The Stocklists - July 2020

Stocklists The The

July 2020 July 2020

with

FlooringNews

Carpet&FlooringReview

with

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

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

Axminster Carpets offer a range of woven to order collections including Hazy Days and Myth & Moor, all woven in Axminster and available within 4 weeks.

Our stocked ranges include; Devonia which features a new colour palette of neutrals, pastels and colours, Moorland with our unique blend of heathers and 100% pure new wool and Simply Natural with our unrivalled 6 ply cable tec 100% pure new wool.

1 ACL Retail Limited Tel: 01297 33533

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020 Email: retail@axminstercarpets.uk Web: www.axminstercarpets.uk

You can get yourself a good deal.

Buying groups get you a better deal.

ACG will get you the

BEST DEAL! Not sure about joining a buying group?

Don’t ask us, ask the real retailers...

I joined ACG because I get to keep my own independence and also benefit from industry leading rebates which are paid directly from suppliers into my business.

ACG is dedicated to supporting independent carpet and flooring retailers for greater profits and business growth.

INCREASED PROFITS

LEADING REBATES

Securing improved buying prices across all group suppliers.

All group suppliers pay rebates directly to your business.

OWN LABEL PROTECTION

TRADE SHOW & MEETINGS

Protecting profit margins from internet and home sellers.

Feel less isolated, meet with like minded retailers at regular meetings and events.

Laura Bellamy

Brookside Carpets Tel: 01858 433334

We joined ACG because they source us the best deals from the best suppliers.

There’s no catch. If you’re not in ACG, you should ask yourself why not.

Ryan and Linda ST Flooring Tel: 01536 712 573

Join ACG for Greater Profits & Business Growth without risk Please contact our Executive Director, Richard Moore on 07725 578773 or email: richard@acgcarpets.com Tel: 01942 825520 www.acgcarpets.com

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ACG VOTED BEST BUYING GROUP IN THE UK

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Stocklists The

ISSUE 544 : JULY 2020 Published by Mayville Publishing Co Ltd., 219 West Ella Road, West Ella, Hull HU10 7SD @thestocklists Tel: 01482 659396 Fax: 01482 659397 www.thestocklists.com Sales Director: Diane Martin. diane@mayvillepublishing.co.uk Publication Director: David Spragg Founded by Roy Spragg in 1973.

THE MAGAZINE THAT’S ALL ABOUT FLOORING

Advertisers

Our news service starts on page 23

Monthly ‘Stocklisters’ shown in BOLD

Index

Survey: Retail Rollercoaster

n ACG 2 01942 825520

69% believe there is pent-up demand but nearly half expect a 30%+ decline in sales.

H ADAM CARPETS H ASSOCIATED WEAVERS

t BRAMPTON CHASE

Isolation inspiration Lockdown re-decoration tempts consumers towards flooring pages 30-31

pages 36-37

01562 822247

4-9

01422 431100

10

01604 664855

Back cover

01457 861141

Cover

01254 268000

H CONDOR CARPETS

35

+31 38 477 8911

s COLUMBIA FLOORING

11

0208 443 3322

–

01204 881234

o CARPENTER H CAVALIER CARPETS

H CORMAR H FELLS CARPETS

–

01977 662211

15

01538 361633

n FITA 50

01159 506836

n FLOORWISE 48

01509 673974

H FURLONG FLOORING

01772 696787

n F. BALL

Latest guidance on in-store health page 26

–

+32 5662 2211 H BALTA –

Readers tell us about the post-lockdown challenges

Safer sampling

Page Contact No No

Exceptional support

Buying group rises to the challenge page 38-39

Polyamide power

H HAMMER CARPETS

Satino reimagined by Balta pages 23

12-14 16

01473 826870

H HUGH MACKAY 17

01429 892555

n INTERFLOOR

33

01706 213131

25,27

01386 820 100

3

01422 373799

38,39

01204 393539

t KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING n MERRYFIELD ENGINEERING n METRO GROUP

n NICF 50

0115 958 3077

o NOVOSTRAT 41 00353 61 339287

Timeless limestone New stone decors are rockin’ page 26

For floors with flaws Success of floorwise screed page 27

Designer cork trend Granorte collection gets attention page 23

Help for heroes

Flooring industry supports NHS page 26

FlooringFactsheets

H PENTHOUSE CARPETS

Keep in trim

Profiles make your sales healthier page 40-41

Tapi aims for #1

5-year plan to dominate UK pages 42

The industry’s knowledge-bank

Adhesives

43

Carpet Types

Buying Groups

49

Underlay 44-45

Carpet Company Directory Carpet Trouble-shooter

– 46-47

–

48Wholesaler Distribution Directory 48.

Woolsafe: the carpet care guide –.

ISSN 2046-7338 © Mayville Publishing Co. Ltd. 2020. Every care is taken in compiling this magazine, but the proprietors assume no responsibility in the effects arising therefrom.

–

18

01706 639866

s SOLENT WHOLESALE CARPET 19

01243 774623

n SMG

– _

n STAIRRODS

32

01207 591176

n T&E DISPLAYS

20

0121 558 4932

n THE FLOORING SHOW

29

—

H THOMAS WITTER 21

01429 892555

H VICTORIA CARPETS 22

01562 749300

o WILSON UNDERLAYS

01924 451138

37

Classified Adverts & Jobs .................... pages 51 H carpets/rugs/tiles t woods/laminates/smooths n accessories/services/organisations = fibres o underlay s wholesalers/distributors l adhesives

MERRYFIELD CARPET CUTTING MACHINERY British Manufactured Carpet Cutting Machines THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Visit ‘Merryfield Carpet’ on YOUTUBE to see our full range of cutting machines or call 01422 373799 3

T H E E STA B L I S H E D CARPET BRAND I N V I C T U S ® N OW B R I N G S YO U L U X U R Y V I N Y L F LO O R I N G www.invictus.co.uk 4

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

INVINCIBLE CARPET & FLOORING

Associated Weavers, the maker of Invictus® carpet, presents Invictus® luxury vinyl flooring.

With the same attention to quality, the same eye for exclusive designs, and a unique performance level, Invictus® luxury vinyl flooring is the perfect match to Invictus ® carpet.

Always a trailblazer when it comes to branding, Associated Weavers reinvents the in-store display and brings an experience unseen in the flooring business. With traditional samples and an intuitive digital module, Invictus® luxury vinyl flooring invites the customer on a fun-to-do purchasing journey.

A UK brand since 1964 THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

5

6

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

A UK brand since 1964

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

7

WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHOP-IN-SHOP BY AW? Please contact your local Area Sales Manager for more details.

8

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

• A bundle of successful concepts & innovations: iSense®, Invictus®, Vivendi®, Sedna® & StainAway®.

• Multiple modules can be tailored individually to the concept of your store • Customers can stroll around the collections, presented in clear displays, in a relaxed atmosphere.

• A dynamic overall solution for successful carpet sales.

www.carpetyourlife.co.uk THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

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Luxury Vinyl Planks

0.3mm

177.8 x 1219.2mm

2mm

Wear Layer

Plank Size

Thickness

Featured Design: Ashby

Find us on instagram @bramptonchase

Ten Stunning Designs in our latest Woodlands Collection

Water Resistant

Highly Durable

Next-day Sampling

Large Planks

Lifetime Guarantee*

*Domestic subject to T&Cs

Industry leading service and quality 01604 664855 | www.bramptonchase.co.uk | support@bramptonchase.co.uk 10

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Columbia Flooring plc

The Leading Country Wide Carpet & Flooring Suppliers We can supply you with virtually any make of carpet and flooring at GUARANTEED maker’s list price...

Delivered direct to business premises FREE OF CHARGE. For a Speedy and Efficient Service

Call US NOW!!!

020 8443 3322

sales@columbiaflooring.co.uk www.columbiaflooringplc.co.uk Opening Times: Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am to 12 noon Tel: 0208 443 3322 Fax: 0208 805 2346 TRAFALGAR TRADING ESTATE, JEFFREYS ROAD, ENFIELD , MIDDLESEX, EN3 7TY.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

1970 – 2020

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Furlong Flooring

ALAN CAIRNIE EAST SCOTLAND M: 07976 311434

SOUTH EAST

SCOTLAND

The people who care about your success

PAUL LOVELL NORFOLK, SUFFOLK & CAMBS

TONY CONWAY BEDS, NORTHANTS, OXON & BUCKS

M: 07816 217549

M: 07791 891025

plovell@furlongflooring.com

acairnie@furlongflooring.com CHRIS GRUBB WEST SCOTLAND

JOHN AKIEN EAST & WEST SUSSEX M: 07791 891024

M: 07970 163372

TIM BAILEY SOUTH EAST WALES & HEREFORDSHIRE M: 07794 048414

tbailey@furlongflooring.com JASON BRIMBLE AVON & GLOUCESTERSHIRE M: 07794 041266

jakien@furlongflooring.com

HARD FLOORING SPECIALISTS

WALES & SOUTH WEST

cgrubb@furlongflooring.com

GUY FERGUSON KENT, HAMPSHIRE, DORSET, SURREY, EAST & WEST SUSSEX M: 07816 217 558

tconway@furlongflooring.com PETER FLETCHER HAMPSHIRE & DORSET M: 07816 217561

pfletcher@furlongflooring.com ADAM CLARK S.YORKSHIRE, YORKSHIRE, LINCS NORTH EAST, EAST COAST, NOTTS, DERBYSHIRE M: 07970 269730

gferguson@furlongflooring.com ANTHONY SUMMERS NORTH WEST M: 07980 786264

aclark@furlongflooring.com JEFF COLLINS ESSEX, HERTS, N, N.W. & EAST LONDON, NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, CAMBS M: 07793 244 620

jbrimble@furlongflooring.com

asummers@furlongflooring.com

BEN THOMAS MID & WEST WALES

OWEN CHENERY S.E. WALES, HERTS, AVON & GLOS, LEICS, WARWICKS, BIRM’HAM, SHROPS, STAFFS, SOMERSET

M: 07794 048809

jcollins@furlongflooring.com PAUL COCKS WEST LONDON

pastelle

M: 07792477312

M: 07794 367 825

bthomas@furlongflooring.com

ochenery@furlongflooring.com

pcocks@furlongflooring.com

STEWART WAITHMAN DEVON & CORNWALL M: 07794 048413

Competitive, best-selling products all available now from UK stock

swaithman@furlongflooring.com

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

M: 07872 964685

cmcmaster@furlongflooring.com WESLEY GRAHAM LEICESTER, WARWICKSHIRE M: 07968 324598

wgraham@furlongflooring.com MIKE SHUTT BIRMINGHAM/ STAFFORDSHIRE, SHROPSHIRE

MARTYN MORRIS SOUTH YORKSHIRE M: 07973 403450

mmorris@furlongflooring.com TBA NORTH EAST, EAST COAST

enquiries@furlongflooring.co.uk TBA YORKSHIRE & EAST LANCS

LONDON

enquiries@furlongflooring.co.uk JACK O’CONNOR SOUTH BUCKS, BERKSHIRE, WEST LONDON, SURREY (OUTSIDE M25)

M: 07793 244619

M: 07816 217550

DARREN SPENDIFF KENT M: 07791 890861

joconnor@furlongflooring.com JAMIE BONE N.W, NORTH, EAST & CENTRAL LONDON M: 07816 217548

dspendiff@furlongflooring.com

M: 07966 263571

acheetham@furlongflooring.com DANNY BROWN MERSEYSIDE, WIRRAL & NORTH WALES

dbrown@furlongflooring.com MARK DOWSON PART LANCS, FLYDE COAST & CUMBRIA M: 07980 786265

ROSS BIRCH S.W, SOUTH, S.E. LONDON, SURREY (INSIDE M25)

rbirch@furlongflooring.com

ALAN CHEETHAM GTR MANCHESTER, CHESHIRE

M: 07597 459642

M: 07970 158594

mshutt@furlongflooring.com

NORTH WEST

MIDLANDS

COLBY McMASTER NOTTS, STAFFORD, SOT, DERBYSHIRE & LINCS

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST

...and can help grow your sales in 2020!

jbone@furlongflooring.com

mdowson@furlongflooring.com ANDY THOMPSON ESSEX, HERTFORDSHIRE M: 07816 217565

athompson@furlongflooring.com

Preston Sales tel: 01772 696787 fax: 01772 311921

Gloucester Sales tel: 0845 520 0800 fax: 01452 222515

London Sales tel: 01322 628707 fax: 01322 698733

Email enquiries

enquiries@furlongflooring.co.uk

New website

www.furlongflooring.co.uk

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

13

CAREFREE ULTRA.

