The Stocklists - April 2011 by David Spragg

Stocklists The

4 April 2011

with

FlooringNews

BRITAIN’S No. 1 FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE FOR THE RETAIL AND CONTRACT MARKET

Stocklists The

Published by Mayville Publishing Co Ltd 219 West Ella Road, West Ella, Hull HU10 7SD Tel: 01482 659396 Fax: 01482 659397 www.thestocklists.com Sales Director: Diane Martin. diane@mayvillepublishing.co.uk Publication Director: David Spragg. Founded by Roy Spragg in 1973.

FIRST FOR FLOORING NEWS AND DATA

4 APRIL 2011

FlooringNews starts on page 33

Advertisers

leads the charge on Rhinos ‘r’ us! Mohawk the push for more consumer

Monthly ‘Stocklisters’ shown in BOLD Index

demand for stain resistant carpets pages 36

ABINGDON ................................................44,45

01274 655662

—

0800 862 0251

—

AFS

Feb 2011

.................................................................19

020 8805 8620

ASSOCIATED WEAVERS .................FC

01422 431100

—

BONDWORTH ........................................20

01562 745000

1.9.2010

BROCKWAY CARPETS LTD. BRONTE

Don Coates says there’s ‘room for growth’ page 46

—

01282 862736 01457 861141

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CAVALIER ........................................................—

01254 268000

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COLUMBIA FLOORING

...................22

0208 443 3322

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LIFE..............................IFC

01254 296829

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FLOORS ........................................—

0800 077 3301

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EDEL TELENZO......................................23

01422 374417

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FITA ...................................................................58

01159 506836

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FLOORTRAIN ................................................—

01709 780505

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FLOORWISE

01509 673974

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01772 696787

Nov 2010

.............................................18

GASKELL WOOL

RICH...............................—

01827 831525

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GEORGIAN.....................................................—

01827 831430

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HARROGATE

FLOORING SHOW ..........37

01423 779967

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new page ............26

01924 410544

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INTERFLOOR.................................................41

01706 213131

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KINGSMEAD...................................................—

01827 831424

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HECKMONDWIKE

IVC launches new drive in POS for Leoline and Avenue brands page 34 and 36

Extrude health! Abingdon extrudes its own polyprop yarn to underwrite its lifetime guarantee page 44

LITTNER HAMPTON..........................—

0208 520 8474

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MAYFIELD CARPETS .........................—

01706 639 866

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MANX...............................................................—

01827 831434

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MERRYFIELD

GROUP.................................3,36

01422 373799

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MOHAWK

.....................................27,38,39 01480 479830

—

NICF...............................................................58

0115 958 3077

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PENTHOUSE.............................................—

01706 341 231

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RACKHAMS..............................................28

020 85319225 Mar/Apr 2011

RYALUX............................................................49

0845 652 8811

SOLENT WHOLESALE CARPET

01243 774623 Mar/Apr 2011

SOLIHULL

FlooringFactsheets

....29

SHOW ........................................43

Carpet Company Directory

14-15 Wholesaler Distribution Directory

Carpet trouble-shooter

12-13 Wool fibre page 5 Woolsafe: the carpet care guide

10 16-18 11 6-7

— —

STS FLOORING DISTRIBUTORS......30

0845 341000

Feb 2011

01274 655690

—

T & E DISPLAY GROUP ..................53

0121 585 7600

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TRIPLE

01274 582056

—

0845 644 9090

—

01943 850817

—

8-9 Underlay

— 01207 591176

CLICK..................................................47 KING...................................................3

WESTON HAMMER ...........................31

—

STAIRRODS UK LIMITED...............34

SUPER

Carpet types

Mar 2010

FURLONG FLOORING ...................24,25

Smooth operator

Buying Groups

01562 828200

.....................................................—

CONTEMPORARY

New boss for Brintons

—

.......21

CARPENTER ............................................51

CROWN

4 Pattern book page

Price List Date

BRITISH WOOL ................................35,48 01274 688 666

Dennis Flower looks at latest trends cleanable carpet page 54

Adhesives

Contact No

ACCU-CUT....................................................BC

Spotless credentials

Page No

WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION.......6

Classified advertising........................................ pages 59 carpets/rugs/tiles woods/laminates/smooths accessories/services/organisations fibres underlay wholesalers/distributors adhesives

ISSN 0950-5024 © Mayville Publishing Co. Ltd. 2011 Issue: 433 Every care is taken in compiling this magazine, but the proprietors assume no responsibility in the effects arising therefrom.

UK manufactured Carpet Cutting Machines

WWW.CARPETCUTTINGMACHINES.CO.UK

Flooring Factsheet Adhesives

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Flooring factsheet Carpet types TUFTED

WOVEN

With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpet produced today is tufted. It takes about an hour to make a roll of carpet that might take eight hours to weave. To make tufted carpet, hundreds of yarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primary backing fabric to form loops or tufts, which may be left as is or cut. A heavy adhesive coating is applied to hold the tufts in place and a secondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability. A wide variety of styles and textures can then be created using various techniques.

Woven carpet may be in a tiny minority of today’s production but still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for prestigious installations. Axminster • The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing as it is woven and cut to length, creating U-shaped tufts to give a velvety surface. The process locks in the fibre to create a carpet of high durability and performance retention as well as a luxury feel. The process allows for intricate designs and colours to be used – although modern trends mean that the traditional patterned axminster has given way to current fashion trends for plain carpets.

LOOP PILE Berber • Berber carpets look like and are named after a handmade, bulky wool carpet made by the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia. The loops are made from thick or bulky yarns of wool, nylon, polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effect underfoot. These carpets are available in an assortment of colours and may be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop.

Wilton • Wilton woven carpets are produced in a similar way to axminsters – the principal difference being that a continuous fibre is woven all the way through. The carpet can be sheared to create a range of cut and loop textured effects. The result is a high quality carpet of unrivalled durability.

Level loop • When all the loops are of the same height, a highly flexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casual appearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres. The tight loop texture tends to hide marks so it’s a good blend between luxury and practicality.

Flat weave • Manufactured in the same way as wilton, flat weave is a loop pile which allows the yarn to be woven across a wider area to created a flatter, more textured effect.

Multi-level loop • The loops vary to two or sometimes three loop heights to create informal, random textures which are very forgiving for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas and busy family rooms.

ends blend together which then further enhances the overall finish. These carpets tend to ‘shade’ with heavy use. Footprints show easily and the colour looks different from place to place because fibres lying in different directions reflect the light differently. A luxury for occasional rooms.

CUT PILE Freize • Frieze (pronounced free-say) carpets are similar to saxony, but the yarns are more tightly twisted and should always be heat set. They have a dense, low pile surface which creates a coarse, pebbly texture. Frieze carpets are very durable and hide footprints, dust and dirt, which makes them suitable for heavy traffic areas.

CUT AND LOOP When some of the pile is cut and other left as loop, a variety of surface textures and patterns can be created (in a variety of colours). The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints and stains so cut and loop is good for high traffic areas and general purpose rooms in the home.

Saxony • Saxony textures are made of twisted yarns, which should be heat set. The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending together to form a very elegant finish. Saxony textures show footprints and vacuum marks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home. More textured variations improve the practicality of saxonies.

Shag pile • Shag pile has varied in popularity. The pile is up to 50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surface flattens easily and lacks durability.

Twist • The popular twist carpet is the cut-pile standard. The yarn is tightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature and the result is a versatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours.

BONDED Bonded carpets (sometimes called ‘fibre-bonded’ or ‘fusion bonded’) are created by firing fibres into an adhesive material – the fibres are not stitched into the backing in any way. The technique is principally used for commercial carpet tiles.

Velvet • Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have a level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is then sheared to give a smooth finish. With very little twist in the yarn, the

Tip Sheared

Level Loop

Random Sheared

Multi-Level Loop

Saxony

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Sha

Velvet/Plush

Frieze

Twist

Berber

S Shag

Flooring factsheet Carpet care guide from WOOLSAFE Housekeeping Tips for Carpets and Rugs Entrance or walk-off mats The use of entrance mats at all outside entrances to the house is highly recommended, as they will significantly reduce the rate at which the carpet will soil. They should be of adequate size to allow street dirt to be removed from shoe soles and must be cleaned regularly themselves.

Services for Retailers Customer carpet care HELPLINE If you have trouble dealing with customer queries like “How do I get red wine stains out of my carpet?” Just give them our HELPLINE 01943 850 817 and we’ll give them the correct advice. Simple. Certified Operator Network For experienced, specialist wool carpet cleaners you can trust visit: www.woolsafe.org/find/aregistered-carpet-cleaner. WOOLSAFE Registered Inspectors Solve disputes with customers with our independent carpet complaint Investigators. Just visit: www.woolsafe.org/find/a-registered-carpetinspector and call your nearest inspector. WOOLSAFE Approved Products Have confidence in the cleaning product you recommend, use the WOOLSAFE Approved Products Directory it contains only safe and effective carpet cleaning products. For spot removers visit: www.woolsafe.org/spotremovers Carpet Care Leaflets We offer to help you develop custom carpet care literature and we also offer generic carpet care leaflets designed to be given away with each cut of carpet. Correct carpet maintenance should start from day one. Web pages and Links We offer to help you develop custom carpet care pages for your website or you can link to our website’s carpet care pages for up-to-date and accurate advice. Contact us by email, telephone or post to: The WOOLSAFE Organisation 49 Boroughgate, Otley, LS29 8NR Tel: 01943 850817 E-mail: office@woolsafe.org or visit www.woolsafe.org The WOOLSAFE Organisation – promoting quality carpet and rug care since 1991.

Regular Maintenance Regular cleaning will extend the life of a carpet and maintain its appearance. Vacuum clean regularly and thoroughly, which removes gritty dirt that can damage the fibres. Deal with spillages as soon as possible, preferably the moment they occur. Beware of products claiming to be safe on all fibres, including wool. It might be true, but if it does not have the WOOLSAFE Mark, it is not endorsed by most carpet manufacturers! Never use any detergents such as dishwashing liquids, soaps or other cleaners recommended for general household use. Although they may clean the carpet satisfactorily they will almost certainly cause problems such as rapid re-soiling, colour bleeding or other damage to the pile or backing of the carpet. Use only WOOLSAFE approved products WOOLSAFE-approved carpet care products have been independently and scientifically tested and are safe and effective for cleaning and maintaining all types of carpets and rugs.

The Green WOOLSAFE Mark identifies those products that not only are the most suitable for wool and other quality carpets, but also have the right environmental characteristics.

Periodic Cleaning When the carpet or rug reaches a stage where it could do with a really good clean, you can either do the job yourself, or you can call in a specialist carpet cleaning company. If you are considering cleaning the carpet or rug yourself make sure to use only WOOLSAFE approved products. Look for the WOOLSAFE Mark on the bottle or package. It is best to engage the services of a professional carpet & upholstery cleaning company. To get a really expert job done entrust the work to a WOOLSAFE accredited carpet cleaning company. These companies are fully trained, have been in business for a considerable length of time, are members of one or more recognised professional trade associations related to the cleaning industry and have a reputation for top quality service. And they use only WOOLSAFE-approved cleaning agents on your wool carpets and rugs!

If you have a problem with a carpet or rug that requires an independent inspector, a network of carpet complaint investigators, trained and registered by The WOOLSAFE Organisation is available throughout the UK and Ireland. WOOLSAFE Registered Inspectors have extensive experience in investigating the causes for carpet complaints based on their practical involvement with carpets and rugs over many years. They are fully qualified to investigate carpet and rug complaints on-site on behalf of carpet manufacturers, retailers, cleaning companies and carpet owners. They can carry out or commission tests where required, and will provide comprehensive reports. To contact an inspector in your area call 01943 462127, email: inspector@woolsafe.org, or visit: www.woolsafe.org / Private Householder / Registered Inspectors

WOOLSAFE The Retailer's single source solution for carpet care advice and services. THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

maintenance • cleaning • spot removal • protection • inspection

General Rules for Spot Removal

WOOLSAFE Approved Carpet Cleaning Products www.prochem.co.uk

Treatments 1.

Blot with white kitchen roll or paper tissues

Vacuum clean

Cold water

Home of the Legendary Cleaning Product - Carpet Power www.ozkleen.co.uk

• Soak up liquids with white kitchen roll, tissues, toilet roll or clean cloth

Warm water

• Scoop up or scrape off solids

• Try to identify unknown spots prior to treatment – if unsure, use solvent first

WOOLSAFE-approved carpet shampoo solution (diluted)

WOOLSAFE-approved spot remover for water-based stains

WOOLSAFE-approved spot remover for greasy/oily stains

• Always work from the edge of the spot inwards • BLOT, do NOT rub • Use small quantities of spot remover at a time, applied to a cloth, NOT directly to the spot; work into the spot with a small, soft brush or sponge • Take care with applying solvents to bitumen-backed carpet tiles

Absorbent paper or paper tissue and hot iron

Chewing gum remover (solvent or freeze type)

Life inspired cleaning innovations www.bissell.com

10. Nail varnish remover or acetone 11. White spirit or turpentine substitute 12. Surgical spirit (ethyl alcohol or ethanol)

• When using solvents always ensure there is plenty of fresh air ventilation

14. Rub gently with coarse sand paper

• Always thoroughly rinse out water-based spotters with clean water

15. WOOLSAFE-approved disinfectant or deodorizer

• Dry the spot, if possible, with a hair dryer

16. Rust remover

13. Rub with a coin

17. Carpet re-colouring kit

The Clean Carpet you Expect... the Service you Deserve www.servicemasterclean.co.uk

(Treatments used by professional carpet cleaners)

More Difficult Spots Spot or stain

Easy Spots

Try 1st Try 2nd Try 3rd

Artificially coloured drinks 3

Bleach

C/heating radiator fluid

Coffee

Spot or stain

Try 1st Try 2nd Try 3rd

Blood

Felt-tip pen

7 or 11 12

Burn/scorch marks

Furniture polish

Butter

Glue/adhesive (plastic base)10

Candle wax

Chewing gum

5 15

Ink (fountain)

Ink (ballpoint pen)

Lipstick

Cola

Milk

Cream

Nail varnish

Egg

Paint (oil)

Rust

Soot

Tar (asphalt)

Urine (fresh stain)

Urine (old stain)

Fruit juice

Gravy and sauces

Herbal tea

Metal polish

Mustard

Oil and grease

Paint (emulsion)

Shoe polish

Tea

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Chocolate/cocoa

Floor wax

Environmentally Aware for Superior Carpet Care www.envirodri.com

Vomit

Red wine

These may require repeated attempts with stronger spot removers. Some stains you may find impossible to remove completely in which case the assistance of a professional carpet cleaner is required.

