The Stocklists - May 2024

Stylish in stone

It's not all about wood!

We review some of the most fashionable vinyl tiles pages 32–35

Safety in numbers

Buying groups protect the independent retailers when the going gets tough pages 36–39

Independent revolution

IFG 's new innovation to futureproof the profits of retailers page 29

Anti-greenwash move

Karndean is first in flooring to sign up to bold new eco challenge page 22

Cormar's new CEO

Paul Barratt joins from Karndean page 50

LVT flawless finish

F Ball on how to deliver on high expectations in LVT projects page 35

Vinyl recycle milestone

7,000 tonnes of vinyl saved from landfill by Recofloor since 2009 page 24

F Ball promotes for MD

Darren Kenyon takes the lead page 50

Flanders flagship

A preview of the flooring fest in Belgium of Europe's leading manufacturers and suppliers pages 44–48

Out of this world

Tredaire boldly goes where no underlay has gone before page 30

Country hit

Abingdon innovates wool-look berber yarn for Stainfree country homes page 17

Rocky recovery road

Mixed reports on re-bound – Business news, page 40

HUDSON & BROOKLYN

updated with soft & natural tones

Hudson & Brooklyn from AW has been a popular range for us over the years, it’s a great everyday carpet and suitable for anywhere in the home.

We stock the Brooklyn quality and we find this a perfect family friendly carpet at an affordable price.

The new colours have definitely enhanced the range and kept it on trend for our customers.

Lee - Direct Carpets

Hudson is our “go to carpet”. Good quality, good colour range, good value.

Steve - Shaws floors

I’ve been using Hudson & Brooklyn for a few years and brooklyn has become one of my best sellers.

The colours are on point and the coverage of the product gives outstanding value for money.

Also which makes my life easier is that the fitters have no complaints and are complimentary to how it fits and looks after installation.

With the new colour bank and more Heather’s options

I’m confident it will remain my go to twist of choice!

Paul - Professional carpets

Brooklyn Hudson

SHARE YOUR #associatedweavers

www.associated-weavers.co.uk

NO TIME TO WAIT? USE F58 PLUS.

FIBRE-REINFORCED, PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF LVT

STYCCOBOND F58 PLUS is a fast-drying, pressure sensitive adhesive that is ideally suited for the installation of LVT floorcoverings. Fibre-reinforced for quicker installation, meaning you can get to work faster. Trust the yellow bucket.

f-ball.com/f58plus

NEW STYLE POS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW

When it comes to our man-made products, our EasiCare range provides outstanding quality, exquisite trend colour-ways, bespoke POS and price points to help you offer your customer a solution when budget is important.

Designed to provide households with both practicality and style. By utilising polypropylene yarns these products are hardwearing, but also offer a softness making them the perfect floor for any room in your home.

New style POS now available. Contact the sales office to find out more. Tel: 01562 749300 / Email: sales@myvictoria.co.uk

www.myvictoria.co.uk

A waterproof layer for your underlay

Waterproofs aren’t just for taking walks in the rain... Your underlay needs it too!

Helps prevent spillages on top of the carpet going through the subfloor

Damp Proof Membrane Spillages Damp

Wilsons Underlay Carpet

Supports up to 90% RH levels

Protects the carpet in the event of dampness occurrence

FLOORINGNEWS

Country rolls, take me home

For some homes only the natural look of wool carpets will do. With the new Country Collection from Abingdon Flooring these very same homes can now choose the practicality of Stainfree carpets too. Using a special yarn that combines a matt lustre with a Berber fleck, the Country Collection has all the look of a natural wool yarn but with the bleach-cleanable practicality and lifetime stain warranty that comes with Abingdon Flooring’s Stainfree carpet family.

To create its classic country living feel, Abingdon Flooring’s designers have created three textured loop designs for the new collection. Linear, Herringbone and Weave designs capture the charm and rustic texture of chunky wool loop carpets, adding sophisticated detail with subtle textured patterns. Each carpet comes in a range of ‘undyed’ beige tones and restful neutral grey hues like Elephant.

Charlotte Coop, head of marketing, Abingdon Flooring: “The Country Collection is really a first for Abingdon Flooring and shows just how versatile our Stainfree yarn can be. These chunky loop pile carpets really do look every bit as good as their wool counterparts but are bleached cleanable and more affordable. What’s more, the Berber fleck is also great at covering up dust and dirt between vacuuming.”

Manufactured by Abingdon Flooring, with a 10-year warranty, the Country Collection features its signature fleece backing, enhancing underfoot comfort, warmth, and sound reduction.

Proudly made in Britain, the Stainfree Country Collection is available in widths of 2.5m, 4m, and 5m, offering versatility to suit any space.

T 01274 655 694 • www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Waterproof wood with warranty

With a history of innovation, Quick-Step has become a leading flooring brand with a range of premium quality floors for consumers that expect the best in design and function. Now with wood, vinyl and laminate floors; Quick-Step has a waterproof floor for every room.

The first and only waterproof wood floor, Cascada has made the seemingly impossible, possible: a wood floor that can be used in kitchens and bathrooms without worry. Cascada uses Wood for Life technology and a precision fit to prevent moisture reaching its core and providing a lifetime warranty in kitchens and bathrooms. It’s not only being waterproof that makes Cascada an appealing choice. Wood for Life technology also makes it easier to clean by repelling dirt and spills and avoids the build-up of dirt in the grain and joints that can cause blackness over time. With Cascada, homes can boast the natural beauty of wood with the practicality usually associated with synthetic floors.

Quick-Step has also elevated the performance and design integrity of vinyl with the Alpha Vinyl collection. Featuring HydroSeal in combination with a precision fit to fully close joints, Alpha Vinyl is 100% waterproof. Its built-in underlay also speeds up installation, reduces noise and boosts comfort, so that Alpha Vinyl is not only waterproof, but warm, quiet and comfortable too.

Stylish in stone

It's not all about wood! We review some of the most fashionable vinyl tiles pages 32–34

Out of this world

Tredaire boldly goes where no underlay has gone before in a new consumer campaign page 30–31

Flanders flagship

A preview of the flooring fest in Belgium of Europe's leading manufacturers and suppliers pages 44–48

Yet for many consumers, it’s the floor’s attention to design that distinguishes it as a premium option. A refined surface structure brings exquisite texture, accurately tracking every grain and knot with realistic depth for the most natural looking rigid vinyl flooring to date. And with the Ciro herringbone and Illume stone collections sitting alongside its Blos and Bloom planks, Alpha Vinyl explores a range of inspiring and authentic natural looks. The impressive durability of Quick-Step’s laminate floors are now waterproof across most ranges and in the Capture collection, laminate is brought closer to nature than ever before.

www.quick-step.co.uk

FLOORINGNEWS

Moduleo’s perfect match

Fast-to-fit, strong and comfortable, Moduleo LayRed can now be finished with a range of high-quality accessories that are perfectly matched to the floor’s striking wood and stone designs.

The new Moduleo LayRed Accessories line-up includes upgraded skirting, a new scotia and the clever 3-in-1 profile. Using a waterproof mono-material construction with direct-print technology for the perfect pattern match, the new accessories are a significant upgrade. The new mono-material is made with up to 30% post-consumer recycled content.

The 3-in-1 profile can be used for expansion, end and adaptor duties, while skirting and scotia are available in pattern matched and paintable versions. The direct-print technology ensures an endless design on pattern matched skirtings so that there is no obvious join from one to the next.

Matthew Brook, national sales manager, Moduleo: “LayRed is a premium quality floor that deserves perfectly matched, premium quality accessories, and with the new collection that’s exactly what it now has. These new mono-material solutions are made to improve the look of any LayRed installation and with our new direct-digital printing, there’s no obvious pattern repeat, with every pack including variation for a more natural appearance.”

The new LayRed Accessories collection can be chosen from a handy swatch book and displays.

T 01332 851 500 • www.moduleo.co.uk

Class-leading sub floors

The durability and easy maintenance of resilient floors make them popular in schools and colleges, but these floors do require careful attention of the subfloor to bring out their best.

Finished to perfection

The updated floorwise profiles range is now available with smart new anodised finishes that complement the latest floorcovering decors and match up-to-date door furniture, switches and socket styles.

When it comes to a first class flooring finish, it’s the details that matter. Now, with updated Zenith and Max Reflections profiles ranges, installers can achieve that fantastic finishing touch with more finishes available than ever before.

Finishing a carpet installation with Reflections profiles, installers can now choose the new Brushed Black and Brushed Space Grey finishes, alongside the existing Brushed Steel Nickel and Chrome.

For wood, laminate and LVT flooring the extended range of Zenith profiles now includes Black and Space Grey, alongside the best-selling matt silver and matt gold finishes. Many profiles are also available in oak, dark walnut and grey oak wood effects. Both collections feature a wide range of task-specific profiles.

Richard Bailey, managing director, floorwise: “With our brand new Black and Space Grey finishes, we’re responding to the latest trends in floorcovering decors as well as contemporary door furniture, switches and sockets; delivering the perfect finishing touch to any installation.

Joining classic looks as well as the modern Brushed Steel Nickel and Chrome, these new finishes make Zenith and Max Reflections a great choice for installers and retailers looking to give their customers something a little special.”

Max Reflections profiles are supplied in boxes of 0.9m lengths or tubes of 2.7m lengths. The Zenith ranges are supplied in 2.7m lengths in boxes of five or 10. Both profile collections come individually wrapped to ensure they arrive in perfect condition and are available from floorwise distributors across the UK, Ireland & Europe. T 01509 673974 • www.floorwise.co.uk

With Lion Floor, contractors can ensure that the subfloor is ready for a highquality resilient flooring installation that will deliver education environments a lasting floor finish that delivers excellent long-term value. The engineered fibreboard is specially designed for the installation of resilient floors, delivering a substrate that provides a smooth and flat surface.

Made in Finland from locally sourced wood by-products, Lion Floor is an alternative to BS 8203 compliant plywood. It’s construction and density mean it’s highly durable and impact-resistant and so ideal for education environments. As well as a range of standard sizes, Lion Floor is available in large sheets for bigger areas (up to 10’ x 4’).

Reliability is a key advantage of using Lion Floor. The fibreboard construction eliminates the problems that come with the core gaps and overlaps found in plywood and unlike other oil-tempered hardboards, it doesn’t need wetting before installation. The flat, strong panel is ready to receive screeds and feather compounds and fitting is simple to, as it is laid in the same way as plywood and can be cut with either a knife or saw.

Peter Jones, Finnish Fibreboard (UK) Ltd, says: “Reliability is key to the long-term success of an installation and so with Lion Floor eliminating the potential pitfalls of using plywood, it makes a sensible choice for education projects, where a lasting floor that delivers excellent long-term value is a priority. What’s more, it’s also affordable and no more expensive than BS compliant plywood, making it a genuine alternative in education and other contract installations. It also comes with a lower carbon footprint, so it's a more sustainable choice too.”