Your favourite twist just got heavier.

Packed full of advancements in construction, appearance and backing, Carefree Twist really raised the bar for carpet.

Carefree Ultra takes these advancements a step further.

STRESS FREE FITTING WITH COMBI-BAC®

Using Carefree Twist’s palette of 15 on-trend colourways in both plain and heathered tones, Carefree Ultra’s 48oz pile is a step up in quality and an opportunity for retailers to easily upsell.

Furlong’s very own Combi-bac® backing means easy fitting and fault free installation – with practically no damage or cracking whilst handling and reduced chances of scuffing of walls – a real plus.

Carefree Ultra - outstanding features

Made in the UK from 2-ply twist using our best-selling bleachcleanable Carefree fibres, it’s hard wearing, easy to clean and features 10th gauge construction for a fantastic, pinpoint finish.

As you’d expect from Furlong Flooring, this range comes with all our service guarantees, including fast response, product quality and excellent customer service – plus a 10-year guarantee – protecting against more than just food and drink.

100% bleach cleanable fibres. Keeping your carpet looking great and easy to clean.

To find out how we could be your ideal flooring partner contact Furlong Flooring today.

CARPET www.furlongflooring.co.uk

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I

VINYL

LV T

L AMINATE

Sales: Preston - 01772 696 787

I

Combi-bac®.

The ultimate backing for a carefree installation.

Tighter yarn spacing creates a uniform appearance and looks better for longer.

HARDWOOD

Dartford - 01322 628 707

I

Gloucester - 0845 520 0800

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Rely on the RAG for the right adhesive selection...GUARANTEED!

OUT NOW! ONLINE MOBILE PRINT

The 2020 F. Ball Recommended Adhesives Guide is out now!

• The flooring industry’s most trusted guide to adhesive selection • More than 6,000 adhesive recommendations • Endorsed by over 200 leading, international floorcovering manufacturers • All fully backed by the F. Ball Guarantee • Order or download your FREE copy now!

Tested • Approved • Recommended • Guaranteed • Trusted SEARCH

FBALL RAG APP F. Ball and Co. Ltd. 01538 361 633 • mail@f-ball.co.uk • www.f-ball.co.uk THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

GREAT BRITISH INNOVATION 15

Tel 01473 826870

Email infouk@hammercarpetsuk.com

Web www.hammercarpets.com

Tel Tel01473 01473826870 826870

Email Emailinfouk@hammercarpetsuk.com infouk@hammercarpetsuk.com

Web Webwww.hammercarpets.com www.hammercarpets.com

Beautiful carpet collections in 100% wool stocked in collections 4m and 5min Beautiful carpet 100% Beautiful carpet collections inwide 100% wool wool stocked stocked in in 4m 4m and and 5m 5m wide wide

Jacs

Designer tonal loop pile in 100% wool available in 4m and 5m widths.

Jacs Jacs Designer tonal loop Designer tonal looppile pileinin100% 100%wool wool Natural available in Lines 4m and 5m widths. available in 4m100% and 5m widths.

Super luxurious wool loop pile available in 4m and 5m widths.

Natural NaturalLines Lines Super luxurious 100% Super luxurious 100%wool woolloop looppile pile Natural Weave available in 4m and 5m widths.

Supreme Boucle

Natural Lines

Natural Weave

Skagen

Supreme SupremeBoucle Boucle

Natural NaturalLines Lines

Natural NaturalWeave Weave

Skagen Skagen

available in 4m and 5m widths.

herringbone design with a stripe option.

Natural NaturalWeave Weave Key facts about our Supremedesign boucle herringbone with a stripe option.

carpets

herringbone design with a stripe option.

Our All bestour selling level loopyarns 100% wool carpet are Mothproof protected for the life of the carpet. product available in 12 up to the minute Supreme boucle Supreme boucle colours in both 4m and 5m widths.

The yarns we use are the highest quality 2 and 3 ply yarns in 100% New Wool.

Our best selling level loop 100% wool Our best selling level loop 100% wool product available inin1212upuptotothe product available theminute minute Las Vegas Weinuse only long staple, hank dyed, scoured and set fibre which gives you the very colours both 4m 5m colours in both 4mand and 5mwidths. widths.

A chunky luxurious loop pile in 100% wool bestin long performance. Beware of cheaper imitations that use lower cost short available 4m andterm 5m widths.

Key facts about our carpets

Las All our carpet yarns are Mothproof protected for the life of the carpet.

LasVegas Vegas staple fibreloop which shed yarn quickly in use and will give inferior results in terms of AA chunky luxurious pile chunky luxurious loop pileinBerber in100% 100%wool wool Sisal Boucle &5m Sisal available in in 4m and widths. available 4m and 5m widths.

The yarns we use are the highest quality 2 and 3 ply yarns in 100% New Wool. We use only long staple, hank dyed, scoured and

wear and tonal appearance A heavy domestic stripe in 100%retention. fibre which gives you the very best long term performance. Beware of cheaper imitations that use lower cost short staple fibre wool loopset pile.

Sisal Boucle Sisal Berber Sisal Boucle&& Sisal Berberis designed and made in Scandinavia using the best Everything we produce which shedtonal yarn quickly in use and will give inferior results in terms of wear and appearance retention.

AA heavy domestic heavy domestic tonalstripe stripeinin100% 100% The Stone Fibre Collection wool loop pile. wool loop pile. sustainable New Zealand Wool that is the whitest and cleanest available. This ensures Everything we produce is designed and made in Scandinavia using the best sustainable New Zealand Wool that is the whitest and designs.

Each design available in of 4 colours, excellent levelness gives us the make cleanest available.

This ensurescolour excellent when levelness dyed of colourand when dyed and gives us theability ability to to make beautifulbeautiful pastel shades and The Stone Fibre Collection Stone Fibre Collection in The 4m and 5m widths. pastel shades and brighter brighter light colours including white. light colours including white. designs.

Each design designs.

Each designavailable availableinin4 4colours, colours, Memphis in in 4m and 5m widths.

4m and 5m widths.

100% wool textured loop available in 4 & 5m widths.

Our eco friendly credentials Memphis Memphis 100% wool textured 100% wool texturedloop loopavailable availableinin Diamond Weave •5m5m We only use renewable energy from offshore wind farms to power our factories 4& widths.

4& widths.

5m width.

• We

recover Diamond Weave Diamond Weaveexcess heat and energy from the manufacturing process and use it to heat municipal buildings in our vicinity Scandic Weave Our eco friendly credentials 5m width.

5m width.

• We make the carpet tubes that the finished carpets are 5m width.

Scandic Weave Scandic Weave • We only use renewable energy from offshore wind farms to power our factories

delivered on from recycled

polypropylene

Sloane • Square We recover excess heat and energy from the manufacturing process and use it to heat municipal buildings in our vicinity 5m width.

5m width.

100% wool innovative cut and loop pile • A

ll the waste water in manufacturing made drinkable before we • design.

We make the carpet tubeswe thatproduce the finished carpets are delivered on fromis recycled polypropylene geometric Sloane Square Sloane Square • All the waste water we produce in manufacturing is made drinkable before we dispose of it so we do not pollute the environment dispose of cut itcut so we do 100% wool innovative andloop looppile pile not pollute the environment 100% wool innovative and Skagen • We are committed to make products from materials that aid a healthy life no harmlargest to peoplemanufacturer or the environment of geometric design. geometric design.

Hammer Carpets arecycle, thewith world’s Weinare committed Soft•tones a heavy wool loop withto a make products from materials that aid a healthy life cycle, bespoke design 80/20 Colortec carpet. Ask your Agent for luxurious Wool pile.

Skagen Skagen with no harm to people or the environment HammerCarpets Carpetsare arethe theworld’s world’slargest largest manufacturer manufacturer of of Hammer Soft tones heavywool woolloop loopwith witha a Soft tones inin aa heavy bespoke design 80/20 Colortec carpet.

Ask your Agent for bespoke design 80/20 Colortec carpet.

Ask your Agent for luxurious Wool pile. luxurious Wool pile.

Scandinavianquality qualityby by design design Scandinavian Scandinavian quality bydesign design Scandinavian Our UK quality Sales Teamby Our UK Sales Team Ron Fewery Ron Fewery 07976 244892 07976 244892

London, Oxfordshire, London, Oxfordshire, Berkshire & Ron Fewery Ron Fewery Berkshire & Buckinghamshire 07976 244892 07976 244892 Buckinghamshire London, Oxfordshire, London, Oxfordshire, Berkshire Berkshire && Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire

www.hammercarpets.com

Steve Acton Sandy Anderson Jay Pallass Steve07957 Acton836207 Sandy Anderson Lee Palmer Pallass UK Sales Team07414Jay 07445Our 232345 837329 Sales Team 07957 836207 07445 232345Our UK07774 101640 07414 837329 Kent, Sussex, Surrey,

Yorkshire &

Merseyside Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Cheshire, Cheshire, Channel Islands Merseyside Kent, Sussex, Surrey, & North WalesChannel Islands Hampshire & Dorset Greater Manchester, & North Manchester, Wales Hampshire & Dorset Greater Lancashire, Lancashire, Merseyside Merseyside NorthWales Wales & &North

Tel01473 01473826870 826870 Tel 16

Cheshire,

Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Channel Islands North East Yorkshire & Hampshire & DorsetCheshire, Greater Manchester, Steve Acton SandyAnderson Anderson LeePalmer Palmer JayPallass Pallass Steve Acton Sandy Lee Jay Hampshire & Dorset Greater North East Lancashire, 07957836207 836207 07445Manchester, 232345 07774101640 101640 07414 837329 07957 07445 232345 07774 07414 837329 Lancashire, Yorkshire&& Yorkshire NorthEast East North

Emailinfouk@hammercarpetsuk.com infouk@hammercarpetsuk.com Email

Stephen Stephen Binnersley Binnersley 07710 618754 07710 618754 Stephen Midlands, Stephen Midlands, South Wales & Binnersley Binnersley South Wales & Northamptonshire 07710618754 618754 07710 Northamptonshire

Midlands, Midlands, SouthWales Wales&& South Northamptonshire Northamptonshire

Robin Saunders Robin 07968Saunders 344892 07968 344892

East Anglia East Anglia Robin Saunders

Robin Saunders 07968 344892 344892 07968 EastAnglia Anglia East

Web www.hammercarpets.com www.hammercarpets.com Web THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

e It s i l a u s Vi with Hugh y! a k c a M

Transforming your home in real time from the comfort of your own sofa or instore!

Available for everyone to use, completely free of charge. Simply take a photo of your room and upload it to start installing our ranges

Change the way you choose...

SCOTLAND JOHN STUART M: 07860 565 200 E: johnrstuart@btopenworld.com NORTH EAST & CUMBRIA BECKY GIBBONS M: 07970 491 215 E: rebann2@btinternet.com YORKSHIRE JOHN ALSOP M: 07860 572 220 E: alsopagencies@yahoo.co.uk

LANCASHIRE JOHN ROSTRON M: 07973 733 208 E: johnrostronagencies@hotmail.com EAST MIDLANDS STEVE FURNISS M: 07773 384 787 E: furnissagencies@btinternet.com WEST MIDLANDS DEAN STANLEY M: 07572 758 010 E: dssalesagencies@gmail.com

www.hughmackay.co.uk OXFORDSHIRE, WILTSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, BRISTOL, & GLOUCESTERSHIRE DAVID MAY M: 07976 204 778 E: mayatthelimes@talktalk.net SOUTH WEST BRENDAN HART M: 07850 130 221 E: ba.hart1@yahoo.com NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, CAMBS, NORTH ESSEX ROBIN SAUNDERS M: 07968 344 892 E: rsagencies2004@aol.com

SOUTH WALES PAUL POWELL M: 07968 186 150 E: paulpowellagencies@gmail.com

NORTHERN IRELAND GARY O’BOYLE M: 07831 220 675 E: goboyle@ntlworld.com

SOUTH EAST & SOUTH LONDON MIKE ALP M: 07770 861 441 E: alp.michael@googlemail.com

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND LARRY WHITE M: 03862 594 126 E: thelarwhite@hotmail.com

N LONDON & HOME COUNTIES DAVE MARNEY M: 07794 221 443 E: d.marney@sky.com

SALES DIRECTOR KEITH MORGAN M: 07710 701063 E: keith@hughmackay.com

CENTRAL LONDON NICK WOOD M: 07976 945 505 E: nick@essentialflooring.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR VINCE HOLDEN M: 07900 262 434 E: vince@hughmackay.com

H U G H M A C K AY Support your2020 British manufacturer THE STOCKLISTS THE STOCKLISTS July May / June 2020

W W W . H U G H M A C K AY. C O . U K

1715

Meet the team...