Vacuum Cleaners the Choice of Cleaning Professionals www.sebo.co.uk

British Wool makes a Better Carpet... Naturally www.britishwool.org.uk

This information is provided with the support of WOOLSAFE members for the benefit of all carpet retailers and fitters.

Flooring factsheet Buying Groups Why join? www.greendalecarpets.co.uk Contact: Rob Harding Tel: 01432 852000 Fax: 01432 852005 rharding@greendalecarpets.co.uk

Metro Group www.carpet1st.co.uk Contact: David Kipping Tel: 01204 393539 dek@carpet1st.co.uk

Buying groups have been a highly successful feature of the floor retailing scene in the last decade or so, giving independents the extra edge they need to compete effectively with the retail park chains. More than 1000 retailers are now members of one of the several buying groups which operate in our sector and the numbers are slowly, but steadily growing. While the benefits of bulk buying power are self-evident, the resistance to the buying group concept among nonmembers appears to be centred on fears of surrendering some control to a committee – and most particularly compromising long-established relationships and negotiated terms with current suppliers. The bottom line is the bottom line. A retailer selling across a broad range of products is likely to improve margins within a buying group – but you don’t need a leap of faith to join up. Ask the buying groups for answers...

www.smg-group.co.uk Contact: David Lewis Tel: 0118 932 3832 info@smg-group.co.uk

Associated Carpet Group www.smartercarpets.co.uk Contact: Richard Moore Tel: 01942 825520 rjmoore65@googlemail.com rmoore@smartercarpets.com

Pick the right one How to decide whether to join a buying group – and which…

• Evaluate all buying groups as they all work differently • Talk to the main marketing contact and/or a member •

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 www.flooringone.co.uk Contact: Glenn Harding Tel: 0121 683 1426 glenn.harding@flooringone.co.uk

Increase margins • 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. 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 point-of-sale, merchandising and displays. Central stockholding may also be on offer. Access professional services

of the committee

www.beautifulflooring.co.uk Contact: Paul Phillips Tel: 01892 549050 paul@atbrm.com

Key benefits

own-label options and the UK/European mix

• Ensure you understand any rules that may limit your

• Business services • 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. Network with other independents

• Members-only exhibitions with preferred manufacturers

• Regular meetings • Regional workshops • Supplier presentations • 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.

flexibility to run your business the way you want

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Flooring factsheet Underlay In a tight market for margins, underlay for carpet and laminate 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 satisfaction levels with customers.

www.floorwise.co.uk

But 50% of carpet is still sold without new underlay! Retailers should create an assumption that new underlay is always required, the only decision is which type. It’s also a good target-setter for sales staff. 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.

www.numa-online.co.uk

Benefits

Types

Good underlay will... • Improve underfoot comfort • Increase appearance retention, reducing flattening • Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear • Improve thermal insulation and warmth • Increase sound insulation • Smooth out sub-floor imperfections • Last the lifetime of the carpet

Sponge rubber The market’s most popular underlay is 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. PU (polyurethane) foam PU foam is a relative newcomer to the market, typically made from recycled foam offcuts. The foam provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options – and its light weight helps handling. The product can be re-cycled again after use. 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-surface. 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 up to 2.5 can be used – which means the underlay would normally have a tog rating of 1.0. Felt This traditional (but environmentally friendly) underlay 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.

Poor or old underlay will...

• Feel hard and unwelcoming • Reduce carpet life • Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots • Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly • Not meet British Standards How thick? A maximum of 12mm is recommended (working with gripper will be difficult thereafter) but rooms with heavy traffic will need a thinner, denser pad. The combination of thickness and density is all important as a thick underlay with low density may not perform well. Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it will need to be – 11mm is often used for luxury installations with 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.

Sponge rubber

Combination

Crumb

PU foam

www.carpenter.limited.uk

www.interfloor.com

Specialists in pre-tacked underlays, soft fibre boards & Roberts Tools. www.estillon.co.uk

www.underlay.com

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Flooring factsheet Wool fibre THE BEST CARPET WOOL Wool carpets have a historic reputation for quality because as a fibre it is known to withstand pressure and have excellent appearance retention properties. The best wool for carpet production is ‘strong’ wool and this is grown on sheep breeds found in Britain and New Zealand. Most carpets will contain both British Wool and New Zealand Wool because British Wool is more bulky and resilient and offers texture and unique heathery shades to carpet, whilst New Zealand wool is softer and whiter and particularly good for plain, lighter shaded ranges. Combining the two within a blend for carpet yarn gives manufacturers the perfect qualities for carpet. 100% wool or 80/20 – 80/10/10 wool rich Wool has yet to be matched by any man-made fibre; it has superior strength and does not need other fibres to improve its performance. However manufacturers choose to use synthetic fibres within the yarn blend for a number of reasons. These include fibre flexibility, dyeing, heat setting, stain resistance, durability and cost. These wool rich compositions offer industry standard carpets which will perform well in the home. THE BENEFITS OF WOOL CARPET Practical Strong and Resilient – Wool carpet will provide superior performance over many years as it can offer unique resilience and long lasting durability. The natural crimp of wool offers valuable ‘bounce-back’ so that pile compression is resisted and the effects of tracking and shading are reduced – maintaining good appearance over many years. Easy care – Wool is a natural fibre that has an inbuilt resistance to soiling due to its natural oils and its outer surface of microscopic scales and as a result additional anti-soil treatments are not necessary. Simply vacuuming the carpet will keep it looking good and whilst wool initially repels spills, prompt and complete blotting with white paper towels or an absorbent cloth is advised and will address many household spillages.

SAFE

DURABLE

Comfort Soft and Warm – Wool carpet adds luxurious underfoot comfort and warmth to the home and acts as an insulator improving heat retention and energy efficiency. Peace and Quiet – Wool carpet absorbs sound and cushions the home against echo and room to room noise transfer. Safety Fire Retardant – Wool is naturally fire resistant, has a slow ignition rate and tests show that it is self extinguishing within seconds. It meets many safety regulations without additional treatments and is favoured in contract locations for this reason. Fall Friendly – Carpet cushions and so provides a softer floor which protects against serious injury in falls by the very young or the elderly. Internal Environment Indoor Environment – As a natural ‘smart’ fibre with a complex physical and chemical structure, wool helps to create a balanced atmosphere in the home. It breathes and absorbs humidity in the air, releasing it when the atmosphere becomes dry and helps improve air quality by absorbing airborne toxins in indoor air. Anti–allergy – The minute scales on the fibre’s surface will hold fine dust until vacuumed which helps to reduce floating particulate in the atmosphere. Wool does not give off harmful emissions or promote the growth of bacteria and wool is not a food source for dust mites. Eco/Environmental Natural and Sustainable – Grown on sheep, which graze freely, wool is both 100% natural and fully sustainable. As shearing is a necessary part of animal husbandry this means that every year there is a fresh supply of wool available for the carpet manufacturing industry. Energy Efficient – Wool is energy efficient in the home and also in carpet production. Biodegradable – Wool fibre is biodegradable in soil and will produce nitrogen, sulphur, carbon dioxide and water which are all plant nutrients. Environmentally Assessed – Wool is an environmentally responsible fibre that has been measured in terms of its ecological impact. A Life Cycle Analysis study carried out by Leeds University to ISO 14040 standard for British Wool concludes that it compares favourably when measured against man-made fibres.

EASY-CARE

COMFORT

British Wool The Planet Friendly Fibre for Carpet aboutwool.com THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Flooring factsheet Carpet trouble-shooter COLOUR MATCHING

SPROUTING

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’.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SAMPLES 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.

SHEDDING The original carpet tile

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.

PULLED LOOPS

This information is given by responsible manufacturers to help you help your customer to make an informed choice.

• shedding • pulled 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.

SHADING

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.

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).

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

• sprouting • shading • static • fading • pile reversal • shedding • flattening • soiling

PILE REVERSAL

FLATTENING

(SEE SHADING)

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.

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.

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.

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.

INSTALLATIONS Telephone National Institute of Carpet Fitters (NICF) for further information – 0115 958 3077.

This information is given by responsible manufacturers to help you help your customer to make an informed choice.

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

The Stocklists Carpet Company Directory Abingdon Flooring

01274 655694

Adam Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W Ww

01562 829966

Alternative Flooring

01264 335111

Associated Weavers Tw Tu Avena Carpets Ltd Tu Ww Axwoven Carpets Ltd Ax Be Axminster Carpets Ltd Ax Be Tw

0121 550 5788 01297 32244

+32 56 62 2211

Beaulieu International Group Be Pr Tu Tw +32 56 67 66 11

Belvedere Carpets Belvedere Carpets 020 8800 0740

+31 383 861 060

BIC Carpets Be Tw W

+32 56 23 54 10 01924 488882 020 7823 3040

BMK

0113 380 5333

Edel Telenzo’s Rembrandt

Craigie Carpets Be

01294 558400

Creative Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W

01282 862 736

0116 284 1455 +32 56 35 4444

Custom Carpet Company Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww

01737 830301

Dan-Floor UK W

01454 858014

Burmatex Tu

01924 262525

Domo International Be Pr Tu Tw W

Cadogan Carpet Co W

01562 733610

Drury Lane Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W

01254 296829

Cavalier Carpets Ltd Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww

01254 268000

E & WE Carpets W

01562 825952

Christy Carpets Tu Clarendon Carpets Tw

Condor Carpets BV Tu

+32 92 41 4511

019078 308777 01675 433066 0870 020 1725 +31 38 4778911

Edel Telenzo Carpets Ltd Tu Tw W sales@edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk Enterprise Weaving Co Be Ww

01422 374 417

01562 745030

Contemporary Life & Textiles

Blenheim Carpets Ax Be Tw W Ww

Brintons Ax Tu Tw W Ww

Be Tu Tw W office@brontecarpets.co.uk www.brontecarpets.co.uk

Classis Carpets Tu W Ww

Betap Tufting BV Tu Tw W

800 223 6186

Creatuft Carpets Tu W

Bronte Carpets Ltd

Balta Industries NV Tu Tw W Ww

Bond Worth Ltd Ax

01562 828200 www.brockway.co.uk

01422 330261

+32 56783250

Bizspoke Custom Carpets Be Tw W

Tw W sales@brockway.co.uk

01422 431100

Bajong Carpets NV Tu Tw W

Tu W sales@belvederecarpets.co.uk www.belvederecarpets.co.uk

Brockway Carpets Ltd

Couristan Carpets Ax Tu W Ww

Be Tw sales@contemporarylife.co.uk www.contemporarylife.co.uk

01254 296829

Ww cummings@btinternet.com www.fellscarpets.co.uk

01562 745000

01977 662211

Fetcham Furnishings Ltd Tw

Cormar Carpets Ltd Tu Tw W info@cormarcarpets.co.uk www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Fells Carpets

01204 881 234

Fletco Taepper A/S Tu W

020 8944 6220 +45 96 60 3000

0800 505055

Mohawk’s Cherbourg Check

Brockway’s Vogue

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

If you would like to be included in this section or upgrade your listing, please contact Diane Martin on +44 (0)1482 659396 or email diane@mayvillepublishing.co.uk

Every time you see a web or email address in The Stocklists, you can click straight to it from our online edition at www.thestocklists.com

KEY TO CODES: Be: Bespoke • Pr: Printed • Tu: Tufted • Tw: Twist • W: Wool • Ww: Woven Wilton

Leigh Spinners Ltd Tw Louis de Poortere W

Furlong Flooring Tw W enquiries@furlongcentral.co.uk www.furlongflooring.co.uk

01772 696 787

Gaskell Wool Rich Tu Tw W

01827 831525

Gaskell Mackay Carpets Ltd Ax Tu Tw W Georgian Carpets Tu Tw W Godfrey Hirst (GB) Ltd Tu Halbmond Teppichwerke Be Pr Tu Heckmondwike FB ITC Be Pr Tw

01429 892525

Joseph Hamilton & Seaton W Kingsmead Carpets Tu Tw W

Lecaflor Ltd Ax Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww

+32 56 393 386

Tasibel NV Tw

+32 52 499600

01388 664101

01924 410544 0032 51 424 411

0161 368 2563 01827 831400 01827 831 424

+32 56 65 4300

+32 05685 4747 0800 78 33 712

01562 701456

The Sultana Carpet Co Ax

01299 822300

Mayfield Carpets Tu Tw W

01706 639 866

The Wilton Carpet Co Ax W Ww

0845 296 8850

Thomas Witter UK Ltd Tu Tw

0870 1128318

MID NL Be

+31 38 851 8700

Timzo Tufting Industry BV Tu +31 38 385 4477

Mohawk Europe +49 037 421 420

The Grosvenor Wilton Co W Ww

01827 831 434

0800 526696

Lano NV

Le Tissage d'Arcade Ax Ww

01623 481 221

Manx Carpets Tw W

marinagooch@mohawkeurope.com www.mohawkinternational.com Mr Tomkinson Tw Ww

01480 479830 01480 471304

01827 831 450

Tisca Tiara Tu Ww

+41 71 791 0111

Trendy Tuft Designs Be Tu Tw W

01274 855080

Ulster Carpets Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww

02838 334433

01675 433031

Penthouse Carpets Tu Tw W

United Carpets & Beds Tw W Ww

01706 341231

Phoenox Textiles Pr Tu

Victoria Carpets Tu Tw W Ww

01562 749300

01484 863227

Vorwerk

08700 104484

Pownall Carpets Tw W

0845 6528811

Westex Carpets Tu

01274 861334

Ossfloor UK

Roger Vanden Berghe.NV Tu Ww

Ax Pr Tu Tw W Ww marketing@lano.be www.lano.com

Tapibel NV Pr Tu Tw

01827 831430

John Lanham Watts Carpets Ax Tw Ww 01937 588511 John Evans Ltd Ax Tu Tw W

Lusotufo Tu

01942 673232

+32 56 73 57 11

Ryalux Carpets Ltd Be Tu Tw W

0845 652 8811

Sans Frontieres Ltd Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww

0844 5611977

Shaw Home Foundations Tu TAT Carpet

01675 433 501 07976 607657

Weston Hammer W Whitestone Weavers Ltd Ax Be Tu Tw W Ww Wilkies Carpets Tw Woodward Grosvenor Ax Tu Tw W Ww Wool Classics Tu Ww

01709 732 666

0845 644 9090 01429 892555 0113 307 9955 0800 526696 0207 349 1560 Tollgate stand

Bronte’s stand

Cormar’s Berwick

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Are you a Wholesaler? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not listed here, please call Diane Martin on 01482 659396.

