FLOORINGNEWS starts on page 26
FLOORINGNEWS starts on page 23
The Harrogate show goes from strength-to-strength and expands this year to cover over 400 UK and international brands under one roof, as well as demos, presentations and networking opportunities.
Read all the exhibitor previews, events and highlights – pages 41-62
Contemporary classics combine enduring design elements with modern aesthetics
pages 32–33
100% RECYCLED POLYESTER YARN FROM PET BOTTLES
I'M UNIQUE
A PATTERNED WILTON FROM PET
NEW RUNSWICK BAY • ELEGANCE, GRACE, SIMPLICITY & COMFORT
6 patterns in 4m width. Bleach cleanable. 120 PET bottles makes every square metre.
Your customers know right now that we need to give the planet a break. Make it easy for them with a superb carpet range with the comfort, appearance and performance of polyester – with the impeccable environmental credentials of recycled PET.
www.fellscarpets.co.uk
Perfect Home is an 80/20 wool blend, constructed with our 100% British Wool Britannia Yarn, where every linear metre contains yarn from each of the four nations. This carpet is available in four and five metre lengths, and is suitable for heavy domestic use, including living rooms, bedrooms and hallways
Choose from 20 incredible colours: whether it’s the cool green Limestone, the deep blue Bloomsbury or the inviting grey Heirloom, there’s a perfect colour for everyone!
Get in touch
Kingsmead Carpets Ltd
Relay Park, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 5PR
T | 01827 831424
E | sales@kingsmead-carpets.co.uk kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk
Stephen Cawley
M: 07718 762236
E: stephen.cawley@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: All Scottish Regions.
&
Ian Henderson
M: 07974 141919
E: ian.henderson@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire (inc SK9, SK10, SK11), Greater Manchester, (inc SK1 to SK8, SK12, SK14 to SK16), Clwyd and Gwynedd.
SOUTH EAST, LONDON (N,W&E) , HERTS & ESSEX
David Harris
M: 07801 538763
E: david.harris@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Hertfordshire, Essex, North London, West London and East London.
WEST MIDLANDS & WORCESTER
Emily Davis
M: 07753 983714
E: emily.davis@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Gloucester, Avon, West Midlands, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester.
EAST MIDLANDS & SOUTH EAST
Simon Beeby
M: 07775 913380
E: simon.beeby@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Berkshire (split), Oxfordshire, Wrwickshire, Leicestershire and Northhamptonshire.
John Pringle
M: 07825 991405
E: john.pringle@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Cumbria, Kirby Lonsdale via. Carnforth, Isle of Man, Cleveland, Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear.
YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER
Christine Searle
M: 07939 051608
E: christine.searle@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: North Humberside, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.
SOUTH EAST & LONDON (South & Central)
Chris Gee
M: 07919 047930
E: chris.gee@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Kent, South London, Central London, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex
SOUTH YORKSHIRE & EAST MIDLANDS
Guy Legg
M: 07801 357622
E: guy.legg@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: South Yorkshire, Sheffield, South Humberside, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire (inc SK13, SK17, SK22 and SK23).
EAST ANGLIA, CAMBRIDGESHIRE & BEDFORDSHIRE
Gavin Walters
T: 07711 353 982
E: gavin.walters@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.
SOUTH WEST SOUTH COAST
Graham Wood
M: 07825 171482
E: graham.wood@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
NORTHERN IRELAND & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Herbie Montgomery (Agent)
M: 07774 695333
E: herbiehsm@gmail.com
Areas covered: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
To find out more, please call our sales team on 01706 639 866 or visit penthousecarpets.co.uk
Nigel Woollard
M: 07767 213236
E: nigel.woollard@penthousecarpets.co.uk
Areas covered: Berkshire (split), Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight.
WALES (East, Mid, South & West)
James Thomas (Agent)
M: 07932 458032
E: juncture2002@aol.com
Areas covered: West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Gwent, Dyfed and Powys.
50,000m2 IN STOCK
Herringbone designs available in our Luxury Vinyl Tile Collections:
5 Trade Counter Locations. Orpington, Croydon, Basildon Hemel Hempstead & Cambridge
≈80kg density
Designing and crafting exceptional quality flooring is only the beginning of the story for Victoria Carpets & Design Floors products. Getting the product from factory to customer is equally as important and that’s where Alliance Distribution come in – our dedicated transport provider.
Having just opened a new purposebuilt distribution centre at Junction 6 on the M5 (Worcester), we take a look at some of the reasons it’s good to be partnering with such a great transport company.
Flex appeal
With four distribution centres across the UK, Alliance are positioned in the best possible locations to make deliveries quickly and efficiently. With over 180 vehicles in the fleet, they have storage for over 5.2m linear meters of carpet and 10,000 spaces for pallet storage. What this means is that they have plenty of room to house all of our ranges and have everything on hand to fulfil your orders.
Did you know
Alliance offer a shipment tracking service that provides delivery pre-notification and live order tracking system. This will allow you to see which vehicle your order is on as well as the name of the driver. You also get live tracking with an ETA on delivery, via text messages, allowing you to plan your day effectively.
Working towards a greener future
The new building in Worcester is state of the art. With clever design and engineering, the development is constructed to net carbon zero, is Planet Mark accredited, has solar panels on the roof and harvests rainwater to wash the vehicle fleet and flush toilets.
To top it off, dotted around the grounds are ‘Green Roof Shelters’ that have living roof tops and bug hotels incorporated into them making the site as beautiful as it is green.
Here at Victoria Carpets and Design Floors, we couldn’t be prouder to partner with Alliance Distribution. Therefore, what better location to show off our carpet mosaic of King Charles III, created by the marketing team at Victoria (pictured left).
For more information visit: www.myvictoria.co.uk or www.alliancefdl.co.uk
Delivering the finest floor coverings, Nationwide
FITA provides short training courses, workshops and assessments for both commercial and domestic markets. Both our fully equipped training centres at Loughborough and Kirkcaldy are run by seasoned professional instructors with specialist knowledge of the flooring industry.
TRAINING COURSES — 1 TO 4 DAYS
Carpet
Carpet Fitting — Basic Carpet Fitting — Intermediate Carpet Fitting — Advanced NEW! Carpet — Borders NEW! Natural Floorcoverings
Vinyl Sheet Vinyl Installation — Commercial — Basic/Intermediate Sheet Vinyl Installation — Commercial — Advanced Sheet Vinyl Installation — Domestic Sheet Vinyl — Wetrooms Installation — Advanced
Linoleum Linoleum Installation — Basic Linoleum Installation — Intermediate
Resilient Resilient/LVT Fitting — Basic Resilient/LVT Fitting — Intermediate Resilient/LVT Fitting — Advanced
Wood Laminate and Floating Wood Fitting — Basic Wood Fitting — Intermediate Wood Fitting — Advanced Wood Sanding and Finishing
Subfloors Subfloor Preparation — Commercial Subfloor Preparation — Domestic
Supplementary
Cost-Effective Estimating and Planning — Commercial Profitable Measuring and Quoting — Domestic Moisture — Preventing Floor Failures
Multi award-winning carpet manufacturer Cormar Carpet Company has added a new heavyweight wool twist to their wool carpet collection.
Made from 80% Pure New Wool, 10% Polyester and 10% Tuftbond, Hampstead is a premier, fine quality, tenth gauge carpet, available in two pile weights, Supreme and Deluxe. This range is suitable for extra heavy domestic use making it ideal for high traffic areas such as stairs and hallways.
Hampstead has a strong palette of 20 on trend plain and heather shades including a stormy grey (Moody Blue) deep red (Claret) and relaxing green (Lotus Leaf). Durable, resilient and luxurious, Hampstead combines the natural beauty of wool with long lasting looks. As well as being moth resistant, It also comes with a 10-year wear warranty for added peace of mind.
“As more consumers look to introduce natural fibres into their homes, our wool collections are becoming increasingly popular, allowing customers to add a touch of natural warmth, comfort and luxury to their homes.” said David Cormack, Marketing Director of the Cormar Carpet Company. “Our new collection looks great, is tough and hardwearing and complements our existing wool offering to provide retailers with a range of products to suit all styles and requirements, coupled with the quality and reliability they receive from Cormar.”
The collection is available in 4 and 5-metre widths to suit all homes and will be delivered via the Cormar nationwide delivery fleet.
Cormar Carpet Company produces their wool and polypropylene carpet ranges from two production sites in Lancashire. Distribution is via its two regional distribution centres in Hemel Hempstead and Bury. It also owns its own fleet of over 70 distribution vehicles to ensure a fast delivery service to customers, as well as servicing its retail customers through a team of sales representatives throughout Britain and Ireland.
T 01204 881234 www.cormarcarpets.co.uk
Read all the exhibitor previews, events and happenings at The Flooring Show, Harrogate pages 41–62
Contemporary classics combine enduring design elements with modern aesthetics
pages 32–33
Sub-floor preparation is key to accelerating installations when speed is of the essence page 36–37
With new collections and innovations, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl now brings more realism, easier installation and even better soundproofing and comfort. New Alpha Vinyl proves that in the world of Quick-Step, beauty and practicality go hand in hand.
The new Alpha Vinyl Bloom collection features an innovative surface structure that redefines authentic vinyl flooring. Whereas most vinyl floors have three or four depths of texture, selected designs in Alpha Vinyl Bloom now feature up to 75 depths. This means a floor that tracks the depth of every detail – the knots of the floor are particularly impressive – and a design that’s more realistic than any other vinyl on the market.
Ciro is the Alpha Vinyl answer to herringbone flooring. The collection features a brand-new way to install vinyl herringbone floors with the innovative Unizip click profile. Unlike most systems that require two different planks, Unizip means that Ciro needs just one, allowing for a much simpler and faster installation. This revolutionary system also minimises installation waste, as it’s much easier to know how many planks are required. And of course, it means ordering an Alpha Vinyl Ciro herringbone floor is just as simple as any regular plank or tile.
All Alpha Vinyl collections share Quick-Step’s integrated underlay that makes the floor even easier to install, more comfortable and much quieter. The underlay is precision made to fit seamlessly, so that there’s no concerns about gaps underneath and uses high-quality materials that ensure durability and stability. Combined with Quick-Step’s innovative waterproof technology, it’s easy to see why Alpha Vinyl leads innovation in vinyl flooring.
With new Ciro, Bloom, Blos and Oro (as well as Blos Base and Oro Base without underlay); the Alpha Vinyl range offers a captivating blend of made in Belgium vinyl floors that elevate homes with Quick-Step’s design excellence and product quality. www.quick-step.co.uk
After months of secrecy, Royal Warrant holders Ulster Carpets have proudly revealed that they designed, manufactured and installed over 1,000m2 of majestic wool rich Axminster carpets for the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey.
Nick Coburn CBE, Group Managing Director, said, “When my grandfather founded Ulster Carpets, he could not have envisaged that his company would earn such a unique honour.
“There is a real sense of pride at being involved in the Coronation and we see this as a tribute to the hard work and dedication of generations of our staff over the last 85 years.”
This year marks the 85th anniversary of Ulster Carpets, a fourthgeneration family-owned company, and this momentous milestone will be marked by a place in history.
This isn’t the first time that Ulster Carpets have worked with the Royal Family. Last year, Ulster became one of the final companies to receive a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, having worked on a number of projects for the Royal Household.
Joyce McIvor, UK and Ireland Contract Sales Director, led the team at Ulster Carpets on the historic Coronation project, working in conjunction with leading events company, Identity.
“We are thrilled to play a major part in this historically significant event. We were recommended to Identity by the Royal Household, which demonstrates the high esteem in which Ulster Carpets are held.
“Working closely with Identity we developed a range of colour samples for the Royal Household to choose from. We also had to consider the technical aspects of the construction such as pile height and direction, to ensure the carpet not only looked sensational, but performed to the very highest standards on the day.
Read the full story at www.thestocklists.com/coronation
When it comes to a fantastic floor, profiles provide the finishing touch and can make or break an otherwise great looking floor. That’s why floorwise is focused on quality and finish across its profile collections.
The floorwise range – especially its Max and Reflections collections –offers a more robust and longer-lasting profile that will ensure a fantastic floor for years to come.
As the popularity of simbrass continues to decline, it’s collections like Max Reflections that are becoming the number one choice for homes. Max Reflection’s smart chrome and brushed steel nickel finishes coordinate with modern door furniture, switches and sockets for a premium look. In a range of fitments, Reflections has an option for all requirements.
Max is floorwise’s heavy duty profile collection, equipped for the most demanding jobs by using premium metals that bring peace of mind in commercial and domestic work. When strength and rigidity are key, Max profiles come in polished aluminium and simbrass in single edge raised base, dual edge, dual edge raised base and extra-wide cover strip. floorwise has also seen demand rise for stick down profiles from the Zenith collection. Combining the supplier’s unmistakable quality with installation simplicity, they are available in brushed steel nickel and chrome finishes, as well as oak, dark walnut and grey oak to coordinate with the most popular laminate and LVT floors.
Andrew Gill, product manager, floorwise, says: “Profiles are an important part of any installation and a poor specification can soon lead to scratches and dents that detract from an otherwise great looking floor. We’ve always focused on making sure that our profiles are tough enough to cope and refuse to compromise on the quality of finish, so you can choose floorwise profiles knowing that they will be the start of a fantastic floor.”
T 01509 673974 www.floorwise.co.uk
Beauflor used June’s Housing 2023 show in Manchester to demonstrate the suitability of its floors for social and affordable homes.
Meeting the quality and affordability challenges of the sector, while providing tenants with a floor that’s homely, comfortable and easy to look after; providers can ensure a floor that’s not just lasting but one that also helps to create a good quality home for tenants.
