forget, the point of underlay is that it feels great and prolongs the life of a new carpet and renu®, being made from highdensity foam and with a thickness of 9mm, is suitable for all areas of the home.
The in-store sales support available to renu® stockists
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renu® stockists will be included in the online stockist locator on the Interfloor website.
For more information visit www.interfloor.com/renu
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Flooring factsheet Underlay In a tight market for margins, underlay for carpet and hard flooring offers retailers one of the best opportunities to add value to every sale – with good profitability, trade-up potential once benefits are understood and high customer satisfaction levels. The Carpet Foundation and its Consumer Code of Practice approved by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) recommend that new carpet underlay is bought with every new carpet.
www.interfloor.com
Many consumers are now aware of the benefits of underlay but more needs to be done to provide information about the different types available and their suitability for different areas of the home. Setting up in-store demonstrations so customers can walk on samples with different grades of underlay and feel the difference has shown excellent results. Some manufacturers offer point-of-sale units and foot testers.
www.floorwise.co.uk
Benefits
Types
Good underlay will... • Improve underfoot comfort • Increase appearance retention, reducing flattening • Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear • Improve thermal insulation and warmth • Increase sound insulation • Smooth out sub-floor imperfections • Last the lifetime of the carpet
PU (polyurethane) foam This is now the market’s most popular underlay and is typically made from recycled foam offcuts. The foam provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options and densities and provides great insulation – and its light weight helps handling.
Poor or old underlay will...
• Feel hard and unwelcoming • Reduce carpet life • Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots • Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly • Not meet British Standards How thick? A maximum of 12mm is recommended (working with gripper will be difficult thereafter) but rooms with heavy traffic will need a thinner, denser pad. The combination of thickness and density is all important as a thick underlay with low density may not perform well. Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it will need to be – 11mm is often used for luxury installations with 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.
Sponge rubber
Combination
Crumb
PU foam
www.carpenterunderlay.co.uk
Sponge rubber Introduced in the 1950s, this is a more traditionally manufactured underlay available in flat or waffle patterns in a wide range of weights for different applications. It performs well for comfort and has a durable spring retention. Crumb rubber Flat and dense, crumb rubber is good for heavy footfall – offering maximum protection but a little less comfort (and very good over stair nosings). Laminate underlay There’s still an opportunity to sell underlay with laminate flooring, improving the acoustic performance of the floor and helping the boards float above any imperfections in the sub-floor. Combination A rubber crumb base with a felt top layer offers a good combination of protection, durability and comfort. It also allows carpet with seaming to bed into the top felt.
www.underlay.com
www.wilsons-carpet-underlays.co.uk
Underfloor heating underlay Always ask if there is underfloor heating. Most manufacturers offer specialised products. Underlay and carpet with a combined tog rating of 2.5 can be used – which means the underlay would normally have a tog rating of 1.0. Felt This traditional (but environmentally friendly) undelay is made from recycled fibres – wool, jute and synthetic – to create a firm, dense pad with excellent thermal insulation. Still a very popular choice among contractors when stretch fitting woven carpets.
www.interfloor.com
Pre-tackified underlay A self-adhesive single stick underlay in both needlefelt and PU. A removable system for heavy use when comfort is desired. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
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Are you a Wholesaler? If you’re not listed here, please call Diane Martin on 01482 659396
The Stocklists Wholesale Distribution Directory NATIONAL Fells Carpets Leeds 0113 3071900 carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk
Kellars Limited Darlington - see page 2 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk
TCS “The Carpet Specialists” Morecambe 01524 840177 info@tcsthecarpetspecialists.com www.tcsthecarpetspecialists.com
Tradeco Ltd Sheffield - see page 22 0114 4000120 sales@tradeco.uk www.tradeco.uk
Tradeco Ltd Sheffield - see page 22 0114 4000120 sales@tradeco.uk www.tradeco.uk
MIDLANDS