The Stocklists Wholesale Distribution Directory National Fells Carpets Goole 01977 662211 sales@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk

North East

Fells Carpets Goole

Midlands

East

01977 662211

Carpet & Flooring Birmingham 0121 421 9131 birmingham@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk

Beds Flooring Bedford 01234 341234 sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk

sales@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk John Evans Ltd Manchester 0161 368 2563 Fax: 0161 368 3039 Mobile: 07850 935301

Carpet & Flooring Gateshead 0191 482 7373 gateshead@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk

Kellars Ltd Stockport 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk

Fells Carpets Goole

Lee Floorstok Ltd Liverpool - see Floorwise p18

01977 662211 sales@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk Floorwise (North East) Ltd Birtley - see Floorwise p18 Vanguard Carpets Redditch 0845 601 1189 customerservices.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com

North West A&A Carpets Manchester 01204 701188 sales@aandacarpets.co.uk www.aandacarpets.co.uk D. M. Miller Ltd Manchester 0161 205 9949 dm.miller@btconnect.com www.dmmillerltd.spaces.lives.com

Lee Floorstok Ltd Manchester - see Floorwise p18 MCA Floorwise Ltd Morecambe - see Floorwise p18 Mytton Flooring Norwich - see Floorwise p18 Millbrook Carpets Darwen 01254 703999 millbrookcarpets@live.co.uk Vanguard Carpets Redditch 0845 601 1189 customerservices.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk Carpet & Flooring Manchester 0161 786 6800 manchester@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com

DMS Flooring Supplies Northampton 0845 643 5601 dmsnorthampton@ dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk Floorwise D & J Ltd Southam- see Floorwise p18 J J Wholesale & Distribution Ltd Birmingham 0121 765 4994 jjwholesale@gmx.com RPS Flooring Mansfield Woodhouse - see Floorwise p18 STS Flooring Distributors Watford 08454 342000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.com see page 32 for details

Vanguard Carpets Redditch 0845 601 1189 customerservices.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com Woodall Brothers Ltd Shrewsbury - see Floorwise p18

Faithfull Floorcovering Suffolk 01473 822341 sales@faithfulls.co.uk www.faithfulls.co.uk STS Flooring Distributors Ltd Cambridge Tel: 01954 781142 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.com See page 31 for details Vanguard Carpets Redditch 0845 601 1189 customerservices.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@ carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com

South East Acorn Carpet Accessories Bromley, Kent - see Floorwise p18 AFS Middlesex 020 8805 8620 info@afsenfield.co.uk See page 19 for details Ashmount Flooring Supplies Ltd Tottenham 0208 808 2158 sales@ashmountflooring.co.uk www.ashmountflooring.co.uk continued overleaf....

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Are you a Wholesaler? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not listed here, please call Diane Martin on 01482 659396.

The Stocklists Wholesale Distribution Directory Beds Flooring Bedford 01234 341234 sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk

Littner Hampton London 020 8520 8474 littnerhampton@aol.com www.littnerhamptoncarpets.co.uk

Carpet & Flooring Bow 020 8525 5691 bow@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk

Potts & Ward, Woodcocks Ltd Brighton 01273 557211 pwwflooring@fastnet.co.uk www.pwwflooring.co.uk

Carpet & Flooring Camberley 01276 672100 camberley@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk Columbia Flooring Middlesex 020 8443 3322 sales@columbiaflooring.co.uk www.columbiaflooring.co.uk See page 22 for details

Faithfulls Service Centre Kent 01322 285001 Faithfulls Service Centre Walthamstow 0208 498 3040 sales.walthamstow@faithfulls.co.uk Faithfull Floorcovering Suffolk 01473 822341 sales@faithfulls.co.uk www.faithfulls.co.uk Kent Flooring Supplies Ltd Chatham 01634 668668 sales@kentflooring.co.uk www.kentflooring.co.uk

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Carpet & Flooring Bristol 0117 316 0555 bristol@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth - see Floorwise p18 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Newton Abott - see Floorwise p18

Headlam Scotland North Lanarkshire 01698 831 000 sales@headlamscotland.co.uk www.headlamscotland.co.uk Neil Smith Ltd Glasgow - see Floorwise p18

Wales Carpet & Flooring Bristol 0117 316 0555 bristol@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk

Rackhams London 020 8531 9225 sales@rackhamsltd.co.uk www.rackhamsltd.co.uk See page 29 for details

Solent Wholesale Carpet West Sussex 01243 774623 sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk See page 30 for details

Salesmark Lancing, - see Floorwise p18

STS Flooring Distributors Thame (Oxford) 01844 213555 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.com see page 31 for details

Vanguard Carpets Redditch 0845 601 1189 customerservices.redditch@carpet andflooring.co.uk www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk

Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com

Solent Wholesale Carpet West Sussex 01243 774623 DMS Flooring Supplies sales@solentwholesale.co.uk Hemel Hempstead www.solentwholesale.co.uk 0845 643 5344 dmshemel@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk See page 30 for details DMS Flooring Supplies Milton Keynes 0845 643 5320 dmslaser@dmsflooringsupplies.co.u

South West

STS Flooring Distributors Orpington/Croydon 0845 434 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk www.stsflooring.com see page 31 for details Vanguard Carpets Redditch 0845 601 1189 customerservices.redditch@carpet andflooring.co.uk www.vanguardcarpets.co.uk Wessex Flooring Amesbury - see Floorwise p18 Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com

Wood Floor Sales Redditch 01527 511888 help.redditch@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.woodfloorsales.com

Scotland

Roma Flooring Neath - see Floorwise p18

Ireland Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Dublin - see Floorwise p18 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Belfast - see Floorwise p18 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd Limerick - See Floorwise p18

Carpet & Flooring Glasgow 0141 427 8456 glasgow@carpetandflooring.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk C. K. Davie Ltd Aberdeen - see Floorwise p18 C. K. Davie Ltd Dundee - see Floorwise p18

floorwise National Network of Floorwise Distributors Acorn Carpet Accessories 16 Bromley, Kent Tel: 020 8462 0422 Fax: 020 8462 0927

Neil Smith Ltd 3 Glasgow Tel: 0141 552 1141 Fax: 0141 552 0623

C. K. Davie Ltd 1 Aberdeen Tel: 01224 820077 Fax: 01224 822344

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 4 Belfast Tel: 028 9075 3202 Fax: 028 9075 3901

C. K. Davie Ltd 2 Dundee Tel: 01382 226533 Fax: 01382 226544 Fitwell Flooring Ltd 20 Redruth, Cornwall Tel: 01209 214344 Fax: 01209 261112 Fitwell Flooring Ltd 19 Newton Abbot, Devon Tel: 01626 835935 Fax: 01626 834334 Floorwise D & J Ltd 13 Southam, Warks Tel: 01926 814922 Fax: 01926 817899 Floorwise (North East) 5 Ltd Birtley, County Durham Tel: 0191 410 7070 Fax: 0191 410 6116 Lee Floorstok Ltd 8 Liverpool Tel: 0151 708 7420 Fax: 0151 708 7241 Lee Floorstok Ltd 7 Manchester Tel: 0161 231 8080 Fax: 0161 231 8787 MCA Floorwise Ltd 6 Morecambe, Lancashire Tel: 01524 33517 Fax: 01524 381852 Mytton Flooring 14 Norwich, Norfolk Tel: 01603 624387 Fax: 01603 612888

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 9 Dublin 12 Tel: 00353 (0)1 626 3913 Fax: 00353 (0)1 626 3960 LoCall: 1850 445 746 (ROI)

1 2 3

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 10 Limerick Tel: 00353 (0)61 227 100 Fax: 00353 (0)61 227 000 LoCall: 1850 445 745 (ROI) Roma Flooring 15 Neath, West Glamorgan Tel: 01639 633001 Fax: 01639 646116 RPS Flooring 11 Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire Tel: 01623 624198 Fax: 01623 620931

7 10

11 12

Salesmark 17 Lancing, West Sussex Tel: 01903 750522 Fax: 01903 851111 Wessex Flooring 18 Amesbury, Wiltshire Tel: 01980 625888 Fax: 01980 676969 Woodall Brothers Ltd 12 Shrewsbury, Shropshire Tel: 01743 441584 Fax: 01743 441629

18 19

16 17

HEAD OFFICE Floorwise Group Limited, Floorwise House, 22 High Street, Kegworth, Derby DE74 2DA, UK. Tel: 0044 (0)1509 673974 Fax: 0044 (0)1509 674841

Award-Winning Flooring Accessories

GRIPPER

UNDERLAY

ADHESIVES & SCREEDS

PROFILES

www.floorwise.co.uk • www.carpetunderlay.net www.floorwise.co.uk • www.carpetunderlay.net www.signaturewoodfloors.com • www.siennawoodfloors.com www.signaturewoodfloors.com • www.siennawoodfloors.com 18

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

UNDERLAYS

CARPETS NATURAL/LOOPS HIGH FLYER NOMAD

Tex Loop 50/50 Nat Loop

SAXONY STAINFREE ROMANCE NOBLE SAXONY STAINFREE FLAIR SENSATIONAL

35oz PP Saxony 40oz Saxony 50oz PP Saxony 58oz Saxony

80/20 WOOL TWIST BELMONT TWIST BELMONT SUPREME

80/20 40oz 80/20 50oz

PP TWIST VIVA TWIST SALT N PEPPER

PP Twist PP Twist

LOOP PILE AND CORD PINCH FELT PINCH FOAM ROCKY HB ROCKY FB DIMENSIONS TITAN CORD GALA CORD FB GALA CORD HB

Needle Punch Cord Needle Punch Loop Pile Cord Loop Pile Cord Loop Pile Stripe/Wave Loop Pile Gel Back Loop Pile Cord Loop Pile Cord

CORMAR STOCKED APOLLO BERWICK 40 BERWICK 50 BUCHANAN HOME COUNTIES HOME COUNTIES MALABAR NATURAL BERBER SUPER NATURAL BERBER ELITE NATURAL BERBER DELUXE NEW OAKLANDS NEW OAKLANDS NEW OAKLANDS PRIMO PLUS PRIMO ULTRA PRIMO TWEED PRIMO SAXONY WEST COUNTRY 50

Excellon Twist 80/10/10 40 oz Twist 80/10/10 50 oz Twist 80/10/10 40 oz Twist 42 oz Twist 50 oz Twist 100% Natural 80/10/10 35 oz Twist 80/10/10 45 oz Twist 80/10/10 55 oz Twist 80/10/10 32 oz Twist 80/10/10 42 oz Twist 80/10/10 50 oz Twist Excellon Twist Excellon Twist Excellon Twist Excellon Saxony 80/10/10 50 oz Twist

CORMAR CARPETS AVEBURY LINDISFARNE TOWN AND COUNTRY WEST COUNTRY 60

3/5 DAYS DELIVERY 100% Pure New Wool 100% Pure New Wool 80/10/10 60 oz Twist 80/10/10 60 oz Twist

Roll Size Full Roll EQ* Description BRANDED TOP END RUBBER SPONGE RANGE ELITE 11 m2 129lb Textured Rubber Underlay MAJESTIC 11 m2 135lb Waffle Rubber Underlay COLOURS RED 11 m2 135lb Waffle Rubber Underlay WILLOW GREEN 15 m2 90lb Waffle Rubber Underlay CRUSADER SUPREME 15 m2 100lb Waffle Rubber Underlay SUPREME LIGHT 11 m2 101lb Waffle Rubber Underlay UNBRANDED TREDAIRE SPONGE RUBBER AFS CLASSIC GOLD 15 m2 95 lb Rubber Underlay AFS SUPER GOLD 15 m2 80lb Rubber Underlay AFS STANDARD GOLD 15 m2 60lb Rubber Underlay GRAPHITE 15 m2 Light Weight PE WOOD FLOOR UNDERLAYS BOARDWALK (Timbermate) 15 m2 3.75mm ALL IN ONE 10 m2 3mm COMFORT SILVER 15 m2 2.5mm

23dB Moisture Barrier 20dB Self Adhesive Strip 18dB PE Foam + Foil

TREDAIRE PU UNDERLAYS ALPHA 15 m2 OMEGA 15 m2 BRIO 15 m2 ZEST 15 m2 SOFTWALK 15 m2 DREAMWALK 15 m2 CONTRACT 9 15 m2

Tredaire PU Tredaire PU Tredaire PU Tredaire PU Tredaire PU Tredaire PU Contract PU

8mm 10mm 8mm 10mm 9 mm 11 mm 9 mm

DURALAY CONTRACT UNDERLAYS TREADMORE 11 m2 8.0mm SYSTEM 10 11 m2 10mm DURAFIT 650 15 m2 6.5mm DURAFIT 500 15 m2 5.0mm DEFENDER 15 m2 100lb HEATFLOW CARPET 15 m2 6.0mm HEATFLOW WOOD 15 m2 2.75mm TECHNICS 5 15 m2 5.0mm FELT UNDERLAYS FELT 28 FELT 42 KENSINGTON DELUXE

15 m2 28oz 15 m2 42oz 11 m2 74oz

Crumb Crumb single stick under 40m2 Double stick crumb Double stick crumb Flat sponge 0.80 TOG 0.75 TOG sponge carpet 0.35 TOG sponge laminate U/L Double stick sponge

Wool/jute felt 8mm Contract wool/jute felt 11mm Felt crumb rubber

AFS Unit 4 Baird Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 1SJ Tel: 020 8805 8620 Fax: 020 8805 6840 Email: info@afsenfield.co.uk

PLUS A VAST RANGE OF ACCESSORIES AND TOOLS FOR CARPETS AND LAMINATES Contact our sales office or your area representative for prices on any of the above ranges. We also offer a fast service on non stock items. Phone our showroom manager for prices and samples. Our latest price list is dated Feb 2011.

REP DETAILS: Ashley Best Nick Hart Karl Goult

Tel: 07976 916752 Tel: 07771 967609 Tel: 07957 685428

Zac Marsh

Tel: 07828 663325

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Surrey , Hampshire, South London Essex, East London North London, West London, North West London, Middlesex, Herts., Beds., and Bucks. Kent, South East London 19

95% STOCKED Townshend Works, Puxton Lane, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 5DF. Sales: 01562 745000 Fax: 01562 732827 New trade price list effective 1st September 2010

BOND WORTH

V.I.P. CLUB Call us today for a personal service that reaches beyond your expectations...