Cost-effective and fast to install thanks to a sheet format, Beauflor sheet vinyl provides a surface that’s not only durable, but also simple to maintain and which stays looking good throughout use. Beauflor ranges are also the only sheet vinyl floors available for social housing five-metre wide. Free from seams after installation in all but the largest of public areas, the seamless finish provides a 100% water-resistant and a more authentic natural look.
Chris Roberts, sales director UK, Beauflor says: “Housing 2023 proved a hugely rewarding couple of days as we introduced our sheet vinyl floors to builders, developers, local authorities and housing associations. With enhanced benefits such as improved noise absorption and slip-resistance or suitability for high-traffic public areas, our collections can create an affordable floor specification that works for every room and every type of housing.”
Ranges such as Blacktex, Quintex, Smartex and Xtreme provide a surface that’s not only durable, but also simple to maintain and which stays looking good throughout use. Combined with natural wood and tile designs, as well as popular modern looks like concrete and terrazzo, the result is an attractive floor that tenants find easy to live.
F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier has been selected as part of an impressive installation at Cinch headquarters, securing Interface carpet tiles over raised access panels in the offices of the UK’s fastest-growing online used car marketplace.
The solvent-free adhesive dries to create a permanently tacky film that prevents loose-lay carpet tiles from moving laterally but allows individual tiles to be lifted and replaced easily when worn or damaged, making it ideal for busy offices with high traffic corridors, and areas with chairs that have castor wheels. In this situation, it was chosen to facilitate the temporary removal of tiles to gain access to mechanical and electrical services beneath.
The tackifier can be used for securing a wide range of dimensionally stable ‘flat lay’ carpet tiles backed with bitumen/felt, non-woven fabric, PVC and other polymer backings. Where needed, it can be applied over Stopgap smoothing compounds, Stopgap waterproof surface membranes and a wide range of absorbent and non-absorbent subfloors, including structurally sound, smooth and dry concrete, sand/cement screed, plywood, raised access flooring panels and terrazzo. The product is also approved for use in marine flooring installations and is suitable for use over normal under floor heating systems.
Adam Couch, owner and director of iFlor Flooring Contractors LLP, commented on the project: “We use F. Ball’s Styccobond F41 tackifier for all our carpet tile jobs. It’s tried and tested and easy to work with, and we know it will deliver the best results for our clients. This project was no exception. The client was thrilled with the outcome.”
T 01538 361 633 www.f-ball.co.uk
Made to provide an ideal substrate for the installation of resilient flooring and suitable for BS 8203 installations, Lion Floor is a pre-conditioned engineered fibreboard that’s readily available from distributors and stockists across the United Kingdom.
With a construction that eliminates core gaps and overlaps commonly found in plywood, Lion is denser and more rigid, yet just as easy to install – it can be cut cleanly with a knife or saw. Pre-conditioned to eliminate wetting before installation, fixed with ring shank nails and proven compatible with the most popular screeds and feather compounds, there’s no longer a reason to choose BS 8203 compliant plywood.
Thanks to a rapid growth in availability, flooring contractors and installers can now enjoy a reliable supply of Lion Floor pre-conditioned engineered fibreboard, ensuring that whatever the scale of project, there’s a cost-effective alternative to flooring grade plywood.
Because it’s made in Finland from locally sourced wood by-products, Lion Floor has a simpler supply chain that’s less prone to delays than the cross-continent shipping needed for flooring grade plywood. This reliable and regular supply, along with excellent product quality and consistency, means that installers can trust the Lion Floor name.
Peter Jones, Finnish Fibreboard, says: “With the end of summer in sight, attention will soon be turning to one of the busiest times for flooring installers and contractors. In these peak times, what really matters is being able to deliver a great installation quickly and cost-effectively. Delays because of lack of quality materials can not only lead to compromises, but also to disappointed customers and a backlog that seems difficult to overcome.
T +358 (0)20 110 3300 www.finfib.fi
Mapei has launched new Ultrabond ECO MS1 – a high performance adhesive for the installation of all types of resilient and textile floorcoverings. Readyto-use and easy to apply, Ultrabond ECO MS1 is fast setting and very low VOC. Its tough formulation and resistance make it ideal for areas subjected to heavy wear and floors exposed to UV and water.
A universal, sylilated polymerbased adhesive, Ultrabond ECO MS1 is suitable for the internal installation of LVT, PVC, carpet, linoleum, rubber, PU based and sports flooring onto absorbent and non-absorbent substrates. It can also be used with underfloor heating systems.
The adhesive offers a raft of high performance benefits, including very high peel and shear strength and dimensional stability. Once cured, it forms a film that’s resistant to moisture, water and heat.
These characteristics, along with exceptional strong bond strength, make Ultrabond ECO MS1 particularly suitable for industrial settings subjected to intense mechanical stress from forklifts, commercial kitchens and wet areas. The adhesive can also be used in environments subject to stresses from chair castors, according to EN 12529.
Ultrabond ECO MS1 certifications include EMICODE EC1 Plus (very low emissions) and Blauer Engle – DE-UZ 113. The adhesive is also easy to clean off hands and surfaces, and is safe to use for installers with sensitivity to epoxy and epoxy/PU products.
T 0121 5086970 www.mapei.co.uk
The carpet industry is “neglecting the problem” of harmful microplastics according to detailed research by the University of Portsmouth.
In a new report entitled “Microplastics in our homes – Our carpets’ hidden secret”, the university researchers, working with sustainability consultants SB&CO, say that the flooring industry’s focus is only on sustainability and that none of the 24 major manufacturers they studied has a policy on microplastics reduction.
“It is becoming apparent that microplastics may impact human health and we need to understand how to limit our exposure. The flooring industry needs to play its part and consider new ways to reduce the release of microplastics from carpets,” says the report, written by Dr Fay Couceiro, Reader in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Pollution at the University of Portsmouth and published in May this year.
Fibres are of particular concern regarding inhalation as they can cause problems with lung health and a recent study showed that having carpet in your house can double the number of microfibre plastics in the air.
“Carpet companies are heavily promoting the shift to using recycled plastics as a more environmental and sustainable solution, but are not yet considering the impacts of microplastics. Instead, durability, cleanability and low prices are the key selling points,” says the report.
It notes that the apparel industry is taking the issue seriously and exploring new initiatives. This may be because microplastics in clothing get into watercourses through the discharge from washing machines and have therefore become part of the higher-profile issue of microplastics in rivers and oceans.
In its conclusion, the report says that the carpet industry should start prioritising research to determine which products are producing the most microplastics, and in which environments. Part of this could include which polymer types and weaves are the best performing, and how different coatings can impact microplastic numbers and their toxicity.
“Is it time for more transparency and collaboration?” asks the report. “Researchers, industry and government need to work together to solve the problem.” www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/features/microplastics-in-our-homes
Completely reinvented to appeal to a new generation of brand and style savvy purchasers, the new LeoLine is now rolling out to stores across the UK with retailers receiving a collection update and complete overhaul of existing stands.
The overhaul not only involves updating existing collections and welcoming in three new ranges for 2023, but also swapping out all the visual merchandise. Echoing the brand’s manifesto to make cushion vinyl the contemporary and savvy way to give people the floor they want, the visual merchandise sets a striking look that stands out in store.
Stuart Reeves, sales director, LeoLine: “A stunning collection of floors is only half the story of new LeoLine and our relaunched image is essential in setting us apart and creating a desirable brand that will appeal to shoppers. The update to our existing stands lets retailers capture the new energy of LeoLine and we’re sure its affordability, style and practicality will do the rest in winning over a new generation of flooring shopper.”
Along with sampling and a collection brochure, LeoLine has also launched a new website that opens consumers to a world of floors as unique as they are. Making the entire LeoLine collection available for free sampling and with a helpful stockist finder, leoline.co.uk also tells the story of cushion vinyl and why it’s such a good choice for today’s home.
The LeoLine collection is designed and made entirely in-house in Belgium.
T 0800 032 3970 www.leoline.co.uk
The NICF have announced the five finalists for the Fitter of the Year – LVT 2023 competition who have been selected following a close-fought semi-finals. They will compete in the prestigious finals which are taking place over two days, 17 and 18 September, in The Kings Suite of the exhibition centre during The Flooring Show in Harrogate. The winner will be announced at 4.00pm on Monday 18 September on the competition stand.
The Stocklists is a proud sponsor of the competition and would like to wish them all the best of luck in the finals! To find out more about each of the participants, visit the 'Finalists' page of the Fitter of the Year section of the NICF website. www.nicfltd.org.uk/FOTY-Competition
Entries closed on July 14 and were about 35% up on 2022 – so thanks to all those who made submissions in these prestigious awards. The winners will be announced in the next issue of The Stocklists on August 21 - and then the judges will decide the 'best of the best' Gold winners, to be revealed at The Flooring Show in September.
Major UK flooring retailer, Colourbank, is inviting retailers into a franchise partnership to create a powerful new force in flooring, with access to highly competitive pricing and a full support package.
One of the UK's most successful flooring retailers and distributors has announced a new franchise model to partner with independent businesses to "build a secure and profitable future."
Colourbank's superstore in Leicester is among the largest in the East Midlands and is backed by a major warehousing facility and a national distribution network.
The company enjoys substantial discounts as a bulk buyer from all the major manufacturers for its own operation and now franchisees will be able to buy at these prices – a major opportunity to enhance their margins far beyond what they could achieve individually.
“We have the buying power to ensure our franchisees are competitive and the expertise and resources to ensure they can offer a reliable, professional service to consumers,” says Trevor Johnson, chairman of Colourbank.
“This is a compelling retail investment opportunity.”
Franchisees run their own business independently but have access to Colourbank's 400 carpet and vinyl ranges plus wood, laminate and artifical grass.
MISSION STATEMENT:
all our customers to make their homes more luxurious and comfortable - all at guaranteed lowest possible prices”.
This franchise model is perfect for sales people, managers, company representatives or other persons within the carpet and flooring trade who would love their own business. It is also ideal for established carpet retailers who want to increase their profitability
“Franchisees could already be independent carpet and flooring retail operators looking to strengthen or extend their business," says Trevor.
"The extensive Colourbank benefits of our franchise and our entire supply chain and bulk buying power, with own-brand products make this a compelling proposition for independents. It will improve your competitiveness, strengthen your business, expand your customer base, sales, profitability, and cash flow," he said.
Established retailers can use the franchise to overhaul their existing business and streamline their operation, reducing hassle and improving financial security. Colourbank is an ideal model to refresh existing shop displays as well as displaying more profitable ranges.
Colourbank was established 30 years ago and is a leading "forward-thinking" brand with a reputation for quality, service and reliability.
A unique retail business opportunity to partner with the UK’s leading independent carpet & flooring retailer and build a business with a secure & profitable future.
A unique, professional franchisee support package designed to offer you a genuine profit opportunity and return on investment.
How the franchise opportunity works:
• As a franchise business owner, you will own and operate your own Colourbank carpet and flooring store in your chosen location.
• You will follow Colourbank's systems and processes, deploy its marketing and promotional campaigns, and use an agreed store design and layout
• Colourbank will be your dedicated supplier for everything you need for each and every customer order – from carpets & flooring to underlays, glues, and consumables.
• The franchise licence fee is £10,000 plus training fees and store fitting and POS costs.
• There are no stocking costs, Colourbank supplies just in time for every customer order.
The comprehensive support package from Colourbank includes:
• Guidance in selecting suitable retail premises and recruiting staff
• Advice on store fittings, displays and technology.
• An initial training programme, covering all aspects of the business
• Professional marketing activities, website and social media
• Market trends monitoring with continual updating of ranges
• Colourbank’s expert team is always at hand to advise & support you in all aspects of operations.
T 0116 274 7958 franchise@colourbank.net
“To simply and effortlessly enable
Alternative Flooring welcomes two new flatweaves Wool Hygge and Wool Skein into its fine wool carpet collection. Each brings contemporary character to floors and are perfect for classic wall-to-wall carpet, made to measure rugs or runners.
Wool Hygge is a 100% undyed Nordic wool collection designed to bring conviviality in our homes. The three tactile designs follow clean Scandi lines. Fika the chevron means chilling over a coffee Nordic style; Koselig or cosy is a neat panama weave and Sisu, the basketweave with natural texture is the Finnish name for Hygge. The five familiar and comforting shades are Warm Milk, Mokka, Kakao, Kaffe, Earl Grey.
Wool Skein is a chevron design named after wild birds in their typical V-shaped formation. Subtly structured and textural, stylish and hardwearing it works beautifully in almost all areas of the home, including as a stair carpet or made to measure runner. Wool Skein is colour matched to Wool Rib. Both are part of Alternative’s Wool Essentials collection. The six natural shades from light browns and greys to off-whites are named after the wild birds that fly in the skein formation - Landes, Swan, Adler, Tula, Brant and Embden. Composition: 50% Wool and 50% Polyester
Contemporary flooring is such a versatile look that can embrace many different trends and styles as well as creating a timeless, enduring feel. Amtico LVT comes in three main collections – Spacia for effortless elegance, Form for an authentic natural look and Signature for a unique flooring design that includes Designers’ Choice and Décor collections for ready-made options that allow customers to create their own unique style.
What’s great about contemporary LVT styles is that they can offer everything from concrete effects for an industrial vibe in the kitchen or bathroom to geometric patterns in the hallway and on-trend laying patterns in any space, as shown with Brushed Oak in the Victorian Star Canterbury design (right). Part of Amtico’s Décor collection, there are two Victorian Star woods to choose from as well as decorative Echo designs in Ink, Shadow, Ware and Keys, perfect for contrasting colours with a dramatic geometric look.
"Whether it’s to complement a modern apartment or new-build or enhance a traditional property or characterful interior, contemporary classic flooring suits all schemes. Amtico’s LVT has something for everyone..."