Sales@finfib.fi • www.finfib.fi

Combine your style with Practicality

Kellars’ Easy Living Collection provides the ultimate solution to household carpet care, making life that little bit more simple with our innovative bleach-cleanable carpets. Engineered to withstand spills and stains effortlessly, each carpet ensures a hassle-free maintenance routine, providing both practicality and style in one product.

F.Ball does it by the book

F.Ball products, including dual-purpose Stopgap Fill and Prime thixotropic primer and Stopgap 1200 smoothing compound, have been used to create a large-scale, high-performance flooring finish in the new Nottingham Central Library as part of a £4 billion regeneration project.

The Commercial Flooring Company were subcontracted by Overbury to install over 2,000m2 of vinyl sheet flooring over three floors of the Library, which contains over 180,000 books and reference materials spread over nearly 2km of shelving, including in the groundfloor café and reception, meeting rooms and an exhibition space.

Contractors used F. Ball’s Stopgap Fill and Prime and Stopgap 1200 smoothing compound to prepare metal raised access panels in all areas, creating a perfectly smooth surface for floorcoverings.

Once the primer had cured, F. Ball’s Stopgap 1200 smoothing compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for the installation of floorcoverings and contractors then used F. Ball’s Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive to install Gerflor safety flooring in all areas where subfloors had been prepared, with multiple colours used to demarcate different areas, such as breakout zones.

Speaking of the project, Kane Tunaley, director at The Commercial Flooring Company, said: “This was a huge undertaking that came with a number of challenges, requiring over 540 units of Stopgap 1200 and 58 buckets of adhesive. The lifts in the building weren’t operational when work was taking place, so rolls of vinyl sheet, each weighing over 100kg, had to be winched to the upper floors. Certain features of the flooring, such as steep ramped areas, weren’t completed until the last minute, after the removal of scaffolding used for high-level works. However, high performance products meant that we could complete stages quickly and work around other trades when we were able to, avoiding delays.” T 01538 361 633 • www.f-ball.co.uk

Stair flair from Gradus

Gradus has launched a new 2024 edition of its popular Stair Edgings & Floor Trims catalogue.

Adam Hill, Product Marketing Manager, comments: “In commercial environments, stairs are one of the most important aspects to get right, as a correctly specified solution will help to reduce slips, trips and falls.

“This all-in-one guide has proven to be an essential tool for specifiers, architects, contractors and our distribution network when it comes to product selection, and this latest version is no exception.”

Gradus’ new XT Bronze stair edgings comprises a stunning collection of 14 profiles offered in Polished Bronze or Satin Bronze channel finishes, with configurations to suit various floorcoverings and step shapes.

The existing XT Aluminium stair edgings range has also been upgraded with the introduction of six premium channel finishes. A new metal castellated insert option is now also available in nine finishes, which can be combined with any XT Bronze or XT Aluminium profile, allowing specifiers to either match the channel and insert finishes or select contrasting options to create a unique look.

The catalogue also includes seven new wide channel Traditional Aluminium stair edgings, ideal where heavy traffic is expected.

Gradus haven’t stopped at just the stair edgings. The Luxury Trim System has also been updated, adding a new Satin Bronze finish, meaning five of the seven opulent finishes in this range can now be matched with the equivalent XT Bronze & XT Aluminium stair edging finishes, for a consistent look throughout a project.

T 01625 428922

• www.gradus.com

COREtec with more tech

Originally launched back in 2019, The Naturals and Megastone collections are the most popular COREtec ranges in the UK. Now 2024 sees a comprehensive update with some great new additions.

The existing collection of 32 colours comprising 14 wood planks, 8 herringbones and 10 tiles across 2 toast-rack displays grows to now display 46 colours on 3 toastrack displays.

COREtec will add 11 wood planks in 1500mm, 1800mm, creative multiseries and ultra realistic pressed bevel formats along with increasing the popular herringbones to a total of 10 colours across three sizes. Five tile designs will be deleted to make way for six brand new Megatile large format stone designs giving 11 stone designs in total.

The full new Naturals collection is stocked exclusively by Likewise Floors with all designs available now for quick delivery.

The full Naturals collection can be seen on their beautiful new website coretecfloors.com along with a powerful room visualiser tool. As with all COREtec floors, the New Naturals collection is 100% waterproof, R10 slip resistant, backed by a lifetime residential guarantee and is also rated for commercial use.

E-mail sampling@coretecfloors.co.uk to order free samples of all UK COREtec collections, New Naturals, Essentials or XL-End and the New Naturals collection is available to see in the COREtec tour van, – contact your local Likewise sales representative or discover@ coretecfloors.co.uk to book your visit.

T 1-844-743-7429 • www.coretecfloors.com

With

Novoturf, the grass will

Anti-greenwash eco challenge

Karndean Designflooring is looking ahead to a greener flooring industry as the first flooring manufacturer to sign up to new The Anti-Greenwash Charter.

The move demonstrates the company's commitment to the development of a greener built environment and it has also published the Karndean Evolve strategy and Sustainability Report 2023 to map out how it is working to create a better future with a promise to think differently, act decisively, and create real change.

Fleur Carson, managing director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “Fifty years ago, Karndean was founded on innovation, bold action and a pioneering spirit. Today we are still guided by these ideals because the future demands change. Tackling key environmental challenges has become a major consideration in the construction industry over recent years. But as we come to understand the difficult transition we need to make towards a more sustainable future, transparency is key to maintaining the trust our customers have in our business.

“So we are proud to be the first flooring manufacturer to sign up to The Anti-Greenwash Charter. As a signatory, we are clearly stating our intention to keep our marketing fair with product claims that have been independently substantiated. We know that great things can be achieved when we take a collaborative approach so we are calling on others in the flooring industry to join us and stand together as part of this Charter.”

Charlie Martin, co-founder in 2023 and CEO of The Anti-Greenwash Charter, said: “Through this Charter, we are creating a framework that enables the truth of an organisation’s claims to be made visible, and to enable customers to see which organisations are open about their claims so they can be confident that they are supporting those who share their vision for a more sustainable future. By signing up to the Charter, Karndean is pledging to ensure its marketing practices are robust, honest and verifiable.”

T 01386 820100 • www.karndean.com

Ultimate Italian inspiration

Riviera Home, a leading brand in luxury carpets, is known for its handcrafted approach and commitment to refined quality. The new Turin design is no exception, starring as part of Riviera Home’s Italian inspired wool carpet ranges.

Turin features the effortless look of a beautiful basketweave design, expertly crafted in a Wilton weave. Turin’s timeless style in the classic look of a basketweave pattern will transform homes with a carpet that’s exquisitely made for a luxurious and elegant finish. It uses the resilience and natural appeal of 100% New Zealand wool to create a highly tactile carpet that adds a feeling of sophistication.

Kuldeep Singla, chairman, Riviera Home UK, says: “The unrivalled quality of our wool and craftmanship has helped to create special products that transform homes. Turin is woven under the watchful eyes of our master weavers, who ensure the quality and satisfaction that we promise with each purchase.”

Wilton weaving lets Riviera Home create a variety of loop and cut textures for its Italian inspired ranges, which also includes other woven basketweaves in Livorno and Medina and the diamond of Genoa. Complementing flatwoven styles in the collection and bringing resilience and longevity, the traditional weaving technique produces carpets of the highest quality, something that’s clear to see in Turin.

In Turin, Riviera has created an elegant palette of four elevated neutral tones that will complement the aesthetic of refined interior spaces. The high-quality woven texture and wool yarn give a premium feel, as well as providing a practical and durable carpet to be enjoyed in homes for years to come.

As with the rest of Riviera’s Italian inspired ranges, Turin comes in a fivemetre width and is suitable for heavy domestic use. With the resilience of the wool and the handmade quality of Riviera Home, investing in Turin will see homes enjoy a timeless carpet that finds harmony in both contemporary and classic interiors.

T 01299

871446

• www.rivierahomeuk.com

Online ads an “unqualified success” says Foundation

The Carpet Foundation has reviewed the performance of its 2023 online advertising campaign and the results have prompted the organisation to plan an Autumn campaign.

"Dipping our toe in the water with online advertising has proved an unqualified success," says Rupert Anton of the Foundation. There were three bursts of campaigning in 2023 and all of them exceeded industry benchmarks for both Mixed Formats and Roadblocks - the industry benchmark for Roadblocks is 0.72% and the CF averaged well over 1.2%; the benchmark for Mixed Formats is 0.06% and it averaged circa 0.1%. The best performing burst was that which ran from March-May and Homes & Gardens was the best-performing platform followed by Ideal Home.

The creative clearly resonates well with the carpet buying public and while, in normal circumstances, one might look to change the imagery, the fact is that consumers are only in the market for carpet once every seven years, and, as Google analytics shows, 95% of respondents are first-timers, so ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, says the Foundation.

Therefore there will be a further burst of online advertising in the Autumn, subject to the timing of the General Election. Watch this space! www.carpetfoundation.com

Designed for use in healthcare & leisure locations, communal areas and domestic settings

Scala Combinations

Scala Endurance • Scala Fun • Scala Marathon • Scala Twist

Saving 7,000 tonnes from landfill

More than 7,000 tonnes of waste vinyl flooring have been collected and recycled through Recofloor since the scheme was founded by Altro and Polyflor in 2009.

Through the sustainable collection service for commercial waste vinyl flooring, material is recycled back into new flooring, as well as traffic management products. Recofloor is widely regarded as a great example of circularity in the flooring sector.

To date, Recofloor’s collection of 7,060 tonnes has produced 8,282 tonnes of carbon savings – equivalent to taking 2,161 cars off the road for a year. It also equates to 2,353,000 square metres of vinyl flooring having been recycled. The carbon savings estimate is based on displacing concrete in traffic management products, the main application for the recycled flooring.

On reaching the major environmental milestone at the beginning of 2024, Recofloor Scheme Manager Carla Eslava notes that tonnages collected from flooring contractors in 2023 were up to pre-pandemic volumes. “The highlight was the larger volumes from contractors – up 12% compared to 2022 –helped by the deployment of the scheme on more major project sites and increased engagement with main contractors.”

Latest data for 2023 shows that a total of 475 tonnes was collected through Recofloor – broadly in line with expectations – and saving 557 tonnes of carbon emissions that year. Of the 475 tonnes collected, 51% came from flooring contractors and their projects and 33% came from the distributors’ drop-off points.

Benefits for Recofloor members include gaining environmental points when they apply for BREEAM certification and the Recofloor team can help by providing a collection certificate and statement letters highlighting the volumes collected and the CO2 savings. Collecting acceptable commercial vinyl flooring waste for recycling can save up to 70% on waste disposal costs, such as skip hire and gate fees. The benefits and savings can add up on multiple projects. From April 2024, the standard rate of landfill tax will rise to £126.15 per tonne and the lower rate will increase to £4.05 per tonne.