F I N D Y O U R L O C A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E H E R E SCOTLAND & BORDERS

NORTH EAST, CUMBRIA & ISLE OF MAN

NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES

YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER

Stephen Cawley

John Pringle

Ian Henderson

Christine Searle

07718 762236 stephen.cawley@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07825 991405 john.pringle@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07974 141919 ian.henderson@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07939 051608 christine.searle@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

Areas covered: All Scottish regions

Areas covered: Cumbria, Kirby Lonsdale via. Carnforth, Isle of Man, Cleveland, Northumberland, Durham, Tyne & Wear

Areas covered: Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire (inc. SK9, SK10, SK11), Greater Manchester (inc. SK1 to SK8, SK12, SK14 to SK16), Clwyd, Gwynedd

Areas covered: North Humberside, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire

WEST MIDLANDS, WORCESTER

SOUTH YORKSHIRE & EAST MIDLANDS

SOUTH EAST, LONDON HERTS & ESSEX

Sue Chapman

SOUTH EAST, LONDON

Chris Gee

Conway Morgan

Guy Legg

07801 538763 sue.chapman@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07919 047930 chris.gee@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07753 983714 conway.morgan@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07801 357622 guy.legg@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

Areas covered: Herts, Essex, North & West London

Areas covered: Kent, South & Central London, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex

Areas covered: Gloucester, Avon, West Midlands, Shropshire, Hereford & Worcester

Areas covered: Humberside, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire,

EAST MIDLANDS & SOUTH EAST

EAST ANGLIA, CAMBS & BEDFORDSHIRE

SOUTH WEST

SOUTH COAST & CHANNEL ISLES

Simon Beeby

Martin Hunter

Graham Wood

Nigel Woollard

07775 913380 simon.beeby@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07711 353982 martin.hunter@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07825 171482 graham.wood@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07767 213236 nigel.woollard@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

Areas covered: Somerset, Devon, Cornwall

Areas covered: Berkshire (Split), Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Channel Isles

Areas covered: Berkshire (Split), Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire

Areas covered: Cambridge, Bedford

NORTHERN IRELAND & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

WALES

Herbie Montgomery

James Thomas

07774 695333 herbie.montgomery@ penthousecarpets.co.uk

07932 458032 juncture2002@aol.com

Areas covered: Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland

Areas covered: West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Gwent, Dyfed, Powys

Working for the independent retailer To find out more, call our sales team on 01706 639 866 or visit us at:

penthousecarpets.co.uk

Penthouse Carpets Buckley Carpet Mill, Buckley Road, Rochdale. Lancashire OL12 9DU • Fax: 01706 860 577 • Email: sales@penthousecarpets.co.uk 18

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Solent Wholesale Carpet Company Nationwide, Palletised Express Service www.solentwholesale.com

LVT - Carpet Tiles - Grass Matting - Vinyl - Underlay Screed - Adhesive - Primers Gripper - Trims - Plywood Tel: 01243 774623 Flooring Trade ONLY

BRAND NEW WEBSITE

Free Delivery on most orders over £350* *some products & postcodes may incur a surcharge.

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We are offering a discount to customers on our Standard & Super Jumbos.

Doing our bit to help Businesses due to COVID-19

CHALLENGE US TO BEAT ANY COMPETITIVE QUOTE TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Luxury Twist This luxury heathered range is made from quality British wool in a perfect 80/20 blend in both plain and striped designs. Available in 3 weights and 13 shades, this range adds effortless style to any home.

SCOTLAND MARK VINTER M: 07775 902 376

NORTH WEST & CUMBRIA JOHN ROSTRON M: 07973 733208

SOUTH WALES PAUL POWELL M: 07968 186150

NORTH EAST BECKY GIBBONS M: 07970 491 215

EAST MIDLANDS STEVE FURNISS M: 07773 384 787

SOUTH EAST & LONDON ANDREW GOLDSMITH M: 07432 119 220

YORKSHIRE ALDO BERETTONI M: 07971 173 560

WEST MIDLANDS DEAN STANLEY M: 07572 758010

CORNWALL/DEVON/ SOMERSET/DORSET BRENDAN HART M: 07850 130221

SALES DIRECTOR

SALES OFFICE

OXFORDSHIRE/WILTSHIRE/ HAMPSHIRE/BRISTOL & GLOUCESTER DAVID MAY M: 07976 204778 NORTHERN IRELAND GARY O’BOYLE M: 07831 220 675 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND LARRY WHITE M: 0862 594 126

KEITH MORGAN M: 07710 701063

T: 01429 892537

T: 0844 7252 034

THOMAS WITTER Support your British manufacturer

VIEW LOGISTICS, PA R K V I E W R O A D E A S T, H A RT L EPOOL , TS2 5 1 HT

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E: SAL ES@THOMASWITTER.COM

WWW.TH OM A S WIT T E R .C OM

T: 0 1 4 2 9 892537

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F RO N T I E R .

100% NATURAL WOOL YARN FINE 10TH GAUGE LOOP PILE WILDLIFE INSPIRED COLOUR PALETTE

VICTORIACARPETS.COM 22

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

FLOORINGNEWS Grosvenor Wilton - FEATURES Design Folio Collection

Marketing Insights – post-isolation design inspiration!

Rita Bancroft reports... p30–31 Flooring Focus – profiles, trims and accessories – valuable extras to add to sales... p40–41

Power up your polyamide New colour palettes and the reimagining of the Satino brand has brought the long-running polyamide collection right up to date, ensuring that retailers can benefit from the quality and style of its premium residential styles.

Fillip Poelman, sales director, Balta, explains, “We created Satino several years ago as one of the first polyamide brands aimed at British homes and since then it has grown into a popular collection.

However, while polyamide’s resilience and softness are more popular than ever and our new colour palettes well-suited to modern homes, we felt the marketing behind the collection had become dated. A look that feels behind the curve can soon have an adverse impact on the carpet’s appeal, particularly in what is now a more active sector, so we’ve redressed the balance.”

With an updated palette including pastel shades, warming natural tones and popular greys, Royale and Romantica bring a vibrant aesthetic that’s in-tune with today’s interior styles. With the elegant silk-like look of IMPREL Finesse, Satino carpets bring a sense of luxury and comfort to any home.

The new-look marketing is most prominent on updates to displays, where a look focused on family living has been adopted to emphasise Santino’s suitability for these styles of homes. Along with messages about the carpet’s ability to be both soft and hardwearing, it is a marked departure from the brand’s previous look.

Timeless Limestone – Karndean DesignFlooring adds to Korlock elegance in stone... p27 Exceptional crisis support – Metro members gain from group’s fast response... p38–39 SURVEY – retail rollercoaster for sales as stores re-open... p36–37

T +32 56 62 22 11 www.baltagroup.com

Trend for designer cork Granorte’s Trendcollection makes the beauty, sustainability and performance of cork flooring accessible to today’s homeowner. From traditional cork tiles right through to printed designs using the latest solid rigid core technology, it’s a formidable collection that brings cork right up to date.

Nowhere is this better captured than in DESIGNTrend, a floor that combines the latest technology with cork’s natural, sustainable and renewable status. Through direct digital print and a textured Weartoo finish, DESIGNTrend brings the look and feel of wood with the ease of LVT without cutting down trees or containing any plastic.

Updated for 2020 with new looks, DESIGNTrend uses proven Uniclic joints for fast and easy installation, just like any laminate or click LVT, but also features a high-density natural cork composite wear layer and 1mm cork base layer for a warmer and quieter home. Treated with Microban anti-bacterial protection, DESIGNTrend provides homes with a floor that’s not only easy to live with and kinder on the planet, but more hygienic too.

“DESIGNTrend exemplifies cork’s adaptability with the wood effects made popular

by LVT and laminate, but without using any plastic and bringing all the acoustic, thermal and sustainable benefits of natural cork. As a plus, there’s no compromises in fitting, performance or ease of living either,” says Paulo Rocha of Granorte.

DESIGNTrend is now available in 16 wood effects with oak in a wide-ranging palette of oak and the exclusivity of Larch Spice.

T 01785 711131

www.granorte.co.uk

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FLOORING NEWS Installers get their skates on F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s Styccobond F73 PLUS adhesive has been used for a rinkside flooring refurbishment at Slough Ice Arena. The recently launched adhesive was called upon to secure Norament rubber tiles on the walkway that runs around the outside of the ice rink.

Contractors from Leicester-based Westcotes Flooring Ltd. required a replacement adhesive after the product specified for the job failed to bond. A site visit s from F. Ball’s technical representative resulted in a switch to Styccobond F73 PLUS to complete the installation.

Styccobond F73 PLUS has been developed to provide the high bond strength required to hold a wide range of textile and resilient floorcoverings, including rubber, firmly in place in areas that will be subject to heavy loads and high foot traffic, as well as surface water. It offers high initial grab and, once cured, it is resistant to oil, grease, and water, making it an appropriate choice for use adjacent to an ice rink, where water deposited by skaters leaving the rink will be common.

As well as being a onepart adhesive, meaning no mixing and less waste compared to traditional options, Styccobond F73 PLUS is easy to apply and fast curing, requiring as little as 90 minutes to secure floorcoverings.

The fast setting properties allow welding of sheet floorcoverings to take place in as little as 2 hours.

The 100m2 flooring area surrounding the ice rink had already been prepared by removing old loose lay rubber floorcoverings, and the subfloor cleared of contaminants, including old adhesive residues.

A moisture tolerant levelling compound had then been installed.

Balta’s boost for retailers With additions to its StainSafe and Leonis carpet collections, Balta carpets is ready to give retailers a boost as they negotiate a new way of engaging with customers.

The popular StainSafe collection now features brand-new Provincetown while super-soft Leonis is strengthened with the arrival of Newport, and both are available and ready to win over homeowners looking for great value carpet.

In a palette of 12 timeless colours, from classic ruby through to beige and modern greys, Provincetown brings a great value twistpile carpet for any style of home, making it an attractive proposition.

With the famed bleach cleanability of Balta’s latest generation StainSafe fibre, the carpet is easy to live with and hardwearing and so an ideal choice for use in everywhere from living rooms to hallways and bedrooms.

Featuring a 20-year StainSafe promise and 15-year wear warranty, Provincetown is a quality addition to the collection and with four and five-metre widths, it will keep seams and waste down to a minimum too.

Leonis is Balta carpets’ super-soft polypropylene brand and now includes Newport, a Saxony style that leaves no doubt about its intentions thanks to an impressive 2,000g/m2 pile.

Because a moisture management test found that relative humidity (RH) levels were above 75%, a two-part epoxy damp proof membrane was then applied, followed by a moisture tolerant levelling compound, to provide a suitably smooth surface for the installation of the Norament 992 rubber floor tiles, using Styccobond F73 PLUS. The adhesive offers an open time of 20-30 minutes depending on temperature, humidity, and absorbency of the subfloor, and after an initial set time from 90 minutes, cures fully in 24 hours.

With 12 colour options including pastel lavenders and heather greens, Newport covers classic and contemporary interior styles, adding a premium look and feel with all the benefits of Leonis bleach-cleanable yarn. In four and five-metre widths, Newport’s quality is emphasised by 20-year StainSafe and 15-year wear warranties.

T 01538 361 633

T +32 56 62 22 11 www.baltagroup.com

www.f-ball.co.uk

The unmissable show for the flooring industry The Flooring Show is the UK’s largest and only event dedicated to the industry.

See all the best brands from around the world in one place, discover latest industry trends, develop new skills and source the latest products. theflooringshow.com 24

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Inspired by chalky limestone.

Designed to be down in no time.

Excellent acoustics Installs over most hard floors Preserves existing floors Quick & easy to install Suitable for new builds and extensions

New to the Korlok range, these five stone designs have been inspired by the understated colour and chalkiness found in natural limestone, whilst featuring all the benefits of rigid core. With an integrated foam backing, our Korlok stones offer effective sound absorption, reducing noise transfer by 21dB, without the need for separate underlay. Featuring K-Core technology and 5GÂŽ click-locking mechanism, these extra-large tiles, minimise upheaval and are quick and easy to install.

karndean.com/discoverkorlok

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Featured floor: Cotswold Stone RKT240525

FLOORING NEWS Focus on safer sampling Floor sampling on lecterns, tombolas and in pattern books emerge as a key challenge for flooring retailers to keep COVID-19 Secure as stores re-open to the public.