"Wool Skein is a chevron design named after wild birds in their typical V-shaped formation. Subtly structured and textural, stylish and hardwearing it works beautifully in almost all areas of the home, including as a stair carpet or made to measure runner."
Whether it’s to complement a modern apartment or new-build or enhance a traditional property or characterful interior, contemporary classic flooring suits all schemes. Amtico’s LVT has something for everyone and every room with a wide choice of styles, colours and patterns. It’s also durable, hardwearing, easy to clean and warm to walk on, especially when laid with underfloor heating for cosy toes all year round.
Furlong Flooring’s Beyond Wool Collection is the epitome of contemporary carpet excellence. Prepare to be captivated by a range that surpasses expectations, blending elegance and durability flawlessly.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the luxury Beyond Wool collection offers five exquisite ranges, showcasing luxurious twist and loop pile carpets. These redefine sophistication and practicality, combining natural wool-like aesthetics with advanced stain and moth resistance. Beyond Wool also includes a new 100% recycled yarn range. Furlong Flooring presents an eco-friendly, resilient, and easy-to-clean carpet. The Amesbury and Castlerigg range, made from recycled polypropylene yarn, features 100% bleach cleanable fibres. With six nature-inspired hues and two trendy loop designs, this range guarantees a flawless fit and exquisite finish, backed by Furlong's award-winning Combi-bac backing.
Rita is Director of Bancmarketing Ltd and has over 30 years of marketing experience with a proven track record in both business to business and business to consumer multi-channel marketing.
Designflooring say it’s not all about wood when it comes to this contemporary classic style. A stone herringbone floor is sure to bring a cool sophistication to any room,"
For a modern space, the Art Select and Knight Tile ranges offer a wide selection of wood designs in an 18” x 3” herringbone size. For a larger take on this popular laying pattern, look to the newly updated Van Gogh collection with its 28” x 7” herringbone.
Karndean Designflooring say it’s not all about wood when it comes to this contemporary classic style. A stone herringbone floor is sure to bring a cool sophistication to any room, from kitchens and bathrooms to bedrooms and living rooms. Their Knight Tile, Opus and Van Gogh all incorporate modern herringbone tiles in marble and limestone designs. Stella Coyle adds, “In larger open plan rooms, changing the scale by laying full sized planks in a herringbone pattern will add character without losing the feeling of space.
The Beyond Wool collection offers exceptional value and choices without compromising on contemporary style. Available in warm and cool tones, these visually stunning carpets complement residential and commercial spaces. Stay ahead with confidence, as this innovative collection comes with seven to ten-year warranties and effortless care qualities. Furlong Flooring is committed to elevating interiors to new heights of sophistication and allure.
It’s easy to understand why Karndean Designflooring report that Herringbone remains a firm favourite.
Stella Coyle, national sales manager at Karndean Design Flooring explains: “It is a contemporary classic that can work in traditional and modern spaces alike. Whether you’re looking to add interest in an open plan home or visually enlarge a smaller room, a herringbone pattern will introduce a sense of flow with plenty of personality. With clean lines that highlight the natural textures and colour variations in each plank, a herringbone floor is timelessly elegant.
"In larger open plan rooms, changing the scale by laying full sized planks in a herringbone pattern will add character without losing the feeling of space."
“Taking the same design from room to room in different sizes and patterns will create a sense of continuity whilst giving each space its own identity. There are so many options available, such as highlighting an activity area or creating a rug effect with a herringbone pattern alongside full sized planks or tiles in straight lay or a diagonal pattern.
“Finally, for a statement style, why not combine complementary or contrasting designs for a stunning geometric effect?” says Stella.
“Traditional parquet is ideal for recreating a classic style in a period home, and our Art Select oak parquet designs come in traditional 9 x 3” planks which can be laid in either herringbone or block patterns.
"Karndean
“The Amesbury and Castlerigg range, made from recycled polypropylene yarn, features 100% bleach cleanable fibres."Furlong Flooring – Amesbury Pumice Karndean Designflooring – Art Select, Blond Oak Karndean Designflooring – Knight Tile, Pale Limed Oak
Granorte’s cork products have long been desired and used in highend interior design projects across Europe. Now with an improved service, UK homes and business can enjoy a closer connection to some of the world’s finest cork products.
With a hugely impressive choice of cork floors and walls, as well as design objects that are all made in-house in Portugal, Granorte is one of the world’s finest cork product producers. Its innovation and excellence has seen it receive design industry awards and recognition across the world.
Now, as the natural and sustainable qualities of cork come to the fore of purchasing decisions and the material is considered more than ever before, Granorte has taken huge strides to improve accessibility across the UK. Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated UK subsidiary, Granorte floors and walls are now easier than ever to choose for homes and businesses.
On the website, there’s access to a novel room creator that lets users experience any of Granorte’s floors and walls in virtual rooms and fast access to a world of design possibilities.There’s nothing like seeing the natural beauty of cork in real life, so Granorte’s fast and free sample service makes it wonderfully easy to experience the finishes in hand before making a decision. When it comes to the final purchase, Granorte’s well stocked warehouse brings its most popular walls and floors direct from the UK for a fast and efficient service.
Paul Brady, managing director, Granorte UK Ltd, says: “Granorte has been active in the UK for over a decade and in that time has built a reputation for the finest cork products. Over the last two years we’ve developed our service and heightened stock levels so we can accelerate our growth in the retail and specification markets and make Granorte the first name in cork.”
T 01952 443 555 www.granorte.co.uk
At a gala awards evening at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park London, Make An Entrance was awarded the national title of Small Family Business of the Year in the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023.
These prestigious awards celebrate the very best of British family firms across all areas of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector, and nationally in recognition of attributes such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, and engagement with the local community. Judges were particularly impressed with the story of how the Burlton family has prevented the traditional skill of hand-made doormat making being lost to UK manufacturing, whilst being thoroughly up to the minute ecommerce business.
Carpet Recycling UK has reported a large increase in the amount of carpet and textile flooring waste being diverted from landfill in 2021 with 82% of the 462,000 tonnes of waste generated that year finding alternative reuse, recycling, treatment and disposal routes.
Awards organiser, Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, concludes:
“Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. Congratulations to Make An Entrance on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a great evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”
Stuart and Samantha Burlton Co-Founders at Make An Entrance, said
“We are so proud that the business we created together, following in the footsteps of Stuart’s father Allen has been recognised by these prestigious awards. Running a small family business is hard work at times and the last few years have presented significant challenges for us as UK manufacturers. To win this award is an enormous pat on the back for all the efforts of our entire team.”
Commenting on the latest figures released at their Annual Conference and Awards event held in June, Adnan Zeb-Khan, Scheme Manager said: “This percentage increase is reflecting the final effects of the pandemic when most of the waste captured by the waste management sector was sent to energy from waste facilities.”
Sponsored by Core Member Condor Group with Anglo Recycling and Innovate Recycle as the main exhibitors, the successful two-day conference with an evening dinner and awards ceremony attracted more than 60+ delegates on both days. Key headline speakers included Bob Peoples, Executive Director of the US-based Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and Dr Hans-Peter Breuer from ECRA (EU).
The hotly contested Carpet Recycling UK annual member awards were presented by Bob Peoples of CARE and Shaun Wadsworth from the CFA, recognising and rewarding companies and organisations who are taking voluntary and proactive action to demonstrate and drive sustainability in the carpet and textile flooring sector.
Read the full story, with the 2023 award winners, at: www.thestocklists.com/cruk2023
T
Sub-floor preparation is key to accelerating installations when speed is of the essence – and when isn’t it in today’s time-pressed environment!
Advancements in technology have enabled the development of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings that can dramatically reduce the duration of flooring installations.
The fastest-drying smoothing compound on the market, F. Ball’s Stopgap Fast-Track 30, is walk-on hard from just 30 minutes and ready to receive floorcoverings in as little as 45 minutes after application. Smoothing compounds are also available that can be applied directly over old adhesive residues, avoiding the need for mechanical removal or priming.
Advanced waterproof surface membranes, such as F. Ball’s Stopgap F77, fully cure in as little as three hours to guard against excess subfloor moisture where relative humidity values are up to 98% with a single coat application.
Resilient floorcoverings, including luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs), can be installed from five minutes when using F. Ball’s Styccobond F58 PLUS adhesive.
Where plywood might have been the answer for resilient flooring installations, installers find variable quality and intermittent availability problematic. Lion Floor is an effective alternative. A high-grade engineered wood fibreboard that’s specifically made for flooring, it’s just as easy to install as plywood.
Lion Floor is pre-conditioned so doesn’t need wetting before installation and it can be cut cleanly and quickly with a knife or saw. Fixed with screws or ring shank nails and suitable for screeds and feather compounds, Lion Floor is one of a very small number of fabricated underlays which can be used for LVT and other resilient floor coverings that meets British Standards and CFA guidance.
Peter Jones, Finnish Fibreboard says: “Lion Floor is for installers looking to provide high-quality, uncompromised and low risk flooring installations. More cost-effective and sustainable than BS compliant plywood and more reliable and sustainable than cheaper plywood that might not meet BS 8203 requirements, Lion Floor is just as easy to install, so there are very few reasons not to choose it.”
F. Ball & Co. Ltd. • 01538 361633 • www.f-ball.com
As with other developments in the flooring industry, regular training is a good way of keeping up-to-date with these advancements. For this purpose, F. Ball offers free training courses for flooring professionals of all skill levels at the F. Ball Centre of Excellence.
Lion Floor • sales@finfib.fi • www.finfib.fi
Thermosphere • 0800 019 5899 • www.thermosphere.com
Underfloor heating can seriously compromise the installation schedule but a leading British-based electrical heating manufacturer ThermoSphere has come up with an innovative option.
Many problems occur around the cold tail joint of the heating cable because the joints, which are normally heat-shrink wrapped, are three times thicker than the cable. Installation of thicker cables requires installers to chase out concrete and cut into the membrane and insulation. This risks damaging the cables, joints and waterproofing layer barrier.
ThermoSphere’s Membrane Heating Cable is the first and only underfloor heating cable that uses a twisted twin construction to create invisible joints and a cable that’s uniform in thickness from end-to-end. This drastically improves the installation process with an automatically flush finish ready for floorcovering - as well as eliminating those joints that are the main cause of cable failure. ThermoSphere is compatible with all membranes on the market.
Given customers’ high expectations for Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) installations, it is worth taking the time to ensure optimum results when installing them. Certain adhesives can help with this, including achieving precise alignment. Tim Green, head of training at the F. Ball Centre of Excellence, provides a guide to adhesive selection, including formulations with a range of additional features.
Pressure sensitive adhesives are ideal for the installation of LVTs because they form an instant grab upon contact, so, once positioned, tiles or planks won’t move about as contractors work. They also offer an extended open time, reducing the risk of late placement and making them ideal for installations where more complex designs or patterns are being created. Some pressure sensitive adhesives are also formulated to reduce the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl floorcoverings, referred to as ‘grin through’, affecting the appearance of the finished installation.
Pressure sensitive adhesives, such as F. Ball's Styccobond F46 are ideal for the installation of LVTs.
Temperature tolerant requirements
There are specific applications where additional performance characteristics will be important to maintain the long-term aesthetic appearance of an installation. For example, when installing floorcoverings in areas subject to extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations, it is recommended to use a temperature tolerant adhesive.
High temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations can cause floorcoverings to expand and contract significantly, which may lead to unsightly tenting in floorcoverings and gapping at the edges of LVTs over time. This can be the case in conservatories or rooms with floor-toceiling windows, which are subject to ‘solar gain’, such as extensions with bi-fold doors.
Temperature tolerant adhesives develop the high bond strength required to hold floorcoverings securely in place in such environments, ensuring a long-lasting flooring finish. However, temperature tolerant adhesives have traditionally been ‘wet-lay’, and contractors requiring this type of adhesive have had to forgo pressure sensitive benefits.
Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS combines temperature tolerance and pressure sensitive and moisture resistant properties.
Hybrid solutions
Advancements in hybrid polymer adhesives have enabled the development of high performance vinyl adhesives with revolutionary combinations of properties, including combined pressure sensitive and temperature tolerant characteristics
For example, F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS is a water-based, pressure sensitive vinyl adhesive that develops the extremely high bond strength and dimensional stability required to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C). Whilst providing high initial tack, the adhesive allows contractors to lift and reposition floorcoverings in the initial stages of drying, making it a great choice for installing tiles and planks, intricate patterns and bespoke designs that need precise alignment. Styccobond F49 is also resistant to moisture, meaning it is suitable for use in areas subject to water and high humidity, including kitchens and bathrooms.
Checking floorcovering compatibility
As well as selecting adhesives suited to the requirements of a particular project, it is always advisable to check the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives. For these purposes, F. Ball produces its industry-leading Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG®). It’s available on the F. Ball website and as a free app, as well as a printed booklet. So confident is F. Ball in the recommendations featured in the guide that it guarantees the resulting bond performance for the entire lifetime of the flooring installation, as long as the advised subfloor preparation and installation procedures are followed.
Alternatively, F. Ball’s technical service department are on hand Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5.00pm, to answer your questions about F. Ball products and how to use them via phone and email.
The F. Ball Centre of Excellence training and demonstration facility at F. Ball’s Staffordshire headquarters hosts training courses on achieving optimum results when installing LVTs that are free to attend for both flooring contractors and retailers. You can find details of upcoming courses and book a place for yourself or colleagues on the F. Ball website.
Ball & Co. Ltd. • 01538 361633 • www.f-ball.com
The Slate Conference Centre, Warwick, was again the venue for the Associated Carpet Group Platinum Supplier Show.