Xylo Wood Flooring London 020 8368 8122 infouk@xyloflooring.com www.xyloflooring.com NORTH WEST A&A Carpets Manchester 01204 701188 sales@aandacarpets.co.uk www.aandacarpets.co.uk Choice Flooring Manchester - see Floorwise page 97 Fells Carpets Goole 0113 3071900 carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk Kellars Limited Manchester - see page 2 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk Lakes Flooring Supplies Kendal - see Floorwise page 97 Millbrook Carpets Darwen 01254 703999 millbrookcarpets@live.co.uk Preston Underlay Centre Ltd Preston/Lancashire - see Floorwise page 97 EAST Beds Flooring Bedford 01234 341234 sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk Salesmark Ltd St Neots Tel: 01480 212888 sales@salesmark.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk STS Flooring Distributors Cambridge Tel: 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.co.uk NORTH EAST Fells Carpets Leeds 0113 3071900 carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk 96
Floorwise (North East)Ltd Birtley - see Floorwise page 97
Birch Distribution Sheffield - see Floorwise page 97 Birch Distribution Leeds - see Floorwise page 97 Birch Distribution Hull - see Floorwise page 97 Cornerstone Flooring Doncaster - see Floorwise page 97 Cornerstone Flooring East Midlands and Warwickshire 01159 444711 sales@cornerstoneflooring.co.uk www.cornerstoneflooring.co.uk DMS Flooring Supplies Northampton 0845 643 5601 dmsnorthampton@ dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk
Salesmark West Ltd Amesbury Tel: 01980 880933 sales@salesmark-west.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk
Potts & Ward, Woodcocks Ltd Brighton 01273 557211 sales@pwwflooring.com www.pwwflooring.com
Solent Wholesale Carpet West Sussex 01243 774623 sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk
Salesmark Lancing Tel: 01903 750522 sales@salesmark.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk
SOUTH EAST
Solent Wholesale Carpet West Sussex 01243 774623 sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk
Acorn Carpet Accessories Bromley, Kent - see Floorwise page 97 Ashmount Flooring Supplies Tottenham 0208 808 2158 sales@ashmountflooring.co.uk www.ashmountflooringsupplies.co.uk Ballister London 020 8570 1668 london@ballister.co.uk www.ballister.co.uk Ballister Reading 0118 931 3535 reading@ballister.co.uk www.ballister.co.uk
STS Flooring Distributors Basildon 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.co.uk STS Flooring Distributors Orpington/Croydon 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.co.uk Trade Carpet London Wimbledon 0208 247 3891 sales@tradecarpet.com www.tradecarpet.com
Floorwise D & J Ltd Southam - see Floorwise page 97
Beds Flooring Bedford 01234 341234 sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk
Matty’s Wholesale Carpets Birmingham 01675 433072 sales@mattys.co.uk
Clifford Floors Strood 01634 285900 sales@clifford.uk.com
Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Belfast - see Floorwise page 97
STS Flooring Distributors Watford 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.co.uk
Culpeck Strood 01634 299000 sales@culpeck.uk.com
TCS “The Carpet Specialists” Co. Louth 00353 429 351 351 info@tcsthecarpetspecialists.com www.tcsthecarpetspecialists.com
Trade Counter Carpets Leicester 0845 604 3055 tradecountercarpets@gmail.com Woodall Brothers Ltd Shrewsbury - see Floorwise page 97 South West BL Flooring Supplies Bristol - see Floorwise page 97 BL Flooring Supplies Gloucester - see Floorwise page 97 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth - see Floorwise page 97 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Newton Abott - see Floorwise page 97 Flooring Supplies (Wessex) Amesbury 01980 625888 orders@flooringsupplieswessex.co.uk R & M Wholesale Bristol 01179 531222 Tiverton 01884 258266 sales@rmwholesale.co.uk
Columbia Flooring Middlesex 020 8443 3322 sales@columbiaflooring.co.uk www.columbiaflooring.co.uk see page 10 for details DMS Flooring Supplies Hemel Hempstead 0845 643 5344 dmshemel@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk DMS Flooring Supplies Milton Keynes 0845 643 5320 dmslaser@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk Flooring Storage UK Potters Bar 01707 245999 sales@flooringstorage.com www.flooringstorage.com Littner Hampton London 020 8520 8474 littnerhampton@aol.com www.littnerhamptoncarpets.co.uk
IRELAND Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Dublin - see Floorwise page 97
Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Limerick - see Floorwise page 97
SCOTLAND Kellars Limited Glasgow- see page 2 0141 647 7685 sales@kellars.co.uk MCD Scotland Uddingston Glasgow 01698 808000 mcdscotland@mcd.co.uk www.mcdscotland.co.uk Neil Smith Ltd Glasgow - see Floorwise page 97 WALES Matty’s Wholesale Carpets Birmingham 01675 433072 sales@mattys.co.uk Floorwise Wales Merthyr Tydfil - see Floorwise page 97
John Palmer Carpets Fareham 01329 221933 sales@johnpalmercarpets.uk.net THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
wiseup to floorwise quality&value guaranteed
gripper
underlay
stair nosings
profiles
tools
adhesives + screeds
national distributor network 1 Neil Smith Ltd Glasgow, G4 0TX Tel: 0141 552 1141 sales@neilsmithltd.co.uk 2 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Belfast, BT15 3GU Tel: 028 9075 3202 Fax: 028 9075 3901 salesbelfast@pfl.ie 3 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Dublin, D12 E540 Tel: 00353 (0)1 626 3913 Fax: 00353 (0)1 460 4669 salesdublin@pfl.ie 4 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Limerick, V94 W863 Tel: 00353 (0)61 227 100 Fax: 00353 (0)61 227 000 sales@pfl.ie