T 0161 355 7618 • www.recofloor.org

Sad loss of Alan Thomas

The trade is mourning the loss of Alan Thomas, a highly respected figure in the carpet sector.

Having served in the R.A.F. Alan's carpet career began with the sales of pegged rugs, and coincided with the birth of tufted carpets in 54" widths. He quickly saw the potential and his career expanded at the same rate.

Alan went on through the years to serve in many senior roles with the likes of Shaw Carpets, Kingsmead Carpets and Bond Worth's Rivington Carpets.

He was held in high esteem throughout both the retail and the manufacturing side of the sector, and was always willing to give a helping hand to newcomers.

After his retirement he still retained his connections and ran a highly successful team of agents throughout the country.

During his 70's and 80;s he turned his hand to journalism and wrote many successful historical articles for the Oldie magazine.

Alan died peacefully at home with his family around him.

Join the elite at The Academy

Join an elite group of flooring professionals and boost your business with the benefits of training at The Academy for Excellence in Flooring.

With over 90% of Quick-Step Master Installers surveyed believing that being part of the programme brings benefits to their business, training at The Academy for Excellence in Flooring offers more than just being among the best installers in the industry.

Firstly, becoming a Quick-Step Master Installer is not just a sign of professionalism, it is also a way to show customers and retailers that you are committed to delivering a quality installation and someone they can trust to carry out work to the highest standards. This confidence-inspiring position can make a real difference to business.

As an ambassador of Quick-Step, Master Installers are also associated with the world’s biggest flooring brand, giving them a unique status and a difference from the competition. There’s also the listing on Find an Installer, which receives over 1,000 visitors a month, and a free lifetime Quick-Step Installation warranty. As the first of its kind in the industry, the warranty puts Master Installers ahead of other professional certifications.

Lee Thompson, technical services director UK & Ireland, Unilin, says: “The Academy’s Master Installer programme is regarded as one of the industry’s best and comes with a range of benefits designed to make running your business easier. From knowing you have the skills to overcome all on-site challenges to our confidence inspiring lifetime installation warranty and on-call technical assistance, with The Academy at your side, you give yourself an excellent chance of a successful flooring installation business for many years to come.”

Master Installers also benefit from a full and rounded support package, including technical assistance, swatch books and updates, sales organisers and brochures. There is also a range of branded clothing available for purchase and the Master Installer logo can be used on company vehicles and stationery to gain highly visible credibility.

www.quick-step.com/en/academy

Sensation by

A fresh new look for Cormar’s popular Sensation range

A firm favourite in family homes for over 10 years, Sensation has been re-launched with brand new colour options. Made from 100% Luxelle Polypropylene using two-fold yarn, Sensation is available in two qualities, ‘Original’ and the brand-new heavyweight ‘Ultimate Sensation’, which brings a sumptuous, underfoot luxury to any space.

Manufactured in both 4m and 5m widths, the range now comes in a refreshed palette of popular shades including some retained favourites and a selection of contemporary new tones. Both bleach cleanable and stain resistant, Sensation also comes with Cormar’s popular 10-year stain and wear guarantee for added peace of mind.

www.cormarcarpets.co.uk portal.cormarcarpets.co.uk

FLOORINGNEWS

Iperform outperforms

Made for high-traffic locations where durability and appearance retention are needed, Iperform 70 is the new heavy-duty sheet vinyl made in Luxembourg by IVC Commercial.

Suitable for communal and congregation areas in multi-occupancy housing, schools and aged care, as well as for retail stores and leisure settings; the floor is an exceptional performer. With a compact 2.15mm construction featuring a 0.70mm wear layer, Iperform 70 meets Class 43.

Iperform 70’s secret to top tier performance lies in its Performance Barrier. This integrated layer not only makes the floor stronger and more stable, but better suited to a wider variety of subfloors and adhesives. With Performance Barrier, Iperform 70 stays looking fresh, even after years of intense use.

IVC Commercial has also equipped Iperform 70 with Hyperguard+. Improving resistance to scratches and stains and making it easier to clean, this crystal clear protection doesn’t affect the appearance of the floor’s designs and ensures that every Iperform 70 floor keeps its looks. And with the anti-bacterial and mould inhibitor of Sanitec, the floor is also well suited to hygiene sensitive areas.

Given its position as a versatile heavy-duty floor with the performance to exceed expectations in a wide variety of projects, Iperform 70 is available in an extraordinary array of wood, stone, concrete, terrazzo and colour designs. Including herringbone and chevron patterns, as well as the endless wood design of Elias, the collection can bring high-performance and high design in any commercial interior.

T 01332 851 500

www.ivc-commercial.com

Fit it fast with Beauflor

Studio living with LeoLine

Office-ready Studio Casa is a smart new collection from LeoLine that’s a seriously stylish choice for homes looking for faultless performance from their cushion vinyl floor

Featuring trending herringbone in the new look of Clara, Mist limewashed wood planks, a range of classic oaks, the smart mineral of new Avalon, Padua concrete and the tile of Astrion; Studio Casa’s modern looks give something unique for every home.

As you would expect from a floor that can stand up to castor chairs, Studio Casa is a performance offering for the home. Safe underfoot and Superguard protected from stains and scratches, it’s a floor that’s ready to tackle any tough area. Not just home offices, but kitchens, hallways, utility areas and more can all benefit from Studio Casa’s hardwearing and easy to look after nature.

Stuart Reeves, sales director, LeoLine: “Studio Casa joins the LeoLine family as a cushion vinyl floor that’s ready for homeowners looking for a quality and long-lasting floor. It’s feature-packed and up to any task, so you should have no hesitation in recommending it as a great all-round choice in most homes.”

Studio Casa is made in Belgium for a high-quality floor. Using a Powerback compact-style backing lets LeoLine deliver a floor that offers professional performance in a range of domestic designs that are enhanced with Natural Look & Feel for a more authentic floor. Studio Casa comes with a 15-year domestic warranty.

T 0800 032 3970 • www.leoline.co.uk

Beauflor Pro textile backed sheet vinyl floors are ideal for contractors needing fast ways to refurbish. Made in Belgium, Beauflor Pro sheet vinyl is a high-quality way to a smart, practical and affordable floor finish in a wide range of projects. From school classrooms and healthcare centres to retail and housing; if you need a quick turnaround, then Beauflor ranges like Blacktex Pro have Textile Backing Black so can be installed directly on top of subfloors in poor condition.

Textile Backing Black smooths out subfloor imperfections so the use of Blacktex Pro may overcome the need for remedial subfloor treatment or allow direct installation on top of the existing floor covering. It’s a faster way to get a durable and easy to maintain resilient floor. Blacktex Pro can also be loose laid in rooms up to 35m2

Chris Roberts, Regional Sales Manager, says: “Contractors are often under pressure to turn around projects and Blacktex Pro can provide them with a way to deliver on that by potentially saving on the time needed to remove old floorcoverings and prepare the subfloor. Switching to Blacktex Pro is a great way to reduce the refurbishment time.”

The floor also comes in an impressive array of designs to give contractors a wide range of options to present to clients. Wood planks including popular grey and mid-tone oak effects, herringbone, concrete and zinc, stone tile, and all-over patterns contribute to a 72 strong collection ready for any design brief. Designs are enhanced with Natural Look mechanical and thermal embossing for a more authentic end result. And whatever design is chosen, Blacktex Pro comes with Premium Coating for a floor that’s resistant to stains and scuffs and which is easier to maintain. Blacktex Pro is equipped with a 0.40mm wear layer that’s rated for Class 32 general commercial use. In 2m, 3m and 4m widths, Beauflor ensures that contractors can minimise waste and seams depending on the area. It also provides enhanced slip resistance. Made in Belgium for a high-quality solution, Blacktex Pro comes with a five-year commercial warranty. www.beauflor.com

Innovation to future-proof independent retail success

A competitive revolution is coming for independent retailers in the flooring sector in 2024 - the E-Floorcentre Alliance.

Listen up if you are an independent retailer who is fed up with the lack of a level playing field in your competitive position, thanks to increasingly consolidated flooring distributors, fast growing online platforms and ever-expanding multiple competition.

“Independent retailers can see that more business is slipping away from them each year,” says Ken Robb of the Independent Flooring Group (IFG) and Floorstars. And he has started the revolution. He plans to redress the balance with an ambitious concept that keeps independent retailers relevant and secures their future.

Known as the E-Floorcentre Alliance, participating Independent retailers can become part of a nationally promoted network with exclusive branded products, a national e-commerce platform, a logistics operation with up to 20 hubs across the country and full access to the Floorstars network of skilled installers. Floorstars enable retailers to offer ‘full service’ anywhere in the UK to service out of area business generated by E-Commerce.

The concept was launched at the IFG Conference in April and is set to make a major difference to the way independent retailers do business.

IFG are working with leading manufacturers to supply distinctive products to retailers across the mainstream sectors for carpets and vinyl flooring. These own branded ranges will have nationally consistent online to store pricing parity to avoid comparison issues.

These are presented to market via the E-Floorcentre e-commerce platform which gives independent retail members their own website within a national framework, fully transactional and thus allowing them to offer a full service outside their areas in addition to driving sales to their physical stores.

Flooring and accessories product sales taken online and out of area are stocked at, or delivered to, IFG Hubs located across the UK, where delivery and installation are effected via a close tie-in with Floorstars, the advanced national installation organisation.

Floorstars extend a local retailer’s reach by enabling a full service sale anywhere in the UK. Services include surveying and fitting across the full spectrum of flooring types, specialist installations, capacity boosting and the out-of-area installation work regularly generated by e-commerce. All this backed up by IFG’s ‘hard to match’ independent expertise and experience in residential and contract floorcoverings.

IFG has been working on the development of this integrated concept for three years. “This is a big idea with huge potential,” says Ken Robb. “We have everything in place now and we’re attracting enlightened retailers who want to retain their independence but need to future-proof their competitiveness in an increasingly corporate and e-commerce driven flooring marketplace.

“With the E-Floorcentre Alliance, we are going to win back sales for independent flooring businesses,” he said.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about E-Floorcentre as the year goes forward.

To find out more visit e-floorcentre.co.uk

High Street retailing

+ E-commerce platform

+ protected own-label products

+ regional distribution service

+ national fitting service

“With the E-Floorcentre Alliance, we are going to win back sales for independent flooring businesses.”

Boldly going where no underlay brand has gone before

One giant leap for underlay

We have lift off!

Announcing the biggest leap forward in underlay for light years.

With a bold mission to put the Tredaire name at the forefront of customers’ minds, our pioneering new campaign will bring the UK’s favourite underlay brand to new audiences yet to discover the incredible feeling of Tredaire’s product range.

National TV and radio campaign

A dynamic trio of TV, radio and digital advertising to educate consumers about the inimitable feeling of Tredaire underlay.

Groundbreaking retailer support

Propelling POS into a new dimension with brand new sample range designs, display units, banners, floor mats, window stickers and much more!

Don’t miss out

Feels like nothing on earth.

