Happy Harrogate event shows resilience of the industry to handle the headwinds page 26–30
It’s Wool Month
Meet Shaun and the industry leaders on all things woolly. page 35–39
Creative commercial
Rita Bancroft reviews the key products that offer contract opportunities for retailers page 42–43
Upmarket underlay
Underlay is loud and proud in the market right now, building its profile to boost sales page 44-46
Bold steps forward
Headlam CEO Chris Payne talks to us about leading the recovery page 34
Working with wood
F Ball’s experts’ guide on how to realise the potential of wood floors page 51
Finest fitter
Meet the winner of the Fitter of the Year competition 2024 page 50
Things can only get... better or worse??? Retailers respond to our sales survey page 48
Confidence crash
Rise in consumer confidence reverses over budget worries Business news – page 32
Ulster invests Plans to double capacity for luxury carpets in N. Ireland page 41
Smooth operator
Abingdon moves into smooths with portfolio of vinyl & laminates page 17
Image: Stones Marble Carrera Black
Hit the ground running with STOPGAP 1400. Our NEW High Flow smoothing compound gets projects underway as quickly and smoothly as possible. Designed to maximise ease of use and provide an outstanding finish. Its fast-setting formula is walk-on hard from just 90 minutes and new floorcoverings can be installed from 12 hours. Find out more at f-ball.com/stopgap1400
N E W L A U N C H : R E T A I L E R P O R T A L
We are proud to announce the launch of our new retailer portal, designed to streamline your experience and enhance efficiency.
We are committed to providing a simple, convenient platform that meets your business needs seamlessly
Scan the QR code or visit customerportal hughmackay co uk to register
Access Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device:
The new portal will allow you, as a valued customer, anytime access to your account on any device, empowering you to manage your interactions with Hugh Mackay at your convenience
Real-Time Stock Checking:
You will be able to check real-time stock levels effortlessly, ensuring accurate information to make informed decisions when placing orders
Order Tracking:
The portal will streamline the order placement process, allowing you to place orders quickly, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in transactions
The portal will offer enhanced order tracking functionalities, allowing you to monitor the progress of orders seamlessly
Crofter
Crofter, our beautiful, timeless cut pile berber range is crafted at our mill in Lancashire using a blend of the finest wools, to give a top quality finish; complemented by our traditional sustainable jute backing, for easy fitting and lasting good looks. This stylish yet practical carpet is now available in 18 subtle must have shades, in a choice of 40oz and 50oz, and 4m or 5m guaranteed full widths, to create a warm welcoming feel to any home. Penthouse quality – naturally.
For samples and further information please call 01706 639 866 or visit penthousecarpets.co.uk Scan me
Colour shown: Rye
Trade Counter locations: Orpington Croydon Basildon Hemel Hempstead Cambridge Bar Hill
SALES: 0845 899 1000
INSPIRING YOUR PROJECTS - COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
Each Elegance Royale Plank has been skilfully created using a new super matt technology (Gra-Matt™Ultra) that makes the floor visually closer to natural wood, unlike many other glossy LVT products. Each design accurately mimics the texture of natural timber while incorporating multitonal variance to give your herringbone floor realistic character and depth.
FLOORINGNEWS
Moduleo gets into shape
The long-running Moods collection has helped Moduleo to become the luxury vinyl floor brand for design conscious homeowners. Exploring prescribed patterns or with the freedom to create their very own signature style, Moduleo Moods redefined how homeowners interact with their floor.
The collection has now been updated with 15 Moods Patterns using nine shapes in different wood and stone effects for a look that’s soft and subtle, bold and daring or anything they want it to be. In the new patterns, Moduleo’s designers have explored subtle laying patterns in Rectangle Mono to the ultimate retro vibe in Rectangle Grid Duo and vibrant designs like Hexagon Cluster and Diamond Floral. Of course, with Signature, homeowners are also free to design their very own floor from any of the Mood shapes and every single design in the Roots collection.
Matthew Brook, national sales manager Moduleo, says, “With the launch of Roots, our designers explored fresh ideas alongside reimaging classics from the original collection. The result is a hugely impressive range of over 140 SKUs that give homeowners superb choice. We’ve now brought the 12 best of these designs into Moods Patterns with four shape options to make it a creative collection that’s accessible and available from stock.
All 70 Moods pattern and colour combinations use Moduleo’s EIR technology for a realistic texture that’s perfectly in sync with the design. With a look and feel that’s impressively natural and a new lifetime warranty, these made in Belgium floors bring unmistakable quality to stand the test of time in busy family spaces. With excellent water, stain and scratch resistance, as well as warm and silent, Moduleo Moods is designed for life. When it comes to installing Moods, Flex Pro self-adhesive underlay offers a hassle-free way to fit its multiple shapes. No matter how complex the pattern, using Flex Pro is mess-free and fast: simply roll out the underlay and gradually remove the protective foul is you go. There’s no need for primer, levelling compounds or messy adhesives. T 01332 851 500 • www.moduleo.com
Underlay lift-off Up-market underlay and innovations are adding value to retail sales page 44-46
Abingdon moves into smooths
Abingdon Flooring is making an eye-catching move into the market for cushion vinyl, luxury vinyl and laminates with the launch of Simply Smooth.
We’re really excited to have launched Simply Smooth at The Flooring Show and the response it received was fantastic,” says Charlotte Coop, marketing manager, Abingdon Flooring. “We’re known for supplying independent retailers with good quality carpets that represent an affordable choice for homeowners and we’re taking these values through to the new Simply Smooth collection. We are sure that our entry into these new markets will open up new opportunity for retailers.”
The Artisan and Eminence luxury vinyl collections feature on a single stand, showing six warm wood colours available in both plank and herringbone in both dryback and click specifications. Both feature a durable 0.55mm wear later with an authentic embossed finish for a natural look and feel plus a 15-year residential warranty.
For its first laminate collections, which are made here in the UK, Abingdon Flooring has released the 8mm Prestige and 12mm Exquisite. Prestige laminate is available in 12 wood effects, including natural and grey toned oaks as well as the rich dark roast walnut. Featuring an AC4 abrasion rating, Prestige is suitable for use in living spaces and hallways, with a four-sided bevel that adds definition to its versatile 1288 x 195mm planks. The floor comes with a 15 year residential guarantee. For homeowners wanting premium laminate floors, the AC5 rated Exquisite range is feature laden and has a 30-year residential guarantee. With 48-hour water protection, it can be confidently used in bathrooms and kitchens and features the innovative Pro-Tec floor protection for improved scratch and stain resistance, also making it suitable for busy family homes. In 10 authentic wood colours, including neutral greys such as silver ice oak.
Simply Smooth offers cushion vinyl in two highly affordable collections, Urban and Endurance. Bringing a natural look to homes that need an easy-to-lookafter floor that’s extraordinary value, Urban comes in eight stylish designs, including herringbone and a smart stone tile. Endurance delivers an improved specification at 4mm thickness and premium cushion backing in eight wood and tile designs, including a choice of three herringbone colours.
T 01274 655 694 • www.abingdonflooring.co.uk
Happy Harrogate Lifting the gloom at a party with a happy atmosphere page 26
Feelslike nothingonearth
FLOORINGNEWS
Foundation for future success
Time spent at the Academy for Excellence in Flooring is proven to accelerate career progression. With a range of courses to choose from, installers new and old can find a way to boost skills, improve your knowledge and take another step on the career ladder.
For those installers just starting out, or employers looking to upskill their workforce, the Foundation Installer course is the right one to choose. Over two-days, the course covers the basics of wood and laminate or vinyl flooring installation to give a good understanding of the fundamental principles behind a high standard of workmanship.
Once this course has been completed, or you have over twoyears’ experience in floor fitting, then the advanced Master Installer course is the one to pick. This three-day programme unlocks the exclusive and accredited Master Installer badge, and you’ll leave as a highly skilled professional that can offer a lifetime workmanship warranty whenever you install Quick-Step floors.
Lee Thompson from the Academy for Excellence in Flooring says: “Whether you are just starting out on your career in flooring or have been around for a while, your time at the Academy will be highly rewarding. Our trainers are all experienced fitters, so they understand the issues that can arise on site and how best to solve them. This makes a difference when putting on a course that is genuinely useful and which will make itself felt when it comes to moving along in your career.”
The Master Installer badge is responsible for progressing the careers of installers around the country, with badge holders saying that it has established them in new locations, improved customer confidence and trust, and has helped to win new work through a listing on the Quick-Step website. www.quick-step.com/en/academy
Waterproof wood for small spaces
Painted perfection
Timberline is the painted wood look floor from LeoLine that makes it easy to mix it up with heritage paint colours from leading brands.
The popularity of heritage paint colours is not exclusive to period homes, with newer houses also getting in on the trend. From striking feature walls to doors and even ceilings, no one could have missed that tones of blue, green, neutral and off-white are now big business.
Many homeowners have tried to add the painted look onto bare floorboards but have found the end result less than ideal – scratching, chipping and marking to soon look tired – and not really worth the hassle. Thankfully, LeoLine has stepped up with the answer to painted floor woes in the new Timberline collection of cushion vinyl floors. Available in a palette of 10 colours inspired by heritage paints, Timberline takes all the fuss out of finding the perfect matching look, or simply gives a stunning paint effect floor that makes a seriously stylish addition. Each Timberline floor also features LeoLine’s unique endless wood pattern that creates a great sense of balance in any room size.
Stuart Reeves, sales and marketing director LeoLine, says, “Our designers are always hunting out trends and Timberline shows this in full effect with its range of striking painted wood effect floors. Why not try out some in-store mood boards with paint samples and matching fabrics to really show just how stylish this floor can be?”
Timberline is also packed with features to make it a wise choice in any room. Protected from stains and scratches with Superguard and safer underfoot thanks to its extra slip-resistance, Woodline’s compact back means it’s also great at absorbing wear – ideal for busy family spaces as well as hallways.