Latest Government guidelines, updated on May 25, adds new advice to: limit customer handling of merchandise, for example, through different display methods and rotation of high-touch stock. While not addressing the unique issues of flooring store POS, the guidance highlights a key concern.

Multiple customers may handle pattern books and touch samples on point of sale displays. While textiles are not believed to transfer the virus easily, the threat still exists for up to 24 hours, and for smooth surfaces such as vinyl and laminates, and the handles and covers of all pattern books, the threat can exist for up to 72 hours.

F Ball boosts NHS wellbeing Products donated by F. Ball and Co. have been used to help support the wellbeing of NHS staff at a hospital in Leicester during the coronavirus pandemic.

The company’s Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was used to create a base for new floorcoverings as part of ‘The Secret Garden’, a charitable restoration project at Glenfield Hospital, part of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The Secret Garden project aims to transform a disused Victorian walled garden and outbuildings to create a calming space, incorporating an indoor area which will eventually become a café for hospital staff, patients, and visitors to the Leicester Glenfield Hospital.

Contractors from Leicester-based W. Blackburn & Son supported the project by undertaking the refurbishment of the outbuilding’s 69m2 floor to provide the staff who are caring for patients during the Covid-19 pandemic with some indoor sheltered space to break away from the hospital environment. warranties.

T 01538 361 633

As a result, The Stocklists has developed the following guidance for sampling, derived from advice from various sources: • Sales assistants should allow customers to browse independently and not approach them around displays (to avoid compromising the 2m social distancing rule).

• Avoid the temptation to turn samples on lecterns and tombolas for the customer, unless they are OK to view from the 2m distance • Insist strictly that customers who intend to handle samples use sanitisers thoroughly on their hands before touching. And they should repeat the procedure during and after handling.

• Suggest the greater use of wall displays where possible and minimise the use of pattern books wherever possible • Monitor and record each pattern book which has been handled so that their handles and covers can be sanitised after use • Smooth surfaces on samples for LVT, vinyl, cushionfloor and laminates need special attention and each sample views should be sanitised after every customer • Consider quarantining vinyl sample books for 72 hours after handling • Standard cleaning wipes and baby wipes are not sufficient to cleaning these surfaces. A sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content is essential • Do not allow customers to take books away from the store

www.f-ball.co.uk

Haven for healthcare heroes Louis de Poortere is involved in Design Haven for Heroes, a charity initiative to give room makeovers to NHS workers at the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis.

Louis de Poortere will be donating rugs from its 2020 collection to Design Havens for Heroes, helping the charity to transform rooms within NHS workers’ homes into havens focused on delivering rest and calm. The Design Havens for Heroes initiative was launched by interior designer, Francesca Rowan-Plowden with interior brands and designers to make a difference in the lives of NHS workers.

Alan Russell, sales director UK, Louis de Poortere, says: “We’re delighted to be involved in this worthy initiative that allows us to give something back to the NHS staff across the nation, all of whom have shown unbelievable dedication and sacrifice in helping to care for patients under exceptional circumstances.”

T 01505 615663 www.louisdepoortere.com

Social distancing - see “Customers need 10m2” on page 42.

The NICF “Help for Floorlayers” leaflet and other useful advice for home visits and installations are available at the Federation’s blog: www.nicfltd.org.uk/Blog/

2m

2m

2m

Check out our guidelines for your COVID-19 SECURE STORE at www.thestocklists.com 26

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

News Feature

New limestone hues create a timeless backdrop for any interior an de rn Ka by 1 40 T2 RK

The collection also features Urban Grey and Metro Grey with its contrasting warm, mid-grey colourways, and Cotswold Stone reminiscent of the dry-stone walls and honey-coloured cottages found in the beautiful Cotswolds.

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The new Korlok stone palette of five hues includes a range of silvery and warm midgreys, muted and soft neutrals and honey-colours. From the striking charcoal-grey tones of Volcanic Black to the elegant Frosted Stone with its beautiful chalky limestone effect, there’s a tone to match traditional and contemporary interiors alike.

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Designed to offer quicker installation times and added acoustic benefits, it is the first time the brand has added stones to its ‘click and lock’ rigid core portfolio. Warmer underfoot and easier to maintain than natural stone, the 18” x 24” tiles will be the perfect choice for large and open plan spaces.

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Karndean Designflooring is celebrating the understated colour tones found in natural limestone by introducing five new stone designs to its modern Korlok collection.

Like all Karndean floors, the designs are handcrafted to reflect the muted colour tones found in natural limestone and have been developed to include subtle veining, delicate mottling and a chalky appearance to create a realistic finish.

As it clicks and locks into place without the use of adhesive, Korlok features Karndean’s K-Core technology meaning it can be fitted over most existing subfloors, floorboards or ceramics. With K-Core® also providing excellent acoustic benefits by reducing sound transfer to rooms below by 21dB, it is fast becoming the format of choice for home designers looking to boost wellness and achieve a healthy home.

“This is the first time we have introduced a stone in our Korlok collection, so it’s a very exciting time for us” RK T2 40 6

Stella Coyle, national retail sales manager of Karndean Designflooring.

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For more information, visit karndean.com or follow @karndean_uk on Instagram from 6th July.

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All Karndean designs are durable, waterproof and compatible with underfloor heating, as well as low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalate free.

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“It also means those faced with the challenge of an uneven subfloor or existing ceramic floor, now have the option of a stone in a convenient rigid core design. We hope home designers love the soft tones of our new Korlok designs as much as we do.”

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“Our new limestone inspired stones are perfect if you’re looking to create a neutral backdrop in your home. Each design can be perfectly paired with a wide range of trends including Scandi, modern industrial and minimalist to name but a few,” said Stella.

karndean.com

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FLOORING NEWS Sampling steps up As retailers return to opening, Abingdon Flooring is continuing to scale-up operations, supporting retailers with the continued sampling of its USA Collection and re-launches of three best-selling ranges.

Abingdon Flooring will ensure the sampling of its new USA Collection is rolled-out to all carrying stores across the UK, ensuring that all of its customers can benefit from the appeal of the range. Developed to provide a luxury option for family homes, the USA Collection is expected to draw high levels of interest.

With three qualities in Miami, New York and Dallas, the USA Collection brings a soft StainFree carpet presented on eye-catching lecterns, as well as a wall unit update, helping retailers to capitalise on the continued demand for carpets that offer a luxury look and feel without sacrificing practicality.

The British manufacturer will also be carrying out sampling updates of its hugely popular StainFree Rustique collection, as well as Lasting Romance and Deep Feelings from the Love Story brand. With a new fleece backing and five new trend-led colours across its three weights, Rustique has been reinvigorated to bring even better value. Colour updates ensure the polyester styles of Lasting Romance and Deep Feelings continue to hold sway with homeowners wanting super-soft carpet.

T 01274 655 694 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Sunshine after the rain With the new Nature Rainbow flatweave carpet collection, Balta carpets is bringing colours of the rainbow to homes and gardens.

Bringing a collection of brightly coloured woven patterns, Nature Rainbow echoes the beauty of the natural world’s most celebrated colour combinations. From the colourful mountains of Salta and Cusco to the rainbow dappled landscape of Danxia and the red rocks of Atacama, the Nature Rainbow celebrates colour in unique fashion.

The latest addition to Balta carpets’ Nature collection of outdoor-safe woven carpets, Nature Rainbow is made from a weatherproof and UV-resistant Weathersafe mono-filament yarn that can withstand outside use all year round without degradation. Yet it is still soft enough to be enjoyed indoors, and with a yarn that’s also bleach cleanable, it’s wonderfully easy to care for too.

Each of Nature Rainbow’s five designs is available in a range of colourways. From golden and wheat tones through to complex stone hues and tribal combinations; the range is a celebration of the mood lifting possibility of colour and pattern. Nature Rainbow can also inspire homeowners to create their very own rug in a unique size..

Filip Poelman, sales director, Balta, says: “We believe there is a real market for carpets like Nature Rainbow. As consumers look to make more of their outside spaces to become a valued entertaining or relaxing area in a natural extension of their living environment, we expect the upward trend to continue. Perhaps, with the pandemic changing the way we live in unmeasurable ways particularly when it comes to social activities, we might see a strengthening of this trend, as people will be even more focused on spaces that can give a special experience within their own home.”

T +32 56 62 22 11 www.baltagroup.com

For floors with flaws The versatile subfloor preparation whizz, Pro-Screed Gold, is continuing to rise up the charts with installers needing a fast and reliable leveller for their subfloor woes.

Developed by floorwise as a solution to tackle a wide array of poor condition subfloors, Pro-Screed Gold is a bag and bottle style latex polymer smoothing and levelling compound.

It can be used on top of wood, ceramic tile, concrete and screed subfloors, even those with old adhesive residue.

With no primer needed and a rapid walk-on time of just 90 minutes, Pro-Screed Gold helps installers to work faster. Delivering a reliable, smooth and level subfloor ready to take final floor coverings in just four hours, Pro-Screed Gold is popular for good reason.

Richard Bailey, managing director, floorwise says: “Installers can turn up with Pro-Screed Gold knowing that it will be ready to handle almost anything the subfloor can throw at it. News of its versatility is clearly spreading, as we’re experiencing huge demand for Pro-Screed Gold at floorwise trade counters across the UK and Ireland.”

Applied in thickness from featheredge up to 10mm without aggregate (up to 30mm with 3mm aggregate), the smoothing and levelling compound has a working time of 20 minutes with excellent flow characteristics for a solution that’s easy to work with. Covering 5-6m2 at 3mm thick (20kg/5l) and suitable for use with underfloor heating systems and DPMs, ProScreed Gold is made in the UK. T 01509 673974 www.floorwise.co.uk

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

THEFLOORINGSHOW.com TheFlooringShow

FlooringShow Image courtesy of Invictus®

RegistrATION now OPEN THEFLOORINGSHOW.CoM New Product Launches Demonstration Zones Design Trends THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

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Marketing insights Post-isolation design inspiration Many consumers have taken the opportunity to redecorate during the lockdown period, as new flooring is often the last item to be fitted, we are hopeful there is some pent up demand as retailers begin to open in June.

Interiors blogger Cara Sutherland on Karndean Designflooring

Recognised for its authentic wood, stone and abstract designs, Karndean Designflooring has shared its latest collaboration with interiors blogger, Cara Sutherland as part of its home design inspiration series. Cara’s contemporary classic living room features Karndean’s Pale Limed Oak from its Knight Tile collection in a herringbone laying pattern with a decorative edge of one tile.

Installed by a Karndean Inspire Studio, Creative Flooring, Cara was looking to enjoy the practicality of a Karndean floor in her family living space at the same time as achieving her own sense ofstyle.

“Now more than ever social media is playing an important role, keeping us connected and helping our customers stay positive,” Karndean Designflooring - Knight Tile, Pale Limed Oak

“A new study by Aviva found that 85% of UK residents have undertaken home improvement activities during the lockdown period.”

A new study by Aviva found that 85% of UK residents have undertaken home improvement activities during the lockdown period.

The insurer interviewed more than 2000 UK residents in May 2020, six weeks into the lockdown. Decluttering proved to be the most popular task, carried out by more than half the population (56%).

Gardening came a close second, with 52% of UK residents testing out their green fingers, while more than a quarter (26%) have used the time for home decorating. With more time at home, a fifth of householders (21%) have tackled home maintenance issues during lockdown.

Karndean Designflooring explain how they have collaborated with interiors blogger Cara Sutherland to inspire their customers.

“Now more than ever social media is playing an important role, keeping us connected and helping our customers stay positive,” explains Stella Coyle, retail sales manager of Karndean Designflooring.

She said: “Interior influencers are key to keeping our optimism going and inspiring us to plan ahead for new homestyle projects. This includes providing aspirational and achievable design inspiration for homeowners.”

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Stella continued: “It makes such a difference for homeowners to see our beautiful floors in a real home against complementary colour tones, accessories and furniture. The honey hues of our Pale Limed Oak planks perfectly balance the soft tones of Farrow and Ball’s Pigeon paint and the cosy sofas.”