Contact your Territory Manager for more information and your mission pack.

FLOORING FOCUS

It’s not all about wood. Bring on the stylish stone…

Herringbone is undoubtedly one of the happiest success stories in growing the market for vinyl but designers across the sector know that it’s not all about wood. Stylish stone in creative decors and formats is addressing a key demographic that is looking for something different and distinctive.

Tiles are never the best sellers overall in any collection, LVT or otherwise. Some distributors don’t even bother to include them in their ranges. Is that changing? Well yes actually, in the home sector, it is, says Tarkett “I think it’s driven by the higher end of the market for sure, and we’d always assume an older demographic. Well, the population is getting older and it’s the mid to high end which is remaining stable, so these designs are more important than ever today,” says Tarkett’s UK marketing manager Steve Urwin.

Steve highlights two key trends: “Finally the smooth, sleek concrete tiles are here, I mean they’ve always been here thanks to our continental colleagues, but now they are selling

“And large formats too,” he continues. “50 x 100cm or larger are going well. These clean lines long popular over there are now working here, partly thanks to this desire to bring the outside in, smooth porcelain or concrete tiles outside, bi-fold doors and something similar in the kitchen.”

Tarkett also notes the success of the classic retro look, Victorian type entrance halls in mono, kitchens in cool trend colours which look more accessible than ever now. Even the borders and corners are coming back, definitely a trend which will prevail for some time, thinks Tarkett.

“Well, the population is getting older and it’s the mid to high end which is remaining stable, so these designs are more important than ever today,” says Tarkett’s UK marketing manager Steve Urwin.

Keeping a close watch on the trends and innovations in terms of colour and textures, Invictus succeeds in standing out from the crowd with creative and contemporary flooring, their stone tile collection is no exception to this.

These distinctive designs offer plenty of character and elegance whilst also providing excellent wear resistance thanks to the Scratchmaster top layer and waterproof properties, meaning it is never out of place, not even in your kitchen, bathroom or hall.

Invictus – Groovy Granite,

“These distinctive designs offer plenty of character and elegance whilst also providing excellent wear resistance thanks to the Scratchmaster top layer and waterproof properties, meaning it is never out of place, not even in your kitchen, bathroom or hall."

Groovy Granite Shadow Parquet, an eye-catching stone look tile that echoes the natural nuances of granite, will be the focal feature of any room. A striking laying pattern that works alongside the distinctive features of this tile has become a go-to design inspiration for many.

Groovy Granite Alabaster is a classic stone design which adds elegance whilst still providing outperforming wear protection, perfect for high traffic areas. Also available in 3 other colours.

Invictus – Groovy Granite, Alabaster

Tarkett – Farringdon tile French Blue

Shadow

Stella Coyle, head of retail sales at Karndean Designflooring, said: “Nature has always inspired our designs so it comes as no surprise to us that home trends are very much focused on the wellbeing benefits of the natural world. With LVT, home decorators can get the look of the real thing without any of the practical drawbacks.”

Take the quiet luxury of Karndean’s Palazzo Marble from its popular Van Gogh gluedown range as an example. Available in both full size 18” x 24” and 7” x 28” herringbone tiles, this design was inspired by Calacatta marble sourced in the Apuan Alps. Karndean’s renowned craftsmanship has authentically replicated the varied white tones and distinctive silver veining to produce a modern flooring suitable for any room, whether used simply on its own, with design strips to emulate grouting or even in combination with wood design tiles.

“Nature has always inspired our designs so it comes as no surprise to us that home trends are very much focused on the wellbeing benefits of the natural world. With LVT, home decorators can get the look of the real thing without any of the practical drawbacks.”

Stella added: “Lightweight, flexible, warm underfoot and easy to keep hygienically clean, Karndean flooring offers outstanding versatility to create a unique home full of joy. With over 100 stone designs and a choice of formats, there’s a floor for every taste and situation. What’s more, as we speak our designers are curating a new collection of beautiful stone designs that will soon join our Art Select range.”

“Our designers have explored the latest trends to create a beautiful and diverse collection of stone looks that traverse every mood – in Roots there really is something for any interior style.”

With trending stone looks, the Moduleo Roots luxury vinyl tiles collection inspires people to create living spaces that express their personality. Matthew Brook, national sales manager, explains more:

“Few brands do stone quite as well as Moduleo: it’s about choice.

“Our designers have explored the latest trends to create a beautiful and diverse collection of stone looks that traverse every mood –in Roots there really is something for any interior style. Whether the decadent dark stone of Meteora, vibrant and characterful Fiastra terrazzo, marbled Luzerna and York Stone, concrete Volterra or sleek Nublo; consumers are free to explore stone in all its variety to find their unique look,” he says.

“Designed and made in-house in Belgium, these are looks you simply can’t find anywhere else, and our designers have also made sure that they complement our wood plank design and herringbone design luxury vinyl floors too,” adds Matthew.

“Consumers can mix and match to their heart’s content, using the beauty of stone to create a unique aesthetic, maybe highlighting the kitchen area in open plan living, or creating a luxurious, tropical infused bathroom that feels fresh and modern. And with a choice of sizes, including the impressive XL tile, it’s the distinct and wide range that marks Moduleo Roots as the collection for those serious about their stone.”

Designed and made in-house in Belgium, these are looks you simply can’t find anywhere else, and our designers have also made sure that they complement our wood plank design and herringbone design luxury vinyl floors too,”

continued on page 34

Karndean Designflooring – Palazzo Marble, washed grey ash

Moduleo – Roots Azuriet

FLOORING FOCUS

It’s not all about wood. Bring on the stylish stone… continued from page 33

The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Illume collection brings refined design and premium quality to stone effect LVT.

Featuring underlay attached, a 100% waterproof construction, Scratch & Stain Guard and a lifetime warranty, there’s no doubt that the Alpha Vinyl Illume collection delivers on quality and performance. Equally impressive is the originality and design integrity of its stone effect designs.

Quick-Step’s designers have created a range of beautiful and refined designs that explore stone and concrete effects. In Pebble and Oyster Concrete, Sandstone Concrete,

Quick-Step’s designers have created a range of beautiful and refined designs that explore stone and concrete effects. In Pebble and Oyster Concrete, Sandstone Concrete, and a range of soft tonal interpretations, Illume is a sophisticated response to stone, removed from typical limestone, sandstone and slate, instead looking at the nuances and imperfections of materials for inspiration.

So, if your customers are looking for a stone collection that offers something less ordinary, then Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Illume is certainly worth recommending.

Harvey Maria has been creating luxury vinyl tiles since 1995. Their floors are incredibly durable and easy to maintain - completely waterproof, slip resistant and compatible with underfloor heating.

Authentic stone and concrete flooring has been trending for the last few years, and so an ultra-realistic LVT is a great choice for many consumers who are looking for something more budget-friendly. Harvey Maria's collection, Nuance Stone, is a contemporary and practical choice for kitchens, hallways, bathrooms and boot rooms - the tiles look and feel like real stone. These extra large tiles are textured, giving an authentic concrete look and feel, so are perfect for creating modern rustic styling.

Authentic stone and concrete flooring has been trending for the last few years, and so an ultra-realistic LVT is a great choice for many consumers who are looking for something more budget-friendly.

This collection is also recognised for their low impact on the environment, both indoors and out. Nuance Stone is available in a gentle palette of six stone designs - Off Grey, Charcoal, Duck Egg Blue, Off White, Blue Grey & Greyline. Feature strips can be added between the tiles to give the appearance of traditional flagstones - a classic style that is easier to achieve than installing a real stone floor.

“These exciting designs have been a great addition to our award-winning MSeries collection. We are proud that MSeries is recognised for its low impact on the environment in all aspects - production process, product composition, emissions & indoor air quality and sustainable construction.” explains Harvey Maria’s Founder, Mark Findlay.

Given the premium associated with LVTs and customers’ high expectations for finished results, it is useful to know how to ensure a flawless finish when installing them. Read the expert advice from F Ball...

Quick-Step – Alpha Vinyl Illume, Oyster Concrete

Harvey Maria – Nuance Off Grey

Focus on a flawless finish

Given the premium associated with LVTs and customers’ high expectations for finished results, it is useful to know how to ensure a flawless finish when installing them. Neil Sanders, technical director at the UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings, F. Ball and Co. Ltd., talks through what is involved.

A long-lasting, visually attractive flooring finish when installing luxury vinyl tiles or planks involves following the basic principles of subfloor preparation, as well as taking precautions to avoid common causes of floor failure. This can be broken down into a few simple steps. Careful product selection at each stage of the process will also help optimise the installation.

Creating a base

F. Ball recommends that a smoothing underlayment is applied over the subfloor to create a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings and ensure that the visual appearance of an installation is not compromised by imperfections in the subfloor showing through.

Before you apply a smoothing underlayment, the first step in any flooring installation should be to check that the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and dry. Any laitance and contaminants should be mechanically removed.

At this stage, a moisture test should be conducted to determine if the subfloor is dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Where Relative Humidity (RH) levels are higher than 75%, a moisture management solution will be required to prevent moisture attacking flooring adhesives and causing resilient floorcoverings to blister and lift, potentially ruining the appearance of the installation. The usual solution for suppressing excess subfloor moisture is the application of a liquid waterproof surface membrane.

F. Ball recommends the application of a smoothing underlayment to ensure the finished appearance of a flooring installation

Prime importance

You also need to prime the subfloor. Primers promote adhesion between the subfloor and the smoothing underlayment applied over it. Applied over absorbent subfloors, they also stop the unacceptably rapid drying of smoothing underlayments, which can result in insufficient strength build up and a reduction in the open time or wet edge of the smoothing underlayment.

Another benefit of priming is reducing ‘pinholing’: small holes in the smoothing underlayment that have the appearance of pinholes or blisters caused by the slow escape of air from absorbent surfaces as the smoothing underlayment cures.

Adhesive selection

To adhere the LVTs to the smoothing underlayment, pressure sensitive adhesives, such as F. Ball’s Styccobond F46, are usually the best choice. They form an instant grab upon contact, so installers don’t need to worry about tiles or planks sliding about when they are working, making them ideal for installations with intricate designs or patterns.

Styccobond F46 is part of F. Ball’s ‘System LVT’ range, which comprises waterproof surface membranes, primers, smoothing underlayments and adhesives that used correctly and in combination F. Ball guarantees will result in an aesthetically pleasing floor finish that lasts the lifetime of the installation. The range also features pressure sensitive adhesives with a variety of other specialist attributes, including moisture tolerance and the ability to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C).

Compatibility check

Finally, it is highly recommended that contractors always check the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives. To do this, you can consult the floorcovering manufacturer’s guidelines. Alternatively, F. Ball produces a Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG®), which lists adhesives recommended for use with over 6,000 floorcoverings produced by over 200 manufacturers. The guide is available as a free app or a printed booklet. An interactive version can also be found on the F. Ball website. Alternatively, contractors can contact F. Ball’s technical service department, from 8.30am–5.00pm, Monday to Friday, for advice on adhesive compatibility.

