Flooring Magazine June/July 2019

J u n e / J u l y 2 0 19

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

MOST

TRUSTED

BRAND BOSTIK ULTRASET

FLOORING. BY BOSTIK

bostik.com.au

@BOSTIKTRADE

@BOSTIKTRADE

BOSTIK AUSTRALIA

*As found in a 2019 Quantum Research Study of 100 Australian Flooring Installers and Retailers ‘Bostik Ultraset’ is the most trusted hardwood flooring adhesive brand in Australia.

ULTRASET IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BOSTIK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ® BOSTIK IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BOSTIK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ®

Explore the latest design trends

INTRODUCING FOUR new

colours

WITH

authentic

TIMBER colour

variation

For more information contact Dunlop Flooring on 1800 622 293 or visit heartridge.com.au

duskmoor

nordic beEch

frostfall

rivermalt

Quartz-enhanced urethane coating for wear resistance and problem-free maintenance

Low gloss, clear wear layer for protection

High resolution dĂŠcor paper with timber print

High quality, virgin PVC Fibreglass for optimal stability Anti-slip, backing layer

Grab your free copy of the Smoked Oak Luxury Vinyl Plank brochure to explore all the benefits and colours!

why choose heartridge floors?

Our luxury vinyl planks are perfect for every room. Each plank is...

•

Highly water-resistant and suitable for use in bathrooms and laundries

• •

A realistic timber design Uniquely flexible for comfort underfoot

GUARANTEED TO LAST

BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE FLOW OF DAILY Life

EASY TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

nordic beEch

home is where the heart is

Follow us on

Contents News

3 Editor’s Note

4

Prestigious award for EC Carpets

Icons 18

Jeffery Copolov

Software 40

Grow your business – get your quotes out quicker

Feature 46

How to franchise your business

Airstep Retailer of the Month 50

Floorworld Geelong

Prep Install & Care 58

SupaBord – Allowing timber to breath

Overseas News 64

Looking ahead to DOMOTEX Hannover 2020

Welcome to the June/July 2019 issue of Flooring Magazine.

Inside you will find our feature on franchises and buying groups, including a piece written by Sussan Campbell, on how to franchise your business. A must read for anyone out their looking at this business model and evaluating whether franchising is a feasible path.

This issue’s Icon is Jeffery Copolov, Director of Interiors at Bates Smart the multi-award-winning architectural firm with a host of impressive projects including; the Melbournian Apartments, Crown Hotels and Casino and the prestigious Club Stand for the Victorian Racing Club.

Flooring Magazine is now on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Please take a look, we would love to hear your feedback.

Feel free to contact me directly, regarding any industry relevant news or events, by email at – michelle. cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au Until next time…enjoy.

Michelle Cammiade Editor

Flooring Magazine is now on: @flooringmagazineaustralia

Front Cover Bostik bostik.com.au

Flooring June/July 2019

@flooringmagazine flooring-magazine

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

News

4

Prestigious award for EC Carpets

I

t is a brave business that bucks a growing trend in consumer demand and stakes their future on excluding themselves from a segment of their industry, but EC Carpets did just that. Manufacturing carpets in the Adelaide suburb of Edwardstown, SA, for over 50 years, they saw the market in the '80s and '90s trending towards cut pile carpets. Yet they decided to focus on what they believed was the better product and, more importantly, their true passion – loop pile carpets. The market may still be divided on cut versus loop, but EC Carpets' decision to follow that passion has seen them become specialists in loop pile, with a range, reliability and reputation that is trusted at all levels of the industry; on both the national and international stage.

"We know people live their lives from the floor up, and we want them to love their carpet, so our entire range is track resistant," said Colin. "You'll never have a consumer complaining about unsightly shading marks left behind by footprints and daily use with our carpets. They're designed to be practical, functional, and hardwearing – as well as soft to the touch."

With over 55 years in the industry, the EC Carpets brand has been built on the strength and quality of their products and services, but also on trust.

"We stand behind every carpet we sell, and retailers and consumers alike can rest assured that our carpets will perform

as promised; looking great today, because they're designed to perform for tomorrow, and engineered to last".

EC Carpets continue to be driven by their passion for loop pile carpet, and are proud of their reputation in the market. But it was their recent award from Choices Flooring as 'Carpet Supplier of the Year' that proved they'd made the right decision many years ago.

Colin explains, "Loop is our passion, we really do love it, so much so, that it’s become our new marketing campaign- ‘Love the Loop’. We feel it successfully communicates our company's position, and we hope consumers will identify with it, and feel confident in their choice of an EC Carpet."▲

"With a saturated international market offering cut pile and loop pile carpets of various qualities, we made a strategic decision to differentiate ourselves as an Australian owned business. We chose to manufacture only the highest-quality product possible – and that meant producing 100% Australian-made loop pile carpets," said Colin Grace, Sales Director.

EC Carpets' focus has always been on the spaces people live, learn and work in. They want to inspire happiness with their carpets, giving people a flexible and creative tool to really transform the experience of a space.

Their success in pursuit of this goal has depended on understanding the increasing demands of the market and resulted in the development of an extensive range of loop pile carpets that offer a choice of fibres, designs and colours to suit all styles and needs. But it is their peace-of-mind promise that has proven to be one of their strongest selling points.

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

imagine the possibilities...

VIC/TAS: 1800 803 545 NSW: 1800 802 926 QLD/NT/WA/SA: 1800 806 375

www.imaginefloors.com.au Image: Masterpieces range exclusive to Carpet Court

News

6 “Australia’s tilers are amongst the best in the world and Davco is excited to be supporting them in their tiling career,” explained Andrew Nunn, Managing Director, ParoxGroup. “As a market leader in the development and manufacture of tiling products, Davco wants to be able to give back to our tilers and this competition allows us to recognise the effort and skill of tilers all around the country.” ▲

Davco on the hunt for Australia’s Best Tiler

D

avco prides itself on providing excellence in tiling systems and now they are looking for a tiler to match that standard. With more than $10,000 in cash and prizes to be won, an inaugural nationwide search is set to uncover ‘Australia’s Best Tiler’ who will go on to represent their country at the International final in China later this year.

Think you’ve got what it takes to become Australia’s Best Tiler? Registrations are now open at www.australiasbesttiler.com.au. Simply sign up to compete at one of seven regional events where participants will be required to complete multiple rounds including a written

DO YOU

HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

For details on how to become ‘Australia’s Best Tiler’, visit www.australiasbesttiler.com.au

The competition allows Davco to give back to tilers around Australia and recognise the effort and skill of their work.

and practical test. The regional events will take place between June and August in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Western Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne.

The top tiler in each of the regional competitions will be awarded $500 and the winner will be flown to Sydney for the National Final in September.

The top seven tilers from all around the country will battle it out over two days where W IN $ 5,00they will be challenged on all aspects of the 0 trade. The overall winner will receive the prestigious title of ‘Australia’s Best Tiler’, a cash prize of $5,000 and an all-expenses paid, business class trip to China to compete in the International Final.

Forbo Flooring Products – QLD Distribution through AFS AFS Queensland (formerly PR Floors) has had a long-standing arrangement as a non-exclusive distributor of Bulletin Board and associated Forbo flooring products throughout Queensland.

and a trip to cham compete pions hips at the wo in Ch rld ina

DO YOU

HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

AUSTRALIASBESTTILER.COM.AU

Flooring June/July 2019

Decorated sports star and brand ambassador, Mark Geyer, knows what it’s like to work hard and have hard work recognised. “I’m thrilled to be part of the inaugural competition to help find and recognise Australia’s Best Tiler. Our tradies are known for being hard working and trustworthy and I’m pleased to be involved in acknowledging their efforts on a regional, national and global scale.”

Both parties have mutually agreed to focus on individual strategic objectives and will bring the distribution to a close at the end of July 2019. Forbo flooring products will still be supplied and available throughout Queensland by Forbo and AFS will continue to expand its national flooring offer throughout the state.

This arrangement will come to an end effective from 31st July 2019.

Please contact your Forbo representative for any further information. ▲

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

News

7

Polyflor Australia announces new website launch Polyflor is pleased to announce the launch of their brand new website. After months of hard work and dedication, they are delighted to officially announce the new site is available via the link www.polyflor.com.au

access to Polyflor’s extensive product offering in both the commercial and domestic markets, visitors can also search for local stockists, browse interior inspiration and much more.

Their goal with the new website is to provide visitors an easier way to learn about Polyflor and to allow the customer to browse Polyflor products based on their own requirements with ease.

Amongst the new features the site contains integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to foster improved and up to date communication with customers. Polyflor will be constantly updating their content with helpful information, articles, blogs, newsletters and company announcements.

The website has been designed to offer the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation, functionality and design- all while allowing customers to view the full product portfolio that Polyflor can offer in a fresh, aesthetically pleasing platform.

New features include: • Brand new design • User friendly • Local stockist search function • Live Chat function • Trends and Inspiration images • Latest Project Briefs • Technical Data updates The new website was created with the user experience in mind. It gives users the opportunity to navigate through a fully responsive Live Chat experience and provides a seamless transition from desktop to mobile.

Visitors can stay informed with the latest Polyflor news through the new online blog. The blog will contain richer online content such as product launches, technical tips, press releases, featured products and monthly newsletters. ▲

In addition, the new website is interactive and now gives better

Carpet Baggers Charity Golf Club Day 2019 In February 1969 two Sydney carpet retailers, Merve Ratcliffe and John Cootes organised the first of many Carpet Baggers Charity Golf days, at Strathfield Golf Club. In its second year the event relocated to Pennant Hills Golf Club, in Sydney’s north, where it remained for 22 years.

In 1992 a new committee was formed comprising of members including Frank Keenan, Bob Wallace, Mike Duggan and Victor Brusche and the annual event was moved to Castle Hill Country Club.

After 10 years and looking for a change the charity event was temporarily relocated to Camden Lakeside where the course was designed by one of Australia’s greatest

Flooring June/July 2019

golfers, Peter Thompson. A highlight for all attending that year was having Peter come to the dinner and speak to all of the players.

This year’s event, held at Stonecutters golf course in Blacktown, marks the 50th Anniversary of the Carpet Baggers Charity Golf Day. Eighty of the best and worst golfers from the industry played, with scoring prolific to say the least, and another 10 attended the lunch. The day was well supported by the industry with Godfery Hirst and Intafloors acting as the joint event sponsors. Other hole sponsors on the day included Quest Carpet, Dunlop Flooring, Interface, Gerfloor, AFS and Carpet Cutters Commercial.

With plenty of sledging both on and off the course all participants enjoyed themselves and were also very generous in their support of the raffle. Allowing the Carpet Baggers to donate $7,500 to The Starlight Foundation, something they are all very proud of. Mike Duggan believes with this continued success the event will last another 50 years. ▲

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

8

New designs for LooseLay Longboard

K

arndean Designflooring, is expanding its popular LooseLay Longboard collection, adding eight new designs including five Australian-inspired woods.

When developing new designs, the Karndean Designflooring product team travel the world in search of unique wood species that offer rare beauty, but may not make a practical floor in their natural form.

After hand-selecting pieces of these natural materials, the Karndean team create designs that highlight the timbers natural details in a variety of colourways – some true to the natural hues, some in more contemporary variations, but all in a fully waterproof, family friendly luxury vinyl format. Each of the new designs in Karndean LooseLay Longboard has its own origin story.

Inspired by the premium native Australian hardwood, Ironbark, the four new Ironbark designs in Karndean’s LooseLay Longboard collection feature deep hues, with straight and tight cathedral grain elements indicative of the natural product.

The rich tones of Natural Ironbark (LLP327), Honey Ironbark (LLP325) and Ochre Ironbark (LLP326) feature warm, earthy characteristics that allow the product to be used in a wide range of interiors.

Blended Ironbark (LLP328) offers a modern twist to the traditional classic, with its combination of subtle blue, grey and peach undertones that blend warm and cool shades together.

When it came to Australian Wormy Chestnut (LLP334), Karndean’s product designers took inspiration from the distinctive sap lines that resemble the track marks of insects and worms, a distinguishing feature of its namesake - Wormy Chestnut. The result is a beautiful and truly individual floor that brings personality to the simplest of interiors.

Harnessing the striking cross-saw markings of the original European oak boards, both Pure Fabric Oak (LLP329) and Shadow Fabric Oak (LLP331) showcase a layered ‘fabric’ texture with neutral mid-tones that make it ideal for home decorators looking for a contemporary grey floor.

Rounding out the new additions is the Weathered American Pine (LLP335). Full of history, these reclaimed boards from a Pennsylvanian tobacco barn were discovered after some 100 years of use. With its distinctive markings, Weathered American Pine is a truly striking design that makes it ideal for use in both contemporary and classic homes.

Available in the popular 1500mm x 250mm size, Karndean LooseLay Longboard’s larger format has been designed for quick and easy installation, meaning there is less disruption to busy homes and lifestyles.

Warmer and quieter underfoot than traditional laminate flooring, Karndean LooseLay Longboard is well known for its realistic wood designs, which are easy to clean and durable.

With a lifetime residential warranty, the Karndean LooseLay Longboard collection now features 20 stylish wood designs. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update LINON by Tarkett The new DESSO LINON collection takes inspiration from the timeless appeal and tactility of irregular woven fabrics and gives the look renewed relevance with a refreshing pop of pastel. The 50 x 50 cm structured loop tile is a great office all-rounder that respectfully and creatively challenges tradition.