Berkeley Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 3.66m & 4.57m Range comprises 8 Designs - All Stock Stocked items Delivery 14 Days from Order

Variations Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 3.66m Range comprises 12 Designs Stocked items Delivery 14 Days from Order 1-9016 Green Khyber - Stock Mid May 2-9101 Anatolia - Low Stock End April

Precious Gems Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 3.66m Range comprises 5 Designs Stocked items Delivery 14 Days from Order 21-3555 Malachite - No Stock Early May

Wensleydale Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 3.66m Range comprises 8 Designs - All Stock Stocked items Delivery 14 Days from Order

Cornell & Stanford Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 4.00m Range comprises 5 Colourways in 2 Designs - All Stock Stocked items Delivery 14 Days from Order CORNELL 4-9301 & STANFORD 4-9300 DISCONTINUED

• Buy one Axminster cut at your standard terms, when you place another within 8 weeks we give you an EXTRA 10% off!

• We guarantee our delivery dates. If we miss it by 7 days then you get 5% off the invoice value of the order!

• Access to the Managing Director and Sales Director 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

• Have a complaint? We guarantee to contact your customer with 24 hours.We will inspect all complaints regardless of age.

• Order 16 linear meters or more in one cut we give you roll price!

• Exclusive first access to new ranges. • Bi-Monthly News Letter. • Real Time Updates via Facebook & Twitter.

• Dedicated Sales Line. • Special Roll Offers. • ABOVE ALL ITS FREE TO JOIN! TELEPHONE 01562 745000 NOW FOR YOUR INFORMATION PACK

New Afghan Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 3.66m Range comprises 5 Designs - All Stock Stocked items Delivery 14 Days from Order

Romanesque Berber Axminster 80% Wool / 20% Nylon available 4.00m

NEW UPDATED WEBSITE! Check out our new updated website at:

www.bondworth.co.uk

RANGE TO BE DISCONTINUED - PLEASE REFER TO WORKS 20

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

REGATTA – 01 RAVEN BLACK TOP TO BOTTOM CONCERTO – 04 TEMPO TRUFFLE PORTOBELLO – 01 CHARCOAL AURELIA – 06 RYE

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

The Leading Country Wide Carpet & Flooring Suppliers We can supply you with virtually any make of carpet and flooring at GUARANTEED maker’s list price....... Delivered direct to business premises FREE OF CHARGE. For a Speedy and Efficient Service

CALL US NOW!!! 020 8443 3322 Columbia Flooring plc

Trade Show Rooms Available • Specialist advice and terms available on contract enquiries • TRAFALGAR TRADING ESTATE JEFFREYS ROAD ENFIELD MIDDLESEX EN3 7TY

Tel: 0208 443 3322 Fax: 0208 805 2346 Opening Times: Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am to 12 noon THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Tel: 01422 374417 or 01422 371226 Fax: 01422 377452 Email: sales@edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk Edel Telenzo Carpets, 2- 4 Southgate, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 0BW.

OUR CONTRACTS ARE THE REAL DEAL

Belgrove

OUR SALES TEAM Greater London as far as N. Circular on north side of Thames and as far as M25 on south side, Surrey, Middlesex, Sussex, Kent John A Constable T: 01622 685397 M: 07836 734322 E: john@jcagencies.co.uk

Recently we’ve been telling you a lot about Aquarius, one of our latest new products, a 100% polypropylene carpet developed with the care market in mind, with an impervious gelbac backing. But we realise that many retailers are not fully aware of the extent of the contract carpets we do, particularly those with gelbac backing. It’s quite a collection, with products suitable – and often specified – for all sorts of heavy contract scenarios in hospitality, healthcare, educational, office and housing sectors, with each range offered in a wide range of colour options, too. All are available in 4 metre width and are extremely hard wearing (and exhaustively tested), in a choice of polypropylene and polyamide yarns. Fleur (pictured right) is made from solution dyed 100% polyamide fibres where the yarn is coloured during the extrusion process, providing superb stain resistance, colour and light fastness properties. Fleur – also available as a tile - has a lovely cut pile frisee finish and a broad selection of 12 rich, jewel like colours. Puma is made with Edel Telenzo’s own Edelon Protect polypropylene yarn which also features coloursafe technology and has heavy duty bleach and stain resistance qualities. It’s available in both 4m and 5m width. Gloss is the latest addition to the range – available both in broadloom and as a tile. A heavy duty 1/10 gauge 100% BCF polyamide 6.6 yarn is used but as the name suggests, this is a beautiful, high lustre yarn, which looks superb – available in 15 rich colours.

Yorkshire & North Lincs John Alsop T: 01904 762471 M: 07860 572220 E: alsopagencies@yahoo.co.uk Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset Brendan Hart M: 07850 130221 E: a.b.hart@btinternet.com Lincs, Leics, Northants, Notts, Derbyshire Jim Osborne M: 07738 642934 E: jim.osborne@sky.com Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire Niall Martin M: 07866 735772 E: niallmartin@msn.com South Wales, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire Andrew Jefferies M: 07831 457102 E: adj.agencies@btinternet.com Lancashire, Cumbria & Isle of Man John Rostron M: 07973 733208 E: johnrostron@aol.com East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Suffolk Jonathan Hart T: 01621 817992 M: 07889 264466 E: jonathanhart66@hotmail.co.uk

GELBAC CONTRACT COLLECTION

West Midlands, South Wales (Wholesalers) Paul Brewer T: 0121 4277117 M: 07798 745181 E: paulbrewer@fsmail.net

The following table summarises our current gelbac contract collection. Don’t forget also we have many wool and wool mix qualities with contract rating which are ideal for “softer” contract use – including the 100% wool Centrepoint, the popular striped Tube Collection and versatile wool mixes such as Greenwich and Windsor.

Greater Manchester, Cheshire, North Wales Philip Hambleton T: 01925 740050 M: 07966 397676 E: carpetphil@aol.com

Tiles

North East Rebecca Gibbons M: 07970 491215 E: rebann2@btinternet.com

Name of Range

Pile Construction

Width

Rolls/Cuts

Backing

Aquarius

100% PP

Belgrove

100% PP

Caesar

87%PP 13% PA

Everest

100% PP

Fleur

100% PA solution dyed

Gloss

100% PA

Hercules

66% PP 34% PA

Channel Islands, Isle of Wight John Eastlake T: 01323 896141 M: 07885 398858 E: john-eastlake@hotmail.co.uk

Highgrove

100% PP

Mars

100% PP

Olympus

80% PP 20% PA

Northern Ireland Gary O’Boyle M: 07831 220675 E: goboyle@ntlworld.com

Puma

100% Edelon PP

4m & 5m

Zodiac Libra

100% PP

Scotland Tim Tindal T: 01436 671421 M: 07836 705620 E: ttcarpetagencies@aol.com

SPECIAL OFFER - SPRING CLEARANCE Available for a limited time only (while stocks last) we are offering Taurus, a two-tone polypropylene carpet on gelbac in seven colours for just £5.50 per sq metre for single rolls or £4.99 per sq m for multiple rolls. Contact your agent for details. THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

YOUR HEAD OFFICE TEAM CONTACTS Operations Manager: Lesley Inman M: 07703 337989 E: l.inman@edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk

CAREFREE - the stunning new collection Contact your local representative

Best-selling products at every price point As a UK manufacturer and distributor, Furlong’s objective is simply to offer its customers the best of all worlds in terms of price, service and quality – a partnership that retailers can rely on and a comprehensive product range that consumers will respond to. Furlong’s wholly-owned manufacturing company, Regency Carpets, is one of the UK’s top three tufters with a modern plant located in Bangor, Northern Ireland. A long-term programme of substantial investment has created a major production facility for both 4m and 5m wide carpet and the new backing plant commissioned last year is now fully on line. As a result, the company can produce hundreds of thousands of square metres of carpet every week, covering all the key sectors – stain resistant polypropylene, wool twist, wool natural and many others. Being in control of its manufacturing means Furlong can control the cost base and the quality to provide a range of products that is competitive at each of the price points. Manufacturing also means they can manage stock more closely and respond to changes in demand so that the right carpet is always ready for dispatch.

Furlong’s nationwide distribution network operates across three depots – London, Preston and Newport – using a dedicated fleet to carry rolls and cut lengths to our customers usually within 24 hours. Furlong’s product development team has created a portfolio of products matched to the diverse needs of different customer groups, rooms styles and performance requirements. Regency’s stain-resistant ranges use their own ‘Carefree’ fibre which is bleach cleanable and offered with a warranty for absolute confidence. New ranges are introduced several times a year to keep the offering fresh and interesting and respond to consumer trends and colour shifts.

the aim is simply to offer customers the best of all worlds in terms of price, service and quality Furlong have paid particular attention to the presentation of their product range to consumers with market-leading point-of-sale systems incorporating the latest video technology. Furlong believes in working in partnership with their customers to provide products and services that ticks all the boxes.

Investing in quality and service

Extensive tufting expertise 24

Effective service systems

Large group stock-holding

Fast delivery fleet THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

All the products shown are available in the CAREFREE Collection Here are the people who try harder London & Home Counties JOHN AKIEN M: 07791 891024 S.W LONDON, SURREY (INS. M25) jonakien@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

GEOFF ABERNETHY M: 07970 229717 CUMBRIA, POTTERIES, CHESHIRE & FYLDE COAST geoff.abernethy@furlongflooring.co.uk

IAN COLLACOTT M: 07816 217550 MIDDLESEX, W. LONDON, BERKSHIRE iancollacott@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

ALAN CHEETHAM M: 07966 263571 GREATER MANCHESTER alan.cheetham@furlongflooring.co.uk

DARREN SPENDIFF M: 07791 890861 KENT darrenspendiff@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

BOB CHRISTIE M: 07980 786264 MERSEYSIDE, WIRRAL & N. WALES bob.christie@furlongflooring.co.uk

RAYMOND SMITH M: 07816 217565 ESSEX raymondsmith@furlongflooringltd.co.uk REG HOWSON M: 07816 217548 N, N W & E LONDON, HERTFORDSHIRE reghowson@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

South East

Seeing is believing Customers can buy with confidence when they see the Carefree cleanability in action with the new video units for your existing Regency POS systems.

IAN ROBERTSON M: 07816 217563 E & WEST SUSSEX ianrobertson@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

REG SYKES M: 07973 403450 SOUTH YORKSHIRE reg.sykes@furlongflooring.co.uk

TONY CONWAY M: 07791 891025 BEDS, NORTHANTS, OXON & BUCKS tonyconway@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

Wales & South West

PETER FLETCHER M: 07816 217561 HAMPSHIRE, DORSET & SURREY (OUTSIDE M25) peterfletcher@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

BEN THOMAS M: 07794 048809 S./MID & W. WALES bthomas@furlongflooring.com

Midlands

JASON BRIMBLE M: 07794 041266 AVON & GLOUCESTERSHIRE jbrimble@furlongflooring.com TIM BAILEY M: 07794 048414 S.E. WALES & HEREFORDSHIRE tbailey@furlongflooring.com STEWART WAITHMAN M: 07794 048413 DEVON & CORNWALL swaithman@furlongflooring.com

MARTYN REA M: 07968 324598 LEICESTER/WARWICKSHIRE/LINCS martyn.rea@furlongflooring.co.uk

Wood Floor Specialists

Scotland

JOHN POWERS M: 07792 477312 SALES MANAGER BEDS, NORTHANTS, OXON, BUCKS, MIDDLESEX, W&S LONDON, BERKS, SURRY johnpowers@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

GEORGE WISELY M: 07967 148665 SCOTTISH SALES george.wisely@furlongflooring.co.uk COLIN RICHFORD M: 07970 163372 WEST SCOTLAND colin.richford@furlongflooring.co.uk

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

DES BEST M: 07968 828516 NORTH EAST des.best@furlongflooring.co.uk RAY ANDREW M: 07973 719801 EAST LANCS/W.YORKS ray.andrew@furlongflooring.co.uk

MIKE SHUTT M: 07970 158594 BIRMINGHAM/ STAFFORDSHIRE, SHROPSHIRE mike.shutt@furlongflooring.co.uk

quality choice availability service price

Yorkshire & North East

PAUL LOVELL M: 07816 217549 NORFOLK, SUFFOLK & CAMBS paullovell@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

PAUL HARRIS M: 07980 786265 NOTTS & DERBYSHIRE paul.harris@furlongflooring.co.uk

The Regency range of stain-resistant carpets ticks all the boxes:

North West

ALAN CAIRNIE M: 07976 311434 EAST SCOTLAND alan.cairnie@furlongflooring.co.uk

London Sales tel: 01322 628707 fax: 01322 698733

RICHARD RICHMAN M: 07791 891044 AREA SALES MANAGER NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, CAMBS, N&E LONDON, ESSEX, KENT, SUSSEX & HERTS richardrichman@furlongflooringltd.co.uk

Preston Sales tel: 01772 696787 fax: 01772 311921

Newport Sales tel: 01633 283959 fax: 01633 275454

Email: enquiries@furlongflooring.co.uk

“CHECK OUT www.rackhamsltd.com! My new website has been launched to wide acclaim, it’s being ‘hit’ rapidly! It offers everything we offer, in the most modern medium!”

WILTON

CUT & LOOP PILE

CORD & NEEDLEPUNCH

Revival Kreta Everglades

Bolero Gala Rackcord Scorpio Supacord

The Arabica & Ceylon Wilton Collection 4&5M Parallel Lines Renaissance Ultimate Wilton Oakland

TWISTS - STAINFREE

VINYL / SMOOTH FLOORING

GRAPHICS / CONTRACT GELS Arena Regatta Sapphire Scala Senator Sentinel

NATURAL EFFECT Agadir Ancona Autumn Sunset Country Treasure 4&5M Challenger Berber Craftwork Berber 4&5M Delft 4&5M Gold Fields Harvester Hopscotch Ivory Coast London Life 4&5M Marrakesh Natures Writing Ohio Promenade Rustic Treasure San Salvador 4&5M Shetland/Shetland Design 4&5M Town & Country Tweed Woolweave 4&5M

SAXONY / SHAG PILE Chamonix Cleopatra Eminence Half Century New Century Nobility Splendour Supreme Elegance Tennessee

Balmoral Chislehurst Clyde Desert Twist Easy Heathers Fairfield Supreme 4&5M Heathertwist / Heathertwist Supreme Moorland Twist Mystery Twist Pembridge Twist Portman Rhapsody Stainfree Salt ‘n’ Pepa Stainsafe Touch 4&5M Startwist/Startwist Supreme (2010 colours) 4&5M Stanford Summer Skies

Arte Della Ceramica Blackjack Casino Royale Chequers Eclipse Medley Mojo Suregrip XL Thunderball

CARPET TILES Capital Plus Magnesium Neutron Oxygen Positron Proton Quark

TWISTS - WOOL Discovery 4&5M Eden Twist 30/40/50 4&5M Iconic Twist 40/50 4&5M Paramount 30/40 4&5M Rosemount Twist Super Sixty 4&5M The Berber Twist Collection 40/50 4&5M Ultimate Textures 4&5M Ultimate Berber Twist 4&5M Ultimate Twist 40/50 4&5M Ultimate Tweed Ultimate Luxury 4&5M

VELOUR / VELVET Designers Dream Urban Life

Call now to receive a copy of our latest price guide, and our April 2011 special supplement!