T 0800 032 3970 • www.leoline.co.uk
In a compact plank size of 1820 x 145mm, Amato is the new waterproof wood floor from Quick-Step that opens up narrow rooms like bathrooms and hallways for a maximal feeling of space. Giving rooms sophistication and functionality, the range is available in seven warm wood shades protected with Wood for Life, Quick-Step’s guarantee of an easy to maintain, durable, scratch and stain resistant wood floor.
Wood for Life ensures that Amato never looks dirty or dark, even at joints, and stands up to the shoes, paws and spills of modern family life. Amato also has a waterproof surface for up to 72 hours, making its compact planks suitable for use in bathrooms and kitchens – two areas that most wood floors want to avoid. To achieve a waterproof finish, Quick-Step has combined a new and improved click system that tightens up joint tolerances with the Hydroseal water repellent coating on all four sides of the plank.
The Uniclic Multifit system lets installers choose the best installation method for the room. Floating or glueddown, Uniclic Multifit ensures a fast and smooth installation. And Quick-Step’s installation and finishing products uphold the Wood for Life guarantee, to ensure your customers enjoy a trouble-free wood floor for many years. Giving wood this long life is all part of Quick-Step’s journey to circular production for its floors. The core and backing of Amato are made from recovered wood or fast-growing trees, while the oak top layer is thinner for less use of sustainably managed timber. Quick-Step is also the first company to develop ground-breaking recycling technology that can now turn the core of its wood floors into new materials.
Amato’s oak looks cover all three grades – the clean grain of Nature, occasional knots of Marquant and characterful Vibrant – and a palette of inviting tones ranging from the pale Wintry Forest Oak Extra Matt through to rich Cinnamon Oak Extra Matt.
www.quick-step.co.uk
Creative designs that
The new-look Moduleo Moods lets your customers experiment with over 70 pattern and colour combinations to make their floor a design statement and expression of personal aesthetic.
Floorwise feels the difference
The premium Feel the Difference carpet underlay collection from floorwise has been expanded with four new PU foam underlays made to bring the ultimate in comfort and support. With strong growth at the premium end of underlay sales, floorwise has expanded its Feel the Difference collection to provide homeowners even more choice in underlays that deliver the best in comfort, support and resilience. Four new PU foam underlays now join Feel the Difference for an impressive collection that also includes rubber crumb and rubber sponge options.
Finesse (11mm UHD+), Charm (9mm UHD+), Indulgence (11mm SHD+) and Delight (9mm SHD+) now provide more comfort and durability for carpets, giving homeowners a choice of options depending on their budget and requirements. All made in the UK, they are also the first floorwise underlays to have been tested against ISO 16000 for their Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions which impact on indoor air quality.
To mark out these new Feel the Difference underlays as premium options, floorwise uses a crepe paper top and non-woven base for a better feeling product over standard PU types.
Combined with the superb bouncebackability of either UHD+ and SHD+, the new underlays are made to deliver the very best combination of comfort and durability beneath carpets.
In Finesse and Charm, floorwise offers its most dense PU foam quality in 11mm and 9mm thickness best suited to heavyweight carpets or homes looking for the very best in high-traffic areas. The SHD+ of Indulgence and Delight provide a more affordable but no less luxurious feel in bedrooms and lighter trafficked areas. With impact sound reduction of up to 47dB and thermal insulation up to of 3.10 tog, they help to make homes noticeably warmer and quieter too.
T 01509 673974 • www.floorwise.co.uk
Take Ecorugs for a (wash +) spin
The beautiful designs and textures of Ecorugs by Louis De Poortere are reason enough for homeowners to fall in love, but this is not where the story will end.
Every Ecorug is made to be recycled or reused through the Take Care Program, and also they are also wonderfully easy to clean. So easy in fact, that they can be machine washed to remove dirt and stubborn marks that haven’t come out with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning. Every quality Ecorug can be machine washed on a gentle spin cycle at 30ºC to restore their appearance and give more years of use.
Extending the first life of Ecorugs in this way is instrumental to the circular philosophy of the collection, which promotes durability alongside recyclability as key in a truly sustainable product. In fact, with a long life thanks to the washable polyester construction, Ecorugs have 50% less carbon emissions when compared to a cotton rug.
Alan Russell, sales director, Louis De Poortere, says: “Naturally, homeowners want their investment to last and stand up to life and so being able to machine wash their rug is going to appeal, even if it never makes it into the drum. It’s the idea of machine washing that gives customers confidence.”
With Ecorugs, Louis De Poortere is now bringing the appeal of machine washing to its high-quality woven designs, including library favourites such as Mad Men and Fading World as well as new styles such as Pop, Cities and Sakura. As every new rug from Louis De Poortere is an Ecorug, the brand’s entire rug collection is now machine washable and completely recyclable.
“With our unmistakable woven quality and exclusive in-house designs creating a distinct and unique proposition, retailers can offer a washable rug and uphold a reputation for better quality products,” says Alan. www.louisdepoortere.com
Hurry! Time to enter your innovations...
Entries for the Flooring Innovation Awards need to be sent in soon after organisers shook up the schedule to give even more prominence to what has become one of the most successful events in the industry’s calendar.
“We’ll be announcing the new winners of what will be the Flooring Innovation Awards 2025 with a real fanfare right at the beginning of next year – in January 2025. These highly sought-after awards will then set the agenda for the year ahead for floor buyers and specifiers,” says organiser Bridgette Kelly. “We’ve had a strong response so far and don’t want anyone to miss out as we start finalising the entries for the judges.”
So the schedule for the scheme moved back this year with entries closing on November 8. Readers of The Stocklists can nominate their favourite suppliers and products to go before the judges. The Awards recognise everything that is genuinely new, exciting and innovative in the UK flooring trade so buyers can focus on fresh opportunities and the entries are judged by an independent panel of leading industry experts.
www.flooringinnovationawards.com
Feels like nothing on earth
The biggest leap forward in underlay for light years, continues...
With a bold mission to put the Tredaire name at the forefront of customers’ minds, our pioneering campaign is bringing the UK’s favourite underlay brand to new audiences yet to discover the incredible feeling of Tredaire’s product range.
Propelling POS into a new dimension with brand new sample range designs, display units, banners, floor mats, window stickers and much more! Join our mission!
National TV and radio campaign
A dynamic trio of TV, radio and digital advertising to educate consumers about the inimitable feeling of Tredaire underlay.
Groundbreaking retailer support
Don’t miss out
Contact your Territory Manager for more information and your mission pack.
FLOORINGNEWS
Step change in Domotex show format
Domotex, the leading trade show for flooring, is switching to become a biennial event and expanding its portfolio into a wider range of products with the launch of a new format in Hannover for 2026.
The long-established annual event will not take place in 2025 and instead become “the home of flooring and interior finishing” every two years as it extends to cover paints, wallpapers, acoustic elements, tiles, outdoor floor coverings in addition to flooring.
The move represents a major step change in the plans by organisers Deutsche Messe to reinvigorate the January event after it lost some momentum during the pandemic closures.
The expanded portfolio will be on show every two years, starting in 2026, and will launch under the slogan ‘Creating Rooms – Transforming Spaces’. A visitor survey at Domotex 2024 showed that 42 percent of participants were interested in related topics and products beyond the flooring industry.
“Our visitors, from retailers to installers and architects, think about rooms in a holistic way. As a result, many have expressed a desire to discover more product solutions for interior finishing at Domotex,” says organiser Sonia Wedell-Castellano. “By expanding our portfolio, we are consistently pursuing the strategy we developed together with our exhibitors and creating a relevant meeting place for all surfaces in a room, from floor to ceiling”, she adds.
Originally there was to be a slimmed-down 2025 event covering carpets and rugs only but this will now be rolled into the 2026 schedule. Established in 1989, Domotex typically hosts around 1,000 exhibitors in Hannover. Pre-pandemic it attracted over 35,000 visitors but this number fell to c. 20,000 when the event fully re-opened in 2023. www.domotex.de
Fresh show for flooring from INDX
The INDX flooring show organisers AIS have unveiled energetic plans for 2025 with a “fresh new market approach”, new branding and a new website.
AIS (Associated Independent Stores) have already re-vamped the Solihull flooring event which used to be the Buying Group National Flooring Show (BGNFS) but rolled out under the INDX identity this year and, for the first time, was opened up to retailers who were not members of a buying group.
The 2025 INDX National Flooring Show will take place on May 13-14 and brings together market trends, insight and intel from top UK and European brands across carpets, rugs, laminates, woods, vinyl, LVT’s, underlays and accessories.
The event is organised in partnership with flooring buying groups including ACG, AIS Flooring One, Bond Retail Marketing, Carpet 1st, Greendale, and SMG but is open to all independent retailers. Visitors need to register in advance via the website which is open now for entries.
“INDX Shows are open to all retailers and are legendary for driving sales,” say the organisers. “INDX offers commercially sound shows that give you exclusive access to established brand leaders and exciting new names, all ready to fuel your business growth.”
Other events in the INDX calendar for their purpose-built venue at Cranmore Park in Shirley, Solihull, include furniture, beds, toys and gifts as well as several clothing and footwear shows. www.indxshows.co.uk
F Ball expert heads CFA
Alan McEwan, F. Ball and Co. Ltd. technical representative for Scotland, has been appointed president of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA).
It was announced that he would succeed outgoing president, Carl Harper of Westcotes Flooring, at the CFA AGM held on 13 August.
Alan, a Glaswegian, joined the building trade aged 16 after leaving school, and his career in the flooring industry has spanned more than 25 years. After working for a vinyl manufacturer, he applied for the position of F. Ball’s technical representative for Scotland over 16 years ago, and has held the role ever since. He has been a member of the Scottish CFA Committee and sat on the Council since 2010.
Commenting on his appointment, Alan said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed president of the CFA and to have the opportunity to contribute further to the valuable work that the CFA does for its members, including maintaining and raising professional standards. I will also be looking out for the interests of flooring professionals and give them a voice in influencing wider industry and legislative agendas.”