On-trend colour palette LINON’s 18-strong colour line is what sets this collection apart. Hushed, dusky pink tones, mauves and light blues sit alongside

10 greys and other near neutrals. The insightful use of colour and texture comes together to create a soft, homely canvas with a welcoming, smart-casual appeal - fitting for today’s workplace settings.

Ludwig Cammaert, Design and Technical Development Director for DESSO carpets at Tarkett said: “It is the intricate detail and appealing neutral colour palette that really bring this new carpet collection to life. It offers a softness and tactility to commercial spaces, creating a ‘home away from home’ in the workplace.”

Doing Good Together Made from 100% ECONYL yarn - a regenerated nylon made from recovered waste materials such as fishing nets and carpet yarn from Tarkett’s Refinity recycling facility, LINON has exceptional sustainability credentials. The collection also comes with the Cradle to Cradle Gold Level certified DESSO EcoBase backing as standard, which is fully recyclable in the Tarkett production facility.

Specifically designed with disassembly and recycling in mind EcoBase backing is made from at least 75% positively defined recycled content and does not use any PVC in its construction. EcoBase backing is engineered from the start so that it can be separated and recycled with ease at the Tarkett production facility. EcoBase backings can also be used with Tarkett Tape to provide a quick and easy installation method with virtually no VOCs. ▲

Starwood – timber look porcelain tiles Earp Bros have released an ultra-realistic timber look tile range set to change the way we consider porcelain tiles. The new Starwood range interprets a wide variety of natural timbers and captures the craftsmanlike precision of artisan carpenters, ensuring a realism in design and texture. Available in 12 colour options and a matt finish to ensure a natural looking material, Starwood comes in both plank formats and decorative designs. The floor tile is available in internal

Flooring June/July 2019

and slip resistant finishes to offer options for both residential homes and commercial environments.

maintenance. The range consists of glazed wall tiles for indoors and porcelain floor tiles for both indoor and outdoor use. ▲

Starwood is Global Green Tag certified ensuring customers are selecting a reliable, sustainable product that also earns credit points towards the world’s most recognised green project marks like Green Star, LEED and BREEAM. The visual appeal of top-quality woods has been combined with the technical properties of porcelain to guarantee longevity and easy

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

11

The future of carpet cutting has arrived at GMK

G

MK Logistics [GMK], a subsidiary of the ASX-listed CTI Logistics Limited, has brought the future of carpet cutting to Australia. GMK’s new Carpet Boss III cutting machine is now fully operational in GMK’s Melbourne depot and is quickly transforming the flooring logistics industry.

Built by Perpetual Machine Company in U.S.A., it represents a very substantial investment by GMK in its customers and the Australian flooring industry.

The Carpet Boss III is already helping GMK to better serve its customers. It is capable of an impressive 45 cuts per hour when running at capacity. That is 342 cuts in a standard day shift, which includes check measure balances and doffing off. Making it the most advanced cutting machine in Australia.

The Carpet Boss III is fully-automatic, with a Dual-Precision Measuring System which ensures carpet cutting accuracy. It has a high speed, four blade, scissor type cross cutter with the added benefit of an adjustable single blade carpet slitter.

Another key feature is the heavy duty, 4 metre accumulation table for staging rolls before they are automatically wrapped. Each roll is securely wrapped in plastic with core inserts at each end that seal the carpet for added protection and provide excellent presentation to the receiving customer.

Flooring June/July 2019

GMK has also recently rolled out the Jaix Warehouse Management System [Jaix] which incorporates full RF scanning capability. All carpet rolls are scanned upon receipt at GMK, which makes the carpet immediately available to order. Outbound and cut rolls are scanned out of storage when ordered. If a roll requires a cut, it is scanned into the cutting machine location, which is capable of housing up to 10 mother rolls, where they are scheduled for efficient cutting.

The Carpet Boss III will be set up to talk directly to Jaix and automatically update stock records with accurate carpet measurements after each cut. The system also has the smarts to foresee any opportunities for a second cut from the same roll, which reduces double handling. GMK shares this efficiency with its customers. Jaix will also generate a customer report at the end of each day summarising all cuts and

providing visibility of work completed, work in progress and all balances.

This new machine, along with the new Jaix IT solution, puts GMK right at the cutting edge of the Australian flooring logistics market. Customers utilising the GMK outsourced warehouse solution now have a number of distinct advantages over their competition, including: • speed to market, with immediate access to GMK’s extensive national transport network • world class equipment and IT solutions, with full product visibility • the ability to focus on their core business without the distraction of a warehouse operation • no warehouse WHS or HR compliance issues, and • reduced capital investment and improved cashflow. ▲

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

See colour differently Amtico’s in-house designers have poured all of their knowledge and skill into creating and designing these 25 products which will change the way you see, experience and ultimately use colour.

Colour Edit’s broad spectrum of tones perform beautifully as part of a pattern, as subtle accents or flooded across a floor. Four different textures add depth and variety to the colourways, from aged plaster and subtle watercolours, to more architectural tonal shades.

4 25 New designs

Coordinating products

Mark Taylor Sales Director +61 (0) 477 708 418 Wayne Schofield Sales Manager NSW +61 (0) 499 091049 Megan Bilecki Sales Manager SA/WA +61 (0) 400 995497

DC385 Gotthard - Stucco Flax, Stucco Indigo, Tempus Soothe

Product Update

14

Gerni puts worker safety first

O

ne of the greatest difficulties builders face is keeping the work site safe and clean during the building process but the Gerni ATTIX 33 M-Class Industrial dust extractor takes care of that problem.

The dust extractor offers safety solutions for all dust classifications and are designed for demanding dust extraction for L and M Class dust levels for applications such as construction dust, concrete, plaster, fibre cement, wood, metal, liquids and slurries.

L Class (low risk) dust includes simple house dust and materials such as soil.

The occupational exposure limit for L Class dust is >1 mg/m3, which means you need a dust extractor that catches 99 per cent of the dust.

M Class (medium risk) dust includes wood dust, dust from repair compound, filler and clear coats, dust from cement, concrete and tile cement, quartziferous materials such as sand and pebbles, and even paints such as latex and oil paints.

The occupational exposure limit for M Class dust is >0.1 mg/m3, which means you need a dust extractor that catches 99.9 per cent of the dust.

The Gerni ATTIX 33 M-Class Industrial extractor is compliant with Australian Health and Safety guidelines for dust extraction in construction environments, please check with your state’s Health & Safety guidelines for more details about dust extraction.

This high performance, easy-to-use dust extractor takes productivity, efficiency and meeting workplace Health and Safety standards to a new level.

Safety is maximised through clever innovations such as a Push & Clean semi-automatic filter cleaning system, durable and washable M-class PTFE filter using a new generation of non-stick membranes, reliable filtration efficiency of

Flooring June/July 2019

fine dust particles and no dust emission from exhaust air or power tool during filter cleaning cycle.

A minimum of 99.9 per cent of fine dust particles are captured by the machine, in keeping with both L and M class dust extraction requirements.

The Gerni ATTIX 33 M-Class Industrial extractor offers automatic link-up with your power tools with the Auto On/Off power outlet and the dust extractor automatically starts when the power tool is used making it ideal for electric drilling, sanding or cutting tools.

It is robust and easy to handle, which also makes it easy to transport from one site to another.

It offers flexible storage solutions for tools and accessories, so everything you need is at hand, including easy fixation of tube, hose and power cord with flexible rubber straps, and innovative hose and cable hook for easy and quick storage and transportation.

The Gerni ATTIX 33 M-Class Industrial extractor offers a superior cleaning performance, increased air velocity in both hose, nozzle and tool connector, easy service and low maintenance cost because the same filter is used for wet and dry pick-up. â–˛

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Pixel makes creativity fun. Are you ready to play?

pixel

innovation & inspiration

floorconcepts

Product Update

16 supporting structural pedestals, that can be conveniently disconnected using a suction lifter to allow for maintenance and repair to the concealed services.

Magna the latest in magnetic raised-access flooring The latest innovation in raised-access flooring, international timber flooring brand Havwoods has launched its Magna collection. A new offering for the specifiers and contractors’

market, the magnetic fit system offers a versatile solution for installation in multipurpose commercial premises, providing accessibility to underfloor services that cannot otherwise be installed in wall cavities.

Magna’s magnetised and foam-sealed timber boards provide a secure connection to the

Havwoods Magna is fast to install making it ideal for large-scale office and retail environments where a quick turnaround is essential. The magnetic system is offered across a range of Havwoods’ extensive engineered timber flooring finishes, including their European made planks, creating flexible floor coverings that cater to both aesthetic and practical specifications.

The brand is also proud to offer a Lifetime Guarantee on Magna’s magnetic components to provide durability and complete peace of mind. Havwoods’ collection is available in an extensive range of finishes and dimensions to ensure the perfect fit for any project. ▲

Be Accurate. Be Efficient. Be Profitable

MEASURE MOBILE • Draw Scale Plans • Add, Delete and Move Seams • Include Doorways and Stairs • Calculate Material Quantities • Create and Email Quotes • Take Signed Acceptance on Tablet • Take Payments Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 measureflooring.com measuremobile.com

AS AUSTRALIAN AS...

A QUALITY AUSTRALIAN MADE ADHESIVE

Supporting local manufacturing, jobs and the economy.

AVAILABLE NOW AT

1300 737 155

WWW.AUSTRALIANFLOORINGSUPPLIES.COM.AU

Product Update

18

Why choose Timber Floors?

Choosing what to put on the floor of your home or office is a big decision. The choices are seemingly endless. Timber floors are still a popular choice in Australia for good reason and having the right floor and a reliable adhesive has never been more important.

• Make a choice that lasts a lifetime - A timber floor is solid and durable. Timber can last a lifetime and as such can prove more cost effective than other alternatives.

• The healthier choice for the family – Timber flooring has been proven to lower stress levels, heart rate and blood pressure and can even improve a person’s emotional state *.

Timber floors can moderate humidity levels which improves air quality.

Furthermore, timber does not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to health.

• Be unique. No boring repeats Born from Mother Nature, every tree and timber floorboard is unique, ensuring no two floors will ever be the same. This means you won’t see repetitive patterns across the floor.

• Better things to do than clean? If you have better things to do with your time than clean the house, the team at Bostik suggest, timber is the perfect choice for your floors. When it comes to maintenance, hardwood is easily kept clean with a quick sweep, an antistatic mop will pick up most of the dirt and a damp mop monthly is all the attention your floors need.

• Sustainable advantages - Most timber floors are sourced from carefully managed Australian forests. The actual carbon emitted during the production of floorboards is far less than the carbon emitted producing other materials and more importantly, wood breaks down naturally when disposed of. Timber floors also act as a natural insulator bringing warmth to your home and reducing the need for heating.

Do it right, do it once. For peace of mind and to ensure the longevity of your timber floors, it is essential to get the installation right. Choose a professional installer and a good quality adhesive like the Ultraset**

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

19 Chemical resistant coatings for industrial flooring Epoxy coatings consist of two components that react with each other forming a durable protective coating. The Part A component is an epoxy resin, and the other component, Part B, is a hardener.

The choice of hardener determines the final properties of protective coating like pot life, drying time, penetration and wetting ability.

range by Bostik, which was recently voted the #1 most trusted brand by Australian flooring installers, retailers and tradies.

Timber is a natural product and therefore will naturally (and literally) expand or contract with changes in the temperature.

Timber flooring adhesives are formulated to be more elastic than other adhesives. The elasticity in the right adhesive will ensure your timber floors will have ample space to expand and contract without causing the glue to crack or separate.

Timber has been the flooring of choice for centuries for good reason. ▲ *Planet Ark 2015 report: https:// makeitwood.org/documents/doc-1253wood--housing--health--humanity-report2015-03-00-final.pdf **As found in a 2019 Quantum Research Study of 100 Australian Flooring Installers and Retailers ‘Bostik Ultraset’ is the most trusted hardwood flooring adhesive brand in Australia.

Flooring June/July 2019

Epoxy resins are a very important class of thermosetting synthetic polymers, used in coatings, adhesives and composites.

They are usually bisphenol A (Bis A) or bisphenol F (Bis F). By varying the composition of bisphenol, we can obtain resins with various performing characteristics.

Hardeners are either amines or amides.

Amine based hardeners are considered more durable and chemical resistant than amide-based hardeners, but have a tendency to ‘blush’ in moist conditions.

Blushing is a reaction that occurs on actively curing epoxy, which is the result of a reaction between hardener and moisture in the air. This adverse reaction results in a layer on the surface, which gives the appearance of a cloudy waxy stain that is indelible.

Novolac epoxy coatings are developed by the reaction of modified bisphenol F resin and a hardener, which produces a tightly cross-linked network, resulting in the high-performance characteristics detailed below.

Health & Safety - VOC content is very low, below the requirements dictated by the Green Building Council of Australia. i.e. Green Star Office Design V2 IEQ-13 &

Green Star Office Interiors V1.1 IEQ-11 Bonding Capability - Novolac epoxies have superior bonding characteristics as they bond both mechanically and chemically.

Chemical Resistance - Novolac epoxies achieve higher chemical resistance due to their chemistry.

Higher Temperature Resistance - Novolac systems are able to endure much higher temperatures than typical bisphenol blended epoxy coatings.

Novolac epoxy coatings are designed to provide increased protection within the mining processing industry and other similar applications where high chemical resistance is required.