Grosvenor Wilton is not only one of the UK’s oldest independent carpet manufacturers, it is also one of the most creative. Until now, commissioning a bespoke patterned carpet was out of reach to the general consumer. However, Grosvenor Wilton have changed that with the introduction of their unique Design Folio collection.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

by Rita Bancroft Rita is Director of Bancmarketing Ltd and has over 30 years of marketing experience with a proven track record in both business to business and business to consumer multi-channel marketing.

“Until now, commissioning a bespoke patterned carpet was out of reach to the general consumer.

Consumers now have the opportunity to create a carpet which is specially woven for their home.”

Grosvenor Wilton - Design Folio Collection

Consumers now have the opportunity to create a bespoke patterned carpet which is specially woven for their home. From beautiful botanicals, to timeless Persian and Turkish patterns and contemporary geometrics, the collection of over 60 designs has been created to provide a completely bespoke customer experience to suit any interior style. Each design can be recoloured using the extensive palette of 54 delectable colour options and can be woven in a loop or cut pile. Each carpet is made to order, and hand finished to the customer’s exact specifications by Grosvenor Wilton’s team of highly skilled artisan weavers based in Kidderminster.

Adam Carpets have been made in Kidderminster by the family since the 1860s. Managing Director, Chris Adam, is the fifth generation to make carpet in Kidderminster and explains why British manufacturing is even more important today, “We manufacture all our carpets using unique techniques in our Kidderminster factory, using UK wool. We have consistently invested in new products and our manufacturing capabilities, coupled with local supply chains, so we are confident of our ability to support our retailers as they begin to fulfil consumer demand again.”

“We are confident of our ability to support our retailers as they begin to fulfil consumer demand again.”

Adam Carpets manufacture a broad selection of pattern and plain carpets, each created to cater for different interior styles and budgets.

Their collaboration with Little Greene Paint Company, another family-owned and family-run business making their own high quality products, ensures Adam Carpets have developed collections in colour palettes which consumers want. The continued love for midcentury modern interiors requires the use of bold colour palettes with understated simplicity. So, as well as their extensive range of greys and neutrals, Adam Carpets have also incorporated bolder hues in their plain and pattern collections.

Most carpets are available in both 4 metre and 5 metre widths to reduce joins in larger rooms, even on patterned carpet. It’s clear that both Adam Carpets and Little Greene care about colour provenance and high-quality British manufacturing.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Adam Carpets – Castlemead, Yellow Submarine

For more information contact: Adam Carpets T: 01562 822247 www.adamcarpets.com Grosvenor Wilton T: 01562 701456 www.grosvenorwilton.co.uk Karndean Designflooring T: 01386 820100 www.karndean.com

Join the online community on: facebook.com twitter.com

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youtube.com houzz.com 31

FLOORING NEWS Make a difference

by John Raine of Stairrods UK For years I wanted to make a difference to the carpet and flooring trade. I had a list in my head on areas I just did not like or wanted to improve. The list being: aluminium trims from China, commercial nosing’s in domestic installs, laminate trims used with rigid core (floating), new transitions for LVT glue down and making a nosing that curved around a bottom bullnose without templates.

I wrote down some parameters: consumers dislike metals, scotia, T-mouldings, commercial nosings, and Z bars.

I needed a spark from somewhere and it began with Bendybull. I experimented using a cover and forced it around the bullnose step. So, using the parameters above we disguised the trim by inserting the LVT into the recess to show as little metal as possible.

So, we set about making aluminium trims for LVT (glue down) and inserting the flooring material in the trim. TramlineZ for LVT to carpet, Tramline Transition for LVT to say ceramics/ laminate, Reducers to sort levels and a Wrap nosing. Before long, fitters were posting on Facebook with some brilliant work, most notably was the TramlineZ with the LVT on a 45, coming into the trim recess.

On this journey I figured out what our great fitters can do with the right tools and perhaps it is time for change. Let the installers do their magic and hopefully the store estimators and wholesalers will catch up.

A change is coming and its floating WPC SPC rigid core and expansion! So, we manufacture the above products with a 1mm recess by simply peeling off the decorative film and adding the Tramline End Profile as an alternative to scotia and an overlap option for the Wraps.

Made a difference? I will let our great fitters be the judge of that. Stay alert!

T 01207 591176 www.stairrods.co.uk

Awards help to add sales value Attracting retailer attention has never been more important as shoppers come back to the high street – award-winning products can add value.

“The research says there may be fewer, more discerning customers in the market over the next few months and those that are buying will be buying better,” says Bridgette Kelly, the award scheme organiser. “Product development may have taken more of a back seat this year so far but recognition for the new designs, new colours and innovation is essential for successful marketing.”

The National Flooring Innovation Awards sets out to identify products and services that are genuinely new and exceptional in the sector. Award categories cover not only flooring products, but also recognise achievements in service, technology and marketing.

Last year there were more than 140 submissions to the award scheme and 40 shortlisted entries received the coveted Innovation Star. The judges then went on to select the Innovation Gold in each of 10 categories to receive the ultimate award.

The awards scheme website is at www.flooringinnovationawards.com and gives full details of all the categories for 2020 and has an entry form for companies to make their first submissions to the judges. The award winners will be announced in late Summer, with the exceptional Innovation Gold titles to be handed out in the Autumn.

www.flooringinnovationawards.com

Check out the categories, rules and entry form at www.flooringinnovationawards.com READERS! Nominate your favourite products now

The “star” judges line-up (l to r): Chris Moffat, Wendy Adams, Laurance Bird, Bridgette Kelly and David Spragg.

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Kensington DeluxeÂŽ 25% Recycled Plastic Bottles

80% recycled for the ultimate feel good factor

55% Recycled Car Tyres Tredaire Kensington Deluxe is a unique combination underlay manufactured from post consumer waste (recycled PET plastic bottles and rubber crumb from car tyres).

The crumb/felt combination creates an underlay with superior wear and comfort properties.

Kensington Deluxe is the perfect choice for Wilton and Axminster style carpets. The PET felt backing means that carpets with stitched joins bed into the top felt layer and prevent wear along the join.

Best Underlay Manufacturer

interfloor.com 01706 238 810 THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

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FLOORING NEWS Harrogate opens for registration Visitor registration is now open for The Flooring Show, which runs from 20-22 September 2020 in Harrogate.

The show’s Event Director, Alex Butler, commented, “It’s great to see registrations get off the mark for this year’s show – the initial surge of companies and people signing up has been very positive, especially as the industry emerges from this difficult time.”

The Flooring Show is again working with The Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA), supported by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet & Floor layers (NICF), to put together a new programme of practical demonstrations at the show for 2020, covering all the latest floor laying techniques and products.

Domotex “full steam ahead” for 2021 show The team of Domotex, the world’s leading trade show for floor coverings, says the show will go on in Germany from 15-18 January 2021 and it is optimistic about its impact in overcoming the crisis.

“We are optimistic in these challenging times, working full steam to provide the industry with a first-class, safe and secure platform to facilitate a significant upswing in business,” say the organisers in Hannover.

“As the flooring sector’s only national trade show, it’s important that we have a good cross-section of exhibitors and content that will appeal to retailers, fitters and buyers from all areas on the industry, whether their interest lies in tools and accessories, underlay or what’s new in flooring,” said Alex.

The show’s unrivalled exhibitor line-up boasts some of flooring’s biggest brands including Abingdon Flooring, Associated Weavers, Ball & Young, BerryAlloc, Brockway Carpets, Cavalier Carpets, Cormar, F.Ball & Co, Factory Flooring Outlet, Furlong Flooring, Hugh Mackay, Interfloor, Kellars, Lano, Lifestyle Floors, Millennium Weavers, Penthouse Carpets, Supreme Carpets, Ulster Carpets and Victoria PLC. Visit the website at www.theflooringshow.com to view the full exhibitor list.

Entry to The Flooring Show is free for industry professionals, you can register for your free ticket at www.theflooringshow.com today. www.theflooringshow.com

This is the official image (above) for Domotex 2021 representing its new keynote theme of Cover New Ground!

“New challenges, new orientation, new normality: more than ever, all of us are currently asked to rethink our previous lives,” says their first statement on the 2021 show.

“Every crisis also contains the seeds of opportunity, the chance to break new ground. The new Domotex keynote theme Cover New Ground! is a motivational call to change perspective and explore new strategies and visions in the design and application of floor coverings.”

For the first time, Domotex will offer its exhibitors the option to stage special exhibitions and business hubs in all product segments as a source of inspiration to both exhibitors and visitors.

Adjusted to new requirements, the hall layout will be different, geared towards making orientation and wayfinding easy and fast. www.domotex.de

Graham Waldron, 1930-2020 The founder of distributor MCD and a major player in the development of the Headlam Group, Graham Waldron sadly passed away on May 27.

Graham first established his relationships and reputation in the flooring industry as the the buyer for the Gainsborough Group in the 1960’s and 70’s.

In 1977 he was the founder of MCD which became the market leader and most progressive distributor of floor covering into the 1980’s. From 1992 he was instrumental as Chairman in developing Headlam into the leading flooring distributor in the UK and Europe.

Always a gentleman , Graham was often a mentor for many in our industry and beyond. His hobbies were business and he was a meticulous follower of the Stock Market – plus a longstanding, loyal and active supporter of West Bromwich Albion. Graham leaves his wife Doris, two daughters, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

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35

FLOORING FORUM READER SURVEY

SURVEY: Retail rollercoaster for flooring Retail rollercoaster for flooring Floor retailing is on a rollercoaster for the next six months according to a survey of readers that found strong belief in pent-up demand alongside an expectation that that the year’s sales figures would be devastated by the lockdown.

69% of readers of The Stocklist believe there is pent-up demand among consumers but a third said their sales for the year would be down more than 20%, another third said more than 30% and a worryingly large 15% expect their turnover to be halved!

Only 27% expected their monthly sales figures to return to pre-lockdown levels this year – 39% expect that recovery in the first half of 2021 and 31% not until the second half of 2021.

“For those that can ride out this storm, they will be in a strong position for the future,” said a Sussex retailer. “I think it will bounce back, but not very quickly,” said a Dorset store owner. “Carpet is luckily a touchy, feely purchase and so I feel customers will always want to come to a shop and purchase.”

There’s an anecdotal expectation that the pent-up demand may be extinguished quickly, last just a month or two but most retailers still expect Q4 to be stronger than Q3, as would be the case in a normal year.

“People will still need flooring – we may even benefit from them spending more time indoors”

in pent-up 69% believe demand their turnover 15% expect to halve

ay recession is the 77% sgreatest threat

“People will still need flooring – we may even benefit from them spending more time indoors,” said a reader in the North East. “I’m confident things will be fine.”

Government 68% support finance moves

Asked what was the greatest threat to consumer confidence this year, maybe surprisingly, only 18% directly cited coronavirus. The great majority (77%) said a recession and its attendant unemployment was by far the greater threat. Only 5% are worrying about a no-deal Brexit.

in-store safety 61% found straightforward

“Now, more than ever, we should be supporting our UK flooring manufacturers. They will be the ones who will reliably provide consistent quality goods at more stable prices,” said a retailer in Warwickshire.

customer 66% using appointments

“I feel there is a great consumer desire for British goods which has only strengthened during lockdown. We shouldn’t be afraid to be proud of our quality products and services going forward, and make a reasonable profit for a change.”

The Stocklists polled 2,300 retailers throughout the UK during June 2020. Replies and comments are recorded anonymously. Many thanks to all those who took part.

Retailers also expressed concern that suppliers might not be ready for the return to trading. 74% said they expected supply or stock issues in the next few weeks.

Only 19% of our respondents had made redundancies or permanently cut hours (as opposed to furlough). Overall, the retail trade thinks the Government has worked well in managing the crisis. 68% said the financial support package had been effective and more than half felt Government communication had been generally good (though 40% said it was confusing).

Among our readers, most retailers re-opened on June 1 when it became clear the “homewares’ exclusion to the lock down could be applied to flooring stores. Of the rest, about a quarter opened before June and another quarter were waiting until the official June 15 deadline for non-essential retail re-opening.

Asked whether the Government’s easing of the lockdown for retail was well-timed, 55% believed it was about right, 35% too soon and 10% too late.

36

We should support UK manufacturers.

It will bounce back, but not quickly.

We shouldn’t be afraid to make a reasonable profit.

People will still need flooring.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

FLOORING FORUM READER SURVEY

SURVEY: Keeping your distance Keeping your distance?

Re-opening with social distancing has not been too much of a challenge for floor retailers, says our survey – if only customers would behave themselves!

61% of respondents thought that preparing their store had been straightforward, another 26% coped OK and only 13% had had problems.