T 01538 361 633 • www.f-ball.co.uk
Quality comfort for social housing
With sheet vinyl being a costeffective flooring solution for social and affordable housing, new Beauflor Crown is an ideal choice.
The floor is made to a specification designed to excel in social and affordable homes, prioritising comfort to improve tenant wellbeing and maximising value for providers.
Thanks to its 4.0mm thick compact foam construction, Crown delivers exceptional underfoot feel and sound absorption (21dB impact noise reduction) for a floor that creates a supportive atmosphere for tenants. Stopping noise transmission between floors, Crown creates a quieter and more comfortable living environment – something that’s particularly beneficial in multi-storey buildings where noise can be a concern for residents. With the benefit of extra slip-resistance it also provides a more reassuring surface underfoot, particularly important in supporting a range of mobility needs often encountered in social housing.
Crown is available in matching plank and herringbone wood effects across a choice of five calming colours so that different patterns can be used in rooms while still achieving a balanced look throughout the home. There are also three stone tile effects. A total of 14 designs are available using a natural look matt textured finish for improved realism.
Chris Roberts of Beauflor, says, “Sheet vinyl is the ideal choice for social homes as they need a floor which is excellent value, but that also provides a finish that’s attractive, comfortable and safe for the tenants. Our new Crown collection has been designed with these requirements in mind, so you can choose it with confidence.”
Made in Belgium the floor is available in two, three and four-metre widths to minimise wastage.
www.beauflor.com
Recycling is “brilliant for business”
Recofloor beats big waste
Faced with the logistical challenges of waste disposal for a flooring project at a busy hospital, contractors Lees Heginbotham found Recofloor bins to be the perfect solution. Lees Heginbotham is an Oldham-based family-run business selling and fitting flooring nationwide. Keen to boost their sustainability efforts, the team were already routinely taking waste from project sites back to their warehouse for Recofloor collection and recycling. This was working well for smaller quantities of waste. But when they were asked to take up and re-lay like-for-like Polyflor at Wythenshawe Hospital’s ward F4, they realised they would not have space at the warehouse to store the quantity of waste expected.
The initial plan therefore was to take the material to a waste contractor in multiple van loads. On talking to Recofloor, however, they discovered that Recofloor’s on-site collection service could be a much greener and easier option.
The project presented three key logistical challenges. First, the ward is located within a maze of corridors and wards, with no direct external access. Second, the surrounding areas of the hospital were still in use, making cleanliness and tidiness a priority. And third, the project time frame was extremely tight.
“This was our first time using the Recofloor onsite collection service. As existing Recofloor members, we already knew that using Recofloor helps the environment and saves us money. We’ve now discovered that it’s also the easiest way to manage waste disposal on large projects! In fact, the whole process worked so well that we won new work as a result,” said Andrew Wright of Lees Heginbotham.
Recofloor is the flooring sector’s sustainable take-back scheme for commercial waste vinyl generated from all types of projects. Material is recycled and used in new products, including flooring.
T 0161 355 7618 • www.recofloor.org
Deploying the Recofloor scheme on all their commercial and social housing flooring contracts is second nature to County Contract Flooring.
Specialising in the social housing, private hospital and care home sectors, the Droitwich-based family-run business has been involved in the Recofloor scheme for more than eight years and finds that “it’s brilliant for our business as it allows us to recycle the large amount of safety flooring waste we create across our commercial contracts.”
Social housing contracts, covering repairs, maintenance and refurbishment projects, make up 95% of the company’s work for clients. “When tendering for new projects, we are often asked what we are doing to be more sustainable. Being able to talk about the Recofloor scheme is a great way to show our commitment to this, and it has often helped us to win projects in the past. As of today, we have collected a total of nearly 30 tonnes of vinyl flooring for recycling with Recofloor,” says Ben Hopewell, Director.
“Being able to provide a responsible environmental solution to clients is essential these days. All our clients know that we use Recofloor, and they like to see that. It’s something that we promote widely. The service is a great way to dispose of the waste vinyl safety flooring, which is our key material, and everything that doesn’t go on the floor is deposited in the Recofloor bulk bags and collected by them to be recycled.”
County Contract Flooring’s team use the Recofloor clear sacks to collect offcuts from projects and a total of 12.63 tonnes was collected in 2023. The company is hoping to beat this figure in 2024. Recycling waste vinyl is a ‘no-brainer’ for County Contract Flooring which estimates it saves a skip a month just by using the Recofloor scheme. Before joining the scheme, they used a lot more skips and now the cost saving makes a big difference.
www.recofloor.org
Happy Harrogate lifts the flooring gloom
The strong sense of community that is Harrogate and its annual Flooring Show triumphed over the heavy atmosphere that hangs over the flooring trade right now.
“The biggest surprise at the show was how positive everyone was,” said Andrew Bramall of Betap. His sentiment was often repeated during the threeday event and is testament to the resilience of the flooring sector.
The halls were busy from the start on Sunday and the majority of exhibitors were pleased with the levels on business being done and the sun shone on the Yorkshire spa town adding to the air of optimism.
“Harrogate did what it does best – bringing the industry together as a community to generate a positive vibe,” says David Spragg, editor of The Stocklists. “The sense was that we’re all in this together and we’ll survive and thrive.
“The level of investment in modern and creative stand presentations was high and while there was no blizzard of new products, the quanitity of new launches and intelligent innovations was conspicuous,” he said.
This was the biggest Flooring Show in recent times with 30% more exhibitors and extra floor space with the expansion into Hall Q. Visitor numbers were high, especially on the Sunday which exceeded last year’s strong performance.
Check out our Launch Pad feature on page 30 and the Trends snapshot on page 28...
Market commentary
There is a structural change ripplling across many parts of the industry right now after the collapse of Carpetright, IDS and The Floor Room at John Lewis, the withdrawal of ScS from flooring and corporate re-sructuring at key manufacturers such as Headlam and the Victoria Group..
2024 is judged to be the bottom of the market with the consensus that things can only get better.... but everyone is wondering when!
Industry leaders at the show reckon key players are anywhere between 5% and 20% down on business this year. Many retailers are counting on strong demand in the run up to Christmas to have any chance to break even this year.
But the industry’s response has been impressive. Service levels have generally risen to exemplary levels this year to ensure no sales are lost to delays and mis-deliveries. The housing data is looking positive in terms of new developments and estate agent sales. And the absence of Carpetright and ScS is not unwelcome among the legions of independent retailers. The“right-sizing” that is happening in some major players should be healthy in the longer term, and many will tell you that they are “positioning for the recovery.” Read our business news on page 32 for more details...
Harrogate revealed many new products designed to command better margins for retailers in the middle/upper segment of the maket that is still spending.
LOTS MORE NEXT MONTH BUT NOW TURN TO PAGES 28 + 30 FOR SNAPSHOTS
TRENDS
Here's some insight of the flooring trends that will be leading the market in the months ahead.
See page 28
LAUNCH PAD
Product development is all about making sales more valuable and enticing cautious consumers to spend.
See page 30
Veleta
Forest HB
WHAT'S TRENDING
LOTS MORE NEXT MONTH IN OUR FULL SHOW
REVIEW Harrogate
Harrogate is a great chance to check out the direction of tastes and trends in the flooring sector to see what you should be asking your reps about in the next few months.
Much more detail in our next issue - but here are some snapshots to whet your appetite...
WOOL GOES MAINSTREAM
Wool is acclerating its return to favour with many product launches in what is seen as a higher margin sector to secure business in today’s all-important middle/ upper market. Notable is AW’s first wool offer in over 10 years along with Furlong’s return to natural fibre with Timeless Wool.
See also our Wool Month feature – pages 35–40
UP-MARKET UNDERLAY
If there are less buyers about, make sure they buy more. it’s always been an imperative for savvy retailers to add underlay to a sale to enhance order values. Now, increasingly, the main underlay suppliers are offering better options to trade up consumers. Interfloor is investing in a stunning inter-galactic industry-wide promotion of underlay and companies like floorwise, Carpenter and Ball & Young have preium products for discerning consumers.
WOOD YOU?
Retailers are often wary of wood and with some good reason. It’s an upper end sale with high consumer expecations and it comes with potential problems in terms of installation and maintenance. And that assumes you can even find a fitter! New engineered wood offers in the market such as Furlong’s Universal Click and Victoria’s Victorious are making it easier – or ask your buying group about wood. It’s a good niche for retailers to cover – check it out.
SMOOTH OPERATORS
The exact ratio of carpet vs. smooth flooring in UK homes is often debated as the data is ambiguous – around 50/50 but with smooths winning out in most places. There has been some retailer reluctance to embrace this reality but the top carpet suppliers are all now piling in to push forward on smooths – a trend led by Invictus at AW and Furlong, of course, but this year sees Abingdon launch its Simply Smooths portfolio and Balta introduce a whole new portfolio, among others.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
A notable trend by the big players in flooring right now is to keep it simple – re-organising and rationalising their portfolios to make them easier for both retailers and consumers to understand the options. To some extent, this trend is expedient in a tight market – less options mean less stock, logistics and merchandising and so saving money the industry hasn’t got. But it’s a healthy trend anyhow compared to the blizzard of products (including marginal enhancements and me-toos) which suppliers have sometimes thrown into the market, hoping to catch a stray sale.
LAUNCH PAD
Added value is the agenda of product development as every sale needs to generate optimum revenue.