FLOORING FOCUS

Safety in numbers, buying better

When independent retailers combine their resources there’s safety in numbers in a tight market – maintaining prices, protecting margins and buying better. So the role of buying groups in the flooring sector has never been more relevant than now.

Group buying power, own-label competitor protection, product selection expertise plus a whole basket of business and marketing support are the reasons why more than 1,200 of the UK’s most savvy retailers have signed up.

All of the buying groups emphasise that each individual retailer’s independence is sacrosanct, and you can usually pick and choose how much or how little of the group’s services and products you get involved with. Those smart deals you already have with key suppliers can carry on if they’re advantageous to you.

So there are no obvious reasons not to consider joining a group – but which one? They’re all a little different and this article explores the options...

SMG says it has something for every retailer, large or small, long established or just starting out. Members run their business as they see fit but gain advantage from the comprehensive package of benefits and, all for the lowest annual membership fee.

With over 450 retail outlets throughout the UK, SMG is the largest flooring buying group and can offer independent retail members a package of benefits which include preferential group pricing, rebates, promotions, a central ordering facility and options for own branding.

There’s no need to be on a committee, attend group meetings or go to AGMs – just increase your profit without changing what you do – it’s as easy as that. As well as advantageous terms, SMG members can enjoy downloadable marketing resources and a whole range of business support services to give them a real advantage in a challenging market.

The key driver for SMG has always been to create profitable partnerships between members and approved suppliers. Both have the same goals and SMG is able to deliver more sales and greater profitability for both. This formula has meant that SMG have retail members who have been with them for fifty years and more, as well as members who are just starting out.

The Associated Carpet Group (ACG) sees it simply: all the gain without the pain!

ACG are a not for profit, non-intrusive, member owned national buying group made up of over 315 member stores. Membership is by association, and you are not required to change any of your current inhouse processes or place orders through central hubs.

Consisting mainly of independently family run businesses, ACG uses the combined buying power of its member stores to broker the best trade pricing from the industries main suppliers. With access to the hugely successful, multi-award-winning group rebrand Smart Choice, our retailers can secure more orders and comfortably compete with high street, online and man in a van price comparison, without fear of eroding their margins.

ACG offers an outstanding portfolio of member benefits beyond just best pricing.

With over 26 annual supplier turnover rebates which are paid directly to member stores, the group further negotiates annual product and unitary promotions, marketing, financial partnerships, subsidised social events, and the groups very successful, Platinum Supplier Trade Show, which is free to attend and where the group’s main suppliers come together to exhibit and tailor “on the day deals” specifically for group members.

continued on page 38

SMG Lifestyle

ACG

FLOORING FOCUS

Safety in numbers, buying better continued

“There are a number of buying groups within the flooring industry and each one will have an appeal to independent retailers”, says Eamonn Prescott, CEO at Greendale Carpets. “What we have at Greendale though is unique. We can buy stock for the exclusive use of our members.”

Greendale Carpets & Flooring have been established since 1962 and during that time, they have grown from just ten stores, to over one hundred. They are a member owned cooperative, and as such trade on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis.

“We are owned by our members”, says Eamonn, “so our focus is always on how we can help them to grow their business through extra margin or securing great deals on Insurance, Card Machine Fees, Finance Deals, etc.”

Greendale have always been innovators. They were the first group to have a centralised warehouse of their own stock. They were the first to bring in their own branding to protect retailers and they were the first to have their own delivery vehicles.

“At Greendale, we are always asking ‘What’s next?’. To keep one step in front of our competition, we are always looking at new ways to improve our offer to our members.”

The INDX Show will see the ‘soft launch’ of the group’s new ‘iD’ brand. A selection of ranges aimed at Interior Design.

“iD is our next chapter and a very exciting one,” says Eamonn, “it includes UK exclusive ranges and colours, and gives us another point of difference to the other buying groups”.

Flooring One offers a friendly and highly professional service to independent flooring retailers throughout the UK and Ireland with the aim of increasing their profitability.

The group is in partnership with the best key suppliers and works with them to offer members margin protection on rebranded products with dedicated support from its expert field merchandisers.

Flooring One is a subsidiary of Associated Independent Stores (AIS), the UK and Ireland’s leading buying group for fashion, home and leisure for independent retail. Their unique and powerful payment system (CENPAC) enables members to save time, money, and administration as well as enjoying improved settlement discounts from suppliers and access to exclusive group merchandise rebates.

At BRM (Bond Retail Marketing), they pride themselves on their history, experience and agility to navigate and keep pace with the ever-changing flooring marketplace.

With no joining fees, and a family feel within the group, BRM offers a bespoke personal service which can be tailored to serve each retailers individual needs, allowing the retailer to carry on with the day to day running of their business.

The group’s buying and marketing function has many years of experience negotiating with all types of suppliers/manufacturers both large and small in the UK market across all flooring product groups, with the addition of an online presence via www.beautifulflooring.co.uk where consumers are directed to a national retailer network.

De-branding and profit engineering are all attributes we are skilled in developing with individual retailers to create successful and profitable business models that will stand the test of time. Designer initiatives such as the unique Daisy collection gives retailers unique and exclusive selling opportunities with enhanced margins.

The Metro Group is a multi-award-winning buying group, formed by retailers for retailers in 1979. Members retain 100% of their independence but improve their profitability and there is a portfolio of 200+ Carpet1st ranges.

The Metro Group has always supported marketing and the Group Marketing Scheme is unlike any other. 100% bespoke with assistance from Metro’s own fully equipped studio and production facility, Metro members have access to assistance with almost any marketing project they need to take on from a business card to a full shop fascia.

See page 39 for our detailed feature on the Metro buying group

Greendale Carpets

FLOORING FOCUS

Empowering independents to do better business

Retailers who are considering joining a buying group would be right in thinking that the combined buying power of multiple retailers all over the UK is a positive because, let’s face it, millions of pounds of buying power is better than thousands of pounds.

So the concept of being in a group as opposed to “going it alone” is a real plus because the strength of the group will always outweigh the individual.

The Metro Group was established 45 years ago in 1979 by independent retailers to recruit other like-minded retailers and this has resulted in not only millions of pounds worth of buying power each year but also a number of additional benefits exclusive to the Metro Group.

The Metro Group negotiates on behalf of all members to get the best possible net terms without waiting for quarterly or annual rebatesretailers get to set their best selling prices while buying at the best net prices. If a retailer does not have an account with a Group Supplier they have the option to order centrally through Metro, taking advantage of direct delivery and the best prices.

Carpet 1st is Metro’s own brand with an impressive portfolio of the best selling products in the country today from all leading UK and European manufacturers giving retailers the opportunity to protect marginsespecially in a marketplace where the internet can play havoc with retailer margins. Alternatively retailers can display products as branded if their marketplace dictates this.

Twice a year the Metro members meet locally throughout the UK allowing them to see the latest ranges, share experiences with likeminded retailers and speak to key suppliers. In the Group’s optional healthcare scheme, members have the ability to join BUPA with the unique condition that previous medical history is disregarded.

The Metro Group has always supported marketing and the Group Marketing Scheme is unlike any other. 100% bespoke with assistance from Metro’s own fully equipped studio and production facility, Metro members have access to assistance with almost any marketing project they need to take on from a business card to a full shop fascia.

The marketing scheme also offers a £600 + VAT allowance for all members to use on the already subsidised scheme and assistance is provided by staff who have been involved with independent flooring retail for 30 years.

These are just some of the benefits to Metro Group membership. Everything is optional and nothing is obligatory meaning you get to have the advantage of being part of one of the UK’s best buying groups, while running your business your way.

Metro Group • T 01204 393 539 • www.carpet1st.co.uk

The Metro Group was established 45 years ago in 1979 by independent retailers to recruit other like-minded retailers and this has resulted in not only millions of pounds worth of buying power each year but also a number of additional benefits exclusive to the Metro Group.

Furniture spending inches up

Consumer spending in furniture and flooring stores inched up last month according to Barclays debit and credit card data.

Transactions were up 1.7% in March compared to this time last year.

Actual spending declined 5%, down for the fifteenth consecutive month, but those figures now reflect falling price inflation in the sector.

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “Retailers were braced for a more subdued start to 2024, and recent figures are in line with expectations. The wet weather has been a key factor in the slowdown in discretionary spending, as it’s meant fewer visits to the high street and to hospitality venues.

“However, in spite of this initial lull, many retailers are confident that spending will rebound in the coming months," she said.

Flooring defies inflation fall (again)

While UK consumer price inflation marked a small fall in its rate for March and furniture experienced deflation, flooring continued to get more expensive.

Carpets and other floorcoverings prices rose 2.5%, in March up from 1.7% the previous month - however, this is lower than the 10.3% rise recorded for this time last year.

Furniture and furnishing retail prices fell by 2.3% in March, a further decline following the 1.6% reduction in February - its lowest rate for nearly two and half years for a second consecutive month.

Flooring imports continue decline

The ongoing slow start to the year is borne out by continuing declines in carpet and vinyl imports into the UK.

The value of floorcoverings were down for the fourth straight month in the latest data for February and 6.8 percent on a year-on-year basis to £119m, according to HMRC figures compiled by The Furnishing Report Carpets were down 8.8% with especially weak data from the Netherlands at -25% and Belgium at -9.5% but Turkey continues to assert its importance in the sector with sales into the UK up 29%. Vinyl fared little better with a drop of 8.3% ,marking the seventh month in a row of declining imports.

Carpetright cuts costs on reduced demand

Carpetright is reported to be reviewing its 400-store estate and seeking cost-cutting measures after a slowdown in demand for flooring.

According to a report in The Times newspaper, the group has appointed restructuring specialists to explore various options to improve the performance of the loss-making flooring chain.

The newspaper says Carpetright "has been troubled recently as consumers reduce their spending. It has also suffered intense competition from rivals such as Tapi."

The retailer was forced to turn to a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in 2018 to exit under-performing shops and reduce rents, but a spokeswoman for Carpetright said it was “not in planning” for another CVA and said the group had a “number of advisers looking at how we improve our performance, as we do in the normal course of business."

Underlying losses before tax for the the 14 months to January 1, 2022 were £23.4 million, an improvement on a previous loss of £53 million.

Flair forges ahead

Leading UK rug supplier Flair increased sales 15% last year and "continues to successfully grow".

The Glossop-based business saw turnover increase £5.5m to £47m for the 12 months ended 30 June 2023 and managed to increase its margin by 1.3% to 23.9% "despite ongoing inflationary pressures within the market."

Cormar rolls out a million more SQM

Cormar has taken delivery of 10 new trucks over the winter which will roll out a million square metres of carpet in the coming year.

The new DAF units will operate out of Cormar distribution centres in Bury, Lancashire and Hemel Hempstead as part of one of the industry's largest fleets comprising 75 vehicles.