Fosroc ANZ offers high performance industrial floor coatings, including a Novolac epoxy solution, to protect substrates from aggressive action caused by spilled chemicals, which could attack or lower the pH of concrete, potentially exposing the reinforcement and thereby weakening the structure and causing durability issues.

Fosroc Nitoflor N is an all-purpose, highly chemically resistant Novolac epoxy coating/toppings system, suitable for a number of surfaces including concrete, steel and masonry.

Novalac epoxy coatings offer excellent resistance to concentrated sulphuric acid, other strong acids as well as alkaline substances and many chemicals found in industrial environments. When seeded or blended with aggregate, it can be used on properly prepared concrete substrate to provide excellent chemical resistant surface with skid resistance and wear characteristics. ▲

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

20

Maison – Where durability and sophistication meet

W

ith its striking grains and rich knot detailing, Maison is the cornerstone to Beaumont Tiles extensive timber-look tile range.

This earthy plank style tile, imported straight from Europe, is the latest evolution of the timber-tile trend, spanning a length of 1798mm – Beaumont Tiles longest plank to date – to mask itself as nothing other than genuine timber.

Boasting 36 distinct faces and three seasonal colours, Maison takes pride in its imperfections and ability to effortlessly match authentic wood through its unique tile-to-tile variation, ensuring that no two tiles are ever the same.

Maison’s raw, untamed beauty and porcelain composition brands it as the quintessential combination of style and practicality; as this sleek plank range will not scratch or dent, is water and termite resistant and not prone to warping or staining.

Lending itself perfectly to the growing eclectic bohemian trend the Maison range seeks to embrace simple, sustainable living and pay homage to the power of nature.

Size and Finish 264 x 1798mm, Matt finish Colours • Beech • Cedar • Noce Applications “Couple with underfloor heating, and Maison is my takeaway tile of the season,” said Beaumont Tiles Strategic Designer Christie Wood.

Blessed with resilience, Maison’s hardwearing porcelain properties means it won’t buckle with spills or warp as the seasons bring in new temperatures.

Emphasise the movement within each individual tile through playful laying patterns. A diagonal lay can be used to visually elongate a room, while a traditional stagger run from the floor and up a feature wall will give height to the space.

Accentuate a focal point, such as a fireplace or a window looking out to the patio, use Maison’s long length to direct your eyes towards the key feature. Pair with toned down, muted grout for that authentic timber feel.

Maison beech with clean lines and soft greys is perfectly suited for Scandinavian inspired homes. Or, if modern and contemporary are more your style, team Maison Cedar or Noce with its darker tones and a monochrome palette with more structured décor. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update Are you ready to play?

Pixel is the latest collection from Signature Floors that perfectly combines exceptional performance with endless design possibilities.

The in-house design team, focused on the impact colour has in everyday life on our mood and thought processes, has created a collection that allows architects to craft a stimulating and playful environment for any project.

22 Divided into ‘Shift’ and ‘Static’, with 30 vibrant colours in each range to explore; Pixel’s spectrum invites next-level innovation – and a generous splash of fun. Designed with versatility in mind, Pixel can also be played with other flooring like Woven Vinyl and is available in ten Signature Shapes, guaranteeing a unique design experience when moving through any space.

Pixel provides distinctive elements for cutting-edge design for corporate, hospitality, retail and education projects as well as easy installation, long-term management capabilities and global Greentag certification. Pixel does more than look smart – it guarantees to help you create inspired results. ▲

“It’s equivalent to the European-made adhesives but cheaper,It’s got a decent open time and a really nice high tac. I’ve used it on vinyl planks and commercial vinyl on the floor and it works perfectly.” Tas said.

European-made adhesives,” Hildebrand added.

Making design your playground, Pixel makes creativity a game with the chance to experiment, surprise and provoke. Pulling from digitally-inspired artistic trends, such as image manipulation to achieve a colorful, disarrayed appearance defined as a ‘pixelated’ effect. The collection is married with highly saturated colours to promote a true sensory experience.

Installers convert to new Aussie made adhesive The new ROBERTS R2000 Universal Flooring Adhesive has hit the shelves at all Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) branches giving installers an Australian-made alternative that also offers true value.

Rick Tas, the owner of Ground Floor Concept in Melbourne, is an R2000 convert after using the adhesive on commercial jobs.

Flooring June/July 2019

R2000, made locally by RLA in Victoria, is available as a 15kg pail for less than $100 at all AFS branches. The R2000 also has a longer shelf-life than offshore manufactured resilient floor covering adhesives because the distance it travels from manufacturer, to distributor to job site is drastically reduced.

As a result, the product is fresher and longer lasting.

Before launching the product RLA and AFS conducted six months of extensive field testing with flooring manufacturers, flooring contractors and installers to ensure it was trade approved.

In addition to being a top performer, R2000 is also Green Star compliant with the product’s low VOC content meeting the Green Building Council Australia’s indoor air quality regulations.

“The key raw materials that go into R2000 were also sourced from local Australian suppliers,” said RLA’s flooring business unit manager Craig Hildebrand.

To celebrate the launch of R2000 AFS is holding a scratch and win promotion with more than $40,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. The instant win prizes include free product, apparel and the chance to win a $3,000 Flight Centre Voucher.

“It’s an Australian-manufactured adhesive that delivers the best technology for bonding multiple resilient floor coverings at an extremely economic price point compared to

The instore promotion is available at all AFS branches in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory from July 1 to September 30, 2019. ▲

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS...

15KGS OF ADHESIVE FOR WELL UNDER $100 With a longer shelf life to boot.

AVAILABLE NOW AT

1300 737 155

WWW.AUSTRALIANFLOORINGSUPPLIES.COM.AU

Product Update

24

Junior ride-on - powerful like the big machines

T

he new compact version of its ‘Big Brother’ the ADB ride-on stripper with the best price-performance ratio in its class, is the first machine of its kind manufactured and developed by the JANSER Company.

Therefore, the three-year journey commenced in the design, development and intensive testing. Trials were conducted in both the company's warehouse and on construction sites, where finally the Junior ride-on evolved.

Over several years and many interactions with its customers, Janser realised that the market needed an economical, compact, versatile and powerful 1/230-volt electric powered ride-on scraper. It needed to be light, but powerful, easy to load into vehicles, and non-reliant on batteries. It also needed to be used in any location, whether on the ground floor or in a high- rise building.

Due to immense improvement in adhesive technology, the task of removing flooring has become more challenging and time consuming. While many contractors still use hand held small electric strippers and chisels, the Junior's unique design and characteristics have emerged as an essential tool to efficient and effectively removal of all types of flooring & materials.

The Junior's Features include: • A forward leaning design which places the centre of gravity onto the tooling, giving you optimum performance, normally only achieved by larger heavier floor scrapers.

• A working speed of up to 37m/ min results in the removal rate greatly increasing, particularly when removing soft flooring like carpets and vinyls.

• An extension pole fitted to the Junior allows for efficient removal of ceramic tiles and timber flooring.

• The Junior rider weighs 420kgs with the ability to remove over 100kgs of weights.

This allows easy mobility and the capacity to go where the larger battery riders cannot access.

• The new soft touch lever/ controls allow easy operator access and fatigue-free work for many hours of operation, supported by the ergonomic seating positions. The combination of these features allow less experienced users to be trained promptly in the Junior’s functions and the manoeuvrability.

• Optimal manoeuvrability in tight spaces with its front swivel castor and zero turning radius, markedly increases productivity and performance.

• The Junior rider is delivered with a very comprehensive tooling package and directions for use, to suit a vast array of flooring removal applications. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

25

Signature Wools are the Future Climate change, carbon emissions and environmental sustainability are never far from the minds of Signature’s team of product innovators. Flooring in any home doesn’t only affect the design and feel of a space it also impacts the environment. From fleece to floor, Signature Wools are the ultimate sustainable choice that guarantee style and durability for life.

Shearing a sheep is an essential element for its welfare; providing a renewable, high quality resource that is luxurious and environmentally intelligent. Sheep are part of the natural carbon cycle, consuming the organic carbon stored in plants and converting it to wool. Furthermore, the majority of the Signature Wool Collection features undyed wool allowing the beauty of this natural material to shine through. Wool carpet has long been acknowledged for its unique natural ability to resist dirt, stains

Altro Fortis Titanium 15 - looking good for longer In public areas where feet, bags, equipment and wheels are a constant, maintenance and cleaning can be ongoing, difficult and costly.

Altro Fortis is a system that offers seriously tough, 1.5mm thick protection for walls, doors and corners. It is perfect for education, health and retail where appearances matter.

The Altro Fortis system keeps interiors safe from impact and scuff damage and looking good for longer.

The Altro Fortis system can be used in conjunction with Altro safety flooring for an integrated tough and safe environment. It also works well with Altro Whiterock hygienic wall cladding, creating aesthetic consistency between hygienic and general areas.

Flooring June/July 2019

and spills. With wool’s complex structure, its durable, microscopic external fibre scales give the carpet natural stain and soil resistance, providing a far longer lifespan then other flooring material.

thick and dense pile of the carpet provides natural insulation, with Catherine stating that her wool carpet “…makes it feel that the rooms are warmer. We are having to turn the heating off more often”.

The simplicity and honesty of this raw material is celebrated by Catherine Heraghty, talented interiors stylist and influencer, who chose Signature Wool Nobby for her personal home renovation. Signature Wools are produced in Holland to the highest and most luxurious standards, for a carpet that will withstand any busy home environment whilst providing a modern and premium look. The

Signature Wools guarantee to provide style, warmth, indulgent living and sustainable luxury during its lifetime in any home. On the extremely rare chance that homeowners decide to change their wool carpet, wool biodegrades readily and reduces waste to landfill as it decomposes in soil in a matter of months or years, slowly releasing valuable nutrients back into the earth. ▲

Each PVCu sheet has a slight texture that helps to disguise any knocks and scuffs. This means it is now suitable for hygienic areas including clinical areas in healthcare.

option. Customer feedback suggests this is a distinct advantage as adhesive odours often cause disruption and complaints.

Altro Fortis Titanium can be cut to any required size to create corner protection panels to suit. The product can also be thermoformed to go around bends and corners for a seamless finish.

With the adhesive-free option an installation can be up and ready in half the time of a traditional all installation. Meaning businesses can get back to work with minimal interruption. ▲

Altro Fortis Titanium 1.5 can be installed using acrylic adhesive or the adhesive-free option that uses the Altro Fortis double sided tape.

No adhesive means there are no odours, which is perfect in many environments where there are lots of people living and working, and shutting down shops or installing noisy extractor fans is not an

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Product Update

26

See colour differently with Amtico Signature

J

uly sees the launch of new and exciting designs in Amtico’s flagship Signature collection of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT).

As part of the launch, Amtico’s in-house design team has created Colour Edit, four palettes of 25 coloured products that can be used together to provide subtle accents or to coordinate as part of a pattern layed across a floor. The coloured products have been developed to be used either alone or mixed and matched in one of Amtico’s 23 predesigned Signature laying patterns.

Developed through the practice of colour theory, the carefully curated palettes have been designed to change the way architects, designers and specifiers see, experience and ultimately use colour. Its broad spectrum of tones means Colour Edit performs beautifully as part of a pattern, as subtle accents or as a complete floor.

Four different textures offer variety, from aged plaster and subtle watercolours, to more architectural tonal shadows. It is this interplay between the multitude of colourways and textures which makes Colour Edit a palette designed to combine.

Stucco: Nine softly-textured colourways consisting of mottled watercolours, soft concretes and dry plaster used to create a sophisticated finish.

Modernist: Five colourways developed through studies of brutalist architecture in Amtico’s hometown of Coventry.

Diffusion: Five fresh pastel colourways providing a gentle palette with a useable powdery texture.

Encaustic: Six colourways influenced by the saturated tones of minerals, semi-precious stones and marbles, which deliver earthy, raw textures to a space.

Commenting on the significance of the new products, Karen Quarterman, Amtico Design Manager said, "Our in-house design team has poured extensive research and knowledge into creating these 25 products to challenge the way people see and experience colour.

Colour Edit presents a bold spectrum of tones that encourage you to experiment with colour on the floor; either by pattern, subtle accents or spread throughout. The addition of four textures adds depth and variety to further expand the possibilities with each colourway.

From aged plaster to more architectural shades, the carefully curated interaction between infinite colour and texture will redefine the boundaries of flooring design."

Amtico Signature LVT is a collection of extraordinary floors ready to bring your space to life. Extended palettes including unique laying patterns, colours and texture and the technical support to follow wherever your imagination leads. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Icons

28

Jeffery Copolov:

Every Detail Matters Story by Philip Ashley

F

rom an early age Jeff Copolov was surrounded by carpets and textiles.

His father ran a chain of retail stores ‘Copolov’s Furniture and Carpets’ started by his Grandfather, but a recession closed these down when he was six. After that his father went into furniture sales and Jeff went to school at Melbourne Grammar. Jeff still remembers playing among the carpet rolls at the store in Swanston Street, Melbourne.

Growing up, Jeff recalls the influence his mother had on him. She was a freelance textile designer working from a home studio, so he was exposed to her design-oriented skills. His mothers’ father was an architect and so, surrounded by creative elders he soon became interested in architecture and design, something he pursued after finishing school.

“The floor is one of the ‘colours’ in the collective picture you are trying to paint, it’s a critical component of expressing the whole.