1 Timeless Wool is Furlong’s major move back into natural fibre and it’s going to be big!
2 AW adds to the wool fest with their first wool launch in 10 years across three ranges
3 Fine Malvern Loop is launched by Adam for people who like loop that’s got more personality and less uniformity
4 Eye-catching Condor have new technology in their LCL Collection to combine cut & loop into exciting new patterns
5 Cormar’s new Zenith is an ultra-luxury PP heavyweight twist with an almost velvet finish that attracted lots of attention
6 Axminster’s launch of Imagination shows just what is possible in the art of carpet
7 Sisal is becoming ever more popular but the newcomer fibre company has a range that pushes forward the boundaries on quality
8 j2 already has great LVTs but now they’ve come up with a new monthly deal on POS
9 Abingdon launches Simply Smooths – their debut range of stylish resilient flooring
10 Victorious Wood is a first for Victoria and makes wood more accessible for retailers
MORE DETAILS AND LOTS MORE LAUNCHES NEXT MONTH
Cambrian, Grampian and Mulberry, new wool from AW
Abingdon introduces the Simply Smooths portfolio cover vinyl and laminate
The LCL Collection from Condor
Imagination from Axminster
Adam’s Fine Malvern Loop
Furlong’s TImeless Wool
Victorious wood by (er...!) Victoria j2
Cormar launches luxury PP Zenith
Make lifeeasy
Combine your style with practicality
At the Harrogate show, we were excited to show our new bleach-cleanable Easy Living carpet, which is spill, stain, and splash resistant.
The durable nature of this carpet ensures it’s the perfect family friendly carpet.
With three different ranges within our Easy Living brand we have multiple styles and colour ways to choose from which range in affordability. Making these carpet range a must see.
Carpet in photo: Desire Silver Cloud
BUSINESS
“Gloom” pushes consumer confidence into reverse
Consumer confidence to purchase big ticket items like furniture and flooring has plummeted 10 points in September – reversing the gains in recents months, according to retail analysts GfK.
The well respected Index was up 7 points in July and up 3 points in August, promoting optimism that political and economic stablility was finally turning the corner on consumer optimism.
But the “Government gloom” following Keir Starmer’s message that things will get worse before they get better is widely recognised to have stalled any recovery in confidence.
“Following the withdrawal of the winter fuel payments, and clear warnings of further difficult decisions to come on tax, spending and welfare, consumers are nervously awaiting the Budget decisions on October 30,” says Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK.
“Strong consumer confidence matters because it underpins economic growth and is a significant driver of shoppers’ willingness to spend,” he added. “Despite stable inflation and the prospect of further cuts in the base interest rate, this is not encouraging news for the UK’s new Government.”
In the monthly survey, people’s expectations for the general economy over the next 12 months fell by 12 points to minus 27, while the forecast for personal finances is down nine points to minus three.
Prices stabilise in furniture and flooring
Prices across the furnishing sector have finally stabilised after a year of turbulence for retail consumers.
While overall consumer prices rose 2.2% last month according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), flooring price inflation was just 0.1% in the year to August, having been negative 0.6% in the year to July. For much of last, this figure was often around 10%, especially for carpets.
Furniture has had a different trajectory, from high inflation to a period of deflation in recent months but prices in this sector were only 1% down in the year to August, compared to 2.4% in the previous month.
Headlam confirms decline but remains confident
Headlam has confirmed a fall in sales against a challenging market and posted a loss for the first half of 2024.
Reporting its results for the six months ended 30 June 2024, the UK’s biggest flooring distributor said sales were down 11.8% to £292.5m from £331.8m in 2023. UK-specific sales were down 11.3%
Headlam showed an EBITDA loss of £2.2m compared to a profit of £18m, with pre-tax losses amounting to £20.6m, down from a profit of £4.5m.
These figures were in line with market expectations as the Group had been flagging the poor state of the flooring market in 2024.
Group sales for July and August declined 8.4% compared to that 11.8% performance in the first half, indicating that there has been some improvement in trading conditions more recently.
Chris Payne, Chief Executive, said: ”Looking ahead, the lead indicators for consumer spending on home improvements are more positive, albeit the timing of recovery remains uncertain and is likely to be later than previously anticipated.”
See also page 34: Headlam – bold steps to lead market recovery
Housing builds hope for flooring
Progress in the housing market is giving flooring firms cause for optimism after the number of property transactions increased for the fourth month in a row.
House sales in July were up 7% at more than 90,000 transactions, which follows an 8% rise in June. Previous to March this year there had been 16 months of decline in activity in the sector.
Housing moves stimulate growth in the flooring and furnishing markets as householders update their interiors in the months following a move.
Autumn budget is opportunity for rates reform
UK retailers are proven to be overtaxed in new research by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) who are lobbying Goverment to reform rates in the Autumn Budget.
According to new BRC data, the retail sector pays 7.4% of all business taxes (£33bn), a share 1.5 times greater than its share of the overall economy (5% GDP). This bill amounts to 55% of the industry’s pre-tax profits, the highest proportion, along with hospitality, of all main business sectors. Of this total tax bill, 11% of profits is made up of business rates, the highest of all business sectors.
“Our research conclusively proves what retailers have known for years: the industry is paying far more than its fair share of tax,” says BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.
The BRC is pressing the chancellor to follow up the statement in the Labour pre-election manifesto: “The current business rates system disincentivises investment, creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets.”
IDS faces uncertain future
Up-market smooth flooring supplier International Decorative Surfaces (IDS) is facing an uncertain future after administrators put the business up for sale.
IDS is well-known as a leading stocklist of laminate and LVT flooring as well as supplying interior wall panelling, worktops and decking with a turnover of c. £80m. The Newcastle-based company has made some of its 400 staff redundant after it failed to secure further funding due to a significant slowdown in the property and construction industries.
IDS has 12 locations and 11 are still operating. Administrators at FRP Advisory have put the business and its assets for sale, which include half a million sq ft of warehousing, supporting more than 50,000 monthly transactions, and an 85-vehicle delivery fleet.
The company completed a management buyout in 2022 from Saint-Gobain after more than 20 years as part of the giant French conglomerate.
Carpet builds share over hard flooring
Carpet has reversed the rise of hard flooring in terms of UK consumer preference over the last three years, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS’ annual family spending survey asks consumers what they spend their income on and it segments flooring purchases by type.
Analysis of the data by The Furnishing Report shows that the preference for hard flooring versus carpet has declined by 5% since 2021.
Market share between carpet and hard flooring (vinyl, wood, laminate) is disputed with analysts varying in their calculations, but hard flooring is estimated to have at least 55% of current UK sales.
The Allora Lux range offers multiple benefits. To name a few: 8mm, SPC, a 5G click system for easy installation, compatibility with underfloor heating, and durability that ensures lasting luxury within a family home.
Headlam – bold steps to lead market recovery
Market-leading Headlam Group is pulling all its distribution brands together in a
major move to make one compelling new force to serve retailers more effectively.
As the UK’s largest distributors in the sector, Headlam has 67 brands and, on the wholesaling and logistics side of the business, it is names like Cheshires, Hadfields, Wilkies, Matty’s, Faithfulls, Matty’s and many more that are well known, depending on which part of the country you’re in.
Now, all those local firms – some 32 trading operations – will be gathered together as Mercado – another of Headlam’s brands but one that already has a national footprint and a hundred-year-old heritage.
Why – and why now?
Headlam CEO Chris Payne told The Stocklists:
“The flooring business isn’t easy – especially right now in this market –so we’re on a mission to make it easier. To remove obstacles. To get closer to our customers and what they need.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time over the last year or so listening to customers,” says Chris.
“It’s important to find out what people want, rather than sitting behind my desk and deciding what we should offer. And retailers are savvy, they want a straight-forward service that can say yes to everything they need and do so with reliability.”
Chris points out that across the Group, retailers spend time with multiple Headlam reps, have lists of log-ins to some of its 50 different websites, and have to navigate several accounts to order everything they need.
In future it will be one Mercado network, with one comprehensive product range and price list, and a single account and ordering portal, backed up by one all-powerful national network of rapid distribution and delivery.
“But we also know flooring is a people business,” says Chris. “So the reps in all the regions stay the same – they know their customers and they will be able to spend more time with individual retailers covering the full breadth of what we offer, instead of competing with their own sales colleagues for segments of the business.”
This is part of Headlam’s concept of a “local service on a national scale”. So, for example, retailers will still call the people they already know in sales offices in their own region – not a national call centre.
The 75+ network of trade counters will also be re-branded as Mercado as an extension to the network to serve retailers and their fitters out in the field.
So will it boost business for the industry in a tight market?
“This is a customer-led approach and we believe we can be more competitive and more effective to give retailers better value,” says Chris. “Everyone is still waiting for the business environment to improve but there are some positive signs and we want to be with our customers at the forefront of market recovery.”
Transforming retailer relationships
Headlam has been highly active in 2024 in a programme it calls “accelerating its customer-led growth strategy.”
In April, it created its Independent Retailer Group, exclusively for Headlam retailers with bricks-and-mortar stores. It has been created to build a supportive community where retailers can connect directly with Headlam, share feedback, and receive timely updates. This initiative is part of Headlam’s ongoing commitment to support the independent retailer, which remains the largest customer group.
In June, the Group aligned three of its leading brands – Manx Tomkinson, Fells and Kingsmead – under one dedicated sales team. “This strategy ensures retailers receive top-tier service and support,” said National Sales Manager Keith Morgan who heads up the venture.
“Our objective is to streamline the partnership between retailers and quality brands, nurturing stronger relationships and enabling seamless collaboration,” he said.
www.headlamgroup.com
Wool Month – October 2024
Check it's wool
The Campaign for Wool launches its annual Wool Month activity in October, and this year celebrates its retention of HM King Charles III as the Campaign’s Patron, whilst encouraging consumers to ‘Check it’s Wool’.
The Campaign remains steadfast on its mission to educate industry and consumers on making responsible choices when it comes to choosing natural fibres over synthetic materials for all product purchases and highlighting the natural benefits of wool.
The Campaign roster of supporters has continued to grow in recent years, and this year sees over 1000 sheep farmers, processing manufacturers and finishers, designers, brands and retailers engaging with the Campaign, with many of these staging their own events throughout October in support of wool as a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre.
The Flooring manufacturers and companies supporting the campaign: Adam Carpets, Brockway Carpets, Causeway Carpets, Cavalier Carpets, Cormar Carpets, Manx Tomkinson Carpets, Penthouse Carpets, Westex Flooring.