20 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Newton Abbot, TQ12 6TR Tel: 01626 835935 sales@fitwell.co.uk 21 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth, TR15 1SS Tel: 01209 214344 sales@fitwell.co.uk
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17 Salesmark West Ltd Amesbury, SP4 7LN Tel: 01980 880933 mail@salesmark-west.co.uk
9 Hathaway Flooring Manchester, M17 1EB Tel: 0161 872 8003 sales@hathawayflooring.com
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12 Woodall Brothers Ltd Shrewsbury, SY1 3JE Tel: 01743 441584 Fax: 01743 441629 sales@woodallbrothers.co.uk
16 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd Bristol, BS2 9SH Tel: 0117 955 5454 Fax: 0117 955 2626 info@blflooring.co.uk
8 Birch Distribution Hull, HU7 0XD Tel: 01482 826654 Fax: 01482 878693 h.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk
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19 Salesmark Lancing, BN15 8UN Tel: 01903 750522 Fax: 01903 851111 sales@salesmark-floorwise.co.uk
15 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd Gloucester, GL2 5HY Tel: 01452 223355 Fax: 01452 371284 info@blflooring.co.uk
7 Birch Distribution Leeds, LS10 1AG Tel: 0113 244 4363 Fax: 0113 244 8665 l.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk
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11 Birch Distribution Sheffield, S9 5PH Tel: 0114 243 1230 Fax: 0114 243 5118 s.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk
14 Floorwise Wales Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 4TQ Tel: 01685 374243 sales@floorwise-wales.com
6 Preston Underlay Centre Ltd Preston, PR1 1PN Tel: 01772 556345 sales@pucflooring.co.uk
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18 Acorn Carpet Accessories Bromley, BR2 8NA Tel: 020 8462 0422 Fax: 020 8462 0927 sales@acorncarpetsacc.co.uk
13 Floorwise D & J Ltd Southam, CV47 0DR Tel: 01926 814922 Fax: 01926 817899 sales@fwdj.co.uk
5 Lakes Flooring Supplies Kendal. LA9 5RR Tel: 01539 726500 sales@pucflooring.co.uk
THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
10 Cornerstone Flooring Doncaster, DN3 3FE Tel: 01302 835117 Fax: 01302 302542 cornerstonefloor@btconnect.com
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Flooring factsheet Carpet types
Tufted With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpet produced today is tufted. It takes about an hour to make a roll of carpet that might take eight hours to weave. To make tufted carpet, hundreds of yarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primary backing fabric to form loops or tufts, which may be left as is or cut. A heavy adhesive coating is applied to hold the tufts in place and a secondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability. A wide variety of styles and textures can then be created using various techniques.
LOOP PILE
Berber – Berber carpets look like and are named after a handmade, bulky wool carpet made by the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia. The loops are made from thick or bulky yarns of wool, nylon, polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effect underfoot. These carpets are available in an assortment of colours and may be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop. Level loop – When all the loops are of the same height, a highly flexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casual appearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres. The tight loop texture tends to hide marks so it’s a good blend between luxury and practicality. Multi-level loop – The loops vary to two or sometimes three loop heights to create informal, random textures which are very forgiving for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas and busy family rooms.
BONDED
Bonded carpets (sometimes called ‘fibre-bonded’ or ‘fusion bonded’) are created by firing fibres into an adhesive material – the fibres are not stitched into the backing in any way. The technique is principally used for commercial carpet tiles. 98
CUT PILE
Freize – Frieze or frisée (pronounced freesay) carpets are similar to saxony, but the yarns are more tightly twisted and should always be heat set. They have a dense, low pile surface which creates a coarse, pebbly texture. Frieze carpets are very durable and hide footprints, dust and dirt, which makes them suitable for heavy traffic areas. Saxony – Saxony textures are made of twisted yarns, which should be heat set. The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending together to form a very elegant finish. Saxony textures show footprints and vacuum marks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home. More textured variations improve the practicality of saxonies. Twist – The popular twist carpet is the cut-pile standard. The yarn is tightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature and the result is a versatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours. Velvet – Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have a level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is then sheared to give a smooth finish. With very little twist in the yarn, the ends blend together which then further enhances the overall finish. These carpets tend to ‘shade’ with heavy use. Footprints show easily and the colour looks different from place to place because fibres lying in different directions reflect the light differently. A luxury for occasional rooms.