The floor must contribute to what the space looks like and how it feels.” Jeffery Copolov Flooring June/July 2019

After completing a Fellowship Diploma in Interior Design at RMIT in Melbourne, Jeff landed a job as a set designer with the ABC. Back then there was a big production department and Jeff worked with people from a varied range of creative skills. His work was mostly on theatrical drama’s, but he also worked on children’s shows and comedies.

Some notable programs Jeff assisted with were ‘I can jump puddles’ and ‘Countdown’.

Working for a government institution, Jeff found he had plenty of time to design sets at the ABC but when he moved to Channel Nine around 1982, the turnaround for each show

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Icons

29

got tight. It was the days of the Don Lane Show and the Paul Hogan Show and he’d often work until midnight. He says, “It was full-on and frantic. I’d be designing sets for centre stage acts and found myself working with producers, lighting designers and set construction people. It was really creative, and the experience taught me a lot about how to work to tight deadlines with creative people.”

Clockwise (from right): The Australian Embassy in Washington; Members Dining Room at VRC; Bluegrass cocktail bar at VRC

After ‘travelling around a bit’ Jeff started out as an interior designer on his own.

It was mainly residential work through word-of-mouth and although he shared some space with another professional that he met at RMIT, he soon discovered that he missed the collaborative nature of his work in the television industry. He wrote some job application letters and eventually was offered a part-time position at Bates Smart as a junior interior designer while he finalised his freelance projects. It was Bates

Flooring June/July 2019

Smart McCutcheon back then in 1983 and within two years he was full-time, and ten years later; a partner, one of now eleven in Melbourne and Sydney.

Bates Smart is an architectural firm founded

by Joseph Reed on his arrival in Melbourne, from Cornwall, England in 1853. At only 32 years of age Joseph won an architecture competition to design the Melbourne Public Library, now the State Library of Victoria.

Melbourne was in the midst of the gold rush

and flush with funds, so the colony set out to produce a grand statement. Bates Smart is one of Australia's oldest architectural firms that over 165 years has been responsible for numerous landmark buildings, both here and overseas. The 1878 Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton were designed by the practice (Reed & Barnes) and shares the honour, along with the Sydney Opera House of being World Heritage listed.

Unique Experiences “Interior design is an architectural following, designing spaces,” says Jeff.

“It’s not just about decoration, it’s interior architecture. How do hospitals work? How do courtrooms and embassy’s work, how do they function? We’ve planned the most complex buildings like the Australian Embassy in Washington with all sorts of security; surveillance; operational and functional

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Icons issues; and explored new materials such as flamed copper for the façade.” Some of Bates Smart’s other projects include the Melburnian apartments in Melbourne; the Australian embassy in Berlin; Crown Hotels and Casino; the NSW Police Headquarters and soon, the Westin Hotel in Darwin.

Hotel buildings are often owned by investors and the facility managed in this case by Marriott, who is the operator. Hotel brand standards are applied to the property and these include technical performance and aesthetics criteria aligned to the brand that Jeff and his team need to interpret. Despite the reams of specifications Jeff says, “There’s actually a lot of scope to be creative. Thirty years ago, most hotels in a chain looked pretty much the same wherever you went but now every hotel is seen as a unique experience that captures the essence of the place.”

Meaningful Spaces In the case of the hotel in Darwin, it will feel like it’s part of the Top End environment, and resort-like, it will have colours matching the landscape. Jeff says, “Our aim is always to create a space that has meaning to the place. We are looking at patterns and textures of the environment as well as drawing inspiration from indigenous craft for the carpet designs. Jeff’s role as Director of Interiors for Bates Smart is to set the tone for the calibre of the interiors while observing the stringent regulations and codes that they have to comply with.

Another project Jeff was involved with is the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Hospitals, like courtrooms are institutional by nature and it was Jeff and his team’s task to create an environment where healing held a connection to nature. Jeff said, “We’re not doctors, but if you create an environment with connection to natural light, to nature; it assists with the healing process. In this case we were able to achieve the goals where

Flooring June/July 2019

30 the majority of the wards faced North and into the gardens and every child has a room of their own with the ability for parents and carers to stay overnight.”

The Mumm Champagne Bar at VRC;

Below: Bates Smart buildings in Melbourne

Distinct Personalities Completed October last year, the Club Stand for the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) at Flemington is a multi-award winning Bates Smart project where the site is steeped in history dating back to the 1860’s. Jeff said, “Thinking about the spring racing carnival and Flemington, you think about flowers and fashion, like the scandalous introduction of miniskirts in the 1960’s and flamboyant hats for both men and women.

So, we thought that each of the carpets in the venue should relate to patterns that come from fashion fabrics: tweeds, tartans, plaids and houndstooth. We amplified each individual venue with a distinct and diverse personality to appeal to the varying needs and moods of the members.”

Carpet in the hip ‘Bluegrass’ cocktail bar was inspired by renowned British designer Paul Smith.

His use of stripes in brilliant colours was interpreted for the venue and resulted in a printed carpet where the pattern fades to blend into a neutral space. Carpet in the members dining room was a contemporary version of a tartan pattern, with a handdrawn quality and feel, taking the colours from the original dining room décor.

Jeff said, “We imbued our design with sophisticated references to the history of the racecourse and the VRC. The elegant backdrop speaks to The Club Stand’s rich and proud heritage.”

One particular challenge was the G.H. Mumm Champagne Bar. The French brand is all about energy and movement; they

sponsored the F1 Grand Prix and horse racing, so Jeff’s team came up with a slipstream pattern for the unique carpet. In this case they used a computer-generated parametric modelling program. They plotted the various points of influence such as the bar edge, columns and the entry points; wrote the script and fed it into the computer. The ‘slipstream’ lines deliberately wobble by as much as 3mm either side of a programmed line to give the appearance of a hand-drawn, quality product. The line spacing also varied by almost 100mm and together the result is a space that is nothing short of breathtaking.

Jeff believes the floor is a key surface in any space. What does a soft or hard floor

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

31 achieve? The pattern and colour will produce a physical and visual quality the design team wishes to impart. Will it be acoustically absorbent like a ballroom, or something else entirely? Other key considerations are durability and wear and tear. “Not one single item is in the design without someone making a conscious decision as to why it’s there and how it must function. An architect’s work will affect the way people feel about a space,” he said.

Diverse Tastes When Jeff isn’t designing some internationally celebrated interior he can often be found at the theatre, the opera or art exhibitions although he’s also very comfortable watching a movie at home. He likes the visual arts, the aesthetic but has diverse tastes. As a past set designer he is intrigued by the theatrics of it all. There’s

some travel, both for work and pleasure where he finds a fascination for all cultures, many of which inspire his work.

But he loves his work even though, “A building project can have great highs and significant challenges,” he says. “Projects have huge risks in terms of what the building is designed for, and it’s use by the public. There’s pressure from the day it starts to the day it ends.” Jeff has a fascination for facts and figures. He says he’s easily entertained and gets great satisfaction learning about hospitals, embassies, horse racing and champagne. Even visiting a carpet factory is a highlight. Jeff plans to spend many more years learning about countless other things and is thankful that his career so far has provided him with the diversity of opportunities craved by a person with great talent and vision. ▲

Safety

32

Safe Entrances – The importance of accurate mat wells

E

ntrance mats are a vital feature of any modern building. Not only do they increase the aesthetic appeal of an entryway, they also assist in preventing the build-up of dust and debris and reduce the likelihood of slips and falls. Further to this they reduce cleaning time and costs.

These products are remarkably durable and effective when installed correctly, however the importance of the mat well is neglected all too often. Rebated entrance mats are designed to sit flush with the surface – but this is not possible when you have an uneven, poorly finished mat well.

Unfortunately, this is something that is witnessed regularly.

Why Is an Accurate Mat Well so Important?

The accuracy of the mat well is crucial to the longevity and proper functionality of

the product that is to be laid within it. A flat, rigid object such as an aluminium entrance matting requires an even surface if it is to function as intended. Uneven surfaces cause issues such as creaking and rocking under foot traffic, which can be quite disconcerting for the user. It can also result in the matting becoming uneven, presenting a trip hazard and/or result in ‘trolley damage’ to the mat. Neither wof these issues are acceptable, so it’s important that due care is taken during the construction of the mat well.

A Common Issue The customer interface team at Classic Architectural Group, a leading supplier of entrance matting, witnesses first hand the struggles that clients go through when installing entrance matting. What should be a simple process ends up becoming a drawn out, irritable affair. All too often it is seen that the customer placing the blame on the product itself, when in fact the issue is caused by the sloppy, inaccurate set down created by the contractor.

If you were to walk around Australia’s CBD areas, you would find a staggering amount of entrance mats that have been poorly installed. They creak and shift underfoot, and the problem usually becomes worse over time. Again, this has little to do with the quality or brand of the product, but rather the set down into which it was placed.

To ensure safety of pedestrians accessing these high traffic public spaces, a greater care and attention needs to be paid to the accuracy and finish of entrance mat set downs by the teams that are responsible 36 for it.

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

TRADIE’S GOT A NEW BEST FRIEND...

THE NEW ROBERTS R2000

Field tested and approved by installers just like you.

AVAILABLE NOW AT

1300 737 155

WWW.AUSTRALIANFLOORINGSUPPLIES.COM.AU

Inspired by the timeless appeal of textile fabrics

Desso Linon is a textured carpet tile with a raw organic look and an on-trend colour palette. Made from 100% regenerated Econyl yarn, this structured loop tile is also available with optional acoustic backing.

View the full range at www.tarkett.com.au

Safety

36

Creating the Perfect Set Down Every product is unique, but in the case of aluminium entrance mats there are a few key requirements. As an example, mats similar to Classic’s Integra Vantt 5500, the original market-proven entrance mat, and one of the most popular products in our range, installation requires 12mm below floor coverings, and in many cases, this can be achieved without casting a set down at all.

Depending upon the surrounding floor finish, it may be possible to engage the services of a flooring contractor who can feather up the substrate, thus raising the level slightly. This would create sufficient set down once the floor covering is laid, resulting in a simplified, neat and tidy installation.

You always need to consider the other materials used during installation, such as adhesive. Naturally, this will impact the level of the product that is to be placed on top. For example, you might use 10mm tiles, but after the glue has been applied the set down will be around 12mm. In the case of carpet tiles, they may require 2-3mm of feathering up to the recess to create the required 12mm set down.

If there is no floor covering at all, then you can cast the mat set down into the concrete. At the time of pouring, the set down should be created several millimetres deeper than required. This will allow any errors to be corrected by a skilled tradesman who can screed up to the level required, ensuring that the required depth is reached. Before the concrete sets, it is important to check that the frame sides are straight and that the corners are at the correct angles.

No matter which method is used, the simple fact remains – accuracy and a good

Flooring June/July 2019

“No matter which method is used, the simple fact remains – accuracy and a good finish is crucial to the quality installation of an aluminium entrance mat. It is not difficult to achieve a perfect result, it just takes a little bit of time, effort and due care.” finish is crucial to the quality installation of an aluminium entrance mat. It is not difficult to achieve a perfect result, it just takes a little bit of time, effort and due care.

Perhaps a potential issue worth noting is the lack of an allocation of cost towards creating good quality mat set downs. It could be a case that most project managers do not allocate a sufficient budget to this.

If there is no cost allocated to the job, then it makes sense that the ownership of the task becomes muddied and the subsequent quality of the mat well suffers.

The Way Forward A wide range of individuals will encounter entrance mats daily, making it imperative that they are installed correctly. No one

should have to deal with uneven surfaces that shift and creak under foot, especially when these issues are so easily preventable.

Closer attention needs to be paid to set down requirements and the quality of the finish. By adopting a few simple techniques, it is possible to achieve a perfect set down every time. An accurate set down ensures that the product sits flush, allowing it to function as intended and extending the service life of the product.

Entrance mats are a highly effective products when installed properly. This is an important yet ignored issue, but small steps such as inclusion of cost for creating good quality mat set downs at the tendering stage can help the industry produce better results and make public access spaces safe well into the future. ▲

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Safe steps, forwards.

Schools, colleges and universities across Australia trust Classic products to keep the next generation safe and moving forward. #safetyfirst #accessforall #entrancemats #tgsi #stairnosing

Melbourne University

The King David School

Adelaide High School

1300 244 377 Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | Auckland For updates on industry standards and products, stay in touch with us at @classicarch

@Classic_Arch

classic-arch.com

Beaumaris Secondary College

Software

38

Five Reasons Estimation Software isn’t for me 1. “I understand estimation software is great, and it works, and it will make my business more efficient, but it’s not for me and my business. I struggle with technology.”

2. “Mobile estimation software makes the job and planning and selling in the customers home a breeze. But it’s not for me, I have been doing this job for a long time now, and I struggle with looking unprofessional when I’m learning something new, even though, I know it would make my life so much easier and give my business an edge.”

3. “I can never find time, even to look at this software. I understand it will save me time and increase my capacity to produce more commercial estimations.

Giving me an opportunity to increase sales and free me up to spend more time with family and work on my business rather than in it. But I just don’t have time.”

customer leads, managing customer jobs, as well as manage installation schedules. My business needs mobile estimation software combined with desktop PC software and a simple site management tool, hey and if it had a free blind measuring tool. I know it is asking a lot for under 7K for my small business.”

Imagine a project that requires no tape measure, no scaled ruler, no paper based architectural plans. We did and almost two decades later we have a series of products in use by over 15000 users each day. Carefully developed over the years with input from every sector of the flooring industry MeasureSquare has many features and benefits.