But “many customers seem unconcerned,” said a reader in Devon. “Insisting on sanitising and distancing has been a problem.” A retailer in the Midlands complained about “a lack of understanding and complete inability to comply with distancing and anti-infection measures.”

A retailer in Dorset has had similar experiences: “The majority of my customers are made up of the vunerable age group and they don’t seem to give a thought to personal space.”

Handling samples was mentioned by several retailers as an issue (see our guidance on sampling hygiene on page 26).

Arranging appointments for customer visits has become very commonplace after major chains adopted the system. A third of our retailer respondents are always using appointments at the moment and a further third use the approach sometimes.

Customers don’t seem to give a thought to personal space.

“We need to look very carefully at the way we do business,” says a West Country reader.

“In our case appointment only is working very well with a steady flow of enquiries.”

Some customer resistance to home visits has been experienced by around 20% but most retailers are finding general acceptance – more so for fitting than estimating however. On the other hand, 10% of stores say that are not seeing manufacturers reps right now and 14% are limiting visits. A further 38% are insisting on appointments with representatives.

“We need to look very carefully at the way we do business,” says a West Country reader. “In our case appointment only is working very well with a steady flow of enquiries.”

There’s a complete inability to comply with distancing.

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

NEWS FEATURE

Exceptional support to get back to business SURVEY: Keeping your distance

The story of how a buying group’s commitment came through for members in a crisis It was Monday 23rd March when the Government announced the lockdown, effective 24th March that would close non-essential stores, that the seriousness of the crisis really came home. The Metro Group took an immediate decision to do everything possible to support the members of the group.

The first step was to suspend any payments due to the group to help retailers who would now have no source of income for the foreseeable future.

The second step was to ensure that communication was not just maintained but increased from the group to the retailers and also amongst the retailers. In a crisis it is vital to work together, members were not alone, everyone was going through the same unprecedented experience. The ability to share questions, concerns and advice as well as generally support each other was vital.

A free accountancy and business advice service was set up for members to ask any questions they may have had.

Within hours of every new piece of Government guidance or legislation being published, a summary of all the relevant key points was produced and shared with members.

Communication with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy plus the Ministry for Housing & Local Government meant we were able to share advice and offer guidance directly from the Government. The Ministry for Housing and Local Government were the lead authority on all the new guidelines, so were the prime source of accurate, definitive advice.

“In short, at a time when it would have been very easy to close up and wait for lockdown to end, we have demonstrated one of the greatest benefits of group” Based on this the Merchandising Service produced a complete set of COVID-19 signage for every store in the group. This included hanging graphics, floor signs, swing cards, window/door posters, sanitiser station display cards, fitting & delivery cards and a pavement sign.

The signs all contained the necessary social distancing and hygiene advice needed to comply with the guidelines but also that would reassure customers that their safety was a priority for the retailer. Every member received a pack of these signs for every store, worth £200, in advance of stores opening and free of charge.

In addition, further supplies of any items in the free pack and bespoke items could also be purchased by members. These included clear acrylic barrier screens for desks.

Perspex for this type of screen is currently in very short supply but by acting well in advance of stores being given the go-ahead to open meant all the group members were able to get what they needed.

Risk assessments, health & safety guidance and working practices advice has all been generated and shared throughout the group membership. COVID-19 awareness training has been made available for everyone.

In short, at a time when it would have been very easy to close up and wait for lockdown to end, we have demonstrated one of the greatest benefits of group membership.

You are never on your own and there is always advice, guidance and support on hand, whatever the situation. The Metro Group has worked harder than ever during the crisis to support its retail members. Ask yourself, would any of this support have helped you and if so, get in touch about Group membership.

“Hopefully, we will never go through anything like this again but the benefits of group support are always there, increased profit, superb Carpet1st exclusive ranges and the bespoke marketing support that no other group can provide”

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Find out more from Jill Coward, tel: 01204 393539 or jillcoward@carpet1st.co.uk

39

Flooring FOCUS Shiny, smart ideas to add extra value to your sales Optimising the revenue from every sale has never been more important so this month we’re looking at ways to ensure that once a consumer is ready to buy, they buy more – and enjoy it!

Smart profiles and clever accessories add value and customer delight – plus they make your offer look more special and professional. floorwise says “first impressions count, but it’s the lasting impression that’s really important and that’s why we engineer our profiles with quality first and foremost in mind.”

With more metal for your money, the Classic range delivers a wide range of applications in aluminium and sim brass finish, making it the ideal collection for any installer looking for a quality, low cost solution. Including adjustable z-edge options, as well as trims for cushion vinyl floors and carpets; there’s little that Classic can’t tackle.

Max Reflections is floorwise’s answer to lifestyle-inspired finishes with profiles available in chrome and brushed steel nickel to complement modern sockets and switches. Giving the ultimate touch in homes looking for high-end finishes, Max Reflections is available in common applications including cover strips and single and dual edge for carpet, wood, ceramic, laminate and LVT floors.

floorwise – engineers for quality

Ball & Young – pride in British profiles

“We really listen to what customers and their fitters want and have steadily developed our accessories range to match that requirement” provided a solution to the issue of stick down profiles not matching the other bars fitted within the installation.

A range of quality, British manufactured grippers with reliable performance credentials is also available.

Quantum’s LVT latest transition profiles are suitable for covering and protecting joins between floorcoverings and be used as transitions between two vinyl floorcoverings or two different types of floorcoverings, generally vinyl to carpet.

The bases for these LVT transitions come in three finishes: gold polished, silver polished, and anodised satin silver. A 30mm wide LVT strip fits into the base. The profiles can be fitted with secret fixing, so there are no screw holes to worry about. They can also be fitted using Quantum’s new Q-Fix cartridge adhesive, with a strong and durable bond. Q-Fix can fully replace mechanical fixing, saving time and money.

“First impressions count, but it’s the lasting impression that’s really important...”

For wood, laminate and LVT floors, the brand also offers the Zenith range including cover strips and edges in popular wood finishes including natural oak and dark walnut. In depths specially designed to accommodate wood, laminate and LVT floors, the Zenith collection also includes matt gold and matt silver finishes.

Quantum Flooring Solutions’ LVT transitions can be used with resilient floorcoverings, carpets and carpet tiles to prevent worn and frayed edges from becoming a trip hazard. They are suitable for use to aid safety in all public buildings such as hospitals, schools and hotels.

Quantum – makes a smooth transition

Ball & Young takes pride in making all their profiles in-house in Corby and carefully controls the procurement of all the raw materials to ensure consistency. “We’re flying the flag for British manufacturing and our approach means we can guarantee the quality of a product that installers know they can rely on,” says Ann Shaw of Ball & Young.

“We really listen to what customers and their fitters want and have steadily developed our accessories range to match that requirement with innovation and imagination,” says Ann. The comprehensive range edging and cover strips and trims for carpet and vinyl are available in aluminium and simbrass in 900 and 2.7m lengths.

Ball & Young has recently added stick down polished aluminium singles, doubles and cover strips to aid fitting over underfloor heating, which also 40

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Turning from the floor to the staircase, the Maestro-steps stair cladding system from Stair Makeover Solutions can make a transformative difference – often in just one day’s installation.

The laminate treads have a slip resistant finish and the system is designed to transform virtually any staircase whatever its shape or size. It is available in premium quality laminate and real oak veneer.

All elements are simply cut to size on site for an exact fit and glued in place over the existing treads and risers. Four simple steps to a new staircase – measure, cut, glue and use – easy, stylish, practical and affordable adding value and a real feature to the home.

introducing

graphite

carpet underlay

And here’s an add-on sales opportunity for every new installation.

Stroolmount have been helping designers, manufacturers and retailers solve problems and finding solutions for over 13 years.

Moving heavy furniture can play havoc with your customer’s beautiful new floor. The decision to move a sofa could prove regrettable if it carves a scratch across your wooden floor and it’s not much better if you have carpets, moving that heavy wardrobe can cause a carpet to ripple or, even worse, cause the furniture’s joints to fatally lurch to one side, that’s if you can budge it at all, of course.

When what you really really want is a strong selling good all-round domestic underlay which delivers a healthy margin Graphite is the way to go!.

Graphite is a fine, robust, utility underlay representing superb value for money and which is already a firm favourite with many Retailers and Distributors throughout UK and Ireland.

Stroolmount – slides in an extra sales opportunity

Often friction will anchor things to the floor as surely as half a dozen 6in nails, but there is now a simple solution which makes moving furniture a breeze. Even the screeching of chairs scraping back from the table can be silenced. Stroolmount offer a nifty and thrifty range of protective glides, felts,pads and cups available to trade only.

People spend thousands of pounds on flooring and furniture, so it makes sense to encourage customers to pay a little extra to protect them so they stay looking their absolute best.

For more information Ball & Young – www.underlay.com – 01536 200502 Floorwise – www.floorwise.co.uk – 01509 673974 Quantum – www.quantumprofilesystems.com – 0161 627 4222 Stair Makeover Solutions – www.stairmakeoversolutions.co.uk – 01507 463129 Stroolmount – www.stroolmount.co.uk – 01942 271271 THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

FULLY RECYCLABLE SIMPLE, QUICK AND EASY TO LAY DESIGNED FOR GENERAL DOMESTIC USE EXCELLENT SOUND REDUCTION PERFORMANCE LIGHTWEIGHT ROLLS EXCEED H&S EXPECTATIONS IDEAL FOR USE WITH UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEMS

Graphite is part of the Novostrat range of polyethylene foam based underlays for wood, laminate and carpeted floors.

Underlays for every application - from the highest performance to utility – and to suit every budget.

tel: 00353 61-339287 www.novostrat.com info@novostrat.com 41

FLOORING BUSINESS NEWS Tapi aims to innovate to the top

“Bright spark” in consumer confidence

Tapi Carpets says it can become the UK’s number one flooring store within five years by “innovating at speed to adapt to the changing environment.”

Latest data says consumer confidence shows no signs of a bounceback, except... some hope for that pent-up demand for flooring!

And it’s understood the firm has extra cash to drive this strategy with an injection of £16 million from backers which include Lord Harris, former boss, of Tapi’s arch rival Carpetright. Tapi Carpets was founded by his son, Martin Harris, in 2015.

Tapi has opened 137 stores over the last five years but has some way to go to catch Carpetright who list over 300 stores in its portfolio.

New thinking at Tapi already includes a fleet of mobile showrooms but the coronavirus has accelerated the innovation...

Video appointments for consumers, with a live link to a store manager, have been such a success that they are to continue to beyond the pandemic. A “queue buster” system also allows customers to scan a QR-code or text a store to book an appointment in store.

And Tapi is in a hurry – it was one of the first chains to re-open on May 11, under the Government’s homewares exclusion to lockdown.

Helping to drive the new future is James Sturrock who joined Tapis Carpets in May from the mattress company Eve Sleep.

Martin Harris is vice-chairman and MD of retail and Will Barker, one of Tapi Carpet’s largest investors is chairman.

Likewise’s positive performance Likewise Group has posted a revised budget from 1st July for the second half of 2020 with the comment “whilst market conditions are difficult to predict, this reasonably prudent budget produces a positive profit performance for this period.”

In April sales revenue was 30.7% and in May 54.8% of the original budget but the company says currently June is well ahead of the May performance. Working capital management has been monitored daily and whilst maintaining service levels, Likewise says it has been able to reduce stock.

“We very much appreciate the support of our employees, suppliers, customers and shareholders as we navigate through this period of our business development,” said the company’s statement.

Customers need 10m2 each in store Each customer needs 10 sq. metres in your store for safe social distancing according to the latest detailed research from behavioural scientists who have analysed retail space.

Previous Government advice had asked retailers to work out “the number of customers that can reasonably follow 2m social distancing within the store” but gave no basis for that calculation.

The High Streets Task Force commissioned this research to calculatethe answer and applied theory from retail space allocation, crowd dynamics, operational research, ergonomics and biomechanics.

The report was written by experts at the Institute of Place Management and the Manchester Metropolitan University To quote directly from the report, “Based on a hexagonal tessellation, each person will require a space of π (x + 1)2/0.9069m2 (13.856m2 when x = 1m). “ Translated to a typically independent flooring store of less than 500 sq. m, that means 10 sq. m per person!

This recommendation works alongside the official Government guidance on social distancing for retail which covers the management of staff and customers in store and best practice for hygiene.