Southern Logistics Manager Joseph Kiernan comments “We continue to invest in new trucks to ensure we achieve the high service levels that our customers have come to rely on, whilst complying with environmental standards. DAF trucks are a favourite with our drivers and it’s great to work with another business local to our northern distribution centre.”

All of the new vehicles are fitted with DVS camera systems and sensor alarms, to aid the driver in detecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists on the nearside of the vehicle.

Pressure easing on business solvency

Insolvencies in the furnishing and flooring sector are falling for the first time since the end of 2022.

According to proprietary data compiled by The Furnishing Report, 137 companies were either wound up or placed into liquidation or administration in the three months to end March.

That figure is a quarter down on Q4 2023 and was the first fall since the final three months of 2022 — a sign, says the Report, that pressures may be easing across the industry.

Meanwhile, March saw growth in the number of businesses launched in the sector with 190 new furniture and carpet retailers set up.

Optimistic Polyflor improves profits

Polyflor manufacturer James Halstead plc has reported improved profits despite a dent in UK sale.

In its results just filed for the six months ended 31 December 2023, sales were down 8.8% to £136.5m from £149.6m in 2022. Within these figures, UK sales were down 5% compared to Europe which declined 15%. But pre-tax profits for the group were £27.4m, up 18% from £23.2m recorded in the previous year.

“Our UK businesses fared well with manufacturing efficiencies through increased output more than offsetting the slightly lower sales in the UK,” said the group's statement to investors.

And the directors said export markets were growing and added "UK activity is showing improved confidence against the last six months."

Novus

Bring on the big ideas; Novus captures the hot new looks shaping homes. Superguard protected, this is cushion vinyl floor that has excellent value at it’s heart.

Novus is coming to LeoLine stores this spring. Find out more from your LeoLine ABM.

The new INDX National Flooring Show opens to all retailers on April 30 in Solihull with over 60 of the leading brands in the trade.

The two-day event on April 30 and May 1 replaces the popular Buying Groups National Flooring Show (BGNFS) at the same Cranmore Park venue and visitors will not need to be a member of any group to attend.

However, all the key buying groups continue to partner with the event - ACG, AIS Flooring One, Bond Retail Marketing, Carpet 1st, Greendale and SMG.

The top suppliers will be in attendance as in previous years but 2024 also sees a strong line-up of newcomers including Causeway Carpets, Floorwise Group, Footfall, ITC, Kellars, Kleen-Tex Industries, Lamett Europe and Tarkett.

Plus, following several years absence, Alternative Flooring, Moduleo, Stairrods, Telenzo Carpets, and WoolSafe will also be making a welcome come back.

• See our April issue for details and exhibitor list

April 30 - May 1, 2024

Making a move at INDX Moduleo

Moduleo Roots is at the INDX National Flooring Show, giving you the chance to experience the freedom of choice that comes with its premium luxury vinyl floors.

Including the versatile and new Herringbone Classic plank, as well as XL tiles and XL planks, the Moduleo Roots collection is a refreshing take on premium vinyl flooring for today’s design-minded customer. With new possibilities, playful combinations and inventive solutions that create a great result for every space, the Moduleo Roots collection is for those homeowners that want to express themselves and that value quality in the purchases they make. The Roots collection will be presented on the brand’s 72-board display.

Moduleo will also bring LayRed engineered vinyl to INDX. The rigid vinyl floor with integrated underlay and Uniclic fitting is able to bridge openings and unevenness in the subfloor, making it the ideal solution for renovation. LayRed is available in a range of wood and stone designs that feature a matt, textured finish. XL wood designs also come with emboss in register for in sync texture that lets you feel the wood grains and knots. Also available is Moduleo LayRed Herringbone featuring Unizip, a click system that means just one type of plank for fast and easy installation.

Stand D130 • T 01332 851 500 • www.moduleo.co.uk

Cushion vinyl goes Premium LeoLine

For retailers making the trip to the INDX National Flooring Show, LeoLine will be showing its new premium display to lift cushion vinyl flooring into a new era. The LeoLine Premium Display is an all-new unit that’s been created to put cushion vinyl in the spotlight. Stuart Reeves, sales director, says: “With impressive design, comfort, easy installation and affordability; there’s a lot to like about cushion vinyl flooring. However, despite all this, the display options on the market haven’t really made it an appealing proposition for consumers. The offshoot of this is that cushion vinyl is often pushed into a corner when it actually meets lots of the needs for flooring in today’s home and has a role to play alongside other floors like luxury vinyl and laminate. We’re changing that with our new LeoLine Premium Display.”

The display is a smart, free-standing wall unit that ‘floats’ LeoLine’s stylish floors and which features built-in lighting to highlight the product. But it’s not just the display that’s premium, with LeoLine providing a preferential package for retailers taking up the new unit. The benefits include the first to receive new product updates, a dedicated brand manager, premier retailer listing on the LeoLine website and exclusive access to incentives and promotions.

Stand D130

• T 0800

Flanders for flooring trends 2024

Are you passionate about flooring? Then make sure 13–16 May is blocked out in your calendar. Professionals will be gathering at the third year of the Flanders Flooring Days to experience the latest products, meet new and potential partners, and discover current trends in European flooring.

Leading European manufacturers will present their newest hard and soft flooring and related products. Many of the Flemish participants will welcome visitors at their own showrooms. Other companies will exhibit at the booths in The Hub in Kortrijk Xpo. Spend four days immersing yourself in everything the sector has to offer, from the showrooms to The Hub and on to a sociable networking dinner.

Schedule your visit – If you’re interested in meeting a particular company or learning more about a specific product, register for your visit now. During the sign-up process, you can specify which of the exhibitors you want to meet, in the booths in The Hub and also in the showrooms. Once you've registered, the companies you’ve expressed interest in will get in touch to schedule a time slot for you. The organisers will be providing a free shuttle service for transport between the showrooms and The Hub.

Key exhibitors with a major presence in the UK include Associated Weavers, Betap, Condor, Coretec, IVC, Lano, Beaulieu, Mapei, Tapibel, Unifloor and Unilin.

T + 32 56 24 11 11

info@flandersflooringdays.com

www.flandersflooringdays.com

worries no

Cake or red wine on your carpet? A nightmare? Not anymore.

Our new EcoClean collection gives households one less worry. The EcoClean yarn is produced / manufactured to the highest specifications and includes a special primary coating that ensures that stains do not stick permanently. The excellent stain repellent properties of the EcoClean recycled PET yarn ensure this.

A nasty stain? In most cases, a damp cloth will do. Of course, a textile cleaner will further simplify cleaning. The carpet is resistant to the most agressive cleaning methods, including diluted bleach. But most importantly; no matter how you handle it, the stain will vanish.

Why Eco? The carpet is made from 100% certifed recycled PET yarn. Why Clean? Stains (<600C) will not stick to the Solution Dyed yarn.

Looking for independent proof or more information?

Just scan the QR-code:

Innovative experience at Beaulieu

Beaulieu International Group is proud to once again take part in the Flanders Flooring Days. A founding participant of the multi-day event bringing people from all over the world to Flanders’ Flooring Powerhouses, B.I.G. is ready to showcase its flooring brands.

For the first time, they are excited to invite you into the state-of-the-art Experience Center in Wielsbeke, where their brands will showcase innovations and products in an impressive digital experience.

Beauflor is announcing 4 new collections for the residential, professional and custom market. BerryAlloc will showcase the first and only successfully developed LVT floor made from 100% recycled material.

Beaulieu Needlefelt is proud to share its broad range in carpet for events, commercial or residential projects, with its Cradle to Cradle Certified Rewind event carpet, the most sustainable event carpet in the world.

Ready to be impressed? See you at Flanders Flooring Days!

T 0032 56 62 59 00 • www.bintg.com

Excellence and accessibility at Betap

As a distinguished entity in the international carpet industry, Betap has been dedicated to making quality flooring accessible to everyone since 1918.

Betap offers an extensive selection of premium carpet solutions for wholesalers, retailers, DIY-stores, and discounters across the globe. Ensuring customer satisfaction, environmental awareness, and the welfare of its employees and community are paramount in its operations.

Betap’s journey from a humble producer of rush mats to becoming a notable name in the sector demonstrates its commitment to innovation and excellence. Based in Genemuiden, the vibrant center of the Dutch carpet industry, Betap stands out for its comprehensive approach to quality and service.

They warmly invite you to the exhibition hall, a gathering place for industry networking, future planning, and discovering the latest innovations. Join Betap in experiencing a century-long commitment to providing quality flooring, accessible to you since 1918.

T +31 (0)38 386 1060 • www.betap.com

Impressive aesthetics as Lamett debuts at FFD

Lamett is a leading manufacturer and distributor of both parquet flooring and Parquetvinyl, and will make their first appearance at the Flanders Flooring Days event in 2024.

"After two successful years, Lamett is excited to join this international flooring industry event. We'll be welcoming visitors for the first time to our brand new showroom where aesthetics, innovative technologies, and the customer journey are key," said Pieter-Jan Dendooven, CSO at Lamett.

"All of our vinyl and parquet flooring collections will be presented in different experience corners in this impressive 750 m² space," says Pieter-Jan.

T +32 56 77 45 15 • www.lamett.co.uk

Dome

Forest HB

Discover Louis De Poortere

For retailers, wholesalers and buyers making the trip over to Belgium for Flanders Flooring Days, a visit to Louis De Poortere at the Kortrijk Expo Hub or at its showroom will be time well spent. Alongside other leading Belgian flooring producers, Louis De Poortere will be showcasing its high-quality, woven carpets and rugs which have been made in Flanders since 1929. Today, Louis De Poortere continues to blend traditional Wilton weaving and modern Jacquard flatweave to create exciting designs.

Discover the circular Ecorugs concept, The Monochromes collaborative project with Swedish art and design studio, Folkform, and the Richelieu carpet family collection at Kortrijk Expo Hub or at Louis De Poortere’s Mouscron showroom and production site. Here, you’ll also be able to tour its facility to learn exactly what goes into creating beautiful woven rugs and carpets and how the maker’s flexible approach to Wilton has helped it to be more efficient.

FLOORING

Happy heyday for Lano

Alan Russell, sales director, Louis De Poortere: “In just the few short years since the first Flanders Flooring Days, it has become an important part of the calendar for much of the UK flooring industry.

“If you’re planning on a visit, then make sure to visit us at the Kortrijk Expo Hub to discover our rugs and carpets and how they can help you to realise more sales. With the introduction of the transformational Ecorugs collection in 2023, it’s a really exciting time to come onboard.”

T +3256 393 393 www.louisdepoortere.com

The heyday of the Flanders carpet industry is coming and Lano are ready! Earlier this year, Lano launched its new X A touch of Luxury collection and during Flanders Flooring Days, they will present the new collections in SmartStrand. SmartStrand is in every way the best carpet and over the past years the Living Colours collections have gained fame and acclaim. The days when carpet was only available in neutral colours are long gone, fortunately. With the new Living Colours III collection, Lano is fully on board with the trends.