• • • • • •

It saves incredible amounts of time Significant reductions in waste Significant reductions in mistakes Significant increase in accuracy Electronic storage of data Effective communication with installers, customers and suppliers

We understand change is difficult, therefore the main priority is to assist businesses to transition from traditional estimation methods. We have heard many reasons why estimation software isn’t right, and we know there is only one reason estimation software is for all flooring businesses - put simply, it works. ▲

4. “I have been estimating flooring for years, I know the process like the back of my hand. I do struggle these days finding the right person with sales skills and the ability to measure with a tape measure plan with a scale ruler and run carpet and vinyl. Most of my staff are young and start to sweat around a scale ruler and tape measure, all they know is technology. I’m always looking for better ways to training my staff. They do seem to pick up technology quickly.”

5. “I’m looking for something that will do it all. I don’t have 25K a year for something that may do the job of managing sales calendars, handling

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Software

39

Improve your business by giving direction to your salespeople

Story by Chris Ogden

I

tend to be sceptical of survey results; the following statistics came out of research done by the US organisation, the World Floor Covering Association. Based on my experience, these numbers feel accurate; frighteningly so: • 48% of salespeople never follow up with a prospect • 25% of salespeople make a second contact and stop • 12% of salespeople make three contacts and stop • 15% of salespeople make more than three contacts Whether or not these numbers are exact can be debated, and of course, they will vary from business to business, but I think the numbers are sufficiently accurate that they should be a sobering reminder of the fact our salespeople need direction.

Flooring June/July 2019

While the numbers reflect reality, I would state them slightly differently: • 85% of salespeople follow up with prospects only three times or less • For anyone running a sales team, this is a sobering statistic, and it accounts for the fact most flooring salespeople have a conversion rate of 50% or less.

• While we are talking about numbers, think about this; a flooring business with a turnover of $3m can increase annual revenue by $300,000, and net profit by $80,000, simply by increasing their conversion rate from 50% to 55%.

Improving conversion rates is the single most effective way to increase store revenue and profitability. Improving conversion rates is a subject by itself, but it’s worth stating most flooring businesses spend more time and effort chasing new leads than they do converting existing leads.

• Managing our sales team is probably one of the more difficult things we do as owners of flooring businesses. We can’t schedule salespeople to make sales like we can schedule our tradespeople to install product. We can’t measure a salesperson’s hourly activity like we might someone working in the office.

Our sales team is often a mysterious organism that generates sales; we are never totally in control of the process, and we are never sure how many sales opportunities get lost in the process.

• We can probably list some of the things we know we should do to make our sales team more effective. Top of mind, we could set budgets, pay performance bonuses, measure conversion rates, have regular sales meetings, track sales leads, and make regular and frequent follow up calls. These are things that spring immediately to mind, but they are hard for us to do because we don’t have access to reliable and timely information about sales activity. The information we need relating to sales is across the desks and drawers of our salespeople. Gathering that data together so we can get a handle on sales performance is very difficult, maybe impossible, in many flooring businesses.

• On the other hand, in a fully integrated business management system such as RFMS, all that information is available immediately. RFMS has been developing business management solutions for the flooring industry for more than 35 years and is the best solution for any flooring business of any size.

If you would like to see what RFMS might offer your business, contact cogden@rfms.com. ▲

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

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Software

40

Grow your business - get your quotes out quicker Story by Chris Ogden Think for a minute about all the things we do, the risks we take, and the money we spend, to get prospective customers to the point where they will invite us to quote for their business. We commit to a lease, fit out a shop, purchase vehicles, employ staff, pay the electricity, invest in advertising and a hundred other things, just so some consumers will let us into their home to measure and quote.

Of those retailers who calculate the cost of their leads, some find the cost to be more than $200.00 per lead. Logic would dictate having spent so much for each lead, we would want to ensure the quote is prepared and presented to the prospective customer as quickly and professionally as possible.

We know the longer it takes to get the quote into the customer’s hands, the less likely we are to win their business and the more likely it is they will go with one of our competitors.

The solution is to eliminate the risk of delay, and the best way to do that is for the salesperson to complete the quote before leaving the customer’s home. If that seems unrealistic, then you haven’t seen Measure Mobile. From the Measure Mobile app on a tablet device, a salesperson, even an inexperienced salesperson, can measure, quantify, and quote in a matter of minutes.

Having spent only a little more time than they would normally, they can leave their prospective client with a professional and accurate quote.

To say a salesperson can measure, quantify and quote from the tablet is to ignore a great deal more that can be done. If the customer likes the quote, the salesperson can take a payment, take a signature and leave the customer with a document showing not just the quote details but also a record of the payment and a signature.

It’s not often in the flooring industry a product comes along with the potential to change how we do business. Measure Mobile is such a product.

The process of quoting has changed little for as long as most of us can remember.

Measure Mobile has changed that process so a salesperson from 20 years ago would barely recognise what the salesperson is doing, particularly if the salesperson is using a laser measuring device paired with their tablet.

If you would like to see how quickly quotes can be completed in Measure Mobile, contact me at, cogden@rfms.com. ▲

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

It might be logical to get quotes out quickly, but it’s not always the case. The traditional workflow of measuring and quoting is fraught with the risk of delay. Salespeople get distracted, quotes get pushed to one side, and the investment we made in getting those leads is wasted. But it’s worse than that.

We can assume the consumer was in the market because they don’t currently have a relationship with a flooring business. If we further assume they are going to be happy with the eventual outcome of the job, then we are unlikely to have opportunity to do work for that person in the future. They have been taken out of the market.

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Go Mobile

Business Management Software Solutions For Your Flooring Business Manage every aspect of your flooring business in one integrated system Layers Diary

Mobile Sales

Financials

Measuring

Debtors

Reporting

Quotes

Projects

Stock

Sales Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.rfms.com

salesau@rfms.com

42

Feature

Franchise Council of Australia: Helping franchises to evolve in a new landscape Story by Mary Aldred, CEO Franchise Council of Australia

T

he Franchise Council of Australia is the peak body for the $182 billion franchise sector in Australia and represents franchisors, franchisees and service providers.

Franchising makes a huge contribution to the Australian economy. There are now 80,000 businesses operating within 1,314 different franchise systems, contributing $181.8 billion annual revenue, $27 billion in annual wages and employing 594,500 people across urban, rural and regional Australia.

The FCA has more than 500 members whose businesses operate right across the economy.

FCA membership is open to any organisation or individual involved in the franchise sector, including franchisors and franchisees, as well as professionals who service the sector such as lawyers, accountants, banks, consultants, tech providers, academics and publishers.

“There are now 80,000 businesses operating within 1,314 different franchise systems, contributing $181.8 billion annual revenue, $27 billion in annual wages and employing 594,500 people across urban, rural and regional Australia. ” Flooring June/July 2019

The FCA’s primary objective is to develop a sustainable and profitable Australian franchising sector that is legally compliant, the preferred business model to invest in and an employer of choice. We do this in a number of ways: • The FCA plays an important advocacy role, making representations to government on behalf of franchises and small businesses, not just on government policies, but also to ensure government understands key business issues, like rising energy costs and red tape.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature • We have a strong platform of events so our members can look ahead of the trends in their industry sector and be up to date with emerging business opportunities, issues and solutions, plus briefings on government policy and regulation • We engage with franchisees in a number of ways, including through our Franchisee Advisory Committee.

• We provide a strong education platform for our members, helping them to stay on top of important compliance obligations and evolving industry trends. Especially in small business, it is hard to cover every area by yourself, so the FCA works with our members to help them stay up to date and compliant.

Some of the recent services we have introduced are an Energy Hotline and Employment Compliance Hotline • An annual Franchise Awards program celebrates success in Australian franchising, while the FCA’s largest annual event is the National Franchise Convention, which attracts over 1,000 delegates

What is franchising?

Franchising is a business relationship in which the franchisor (the owner of the business providing the product or service) assigns independent people (the franchisees) the right to market and distribute the franchisor’s good or service, and to use the business name for a fixed period of time.

The franchise operates through the use of a format, or a comprehensive system for the conduct of the business, including such elements as business planning, management system, location, appearance and image, and quality of goods.

Flooring June/July 2019

43 The ongoing business relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee includes the product, service and trademark, as well as the entire business concept itself from marketing strategy and plan, operational standards, systems and formats, to training, quality control and ongoing assistance, guidance and supervision.

In short, it provides small business (the franchisee) with the tools of big business (provided by the franchisor). The contract between franchisor and franchisee is ultimately a legal relationship, with the full obligations and responsibilities of both parties outlined in a highly detailed franchise agreement.

There are countless benefits to becoming a franchisee, which is why franchising is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Australian economy.

1 The franchisor provides comprehensive training in all areas of the business.

2 The franchisee has the incentive of owning their own business with the additional benefit of continuing assistance from the franchisor.

3 The franchisee benefits from operating under the name and reputation (brand) of the franchisor, which is already wellestablished in the public sphere.

4 The franchisor helps the franchisee obtain occupation right to the trading location, comply with planning (zoning) laws, prepare plans for layouts, shop fitting and refurbishment, and provides general assistance in calculating the correct level and mix of stock for the launch of the business.

5 The franchisee receives the benefit on a national scale (if appropriate) of the franchisor’s advertising and promotional

activities at a far lower cost than if they were to attempt such marketing themselves.

6 The franchisee taps into the bulk purchasing power and negotiating capacity made available by the franchisor by reason of the size of the franchised network.

7 The franchisee has the services of the field operation staff of the franchisor that are there to assist with any problems that may arise from time to time over the course of the business.

8 The franchisee has access to use of the franchisor’s patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and any confidential processes or formulas.

9 The franchisee has the benefit of the franchisor’s continuous research and development programs, which are designed to improve the business and keep it up-to-date and competitive.

10 The franchisor provides a knowledge base developed from their experience, as well as that of all the franchisees in the system, which would otherwise be impossible for a non-franchised business to access.

In Australia today there is a franchise operating in almost every type of business category, with varying levels of complexity and cost.

Franchising in Australia is regulated by the Franchising Code of Conduct (the Code), administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The Code provides for a number of franchisee protection mechanisms and a prospective franchisee should read the Code prior to buying a franchise in order to fully understand their rights.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature Prior to buying a franchise, potential franchisees should: • Assess your own reasons for wanting to own a franchise business.

• Assess the lifestyle and income implications of owning and operating a business.

• Narrow your franchise searches to a few systems, then request further information.

• Ensure you have adequate borrowing capacity, including working capital, to successfully establish this type of business.

• Be sure you receive and evaluate all disclosure material during the application process.

• Be sure you receive legal and accounting advice from lawyers and accounts with franchise experience before making any final commitment.

• Use the cooling off period to check your facts and figures and determine if you still want to proceed.

Call us to find out more about the benefits and opportunities of joining the FCA and franchising community. ▲

Mary Aldred is the CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia. Mary commenced as CEO in April 2018, bringing to the role extensive experience across government, industry and business, as well as a strong focus on membership engagement, stakeholder collaboration and effective advocacy.

44

National Franchise Convention 2019 NFC19 is the largest annual franchise event in Australia and this year will be the biggest yet. Sponsorship and exhibition at NFC provides the chance to align your brand with an event that attracts leaders and decision-makers in the franchise sector. The National Franchise Convention is the largest event of its kind in Australia, bringing together franchisors and franchisees, along with suppliers and experts in the sector.

What can you get out of NFC19?

• Significant brand exposure to the FCA database, which consists of franchisors, franchisees and suppliers to the franchise sector across Australia through the FCA's integrated marketing campaign • Affiliation with a credible and reputable event that is widely regarded as the franchise event of the year • Excellent networking potential with conference delegates, speakers and exhibitors • The perfect way to gain face-to-face contact with potential partners and clients • Maximise your time and resources by showcasing your product to more than 800 people in the franchise sector throughout the duration of the convention • Take full advantage of networking and customer awareness opportunities with a real-time gauge of product success or interest • Stay abreast of current developments. What are the key issues for the franchise sector? How can your organisation assist?

• Generate new leads, develop your brand or launch a new product via the exhibition.

Contact Peter White on 03 9508 0888 for more details on the NFC exhibitor and sponsorship packages.

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

F L O O R I N G X T R A I N V I T E S Y O U T O M A K E C O N TA C T W I T H O N E O F O U R S T O R E O W N E R S A N D A S K T H E M H O W T H E Y F E E L A B O U T B E I N G P A R T O F T H E F L O O R I N G X T R A G R O U P. H E A R F R O M O U R M E M B E R S T H E M S E LV E S T O G I V E A T R U E F E E L I N G O F W H AT F L O O R I N G X T R A I S A B O U T A N D H O W I T C A N B E N E F I T Y O U

1

Our stores directly benefit from being part of the Flooring

X t r a f a m i l y. W i t h o u r a n n u a l n a t i o n a l c o n fe re n c e , re g i o n a l meetings and frequent training sessions, we are passionate about developing our stores from the ground up, by sharing inspiration, advice and providing members with opportunities for personal and business growth. Our commercial assistance on p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e h i g h - r i s e , h o s p i t a l s a n d e v e n a i r p o r t s ! We a r e a fresh, modern face in the flooring world, so come check us out!