Yarn Spinners: Danspin, Lawton Yarns and Lusolã. Buying groups: BRM and SMG, and from the Wool Flooring Care sector WoolSafe.
A new website design featuring news, event information and supporter stories is live for Wool Month, so log onto www. campaignforwool.org for up-to-date information.
SETTING THE TRENDS FOR WOOL MONTH AT THE FLOORING SHOW
The Flooring Show showcased the juxtaposition and benefits of using British wools and New Zealand Wools, as part of the Campaign for Wool and Wool Carpet Focus Group activity at the Wool Trends Stand.
The Campaign for Wool is also a sustainability partner for Decorex at Olympia, October 6–9, and will be at Stand A35 with a selection of wool interior products including flooring.
The campaigner King
The Campaign for Wool was HM King Charles’s personal initiative when he was The Prince of Wales in 2008 and was officially launched in 2010 in a bid to assist wool growers from throughout the Commonwealth to challenge the rise of toxic synthetic fibres in the worlds of fashion, interiors and the built environment – issues he raised on the introduction of mainstream plastic use in his student days over 50 years ago.
As Patron, he has visited numerous regions of the UK, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa to engage with wool growers on how best to explain the distinct environmental excellence and ecological benefits of wool in all its end uses.
The Campaign fits perfectly with HM The King’s recently announced personal focus of Climate, Community, Commonwealth and Culture.
The wool ambaaassador!
The Flooring Show in Harrogate had a surprise visitor with ‘Shaun the Sheep’ in attendance as ‘ambaaa-ssador’ for the Campaign for Wool and British Wool as part of a unique promotional campaign for British and New Zealand wool flooring.
This forms part of a special three-year collaboration in which this loveable character will work to promote the importance and many benefits of wool right across the industry from sheep farming to wool carpet yarn spinning, flooring manufacturing, buying groups and wool flooring care companies.
Rachael Peacock, Senior Brand Manager at Aardman, the creators of the wooly character comments:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Campaign for Wool and British Wool for this special collaboration. Shaun the Sheep has been a long-term ambassador for all things wool since his very own wool was turned into his iconic jumper in Wallace & Gromit’s A Close Shave nearly 30 years ago.
"The synergy between Campaign for Wool’s commitment to educate consumers about the importance of wool and natural fibres is a perfect fit for the Shaun the Sheep One Farm initiative which represents issues around the environment and sustainability in a fun and engaging way. We have One Farm, let’s flock together to look after it!” says Rachael.
Following The Flooring Show, retailers all across the UK will have dedicated point of sale items displaying this collaboration and the natural benefits of using wool in the home.
Log onto www.campaignforwool.org to keep an eye on what's happening during Wool Month 2024.
“Shaun the Sheep is known for his leadership qualities - the unofficial ‘leader of the flock’, a sheep ‘celebrity’, and a recognised character all around the world. Who better to champion the Campaign for Wool and advocate on behalf of everyone involved in the wool flooring industry, from sheep farmers to the carpet manufacturers?"
says Sir Nicholas Coleridge, Chairman of the Campaign for Wool.
"Shaun will help us with our ongoing quest to educate consumers about the importance of wool as a natural fibre, and the role it can play in terms of the health and wellbeing of our planet,” adds Sir Nicolas.
It's showtime for Shaun at Harrogate – the "leader of the flock!"
The Campaign for Wool – a showcase of quality
Tudor Twist and Tudor Co-Ordinates by Victoria Carpets
Tudor Twist one of Victoria’s most established and loved wool twist ranges. An updated colour bank of 36 shades that incorporate neutrals, golds and bronzes along with delicate pastels, perfectly reflect the current interior trends. With a 10-year wear warranty (Classic) and a 15-year wear warranty (Regal), Tudor is a go to for homeowners looking for a wool blend carpet.
For anyone looking for a wool loop pile, Tudor Co-ordinates consists of 20 plain and 4 co-ordinating stripes both with a 15-year wear warranty. Taking the bestselling colours from its beloved Tudor range, Victoria has created a modern palette with a splash of colour. Perfect for stair runners, rugs or complete rooms.
T 01562 749300 • www.myvictoria.co.uk
Herringstripe Carpet from Alternative Flooring
Celebrate Wool Month in style with Alternative Flooring’s award-winning Wool Iconic Herringstripe carpet. The innovative flatwoven carpet combines classic herringbone and stylish stripes, perfect for luxurious wall-to-wall carpeting, made-to-measure rugs, and bound runners. Expertly crafted and available in a generous 4m width, the collection draws inspiration from the grace of ballerinas. It features a sophisticated palette of eight natural hues, offset by subtle colours, ensuring you find the perfect match for your home. Mothproofed and timeless, these carpets are a stylish addition to the acclaimed Wool Iconic family.
T 01264 335111 • www.alternativeflooring.com
Wool Tweed from Cavalier
This stunning addition incorporates a delicate tri-tone palette of effect yarns in each of its colourways, showcasing an air of sophistication that beautifully complements any plain carpet. With its unique design, this range is perfect for customers looking to add a touch of elegance through subtle pattern to their interiors.
Manufactured using the finest British wool, the Wool Tweed range offers pinpoint definition and luxurious comfort and also champions sustainability through the use of British wool.
T 01254 268 000 • www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk
The Campaign for Wool – a
Shetland by the Cormar Carpet Company
Cormar Carpet Company’s latest addition to their popular wool loop collection, Shetland, is suitable for all areas of the home, with a high-quality textured look and feel. Made with 100% pure new wool, this long-lasting wool loop carpet comes in 10 heathered neutral tones for the perfect blend of style and practicality.
Manufactured using a moth resistant, 3-ply yarn, Shetland is a 1/5th gauge carpet, in a chunky Brussels weave design. Available in 4m and 5m widths and accompanied by a 10-year wear warranty.
T 01204 881234 • www.cormarcarpets.co.uk
www.campaignforwool.org
Check out the Campaign for Wool website for full details of the campaign and for inspiration to promote the benefits of natural fibre.
The website also highlights the latest news from the campaign and lists the sponsors supporting its work.
Delft Square by Telenzo
When it comes to wool carpets, nothing matches the quality of New Zealand wool, and the new and improved Delft Square from Telenzo proves it. Crafted from premium 2-ply New Zealand wool, Delft Square offers a perfect blend of classic and contemporary style. The durable loop-pile carpet is available in 4 and 5 metre widths and meets domestic and heavy contract use standards. Presented in a palette of 8 colours (Canvas is pictured here), Delft Square also comes with a fiveyear guarantee, making it a true statement of quality and craftsmanship that enhances any space.
T 01827 831497 • www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk
Wool carpets 2024
KEY TRENDS AND BENEFITS
trends...
NATURAL TEXTURES
Undyed wool emerges as a key material direction for those interested in creating wellness spaces or healthier interior schemes. Patterned loops and natural tone on tone stripes keep floors looking fresh and contemporary.
QUALITY COUNTS
From British Wool for performance and durability with New Zealand wool for extra whiteness, brightness and lustre, the quality of the wool really does add cachet when it comes to design led wool flooring. Manufacturing provenance is also important in an increasingly environmentally conscious world.
CARPET ART
With the trends for vinyl and hardwood flooring still popular, consumers are getting creative with rugs, carpets and edged runners in other areas of the home, using louder patterns as ‘features’ on areas such as landings, hallways and staircases. Carpets can be fitted or ‘edged’ for a more design-led and personalised look.
SQUARE IS BEAUTIFUL
With more consumers now opting to rent rather than buy their homes, there is a renewed interest in rugs and ‘squares’, which are seen as a longer-term investment and are well adapted to modern urban, and transitionary living. These add comfort, insulation, and allow for extra levels of personalisation.
benefits...
HEALTHIER INTERIORS
As a result of climate change, room temperatures are increasingly subject to change, which can encourage the onset of moulds and mildew. Likewise poor ventilation can increase the amount of condensation in the air.
For those seeking healthier interior spaces, research has consistently shown that wool carpets can help mitigate the effects of changing indoor air humidity.
SAFETY FIRST
High in water and nitrogen content, wool is naturally flame-retardant. Wool does not melt (unlike polyester and nylon), drip or stick to the skin, and when subject to extreme heat it produces less smoke, minimising noxious fumes.
SOUNDS GOOD
With a growing number of people living in built up cities, and urban spaces, as well as working in open plan spaces built from modern materials such as concrete steel and glass, noise can have a negative impact on mental wellbeing.
Research has shown that when integrated, wool carpets and acoustic absorption panels can help achieve comfortable sound levels as it has the capacity to dampen and absorb both high and low frequency sound.
Don’t miss out and get your entries in to the Flooring Innovation Awards
The national Flooring Innovation Awards set out to identify products and services that are genuinely new and exceptional in the sector. Award categories cover not only flooring products, but also recognise achievements in service, technology and marketing. The awards scheme website gives full details of all the categories for 2024/2025 and has an entry form for companies to make their submissions to the judges or for readers to suggest their favourite innovation products.
FLOORINGNEWS
Ulster invests to double capacity for luxury carpets
Ulster Carpets are set for further expansion to meet the growing demand for their luxury carpets and rugs.
Construction work is currently underway at their global headquarters in Northern Ireland to further extend their recently completed High Speed Weaving Building and build on the success of new looms that have been developed by GTM, a company that is part of the Ulster Carpets Group.
Ulster Carpets have announced an expansion to double the size of their recently completed High Speed Weaving Building to meet increasing demand for their luxury carpets and rugs.
“We are already the world’s largest single-site producer of Axminster and Wilton carpets but this additional capacity will allow us to meet increasing demands from our customers across the world,” said Nick Coburn, Managing Director of Ulster Carpets. “All the new looms will be operational by April 2025, giving us the highest Axminster capacity in our history.
“This is part of a long-term investment strategy to redevelop and upgrade our manufacturing facilities and it displays our on-going commitment to manufacturing in the UK.”