With an indifferent return to trade shows across the industry in 2022 and 2023 thus far, ACG wanted to ensure that this show did not follow the same trend. So, along with the flooring industry’s key suppliers, the group set about creating a package of “on the day deals” designed to ensure that members would absolutely not want to miss out.
In addition to generous supplier offers, which included special roll, cut length and unitary deals, attending members were able to benefit from a variety of group supported incentives.
“Not only did these incentives drive an increase in member attendance, we also saw an uplift in suppliers wishing to exhibit at our show”.
A significant benefit for member stores is the accessibility to the group’s multi award winning Smart Choice branded unitary.
“The Smart Choice brand is extremely important to the group and provides member stores with protection from high street, internet and man in a van price comparison. It also aids in securing orders whilst retaining healthy margins for retailers”.
Jon went on to comment “the show has proved to be a resounding success with orders for a tremendous number of Smart branded units placed with suppliers on the day”.
The Group’s AGM was held later that afternoon once the show had drawn to a close. The packed meeting discussed matters such as group direction and activity amongst several other subjects. The ACG team and Board were, as always, very pleased with the interaction and suggestions received from the room.
Last, but definitely not least, the day was rounded off with the ACG Gala Dinner which saw suppliers and members relaxing and socialising before sitting down to a sumptuous three course dinner.
This was followed by a short presentation and some supplier sponsored raffle draws before the DJ ensured that the dance floor was full by playing hits old and new.
Jon concluded “the ACG team and Board of Directors have worked incredibly hard to organise and bring all aspects of the show together. It is very satisfying to see members enjoying themselves whilst supporting their group, their suppliers and their business”.
For more details on how your business can benefit from ACG membership, visit www.acgcarpets.com or contact the team on T 01942 825520 info@acgcarpets.com
Thank you ACG once again for a fabulous weekend!
"A great show put on by all the suppliers, with some amazing offers and prizes to be had, a productive meeting, followed by a wonderful meal and entertainment in the evening. It’s so lovely to be part of such an amazing, friendly, proactive and thoughtful group!"
Tracy Skinner, Home Comfort Carpet and Vinyls, County Durham."Thanks to all involved in organising a great weekend. We travelled down on Friday, and had two great nights. We aimed to order a couple of stands, and pursue a new product line - both achieved. It was great to meet other business owners, despite our geographical differences, we all seem to be sharing the same highs and lows.
If any members are swithering whether to go or not, bite the bullet and go. A great show, superb evening out, in a great ambience.Buzzing, refreshed, and ready to take on the world. Thank you."
Dennis Hush, Ideal Flooring, Berwick -upon - Tweed
"Firstly, thank you to the ACG team for a great show and can honestly say you did all you could to get the members to the show.
We sold more units at your Platinum Event than at previous trade shows this year."
Michael Turner, Sales Director, Westex Carpets"I wanted to thank you and the team for the fantastic organization of the show. As I mentioned to Jon, everything was well planned and executed. It must have taken you a lot of time but the result was there for all to see."
Wim Verest, Sales Director, Balta Carpets
“This was a considerable investment by the group in members businesses” said Jon Richardson, ACG Group Development Manager.
There's not long to go until the UK’s largest flooring event lands in Harrogate for its 2023 edition (September 17-19). Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned pro, The Flooring Show has lots on offer and with the recent expansion into Hall Q the show has the largest footprint in recent history. The exhibitor line-up at The Flooring Show is unmatched, with over 400 brands to see all under one roof.
To help you make the most of your visit and plan your schedule, we’ve compiled a list of what’s on and who you can expect to see at the industry event of the year.
The Flooring Show is free for industry professionals, and you can register for your free ticket at theflooringshow.com today.
• A.T. Industries Ltd.
• Abingdon Flooring Ltd
• Adam Carpets Ltd
• AGT
• AHSAP SAN
• All in All Flooring Accessories
• Alliance Flooring Distribution
• Anglo Flooring Ltd
• Anhui Omi Vinyl Co.,Ltd.
• Anhui Sentai WPC Tec Flooring
• Area Floors Zemin Kaplamalari San
• Artisan Luxury Flooring
• Associated Carpet Group
• Axminster Carpets Ltd
• AYM syntex Ltd
• Ball and Young Ltd
• Balta Carpets
• Beijing Lekol Technology Co., Ltd.
• Betap
• BMK Flooring
• Bostik Limited
• Brampton Chase
• Brintons Carpets Ltd
• British Wool
• Brockway Carpets
• Campen Machinery A/S
• Canopy Flooring Co.
• Carpenters Limited
• Carpet Recycling UK
• Carpetline Direct
• Cavalier Carpets Ltd
• CFJ/CFA
• Changzhou Lingda
• Changzhou Ouya Packaging Material
• Changzhou Surdecor Material Co.,Ltd.
• Changzhou Yee Decorative Material
• Classis Carpets & Infinity Grass
• CMS Danskin Acoustics
• Cockerill & Co
• Computers for Flooring
• Condor Carpets NV
• Coretec Floors International
• Cormar Carpet Company
• Curtain Express
• Darekaou Industry Co., Ltd.
The Flooring Show, Harrogate, is the only national flooring event which is open to all and represents an unrivalled networking opportunity for the trade.
• Digital Plus
• EGGER
• Elliott Anti-Slip
• Envy & TLC Flooring
• ETF Machinefabriek B.V.
• EveryRoom
• Excelsior Flooring
• F. Ball & Co. Ltd
• Fathom
• Fells Carpets & Flooring
• Fento Knee Protection
• Fibre Flooring
• Filpa Packaging & Foreign Trade Co.,
• Finsa UK
• Fita
• Floorify
• Floors N Carpets Ltd
• FM Floor
• FUNgrass
• Furlong Flooring
• G.T. Floor B.V.
• Gajewski Pod?ogi Drewniane
• Gaziflex
• Gekko Flooring Adhesive
• Genesis Flooring Limited
• Greendale Carpets & Floorings
• Hadfields
• Haima Carpet
• Hanson Plywood Ltd
• Hathaway Flooring
• HFD Scotland
• Hugh Mackay
• Huzhou Doublewood Home Decoration Co., Ltd
• Huzhou Jonhos Creative Home
• Huzhou Qingyang Artificial Turf
• Independent Flooring Group
• Interfloor Limited
• Interiors Monthly
• Ismen Carpet
• J2 Flooring
• Jaspa Woven Limited/off the Loom
• Jiangsu Perfect New Material Technology Co., Ltd
• Jiangsu Suyin New Materials Technology
• Jiangsu Ymk Floor Co.,Ltd.,
• Kahrs
• KC-CP Ltd
• KDF Co Ltd
• Kellars
• Kenburn Carpet Crusher
• Kraus
• Kronospan
• Lamett
• Lano Carpets
• Leoline
• Lifestyle Floors
• Likewise Floors
• M N Floor Training Ltd
• Make an Entrance
• MasterPiece Systems Ltd
• MeasureSquare Ltd
• Merryfield Group
• Metro Group
• Moduleo
• Nanjing MGM New Materials Co.?Ltd
• Nicola Edwards Bespoke Carpet Edging
• Oneflor UK
• Orchard Flooring Products Ltd
• Oriental Weavers
• Packexe Ltd
• Parador
• Penthouse Carpets Ltd
• Plusfloor
• QEP Co. UK Ltd
• Qingdao Barefoot Construction Material Co., Ltd.,
• Qingdao Sanyi Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd.
• Quick-step
• Rakata CRM
• Ravanda Hali Tekstil
• RBV Flooring
• Roberts
• Roomvo
• Rowlson Industrial Sewing – Rylands Flooring
• Sahara Knights Ltd
• Satra
• Shandong Jinluda International Trade
• Shandong Mingzun New Material
• Spotnails Ltd
• Stairrods (UK) Ltd
• Stauf Adhesive UK Ltd
• Stroolmount (UK) Ltd
• Supreme Carpets (UK) Ltd
• T E Displays UK Ltd
• Tarkett Ltd
• Texfelt Ltd
• The Floor-Fix Pro
• The Stocklists
• The Vintage & Modern Rug Company
• Tomorrow’s Contract Floors
• Tover Srl
• Tramex Limited
• Tremco CPG UK Ltd
• Tropical Blinds Limited
• Turkel Fair Organizations Inc
• UK Display Stands
• Ulster Carpets Ltd
• Unifloor BV
• UNY Group BVBA
• Urban Floors
• UZIN
• Verhoek Europe
• Victoria Carpets & Design Floors
• Vidar Marterial Technology Co., Limited
• Westex Carpets
• Wilkies All Floors
• Wizart
• Wolff Tools
• WoolSafe
• Woven Edge Limited
• Wuxi Boda Bamboo & Wood Industrial
• Xi’an Xiangsen Carpet Material Co Ltd.
• XPS Foam
• Yangzhou Yarun Fabirc Co., Ltd.
• Yorkshire Wholsesale Flooring Ltd
• YTD
• Zhejiang Eco New Material Co., Ltd.
• Zhejiang Gimig Technology Co., Ltd.
• Zhejiang Kingdom New Material Group Co.,Ltd
• Zhejiang Ousikai New Material Co.,Ltd
• Zhejiang Timber Biology New Material Co.,Ltd.
• Zhejiang Yude New Material Technology Co., Ltd.
Sunday 17th September: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Monday 18th September: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Tuesday 19th September: 9.30am – 3.00pm
Harrogate Convention Centre, King's Rd, Harrogate, HG1 5LA
New for 2023: LVT Pavillion
The Flooring Show are introducing the LVT Pavilion, your one-stop-shop to finding the latest and greatest LVT products all in one place. Peruse a selection of brands’ (including Moduleo, QuickStep and Leoline) most innovative selection of this durable and versatile flooring solution, in a specialised area dedicated to championing the increasingly popular flooring material.
The Wool Trends Centre
Located in Hall C, the Campaign for Wool, working in conjunction with the Wool Carpet Focus Group, will this year be focusing on the theme ‘Keep Warm with Wool’. With ever-rising utility costs the conversation around the benefits that wool can bring to maintain an ambient room temperature has never been more relevant.
This creative space will feature wool carpet trends and ranges from the leading wool carpet suppliers, showing new shades, design constructions, types and qualities.
Visitors will be able to walk through the showcase of hanging wool carpets to discover the tremendous design, invention, and innovation within the wool sector.
Demo Zone
Back by popular demand, the Demo Zone will be showcasing the newest floor laying techniques and giving visitors brand-new insight into working with the latest products. All demonstrations will be shown at the dedicated area in Hall B, with live demonstrations from qualified instructors. FITA will also be offering the opportunity for visitors to come and ask the experts questions, as they open the stand up to bespoke demonstrations of anything covered over the course of the show.
Run by the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) and supported by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (NICF) this is a chance to discover something new and bring back more than just new stock to your business.
Sunday, September 17
• Carpet underlay installation
• Stretch fit carpet installation - including power stretching
• Carpet seaming
• Hand sewn bullnose and stairs overview
• Subfloor moisture solutions
• Floating floor systems
• Engineered wood floor installation
Monday, September 18
• Subfloor moisture solutions
• Smoothing compounds
• Fabricated and acoustic underlays
• Luxury vinyl tile installation
• Domestic vinyl installation
• Commercial sheet vinyl and linoleum installation
The full programme of demonstrations will feature in our September issue.
3,000 buyers, specifiers, contractors, fitters, architects, and interior designers descend on Harrogate each year for three days of networking and buying. The exhibitor line-up at The Flooring Show is unmatched, with over 400 brands to see all under one roof. See www.theflooring show.com for more details and to register in advance.
The Associated Carpet Group is run solely for the benefit of its 325+ member stores and not for profit, unlike other groups. It is non-intrusive and does not dictate in any way how you run your business, with the majority of its members being independent family run stores.
As well as the groups multi award winning Smart Choice displays, it also provides many initiatives and benefits from which the member selects the ones that suit their business best.
The group secures the best trade prices and is very transparent regarding rebates earned by its members. Rather than accumulate these in house and then redistribute them to members, ACG insists that rebates are paid by the supplier direct to the member store.
To summarise, a retailer should never be worse off by becoming a member of ACG and they are confident that you will receive the best returns and support for your business, against your subscription investment.
Hall C Stand 11 • 01942 825520 • www.acgcarpets.com
Balta is delighted to showcase several exciting new products which are all available on display. Its Stainsafe collection features top-quality polypropylene ranges that prioritise cleanability and easy use in everyday home life. Pinnacle boasts fresh colours that are sure to enhance your living spaces.
The Made in Heaven collection offers strong carpets that are not only visually stunning but also offer a super-soft feel that will transform your spaces into cozy havens. Additions of Eclipse, Crescent, Sublime and Miracle embody modern elegance and showcase their ongoing commitment to innovation and style. For customers seeking the epitome of luxury and elegance, the Woolmaster collection is the ideal choice with products like Prestige Design, Prestige Twist 50 and Luxury Weave that exude sophistication and durability.
In addition to a stronger product offer, Balta is committed to providing you a better service than ever. Having opened a new distribution center in Worcester, a faster delivery and closer proximity for cuts and rolls is ensured.
Hall C Stand 30 • +32 (0)56 62 22 67 • www.balta-carpets.com
Cormar Carpet Company is delighted to return to The Flooring Show this year with a selection of enticing new ranges such as the latest addition to their wool twist collection, Hampstead, alongside the refreshed palette of their ever-popular Primo Ultra range which will also be on display.
Cormar will be showcasing their ability to produce high quality, affordable ranges that meet the demand of today’s consumers with the newly launched wool loop ranges Fairisle & Malabar Two Fold alongside their resilient and luxurious easy clean offering, including the recently launched, Trinity.
Once again, Cormar will be exhibiting at the front of Hall A, displaying the newest addition to their range of in-store carpet displays – a brand new wool textures lectern, as well as live demonstrations of their industry leading trade portal and its latest features.