A U D A C I T Y - B E L L AV I S TA

2

We a r e n o t y o u r a v e r a g e fl o o r i n g r e t a i l e r ! H a v e y o u

s e e n u s a r o u n d ? We c u r r e n t l y h a v e 8 5 + s t o r e s nationwide, and with continual growth regionally and in m e t ro h u b s , i t ’ s n o t h a rd t o s e e w h y. O u r s t o re s s a y t h e y have more street presence and their customers notice them more than before. But don’t take our word for it, why not call a store and ask them for yourself?

3

F LO O R I N G X T R A S H O W R O O M The culture inside Flooring Xtra is

very different to other groups, it’s built on respect and focussed on supporting t h e s t o r e n e t w o r k . We a r e b u i l t o n family business values and provide

4

systems to support family businesses.

Why not call one of our stores and We p r i d e o u r s e l v e s o n c o m m u n i t y i n v o l v e m e n t a n d

speak to a store owner to see how they

relationship development with the goal to increase

feel about being part of the Flooring

b r a n d v a l u e , i n c re a s e s t o re p ro fi t a b i l i t y, c re a t e g o o d w i l l

Xtra group.

a n d e n s u r e t h e c o n s u m e r r e c e i v e s A Fa b u l o u s F l o o r i n g Experience!

Alternatively, for a confidential chat c o n t a c t J a s o n Wa t k i n s o n 0 4 1 0 3 3 5 0 0 0 o r J a s o n .W a t k i n s @ f x a u s . c o m . a u

Feature

46

How To Franchise Your Business

By Sussan Campbell, Principal, Franchise Right

1. Deciding the purpose of franchising your business Firstly, you need to decide why you want to franchise your business. What solutions will franchising provide to you? Whether it be to accelerate growth, access capital, gain economies of scale, or achieve output quality, franchising provides solutions, so you need to be clear about your objectives and how franchising would meet your needs.

2. Evaluating whether franchising is a feasible path The next step is evaluation. There are several prerequisites to determining if franchising your business will be feasible: • Do you have an existing business? You can’t franchise an idea; it needs to be an operating business. We call this ‘proof of concept’.

• Is your existing business profitable?

Flooring June/July 2019

Is there a trading history available for analysis?

• Do you have the mindset to become a franchisor? Franchising is a unique kind of business relationship; it’s a partnership where both franchisor and franchisee are invested and interdependent. Do you understand this, and do you have the right mindset for such a relationship?

• Is your Intellectual Property protected?

Under your Franchise Agreement you will be granting franchisees the right to carry on business under a system or marketing plan, and often this is based on intellectual property that is covered by a trade mark or symbol.

• Do you have a unique, appealing product or service and a defined market for it? Your products or services need to be relevant, saleable to customers

and appealing for franchisees to invest in. Confirm you have a defined target market of customers and franchisees wherever you plan to open.

• Is your business replicable? Can you open up branches and move your business interstate?

• Do you have the money to invest in setting up as a franchise network? You will need to invest considerable financial resources, in particular to create operating platforms that are scalable, to create legal documentation, and to market the concept to potential franchise partners.

3. Determining if your franchise business will be viable and sustainable Having met the above prerequisites, you then need to analyse whether franchising your business is feasible.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature

47 as leases and the management of third parties, and therefore need to have the right competencies.

Importantly, what are your long-term objectives as franchisor, professionally and personally? Be clear about why you want to grow your business this way, and ideally, determine your exit strategy.

4. Designing your franchise system The next stage will be to design the franchise system – the business foundations.

Strategically, at the heart of your system will be culture, based especially on your vision, mission and values. With culture at the centre, you would then build your:

“You need to ensure you are not reliant and under pressure to continually grant franchises, but instead that the franchise system is structured so you will be sustained by ongoing royalty fees.

Striking that balance is key to financial viability and sustainability.”

If your existing business was to operate as a franchise, would it be profitable? If so, how will you structure the arrangement so that it strikes the right balance to ensure you and your franchisees are financially viable in the franchising partnership? What fee will you will charge for the sale of a franchise, and what will be the ongoing royalty fees? You need to ensure you are not reliant and under pressure to continually grant franchises, but instead that the franchise system is structured so you will be sustained by ongoing royalty fees. Striking that balance is key to financial viability and sustainability.

Flooring June/July 2019

Key to being financially sustainable and profitable will be having a business that is scalable to suit both the size and the geographical dispersion of your market, and that reflects the complexity of your product or service offering.

There are also significant managerial implications of running the system under a franchise model. Do you have the right people in your office to manage your franchise system? They will need to be competent to handle a wide range of tasks across your franchise network, such

• Strategy: this includes setting the direction with strategic business planning. Innovation, research and development, resource allocation and leadership are also integral to setting strategy.

• Brand: this is about laying brand foundations and creating brand value.

Consistent delivery of the product or service offer will create the brand heritage that aligns with your target market for the long term.

• Model: this is the financial and operating framework for the franchisor and the franchisee, which needs to strike the right balance between both parties and enable the franchise system to be profitable. For the franchisor this includes how many units to grant, the term of the agreements and (as relevant) their location. It also determines how the franchisee will run the franchise unit.

• Support functions: including systems, auditing, business management documentation, induction and training.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature

48 developed by a lawyer experienced in franchising. Many would-be franchisors underestimate their legal obligations, so getting specialist legal advice on the key documentation is essential.

You will need to put in place compliant documentation for business management, particularly your Operating Manual (Technical/Clinical or Production and Systems). These manuals must be compliant with your Franchise Agreement and the Franchise Code of Conduct.

Other business administration documents, such as those governing your human resource management, must also be compliant, as must the documents governing franchisee acquisition.

“Your documents should be developed by a lawyer experienced in franchising. Many would-be franchisors underestimate their legal obligations, so getting specialist legal advice on the key documentation is essential.”

• People resources: the structure and skill sets of your franchise support office team.

• Finance: including the management of all income streams arising from franchise sales, royalties/fees, and renewals.

You may already have some of these foundations in place, but you need all of them if you are to properly divide the obligations between yourself as franchisor and your franchisees and succeed over the long term.

Flooring June/July 2019

Depending on the structure of your franchise business you may also need your lawyer to draft compliant documents for company incorporation, a Shareholder Agreement, and an IP Licence Agreement.

6. Training Then comes training. This means creating a process for onboarding your franchisees; the content and resources to ensure your franchisees have the competencies to run the business ongoingly in a fully compliant way.

5. Creating legally compliant setup documentation

7. Identifying and recruiting your franchise partners

Once you have done the prework to determine business feasibility and foundations, you need to understand the legal framework of franchising your business. Central to this is complying with the Franchising Code of Conduct and the Competition and Consumer Act, as well as with employment laws and industry-specific laws. You will need core documents, such as a Franchise Agreement and a Disclosure Document, as well as any required ancillary documents. Your documents should be

Finally, you are ready to find your franchise partners – your franchisees. You need to carefully profile who you want as your franchisees and start the process of recruitment. ▲

Franchise Right is a Melbourne-based consultancy run by Sussan Campbell that helps clients with the practical knowledge and skills needed for franchising success. Visit franchiseright.com.au

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature

49

Flooring Xtra – innovation, technology and relationship building

F

looring Xtra Australia was born in 2011 and the fresh, vibrant brand was readily embraced by the market. Scott Enno, Director of Flooring Xtra Australia started his career working in flooring sales and then became an owner of a flooring store which was part of the Independent Carpet Retailers (ICR) group. With the sad passing of the group’s founder Ken Armstrong, Scott and Chris Sheehan took over ICR and envisioned a plan to ensure prosperity for the group well into the future.

Scott’s vision to be the best flooring brand in Australia was bold. With clear objectives as part of an implemented strategic plan, store numbers have grown over the last 2 years by more than 20%.

“We now have a very clear position and standard that we strive to maintain, which has enabled us to continue to grow and develop our brand reputation; a national footprint that is recognised. The perception of our business in the eyes of our suppliers and consumers has helped drive our group forward to where we are today and into the future.”

inspiration and advice, so that everyone in the group has an opportunity to succeed and be the best in their local market. Flooring Xtra invest in programs that provide their members with opportunities for personal as well as business growth.

Ongoing support from field staff and the support office has been developed to ensure store openings and transitions are smooth.

Marketing and product focus groups are in place to assist in forming strategies to increase brand awareness, for promoting stores and products as well as encouraging website and store traffic.

Flooring Xtra will continue to seek growth - growth in store numbers, growth in store profitability and efficiencies, and growth in their brand awareness with consumers.

Left: Scott Enno, Director of Flooring Xtra Australia

With a focus on innovation, technology and most importantly relationship building, they strive to continue to grow and will constantly drive excellence in every aspect of the business.

2019 will see brand representation grow across Australia which is testament to Scott’s vision and the business support mechanisms thoughtfully put in place for store owners, as well as the commitment of the individual stores across the country.

Built on family business values by providing strategic systems of support Flooring Xtra would like to invite you to make contact with one of their store owners and ask them how they feel about being part of the Flooring Xtra group. ▲

Scott’s sales and business ownership background drives development of systems to enable a high level of efficiency for stores in the group. Flooring Xtra pride themselves on working with the store network and their respective local communities to develop relationships with the goal to increase brand value, increase store profitability, create goodwill and to ensure the consumer receives a fabulous flooring experience.

The Flooring Xtra network comes together at annual forums to share experiences,

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Retailer of the Month

50

Hit it for Six Story by Philip Ashley

T

y Watts and Mathew Scoble love their cricket; they’ve been playing together for years at the Bell Post Hill Cricket Club in North Geelong, Victoria’s biggest rural city. Ten years ago, Ty asked Matt to join him at Floorworld Geelong and just on a year ago now, they became joint directors in the flooring outlet. They’re both still a big part of the cricket club but now they’ve also become a big part of the local business community, supplying flooring products to Geelong’s booming housing market.

Above: Kardinia park is 'across the road' from Floorworld Geelong. Gary Ablett Junior with Ty Watts

Top right: Matt Scoble Flooring June/July 2019

Floorworld Geelong is literally ‘across the road’ from Kardinia Park, the home of the Geelong AFL Football Club. Only Ty barracks for the team but they’ve provided flooring to a number of well-known players such as Gary Ablett Junior; Mitch Duncan; Cameron Ling who is generally known as ‘The Mayor of Geelong’ and current coach Chris Scott.

While the store is located conveniently across the road, players of that calibre buy from reputable outlets and Ty and Matt have certainly established themselves as a reliable, quality supplier over many sales.

and when the past owner retired, sold the remaining share to the two long-time friends.

While Ty has been in the industry for twentyfive years, Matt has only been in the trade for ten; before that Matt ran a fast-food business.

Ty was Store Manager when ten years ago he asked Matt to join Floorworld Geelong in sales. Matt decided to try it out and has not looked back. The pair have literally been managing the business for the last four years

Their builders are very important to Ty and Matt. They’ve recently put up a big LED sign out the front that literally ‘lights up the whole area’ and they use this not only to advertise themselves, but also, to advertise their builders. It’s a team thing, sort of like their cricket club where the whole team is important in scoring runs, or getting the job done right.

Matt says, “We’ve a small team here and we get on very well.” Pauline and Brian assist Ty and Matt in sales; Melissa is their 9-year veteran in accounts and they also have four teams of timber layers, seven teams of carpet layers and one team laying vinyl. There’s a decent amount of work coming through, most of it residential for the numerous builders that have been with them, in some cases for over twenty years.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Retailer of the Month

51

And getting it right starts out when the customer ‘walks through the door’ as the saying goes. At Floorworld Geelong, quality begins with service and making sure the customer understands the performance of the flooring product they are getting. Matt is confident their veteran installers will produce the floor the customer is looking for; as Matt says, “The installer is the last person to see the customer.” Matt is starting to see return customers from his early years with the business and these are very important for the continuity of the business.

Floorworld Geelong service Avalon; Belmont, Batesford; Norlane; Barrabool as well as some work in Melbourne, about an hour up the highway. They have builders as far away as Cerberus near Phillip Island where the navy operates a base that serves as their primary training establishment. Down the famous Great Ocean Road, they go as far as Apollo Bay and into western Victoria. It’s a very decent coverage.

Below: Matt, Pauline and Melissa

Floorworld Geelong, Victoria Before Matt joined the business, Ty was doing some commercial work, but the residential building boom has seen them concentrate on new home builds and return customers.

Matt says that, “While we are here to build a successful business, we believe service and quality are our number one goals. We have builders who have been with us for over twenty years and we’ve been able to meet all their demands and standards for a very long time. We take a lot of pride in looking after them.

Matt says timber floors are very popular now, “It’s a growing trend we are seeing here,” he says. “It’s important that our customers are

confident that the floor we provide is some of the best we can get.”

Outside of work, Ty and Matt still play for their cricket club and are involved in the development of young players there. Ty is an excellent all-round player and is a life member of the club. Matt also plays golf whenever he can and only a few weeks ago won the Beaufort Open Golf Tournament.