Six new colours for Habitüs
Construction work is currently underway at the global headquarters of Ulster Carpets in Northern Ireland to further extend their recently completed High Speed Weaving Building
In June, Ulster Carpets finished commissioning their fourth new highspeed loom in the last 12 months. Following the success of this initial investment, the decision was made to double the size of the High Speed Weaving Building to house a further four high-speed looms. Building work is set to be completed in December in time for the arrival of the next two new looms.
Displaying confidence during a turbulent time for the residential flooring industry, the family-owned company have invested heavily in new technology, jobs and infrastructure over the last 18 months.
“We are looking ahead with confidence,” said Jeremy Wilson, Residential Sales Director. “We have just launched 6 new colours for our popular Habitus range and development work on new ranges and colours for 2025 is already well underway.
“With so much uncertainty in the flooring industry, this announcement provides confidence for our retailers and customers.”
www.ulstercarpets.com
Danish-inspired
Ulster Carpets have added 6 new colours to their Danish-inspired Habitüs collection. Continuing with the contemporary look of this tufted loop range, the 4 new Croft and 2 new Strönd colours add a warmer feel to the existing collection. These additions bring Croft and Strönd up to a total of 24 different colourways. In the Croft range, Roe, Wicker, Marram and Orchard offer a natural, textured finish. For Strönd, Fallow and Fjord combine plain and heathered yarn to create a contrasting ribbed design of linear character.
Using 100% wool for the pile yarn, Habitüs creates a quiet, understated aesthetic of contemporary patterns and comforting textures. Croft and Strönd are available in 5m, 4m, 3m, 2m and 1m MultiWidths that are suitable for heavy wear applications.
The launch continues Ulster’s drive to regularly bring new colours and new ranges to the market.
Strönd Fallow is one of 6 new colours added to the
Habitüs collection from Ulster Carpets.
Marketing insights Flooring flair for commercial spaces
With so many retailers providing a supply and fit service for commercial spaces we thought we’d take a closer look at flooring brands who have developed fit for purpose products to cater for both the residential and commercial sector.
Karndean Designflooring is a trusted market leader in the residential sector for innovative and ultra-realistic designs which are also suitable for most commercial settings. From community living and build to rent developments to hospitality and office settings, Karndean’s designs offer an authentic natural look, the versatility to design bespoke floors and the technical specifications to cope with demanding situations.
“Our wood and stone design floors offer endless potential for imaginative yet practical floors.”
Richard Allen, sales director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “Our wood and stone design floors offer endless potential for imaginative yet practical floors. With our latest Art Select collection, for example, it’s easy to recreate an historic style or a fresh contemporary look. A consistent tile thickness allows different laying patterns to be used for interest or a bespoke mix of wood and stone designs to demarcate activity zones.
“Inspired by some of the rarest and most precious materials, each floor embodies the essence of its original source while protecting threatened natural landscapes. Our new Calacatta marble designs were developed from a small sample obtained from the same Carrara quarries used by Michelangelo in the 16th century, while the pearlescent magic of onyx, unsuitable for flooring in its natural state, has been recreated and combined with cutting edge technology to produce a robust flooring with a unique translucent quality.
“Because the beauty of nature has always been our inspiration, we are working to ensure that the natural world is protected for future generations. Our Karndean Evolve strategy sets out how we are reducing our environmental impact and supporting the flooring industry to transition towards a circular economy,” said Richard.
Available for fast delivery across the UK, Karndean’s Art Select gluedown range features a 0.7mm wear layer and 3.0mm thickness and comes with all the benefits of Karndean flooring, an Environmental Product Declaration and the reassurance of a 20-year guarantee in commercial settings.
Those who know Lano know that they service multiple segments. Besides being a valued supplier for residential carpet and artificial grass, the Belgian carpet manufacturer is also known for its hospitality and commercial ranges.
Custom projects, including Axminster woven carpets, are key in this segment but at Lano they also have a standard stock programme called the Pilotis collection which is presented in a handy compact suitcase. The content is a range of different carpet ranges in commercial but contemporary shades and textures and even some tile qualities, all available from stock. Returning to the custom programme, for all qualities in the suitcase, Lano offers a custom colour service. How does that work? The customer chooses a carpet quality, provides a colour reference, and receives several proposals to choose from.
“The content is a range of different carpet ranges in commercial but contemporary shades and textures and even some tile qualities.”
Karndean Designflooring options in commercial settings
Karndean Designflooring – Canterbury Ash
Lano – Pilotis collection
FLOORINGNEWS
by Rita Bancroft
Rita is Director of Bancmarketing Ltd 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.
Carpet challenged on microplastics
The carpet industry is “neglecting the problem” of harmful microplastics according to detailed research by the University of Portsmouth.
In a new report entitled “Microplastics in our homes – Our carpets’ hidden secret”, the university researchers, working with sustainability consultants SB&CO, say that the flooring industry’s focus is only on sustainability and that none of the 24 major manufacturers they studied has a policy on microplastics reduction.
It goes without saying that all qualities meet all the requirements and standards for the commercial segment. The new Pilotis 2025 suitcase is now available, you can get in touch with your local sales representative for further information.
Moduleo’s Intoo loose lay luxury vinyl is the ideal floor for commercial projects. Offering premium design in wood, stone and terrazzo effects with an ultra-matt textured finish, Intoo has a 0.55mm wear layer made
“It is becoming apparent that microplastics may impact human health and we need to understand how to limit our exposure. The flooring industry needs to play its part and consider new ways to reduce the release of microplastics from carpets,” says the report, written by Dr Fay Couceiro, Reader in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Pollution at the University of Portsmouth and published in May this year.
to excel in spaces such as offices and hospitality. The floor’s scratch and stain resistance, combined with its easy to maintain finish, mean it stays looking good under heavy use. Made in Belgium specially for loose lay installation, Intoo uses tackifier rather than being fully bonded to the subfloor. This makes fitting cleaner and faster, and as a plus, Intoo is easier to uplift, replace or remove at the end of life for reuse or recycling.
“Intoo has been released to fulfil the growth for loose lay luxury vinyl floors that are compatible in height with carpet tiles.”
Fibres are of particular concern regarding inhalation as they can cause problems with lung health and a recent study showed that having carpet in your house can double the number of microfibre plastics in the air.
“Carpet companies are heavily promoting the shift to using recycled plastics as a more environmental and sustainable solution, but are not yet considering the impacts of microplastics. Instead, durability, cleanability and low prices are the key selling points,”
Matthew Brook, national sales manager, Moduleo, said: “While our dryback Roots floors are often used in commercial environments like shops, hotels, housing and offices; Intoo has been released to fulfil the growth for loose lay luxury vinyl floors that are compatible in height with carpet tiles. In offices, it’s common practice to create floor designs that mix these two materials throughout spaces as a way to zone. By using the same installation method and avoiding transition profiles between the floors, it gives a faster install and cleaner looking end result.”
It notes that the apparel industry is taking the issue seriously and exploring new initiatives. This may be because microplastics in clothing get into watercourses through the discharge from washing machines and have therefore become part of the higher-profile issue of microplastics in rivers and oceans.
In its conclusion, the report says that the carpet industry should start prioritising research to determine which products are producing the most microplastics, and in which environments. Part of this could include which polymer types and weaves are the best performing, and how different coatings can impact microplastic numbers and their toxicity.
“Is it time for more transparency and collaboration?” asks the report. “Researchers, industry and government need to work together to solve the problem.” www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/features/microplastics-in-our-homes
Moduleo – Intoo Mattina
FLOORING FOCUS
The added value of the underlay opportunity
Underlay is no longer the unfashionable Cinderella at the flooring ball, it’s becoming bigger and better business
Have you noticed? Underlay is going up the agenda and up-market as retailers look for more ways to enhance sluggish flooring sales and ensure that those consumers who are buying, buy more.
With their new national TV and radio campaign of the Tredaire-nauts, Interfloor are raising the profile of underlay to the forefront of customers minds. Whilst being on a mission to bring luxury and comfort to homes across the universe, the Tredaire-nauts are here to help educate consumers on why underlay is an essential part of their flooring and the inimitable feeling of Tredaire underlay.
This campaign represents more than just an advertising initiative; it’s a strategic move to elevate the entire flooring industry. By boldly going where no underlay brand has gone before, Tredaire is not only addressing the evolving needs of consumers but also supporting our valued retail partners in capitalising on increased consumer demand and engagement.
Feelslike nothingonearth
“By boldly going where no underlay brand has gone before, Tredaire is not only addressing the evolving needs of consumers but also supporting valued retail partners...”
A superior underlay, such as Tredaire, can significantly enhance carpets feel and lifespan, as well as improve acoustic and thermal insulation. The campaign is also paired with groundbreaking retailer support, providing all stores with brand new sample range designs, display units, banners, floor mats, window stickers and much more!
The Tredaire-nauts are here to inspire consumers to explore the world of Tredaire, a world where underlay isn’t just a necessity, but a transformative experience.
Also seeking to bring consumers to a better understanding of the benefits of quality underlay is Carpenter who have invested considerable time and money into an innovative POS initiative.
Carpenter’s carpet underlay point of sale board is designed to guide consumers to the perfect underlay solution for their home. With three distinct sections, this POS board simplifies the decision-making process, catering to various customer needs.
The sections are:
Standard – A versatile, all-around underlay option.
Comfort – Ideal for adding a touch of luxury underfoot, perfect for plush carpets like saxonys.
Performance – Offering a firmer feel, this underlay is designed to extend the life of the carpet, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas.
Fully customisable to match each retailer’s preferences and customer demographics, this approach enables the retailer to display the right underlay options for their store, whilst still providing a valuable tool to boost sales and offer tailored solutions to end users.
The clear, concise design makes it easy for shoppers to choose the best underlay for their needs, enhancing the overall carpet-buying experience.
In a tight market, high end flooring options have been holding up well and the same seems to be true of underlay.
“Carpenter’s carpet underlay point of sale board is designed to guide consumers to the perfect underlay solution for their home.”