Hall A Stand 28 • 01204 881234 • portal.cormarcarpets.co.uk
A premium collection for contemporary living, new Alpha Vinyl brings unrivalled natural authenticity in a floor that’s waterproof, wonderfully silent and that lets homes mix and match between plank and herringbone. Now with attached underlay across the range. quick-step.co.uk
This year at the National Floor Show Hugh Mackay will be unveiling their new axminster ranges, heavily focused on modern design. Hugh Mackay will also re-present the two new wool loops, launched at the buying group show.
The Natural Origins is available in three on trend designs and in a selection of natural looking colours. The Durham Alternates is an extension of the Durham Twist range, consisting of ten popular shades that correspond to the Durham Twist. Durham Alternates is available in two designs and is supplied on a fleece back. Composed of a 3 ply New Zealand wool yarn, it promises to give a luxurious feel and prestigious look.
The launch of the soft touch Finesse collection will also feature on the Hugh Mackay stand this year.
Hall A Stand 33 • 01429 892555 • www.hughmackay.co.uk
Multi-award-winning, formed by retailers for retailers in 1979. Members retain 100% of their independence but improve their profitability. There is the option of 200+ Carpet1st ranges and a unique, bespoke Merchandising Service. This can design, print, manufacture & install everything from a business card to a shop front. Every member gets a free allowance of £720 a year to spend against this service. This is truly unique because we want you to invest in your business.
Other typical services like phone, broadband and credit card deals and a range of group stands is also available. There are local meetings twice a year which members will be invited to.
The Group Central Order Service allows members to order from suppliers they do not deal with. Everything the group provides is optional, you decide because it is your business. Contact Metro for an informal chat, there is nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
Hall M Stand 53 • 01204 393 539 • www.carpet1st.co.uk
2023 is only becoming bigger, better and bolder for Kellars. It is now the largest, independent flooring supplier in the UK, in just 6 years, which is a fantastic achievement for the team. Kellars are excited to see what the rest of the year will bring, and look forward to exhibiting again at this year's Flooring Show in Harrogate.
The growth of Kellars on a whole has been huge – with more friendly faces in the team, taking the number of Area Sales Managers to more than 20; an array of new products and stand options; and the overall brand being taken to another level.
Kellars looks forward to showing you what they’ve been working on behind the scenes, and displaying its 7 brands; Centicus, Allora, Alva, Novoturf, Floorlink, Octavian and Forma to over 3,000 visitors across the 3 day show.
Hall A Stand 17 • 0161 443 0970 • www.kellars.co.uk
Make more of your luxury vinyl floors at The Flooring Show
Curated into six distinctive themes, Moduleo’s new Roots collection is appealing, aspirational and as diverse and vivid as nature itself.
Designed and Made in Belgium to handle whatever life throws at them as well as to be warm, comfortable and quiet; Roots is made from up to 50% internal recycled PVC from our own production waste.
Better spaces. Better life.
The National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF) is the home of professionals working in the domestic flooring trade. It is a highly respected organisation within the domestic flooring industry and is active in promoting the skilled floorlayer.
The aims of the NICF are to:
• Promote excellence and ethical practice within the field of domestic installations of carpet, laminate, luxury vinyl tile flooring, naturals, sheet vinyl and wood.
• Promote understanding and awareness of the British Standards Codes of Practice for the installation of floorcoverings.
• Promote assurance of quality of workmanship to the general public.
The NICF provides advice and resources for the professional floorlayer to help make running a business as simple, profitable and stress-free as possible.
Hall B Demo Area • 0115 958 3077 • www.nicfltd.org.uk
F. Ball and Co. Ltd. will use this year’s Flooring Show to showcase the latest innovations in subfloor preparation and floorcovering adhesives technology, including revealing a brand new product, as well as celebrating 50 years of its industry-leading Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG).
The RAG lists the compatibility of F. Ball adhesives with over 6,000 branded floorcoverings from over 200 leading international floorcovering manufacturers. Each year since 1973, F. Ball has published an update to what has evolved into the foremost guide to floorcovering-adhesive compatibility. In addition to an A5 printed book, a constantly updated version of the guide is available on the F. Ball website, and as a mobile app, which is free to download from the Apple App store or Google Play.
Delegates are invited to attend a drinks reception at the F. Ball stand on the Monday afternoon of the show to celebrate the 50th edition of the RAG.
Hall B Stand 1 • 01538 361 633 • www.f-ball.co.uk
The semi-finals for the competition took place in June, with five fitters progressing to the finals. The standard of fitting at the semi-finals was once again outstanding and made it very difficult for the judges to choose the top five.
The grand final will showcase the skills, craftsmanship and knowledge of the UK’s top LVT fitters. The winner will receive some great prizes including £2000 cash, a selection of tools, NICF Master Fitter membership FREE for one year plus the winner’s trophy. Come along to the Fitter of the Year stand in the King’s Suite and support the finalists on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 September.
The prize giving ceremony to announce the winner takes place on the stand at 4pm on Monday 18 September. Meet the finalists on page 30.
King’s Suite • 0115 958 3077 • www.nicfltd.org.uk/FOTY-Competition/
Introducing the Beyond Wool collection by Furlong Flooring, the epitome of luxury and sustainability.
This range combines the timeless beauty of wool with unmatched durability and eco-consciousness. With five distinct ranges, these stain-resistant and durable carpets provide the natural look and feel of wool while being easy to clean and maintain. The collection expanded in June 2023, featuring the Amesbury and Castlerigg range, crafted using100% recycled yarn. These carpets are both practical and sustainable, reducing waste and environmental impact. With versatile designs and Furlong's Combi-bac backing, installation is effortless, suitable for heavy domestic and commercial use.
The Beyond Wool collection blends contemporary style with exceptional durability, complementing any space. Trust Furlong Flooring for quality, innovative flooring options with a seven to ten-year warranty. Visit their website or contact their team to discover the endless possibilities of Beyond Wool carpets.
Hall A Stand 22 • 01322 628700 • www.furlongflooring.com
Established in 1962, the Greendale buying group community comprises of a wealth of experienced independent retailers.
Greendale partner with all leading suppliers and negotiate the best trade terms for members but uniquely as a not-for-profit organisation, with the ability to stock in a bespoke warehouse, Greendale offer consistently low prices direct to its members. In addition, they provide a one stop shop, with one account enabling one monthly payment and dedicated customer services.
Award winning branding, exclusive member territories and custom unitary provide security from competitors and a stylish finish to any retail store.
‘Greendale is a family with a wealth of knowledge, helpful, friendly, professional people and the best prices. We have been members for many years and would highly recommend becoming part of the family,’ says Linzi Toms, Mowbray Carpets & Floorings.
Hall C Stand 66 • 01432 852000 • www.greendalecarpets.co.uk
As a second generation British family owned business, Cavalier’s commitment to quality, product knowledge and building lasting relationships remains key.
Cavalier will be showing the new colours in its highly successful Stain-less Distinctions range which offers three practical weights in 100% stain resistant polypropylene, available 4m & 5m wide.
The company will also be unveiling its brand new ‘Elixir’, a stunning new addition to Cavlier’s increasingly popular polyester collection, which offers super strength together with superior softness. This new range comes in two qualities; the practical 45oz Regal and the extravagant 78oz Imperial, in twelve contemporary tones, and in a choice of widths.
Also... be amongst the first to preview the rising star in Cavalier’s award winning wool rich twist line-up, an exciting new subtle 1/8th gauge tufted graphics called Companions – cleverly designed to co-ordinate with the outstanding Cosmpopolitan range. With a delicate three tone palette for each of its colourways, it shows off an air of sophistication alongside any plain carpet.
Hall C Stand 32 • 01254 268000 • www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk
High-quality carpet for the finest homes, offices and hotels, made by craftsmen in state-of-the-art factories. Condor has been creating, producing and supplying innovative top quality Dutch products worldwide since 1992, offered at internationally competitive prices. With its innovative products, Condor is determined to reduce its carbon footprint to zero.
Condor Group's vision is very specific: "Creating sustainable textile (floor) solutions for everyone" – a thought that forms the basis of every new development, product and investment. How can they make their output sustainable, affordable and of high quality?
Condor is constantly innovating to optimize the production process, make it more sustainable and organizing it more efficiently, with the aim of offering the most sustainable product at the best price/quality ratio in the market. The width and depth of the range combined with fast delivery times ensure that Condor customers can quickly respond to local trends.
Join Condor “on a roll to zero emission”. Read more at the website!
Majestic Hotel • +31 38 477 89 11 • www.condorcarpets.com
Want extra sales, expert insights and exclusive products from just 1p? Now you can.
Protect your flooring, your business and your health with award-winning products from Stroolmount. The company will show how their products can safeguard flooring from increasing wear and tear as more people work from home and save £1000s in repair bills or costly insurance claims.
Stroolmount can also avoid back pain by moving flooring simply, swiftly and safely.
Visit its stand to discover expert insights to protect floors and learn the tricks of the trade to gain profitable add-on sales in-store and online., discovering the hidden secrets that cement customer loyalty.
See how to save £1000s with simple solutions to save a fortune on French polishing.
Hall B Stand 44 • 01942 271271 • www.stroolmount.co.uk
New 1/10th gauge ranges and additional backings open up fresh options at Betap. As well as unveiling new 1/10th gauge constructions such as Winchester (see photo), an additional fusion-back opens up attractive options and variations.
There will be a presentation of the expanded wool collection incorporating bouclé and herringbone designs and visitors will also get to see innovative developments which include carpets made from recycled yarn and fresh colour banks in readiness for 2024.
Successful recent launches will complement the showing, along with promotional roll lines.
Betap welcome their bulk aligned customers to the Reading Room at the Majestic Hotel.
The Reading Room, Majestic Hotel • +31 (0)38 386 1060 • www.betap.com
For the first time RBV Flooring Ltd are exhibiting at the The Flooring Show, Harrogate!
We invite you to join us on stand A36A, we will be displaying a wide range of flooring products, including exciting new launches of carpet and vinyl, all at competitive pricing.
• The new and thrilling Monaco 2mm felt back cushion vinyl, previously available in 2 and 4m is now available in 3m by popular demand!
• Superb value, vinyl remnant packages, with a great mixture of designs and qualities in 2, 3 and 4m widths
• Castlefield, the new and exclusive budget line saxony in five amazing colours and a 950g pile weight on felt backing
• Clearance lines of high-quality LVT available
• Amazing clearance deals on selected carpet lines
• Many more value-for-money products will be available on the RBV stand
Hall A Stand 36A
• 01274 670011 • rbvflooring@yahoo.com
COMMERCIAL MANAGERS:
Chris Bellaby 07740 718170 | John Miller 07846 771146
AGENTS:
Matt Bell – Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancs – 07980 223303
Paul Hugo – Midlands, Fylde Coast – 07813 714498
Phil Brough – Staffs, North Wales, Cheshire – 07773 022206
Rahim Ali – North Yorks, East Yorks, West Yorks & Cleveland – 07487 812470
RBV Flooring Ltd, Bradford – 01274 670011
SALES/GENERAL ENQUIRIES/TRADE COUNTER
The reimagined Roots collection of luxury vinyl flooring from Moduleo is designed and made in Belgium with the future in mind – embracing the newest interior trends that’s appealing, aspirational and in tune with nature.
The Flooring Show will be a chance to see how Moduleo can transform your LVT offer and there will be an exclusive preview of its new Roots herringbone format, which brings a more versatile plank size suitable for a wider range of rooms.
Moduleo’s updated shop-in-shop experience will be on display in Hall C Stand 29, so retailers looking for competitive advantage should make Moduleo an unmissable stop on their visit to this year’s show. Whatever the option – compact 36 board, complete 72 board and the immersive shop-in-shop – the displays bring the standout variety, authenticity and detail of Roots.
Moduleo’s award-winning LayRed engineered vinyl collection will also be making an appearance at the show. Designed to stand its ground in the most extreme conditions, the multi-layered floor with integrated underlay offers all the advantages of vinyl and adds strength to it. Not only does LayRed deliver easy installation, excellent acoustics and a fully water-resistant, low maintenance surface, but it also adds exceptional pattern variety and realistic natural design.
Hall C Stand 29 • 01332 851 500 • www.moduleo.co.uk
Interfloor are back with some new and exciting products for this year’s Flooring Show and they can’t wait to show you their new renu and Gripperrods Premier metals products alongside the best-selling Tredaire Premier range and Sonixx acoustic collection.
The renu range is growing! There are now 3 choices of this most eco-friendly underlay, all made from 98% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life.
Come take a look at the Sonixx range. Sonixx acoustic products are specially engineered to reduce noise transmission between floors, offering superior sound insulation. These products effectively dampen impact noise, providing a quieter and more peaceful environment.
Don’t forget Interfloor’s luxurious Tredaire Premier range, a selection of high-quality carpet underlays, designed to a high specification to enhance comfort and prolong the life of carpets.
Visit the Interfloor stand and experience their luxury underlay for yourself…give your feet a rest!
Hall B Stand 22 • 01706 213131 • www.interfloor.com
A market-leading residential flooring brand for 25 years, LeoLine recently unveiled a smart new look as it sets out to make cushion vinyl cool again.
With a manifesto to create the next generation of flooring, LeoLine is on a mission to engage with a new wave of flooring buyers through floors that bring the choice, colour and vibrancy for any space. Reflected in a ground-up rethink of its brand, this new manifesto sets LeoLine apart.
Stuart Reeves, sales director, LeoLine, says: “Cushion vinyl has all the qualities needed for modern flooring. Beautiful and versatile designs combine with quick installation, durability and easy maintenance.. It’s perfect for makeover projects and putting personality in rental properties and still remains a really affordable and easy to live with option – perfect for younger buyers and a future housing market that might see big transformations.