We also stock Ball & Young Underlays, Accessories, Entrance Matting and offer a Special Order Service on products from virtually every flooring manufacturer in existence! 48 hour Delivery Service on all Balterio Laminate Ranges.

Stop preSS – www.rackhamSltd.com – Stop preSS

type it into your browSer now! and check uS out!!! Area Sales Executives Ian Pullinger London N, EC & E postals, Essex & Middx (within M25) 07881-502506 Simon Brenner London SE & SW postals, Kent, Surrey & Sussex 07881-502507

Mark Euesden London W & NW postals, South Middx, Western Surrey, Berks & Bucks 07875-714269 James White Herts, Beds, Essex (west of M11) & North West Middx 07881-502508

Paul Henson Essex (Outside M25), Cambs & Suffolk 07837-295379 Antony Stapleton Sales Director 07881-502505/020-8498-2845

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Solent Wholesale Carpet Company Ltd CARPET, FLOORCOVERING & ACCESSORY WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS Telephone: 01243 774623 Fax: 01243 533636 E-mail: sales@solentwholesale.co.uk Website: www.solentwholesale.com Zola Park, Barnfield Drive, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6UX. Oxford, Berks, Bucks, Beds, Hants, Middlesex & Herts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Cardrick, Sussex E & W, Surrey, South London & Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Robson, Hants, Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucs, & I.O.W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Ayling, Accessary Sales and IT Specialist (All Areas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke Crooks luke@solentwholesale.co.uk, VICTORIA Berber Stripe Castillion Celtic Heathers Crown Twist Duchess Elite EasiCare (Twist, Tweed + Saxony) Gaelic Heathers Imperial Velvet Kelso Natural Accents Natural Companions (Sisal, Chenille, Ridge) Regal Twist Rustic Jewels Tudor Twist Coll Tudor Manor LANO Bolero Campus X-treme Chiselhurst Havana Heathertwist Coll Pembridge Twist - new colours Rustic Berber Rustic Sensations Scala Scala Tonals Sentinel Startwist Coll Twilight Coll Wilton Naturals Xtra Twist BALTA Berga Colorado Springs Desert Twist Desert Twist Deluxe Diva Fiesta Fusion Happy Days High Flyers Gala Cord-all options in stock Moorland Twist Nobility Rosemount Shetland Loop Shepherd Twist Stainsafe Comfort Stainsafe Favourite Stainsafe Olympic Super Wiltax Techno Twisty LUSOTUFO Celtic Horizon Mandaly Tangier Titan Diagonal Unique

CORMAR Apollo Berwick 40/50 Buchanan Home Counties 42/50 Malabar Oaklands 32 Oaklands 42 Oaklands 50 Primo Plus West Country BROCKWAY Amore Cavendish Craftsman Elite Cresta 40/Cresta 50 Montrose Orion/Orion Major Radnor 30/Radnor 40 DOMO Absolute Luxury Alpina Auvergne Festival Twist Heather Twist Merino Mountain Peaks Legacy Planet Playground Portofino Scorpio Traditionals ITC Belgravia Check Comfylux Extra Concerto Consul Heritage Collection Jaguar - new colours Kreta Palace Precious Metals Stainblock Berber Stainblock Heathers Stainblock Tweed Ultimate Oak QUICKSTEP Solent Wholesale now a Quickstep stockist. We now have in stock the Quickstep 700 range and can order all other ranges with a very short lead time. TAPIBEL Cachet Melody Nevada Reeds Sysoltex Homested/Aran/Crofter Toscana

mobile: 07973 406329 mobile: 07973 898453 mobile: 07973 406799 mobile: 07966 664379

BEAULIEU carpets Adventure Twist Athena Dublin Durham Twist Fashion/Gallery Grass Collection Heavy Tread I-Twist Isis/Mentu Mars Motor Car Natural Life Pronto Selections Sweet Homes vinyls Arte Del Ceramic Celtic Stone Celtic Stone - NEW COLOURS Chess Comfort Grip Jazz Sherwood Oak Studio Sonata Texalino Supreme Urban laminates Essentials (previously Casa) Cottage BAJONG Home Twist Supreme Montana Montana Twist Sahara IVC Comfylux Extra Expressions Fantasy Fusion Master Grip Planet Precious Metals Presto Ultimate Oak Victoria MISCELLANEOUS CAVALIER Country Collection Hamlet Parish and Village LEIGH SPINNERS Atlas Velour THOMAS WITTER Innovations C&H Homestyle LVT - planks and tiles PARAGON Toccarre Carpet Tiles MOHAWK CARPETS Century Half Century

We carry other products not listed above, and can also provide a swift special order service on non stock lines. Our reps and sales office would be pleased to answer all enquiries. Our last Price List is dated March/April 2011.

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

DID YOU KNOW? STS Flooring Distributors Ltd stock a large range of carpets and carpet tiles via our 5 depots ORPINGTON • CROYDON • WATFORD • CAMBRIDGE • OXFORD (THAME) 08454 341000 08454 342000 01954 781142 01844 213555

NEXT DAY DELIVERY STS GOLDLINE STOCK CARPETS Abbey Twist 30/40 Aston Twist Bernwood Twist Bernwood Supreme Bernwood Forest Bernwood Heather Bernwood Heather Supreme Blenheim Twist 40 Blenheim Twist 50 Cherwell Cord Chislehurst Fairfield Supreme Gladiator Supreme Harrier Felt Harrier Gel Heathdale Magnum Gel Medicare Multicare Classic New Valley Twist Orinoco Opus Twist Ravensbury Twist 32/40/50 Ruskin Twist Scala Supersava Elite BALTA STOCK CARPETS New Shepherd Twist Gala Cord

PRICE LIST DATE FEBRUARY 2011 LANO STOCK CARPETS Bolero Chislehurst Fairfield Supreme Havanna Heather Twist Heather Twist Supreme Pembridge Twist Sapphire Scala Startwist Startwist Supreme

CARPET STOCK TILES Ascot Beckenham Cheltenham Clipper Croydon Croydon Stripe Keston Latour Saturn Selsdon

CORMAR STOCK CARPETS Apollo Berwick 40/50 Malabar Textures Natural Berber Twist New Oaklands 32/42/50 Primo Plus Primo Tweeds Primo Ultra Town & Country Forest Hills

STOCK UNDERLAYS Goldtred Collection Cirrus Cumulus Nimbus Silver Lining Cloud Nine Contract Cloud Nine Super Contract Durafit 500 Durafit 650 Cosi 8mm & 10mm Heatflow Collection Roma Blue Heaven Willow Green Tredaire Elite Treadmore

BEAULIEU INTERNATIONAL Bellini Dublin Elite Mercator EDEL TELENZO Fleur Hercules Orinoco Puma

STS Area Managers Regional Manager Rachel Sherwood 07801 762724 Area Manager Dave Lowman 07500 847758 Area Manager - Retail Phaedra Duncan 07738 329714 North/East London, Berkshire, Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middlesex, Northants, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire

Steve Osman 07919 128401 Essex, Cambs, Suffolk, Norfolk

Paul Jones 07801 762719 Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol & Birmingham

Paul Jeffery 07717 218024 South/East London, Kent, E Sussex

Sales Area Managers Dana Baldock 07801 762725 South/East London, Kent, E Sussex, Part Essex

Mirka Mihulcova 07500 847566 South/West London, W Sussex, Berks, Hants, Surrey

Vicky Langley 07962 646847 Surrey, W Sussex, Hants, Berks, South/West London

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Weston Hammer UK 16/17 Byford Court Hadleigh IP7 6RD Tel: +44 (0)845 644 9090 Fax:+44 (0)845 644 9191 info@westonhammer.com www.weston-carpets.co.uk

We are pleased to announce the launch of two new prestige ranges along with a revamp of our highly successful STONE FIBRE COLLECTION. NEW NATURAL LINES: 100% Wool with a luxurious deep pile in fashion shades. 4m & 5m wide. NEW COLOURS JACS: The much loved designer range in 100% Wool with new shades and now in 5m wide. STONE FIBRE COLLECTION IN 5m WIDE : This very successful designer flatweave collection is being updated and is available in 4m and 5m. Complex designs and inset rugs can be made in one continuous production, avoiding the need for joins and mitres.

Tunis A heavy domestic berber loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths. Queen Tweed A fine heavy domestic berber loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths. Denver A stylish heavy domestic tonal loop pile in 100% Wool, available in 4m and 5m widths. Oklahoma A heavy domestic berber loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths. Supreme Stripe A heavy domestic tonal stripe in 100% Wool loop pile.

Supreme Boucle Our best selling level loop 100% Wool product available in 12 up to the minute colours in both 4m and 5m widths. Imperial Boucle A heavy domestic loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths. Las Vegas A chunky luxurious loop pile in 100% Wool available in 4m and 5m widths.

Royal Velour A luxurious velour in 80% Wool/20% Nylon in 5m wide.

Sisal Boucle and Sisal Berber Natural fibre textured loop pile ranges in two styles.

The Stone Fibre Collection Our unique flat woven quality in many fashion styles and colours.

Orlando A chunky loop quality with a thick latex backing for a luxurious feel.

Bespoke Design carpet from Hammer Carpets You may not have heard of them but Hammer Carpets in Denmark are the worlds largest manufacturer of Colortec bespoke design carpets in the world. Colortec is a state of the art tufting machine that uses computer controlled technology to manufacture any design in a maximum of 8 colours. This tried and tested manufacturing method is up to 10 times faster than Axminster and exactly replicates the appearance, unlike a printed design carpet. If you would like more details of this type of carpet and to find out how competitive and easy to use it can be then please call your Sales Agent or our Sales office who will be happy to help.

OUR UK SALES TEAM Mr Ron Fewery Tel: 07976 244892 London, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire. Mr Steve Acton Tel: 07957 836207 Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset. Mrs Jac Hayman Tel: 07815 785801 Contract Sales East Anglia. Mr Gary Foster Tel: 07515 283872 East Anglia, Northamptonshire.

THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

Area Currently Vacant North Wales, Cumbria, Manchester, Liverpool. Mr Derek Boyd Tel: 07940 320708 Scotland. Mr Lee Palmer Tel: 07774 101640 Channel Islands. Mr Jonathan Gorman Tel: 07815 121660 Northern Ireland.

Mr Mark Garbett Tel: 07840 664757 Bristol & the West Country. Mr Steve Fletcher Tel: 07831 818989 Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Tyneside. Mr Keith Stevens Tel: 07710 160166 Midlands & South Wales.

Please visit our website at www.weston-carpets.co.uk for online cutting requests and more information on our products, or telephone 0845 644 9090 (local rate) to speak to one of our telephone sales team

You can create a carpet website for your business in

5 minutes. We’ll have it online for you within

5 days.

If you don’t like it, it will cost you

nothing.

If you do like it, it will cost you

£390 + £90/year. Fill out a form for five minutes and we’ll have a good-looking flooring industry website online for you within 5 days*. Then you can update it, add to it or ignore it for ever! Flooring stores don’t generally need anything too fancy – most of the time, visitors are just trying to find out your phone number, your opening hours or where they can park! Or they’re just checking if you look professional. The Floorsites package from The Stocklists offers:

7 ready-made pages of flooring industry content covering the key sectors of carpets, vinyls, laminates, etc.

Instant online editing – if you can type, you can customise these pages yourself anytime to add latest offers and news… or leave them as they are – we put all your contact information in there anyhow.

Choose photos from our library to make your site unique – or upload your own images.

Link to Google Maps – let visitors find you quickly and see where to park

Auto-email form to let customers contact you direct

* The site takes a bit longer to set up if you already have a website or address. A Floorsite from The Stocklists costs £390 for the set-up and the first year – and £90 per year thereafter (exc. VAT). Check out what your site would look like at www.thestocklists.com/floorsites or contact David Spragg at davidspragg@thestocklists.com or call 01845 573241.

NO OBLIGATION ‘TEST DRIVE’...

We set up your site free-of-charge for a month. If you don’t like it, you don’t pay. There’s nothing to lose!

4 April 2011

FlooringNews Bamboo...tiful With a luxurious silk look and 28 striking shades, Bamboo is the latest chic carpet collection from Lano Carpets. As its name suggests, this stylish collection uses bamboo fibre within its yarn, enhancing the carpet with an irresistibly softto-the-touch feel and utilising the rapidly renewable resource to help to reduce the carpet’s impact on the environment. Capable of growing up to 60cm a day, the bamboo used in this striking collection is harvested from sustainably managed resources and the carpet is produced using efficient manufacturing which cuts down on waste and carbon emissions. The plant also has natural anti-bacterial qualities and can help to regulate humidity, both of which are exhibited to some extent within the carpet. “While the sustainable aspect of Bamboo is a very positive story, the majority of consumers will be turned on to the collection by its broad on-trend colour bank, stunning silk look and beautifully soft feel,’ comments Birger Karlsson, UK and Ireland Sales Manager. “Of course the anti-bacterial and clean air benefits of the range will provide added value, but Bamboo will really thrive among consumers looking for a carpet that delivers chic with an edge.” The collection is available in a four-metre width and features a high bamboo fibre content in an elegant saxony cut pile. The carpet also benefits from a comfort backing for additional underfoot luxury. T 00800 5266 5266

www.lano.com

Colour cascade This month sees the introduction of new and innovative colours to the fibre bonded (FB) collection from Burmatex, the leading supplier of quality fibre-bonded carpet tiles and sheet, made at its site in Yorkshire. Design and production teams have combined fantastic, trend led new colours together with classic FB shades, creating a comprehensive and exciting collection to suit all tastes and interiors. Classic ranges such as Academy and Cordiale have been brought up-todate, with 17 new colours in the broad-ribbed range and 16 new colours in the narrow ribbed range. Innovative, design led structure bonded (SB) collections such as Lateral, Zip and Code have been invigorated with 5 directional new colours. Burmatex analysed colour trends to create an offering that shows real cohesion and future thinking. New colours include hot pinks, indigos and purples, as well as fresh greens and aquas. Ranges can be used individually in the traditional way or combined to create distinctive, contemporary installations both with FB and SB collections, as well as many other Burmatex ranges. “FB carpet tiles gained wider appeal following the introduction of our SB ranges, Lateral, Zip and Code, due to the variety of applications, design options, environmental benefits and excellent value they offer. The crossover of new colours in different textures adds a whole new dimension of fresh, design creativity and we’re working with corporate clients on some amazing new projects which would probably have otherwise been done in tufted tiles,” explained Senior Designer at Burmatex, Vivien Lee. The new colours are available now, the latest phase of products to be presented in re-branded shadecards since Burmatex unveiled its sophisticated new corporate identity just before Christmas. T 01924 262525

from The Stocklists

www.burmatex.co.uk April 2011 33

News

Soft steps forward Leoline is currently updating displays to retailers across the country, introducing the new Comfylux Xtra range and the Softstep collection, formerly Mastergrip. As part of IVC Group’s strategy to strengthen its position in the UK cushion floor market, retailers will benefit from these new ranges that have been developed to bring homeowners cushion flooring that delivers style, performance and value in one package. “Under its former name of Leolan, Leoline had grown into one of the most recognisable names in cushion flooring,” says product manager Caroline Wille “and since its name change we have been on a gradual process of development, refining and redefining our product offering. The change to the current display stands is testament to this work and will help retailers to fully benefit not only from the Leoline name, but also from collections designed to appeal to a broad cross section of consumers.” The update to the Leoline displays is underway and will be completed in the course of the next months. T +32 5665 3211

www.ivcgroup.com

Making it Stateside IVC Group has begun production of cushion flooring for the US market at its state-of-the-art production facility in Dalton, Georgia. The 520,000ft2 plant will serve the entire US market, freeing up production capacity at the company’s Belgium headquarters and reducing environmental impact through transportation between the two countries. The plant features the world’s longest cushion vinyl production line and when fully up to speed will be capable of producing 35million square metres of cushion flooring a year. Employing around 150 people and the result of a £45m investment for the privately owned company, the new facility underlines IVC Group’s commitment to serving the US market and is reflective of its continued efforts to propel itself to a leading position in the domestic cushion floor market. “The investment in the US plant was a key strategic decision for us,” explains Filip Balcaen, Chairman, IVC Group “it is a clear signal of our longterm commitment to the US market and our desire for continued industry leadership.” T +32 5665 3211