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“The only bright spark in the numbers is for the major purchase index with a six point fillip, pointing to latent demand among shoppers across the UK despite most outlets remaining shuttered,” says Joe Staton, director of research specialist GfK. The Major Purchase Index relates to furnishing and flooring, among other big ticket items, and was the only rising trend in an otherwise dire report from GfK, based on research among 2,000 consumers taken between May 20-26.

The report said overall confidence had deteriorated compared to the previous two weeks to minus 36 – that’s just three points above the all-time low for the Index which hit minus 39 in the darkest days of the 2008 financial crisis.

“Against a backdrop of falling house prices, soaring jobless claims and with no sign of a rapid V-shaped bounce-back on the cards, consumers remain pessimistic about the state of their finances and the wider economic picture for the year to come,” says Mr Staton.

“As the lockdown eases, it will be interesting to see just how the consumer appetite for spending returns in a world of socially-distanced shopping and the seismic shift to online retailing – alongside worries of a fresh spike in Covid-19 cases as relaxations increase,” he added.

Abingdon welcomes back Joe Abingdon Flooring has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Joe King as Regional Manager for Midlands East. Joe joins the company from Millennium Weavers, another subsidiary of Victoria Carpets plc.

Having joined the carpet industry in 1996, Joe has more than 24 years’ experience and comes to Abingdon Flooring to work with key accounts in wholesale and independent retail throughout the region. Joe’s responsibilities will include growth of the manufacturer’s carpet business, as well as its SoftStep cushion vinyl and Abingdon Carpet Tile Division. He will also be responsible for the team of five Abingdon Flooring sales representatives working across the Midlands East area.

Joe King, says, “I’m delighted to be joining Abingdon Flooring at what is a transitional time for the entire industry. I’m particularly relishing the chance to work with customers through operating post pandemic. There are sure to be many challenges, but I’m confident that the skills of our team and our ability to deliver exceptional value across the portfolio, will help to build a bright and positive future.”

Joe has come full circle in his new role at Abingdon Flooring. His first role within the industry was with Abingdon Flooring, under the ownership of Carpets International.

Since, Joe has spent time at Brintons, Ulster Carpets, Victoria Carpets and most recently, Millennium Weavers, leaving his role as sales director for the company to join Abingdon Flooring once again.

Martin Peace, sales and marketing director, says, “Joe’s appointment comes at a challenging time for the whole industry and we’re delighted to add his experience to the team. Welcome back Joe!” T 01274 655 694 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Flooring

Factsheet Adhesive Types Acrylic/Resin: Ideal for plasticized PVC and most modern flooring.

Bitumen: A tar-like material, bitumen has a high degree of moisture resistance and is used for damp-proof membranes and installing tiles, wood blocks and mosaics.

Epoxy Resin: A two-part chemical curing system that is used in aggressive environments such as conservatories, wet rooms, commercial kitchens and exterior installations.

Polyurethane: An adhesive with rapid bonding characteristics, typically used for wood floors.

ADHESIVES

SELECTION CHECKLIST

The criteria to select an adhesive will cover the following points.

Larger manufacturers offer detailed guides to select the correct adhesive – even indexing floor manufacturer’s products by name to ensure an accurate match. For accurate and up-to-date information consult the F. Ball Recommended Adhesives Guide.

Open Time: The time you have to fit the flooring into the adhesive after which the bond will no longer be ideal. The time until the floor may be walked on should be checked.

Odour: Low odour, solvent free and low VOC products are increasingly favoured and now have the same performance characteristics of older products.

Polyvinyl Acetate: Typically used for close fitting joints in timber, laminate floors and panels.

Coverage: How thick and how far can the adhesive be spread.

Tackifier: An adhesive for carpet designed to increase the tackiness – or the tack range – of an adhesive.

Application Method: Different adhesives may be applied by roller, trowel or spray.

Water-based Adhesive: Many different types of adhesives now use water as their carrier to avoid odours and flammability issues which are common with chemical solvents.

Strength: Including how quickly the adhesive will “grab” the floor covering and its strength when fully cured.

W NE

Underfloor Heating: A lot of modern adhesives are suitable for use with underfloor heating but

this criteria must be checked where appropriate.

Subfloor: What surface will the adhesive stick to most effectively including concrete, sand cement screeds, levelling compounds, plywood and chipboard. While there are multi-purpose adhesives, specialist products will be better suited to certain surfaces. The porosity of the floor is a key determinant of the type of adhesive to be used and its performance during installation.

Special Performance: Certain adhesives are more suitable for damp, humid or high temperature environments.

Air Quality and the Environment: The old wisdom that the more it smells, the better it sticks is no longer acceptable to modern consumers and solvent-based products are increasingly replaced by water-based adhesives.

STYCCOBOND F73PLUS HEAVY DUTYONE PART FLOORING ADHESIVE • No mixing, no waste, easy to use • Fibre-reinforced with high bond strength

• Suitable for internal and external areas • Fast setting - traffic from 90 minutes • Weld from 2 hours

Let F73 Plus take the strain in the most demanding environments Trust the yellow bucket

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.

GREAT BRITISH INNOVATION

01538 361 633 • mail@f-ball.co.uk • www.f-ball.co.uk THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

43

Flooring factsheet from Interfloor Best Practice Guide Fitting the Right Underlay Selecting the right underlay is not always easy. There are a lot to choose from and there are many factors to consider such as comfort, durability, suitability with underfloor heating, noise reduction, warmth and more.

Interfloor has been advocating the use of underlay with new floorcoverings since the 1940s, pioneering its “British method” worldwide and developing its market-leading brands Duralay and Tredaire to supply hundreds of customers in over 70 countries.

Here they offer advice on the key considerations for selecting the best underlay …

Our Underlay Range

Sustainability Re-use and recycling are key considerations for determining a flooring product’s green credentials.

Interfloor’s crumb rubber and PU foam underlays contain approximately 80%-90% recycled content. The crumb rubber is made from recycled car tyres and some 3 million are recycled every year to make our underlay.

We launched FSC® certified carpet gripper in 2011 and produced the first EC1 and EC2 flooring adhesives in 2008.

Impact sound With more people opting for hard floorcoverings there are major benefits to using a specialist underlay; not least, the reduction in sound impact.

Interfloor’s Duralay was the first brand to develop special noise reduction underlays for wood and laminate floors. Independent tests prove our sponge rubber Timbermate underlays, with their superior weight and density, reduce acoustic noise levels by up to 30 per cent.

Underfloor heating It’s important to make sure that the effect of underfloor heating is not reduced by the underlay. Choose a specialist underlay for use with underfloor heating and check its thermal insulation value, making sure the thermal resistance of the total installation doesn’t exceed 0.15m2 K/W. Interfloor’s high tog underlays, including Duralay Heatflow and Tredaire King and Defender, help keep rooms warm and cosy.

Quality standards With greater emphasis being placed on building products’ performance, it’s important that those used in residential and commercial environments conform to British and European quality standards.

Interfloor’s underlays and accessories are compliant with the relevant quality and safety standards, including BS 5808: 1991 / EN14499 : 2015.

They also hold the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus accreditation, meaning our products conform to the CRI’s high standards for indoor air quality and low VOC emissions.

Interfloor manufactures Tredaire and Duralay, leading brands underlay market, that are recognized by customers as brands of quality, and with over 70 years of expertise, they are trusted by users throughout the world.

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Flooring factsheet Underlay In a tight market for margins, underlay for carpet and hard flooring offers retailers one of the best opportunities to add value to every sale – with good profitability, trade-up potential once benefits are understood and high customer satisfaction levels.

www.interfloor.com

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.

www.floorwise.co.uk

Setting up in-store demonstrations so customers can walk on samples with different grades of underlay and feel the difference has shown excellent results. Some manufacturers offer point-of-sale units and foot testers.

www.carpenterunderlay.co.uk

Benefits

Types

Good underlay will...

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

PU (polyurethane) foam This is now the market’s most popular underlay and is typically made from recycled foam offcuts. The foam provides excellent comfort and performance levels with lots of thickness options and densities and provides great insulation – and its light weight helps handling.

Poor or old underlay will...

• Feel hard and unwelcoming • Reduce carpet life • Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots • Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly • Not meet British Standards How thick?

A maximum of 12mm is recommended (working with gripper will be difficult thereafter) but rooms with heavy traffic will need a thinner, denser pad. The combination of thickness and density is all important as a thick underlay with low density may not perform well. Typically, the thicker the underlay, the better quality it will need to be – 11mm is often used for luxury installations with 9mm and 7mm the common domestic thickness.

Sponge rubber

Combination

Crumb

PU foam

Sponge rubber Introduced in the 1950s, this is a more traditionally manufactured underlay available in flat or waffle patterns in a wide range of weights for different applications. It performs well for comfort and has a durable spring retention.

Crumb rubber Flat and dense, crumb rubber is good for heavy footfall – offering maximum protection but a little less comfort (and very good over stair nosings).

www.wilsons-carpet-underlays.co.uk

Laminate underlay There’s still an opportunity to sell underlay with laminate flooring, improving the acoustic performance of the floor and helping the boards float above any imperfections in the sub-floor.

Combination A rubber crumb base with a felt top layer offers a good combination of protection, durability and comfort. It also allows carpet with seaming to bed into the top felt.

www.luxeunderlay.com

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.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

www.underlay.com

www.qaflooringsolutions.com

www.interfloor.com

45

Flooring factsheet Carpet trouble-shooter

• shedding • pulled loops

Fading on Wool

Carpets made from wool can and do fade in use. The degree of fade can vary depending on the colour chosen and the local conditions to which the carpet is subjected.

Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violet light which is found in daylight, but is accelerated when sunlight shines directly onto the carpet. This has the effect of lightening or “Bleaching” the colour just as exposure to sunlight will lighten human hair. Wool is after all animal hair.

Protection should be given to carpets exposed to such conditions just as you would protect other furniture or fabrics.

A complaint on fading would be considered justified if it failed to meet the required shade standard when tested to the British Standard BS1006 (1990).

Soiling

Soiling is usually the result of some local condition to which the carpet has been subjected to, or maintenance, or lack of maintenance programme. There is nothing we as manufacturers can do to prevent soiling in use. There are several types of soiling which are quite common: Spillages - Liquids such as soft drinks, cordials or any drink which contains sugar, particularly hot drinks, is likely to leave a stain. In such instances, professional help should be sought.

Colour matching Carpets are produced in batches - known as creels - and usually each batch produces between 500m2 - 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creel size. Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remains constant, and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colour reproduction will vary from batch to batch.

However production is matched back to the original or master sample to ensure that the colour remains ‘within a commercial tolerance’.

This process if not an exact science and a commercial tolerance is subjective but nevertheless is usually the professional judgement of the head dyer based on his/her experience.

Shampoo - if incorrectly applied, can leave sticky soap residues in the fibres which can result in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly.

Dust - which is carried on draughts can soil carpets in various ways, apart from the obvious soiled edges, at gaping skirting boards for instance, dark lines appearing on surface might suggest airborne dust vacuum-drawn through poorly fitted floorboards. Sometimes the shape of floorboards can be seen quite clearly. Air borne dust sometimes shows itself as spots on the carpet, this is due to the air carried on a draught under the carpet escaping through minute holes both in the underlay and the carpet, leaving dust deposited on the pile much like a filter action. In such installations, the use of a lining paper is essential as a preventative measure.

A greater level of tolerance is required on blended colours (Heathers etc). To ensure perfect colour matching it is advisable that a single width be used in any installation requiring exact colour matching.

It is the responsibility of the retailer to advise the consumer when the carpet is measured of any poorly fitting doors, skirtings, or floorboards and the consumers responsibility to ensure any remedial work to seal draughts, is carried out before the carpet is fitted, if a resulting complaint is to be avoided.

N.B. Carpets which are laid with the pile travelling in different directions, even though they be from the same batch will appear not to match. For further information please check with the manufacturers recommendations.

Static

Sprouting

Occasionally an odd tuft or two can work its way to the surface and stand proud of the rest of the pile. This is probably due to one end of the tuft being longer than the other i.e. J shaped tuft instead of V shaped. Remedial action merely requires that the offending tufts be scissor trimmed level with the rest of the pile. They should never be pulled out.

46

Carpets do not produce static but like other household fabrics and objects have the capacity to store it. Static is caused by the build up of static electricity upon personnel in a dry environment and is discharged when a person makes contact with an object which can conduct electricity (i.e. door handle or filing cabinets, etc).

The static charges will vary in intensity depending upon the individual, air humidity and the contact materials. Static is more usually associated with synthetic materials as they do not retain moisture very well but it can and does occur with wool in very dry room conditions.