“However, our look had not changed significantly for over a decade and certainly lacked the in-store appeal. Our new brand sets this right, holding on to the reputation of quality and value that’s synonymous with the LeoLine name, but setting out a new direction and showing consumers how we have a floor as unique as they are.
Hall C Stand 29 • 0800 032 3970 • www.leoline.co.uk
Premium carpet underlay, with a difference you can feel
For this year’s show HFD has a larger and improved stand – still in Hall B, but now moved to B61. More space to show off what they do best.
As HFD is by far the largest flooring distributor in Scotland, its presence at the National Flooring Show is a must. With a new look stand, they are excited to welcome all those who are visiting the show from north of the border. Whether it be to renew old acquaintances, make new contacts or just catch up with friends – a typically friendly Scottish hospitality awaits.
Come and see what HFD can do for you and your business, let them explain how they can help you achieve your business goals in 2023 and beyond.
Remember HFD is now on stand B61. On your right as you enter Hall B from Hall A. Hall B Stand 61
www.headlamscotland.co.uk 01698 831 000
www.mcdscotland.co.uk 01698 808000
www.ckdavie.co.uk 01224 820077
Quick-Step is bringing the new Alpha Vinyl collection to The Flooring Show this September, giving visiting retailers the chance to see the latest improvements made in impressive authenticity and technical excellence.
A revolutionary surface technology that makes planks imperceptible from real wood, the Unizip system that speeds up herringbone installation and an edge-to-edge built-in underlay across the range; new Alpha Vinyl is packed with advances. Presented on the Alpha Vinyl display concept, it will also be an opportunity to see how Alpha Vinyl can bring the quality of Quick-Step to stores.
Niall Cassidy, Sales Regions Manager UK & Ireland, Unilin Flooring: “The new technology in Alpha Vinyl is certainly impressive and heralds a new era of realism for vinyl flooring, but the show is also a chance to reconnect with the retail flooring industry. Our retailers are the foundation of Quick-Step in the UK and we want to make sure that they benefit from being involved with one of the world’s leading flooring brands.”
Alongside the Alpha Vinyl collection, visitors to this year’s Flooring Show will also be able to discover Quick-Step’s laminate and wood floors, including the Capture collection. This authentic laminate floor comes closer to wood than ever before with deep, perfectly matching surface structures. It’s also 100% watertight, as well as highly scratch and stain resistant.
Hall C Stand 29 •www.quick-step.co.uk
Likewise are delighted to be back at the Flooring Show this year and look forward to welcoming you to showcase their fantastic new ranges.
Many new carpet ranges will be displayed in contemporary greys and muted beiges as well as exciting modern fresh accent colours. From great value essentials to plush saxony’s and luxurious twists.
New decors in the current Hydro-lock family of water-resistant laminate in both 7 & 8mm will be on show as well as a new 12mm Herringbone laminate range. Their bestselling HardCORE Rigid SPC flooring range also includes some fantastic new designs.
Floors by Lewis Abbott will showcase a new Luxury Vinyl Tile collection, Chester Square. A premium range of 12 distinctive neutral designs, emulating the natural texture and colours of real wood. Available in both plank and parquet options to provide style and practicality for both home and commercial interiors.
Hall M Stand 28 • 0121 817290 • www.likewiseplc.com
Cut down on admin time with one statement and dedicated Customer Services handling your complaints
‘I am thoroughly impressed, everyone is friendly, professional and helpful. I’ve had tremendous support in my new store, the display and sampling looks great. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Green Group to any other retailers thinking of joining’.
Tim Barradell Tim Baradell Flooring New Member – June 2023
The ability to stock gives us huge price advantages - which are passed onto members ‘Greendale always achieve the best for members and constantly listen and improve for our benefit. The group is owned by the members, which makes it a true community. I would highly recommend this group’.
Paul Price Classic Interiors of Malvern
Our unique branding and area of exclusivity protect members from competition
‘Greendale provide a huge amount of support, always carried out to the highest standard of efficiency. It’s refreshing to deal with a group who genuinely have your best interests at heart and go the extra mile - for that Greendale will always have our unwavering support’.
James Oliver Cameron Lee Carpets
SATRA was formed in 1919 to provide research and testing for footwear manufacturers, with the aim of improving the quality of products and the efficiency of manufacturing processes within the industry. Since then, our reach has expanded globally, as well as into additional industries, including floor coverings, furniture, personal protective equipment (PPE) and chemical testing.
SATRA’s floor covering team, working to ISO 17025, offers a wide range of testing in line with many UK, European and international standards. We conduct various tests, such as for slip resistance, reaction to fire and resistance to artificial light, alongside evaluations required by industry product specifications, including ISO 10582, EN 651, EN 16511, EN 13845 and EN 1307, allowing manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe to use and fit for purpose.
SATRA is also an Approved Body and can assist with UKCA certification of flooring products covered by harmonised standards EN 14342, EN 14904 and EN 14041.
Hall M Stand 9 • 01536 410000 • www.satra.com
Felicity is a new addition to Lano's Touch Down Premium collection, ticking all the boxes: performance and durability, stain resistance, 12 on-trend shades with a luxurious luster. Without a doubt…..the talk of The Flooring Show.
SmartStrand qualities have proven over the years to be, without contradiction, “the best carpet in the world”. With Sofia, Lano went all out and the result is impressive, judging by the reactions. Besides all the known advantages of SmartStrand, Sofia stands out because of its underfoot feel, the unparalleled velvet look and a colour palette that simply radiates luxury.
Scala is known as the perfect range for the home & healthcare segment, among others. Scala Solutions, with a Classic and a Style design, is complemented by a new concept called Scala Combinations. Here, Lano goes on the more trendy tour by proposing a combination of different graphics, heathers and plains in matching colours. Customers can combine all the qualities of Scala Combinations, a unique concept for a contemporary result.
Hall M Stand 24 • +32 (0)56 65 40 00 • www.lano.com
Axminster Carpets has been a byword for quality and craftsmanship for over 250 years, as Britain’s best known and most prestigious carpet designer and manufacturer. Axminster high quality carpets can be found in royal palaces, the best hotels and private houses. As the inventor of the modern-day woven carpet, a national treasure and holder of a Royal Warrant Axminster Carpets founded in 1755 by Thomas Whitty, the creator of the now famous Axminster Weave. Axminster Carpets is a company with a proud tradition of making the world’s finest carpets for the most discerning clients, from King George III and Queen Charlotte to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. With the highest definition traditional looms in the world, the highly skilled team continue to offer the finest carpet from its base in the Devon town.
Representing British manufacturing at its best, Axminster Carpets offers an unrivalled quality of sustainable 100% wool and wool-rich flooring. All carpets are custom-made and woven to order using the finest sustainably-sourced British wool – allowing the company to closely oversee quality and care while also supporting British farming.
Hall C Stand 40
• 01297 33533
• www.axminster-carpets.co.uk
MasterPiece Cloud runs on Android, Ipad, Windows or Mac, to suit both the on-site estimator and in-store operations. It is easy to pick up and run with, via 60 minute ‘hands-on’ familiarisation over the phone.
As well as being the ‘go-to’ software for measuring, planning and estimating, newly added functions include:
• Diary to schedule fittings and estimator visits; holidays and days off can be entered; fitter’s mobile accesses own diary, sees agreed time band of arrival and captures customer signature on completion.
• A ballparking and customer own facility for the in-store sales person; gives confidence to novice sales assistant and enables the experienced to impress with more accuracy.
A retailer can pick and choose just the functions of interest, for instance the LVT estimating module (Amtico, Karndean, Moduleo, Invictus).
For new build and commercial/contracts specialists, Windows MasterPiece offers highly valued functions including import of PDF floor plans, auto-planning to multiple whole rolls and ability to hold within a job multiple permutations of what rooms will be in which material.
Hall C Stand 76 • 01737 355831 • www.masterpiece-system.com
The team at Victoria Carpets and Design Floors are excited to be showcasing new and upcoming products at this year’s show with their signature creative styling.
First Impressions, Victoria's most well-loved range, is getting a colour update for 2023 which will see 12 new colours alongside 8 existing best sellers. A lighter weight PP called Pioneer will also be on display. This range offers 10 tried and tested colours in a lighter weight designed to complement First Impressions and offer a strategic price proposition. For Natureborn, Pure & Simple will be at the show. This is available as both a cut velvet or a chunky loop design with a colour palette encapsulating the essence of nature with browns, beiges, and neutral cool tones. This is Victoria product development at its finest, answering calls from the market for a range of natural, undyed, 100% wool products.
Hall A Stand 20 • 01562 749300 • www.myvictoria.co.uk
The Stocklists magazine is the market-leading trade magazine that's ALL about retail and contract flooring.
Click or flick - we're online with regular news and feature articles plus digital magazine editions on our website, and there are daily news alerts on social media @thestocklists on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Our printed magazine comes out every month with 70–100 pages of news, offers and information from across the trade and unrivalled coverage of trade events.
Get yourself on our digital and/or print mailing lists by completing the form on our website.
Hall A Stand 39 • 01482 659396 • www.thestocklists.com
Ulster Carpets has announced the acquisition of iconic independent British brand, Alternative Flooring - a leader in high quality carpets and rugs made from natural materials such as wool, coir, jute, seagrass and sisal.
Alternative is a design-led, ethically conscious supplier of high-quality flooring with a quirky twist. The Hampshire-based company will now join the range of complementary flooring companies within the successful Ulster Carpets Group portfolio.
David Acheson, Ulster’s Strategic Development Director, said, “We believe that the Ulster Carpets Group is a fitting home for Alternative Flooring in terms of culture, outlook and ambition. Alternative will remain an independent, autonomous brand within the Ulster Carpets Group, but with the added expertise and resources to strengthen its capability, service, and product range. It is good news for Alternative’s valued customers, key suppliers, and exceptional employees.”
For more than 25 years, Alternative Flooring has been providing "flooring to fall in love with", with a focus on inspiring people to express their personality through colour, pattern, and texture.
The company’s award-winning flooring products are ethically sourced, and its Make Me A Rug programme allows any design to be turned into a rug that is hand finished to an exceptional standard.
Alternative is expected to add approximately £5m of sales to Ulster's £68m turnover.
Chris Brammall, retiring Chairman of Alternative Flooring, said, “We are enormously proud of what we have achieved since taking over Alternative Flooring. Securing a bright future for the Alternative brand, together with its employees, customers, and key suppliers, was a major factor in deciding the most suitable home for its next phase of development. This acquisition gives Alternative the opportunity of reaching its considerable potential.”
Consumer card purchasing on furniture and floorcoverings was down 7% in June according to Barclaycard.
This bucks the trend of general consumer spending for the month which rose 5.4% according to Barclaycard, which handles nearly half of all UK credit and debit card transactions.
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the Brirtish Retail Consortium commented: "Retail sales growth ticked up slightly in June as hot weather prompted purchases of summer essentials. Sun-seekers headed to their favourite retailers to buy swimwear and beach towels, and outdoor games, garden furniture and barbecue food. People were much more cautious about big-ticket purchases like furniture."
Flooring continues to resist the fall in inflation seen in other sectors as prices remain stubbornly high, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Consumer inflation overall saw a higher drop than expected at 7.9% for the year to June, down from the 8.7% figure for May. But inflation for carpets is stuck at over 9% with just a marginal fall of 0.2% compared to last month. Other floorcoverings such as LVT and laminate remain even higher at around 10%.
Meanwhile, consumer price inflation for furniture fell to its lowest level since April 2021 - down substantially from 8.2% in May this year to 6.2% in June.
Major online flooring specialist UK Flooring Direct (UKFD) has been acquired by Nestware Holdings - owner of the Carpetright retail group and the Keswick Flooring online operation.
“This acquisition brings together two powerhouses of the online flooring retail sector, creating an entity that is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving market trends towards convenience, service and value,” says Keswick CEO James Davey.
The UKFD business has been bought from its administrators in a "prepack" acquisition deal. The sale safeguards all of UKFD’s 85 employees.
Cormar reported growth in sales during 2022 but reduced its margins to remain competitive against a background of rising costs.
In their latest accounts filed for the year ended 30 September 2022, Cormar saw sales grow by 2.2% to £148m but profits were £5.6m, down from £11.7m in the previous year.
During 2022, the directors reported: "The business made a strong start reflecting continuing demand for our carpets and soft furnishings in the post-pandemic period." But it cites the war in Ukraine and associated increases in energy and raw material costs compounded by inflationary pressures as unexpected chsllenges that impacted profitability.
"We made a conscious decision to absorb some of the increased cost to ensure we remained competitively priced and to protect our sales volumes and turnover," says the directors' report.
Fast-growing flooring distributor Likewise says Q3 and Q4 look positive for increasing sales after a successful start to 2023.
Reporting to shareholders before today's AGM, Likewise confirmed its forecast with 17.6% revenue growth in the six months to 29 June 2023.
"This demonstrates the Group is delivering its strategy of continuing to increase market share," said CEO Tony Brewer. "With a positive first half, the Group is optimistic regarding the opportunities in the traditionally stronger Q3 and Q4 and is on target to achieve its current market expectations for the financial year ending 31 December 2023."
SMG The National Furnishing Group has announced the appointment of Linda Thomas as Head of Operations with immediate effect.
Linda has been looking after SMG’s approved suppliers and retail members for many years and this natural progression provides a platform to sustain growth and continue to provide exceptional service.
Linda takes over from Mike Reed who has held the Head of Operations position for the last 7 years steering SMG through the Covid years and the highly successful launch of their Pure own brand range.
Mike will now focus his attention on Business Development activity, operating in a more flexible working pattern that is aligned to his personal objectives.