“There’s clearly interest in underlays that offer excellent long-term performance, as we’ve seen growing demand for higher quality foam underlay products,” says Andrew Gill, product manager, floorwise. “So, we’ve introduced four brand-new foam underlays that offer the ultimate in comfort and durability in our premium Feel the Difference collection.
“By using our SHD+ and UHD+ densities in an excellent quality of post-industrial recycled foam, we’ve ensured that these new underlays not only feel fantastic under carpet, but that they also continue to provide great bouncebackability. Made in the UK, the new Finesse, Charm, Indulgence and Delight give homeowners a choice depending on their budget and requirements.
Carpenter POS board
Tredaire is boldly going where no underlay has gone before
“There’s clearly interest in underlays that offer excellent longterm performance, as we’ve seen growing demand for higher quality foam underlay products. So, we’ve introduced four brand-new foam underlays that offer the ultimate in comfort and durability in our premium Feel the Difference collection.”
“With great impact sound reduction and thermal insulation, these Feel the Difference underlays make homes noticeably warmer and quieter. They are also our first underlays to also be tested for VOC emissions and as you would expect, they perform excellently, achieving the highly demanding and internationally recognised French A+ rating,” says Andrew.
These four new PU underlays from floorwise improve choice and ensure Feel the Difference continues to be a great portfolio for homeowners wanting a competitively-priced underlay that delivers first class comfort and durability.”
Wilsons Underlays is continually developing and innovating to produce underlays for all applications and two new specialist underlays are currently in the pipeline with the launch of HeatStream and are highly anticipated for 2025.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FELT?
Croyden-based Biswell Flooring has found a sweet spot for the use of sustainable underlay from Anglo Recycling in their higher end axminster installations in London apartment refurbishments and hospitality projects.
Anglo Recycling works with leading UK retail companies such as John Lewis, major UK carpet manufacturers and national fitting companies and have found a way of producing a great range of carpet underlay felts using more than 1,000 tonnes each year of virgin carpet offcuts that used to go into landfill.
Biswell Flooring orders Anglo products in bulk and sends the container back to the recycler with the baled waste they have generated from installations over the previous six months or so.
“This ticks lots of boxes for us,” says Biswell’s MD Jeevan Bedi. “We get a good deal by buying in bulk. We use the backhaul transport to save on logistics costs and we don’t have to rent expensive skips.
“The environmental credentials are excellent. It has to be the right thing to do to save waste from landfill but also our customers, especially commercial specifiers, want to see a sustainable solution and this gives us an advantage,” says Jeevens.
“And the underlay is a great product,” he says. “It has the right kind of quality feel for the kind of work we do and a strong price to weight ratio.”
Biswell got together with Anglo through Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) – both are members of this leading organisation committed to divert textile wste from landfill. Simon Macauley of Anglo commented: “Biswell is a great example of how the industry can work together on recycling – protecting the environment without any compromise on quality or performance and with a sound economic case.”
floorwise Feel the Difference
Biswell bales the offcuts before sending to Anglo
Jeevens Bedi of Biswell Flooring
Wilsons are innovating in underlay
FLOORING FOCUS
The
underlay opportunity
continued from page 45
TWICE-RECYCLED WITH A LOT OF BOTTLE
Yorkshire-based textile manufacturer Texfelt launched an 8mm Eco-Step variant to its SpringBond underlay range at the Flooring Show in Harrogate with the eye-catching credential that 1,000 plastic bottles qwould be save for every three-bedroom house installation.
Offering superior benefits to end-users, Texfelt’s Eco-Step underlay is suitable for a range of applications, particularly new housing developments. It has been developed to be the go-to underlay to meet 8mm industry specifications, meaning that housebuilders now have a sustainable alternative to standard PU foam underlay, which has enhanced performance, is 100% chemical free and has no lumps and bumps due to its precision engineered manufacturing process.
Environmental credentials include the product being manufactured using 180 recycled plastic bottles per roll of underlay. Eco-Step also benefits from Texfelt’s ‘twice recycled’ process, which uses waste from the manufacturing process of other SpringBond products to create the 8mm Eco-Step underlay.
Danny Shortall, Group Sales Director, comments on the new product: “We have listened to what the housing market have asked for and we’re proud to have developed a product that balances comfort, innovative manufacturing, and affordability in response to industry needs. We aim to provide an accessible price point for those looking to avoid using standard PU foam underlay.”
With invincible benefits and unmatched performance, Magnificus has become a jewel in the crown of Associated Weavers’ top selling Invictus brand.
“Our 8mm Eco-Step is the ideal product for those needing to meet industry standards or requiring an entry-level sustainable underlay alternative. On the other hand, our 9mm and 11mm ranges continue to provide enhanced levels of comfort & performance and are the ideal solution for commercial spaces or luxury environments.”
For many customers, HeatStream will provide a new era of underlay for specialist underfloor heating applications and sit alongside their Innovation Award Winning ThermalStream to widen the underfloor heating underlay offering to even more specialist applications.
Their second product release next year will be SmartStep – an underlay which is set to tick almost every commercial and residential highperformance application. With specialist flame retardant properties, this underlay will be making its way to top choice for many installers.
Despite the constant evolution of products available from Wilsons Underlays, their best-seller, Plushwalk remains a firm favourite for installers and end-users. Providing ultimate comfort underfoot through the incorporation of memory foam and demonstrating excellent performance credentials with a high TOG and dB rating, Plushwalk is the underlay that satisfies the practicalities and the home comforts.
With all this in mind, Plushwalk is a win-win for retailers who find customers choosing it over cheaper standard underlays and a no-brainer for installers who enjoy smoother, faster cutting than standard PU underlays. The top backing helps move carpets in place for a faster and easier installation all round.
Ball and Young are keen on emphasising uncompromising comfort for their discerning Cloud 9 customer and to encourage consumers to “step onto a floor that feels as luxurious as it looks, every single day.”
“Retailers can tell their customers to say goodbye to chilly floors,” says Ball & Young’s MD Rachel Attwood. “Our high tog rated underlays act as an effective barrier, keeping the warmth in and the cold out. Ideal for homes with concrete subfloors or draughty floorboards, our underlays can even contribute to lower heating bills by enhancing a home’s energy efficiency.”
Underfloor heating systems require specific considerations when selecting the appropriate underlay. The right choice can enhance comfort, extend the lifespan of your flooring, and ensure efficient heating. Ball & Young offers an alternative range of underlays that, unlike typical insulation products, have lower tog ratings, which is crucial for underfloor heating applications.
“Our high tog rated underlays act as an effective barrier, keeping the warmth in and the cold out. Ideal for homes with concrete subfloors or draughty floorboards, our underlays can even contribute to lower heating bills by enhancing a home’s energy efficiency.”
MORE INFORMATION
Ball & Young uncompromising comfort
Things can only get better…. but when?
The flooring trade is feeling gloomy as the nights start to draw in this Autumn with our latest survey revealing that around half of all retailers expect year-end sales to be below 2023 levels.
52% of our respondents to a survey posted on September 4 expected turnover to be down, with a third saying sales would be more than 10% below their 2023 performance. But a quarter were more positive, saying their revenues would be up by more than 10%.
Around 55% said they had increased prices during the year but a substantial 79% said their margins had not improved.
While higher value sales were holding up well according to 72% of our readers, the mainstream market is in the doldrums and 70% said consumer confidence showed no signs of improving. 66% said their customers were more significantly more price sensitive. One respondent said retailers should be more willing to try up-market products to boost their margins.
Hopes that some encouraging signs in the economy on interest rates and inflation and the stability of a new Government are not showing through in buyer behaviour. “People are still sat on the hands and we’re not selling,” said a Yorkshire reader.
“People are still sat on their hands and we’re not selling”
Asked if the change in Government had improved the outlook, 61% said not. “The prime minister telling consumers things are going to get worse before they get better has not helped. Especially for the middle classes who might have money to spend but aren’t sure what will happen in the Autumn statement,” said a North East business.
Only 28% of our readers expect the run up to Christmas to out-perform 2023.
“There is no financial strength in the trade at the moment”
Some feel that a structural change is coming in the sector. “There is no financial strength in the trade at any level at the moment,” says a reader in the South West, noting that many major players in the industry were re-organising and re-structuring. “Carpetright have gone, SCS no longer sell floorcovering and every section of the trade is evolving. The landscape will look very different over the course of the next few years but I feel independents will continue and thrive.”
“We are definitely benefitting from the demise of Carpetright, let’s make the most of it,” added a retailer in the North East. Better sales data from the housing market was also mentioned by several respondents as an encouraging sign for the future.
The
52% expect sales to be down
55% have increased prices
79% say margins are down 70% see confidence falling 72% say high end is doing well 28% expect better Q4 sales
polled 2,400 retailers throughout the UK during September 2024. Replies and comments are recorded anonymously. Many thanks to all those who took part.
“Let’s make the most of the demise of Carpetright”
Manufacturers and suppliers got a vote of confidence from our readers with 72% saying they had risen to the challenge of a tight market in terms of service, delivery and pricing, though only 25% said they were seeing the new product launches they needed to motivate customers.
“I feel independents will continue and thrive”
So when is it going to get better? Maybe it’s encouraging that just over half of our readers thought 2025 sales would be “up a little” on this year, but asked when things were really going to pick up, the largest response (28%) was “not for the foreseeable future” with another 25% saying the second half of 2025 and 21% saying 2026.
“The only way is up... but I’m not sure when we move off the bottom!”
Stocklists
FITTER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2024
The fittest fitter!
Richard Long beat a team of the U.K.'s most talented flooring fitters to take the first prize in the Fitter of the Year (Carpet) Competition at The Flooring Show, Harrogate 2024. Congratulations!
The competition, organised by the National Institute of Carpet and Floor layers (NICF) Is the country's most vigourous challenge for the trade and the pressure was really on this year as the finalists had to demonstrate their excellencein fitting a complex carpet instalaltion.
Left
Richard (left) receives his award from Susie Makin of show organisers Ocean Media, with judge Ian James
Below left
Darren Ash tackles the complex installation challenge set by the NICF.