Preventative measures include the introduction of moisture into the room or in situ carpet treatment.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

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

Flattening

Flattening will occur as a result of traffic which eventually flattens the pile particularly in the main areas of use.

All pile fabrics will flatten to greater or lesser degree dependant on the amount of traffic to which it is subjected and the construction (tuft density/pile fibre/height/weight) of the product concerned.

Shading

Shading occurs because the pile of the carpet has become crushed, flattened or brushed in a different direction to the natural lie of the pile whilst in situ. This causes light reflection at differing angles resulting in the creation of light and dark patches on the carpet. This will occur on all pile fabrics but can be more noticeable on plainer carpets because the shadows created by pile pressure will not be disguised by a heavy pattern or design.

Pile Reversal

Like shading, this occurs when the pile or nap of the carpet changes direction and thus reflects light at different angles showing the effects of shading which can become permanent. It is also described as ‘watermarking’. This can happen to every carpet construction be it Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, Hand Woven, Persian, Chinese, Indian or even Coir Matting. Like shading it can be more apparent on plain carpet because heavy patterns can disguise the effects.

It can occur quite quickly after installation. A tremendous amount of research has been carried out over many years by many institutes to determine the cause of this phenomenon but none of it has proved conclusive.

Shedding

All cut pile carpets will lose short fibre, which is created during production when spun yarn is cut for tuft formation.

These fibres fall onto the surface of the pile and appear as ‘fluff’.

The effect varies with yarn type and may be removed without detrimental effect upon the carpet by vacuum cleaning. This excess fibre is only a small fraction of the total fibre contained in the carpet.

Indentations

When a carpet is subjected to a heavy point load, such as under the legs of furniture, it is unreasonable to expect the carpet not to indent. Usually, the longer the load is in place, the longer will be the time for the pile to recover.

In the case of very heavy loads in place for a considerable time, the recovery time can be very considerable.

It must be remembered that it is not only the pile of the carpet that becomes indented. The underlay will also indent and the backing of the carpet may also distort into the indentation in the underlay. Some underlay’s will recover well and some less well depending upon their composition, thickness, density etc. The use of cups below furniture legs can spread the load and the net result is a larger area of less deeply indented carpet.

The ability of a carpet to recover from a heavy static load can be measured in the laboratory, using the test method described in BS 4939 and many manufacturers will have data on this aspect of carpet performance. In this test the carpet is loaded for 24 hours and the degree of recovery is measured after 1 hour and 24 hours. Since there are so many different underlay’s however, it is very rare for the recovery from a heavy static load to be evaluated on carpet and underlay.

There is no commonly known manufacturing process which can cause or cure this phenomenon and therefore it is not a manufacturing fault. For further information please check with individual manufacturers recommendations.

Often normal maintenance (vacuum cleaning with a rotating brush machine) will speed up recovery but in the case of serious indentations the use of an iron and damp cloth or a steam iron together with a blunt darning needle to carefully tease up the pile can be beneficial. Care must be take not to over wet the carpet, of course.

Pulling Loops

Samples

Pulled loops occur only in looped pile carpet where one or more loops in the continuous pile is pulled through the primary backing of the carpet. This is usually due to some local condition, possibly some sharp object which has caught in a loop in situ and has resulted in a pull.

Pulled loops are easily dealt with by trimming the offending end level with the rest of the pile. They should not be left as this could result in further loops being pulled and developing into a ladder.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

The original carpet tile

The samples held by individual retailers may not be from the same batch as current production and therefore should be used as a guide and not an exact colour match.

Installation

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

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

47

wiseup to floorwise quality&value guaranteed

gripper

underlay

stair nosings

profiles

tools

adhesives + screeds

national distributor network

2 5

3 4

headoffice:

8

6 9 10

7

11 12 14 15 16 20

19

13 17 18

he +s sive cr ee s ds lam ina tes

Floorwise Group Ltd. Floorwise House, 22 High Street, Kegworth, Derby, DE74 2DA, UK Tel: +44 (0)1509 673974 Fax: +44 (0)1509 674841

ma tti ng

tap es

too ls

pr ofi les

gr ipp er

16 Salesmark West Ltd Amesbury, Wiltshire Tel: 01980 880933 mail@salesmark-west.co.uk 17 Acorn Carpet Accessories Bromley, Kent Tel: 020 8462 0422 Fax: 020 8462 0927 sales@acorncarpetsacc.co.uk 18 Salesmark Lancing, West Sussex Tel: 01903 750522 Fax: 01903 851111 sales@salesmark-floorwise.co.uk 19 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Newton Abbot, Devon Tel: 01626 835935 sales@fitwell.co.uk 20 Fitwell Flooring Ltd Redruth, Cornwall Tel: 01209 214344 1 sales@fitwell.co.uk

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n pv osin c s gs kir + tin g

un de rla y

1 Neil Smith Ltd 8 Hathaway Flooring Glasgow Trafford Park, Manchester Tel: 0141 552 1141 Tel: 0161 872 8003 sales@neilsmithltd.co.uk sales@hathawayflooring.com 2 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 9 Cornerstone Flooring Belfast Doncaster Tel: 028 9075 3202 Tel: 01302 835117 Fax: 028 9075 3901 Fax: 01302 302542 salesbelfast@pfl.ie cornerstonefloor@btconnect.com 3 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 10 Birch Distribution Dublin 12 Sheffield, S9 5PH Tel: 00353 (0)1 626 3913 Tel: 0114 243 1230 Fax: 00353 (0)1 460 4669 Fax: 0114 243 5118 salesdublin@pfl.ie n.maude@birchdistribution.co.uk 4 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd 11 Woodall Brothers Ltd Limerick Shrewsbury, Shropshire Tel: 00353 (0)61 227 100 Tel: 01743 441584 Fax: 00353 (0)61 227 000 Fax: 01743 441629 sales@pfl.ie sales@woodallbrothers.co.uk 5 Preston Underlay Centre Ltd 12 Floorwise D & J Ltd Preston, Lancashire Southam, Warwickshire Tel: 01772 556345 Tel: 01926 814922 sales@pucflooring.co.uk Fax: 01926 817899 sales@fwdj.co.uk 6 Birch Distribution Leeds, LS10 1AG 13 Salesmark Ltd Tel: 0113 244 4363 St Neots, Cambridgeshire Fax: 0113 244 8665 Tel: 01480 212888 l.sigsworth@birchdistribution.co.uk Fax: 01480 218585 sales@salesmark.co.uk 7 Birch Distribution Hull, HU7 0XD 14 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd Tel: 01482 826654 Gloucester Fax: 01482 878693 Tel: 01452 223355 d.ostler@birchdistribution.co.uk Fax: 01452 371284 info@blflooring.co.uk 15 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd Bristol Tel: 0117 955 5454 Fax: 0117 955 2626 info@blflooring.co.uk

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

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

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

Metro Group www.carpet1st.co.uk Contact: Jill Coward Tel: 01204 393539 jillcoward@carpet1st.co.uk

of the committee

Why join?

Buying groups have been a highly successful feature of the floor retailing scene in the last decade or so, giving independents the extra edge they need to compete effectively with the retail park chains.

More than 1000 retailers are now members of one of the several buying groups which operate in our sector and the numbers are slowly, but steadily growing.

• 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

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.

• Review all the extra benefits and services to see

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...

flexibility to run your business the way you want

www.smg-group.co.uk Contact: Mike Reed Tel: 0118 932 3832 info@smg-group.co.uk

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

Associated Carpet Group www.acgcarpets.com Contact: Richard Moore Tel: 01942 825520 richard@acgcarpets.com

Key benefits Increase margins • Group purchases to get beneficial rates • Rebates • Exclusive higher-margin products • Special promotions ne of the key reasons to join a buying group is to O benefit from the discounts they negotiate as a bulk buyer from manufacturers. The way discounts and rebates are passed on to members varies between groups so make sure it’s absolutely clear how this will be done. You’ll need to work out how this compares with discounts you have already negotiated locally with preferred suppliers.

Access professional services • Business and financial services • IT and internet support • Training and workshops • Professional bodies Some buying groups offer an excellent range of other services which may be valuable to your business.

Financial services include invoice factoring, credit, loans and insurance. Some of the more sophisticated groups offering marketing packages, software systems to help you run your business operations and customised websites ready to use. Relationships with professional and training organisations can also offer discounts.

THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

Increase sales

• Best of both worlds’ proposition • Wider ranges and exclusive products • POS, displays and merchandising support

www.beautifulflooring.co.uk Contact: Carl Harris Tel: 01892 549050 charris31@sky.com

Your customers will like the proposition that you are independent but with the buying power of a group – this gives them (and you) the ‘best of both worlds’ with personal service and competitive pricing. Most groups will also offer you ‘own label’ ranges and support with pointof-sale, merchandising and displays. Central stockholding may also be on offer.

Network with other independents • Members-only exhibitions with preferred manufacturers • Regular meetings and supplier presentations • Regional workshops • Helpline A lot of retailers enjoy the buying group environment of being independent but not alone out there on the High Street. Groups hold regular meetings and some have their own trade shows, regional meetings and workshops to help you develop your business. The network gives you someone to call when you need advice on, for example, an unusual installation, a technical consumer complaint, legal issue or business dilemma.

www.flooringone.co.uk Mandy Powell Tel: 0121 683 1426 mandy.powell@flooringone.co.uk

www.greendalecarpets.co.uk Contact: Rob Harding Tel: 01432 852000 Fax: 01432 852005 rharding@greendalecarpets.co.uk

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Tel: 0115 950 6836 Email: info@fita.co.uk www.fita.co.uk

national institute of carpet & floorlayers

D DE

CALL NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION!

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Sheet Vinyl Installation — Commercial — Basic/Intermediate Sheet Vinyl Installation — Commercial — Advanced Sheet Vinyl Installation — Domestic Sheet Vinyl — Wetrooms Installation — Advanced

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Linoleum Installation — Basic Linoleum Installation — Intermediate

Resilient

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Wood

Laminate and Floating Wood Fitting — Basic Wood Fitting — Intermediate Wood Fitting — Advanced Wood Sanding and Finishing

Subfloors

Subfloor Preparation — Commercial Subfloor Preparation — Domestic

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Cost-Effective Estimating and Planning — Commercial Profitable Measuring and Quoting — Domestic Moisture — Preventing Floor Failures

national institute of carpet & floorlayers

FITA is a joint venture by CFA and NICF

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Both our fully equipped training centres at Loughborough and Kirkcaldy are run by seasoned professional instructors with specialist knowledge of the flooring industry.

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The NICF offers something for all levels of floorlayers, from Apprentice level all the way through to Master Fitter It not only helps me gain work , but gives my customers the assurance that their flooring will be fitted to the highest of standards Making the most of the benefits on offer from the NICF has helped to enhance my fitting and my business to make me stand out from the crowd Give us a try or you will never know if the NICF is right for you!

Dan Evans

Master Fitter

Joining th e I did since NICF is the best th in deciding to be a fitt g er!

Tel: 0115 958 3077 www.nicfltd.org.uk Email: info@nicfltd.org.uk

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THE STOCKLISTS July 2020

StocklistsClassified The

SITUATIONS VACANT

FOR SALE

AREA SALES MANAGER

EVERYTHING MUST GO

CHESHIRE / POTTERIES / STAFFORDSHIRE

Over the last year Kellars have expanded rapidly with both an acquisition and merger to maintain our rapid expansion plans. We are now looking to continue our growth in 2020 with a new sales area.

We are currently looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic person to join our sales team to grow and maintain this area.

You will ideally have experience of selling flooring and flooring accessories to the retail trade OR work in retail flooring.

Our comprehensive range of carpets, wood flooring, LVT, underlay, screed and accessories,as well as being an independent distributor, enables us to provide an excellent package to our customer.

This is a great opportunity to join our team and be part of a growing successful business in 2020 and beyond.

A competitive salary will be offered to the right candidate as well as a company vehicle and ipad for CRM use.

Please send CV to email address below or contact us by phone for any questions you may have prior to application.

Dave Francis Kellars Ltd, Stockport Dave.francis@kellars.co.uk 0161 443 0970 / 07841 048413

Shop display units SILENT AUCTION Wednesday 8 July 2020 DOORS OPEN 2:00PM SHARP

Please email info@publicspeakingacademy.co.uk to get your visit time slot for the Open Day. Due to COVID 19, we will need to allow only a limited number of attendees into the shop at a time.

FLOOR DECOR SHOP 992 Abbeydale Rd, Sheffield S7 2QF

FOR SALE

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