CUT AND LOOP
When some of the pile is cut and other left as loop, a variety of surface textures and patterns can be created (in a variety of colours). The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints and stains so cut and loop is good for high traffic areas and general purpose rooms in the home. Shag pile – Shag pile has varied in popularity. The pile is up to 50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surface can flatten easily and may lack durability.
Woven Woven carpet may be in a tiny minority of today’s production but still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for prestigious installations. Axminster The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing as it is woven and cut to length, creating U-shaped tufts to give a velvety surface. The process locks in the fibre to create a carpet of high durability and performance retention as well as a luxury feel. The process allows for intricate designs and colours to be used – although modern trends mean that the traditional patterned axminster has given way to current fashion trends for plain carpets. Wilton Wilton woven carpets are produced in a similar way to axminsters – the principal difference being that a continuous fibre is woven all the way through. The carpet can be sheared to create a range of cut and loop textured effects. The result is a high quality carpet of unrivalled durability. Flat weave Manufactured in the same way as wilton, flat weave is a loop pile which allows the yarn to be woven across a wider area to created a flatter, more textured effect. THE STOCKLISTS November 2021
Greendale is a members owned cooperative based in Stocklists Classified The
carpet from its SITUATIONS VACANT
owned warehouse to its members 130 ind 2200 rolls of carpet from all the top UK and continental warehouse and merchandising staff. The forthcoming retirement of the current incumbent overall responsibility for the business.
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Reporting to the Board of Directors the successful candid GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE addition to managing an established team will be res Greendale is a members owned cooperative based in Hereford which purchases, stocks and supplies carpet from its owned warehouse to its members 130 independently owned shops. The group stocks over 2200 rolls of carpet from all the top UK and continental suppliers which is supported by administrative, owned cooperative based in Hereford which purchases, stocks and supplies warehouse and merchandising staff.
supporting existing ones as well as carpet working supplier Greendale is a member fromwith its owned warehouse to its members 130 independently owned shops. The group stocks over 2200 rolls of carpet from The forthcoming retirement of the current incumbent will be creating a vacancy for a person to take all the top UK and continental suppliers which is supported by administrative, merchandising staff. as is a sou overall responsibility for the business. Knowledge of thewarehouse flooring and industry is essential
of Directorswill the be successfulKnowledge will beof the external face of industry Greendale and in to the Board the flooring is essential as is Well-developed a sound The forthcoming retirement ofReporting the current incumbent workcandidate at strategic and operational level. addition to managing an established team will be responsible for recruitment of new members and commercial acumen along with the ability to work at strategic creating a vacancy for a person to takeexisting overall supporting onesresponsibility as well as working with suppliers to identify and procure new ranges. role. and operational level. Well-developed communication skills for the business. Knowledge of the flooring industry is essential as is a sound commercial acumen along with the ability to work at strategic and operational level. Well-developed communication are also important in this are also importantskills in this role. Reporting to the Board of Directors the successful candidate role. The position is based at our Hereford office although trav The position is based at our Hereford office although travel will be the external face of Greendale and in addition to The position is based at our Hereford officerequired. although travel throughout the UK and occasionally overseas is throughout the UK and occasionally overseas is required. managing an established team will be responsible for required. recruitment of new members and supporting existing ones A competitive salary, and a package of other benefits including car, pension and and privateahealthcare A competitive salary, package of other benefits will be as well as working with suppliers toprovided. identify and procure A competitive salary, and a package of other benefits inclu including car, pension and private healthcare will be provided. new ranges. Applicants should apply for more details in writing by post or email with a current CV to Rob Harding at Greendale.
will be provided.
Greendale Carpets & Flooring Ltd
Applicants should apply for Greendale more details or email with a current CV tofor Robmore Harding at Greendale. House in writing by post Applicants should apply details in writing Whitestone Business Park FlooringHEREFORD Ltd Greendale House, Whitestone
Greendale Carpets & rharding@greendalecarpets.co.uk
Greendale. Business Park,
HEREFORD. HR1 3SE
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