Linda says, “I am really excited about this new opportunity for me at SMG. I love the Group and our aim of giving Independent Retail Members the best advantages possible to allow them to thrive. We will continue to do this while also giving our suppliers the very best opportunities to increase business with SMG Members.
“I am looking forward to strengthening our partnerships and to continue introducing new products, suppliers and offers to ensure the Group remains the very best proposition for Independent Flooring Retailers.”
T 07585 210676 www.smg-group.co.uk
The criteria to select an adhesive will cover the following points. Larger manufacturers offer detailed guides to select the correct adhesive – even indexing floor manufacturer’s products by name to ensure an accurate match. For accurate and up-to-date information consult the F. Ball Recommended Adhesives Guide.
Open Time:
The time you have to fit the flooring into the adhesive after which the bond will no longer be ideal. The time until the floor may be walked on should be checked.
Odour:
Low odour, solvent-free and low VOC products are increasingly favoured and now have the same performance characteristics of older products.
Coverage: How thick and how far can the adhesive be spread.
Application Method: Different adhesives may be applied by roller, trowel or spray.
Strength:
Including how quickly the adhesive will “grab” the floor covering and its strength when fully cured.
Underfloor Heating:
A lot of modern adhesives are suitable for use with underfloor heating but this criteria must be checked where appropriate.
To find out more visit f-ball.com/training
Acrylic/Resin: Ideal for plasticised PVC and most modern flooring.
Bitumen: A tar-like material, bitumen has a high degree of moisture resistance and is used for damp-proof membranes and installing tiles, wood blocks and mosaics.
Epoxy Resin: A two-part chemical curing system that is used in aggressive environments such as conservatories, wet rooms, commercial kitchens and exterior installations.
Polyurethane: An adhesive with rapid bonding characteristics, typically used for wood floors.
Polyvinyl Acetate: Typically used for close fitting joints in timber, laminate floors and panels.
Subfloor: What surface will the adhesive stick to most effectively including concrete, sand cement screeds, levelling compounds, plywood and chipboard.
While there are multi-purpose adhesives, specialist products will be better suited to certain surfaces.
The porosity of the floor is a key determinant of the type of adhesive to be used and its performance during installation.
Special Performance:
Certain adhesives are more suitable for damp, humid or high temperature environments.
Air Quality and the Environment:
The old wisdom that the more it smells, the better it sticks is no longer acceptable to modern consumers and solvent-based products are increasingly replaced by water-based adhesives.
Tackifier: An adhesive for carpet designed to increase the tackiness – or the tack range –of an adhesive.
Water-based Adhesive: Many different types of adhesives now use water as their carrier to avoid odours and flammability issues which are common with chemical solvents.
EARN 10% CASHBACK ON THESE SELECTED PRODUCTS FROM OUR SYSTEM LVT INSTALLATION RANGE THIS MONTH.
• Evaluate all buying groups as they all work differently
• Talk to the main marketing contact and/or a member of the committee
Buying groups have been a highly successful feature of the floor retailing scene in the last decade or so, giving independents the extra edge they need to compete effectively with the retail park chains.
More than 1000 retailers are now members of one of the several buying groups which operate in our sector and the numbers are slowly, but steadily growing.
While the benefits of bulk buying power are self-evident, the resistance to the buying group concept among nonmembers appears to be centred on fears of surrendering some control to a committee – and most particularly compromising long-established relationships and negotiated terms with current suppliers.
The bottom line is the bottom line. A retailer selling across a broad range of products is likely to improve margins within a buying group – but you don’t need a leap of faith to join up. Ask the buying groups for answers...
Increase margins
• Group purchases to get beneficial rates
• Rebates
• Exclusive higher-margin products
• Special promotions
One of the key reasons to join a buying group is to benefit from the discounts they negotiate as a bulk buyer from manufacturers. The way discounts and rebates are passed on to members varies between groups so make sure it’s absolutely clear how this will be done. You’ll need to work out how this compares with discounts you have already negotiated locally with preferred suppliers.
Access professional services
• Business and financial services
• IT and internet support
• Training and workshops
• Professional bodies
Some buying groups offer an excellent range of other services which may be valuable to your business. Financial services include invoice factoring, credit, loans and insurance. Some of the more sophisticated groups offering marketing packages, software systems to help you run your business operations and customised websites ready to use. Relationships with professional and training organisations can also offer discounts.
• Get a list of members and call up two or three for a ‘real-world’ view
• Establish your territorial exclusivity – where’s the next nearest member of each buying group
• Ensure you understand the financial arrangements, any fees that would relate to your membership, how the bills are paid and whether your fees are refundable if it doesn’t work out. Ask the buying group for a consultation to estimate your potential savings
• Review all the extra benefits and services to see what you would actually use
• Check out the product ranges offered including the own-label options and the UK/European mix
• Ensure you understand any rules that may limit your flexibility to run your business the way you want
Increase sales
• Best of both worlds’ proposition
• Wider ranges and exclusive products
• POS, displays and merchandising support
Your customers will like the proposition that you are independent but with the buying power of a group –this gives them (and you) the ‘best of both worlds’ with personal service and competitive pricing. Most groups will also offer you ‘own label’ ranges and support with pointof-sale, merchandising and displays. Central stockholding may also be on offer.
• Members-only exhibitions with preferred manufacturers
• Regular meetings and supplier presentations
• Regional workshops
• Helpline
A lot of retailers enjoy the buying group environment of being independent but not alone out there on the High Street. Groups hold regular meetings and some have their own trade shows, regional meetings and workshops to help you develop your business. The network gives you someone to call when you need advice on, for example, an unusual installation, a technical consumer complaint, legal issue or business dilemma.
Associated Carpet Group www.acgcarpets.com
Contact: Jon Richardson Tel: 01942 825520 jon@acgcarpets.com
www.beautifulflooring.co.uk
Contact: Carl Harris Tel: 01892 549050 charris31@sky.com
www.flooringone.co.uk
Peter Karra Tel: 0121 683 1426 peter.karra@flooringone.co.uk
Metro Group www.carpet1st.co.uk
Contact: Jill Coward Tel: 01204 393539 jillcoward@carpet1st.co.uk
www.smg-group.co.uk
Contact: Mike Reed Tel: 0118 932 3832 info@smg-group.co.uk
If you would like to be included in this section or upgrade your listing, please contact Diane Martin on +44 (0)1482 659396 or email diane@mayvillepublishing.co.uk
Abingdon SoftStep info@abingdonflooring.co.uk
01274 655 694 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk
Adoretouch +1.631.843.0900 www.adorefloors.com
Alsapan g.folkes@alsapan.com
03 88 59 29 89 www.alsapan.com
Altro enquiries@altro.com 01462 489 516 www.altro.co.uk
Amtico info@amtico.com 0121 745 0800 www.amtico.com
Aspecta
+31 (0) 88 1662500 www.aspectaflooring.com
Beauflor sales@beauflor.com
+32 56 67 66 11 www.beauflor.com
BerryAlloc +32 56 52 84 80 www.berryalloc.com
Brampton Chase support@bramptonchase.co.uk 01604 664855 www.bramptonchase.co.uk
Earthwerks
saleseurope@earthwerks.com
0800 689 1657 www.earthwerks.eu.com
Forbo Flooring info.flooring.uk@forbo.com 01773 744 121 www.forbo.com
Furlong enquiries@furlongflooring.com 01772 316155 www.furlongflooring.co.uk
Harvey Maria info@harveymaria.com
0330 330 1231 www.harveymaria.com
Interface interface.uk@interface.com 0800 313 4465 www.interface.com
Invictus Info@invictus.co.uk
01422 431100 www.invictus.co.uk/lvt
Kährs UK sales@kahrs.com
023 9245 3045 www.kahrs.com
Karndean Designflooring 01386 820100 www.karndean.com
Kellars sales@kellars.co.uk 0161 443 0970 www.kellars.co.uk
Kraus sales@qep.com 01283 245430 www.krausflooring.co.uk
Lifestyle Floors info@lifestyle-floors.co.uk 01827 831448 www.lifestyle-floors.co.uk
Leoline info@leoline.co.uk www.leoline.co.uk
Moduleo salesuk@moduleo.com
01332 851 500 www.moduleo.co.uk
Polyflor info@polyflor.com
0161 767 1111 www.polyflor.com
Tarkett communication@tarkett.com
01622 854040 www.tarkett.com
Quick-Step 08448 118 288 www.quick-step.co.uk
Victoria Design Floors (Distinctive Flooring/Universal Flooring) info@myvictoria.co.uk
01562 749300 www.myvictoria.co.uk
Wineo info@wineo.de +49 (0) 5237 6090 www.en.wineo.de
Westex info@westexflooring.co.uk
01274 861334 www.westexflooring.com
Vinyl is a fast growing sector of the flooring market due to its durability at relatively low cost and huge range of designs available. Sheet vinyl and cushion floor by the roll are popular but the sector is dominated by LVT. In reality, most of the products sold today are “LVP”, Luxury Vinyl Planks, as wood decors are more popular than ceramics and stone but the term LVT is still used to cover the whole non-sheet market.
• Huge choice in terms of decors across wood, ceramic, stone and geometric designs
• Impressive realism – not just in the design but infinishing techniques that allow for wood knots you can feel, tiles you can grout, etc. See appearance options.
• Excellent performance in durability for high traffic areas, scratch resistance and cleanability. Vinyl also tends to be much more nonslip than natural materials. Some products are water resistant for bathrooms and kitchens.
• Warm and soft to touch compared to ceramic and stone floors - and a good heat insulator anyhow, and suitable for use with underfloor heating systems.
• Sound reduction – vinyl has neglible impact sound compared to the tap/click of laminate and transmits less sound and vibration compared to solid floor.
• Considerably cheaper than the ‘real’ thing – both to buy and to fit – and tile/plank approach minimises wastage.
Installation preparation
Vinyl requires a dry, sound, level subfloor as the relative thinness of vinyl and its light reflection performance will quickly reveal imperfections after installation as well as cause potential wear issues.
Exisitng wooden/MDF floors may need a plywood underlay up to 6mm thick and then the joints will need to be skimmed or taped. Non-wood sub-floors will need a self-levelling screed to be laid to ensure a suitable base for the floor. A damp-proof membrane may be required depending on sub-floor moisture levels.
However, new rigid core products are less flexible and can be laid more easily over existing floors – see Construction.
• Dry back – a sheet or tile that needs to be fixed to the sub-floor using an adhesive.
• Self-adhesive – tiles with a peel-off backing paper to stick to the sub-floor. Some tiles have adhesive overlaps to stick to each other rather than the sub-floor.
• Loose lay vinyl – tiles that simply drop onto the floor and rely on a high friction backing to keep them in place – they demand a very sound, level sub-floor but are the easiset type of tile to lay or replace.
• Click – tiles that have a mechanical jointing system to attach to one another (like a locked tongue and groove system) and ‘float’ on the sub-floor without being glued down. There are many proprietary versions of the click system which offer fast, clean installation and stability.
Appearance options
Vinyl tiles and planks cover a hugh variety of sizes and shapes and can be mix-and-matched to achieve an infinite number of designs. Current fashions include extra wide and long planks for wood through to very small planks for wood. Border effects can be easy to achieve in LVT. Other notable options include:
• Embossed – this is where the top clear layer of the tile has been embossed to create a realistic texture that matches the style of the stone of wood decor. Registered embossed is the most authentic –the texture matches the design so that, for example, a wood knot or hand-scraped element in the wood design can be felt on the surface of the flooring.
• Grouting and grooving – vinyl tiles can be laid with grouting inlay strips or beads of vinyl for addewd realism – and there are acrylic grouts that can be applied. In wood decors, planks are available with v-grooves or bevelled edges between planks for added realism.
Top coating – A polyurethane or aluminium oxide coating provides protection against scratches and stains and gives enhances anti-slip.
Wear layer – This is a key layer - determining the performance and resilience of the product. A 0.3mm (12 mil) wear layer is a good for heavy wear areas. Commercial installations need 0.5mm wear layers or above with 0.7mm at the top end. The wear warranties and guarantees carried by products will be based on this thickness.
Decor layer – This is the decor itself - in essence it is a paper- or filmbased photographic inkjet print. (A few LVT floors have the image printed directly to the surface of the floor but this implies less image definition and different wear characteristics.)
PVC and fibre glass layers – The construction ‘sandwich’ can vary between products but a combination of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) layers for strength and flexibility and fibre glass layers for structural stability may be used. Any click-system profile will be incorporated into these layers. Products often use a combination of recycled vinyl which is cheaper and virgin PVC which lasts longer and is more stable.
Rigid core LVT has a solid, less flexible PVC layer with maximum stability which means it can be laid over exisiting, less even flooring without showing imperfections and therefore avoiding wear problems.
Base (or backing) layer – The final high density PVC layer varies according to the installation requirement and is designed for taking adhesive or as an ‘underlay’ for loose-lay and click installations.
Registered Inspectors Network
Registered Inspectors Network
Approved Products
WoolSafe Approved Products
In a tight market for margins, underlay for carpet and hard flooring offers retailers one of the best opportunities to add value to every sale – with good profitability, trade-up potential once benefits are understood and high customer satisfaction levels.
The Carpet Foundation and its Consumer Code of Practice approved by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) recommend that new carpet underlay is bought with every new carpet.
Many consumers are now aware of the benefits of underlay but more needs to be done to provide information about the different types available and their suitability for different areas of the home.
Setting up in-store demonstrations so customers can walk on samples with different grades of underlay and feel the difference has shown excellent results. Some manufacturers offer point-of-sale units and foot testers.
Good underlay will...