They sponsor a number of sporting clubs in the area including their own Bell Post Hill cricket club; St. Joseph’s football club and Northshore cricket club. Ty and Matt are looking forward to a long innings in the flooring business and if their efforts to date are anything to go by, they’ll hit it for six. ▲

…AIRSTEP UNDERLAY …“THAT’S CONFIDENCE” www.airstep.com.au • Bonded Foam Underlays • High quality Natural Rubber Underlays • SBR Double Bond Commercial Underlays • Floating Floor Underlays • Recycled Textile Underlays THE COMPLETE UNDERLAY COMPANY Manufactured and distributed by AIRSTEP AUSTRALIA LTD, PO Box 166 Dandenong Sth Vic 3175 Ph: VIC/TAS 1800 803 545 NSW 1800 802 926 WA/SA/NT/QLD 1800 806 375 Fax all states (03) 9706 8553 In New Zealand distributed by

Flooring June/July 2019

Jacobsen Creative Surfaces Auckland (09) 574 0640 Wellington (04) 4954 300 Christchurch (03) 3664 153

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Prep Install & Care

52

Specialty Nails for installing floorcoverings BBS, Australia’s only local carpet gripper and tape manufacturer, offers the following technical solutions for installing floorcoverings.

There is a sharp technical difference between mass produced nails (known as ‘common’ nails) and the ‘specialty’ nails that BBS use to install floorcoverings.

Common nails are crudely made using lower specification steels and coatings and lowtech manufacturing techniques. These nails are sold in bulk through hardware outlets for general construction.

By contrast, floorcovering installation calls for ‘specialty’ nails, designed to rigorous specifications and only available from a few specialist manufacturers.

Why are floorcovering nails ‘special’?

They are made to higher technical standards and tolerances and are suited to specific purposes. They are complex in their design, materials, and manufacturing processes.

The floorcovering industry uses specialty nails because their installation requirements are precise and demanding. This can be illustrated by reviewing some of the BBS specialty nails.

‘Wood’ nails (nails used in wood subfloors) need to be both long tipped and ring shanked to provide superior holding power when securing carpet gripper, etc. The long-pointed tips spread the wood fiber in front of them which builds up a compression force around the tip. This is important because the tip of a wood nail contributes around 20% of the

Flooring June/July 2019

WOOD NAILS nail’s overall holding power. The other 80% comes from its ring shanks which act as a one-way trap on the wood fiber, preventing easy extraction. So longer wood nails have more ring shanks to hold the timber fiber, which increases the nails holding power.

‘Concrete’ nails (nails used in concrete subfloors) should be made of high carbon steel which undergoes a tempering process so that they neither bend nor break as they are hammered into concrete. The specification and uniformity of the steel is critical to the final result. The points are also made long and sharp to aid penetration and to compress the concrete at the tip during insertion. With concrete nails the tip provides up to half of the nail’s holding power. But unlike wood nails the shaft should be smooth so it can slide through the concrete without breaking the hole edge around it. This is a vital function because if the concrete cracks it enlarges the hole around the nail which greatly reduces the nail’s holding power.

Spiral nails (used with Coverstrips and Naploks) use a spiral grip pattern round the shaft to lock into wood substrates or plastic plugs that have been drilled into concrete.

What makes these nails special is their coloured coatings that are matched to the aluminium trim colour.

Spiral nails are available in silver, gold, champagne, nickel, black and a neutral colour mix. The chemistry to colour steel nails is different to anodising chemistry on aluminium bars. Because of this the range of nail colours available does not always match the aluminium bars colour.

SPIRAL NAILS

CONCRETE NAILS

54

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Forbo Queensland Announcement Forbo Flooring Australia is pleased to welcome FDA (Flooring Distributors of Australia) as a distribution partner for commercial and residential resilient flooring products in Queensland adding to their existing network in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory region.

FDA has over 100 years combined industry experience and a long history dating back to 1997 as a professional, ethical and service oriented supplier of flooring to the flooring industry. FDA is committed to delivering high quality and market relevant products from proven suppliers.

FDA will work alongside the QLD Forbo commercial team helping to expand the offer across the full Forbo resilient and textile range including the well-known brands: • • • • • • • •

Marmoleum sheet and tile Eternal project vinyl Step safety flooring Sphera homogeneous vinyl Allura / Novilon Flex LVT Colorex ESD Tile Flotex and Tessera carpet tiles Coral entrance matting and a complete range of accessories including: adhesives, Quickfit subfloors and acoustic underlays.

FDA will commence operations in QLD from the 1st of August 2019.

Please welcome FDA and we are sure you will enjoy the excellent service they provide.

Contact Forbo Flooring Systems: 1800 224 471 | Clinton Goff: 0422 066 907 | info.au@forbo.com | www.forbo-flooring.com.au Contact Flooring Distributor Australia: 07 3558 5050 | Geoff Bryant: 0417 927 707 | fda@fda.net.au | www.fda.net.au

Prep Install & Care NAIL DRIVEN DEPTH

54 Choosing the correct nail length is essential because half the holding power is lost when the tip is driven out the other side of the subfloor.

This is because the compression of material around the tip contributes greatly the nails holding power and this hold releases when the nail exists the substrate.

So, the best way to maximize the holding power of your nail is to choose the longest length that still remains fully embedded within the subfloor.

Nail gauge (diameter) is an ancient system for measuring nail thickness, where thicker nails have smaller gauge numbers. When choosing nails the gauge matters because thicker nails have more surface area making contact with the subfloor, and this provides friction which is proportional to the holding power. Therefore, a fatter nail will always have greater holding power than an identical nail that is thinner. â–˛

Decreasing dirty air with Aircube Air purifiers are designed to be used in any construction, building, rectification or refurbishment project, where one or a number of tools are being used, as extra protection and control over air quality.

With over 45 years of leading industry experience and continuing innovation, Dustcontrol, a Swedish based and manufactured unit for controlling airborne and surface dust, works to capture dust from the source.

Dustcontrol’s Industrial Air Cleaner units including the AC500, AC1200 and the AC2000 offer an extremely efficient and effective way to control the amount of dust particles in a working environment. 55

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Prep Install & Care The DC Dustcontrol Aircube and industrial air cleaner range can work day and night to improve the general air quality and to complement source extraction onsite.

55

Air purifiers are an easy way to control workplace dirt and dust. Used in hospital projects, aged care homes, schools, office fitouts, and gym refurbishment projects through to the residential applications where families and pets are still around the working area.

• Connect to single phase power or direct electricity supply to have it clean the air during day or night works

All Preparation Equipment supplies the complete range of Dustcontrol mobile and concrete dust extractors and industrial concrete and construction air cleaners, ontool suction casings, stand-alone (vacuum dust) separators and cleaning accessories.

Helping companies worldwide achieve cleaner and more efficient production as well as improved product quality.

• Continuously circulating the Dustcontrol Air purifier and Cleaning systems move the dirty air through a large HEPA filter • Designed for any construction, refurbishment or building site controlling dust and converting it to cleaner air.

It is all about making tough jobs easy, controlling dust onsite, minimising clean up time and keeping sites safer.

The partnership of All Preparation Equipment and the Dustcontrol product range helps keep life on site cleaner, safer and minimise dust in flooring, concrete floor and surface preparation or construction projects.

Dustcontrol has over 45 years’ experience in developing high efficiency dust extraction solutions including machines, capture hoods for hand held power tools and fixed equipment as well as a wide range of cleaning accessories. ▲

FLIP TO VIEW BBS Flooring Products

2 / 75 Zenith Road, Dandenong, VIC, 3175, Australia Tel: +61 3 9793 2244 EMAIL: info@bbsfp.com The Long-Point™ nail tip compresses concrete in the subfloor HN-108B HN-110B HN-111B HN-112B HN-116B HN-320B

Code

12 12 12 12 12 10

Gauge

Smooth shaft reduces hole enlargement 12.7 (1/2”) 15.9 (5/8”) 17.5 (11/16”) 19.1 (3/4”) 25.4 (1”) 30.0 (19/16”)

Length (mm)

Kongo ® Black Kongo ® Black Kongo ® Black Kongo ® Black Kongo ® Black Kongo ® Black

Coating

Black Kongo® Concrete Nails - without bending or breaking

HN-6/32-175

HT-650-100 HN-12/38-130 HT-650-100 HN-6/32-175

Code

Screw & Plug Magic Plug Screw & Plug

Product

HN-513 HN-516 HN-616

Code

13 13 12

Gauge

Sharp ‘ring shank’ barbs prevent easy withdrawal 19.1 (3/4”) 25.4 (1”) 25.4 (1”)

Length (mm)

Gripper Nail Gripper Nail Hardboard Nail

Use

RING SHANK WOOD NAILS

Gauge

38 35 32

Length (mm)

Stainless PVC Stainless

Type

SPECIALTY FASTENERS

HARDENED CONCRETE NAILS The Long-Point™ nail tip compresses wood fibre

12 7 6 HN-12/38-130

HN-907 HN-912 HN-913 HN-914

11 11 11 11

31.8 (1-1/4”) 31.8 (1-1/4”) 31.8 (1-1/4”) 31.8 (1-1/4”)

‘Silver’ ‘Neutral’ ‘Champagne’ ‘Nickel’

New Zealand RippleTrim Nails(6mm head) HN-903 HN-905 HN-911

13 13 13

31.8 (1-1/4”) 31.8 (1-1/4”) 31.8 (1-1/4”)

‘Black’ ‘Silver’ ‘Neutral’

Australian RippleTrim Nails (4.8mm head) Code Gauge Length (mm) Coating

RIPPLETRIM NAILS

Kongo® Long-Point® NAIL RANGE

Prep Install & Care Simple vacuum tricks for wool loop care

A

s any good retailer will know, looking after the long-term interests of customers and the products they have bought can reap huge ongoing benefits, not only by reducing the number of call-backs and complaints but by building customer satisfaction and gaining repeat sales. In the case of carpets, specifically 100% wool loop, providing advice on care is an important part of the sales process and should include guidance on which vacuum cleaner is best suited to the floor covering that has been purchased.

It’s important that customers know that the wrong vacuum can damage the carpet pile and may void any warranty.

‘Suction only’… it’s not that simple Not all suction vacuums are suitable for wool loop carpets. Kristine Collins, Product Manager for SEBO Australia explains: “Some ‘suction only’ vacuum cleaners available in the market can damage the loop and cause fuzziness across the carpet surface due to the poor design of the combination head

56 Kristine Collins states, “In the specific instance of 100% wool loop carpet the following SEBO vacuum care and maintenance is advised:

and coarse retracted bristles and most carpet manufacturers never recommend a rotary brush roller due to the aggressive nature.

However, SEBO’s good vacuum design and correct carpet cleaning knowledge is behind the technology capable of maintaining 100% wool loop pile carpets in accordance with a carpet manufacturer’s recommendations and at the same time achieving optimum Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)”.

A powerhead for 100% wool loop carpet?

Carpets Manufacturers recommend the SEBO K3 Premium Barrel (9682AU) and SEBO Felix Premium Upright (9809AU) vacuum cleaners with optional delicate brush roller (5010GE) to care and maintain their wool loop range.

The above-mentioned units are specially designed with ET1 powerheads that allow the user to switch the brush roller off for straight suction cleaning, 4-level brush height adjustment and a uniquely crafted optional delicate brush roller (5010GE) can be inserted for cleaning below the surface gently and effectively removing loose fibres and grit.

This will prevent soil embedding in the pile and grinding at the base of the tufts, which results in premature wear, fluffing and in almost all cases customer product dissatisfaction.”

CHOICE recommends SEBO 9 years running CHOICE The Consumer Watchdog has also recommended SEBO K3 Premium Barrel (9682AU) and SEBO Felix Premium Upright (9809AU) vacuum cleaners for 9 years as the best overall performers removing the maximum amount of soil and debris from carpets ahead of the leading market brands.

Provide your customers with the complete carpet package including the SEBO K3 Premium or Felix Premium vacuum cleaner as recommended by leading carpet manufacturers for the care and maintenance of their wool loop carpets and be rewarded today. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Prep Install & Care

58

SupaBord – Allowing timber to breath

F

looring protection has never been so important for trades, professionals and builders. Flooring protection is now at the forefront of builder and trade professional’s minds due to the added pressure to provide competitive pricing and shorter, high quality work times. This added pressure comes when expensive flooring has to be protected during construction.

recycled material, SupaBord prides itself on turning unwanted industrial waste into a usable and practical product.

SupaBord Temporary Floor Protection comes either as standard or heavy duty. Covering 30 square metres in one roll, and at one millimetre thick, SupaBord heavy duty is designed to withstand the demands of construction sites. Compared to competitors, it yields more meterage per roll adding a great value for money guarantee.

Flooring cannot usually be put in last on a worksite and this can lead to potential accidental damage to the floor during construction. Damage which can be expensive and time consuming to repair. With so many options for builders and trades professionals to choose from, it can be hard to find the best value for money option, until now.

SupaBord’s breathability is a major factor to its success. Timber flooring that is unable to breath during the curing process can result in discoloration of the coating, uneven finishes and potential patchiness. These damages can result in increased labour and material costs, which can also lead to delayed jobs and reduced profits. SupaBord’s breathable design prevents these damages from occurring by allowing vapour and moisture to evaporate, permitting the natural curing process to take place whilst protecting the floor at the same time. ▲

SupaBord Temporary Flooring Protection stands out from all of its competitors due to its usability, breathability and most importantly, value for money. Regarded as one of the best and most trusted brands in Australia and New Zealand. Trade professionals and builders for commercial and residential construction jobs trust

SupaBord to provide the best quality protection. Made from the latest technology in surface protection, SupaBord provides both professional and novice users with peace of mind when protecting their custom made timber flooring. SupaBord has a flexible and durable design, which can be used multiple times. Made from 100%

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Prep Install & Care EnviroTread Underlayments DriTac Flooring Products introduces the 8400 EnviroTread series, a line of sustainable green, acoustical abatement recycled rubber flooring underlayment, made from post-consumer and post-industrial waste, including recycled tires.