34 April 2011

www.ivcgroup.com

FlooringNews

from The Stocklists

April 2011 35

News

Rhinos ‘r’ us at Mohawk Mohawk’s SmartStrand carpet has been through the ultimate challenge and come up trumps at the feet of Ricko, the 12 year old one and a quarter ton Rhino resident at Alabama’s Birmingham Zoo.

FIT to a tee

For two solid weeks Mohawk’s SmartStrand carpet was installed in Ricko’s enclosure, getting the full rhino treatment that left some severe staining on the deep cream pile. Seeming beyond repair, Ricko’s carpet was professionally cleaned using hot water extraction and Mohawk Floorcare Essentials spot remover. The result was a carpet rejuvenated and according to the zoo’s mammal curator, one that looked ‘as good as new’. Ricko is still the only rhino in the world to have a luxurious carpeted enclosure.

The ever popular Kidderminster Carpet Manufacturers National Golf Tournament, sponsored by Georgian Carpets, in aid of FIT and Macmillan Cancer Support, takes place this year at Kidderminster Golf Club on May 10th and 11th. This 55th annual event, which last year raised £16,000 for the two charities, is the second largest fundraising event for FIT.

“SmartStrand is one of the most advanced domestic carpets currently available anywhere in the world” The ‘SmartStrand Challenge’ was devised to be one of the toughest trials imaginable, highlighting to American consumers the ability of SmartStrand carpet to withstand severe treatment without adverse affect. Now, as Mohawk looks to grow the presence of SmartStrand carpet within the UK, the adventures of Ricko the rhino are being rolled out to retailers across the country. “Technically unrivalled with rapidly renewable fibre content and delivering unheralded levels of durability, stain-resistance and softness, SmartStrand is one of the most advanced domestic carpets currently available anywhere in the world,” explains Howard Lindsay, Mohawk International.

Day One is a four ball team event while Day Two is a two ball team event. There is also a dinner at the Granary Hotel in Kidderminster in the evening of Tuesday 10th May. Cost is £80 for both days or £50 for Tuesday and £35 for the Wednesday. The dinner is £30 a head. Chairman Rupert Anton said: “We are tremendously grateful to Georgian Carpets for their continued sponsorship and also to Adam, Victoria, Brintons and Brockway Carpets who are the backbone of the event. Last year we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our industry. To raise £16,000 in such difficult economic times speaks volumes for all concerned. The Furnishing Industry Trust is the only charity exclusively dedicated to helping those who are, or who have been, involved with the furnishing, carpet and allied industries, and who through no fault of their own find themselves facing unexpected or financial hardship. While we have a loyal, hardcore player base we are always keen to attract new players. It is a genuinely fun two days and an opportunity to mix business and pleasure with some of the leading lights of the industry.” For details on how to play in this year’s tournament, please contact Rupert Anton on 01562 747 359 or rupertanton@carpetfoundation.com. T 01562 747 359

Tell them where to go!

“Yet the challenge is how to deliver this message to homeowners without bogging them down in technical information that bears little relevance to real world situations.

The popular Flooring Forum feature in The Stocklists is recruiting retailers to add their opinions to our regular survey panel and tell industry leaders where to go in their future planning, marketing and services.

“The SmartStrand Challenge addresses this, helping consumers to understand just how good SmartStrand carpets really are. Through a series of videos charting Ricko’s adventures on SmartStrand as well as literature and a new point of sale, we are helping UK flooring retailers to really benefit from having SmartStrand in their line-up and thanks to an excellent pricing strategy, convincing consumers that performance doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.”

Every other month, we ask our Forum members to go online for just four minutes to complete a quick questionnaire on a live industry issue. The results are reported in an article the following month.

T 01480 479830

www.thestocklists.com

www.themohawkgroup.com

To join our survey panel - you’ll receive six survey invitations by email a year - please click the Online Sign-up button on our website.

The Merryfield Group extends its cutting edge showcase until Easter - visit our showroom this April... WWW.CARPETCUTTINGMACHINES.CO.UK UK manufactured Carpet Cutting Machines 36 April 2011

FlooringNews

from The Stocklists

April 2011 37

News

Setting example sample Genesis Patterns Ltd have announced that they are the first carpet sampling operation in the U.K. to recycle waste carpet. Die cutting carpet samples is a massive generator of waste which has previously been sent to landfill. With their recycling partners, 4Recycling of Leeds, Genesis are now prepared to face a far more ecological and sustainable future. Whilst the costs involved are slightly more expensive than the original arrangements, Genesis feel that the extra expense is wholly justifiable and moves them closer to their goal of being a 100% recycling operation. T 01274 531330

John Foster, General Manager Shade Card Division and Kylie Domanski, General Manager Pattern Book Division bid farewell to another collection of material for recycling.

Double decade of standards On 24 July 1991, after more than a year of discussions with the cleaning chemical industry, carpet fibre suppliers and carpet manufacturers, the first ever WoolSafe Approved certificate was awarded to a carpet-cleaning product from Chemspec. Now as The WoolSafe Organisation celebrates its landmark 20th anniversary, not only are there around 300 WoolSafe approved products, but also the WoolSafe Accredited Carpet Inspectors scheme, a nationwide network of WoolSafe Certified Operators and offices across the world.

Recycling rewarded Three flooring companies have received Gold Certificates in the first-ever Recofloor Awards for recycling the most waste vinyl flooring in 2010. Members of the UK’s first vinyl flooring recycling scheme collected more than 200 tonnes of material last year – easily surpassing the 175 tonnes target. The 2010 total also represents a 33% increase on the 150 tonnes recycled in 2009. Gold Award winners scoring more than 50 points were Hull Flooring (77), Ross Hughes Flooring, Caernarfon (65) and Mayfield Flooring, Stockport (64). Eleven companies scoring 20 points or more collected Silver Certificates - along with two distributors, Kent Flooring and STS Flooring in Orpington which qualified for collecting enough material through their drop-off facilities. Praised for its ‘extreme commitment’ to Recofloor, Hull Flooring collected 11% of the scheme’s total 2010 tonnage. In addition to its day-to-day collections, the firm helped two large retail outlets recycle their waste flooring from major refurbishment projects at nationwide stores. It also recycles many materials from installation processes, where practicable, such as cardboard, plastics, paper and even empty latex smoothing compound bottles. Sean Dawson, Hull Flooring’s Managing Director (pictured above) said: “We’re delighted to achieve our vinyl waste recycling goal as intended. Demonstrating our commitment to Green issues certainly acts as a ‘selling tool’ for our business. As margins get tighter, this helps to differentiate our business and attract new customers through being able to offer that little bit extra.” T 0161 355 7618 40 April 2011

www.axionrecycling.com

Since its foundation, the emphasis of The WoolSafe Organisation has been placed on the specific maintenance requirements of wool and wool-rich carpets and rugs, because these were considered to be most susceptible to aggressive chemicals; but other carpets have benefitted too, particularly ‘advanced generation’ nylon fibres. In essence, all carpets made from pile fibres have merited from The WoolSafe Approved scheme, thanks to the high standards originally set out. Four of the first 20 products approved by WoolSafe are still going strong today, proving that really good cleaning products will stand the test of time despite a competitive market. In the days of its beginning, WoolSafe expected a 20% failure rate as manufacturers adjusted to the stringent conditions of the testing process, but to this day that rate still remains typical. This shows that even now there are professional cleaning agents that don’t quite deliver what they promise, with many containing characteristics that definitely make them unsuitable for use on certain pile fibres. Homeowners also face a similar problem, as was highlighted by WoolSafe in 2009 when a well-known consumer organization tested a range of spot cleaners and stain removers. The ‘Best Buys’ turned out to be anything but, as WoolSafe ’s own tests showed that three suffered from serious re-soiling problems, which could lead to a vicious circle of cleaning – quick soiling – cleaning. To date almost 700 cleaning and maintenance agents have been tested and more than 300 consumer and professional products from 80 suppliers carry WoolSafe accreditation. These are re-tested every 12 months to ensure the high standards setout at the very beginning by the organisation are still upheld today. T 0800 731 5688

www.woolsafe.org

FlooringNews

from The Stocklists

April 2011 41

News

Avenue on show Bringing the latest on-trend collections to retailers across the country, Avenue is rolling out a major update to its in-store displays with the introduction of three brand new ranges. Joining an existing portfolio including strong ranges such as the Touch of Tiles and Café Noir, Avenue will be introducing the Ultimate Oak, Precious Metals and Pure ranges to the stand. “Avenue is all about standing out from the crowd and bringing cutting edge style,” explains Caroline Wille, product manager “with this in mind, Avenue rarely stands still as we look to introduce styles that push the envelope of design in cushion flooring. The introduction of three new collections to the Avenue stand just goes to highlight this.” The update to Avenue displays throughout the country is currently underway and is expected to be fully complete over the course of the next months. T +32 5665 3211

www.ivcgroup.com

Best-seller book The new 2011 Commercial Collection catalogue from Tarkett offers 104 pages packed full of inspirational and innovative flooring solutions from the global industry leader. The company says the book offers “complete solutions for every interior with the lowest lifecycle costs, superior performance characteristics and the most advanced PUR surface treatments for easy maintenance.” Specifying sustainable flooring solutions is aided by the inclusion of new Tarkett Balanced Choice Tags for every product. These tags show the percentage proportion of raw materials that are natural and renewable; how much recycled material each product contains and if the product can be recycled; and the level of VOC emissions. All Tarkett products now offer VOC emissions 10 times lower than any standard in Europe. The entire UK portfolio of Tarkett commercial resilient floorcoverings can be found in the new catalogue, from complete wetroom concepts and specialist safety flooring, through to linoleum and engineered wood. Divided into distinct product ranges for ease of reference and speedy navigation, specialist solutions such as sports floors, acoustic and electro-static floorings are also clearly listed. T 01622 854040

www.tarkett.com

Serious style Combining style, quality and value, Series is the new name in laminate flooring exclusively from one of the country’s fastest growing retailers, UK Flooring Direct. Featuring the latest on-trend styles, such as the chabby chic of Worn Grey Oak, the Series range is designed to offer consumers quality laminate flooring, with signature quality identifiers such as bevelled edges and realistic surface structures. Ranging from seven to 12-mm thick and with classifications from AC3 to AC5, Series laminate floors are suitable for use anywhere in the home and can even be used in commercial locations. The collection includes several popular oak and other wood styles, as well as more tropical interpretations such as wenge and even stone and ceramic tile interpretations. “The Series range encompasses a broad spectrum of styles,” says Josh Ashby, product manager UK Flooring Direct “but more than this, the laminate collection delivers this choice at really attractive price points and with the hallmarks of quality laminate flooring making it a tempting proposition across the board.” The Series collection of laminate flooring is available exclusively through UK Flooring Direct, the UK’s fourth fastest growing retailer according to The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100. T 0845 287 5623 42 April 2011

www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk

FlooringNews

SHOWTIME IN SOLIHULL Cranmore Park, Solihull is pleased to be hosting its very first BGNFS on 18/19 May 2011. With over 50 exhibitors, including leading manufacturers and suppliers, covering carpets, rugs, laminates, underlay, vinyl and woods. The ‘first of its kind’ trade show welcomes, but is restricted to, all members from BRM, Metro, and SMG buying groups. Cranmore Park is a 2,500 square metre showroom with purpose built restaurants, dedicated catering team, private reception and free on site car parking.

Chris Moffat, SMG Chief Executive said “this is a fantastic and unique opportunity for all buying group members to see the majority of their approved suppliers in one very convenient venue”. BRM Managing Director Paul Phillips added “feedback from last year’s pilot show from retailers and manufacturers alike was enthusiastic to say the least. For both flooring sectors it is the way forward.” On behalf of the Metro Group, Chief Executive David Kipping commented "a combination of the largest collection of flooring suppliers exhibiting in the UK, at a superb central location, and at the perfect time for the peak Autumn trade make this show unmissable"

Cranmore Park Cranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4LF

from The Stocklists

“We are delighted to welcome the buying groups to this superb venue”, said a representative of Cranmore Park. “We are very proud of these facilities and for sometime suppliers have been asking if we would consider hosting such an extended trade show. We tested a one day event last year and it went very well. The quality of the supplier stands is excellent and I’m sure delegates and suppliers alike will benefit from the experience. We are looking forward to a good turn-out”.

April 2011 43

News feature

From extrusion to conclusion at Abingdon Eddie, Abingdon’s product development director showed us around the plant in Newbridge, South Wales, last month. “It was a big challenge when we took on the plant but everybody here rose to the occasion and we have a strong team right across the business,” said Eddie. “Producing our own yarn gives us full control across the production cycle and it is all about consistency at every single stage to get the quality we want,” he says.