The Essenz and Touch Down collections have also been revamped with plenty of new qualities. Lano celebrates the 30th anniversary of its Star Twist and Heather Twist ranges with a brand-new look and feel and they are very proud about the latest addition to the Touch Down Premium collection.

Lano looks forward to Flanders Flooring Days to show visitors around its showroom.

T +32 (0)56 65 40 00 www.lano.com

New innovations, sustainable solutions

With great pleasure, Condor Group is looking forward to the flooring event at its southern neighbours. "We are going big with lo great new developments and sustainable flooring solutions," says Arnold Mulder

What to think of Condor's OneDNA products from Edel Carpets, the new EcoClean collection from Condor Carpets (pictured below) and the #tide products on display.

Condor will also show Intercarpet and Timzo's new woven products alongside Condor Grass' innovative Repeat backing.

Just like last year, the group will transform Hotel Auberge du Pecher into a pleasant Dutch venue.

Also well worth a visit are the Betap and Condor Techtex stands at Kortrijk Xpo, where they will be showing more carpet innovations and will also be happy to introduce you to their acoustic felt for wall panels and furniture.

In short; the Condor Group is a name not to be missed at the Flanders Flooring Days.

T +31 (0)38 477 89 11 www.condocarpets.com

DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FLOORING TRADE

Cormar appoints top CEO

Cormar Carpet Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Barratt as CEO, to drive the next stage of growth for the Lancashire based carpet manufacturer.

Paul joins the business in April and brings with him a wealth of experience having worked in the flooring industry for over 25 years, initially with Bonar Floors and more recently Karndean Designflooring. As MD of Karndean, he has overseen the firm establishment of the Karndean brand, together with significant growth in sales and profitability.

Cormar Chair, Helen Polito, said “We are delighted to welcome Paul as our Chief Executive. He is a values-based, commercially intelligent business leader with an excellent track record in developing brands in the flooring industry. Paul is familiar with the dynamics of working in a family business but also brings experience of plc and owner-managed businesses too.”

Paul commented “The similarities between Karndean and Cormar are staggeringly close. Both are family businesses with market leading positions in highly competitive markets. The need to stand out from the crowd in quality, service and brand has never been more important. I am delighted to be joining a highly successful company with excellent products, talented people and a vision to be No.1”.

T 01204 881234 • www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

Darren Kenyon takes the lead at F Ball

F. Ball and Co. Ltd. has appointed Darren Kenyon to the role of managing director. He replaces Mark Hughes, who retires after seven years in the role.

Darren joined the company as business development manager over 20 years ago before progressing to the role of national sales manager in 2017 and becoming sales director in 2019. During this time, he has been responsible for managing the F. Ball UK sales and marketing team and relationships with the company’s network of over 130 distributors.

Darren said: “I’m delighted that F. Ball has put its confidence in me to steer the direction of the company at such an exciting time. It is a great organisation to work for, and my priorities include maintaining our strong values as we build on our position in new and existing markets.”

F. Ball chairman James Igoe added: “Darren’s long service at F. Ball and his knowledge of the professional flooring industry and relationships developed during this time make him uniquely qualified to lead the company into the future. His experience will enable him to anticipate the future requirements of flooring professionals while ensuring continuity of high levels of service and support that our customers expect.”

T 01538 361633 • www. f-ball.com

Adhesive accolade for Jenny Barnett

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s safety, health, environment and quality assurance (SHEQ) manager Jenny Barnett has been recognised for services to the adhesives and sealants industry, receiving the Max Kochmann Award from the British Adhesives & Sealants Association (BASA).

Jenny has been an active member of the BASA and working groups for more than 16 years, starting as a member of the Health and Safety working group, progressing to leading groups, including chairing Environment and Sustainability, before becoming vice-chair of the council. Together with her colleagues in technical committees, she has been instrumental in helping to drive the BASA technical programme, identifying how to support its members.

The accolade is named in memory of one of BASA’s founders and former life president Max Kochmann and is awarded each year to an individual or company for outstanding services. With over 20 years’ experience in the adhesives industry, including more than 15 years working in health, safety and environmental management, she has a passion for sustainability and manufacturing. At F. Ball, she is responsible for compliance with standards, making sure that products are of a consistently high quality, as well as ensuring the health and safety of employees and everyone who interacts with the business, and protecting the environment.

Commenting on the receipt of the award, Jenny said: “I’m delighted to be presented with the Max Kochmann award. As vice-chair of the council, I hope to be able to provide the same welcome, advice and support to new working group members and leaders that I have received over the years. Over this time, I’ve learned a great amount about the industry from experts, and I’m a proud advocate for the work that BASA undertakes through its consultants, committees and working groups, so this award means a lot to me both professionally and personally.”

T 01538 361633 • www. f-ball.com

The award was presented to Jenny (pictured left) at the association’s annual general meeting by chair Carol Merrin.

FLOORING FACTSHEET ADHESIVES

SELECTION CHECKLIST

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

Open Time:

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

Odour:

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

Coverage:

How thick and how far can the adhesive be spread.

Application Method:

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

Strength:

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

Underfloor Heating:

A lot of modern adhesives are suitable for use with underfloor heating but this criteria must be checked where appropriate.

Subfloor:

What surface will the adhesive stick to most effectively including concrete, sand cement screeds, levelling compounds, plywood and chipboard.

While there are multi-purpose adhesives, specialist products will be better suited to certain surfaces.

The porosity of the floor is a key determinant of the type of adhesive to be used and its performance during installation.

Special Performance:

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

Air Quality and the Environment:

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

Acrylic/Resin: Ideal for plasticised PVC and most modern flooring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

To find out more visit f-ball.com/training

Flooring factsheet

Buying Groups

Why join?

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

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

While the benefits of bulk buying power are self-evident, the resistance to the buying group concept among nonmembers appears to be centred on fears of surrendering some control to a committee – and most particularly compromising long-established relationships and negotiated terms with current suppliers.

Pick the right one

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

• Evaluate all buying groups as they all work differently

• Talk to the main marketing contact and/or a member of the committee

• Get a list of members and call up two or three for a ‘real-world’ view

• Establish your territorial exclusivity – where’s the next nearest member of each buying group

• Ensure you understand the financial arrangements, any fees that would relate to your membership, how the bills are paid and whether your fees are refundable if it doesn’t work out. Ask the buying group for a consultation to estimate your potential savings

• Review all the extra benefits and services to see what you would actually use

• Check out the product ranges offered including the own-label options and the UK/European mix

THE STOCKLISTS Feburary 2022

The bottom line is the bottom line. A retailer selling across a broad range of products is likely to improve margins within a buying group – but you don’t need a leap of faith to join up. Ask the buying groups for answers...

Key benefits

Increase margins

• Group purchases to get beneficial rates

• Rebates

• Exclusive higher-margin products

• Special promotions

One of the key reasons to join a buying group is to benefit from the discounts they negotiate as a bulk buyer from manufacturers. The way discounts and rebates are passed on to members varies between groups so make sure it’s absolutely clear how this will be done. You’ll need to work out how this compares with discounts you have already negotiated locally with preferred suppliers.

Access professional services

• Business and financial services

• IT and internet support

• Training and workshops

• Professional bodies Some buying groups offer an excellent range of other services which may be valuable to your business.

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

• Ensure you understand any rules that may limit your flexibility to run your business the way you want

Increase sales

• Best of both worlds’ proposition

• Wider ranges and exclusive products

• POS, displays and merchandising support

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

Network with other independents

• Members-only exhibitions with preferred manufacturers

• Regular meetings and supplier presentations

• Regional workshops

• Helpline

A lot of retailers enjoy the buying group environment of being independent but not alone out there on the High Street. Groups hold regular meetings and some have their own trade shows, regional meetings and workshops to help you develop your business. The network gives you someone to call when you need advice on, for example, an unusual installation, a technical consumer complaint, legal issue or business dilemma.

Flooring factsheet

Carpet types

Tufted

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

LOOP PILE

Berber – Berber carpets look like and are named after a handmade, bulky wool carpet made by the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia. The loops are made from thick or bulky yarns of wool, nylon, polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effect underfoot. These carpets are available in an assortment of colours and may be flecked and can be either level loop or multilevel loop. Level loop – When all the loops are of the same height, a highly flexible and durable carpet is created which has a natural, casual appearance even when (commonly) it is made from synthetic fibres. The tight loop texture tends to hide marks so it’s a good blend between luxury and practicality.

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

BONDED

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

CUT PILE

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

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

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

Velvet – Velvet textures (sometimes called ‘velour’ or ‘plush’) all have a level surface pile of approx 5mm to 10mm height, which is then sheared to give a smooth finish. With very little twist in the yarn, the ends blend together which then further enhances the overall finish. These carpets tend to ‘shade’ with heavy use. Footprints show easily and the colour looks different from place to place because fibres lying in different directions reflect the light differently. A luxury for occasional rooms.

CUT AND LOOP

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

Shag pile – Shag pile has varied in popularity. The pile is up to 50mm long and the texture is casual and loose but the surface can flatten easily and may lack durability.

Woven

Woven carpet may be in a tiny minority of today’s production but still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for prestigious installations.

Axminster

The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing as it is woven and cut to length, creating U-shaped tufts to give a velvety surface. The process locks in the fibre to create a carpet of high durability and performance retention as well as a luxury feel. The process allows for intricate designs and colours to be used – although modern trends mean that the traditional patterned axminster has given way to current fashion trends for plain carpets.