The 8400 EnviroTread series comes in three thicknesses: DriTac 8402 (2mm), 8405 (5mm) and 8410 (10mm) and can be installed under hardwood, carpet and carpet tile, ceramic tile and stone, laminate flooring and floating click LVT/WPC/SPC 4.5mm or thicker.

EnviroTread underlayments are technologically advanced and provide exceptional sound control properties, offering industry leading footfall performance with anti-crush technology designed to attain a cushioned, quiet and comfortable flooring system for residential and commercial applications.

59

DriTac 8400 EnviroTread series underlayments are made from SBR tire rubber, GreenCircle certified for recycled content and can qualify for up to 8 LEED points, making them the preferred choice for green projects.

These eco-friendly rubber flooring underlayments incorporate DriTac’s Total Sound Reduction System (SRS) complete with a lifetime warranty when used in conjunction with approved DriTac flooring adhesives in ‘double-stick’ applications. DriTac’s SRS was developed with dual-force, silent-fuse technology, granting customers an optimised sound abatement system covered by DriTac’s all-inclusive warranty from a single-source supplier.

out our portfolio and propels DriTac as major player in the flooring underlayment category”, says Wade Verble, Vice President of Business Development – Underlayment Division.

DriTac Flooring Products, LLC is celebrating over 60 years as one of the most experienced manufacturers of environmentally friendly flooring installation solutions in the market.

DriTac is committed to manufacturing sustainable products for the flooring industry with a comprehensive line of premium green, zero VOC and zero solvent adhesives and installation products that help contribute points towards LEED certification. ▲

“Along with our expanded line of foam underlayment for wood, laminate and resilient flooring, the addition of our 8400 EnviroTread Series of recycled rubber underlayment rounds

Professional Flooring Technology German Quality

ion! suit any applicat Floor Scrapers to

M ASTER M O BIL III 105 kg

JUNIO R Ride-on 420 kg

Ride-on ADB high-speed 1180 kg

Your projects - our equipment - your success!

Kevmor Trade Supplies 11 Belmont Avenue Belmont WA 6104 w w w. janser. com.au

Tel. 08 92777177 Fax 08 92777700 enquiries@janser.com.au

Training

60

Building people for the timber flooring industry

I

ndustry leaders in the development of qualifications, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) supports and delivers training for career seekers, apprentices, employers and stakeholders in the building and construction industry in New Zealand.

BCITO covers 15 trades, including timber flooring, and supports employers by ensuring the building construction industry has the skilled workforce it needs for the future.

BCITO organises the delivery of qualification programmes as well as mentoring and supporting apprentices and employers who train their staff. It also helps businesses grow by supporting their people while they are learning skills on the job, so they become valuable, successful tradespeople.

BCITO Chief Executive, Warwick Quinn says, “Sure, we produce people with certificates that say they have mastered the skills of their chosen trade, but it’s what’s behind that certificate that we treasure most. What we really build are careers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and families, confident and self -respecting people. We inspire employers to be a little better, and apprentices to reach a little further, setting

them on a path for a good life. We build the people who will be the backbone of our country. Qualified, capable, confident contributors to New Zealand.”

How do BCITO managed apprenticeships work?

Your employer will train you on the job.

They will ensure your work is up to standard, and that you cover the required scope of work to complete the qualification. You will also receive a set of workbooks with modules related to your practical work onsite. There are also block courses you need to attend during your apprenticeship.

You can gather and show evidence of your skills and knowledge through your day-today work activities. You will be assigned a BCITO Training Advisor who will support and guide you through the qualification and assessments.

How does training help build a successful business?

Training motivates employees to achieve because they feel more invested in the work they are doing. It is great for businesses because it encourages staff retention and creates a positive work culture.

What about people who have existing flooring experience?

BCITO qualifications and programmes are not just for people who are new to the industry and need to learn from scratch.

If you have been working in the flooring industry for some time, BCITO can assess your existing skills and abilities against the standards required so you can trade up and get a formal qualification. All you need to do is provide the required evidence.

What will you learn?

With BCITO’s National Certificate in Flooring (Level 4) there are many specialties to choose from. This qualification covers: Core competencies • Characteristics of chemicals • Producing scale plans • Assessing moisture content • Examining and evaluating substrates • Identifying hazards • Legislation and regulatory stands Elective sections – choose the combination that covers everything you do at work.

• Carpet installation • Fine sand and finishes • Resilient flooring installation • Substrate preparation • Timber overlay installation • Resin flooring application With a dire skills shortage and high demand for qualified professionals in New Zealand, there has never been a better time to get a formal qualification.

Get in touch with BCITO to find out more about training an apprentice or getting your existing skills and experience recognised. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

With dust Class M certification, you are ensuring ultimate worker safety and site compliance for your business. Can you afford not to?

*Pole Sander not included

M Class certification 99.9% filtration efficiency of fine dust particles Semi-automatic self-cleaning system Power outlet with Auto Start/Stop for power tools Efficient, robust and mobile Superior cleaning performance

Overseas News

62

IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2019 16-20 October 2019, New Delhi, India Established as a way of connecting India’s leading manufacturers in the lifestyle, fashion and textile industries, IHGF Delhi Fair, brings together over 3000 exhibitors and runs for five days from October 16th to 20th, at the India Expo Centre and Mart, New Delhi NCR. What makes this show unique is its wide range of collections drawn from all major manufacturing hubs, artisan clusters and craft pockets across India. Featuring collections from India’s leading export houses including; woodcrafts, textiles, metal ware, EPNS ware, furniture, homewares, glassware, fashion, hand-printed textiles and much more.

The exhibition features carpets, rugs and flooring products manufactured in more than 12 craft clusters across India. Themed pavilions and regional presentations bring opportunities to source directly from new artisans and well-established exporters from these provinces.

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Overseas News Floorcovering Association of Victoria Inc.

What’s happening at FAV At FAV we are working with our OHS Consultant Steve Main to establish a best practice SWMS to deal with Crystalline Silica in the work place.

Flooring installers can be at risk when undertaking subfloor preparation work to install their floorcovering materials.

Bob Dolman has been working with employers to insure correct worker entitlement are being contributed by members. We are also partnering with Incolink to roll out an all of Industry Mental Health and Suicide prevention program.

Bob has been visiting member and talking to staff about the Incolink 24 / 7 Counselling help line 1300 000 129.

To arrange counselling, contact Bob at contactfavic@gmail.com Don’t forget to lodge your entries for the Fav Awards.

FAV AWARD ENTRIES CLOSE: 30TH JUNE 2019 All enquiries should be made to favawards@gmail.com

CONCRETE FLOOR GRINDING, LEVELLING and PREPARATION MADE EASY Buyers from over 110 countries including the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, South America, the Middle East and Asia attend the show.

Visitors have exclusive access to the 900 permanent showrooms spaced out over four levels at the India Expo Centre.

Supporting events including trend forecasts, paneled discussions, seminars, presentations and awards make IHGF Delhi Fair, a multifaceted trade show for buyers as well as exhibitors.

IHGF Delhi Fair is organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the apex body representing handicraft manufacturers and exporters in India.

The 48th edition of IHGF Delhi Fair – Autumn 2019 is scheduled from 16th to 20th October 2019. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

with ALL PREPARATION EQUIPMENT CALL US OR SHOP ONLINE AT

• • • • • •

Concrete floor grinders Diamond Tooling Concrete Vacuums & shrouds Mixing equipment Floor Levellers Floor Stripping & lifting equipment

CALL 1800 422 992 www.ALLPREP.COM.AU

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Overseas News

64

ATMYSPHERE - the keynote theme for DOMOTEX Hannover 2020

A

fter a successful DOMOTEX Hannover 2019, preparations are already ramping up for the 2020 edition of the world’s leading trade show for carpets and floor coverings. The upcoming show, to be held from 10 to 13 January 2020, has ATMYSPHERE as its keynote theme, symbolising its central focus on all the qualities of floors and floor coverings that contribute to wellbeing, nature and sustainability.

Examples of products from the floor coverings industry that possess these qualities include floors with acoustic properties or sound-insulation components, carpets that bind fine dust particles or have thermal insulation properties, resilient floor coverings that are hypo-allergenic, and natural-wood floorboards that improve the interior climate by capturing excess humidity and releasing it when the air in the room is dry. Other qualities that enhance positive indoor atmospherics include softness to the touch and sustainability.

“This year, as indeed in previous years, the lead theme is inspired by a current megatrend,” explains Sonia WedellCastellano, Deutsche Messe’s Global Director DOMOTEX. “And that trend is society’s heightened focus on health. Health is synonymous with quality of life and living well – and therefore translates into high expectations of the spaces around us.

Alongside this, considerations of sustainability and recycling – and hence natural materials – continue to play a major role in our society. In terms of floor coverings, these are considerations and themes that are currently very much to the fore with our exhibitors and their work, especially given the great importance of floors as elements of creative interior design. With the right materials and design, carpets and floor coverings can be important factors in personal wellbeing and in the design of homes and workplaces that promote it. That is why ATMYSPHERE is of such definitive importance for all our exhibitors and visitor target groups.”

Below: The Style collection by Girloon

Above: The Monasch by Best Wool Carpets Feature products include: The Monasch collection by Best Wool Carpets comprising of soft rugs made of pure wool in luxurious colours, sizes and fits. Including ‘Crayons’, available with border trims in linen, felt and leather for that essential element of contrast. With its superior wool quality, this high-comfort rug collection helps regulate humidity and create a healthy interior climate. Each rug is fully recyclable, including the backing layer on the reverse, sound-absorbing and hypoallergenic.

The ‘Style’ collection by Girloon is an acoustically absorbent, eco-friendly modular system of self-adhesive carpet tiles available in a wide variety of surface textures, colours and designs. Thanks to the endless possibilities of digital printing, there is even a variant customers can personalise. With low emissions and fitted with acoustically absorbent comfort underlay, these tiles are ideal for contract interiors. Girloon selfadhesive tiles are ‘Blue Angel’ eco-certified and can be laid with no pattern repeat to create the ultimate calming, healthpromoting indoor atmosphere.

DOMOTEX Hannover 2020 10–13 January Hannover Exhibition Centre, Germany. ▲

Flooring June/July 2019

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

2019 Exhibitions

JULY 2019 17 – 19 Interior Lifestyle

International furniture fair including flooring, textiles and interior design.

Tokyo, Japan https://interiorlifestyle-tokyo. jp.messefrankfurt.com/tokyo/en.html

21 – 23 High Design – Home and Office Expo 2019 International event for furniture design, surfaces and lighting.

Sao Paulo, Brazil https://www.highdesignexpo.com/en/ home.html SEPTEMBER 2019

18 – 21 Décor + Design 2019

Interior design event showcasing interior products, flooring, textiles and furnishings.

Melbourne, Australia https://www.decordesignshow.com. au/

5 – 8 Bauen & Modernisieren 2019

Construction fair

Zurich, Switzerland https://www.bauen-modernisieren.ch/ htm/home.htm 9 – 12 InterBuild Jordan Fair 2019

Fair and forum for architects and the building industry.

Amman, Jordan http://jordanfairs.com/

25 – 27 Luxe Home 2019

Luxury living and interior furnishing exhibition

Shanghai, China http://www.chinaluxehome.com/ AUGUST 2019 2 – 4

Index 2019 International trade fair for furniture, architectural design, furnishings and interiors.

New Delhi, India https://www.indexfairs.com/

11 – 15 Habitare 2019

Interior design and furniture fair.

Helsinki, Finland https://habitare.messukeskus. com/?lang=en

5, 51, 52

All Preparation Equipment

63

Gerni 61 31

Australian Flooring Supplies 17, 23, 33

Godfrey Hirst Australia

Amtico Flooring

Kenbrock Flooring

12, 13

Bostik

Front Cover

9, 27 Inside Back Cover

Kevmor 59

BBS Flooring Products

55

Laser Measure Australia

57

Classic Architectural Group

37

Mapei Australia

21

Delhi Fair

65

RFMS Australasia

Dunlop Flooring

Inside Front Cover

Sebo Australia

EDITOR Michelle Cammiade michelle.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley6@bigpond.com ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Sandie Velkovska Email: sandie@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION For circulation enquiries please email: info@elitepublishing.com.au

PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital

*** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.

GMK Logistics

PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au

PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au

Ad Index Airstep Australia

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au

PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine

16, 41 Outside Back Cover

Floorcovering Assn of Victoria (VAV) 63

Signature Floorcoverings

Flooring Xtra

45

Tarkett Australia

Forbo Flooring Systems

53

15 34, 35

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Smartdrop just got smarter With its NEW formulation you now get these exciting benefits: • No longer manufactured with recycled content, now made with 100% Phthalate free virgin PVC. • Smartdrop is now an absolute breeze to install.

• Enhanced acoustic properties making it even quieter underfoot.

100% POWER 100% OF THE TIME

SEBO K3 Premium Barrel with ET1 Powerhead (9682AU) best performer/top scorer in 9 consecutive CHOICE® tests!

“Excellent at picking up dirt and pet hair”according to CHOICE®

Wool Loop

to

Triextra

For Correct Carpet Care Recommend SEBO...

Your Carpet Manufacturer Does!

Trusted.

Approved.

Recommended.

To discover more about SEBO or become a reseller:

1300 697 326 sebo.com.au