• Improve underfoot comfort
• Increase appearance retention, reducing flattening
• Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear
• Improve thermal insulation and warmth
• Increase sound insulation
• Smooth out sub-floor imperfections
• Last the lifetime of the carpet
Poor or old underlay will...
• Feel hard and unwelcoming
• Reduce carpet life
• Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots
• Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly
• Not meet British Standards
How thick?
A maximum of 12mm is recommended (working with gripper will be difficult thereafter) but rooms with heavy traffic will need a thinner, denser pad. The combination of thickness and density is all important as a thick underlay with low density may not perform well. Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it will need to be – 11mm is often used for luxury installations with 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.
PU (polyurethane) foam • This is now the market’s most popular underlay and is typically made from recycled foam offcuts. The foam provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options and densities and provides great insulation – and its light weight helps handling.
Sponge rubber • A more traditionally manufactured underlay available in flat or waffle patterns in a wide range of weights for different applications. It performs well for comfort and has a durable spring retention.
Crumb rubber • Flat and dense, crumb rubber is good for heavy footfall – offering maximum protection but a little less comfort (and very good over stair nosings).
Laminate underlay • There’s still an opportunity to sell underlay with laminate flooring, improving the acoustic performance of the floor and helping the boards float above any imperfections in the sub-floor.
Combination • A rubber crumb base with a felt top layer offers a good combination of protection, durability and comfort. It also allows carpet with seaming to bed into the top felt.
Underfloor heating underlay • Always ask if there is underfloor heating. Most manufacturers offer specialised products. Underlay and carpet with a combined tog rating of 2.5 can be used – which means the underlay would normally have a tog rating of 1.0.
Felt • This traditional (but environmentally friendly) undelay is made from recycled fibres – wool, jute and synthetic – to create a firm, dense pad with excellent thermal insulation. Still a very popular choice among contractors when stretch fitting woven carpets.
Pre-tackified underlay • A self-adhesive single stick underlay in both needlefelt and PU. A removable system for heavy use when comfort is desired.
Underlayment for LVT • This provides a smooth surface on which you can glue down immediately. If there is a time or acoustic issue or a problematic underfloor, a stable, smooth dual underlay system will provide the best solution.
With advances in manufacturing technology, 95% of all carpet produced today is tufted. It takes about an hour to make a roll of carpet that might take eight hours to weave. To make tufted carpet, hundreds of yarn-threaded needles are pushed through the primary backing fabric to form loops or tufts, which may be left as is or cut. A heavy adhesive coating is applied to hold the tufts in place and a secondary backing is usually glued on for strength and stability. A wide variety of styles and textures can then be created using various techniques.
Berber – Berber carpets look like and are named after a handmade, bulky wool carpet made by the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia. The loops are made from thick or bulky yarns of wool, nylon, polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effect underfoot. These carpets are available in an assortment of colours and may be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop. Level loop – When all the loops are of the same height, a highly flexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casual appearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres. The tight loop texture tends to hide marks so it’s a good blend between luxury and practicality.
Multi-level loop – The loops vary to two or sometimes three loop heights to create informal, random textures which are very forgiving for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas and busy family rooms.
Bonded carpets (sometimes called ‘fibre-bonded’ or ‘fusion bonded’) are created by firing fibres into an adhesive material – the fibres are not stitched into the backing in any way. The technique is principally used for commercial carpet tiles.
Freize – Frieze or frisée (pronounced freesay) carpets are similar to saxony, but the yarns are more tightly twisted and should always be heat set. They have a dense, low pile surface which creates a coarse, pebbly texture. Frieze carpets are very durable and hide footprints, dust and dirt, which makes them suitable for heavy traffic areas. Saxony – Saxony textures are made of twisted yarns, which should be heat set. The tips remain very distinct, rather than blending together to form a very elegant finish. Saxony textures show footprints and vacuum marks so are suitable for more occasional rooms in the home. More textured variations improve the practicality of saxonies.
Twist – The popular twist carpet is the cut-pile standard. The yarn is tightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature and the result is a versatile, textured finish that is ideal for plain colours.
Velvet – Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have a level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is then sheared to give a smooth finish. With very little twist in the yarn, the ends blend together which then further enhances the overall finish. These carpets tend to ‘shade’ with heavy use. Footprints show easily and the colour looks different from place to place because fibres lying in different directions reflect the light differently. A luxury for occasional rooms.
When some of the pile is cut and other left as loop, a variety of surface textures and patterns can be created (in a variety of colours). The multi-level surface is excellent for hiding footprints and stains so cut and loop is good for high traffic areas and general purpose rooms in the home.
Shag pile – Shag pile has varied in popularity. The pile is up to 50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surface can flatten easily and may lack durability.
Woven carpet may be in a tiny minority of today’s production but still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for prestigious installations.
The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing as it is woven and cut to length, creating U-shaped tufts to give a velvety surface. The process locks in the fibre to create a carpet of high durability and performance retention as well as a luxury feel. The process allows for intricate designs and colours to be used – although modern trends mean that the traditional patterned axminster has given way to current fashion trends for plain carpets.
Wilton
Wilton woven carpets are produced in a similar way to axminsters – the principal difference being that a continuous fibre is woven all the way through. The carpet can be sheared to create a range of cut and loop textured effects. The result is a high quality carpet of unrivalled durability.
Flat weave
Manufactured in the same way as wilton, flat weave is a loop pile which allows the yarn to be woven across a wider area to created a flatter, more textured effect.
NATIONAL
Fells Carpets
Leeds - see page 12 0113 3071900 carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk
TCS “The Carpet Specialists” Morecambe 01524 840177 info@tcsthecarpetspecialists.com www.tcsthecarpetspecialists.com
Xylo Wood Flooring
London 020 8368 8122 infouk@xyloflooring.com www.xyloflooring.com
NORTH WEST
A&A Carpets
Manchester 01204 701188 sales@aandacarpets.co.uk www.aandacarpets.co.uk
Hathaway Flooring
Manchester - see page 14 and Floorwise page 75
Kellars Limited
Manchester 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk
Lakes Flooring Supplies
Kendal - see Floorwise page 75
Millbrook Carpets
Darwen 01254 703999 millbrookcarpets@live.co.uk
Preston Underlay Centre Ltd
Preston/Lancashire
- see Floorwise page 75
EAST
Beds Flooring Bedford 01234 341234 sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk
Salesmark Ltd
St Neots
Tel: 01480 212888 sales@salesmark.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk
STS Flooring Distributors
Cambridge - see page 18 and Floorwise page 75
NORTH EAST/YORKSHIRE
Fells Carpets
Leeds - see page 12 0113 3071900 carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk
Kellars Limited
Darlington 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk
Fells Carpets
Goole - see page 12 0113 3071900 carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk
RBV Flooring
Bradford - see page 55 01274 670011 rbvflooring@yahoo.com
Trade Carpets and Floors Ltd
Rotherham 01709 437723 sales@tradecarpetsandfloors.co.uk
MIDLANDS
Birch Distribution Sheffield - see Floorwise page 75
Birch Distribution Leeds - see Floorwise page 75
Birch Distribution
Hull - see Floorwise page 75
Cornerstone Flooring Supplies
Doncaster - see Floorwise page 75
Cornerstone Flooring East Midlands and Warwickshire 01159 444711 sales@cornerstoneflooring.co.uk www.cornerstoneflooring.co.uk
DMS Flooring Supplies Northampton - see page 10 01604 664850 sales@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk
Floorwise D & J Ltd
Southam - see Floorwise page 75
Kellars Limited Rugby 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk
Matty’s Wholesale Carpets
Birmingham 01675 433072 sales@mattys.co.uk
STS Flooring Distributors
Hemel Hempstead - see page 18 wand Floorwise page 75
Trade Counter Carpets
Leicester 0845 604 3055
tradecountercarpets@gmail.com
Woodall Brothers Ltd Shrewsbury - see Floorwise page 75
SOUTH WEST
BL Flooring Supplies
Bristol - see Floorwise page 75 BL Flooring Supplies
Gloucester - see Floorwise page 75
Fitwell Flooring Ltd
Redruth - see Floorwise page 75
Fitwell Flooring Ltd
Newton Abott - see Floorwise page 75
Flooring Supplies (Wessex)
Amesbury 01980 625888
orders@flooringsupplieswessex.co.uk
R & M Wholesale
Bristol 01179 531222
Tiverton 01884 258266
sales@rmwholesale.co.uk
Salesmark West Ltd
Amesbury - see Floorwise page 75 Tel: 01980 880933
mail@salesmark-west.co.uk www.salesmark-west.co.uk
Solent Wholesale Carpet
West Sussex 01243 774623 sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk
SOUTH EAST
Ashmount Flooring Supplies
Tottenham 0208 808 2158 sales@ashmountflooring.co.uk www.ashmountflooringsupplies.co.uk
Ballister
London 020 8570 1668 london@ballister.co.uk www.ballister.co.uk
Ballister
Reading 0118 931 3535 reading@ballister.co.uk www.ballister.co.uk
Beds Flooring
Bedford 01234 341234 sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk
Clifford Floors
Strood 01634 285900 sales@clifford.uk.com
Culpeck Strood 01634 299000 sales@culpeck.uk.com
Columbia Flooring
Middlesex 020 8443 3322 sales@columbiaflooring.co.uk www.columbiaflooring.co.uk see page 9 for details
DMS Flooring Supplies
Hemel Hempstead - see page 10 01442 502562 sales@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk
DMS Flooring Supplies
Milton Keynes - see page 10 01908 049006 sales@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk
DMS Flooring Supplies
Colindale, North London 0208 036 9945 - see page 10 colindale@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk
Flooring Storage UK
Potters Bar 01707 245999 sales@flooringstorage.com www.flooringstorage.com
Littner Hampton London 020 8520 8474 littnerhampton@aol.com www.littnerhamptoncarpets.co.uk
John Palmer Carpets
Fareham 01329 221933 sales@johnpalmercarpets.uk.net
Potts & Ward, Woodcocks Ltd Brighton 01273 557211 sales@pwwflooring.com www.pwwflooring.com
Salesmark
Lancing - see Floorwise page 75 Tel: 01903 750522 sales@salesmark.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk
Solent Wholesale Carpet
West Sussex 01243 774623
sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk
STS Flooring Distributors
Basildon - see p18 & Floorwise p75
STS Flooring Distributors
Croydon - see p18 & Floorwise p75
STS Flooring Distributors
Orpington/Croydon - see page 18 & Floorwise page 75
Trade Carpet London
Wimbledon 0208 247 3891 sales@tradecarpet.com www.tradecarpet.com
IRELAND (NI + ROI)
Flanagan Flooring Distributors
Saintfield, Belfast 028 9751 0932 sales@flanagan-flooring.com www.flanagan-flooring.com
Flanagan Flooring Distributors
Republic of Ireland 048 9751 0932 sales@flanagan-flooring.com www.flanagan-flooring.com
Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd
Dublin - see Floorwise page 75
Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd
Belfast - see Floorwise page 75
Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd
Limerick - see Floorwise page 75
TCS “The Carpet Specialists” Co. Louth 00353 429 351 351 info@tcsthecarpetspecialists.com www.tcsthecarpetspecialists.com
SCOTLAND
Flanagan Flooring Distributors
Baillieston 0141 773 1122 scotland-sales@flanagan-flooring.com www.flanagan-flooring.com
Kellars Limited
Glasgow 0141 647 7685 sales@kellars.co.uk
MCD Scotland Uddingston
Glasgow 01698 808000 mcdscotland@mcd.co.uk www.mcdscotland.co.uk
Neil Smith Ltd
Glasgow - see Floorwise page 75
WALES
CBW Flooring Supplies
Pontypridd 01443 492510 www.cbwflooringsupplies.co.uk
Floorwise Wales
Merthyr Tydfil - see Floorwise page 75
0161 872 8003
sales@hathawayflooring.com
10 Cornerstone Flooring Doncaster, DN3 3FE
Tel: 01302 835117
Fax: 01302 302542
cornerstonefloor@ btconnect.com
11 Birch Distribution Sheffield, S9 5PH
Tel: 0114 243 1230
Fax: 0114 243 5118
s.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk
12 Woodall Brothers Ltd
Shrewsbury, SY1 3JE
Tel: 01743 441584
Fax: 01743 441629
sales@woodallbrothers.co.uk
13 Floorwise D & J Ltd
Southam, CV47 0DR
Tel: 01926 814922
Fax: 01926 817899 sales@fwdj.co.uk
14 Floorwise Wales
Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 4TQ
Tel: 01685 374243 sales@floorwise-wales.com
15 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd
Gloucester, GL2 5HY
Tel: 01452 223355
Fax: 01452 371284
info@blflooring.co.uk
16 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd
Bristol, BS2 9SH
Tel: 0117 955 5454
Fax: 0117 955 2626 info@blflooring.co.uk
17 Salesmark West Ltd Amesbury, SP4 7LN
Tel: 01980 880933 mail@salesmark-west.co.uk
18 Salesmark Lancing, BN15 8UN Tel: 01903 750522
Fax: 01903 851111 sales@salesmark-floorwise.co.uk
19 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Newton Abbot, TQ12 6TR
Tel: 01626 835935 sales@fitwell.co.uk
20 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth, TR15 1SS Tel: 01209 214344 sales@fitwell.co.uk
21 STS Flooring Distributors Ltd Cambridge, CB23 8UD Tel: 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk
22 STS Flooring Distributors Ltd Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7ER Tel: 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk
23 STS Flooring Distributors Ltd Basildon, Essex, SS14 3DW
Tel: 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk
24 STS Flooring Distributors Ltd Croydon, Surrey, CR0 4WP
Tel: 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk
25 STS Flooring Distributors Ltd Orpington, Kent, BR5 3SS Tel: 0345 899 1000 sales@stsflooring.co.uk