If you’re going to make a very big promise, you need to be sure you can keep it. Abingdon Flooring has made an industry-leading promise with a lifetime guarantee on their Stainfree ranges and for a manufacturer, making sure you keep faith with your customers is all about keeping control. As the UK’s only fully integrated polypropylene carpet manufacturer, Abingdon has control from start to finish – from making it’s own yarn from polymer beads through to running the fleet that delivers to retailers on time. “We can make the promise because we can guarantee the quality and performance,” says Abingdon’s Martin Peace. “We’re on top of every aspect of how we make our carpet and we are uncompromising. No-one can let us down – so we can ensure we don’t let anyone down.” Those familiar with the company’s history will recall the days of Carpets International and even the Kosset cat in the 80’s but the recent past is one of a courageous management buy-out by four committed carpet people in 2003 – Jim Taylor, Martin Peace, Robert Dight and Eddie Charlesworth.

The yarn plant produces 150 tons of yarn a week. This is about threequarters of Abingdon’s own needs but investment to increase that capacity to 200 tons is going on stream this Spring – demonstrating the company’s forward-thinking commitment. Producing polypropylene yarn from the polymer bead and colour pigment chip through to the thread is an intricate business and six extruders allow for flexibility in colour and texture. All the yarn is twoply heatset to improve its performance. Up to six tons of that yarn is loaded onto one of Abingdon’s hungry tufting machines – and there are 13 of those, working mainly on eighthgauge cloth. There are two backing plants for 4m and 5m widths and it will come as no surprise, given Abingdon’s attention to detail, that they even mix their own latex-based backing solutions to ensure they get the quality they need. During the Abingdon open day in March, Malcolm Gordon of the 26-store Carpets4Less chain was one of scores of retailers who visited the site and went away feeling confident. “We get a good sense of security with Abingdon,” said Malcolm. “They are very much in control of what they are doing and they are also nice people to deal with, which is important in any business.”

“We’re on top of every aspect of how we make our carpet and we are uncompromising in our ambition to become the supplier of choice” Abingdon are anxious to press home their advantage with the launch of the “Stainfree for Life” offer which is to be promoted to retailers this month with lots of merchandising and an impressive new ‘store-in-astore’ point of sale system (see our article last month for full details). And another major success in-store has been the multi-width proposition with a unique wide-angle lectern that sells the concept to consumers as an efficient option for their installations. “This is going to be an exciting year for us,” says Martin Peace. “We have a lot to say and we’re going to make sure everyone hears it!” Abingdon have 13 tufters at 4 and 5m

44 April 2011

T 01274 655694 www.stainfreeforlife.com

FlooringNews

News

F Ball starts the celebrations

Inside the extruder - at the start of the polypropylene yarn process

Domotex proved a great way to start 2011 and celebrate the 125th year in business for F. Ball and Co. Ltd., the UK’s leading manufacturer of flooring adhesives and subfloor preparation products. Marking the company’s 15th year at the flooring exhibition, Domotex was another successful show for the company, with an increased amount of visitors to their stand, particularly from Europe, India and the Middle East. The strong turn out at Domotex demonstrated a continuing thirst for information and innovation within the international flooring industry. With F. Ball representatives on hand at the show, the company received a large number of enquiries and found the show an excellent forum for creating new contacts and strengthening existing relationships.

Drawing the yarn to the required physical properties

Domotex provided the perfect platform for the global launch of the 2011 multi-format edition of F. Ball’s comprehensive ‘Recommended Adhesives Guide’ (RAG). In addition to the traditional brochures, the F. Ball website at www.f-ball.co.uk offers

The all important twisting process for a cut pile carpet

The tufting department is producing a 30m long wool twist roll every 10 minutes

two electronic versions, including a live database which is updated throughout the year, and a downloadable and fully interactive RAG which links to supporting technical information. After expanding the company’s international operations last year with a Technical Representative in the Benelux region, F. Ball has also created a new Dutch version of the company’s website, www.f-ball.nl, and made its product data sheets available in a range of languages on its main website to further support its overseas customers.

The warehouse in South Wales holds some 600,000m2 of carpet - and there is a similar facility in Kidderminster

from The Stocklists

Jonathan Goold, Export Business Manager at F. Ball, comments: “Domotex is an important fixture in F. Ball’s calendar. A truly international show, Domotex provided us with the opportunity to engage with existing export customers and meet new contacts from the international flooring industry. The show offered visitors the chance to speak to our team of experts, and we are now busy following up new contacts and opportunities made at the show.” T 01538 361 633

www.f-ball.co.uk

April 2011 45

News

New head for Brintons Brintons Carpets has appointed Don Coates as its new Managing Director. The 50-year-old has worked at the highest level in the international paper and packaging industry for the last two decades and is relishing his new role at Brintons, a family-owned company that was established 228 years ago. He said: "I am joining a great British business with global reach, a reputation for supplying the very best products and a high potential manufacturing footprint. There is no doubt that we are in a challenging operational environment but the team at Brintons has done some excellent work during the last couple of years and we are well positioned for growth."

Growing by design Hot on the heels of the design successes of recent years, leading UK carpet tile manufacturer, Burmatex, has made two new additions to its in-house design team, as the company gears up for some exciting product innovations for 2011. Vivien Lee, previously London Design Manager for Milliken Industrials, joins Burmatex as Senior Designer. Vivien brings with her a wealth of experience working with architects, interior designers and end users.

Don has significant experience of running public and private companies, enhancing operational performance and operating in highly-competitive markets.

Julia Thomas will work alongside Vivien as the new Junior Designer of the team, having recently completed a degree at Huddersfield University in Surface Design for Fashion and Interiors.

He added: "The Brintons brand is strong globally and it’s clear to me that there is sizeable end user growth in the markets we operate in. Don will be based at Brintons’ global headquarters in Kidderminster and replaces former Managing Director Harry Reilly who left the company at the end of 2010 to pursue a new opportunity. T 0800 505055

With several exciting new projects already underway, it promises to be another busy year for the Burmatex design team.

www.brintons.net

T 01924 262525

www.burmatex.co.uk

New men at Mohawk Two new men at Mohawk are strengthening the world’s largest flooring manufacturer’s presence in the UK. Responsible for East Anglia, and north east and north west London, Marcus Bowes has joined the residential sales team, along with his new colleague, Jonathan Scorah, who is responsible for Cumbria, the North East and North and West Yorkshire. Working with retailers to deliver the outstanding SmartStrand collection to homes within their regions, Marcus and Jonathan will be heavily promoting Mohawk’s ability to deliver lifetime stain-resistant carpet that has an environmental edge and a wide-reaching price point.

“The SmartStrand collection is quickly becoming recognised as a benchmark in residential carpets,” says Marcus, “the response I have already received has been quite astonishing and I’m really looking forward to working with retailers to really push the advantages of this collection to the fore.” Marcus has previously spent time at Cavalier Carpets and independent carpet wholesaler Rackhams while Jonathan has previously spent time at Westex Carpets and Collins Debden. T 01480 479830 www.themohawkgroup.com

Now you can sell StainFree carpets with the total confidence of a LIFETIME GUARANTEE against all household food and drinks stains. See www.stainfreeforlife.com and turn to page 44 of this magazine...

46 March 2011

FlooringNews

The British Wool column Wool – the grand revival of nature’s own fibre British Wool and the Campaign for Wool will be at the fabulous consumer event - Grand Designs in May (30th April-8th May) with a fantastic new designer exhibit, created to literally wow the audience and give wool a major boost. Certainly there will be no ignoring the 3-metre high ‘Choose Wool’ feature in the interiors section at Excel where Grand Designs is held. Created especially for the Campaign for Wool – the supersize 3D highly tactile, iconic exhibit is determined to grab the attention of visitors. Accompanied by a designer wool studio, visitors will see inspirational beauty and discover the practical attributes of wool product for the interiors sector. The Campaign for Wool – launched by HRH The Prince of Wales last year – has initiated a rollercoaster revival of interest in one of nature’s most environmentally friendly and sustainable fibres. Wool Week last October where designers, brands and major retailers backed a high level wool promotion, really put wool back on the map. Wool, of course is grown on sheep and so it provides a superior, annually renewable, natural resource to the international textile industry. It is also a highly technical performance fibre that lends luxury, comfort Wool flat weave runners are continuously on trend. and safety without excessive environmental compromise. “There is a really exciting mood in the wool industry at the moment and constant innovation with both product and textile designs show this perfectly,” Bridgette Kelly of the British Wool Marketing Board explained. “I think consumer values are showing a more concerned and demanding approach to provenance – where it has come from and what impact it has, are increasingly important aspects of the product profile – wool ticks those boxes.” The British Wool Marketing Board will launch the Designer Wool Studio presenting product ranges in carpets, rugs, beds and upholstery. “We want to show the wealth of wonderful design options in wool. The Grand Designs team have seen a trend for softer, tactile and natural textiles for the home. They invited us to be at the show to represent this trend and we want to take maximum opportunity.” “Roger Oates will be a key partner and will have an extensive selection of flat weave ranges on display. But there are so many fabulous innovations with wool – just look at the luxurious HRH The Prince of Wales – is the patron of Vi-Spring mattresses using British Wool – this exemplifies that excellent product design never the campaign for Wool. compromises – wool is best.”

Nature knows best... Spring is here and lambing season is already mid-way. It is this time of year when the reality of wool is most visible because we see the countryside coming to life and sheep are part of that rural tapestry that we all love so much. Shearing season follows on and this is when the wool will literally move from field to the grading depot. British Wool fleeces are individually graded by hand and eye before being auctioned to the international textile industry. This is the beginning part of a long journey that will see the wool washed (scoured), spun, tufted or woven. Wool is the natural solution for flooring, it offers so many benefits – durability, safety, comfort, warmth, luxury, breathability and carbon efficiency. Its natural cell system performs perpetually, from sheep through to finished product, giving incredible added value to the home. Tim Booth, product development manager of the BWMB comments, “I am The wool carpet industry starts in the field. always amazed by the reaction people have when I explain to them about the way wool performs. To most people it is simply a carpet or rug, they never fully consider the benefits that wool brings to the product and yet it is these benefits that define the product once it is in situ.” “So next time you are walking in the Spring sunshine, just look at the sheep and remember, wool is grown here – that is where the wool carpet industry starts – it starts with a sheep!”

48 April 2011

FlooringNews

The Ultimate Collection from Ryalux offers twists, saxonies and shagpiles, made from the finest quality New Zealand wools and beautiful Oriental silks. Available in an inspiring palette of fashion-led colours or dyed to match your own colour choice and available in any width up to 7 metres.

News

Antislip De Triomphe Surefoot Systems UK slip prevention specialists recently supplied its revolutionary Antislip system to treat 720m2 of floor tiles on the viewing gallery of one of Paris’ most famous and romantic landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe. Prompted by the French ministry of culture who look after all the historical landmarks in France, the work was carried out in October 2010 on the viewing platform. From this high vantage point (160ft tall) tourists and visitors can experience spectacular views of the city. The work was undertaken by Alliatech who is Surefoot Systems distribution partners in France. The Antislip system was applied in sections with no disruption to access. This meant that the crowds were not disappointed, as the beautiful landmark remained open to the public as the work was carried out. Karl Ward MD of Surefoot Systems UK commented: “Although nobody had complained about falling over, the French authorities were aware that the surface could become slippery when wet and wanted to protect the safety of visitors and staff at the monument. Plus, as it’s one of Paris’ most romantic destinations, I’m sure many men are keen not to accidentally fall to one knee.” Throughout the UK Surefoot Systems UK LTD has successfully treated thousands of square meters of wet slippery floor tiles and natural stone floors. www.surefootsystems.co.uk

Crown ready to roll The UK’s newest carpet brand Crown Floors unveiled its striking new point-of-sale at their launch sales meeting last month. “We’re ready,” said sales co-ordinator James Caldwell. “We had a very successful launch with great enthusiasm from the team - especially about the displays which look fantastic. “Our team is now out there in the field, talking to retailers and we are getting a strong response and, I’m pleased to say, the first orders have started coming in,” he said.

Woman newcomer awards The Furnishing Industry Trust (FIT) is calling for entries for the 2011 Women in Furnishing awards which includes a brand new category. Sponsored by Manchester Furniture Show and Willis and Gambier, Friday June 3 will see the second year of Women in Furnishing (WIF) awards held at a special luncheon at Furniture Makers’ Hall, Austin Friars, the home of FIT in the City of London. Four categories including the newly launched ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ award will be presented to recognise women of achievement across the furnishing industry.

Crown Floors have launched with ten ranges - eight easy clean synthetic carpets with up to 15-year wear warranties and two British wool ranges - and have ten sales representatives to cover the country. The point-of-sale material is being finished at the moment and will be rolled out to retailers in May. Meanwhile, the company has a virtual POS presentation on its new website - using the wall displays to help visitors navigate across the ranges. T 0800 077 33 01

www.crownfloors.co.uk

Said Theresa Raymond, who developed the idea for the awards: “Last year really highlighted and celebrated the female talent we have in the industry. There are many more gifted women out there so we’re calling on people to start nominating women for the 2011 awards.” The deadline for entries is noon, Tuesday May 3. For a nomination form please contact Sarah Clark at FIT on info@fi-trust.co.uk or 020 7256 5954. The deadline for nominations is noon on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. www.fi-trust.co.uk

50 April 2011

FlooringNews

from The Stocklists

April 2011 51

Survey

The price is right?

Fit for purpose?

Retailers respond as flooring inflation accelerates

92% will put prices up this year

“Put me down for price rises and profits,” said a North East retailer in response to our survey on pricing in the flooring sector. More than 90% of our respondents intend to increase prices this year – half of them by much more than the rate of inflation.

76% did put prices up last year

Against a backdrop of surging wool prices and polypropylene costs that have doubled in a year, manufacturers are steadily increasing prices. We asked retailers how successful they would be in passing on these rises to consumers in such a tight market.

44% agree carpet is too cheap

Last year, our survey said 76% of retailers put up prices but generally by less than 5% so this year’s response of 92% looks more aggressive. The retailer quoted above went on to say: “When fuel prices are rising constantly, manufacturers and wholesalers are bound to pass extra costs on to retailers. There has to be a point where we are brave enough to pass these on to our customers. “Many in the trade have absorbed the recent VAT increase – can we have our margins tightened further? Or, is the time here to start capitalising on our emergence from recession by increasing prices, and returning to worthwhile margins?” he said. A surprising number of retailers (44%) agreed that carpet was too cheap at the moment. More than 11% said it was too cheap by at least 20%. However, 53% couldn’t bring themselves to admit that prices were really too low in the market. It was generally agreed that vinyl was priced too highly at present. But a Tyneside retailer commented: “I am sick and tired of being preached to with the manufacturers’ first commandment, ‘don’t sell on price!’ Try telling that to the old pensioner who has cobbled together £200 for their lounge carpet.” Some 56% of our respondents say consumers are more price sensitive this year. And for many, the pricing issue is dominated and dictated by key players such as Carpetright and Headlam – and internet traders. Manufacturers are blamed for the inconsistency in their pricing approach to the trade. “The whole pricing structure has got out of hand,” said one. There were strong comments on the relationship between manufacturers and retailers on pricing. An Essex business man said: “Right now this industry needs to stick together and act more professionally.” Another: “Manufacturers need to remember that this is a partnership.”