Below
The finalists line up is (left to right): Darren Ash, Richard Long, Steve Whitburn, Gareth Williams and Joni Reeves.
Bottom
The event attracts big crowds as the clock ticks towards the judges final decision.
The Stocklists magazine is a proud sponsor of the Fitter of the Year Competition.
“I was absolutely delighted to have reached the final of FOTY – Carpet, for the third time.
“I love this competition and everything it does for the trade bringing fitters together from all over the UK. The experience I gained in 2019 and 2022 made everything more familiar this time around.
“I’m used to the day-to-day work which is totally different to competition work. It’s very rewarding from a personal point of view.
“In my spare time I like climbing mountains in the Scottish Highlands and if I’m not on the hills you’ll find me on a golf course.”
Richard Long of Dundee
Flooring Feature
GUIDE TO WOOD FLOORING INSTALLATIONS
Apart from being desirable for its natural appearance, wood flooring can outlast textile and man-made alternatives, potentially withstanding generations of wear and even improving with age providing it is installed properly. Neil Sanders, technical director at the UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings, F. Ball and Co. Ltd., provides a guide to ensuring installations live up to their potential.
Achieving a long-lasting, visually attractive finish with timber floorcoverings demands that the same basic principles of floorcovering installation are followed as when installing other types of floorcovering. However, wood is more susceptible than textile or resilient floorcoverings to damage from moisture. It can also expand and contract significantly as a result of changes in atmospheric conditions, including temperature and humidity, exerting strain on adhesives and the surface to which floorcoverings are bonded. This demands a few unique considerations when installing this kind of flooring.
CHECK FOR MOISTURE
A subfloor must be suitably sound, smooth and free of any contaminants, including any old adhesive residues. Furthermore, it is essential that it is checked for moisture to determine if it is dry enough to receive a floorcovering by undertaking a moisture test. F. Ball recommends this as a routine procedure as part of any flooring installation. To comply with British Standards, subfloor Relative Humidity (RH) levels should be measured using a calibrated digital hygrometer.
If unmanaged, excess subfloor moisture will cause wood to warp and attack adhesives, potentially resulting in the floorcoverings cupping or buckling and, ultimately, complete floor failure.
Normally, a liquid waterproof surface membrane will be required to suppress excess subfloor moisture when subfloor RH levels are above 75%. However, the maximum permitted figure is 65% where wood floorcoverings will be installed because of the sensitivity of this type of floorcovering to moisture.
CREATE A BASE
After checking subfloor moisture and deploying a moisture management solution where necessary, contractors can proceed to apply a smoothing compound to ensure a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings, remembering to prime the subfloor beforehand.
F. Ball usually recommends using a heavy-duty smoothing compound, such as its Stopgap 300 HD, prior to the installation of wood floorcoverings because they are better able to withstand the added strain exerted by the natural movement of the wood.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADHESIVE
Finally, contractors must select a specialist wood adhesive to install wood blocks or planks. Utilising the latest technology, flexible wood floor adhesives provide an elastic but strong bond, which will accommodate natural movement of wood flooring over its lifetime, ensuring a long lasting, visually attractive floor finish.
One such flexible wood floor adhesive, F. Ball’s Styccobond B95, provides good initial tack whilst also allowing for repositioning of floorcoverings during the initial stage of drying, a particular advantage when installing wood blocks.
INSTANT ADVICE
To ensure the correct choice of adhesive for the floorcovering, F. Ball recommends checking the compatibility using its industryleading recommended adhesives guide (RAG), which lists adhesives recommended for use with over 6,000 floorcoverings, produced by over 200 flooring manufacturers. The RAG is available on the F. Ball website, downloadable as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. Alternatively, see floorcovering manufacturer’s instructions for advice. F. Ball guarantees that its products will perform for the entire lifetime of a flooring installation, as long as subfloor preparation and installation recommendations are followed.
F. Ball’s technical service department is also on hand Monday to Friday, 8.30am–5.00pm, to answer any questions you might have about installing wood floorcoverings or floorcovering-adhesive compatibility.
T 01538 361 633 mail@f-ball.co.uk www.f-ball.com
FLOORING FACTSHEET 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.
Odour:
Low odour, solvent-free and low VOC products are increasingly favoured and now have the same performance characteristics of older products.
Coverage:
How thick and how far can the adhesive be spread.
Application Method: Different adhesives may be applied by roller, trowel or spray.
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.
Acrylic/Resin: Ideal for plasticised 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.
Polyurethane: An adhesive with rapid bonding characteristics, typically used for wood floors.
Polyvinyl Acetate: Typically used for close fitting joints in timber, laminate floors and panels.
Tackifier: An adhesive for carpet designed to increase the tackiness – or the tack range –of an adhesive.
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.
The Stocklists
Carpet Company Directory
Abingdon Flooring
www.abingdonflooring.co.uk 01274 655694
Adam Carpets Ltd
www.adamcarpets.co.uk 01562 829966
Alternative Flooring www.alternativeflooring.com 01264 335111
Sans Frontieres Ltd www.sansfrontiere.co.uk 0844 5611977
Shaw Home Foundations 01675 433 501
Timzo Tufting Industry BV www.condor-group.eu +31 38 385 4477
Signature Carpets www.signaturecarpets.co.uk 01422 845075 TAT Carpet 07976 607657 Tapibel
Bronte’s Cream Shagpile Primo Textures by Cormar
Wellington Stripe from Ulster
Flooring factsheet
Carpet trouble-shooter
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.
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
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.
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.
Static
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.
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. 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.
Pulling Loops
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.
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.
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.
Samples Installation
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.
Telephone National Institute of Carpet Fitters (NICF) for further information – 0115 958 3077.
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
• Impressive 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.
• Warm and soft to touch compared to ceramic and stone floors - and 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
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 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 one another (like a locked tongue and groove system) and ‘float’ on the sub-floor without being glued down. There are many proprietary versions of the click system which offer fast, clean installation and stability.
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 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.
LVT construction
PVC Middle Layer(s)
Fibre Glass Layer(s)
PVC Base Layer
www.bramptonchase.co.uk
www.invictus.co.uk
www.krausflooring.co.uk
www.myvictoria.co.uk
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 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.
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.
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.
• 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
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.
Types
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.
Sponge rubber • 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.
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.
Pre-tackified underlay • A self-adhesive single stick underlay in both needlefelt and PU. A removable system for heavy use when comfort is desired.
Underlayment for LVT • This provides a smooth surface on which you can glue down immediately. If there is a time or acoustic issue or a problematic underfloor, a stable, smooth dual underlay system will provide the best solution.
www.floorwise.co.uk
www.carpenterunderlay.co.uk
www.unifloor.nl
www.underlay.com
www.wilsons-carpet-underlays.co.uk
Sponge rubber Crumb
Combination PU foam
Flooring factsheet
Buying Groups
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.
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 of the committee
• 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
• 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
Contact: Mike Reed Tel: 0118 932 3832 info@smg-group.co.uk
Associated Carpet Group www.acgcarpets.com
Key benefits
Increase margins
THE STOCKLISTS Feburary 2022
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...
• Group purchases to get beneficial rates
• Rebates
• Exclusive higher-margin products
• Special promotions
One of the key reasons to join a buying group is to 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.
• Ensure you understand any rules that may limit your flexibility to run your business the way you want
Increase sales
• Best of both worlds’ proposition
• Wider ranges and exclusive products
• POS, displays and merchandising support
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.
Contact: Jon Richardson Tel: 01942 825520 jon@acgcarpets.com
www.beautifulflooring.co.uk
Contact: Carl Harris Tel: 01892 549050 charris31@sky.com
www.flooringone.co.uk
Peter Karra Tel: 0121 683 1426 peter.karra@flooringone.co.uk
Floorwise House, 22 High Street Kegworth, Derby, DE74 2DA, UK Tel: +44 (0)1509 673974 Fax: +44 (0)1509 674841
Joining the NICF has worked really well for my business and me. Customers can find me listed on the
Membership gives clients assurance of
Use of NICF logo — promote yourself as a quality installer
FREE NICF website listing — helps to gain work opportunities
FREE Technical Advice and Business Support Helplines
15% OFF FITA* Standard Training Courses/Workshops: Improve your existing skills, learn to fit new flooring types, learn new fitting techniques and reduce the number of complaints
Discounts on tools and workwear
FREE use of the NICF Guide to Domestic Flooring
FREE annual magazine subscription to The Stocklists and CFJ
Cost-Effective Estimating and Planning — Commercial
Profitable Measuring and Quoting — Domestic
Moisture — Preventing Floor Failures
NICF Fitter
Commission Sales Agents JOB OPPORTUNITY
Riviera Home is seeking motivated and experienced Sales Agents to represent our high-end luxury broadloom carpets and rugs in two key regions:
• Area 1: West Midlands, including South Wales, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and the West Midlands
• Area 2: Scotland and the Isles
About Us
Riviera Home UK is a luxury textile manufacturer and leading name in handcrafted, high-end broadloom carpets and rugs, known for exceptional quality and luxurious designs.
What We Offer:
Attractive Commission Structure: Competitive earnings for motivated professionals
Premium Products: Handloomed, Flatwoven and Tufted ranges
Network Growth: Expand your connections within the luxury flooring industry
Who We’re Looking For:
Experienced Sales Professionals: Expertise in luxury flooring
Established Connections: Strong relationships with independent retailers and interior designers
Driven and Organised: Self-motivated individuals eager to grow their business
If you have the experience and ambition to thrive in the luxury carpet market, please contact
Richard Moore, Sales & Marketing Director Richard.Moore@rivierahomeuk.com | Tel: 01299 871446
ANTI-SLIP
Super Plus
The Rug Tamer! Keeps Rugs In Their Place
COMBINATION UNDERLAYS NEEDLEFELT UNDERLAYS
For orders and further information, please ring P&R Ratcliffe (Underlays) Ltd.