“Put me down for price rises and profits.”

62% expect 2011 business to be flat 60% expect 2012 to be better The Stocklists polled 422 retailers throughout the UK during March 2011. Replies and comments are recorded anonymously. Many thanks to all those who took part.

Retailers are resigned to a flat year in 2011 with 62% expecting business levels to be about the same as 2010 but an optimistic 27% thought things were going to get better this year – only 11% expected worse trading. Looking further ahead, the outlook seems a little more confident. Over 60% are counting on a little growth in 2012 – only 6% expected things to get worse. Asked if manufacturers could help a little more with better credit in the current market, two-thirds of respondents actually felt suppliers’ terms were OK although nearly 30% suggested they should help more.

“Right now this industry needs to stick together and act more professionally.”

“Many in the trade have absorbed the recent VAT increase - can we have our margins tightened further?.”

52 April 2011

56% say consumers are more price sensitive

“The whole pricing structure has got out of hand.”

“Manufacturers need to remember that this is a partnership.” FlooringNews

from The Stocklists

April 2011 53

Flower on Flooring News News Spotless credentials The most successful flooring retailers can produce a number of reasons in favour of purchasing all flooring options, but few are so easily explained as those that fall into the stain resistant bracket. The two main assets, affordability and practicality, account for a significant proportion of this flooring option’s popularity. Among the many examples in today’s stores, Cormar’s Apollo collection is described by the company as made from ‘100% stain resistant Excellon polypropylene fibre and available in a choice of 15 best-selling plain and flecked shades’. It is a bleach cleanable carpet with a five year stain guarantee, retailing at around £15 per sq metre and is available in 4 and 5m widths. Cormar Carpets’ Apollo in Excellon fibre

‘This is surely the ultimate confidence booster for both consumer and retailer alike when making their choice of their new carpet purchase,’ the company states. Its latest stain resistant products have been collated on a new display stand and is appropriately called the Crown Jewels collection in celebration of the forthcoming royal wedding. Primo Plus, Primo Ultra, Primo Saxony and Primo Tweeds are also included in the company’s easy clean section. Mohawk’s Howard Lindsay states that stain resistance does not have to come at the expense of durability, softness and sustainability: ‘For many ranges, stain-resistance comes as an in-built benefit of polypropylene fibres, yet the limitations of polypropylene make these ranges inferior against wool and wool-rich carpets, as well as those made from other man-made fibres such as nylon. However our SmartStrand carpets bring stain-resistance to better quality carpets, adding durability, softness and renewable content.’ While the latter improves its environmental credentials, the combined benefits make an effective alternative to wool, says Lindsay.

“ere is no doubt that the family with young children and the younger generation in general see stain resistance as a priority in their buying decision”

‘This range is hugely popular with the "new homes" market, the "stain free" market as well as being an ideal choice for bedrooms,’ said David Cormack, marketing director of Cormar Carpets. ‘Apollo is in response to all those customers that have asked us for a value range with all the benefits of the Cormar service.’ Abingdon Flooring states that its stain resistant options were the original ‘bleach cleanable’ entrants into this category 22 years ago. Its collection has grown to a total of more than 40, with stain warranties increasing from five to 10 years, followed by its latest version, which provides a stain-free warranty against all household food and drink for life. The Crown Jewels stand from Abingdon

54 April 2011

by Dennis Flower

Birger Karlsson, Lano Carpets UK and Ireland sales manager says: ‘The Easy Care Collection represents an excellent entry point into stain-resistant carpets for consumers. With some of our most popular ranges, including Pembridge Twist featured in the collection, it also represents a perfect opportunity for retailers to capitalise on the popularity of stain-resistant ranges. ‘There is no doubt that more and more consumers are looking for added value from their purchase and Easy Care carpets provide this, while also remaining excellent value. The Easy Care collection also encompasses a wide range of styles, including the luxurious deep texture of Supreme Elegance, as well as colours ranging from neutral tones through to vibrant fashion-inspired shades.’ Carpets within this collection are bleach cleanable, so even the toughest stains can be removed, he states, and all examples are backed with a 10 year stain-resistant warranty. SmartStrand is a new fibre for quality carpets from Mohawk

‘This combination of attributes clearly separates SmartStrand carpets from other stain-resistant offerings in the market and the stain warranty on all carpets in the range is for a lifetime,’ he states. ‘The addition of competitive pricing has also been included to ensure growth and customer satisfaction, mirroring the high levels achieved in the United States market,’ Lindsay concludes. Associated Weavers are a strong believer in producing stain resistant carpet and it is proving a popular choice in the marketplace. Already in 2011, four of their best stain resistant carpets have been recoloured. Tuftex Twist, StainAway Harvest Heathers and StainGuard Harvest Heathers were all launched in February. The 100% polypropylene ranges come with Associated Weavers’ unique ten-year StainAway warranty and their ten-year wear guarantee. AW’s MD Steve Elliott said: “These ranges have had a great response with their excellent new colour bank and stain resistant properties making them a market leader. We are encouraged by this and plan to add to the StainAway Collection later this year.”

Kingsmead has developed a range of saxonies and cut pile twists around its ‘luxatron’ stain resistant polypropylene fibre. General manager Martin West says: ‘There is no doubt that the family with young children and the younger generation in general see stain resistance as a priority in their buying decision. Our move into the Saxony market has widened the appeal of our overall portfolio and introduced Kingsmead to a different sector of the buying public. Watch out for more ranges in this fibre.’ When Victoria Carpets’ research confirmed continued growth and acceptance of the polypropylene market, the company developed its EasiCare collection, comprising of Twist, Tweed and Saxony. Twist is made in 12 plain colours, Tweed in 12 stipple colours and Saxony in a combination of plain and stipple colours.

continued overleaf Pembridge Twist from Lano

AW’s StainAway Harvest Heather is a market leader

April 2011 55

Flower on Flooring continued from previous page All are made with Colourloc two-ply polypropylene yarn, suitable for all areas in the home, are fade resistant, bleach cleanable, non-allergenic and, of course, are stain resistant. They have a 10 year stain warranty and the company plans to introduce further options in the future. Edel Telenzo’s approach is to go for the tried and tested route for stain resistant treatment. The Dutch tufted carpet manufacturer has applied Scotchgard to its wool and wool mix carpets. ‘We’re happy with Scotchgard,’ says UK operations manager Lesley Inman. ‘It’s good quality, proven and a brand that the consumer – and the retailer recognises. As our carpets are mostly plain, and often chosen in lighter colours, stain resistance is an important extra selling point.’ Because consumers are not always aware of how best to handle stains and spills on Scotchgard treated carpets, the company also provides advice on its website. Crown Floors is the UK’s newest carpet brand and launched last month with an eye-catching promotion and a smart set of point-of-sale units for retailers. The launch portfolio has been built around a stain resistant proposition with eight of the ten initial ranges in polypropylene carrying the company’s Easy Clean logo to reassure consumers. The flagship example is Reigate Fort, a 1400g multi-purpose twist in 12 colours which offers a 15-year stain warranty alongside its ten-year wear warranty. Other ranges carry seven and ten year stain warranties according to their quality.

Chelsea, an Edel Telenzo carpet protected by Scotchgard

“We have had a successful launch and a very positive reaction to the stain resistant ranges,” says Crown’s sales co-ordinator James Caldwell. The Carefree Carpets range from Regency has seen an exceptionally strong start for their distributors Furlong since they were launched to great acclaim at the Harrogate show last year. The company has been quick to build on this success with new ranges, most recently a new saxony which brought the Carefree portfolio up to 12 ranges. They have also announced that all of these will now be available in 5m widths. “The video presentation on our lecterns has been a big part of the success,” says Neil Valentine of Furlong. “People see the signs that say Carefree but when they can actually witness tough stains disappearing before their eyes, they really believe and appreciate the major benefits of a Carefree carpet,” he said.

Reigate Fort from Crown Floors has a 15 year stain warranty

Video lecterns for Carefree show the stains disappearing!

56 April 2011

For more information about featured products: Abingdon • www.stainfreeforlife.com • 01274 655694 Associated Weavers • www.associatedweavers.net • 01422 431100 Cormar Carpets • www.cormarcarpets.co.uk • 01204 881234 Crown Floors • www.crownfloors.co.uk • 0800 0773 301 Edel Telenzo • www.edeltelenzocarpets.co.uk • 01422 374417 Mohawk • www.mohawkflooring.com • 01480 479830 Lano • www.lano.be • 0032 5665 4000 Regency Carpets • www.furlongflooring.co.uk • 01772 316155

FlooringNews

News

Scotchgard shines 3M has announced an evolution in floor care, with the launch of its new range of high-performance Scotchgard Floor Protectors. Specifically designed for stone and vinyl floors, the new finishes deliver a highly durable shine with less labour, and at a total lower cost, than acrylic floor products. By reducing the quantity of chemicals associated with traditional products they also provide a greener and more user friendly floor care solution. T 01234 229 496 www.3M.co.uk/Scotchgard

Alternative social event Alternative Flooring joins the social network with the launch of its very own Facebook and Twitter sites designed to increase brand awareness, engage with social media savvy consumers and make flooring fashionable and fun. The company is also exploring other interactive communication channels such as YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and an alternative blog! Social media now plays an integral part of Alternative Flooring’s marketing programme, where ‘alternative’ friends can ‘be social’ and follow the latest launches, note events, preview products, catch up with campaigns, enter competitions and be part of all sorts of exciting promotions. The campaign hones in on hot new designs, tunes into key topics and is updated daily. Tweets direct followers to the Facebook page, where followers can open photo albums, view videos or join in with the latest lively discussions. Collections have ‘buzzword names’ and these keywords are integrated into public messages posted on Facebook, sent in a tweet or captioned in an image on Flickr. These words then serve the purposes of research as well as search engine optimisation. Buzzing social activity includes Rock ‘n’ Roll (pictured above) - a collection of vibrant stripes and with names like Purple Rain and London Calling this is an instant hit. A competition invited Facebook fans to name their favourite rock star or song with prizes of iTunes vouchers. Contour is a collection of tactile sisals and in a competition centered on ‘falling in love with texture,’ followers revealed their favourite texture and the love theme then continued into Valentines Day. T 01264 335111 www.alternativeflooring.com

Lock-in lunch The Furnishing Industry Trust (FIT) hosts the first-of-its-kind fundraiser – lunch at the Clink! Taking place on Wednesday August 24, at ‘The Clink’ a new restaurant located within HMP High Down high security prison in Sutton, Surrey. Said FIT director and trustee Nigel Blake (pictured left) : “This is a fantastic and unique event offering a very thoughtprovoking experience while helping to raise vital funds! We know this will appeal to both our current and new supporters. We promise a memorable and enjoyable event and lots to talk about afterwards!” All chefs and waiters at the restaurant are current prisoners and the restaurant furniture is made within the prison walls. Reservations are taken on a first-come-first-served basis and the funds raised will help towards grants for those who work, or have worked, in the furnishing trade who are facing urgent financial difficulties. Tickets cost just £45 per person. For more information please contact Sarah Clark at FIT on info@fi-trust.co.uk. For further information about FIT visit www.fi-trust.co.uk. www.fi-trust.co.uk from The Stocklists

April 2011 57

Sharpen up your fitting skills with fita Are you working in the flooring industry but need further skills to widen your client base? Or perhaps you are a new beginner in flooring and need training to go one step further? If so, then why not contact FITA, the Flooring Industry Training Association. Co-founded by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF), FITA has courses to suit not only real beginners just getting started in the industry but upskilling courses aimed towards seasoned professionals too!

BOO K EA RLY TO

AVO ID D ISAP POIN TME NT

FITA has a fully equipped training centre at Loughborough in Leicestershire. Our wide range of courses are presented by experienced instructors with specialist knowledge of the flooring industry. All course content can be used as evidence towards an NVQ in Floorcoverings.

Visit www.fita.co.uk for details of all FITA training courses available along with our booking form which is available for download. CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON:

0115 950 6836 or visit www.fita.co.uk

FITA - kindly sponsored by

Fita Training Centre Loughborough Unit 10, Windmill Road Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 1RA.

58 April 2011

FlooringNews

Stocklists Classified The

SITUATIONS VACANT

UNDER RUGS

Designer Contracts www.designercontracts.com Email: recruitment@designercontracts.com

Market Leading suppliers of floor covering to the House Building Industry.

We require Fitters for laying -

• Carpet • Vinyl • Laminate Amtico/Karndean Also for:

• • • •

Contract Flooring Cap & Cove Communal Area And Curtain Fitters

We are looking for good quality fitters for most of our 10 Regional Warehouses nationwide working on a sub-contract basis.

Must have own van. Plenty of work available. London & the South East South Midlands East Midlands Scotland South Wales South Coast

West Midlands North West North East Yorkshire/Lincolnshire South West including Devon & Cornwall

Interested? Please ring: Wendy Hamm / Christine Mutton on 01246 854577 for details of your closest regional office and to arrange a local meeting.

Busy carpet and flooring shop near Woking in surrey requires an additional salesperson/estimator With industry experience.

FOXISuper 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. Burnley, Lancashire BB10 3BH Tel: 01282 421026, Fax: 01282 412321 www.foxirugtamer.co.uk

FOR SALE

Please apply in writing with CV to: Mr W Coleman, The Carpet Workshop, 53 Old Woking Road, West Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 6LF or email waynecoleman8@aol.com

“We get TWICE as many calls from our ad in The Stocklists” But then The Stocklists has an unfair advantage, we go to almost twice as many as people as rival magazines. Ask us which advertisers have made the statement above - and we’ll give you a quote too!

Call Diane Martin on 01482 659396 THE STOCKLISTS April 2011

ATTENTION CARPET SUPPLIERS Turn those remnants into cash! New and reconditioned carpet/rug whipping, fringing and taping machines available for immediate delivery. For further details contact

DAVID ALMOND LTD. davidalmondltd@btconnect.com Union Works, Bacup Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancs. BB4 7LN Tel. 01706 214817 Fax. 01706 214819