Wilton

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

Flat weave

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

The Stocklists

Carpet Company Directory

Abingdon Flooring

www.abingdonflooring.co.uk 01274 655694

Adam Carpets Ltd

www.adamcarpets.co.uk 01562 829966

Alternative Flooring

www.alternativeflooring.com 01264 335111

Associated Weavers

www.associatedweavers.net 01422 431100

Avena Carpets Ltd 01422 330261

Axwoven Carpets Ltd

www.axwovencarpetsltd.co.uk 0121 550 5788

Axminster Carpets Ltd

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk 01297 32244

Balta Industries

56 62 2211

Belvedere Carpets

Belvedere Carpets 020 8800 0740

sales@belvederecarpets.co.uk

www.belvederecarpets.co.uk

Betap Tufting BV

www.betap.com +31 383 861 060

BIC Carpets

www.bic-carpets.be +32 56 23 54 10

Bizspoke Custom Carpets 01924 488882

Blenheim Carpets 020 7823 3040

BMK 0113 380 5333

Bond Worth Ltd

www.bondworth.co.uk 01562 825105

Brintons

www.brintons.net 0800 505055

Brockway Carpets Ltd 01562 828200 sales@brockway.co.uk

www.brockway.co.uk

Bronte Carpets Ltd 01282 862 736 office@brontecarpets.co.uk

www.brontecarpets.co.uk

Burmatex

www.burmatex.co.uk 01924 262525

Cavalier Carpets Ltd

www.cavaliercarpets.co.uk 01254 268000

Christy Carpets 019078 308777

Clarendon Carpets

www.clarendoncarpets.com 01827 831480

Classis Carpets

www.classiscarpets.com 0870 020 1725

Condor Carpets BV

www.condor-group.eu +31 38 4778911

Contempo Carpets 0800 689 4741 sales@contempocarpets.co.uk

www.contempocarpets.co.uk

Cormar Carpets Ltd 01204 881 234 info@cormarcarpets.co.uk www.cormarcarpets.co.uk Couristan

558400

Durham Twist from Hugh Mackay Brockway’s Vogue Love Story Deep Feelings by Abingdon

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

Firth Carpets & Flooring

Be Pr Tu Tw W Ww 01484 721529

Furlong Flooring 01772 696 787

enquiries@furlongcentral.co.uk www.furlongflooring.com

Gaskell Wool Rich

www.gaskellwoolrich.co.uk 01827 831525

Gaskell Mackay Carpets Ltd

http://www.gaskell.co.uk/ 01429 892525

Georgian Carpets 01827 831430

Godfrey Hirst (GB) Ltd

www.godfreyhirst.com 0800 526696

Halbmond Teppichwerke

www.halbmond.de +49 037 421 420

Hammer Carpets 01473 826870 infouk@hammercarpetsuk.com www.hammercarpets.com

Heckmondwike FB

www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk 01924 410544

ITC

www.itc-carpets.com 0032 51 424 411

John Lanham Watts Carpets 01937 588511

John Evans Ltd 07850 935301

Joseph Hamilton & Seaton

www.jhscarpets.co.uk 01827 831400

Kingsmead Carpets

www.kingsmeadcarpets.co.uk 01827 831 424

Lano NV +32 56 65 4300

marketing@lano.be www.lano.com

Le Tissage d’Arcade

www.letissage.com +32 05685 4747

Lecaflor Ltd

www.lecaflor.com 0800 78 33 712

Leigh Spinners Ltd

www.leighspinners.com 01942 673232

Louis de Poortere

www.louisdepoortere.be +32 56 393 386

Lusotufo

www.lusotufo.pt +35 12 56 750 500

Manx Carpets

www.manxtomkinson.co.uk 01827 831 434

Master Weaver

www.masterweaver.co.uk 01562 754 382

Mayfield Carpets

www.penthousecarpets.co.uk 01706 639 866

MID NL

www.mid.nl +31 38 851 8700

Millennium Weavers Europe

sales@millenniumweavers.eu +32 55 50 9050

www.millenniumweavers.be

Modulyss

www.modulyss.com +32 52 457211

Mr Tomkinson

www.manxtomkinson.co.uk 01827 831 450

Phoenox

Sans Frontieres Ltd

6528811

www.sansfrontiere.co.uk 0844 5611977

Shaw Home Foundations 01675 433 501

Signature Carpets

www.signaturecarpets.co.uk 01422 845075 TAT Carpet 07976 607657

Bronte’s Cream Shagpile

Pimlico by Cormar

Wellington Stripe from Ulster

Flooring factsheet

Carpet trouble-shooter

Colour matching

Carpets are produced in batches - known as creels - and usually each batch produces between 500m2 - 3000m2 in a single width, depending on the creel size. Whilst the recipe used by the dyer remains constant, and is followed to the letter, in each separate production the colour reproduction will vary from batch to batch. However production is matched back to the original or master sample to ensure that the colour remains ‘within a commercial tolerance’. This process if not an exact science and a commercial tolerance is subjective but nevertheless is usually the professional judgement of the head dyer based on his/her experience.

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

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

Sprouting

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

Fading on Wool

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

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

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

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

Soiling

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

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

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

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

Static

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

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

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

Flattening

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

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

Shading

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

Pile Reversal

Like shading, this occurs when the pile or nap of the carpet changes direction and thus reflects light at different angles showing the effects of shading which can become permanent. It is also described as ‘watermarking’. This can happen to every carpet construction be it Axminster, Wilton, Tufted, Hand Woven, Persian, Chinese, Indian or even Coir Matting. Like shading it can be more apparent on plain carpet because heavy patterns can disguise the effects. It can occur quite quickly after installation. A tremendous amount of research has been carried out over many years by many institutes to determine the cause of this phenomenon but none of it has proved conclusive. There is no commonly known manufacturing process which can cause or cure this phenomenon and therefore it is not a manufacturing fault. For further information please check with individual manufacturers recommendations.

Pulling Loops

Pulled loops occur only in looped pile carpet where one or more loops in the continuous pile is pulled through the primary backing of the carpet. This is usually due to some local condition, possibly some sharp object which has caught in a loop in situ and has resulted in a pull. Pulled loops are easily dealt with by trimming the offending end level with the rest of the pile. They should not be left as this could result in further loops being pulled and developing into a ladder.

Shedding

All cut pile carpets will lose short fibre, which is created during production when spun yarn is cut for tuft formation. These fibres fall onto the surface of the pile and appear as ‘fluff’. The effect varies with yarn type and may be removed without detrimental effect upon the carpet by vacuum cleaning. This excess fibre is only a small fraction of the total fibre contained in the carpet.

Indentations

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

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

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

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

Samples Installation

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

Caring for carpet the right way WoolSafe factsheet

The WoolSafe Organisation is the UK’s leading authority for the correct care and maintenance of carpet and offers a range of services empowering retailers to build a reputation for great service and consumers to get the most out of their investment.

The clean carpet you expect... the service you deserve www.servicemasterclean.co.uk

British Wool makes a better carpet... naturally www.britishwool.org.uk

Registered Inspectors Network

Registered Inspectors Network

Wool Owners Warranty

Wool Owners Warranty

oolSafe Approved Products

WoolSafe Approved Products

The WoolSafe Academy

The WoolSafe Academy

Environmentally aware for superior carpet care www.cleantecinnovation.com

Vacuum cleaners - the choice of cleaning professionals www.sebo.co.uk

Flooring factsheet

Vinyl + LVT Supplier Directory

Abingdon SoftStep

info@abingdonflooring.co.uk

01274 655 694 www.abingdonflooring.co.uk

Adoretouch

+1.631.843.0900 www.adorefloors.com

Alsapan

g.folkes@alsapan.com

03 88 59 29 89 www.alsapan.com

Altro

enquiries@altro.com

01462 489 516 www.altro.co.uk

Amtico

info@amtico.com

0121 745 0800 www.amtico.com

Aspecta

+31 (0) 88 1662500 www.aspectaflooring.com

Beauflor

sales@beauflor.com

+32 56 67 66 11 www.beauflor.com

BerryAlloc

+32 56 52 84 80 www.berryalloc.com

Brampton Chase support@bramptonchase.co.uk

01604 664855 www.bramptonchase.co.uk

Earthwerks

saleseurope@earthwerks.com

0800 689 1657 www.earthwerks.eu.com

Forbo Flooring info.flooring.uk@forbo.com

01773 744 121 www.forbo.com

Furlong enquiries@furlongflooring.com

01772 316155 www.furlongflooring.co.uk

Harvey Maria info@harveymaria.com

0330 330 1231 www.harveymaria.com

Interface interface.uk@interface.com

0800 313 4465 www.interface.com

Invictus Info@invictus.co.uk

01422 431100 www.invictus.co.uk/lvt

Kährs UK sales@kahrs.com

023 9245 3045 www.kahrs.com

Karndean Designflooring

01386 820100 www.karndean.com

Kellars sales@kellars.co.uk

0161 443 0970 www.kellars.co.uk

Kraus sales@qep.com

01283 245430 www.krausflooring.co.uk

Lifestyle Floors info@lifestyle-floors.co.uk

01827 831448 www.lifestyle-floors.co.uk

Leoline info@leoline.co.uk www.leoline.co.uk

Moduleo salesuk@moduleo.com

01332 851 500 www.moduleo.co.uk

Polyflor info@polyflor.com

0161 767 1111 www.polyflor.com

Tarkett communication@tarkett.com 01622 854040 www.tarkett.com

Quick-Step 08448 118 288 www.quick-step.co.uk

Victoria Design Floors (Distinctive Flooring/Universal Flooring) info@myvictoria.co.uk 01562 749300 www.myvictoria.co.uk

Wineo info@wineo.de +49 (0) 5237 6090 www.en.wineo.de

Westex info@westexflooring.co.uk 01274 861334 www.westexflooring.com

Landscape Parquet by Victoria Design Floors

Victorian Treasure by Invictus

Van Gogh Classic Oak by Karndean Designflooring

Studio Designs by Brampton Chase

Flooring factsheet

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl is a fast growing sector of the flooring market due to its durability at relatively low cost and huge range of designs available. Sheet vinyl and cushion floor by the roll are popular but the sector is dominated by LVT. In reality, most of the products sold today are “LVP”, Luxury Vinyl Planks, as wood decors are more popular than ceramics and stone but the term LVT is still used to cover the whole non-sheet market.

Benefits

• Huge choice in terms of decors across wood, ceramic, stone and geometric designs

• Impressive realism – not just in the design but infinishing techniques that allow for wood knots you can feel, tiles you can grout, etc. See appearance options.

• Excellent performance in durability for high traffic areas, scratch resistance and cleanability. Vinyl also tends to be much more nonslip than natural materials. Some products are water resistant for bathrooms and kitchens.

• Warm and soft to touch compared to ceramic and stone floors - and a good heat insulator anyhow, and suitable for use with underfloor heating systems.

• Sound reduction – vinyl has neglible impact sound compared to the tap/click of laminate and transmits less sound and vibration compared to solid floor.

• Considerably cheaper than the ‘real’ thing – both to buy and to fit – and tile/plank approach minimises wastage.

Installation

Installation preparation

Vinyl requires a dry, sound, level subfloor as the relative thinness of vinyl and its light reflection performance will quickly reveal imperfections after installation as well as cause potential wear issues.

Exisitng wooden/MDF floors may need a plywood underlay up to 6mm thick and then the joints will need to be skimmed or taped. Non-wood sub-floors will need a self-levelling screed to be laid to ensure a suitable base for the floor. A damp-proof membrane may be required depending on sub-floor moisture levels.

However, new rigid core products are less flexible and can be laid more easily over existing floors – see Construction.

Top Coating

Wear Layer

Decor Layer

Product options

• Dry back – a sheet or tile that needs to be fixed to the sub-floor using an adhesive.

• Self-adhesive – tiles with a peel-off backing paper to stick to the sub-floor. Some tiles have adhesive overlaps to stick to each other rather than the sub-floor.

• Loose lay vinyl – tiles that simply drop onto the floor and rely on a high friction backing to keep them in place – they demand a very sound, level sub-floor but are the easiset type of tile to lay or replace.

• Click – tiles that have a mechanical jointing system to attach to one another (like a locked tongue and groove system) and ‘float’ on the sub-floor without being glued down. There are many proprietary versions of the click system which offer fast, clean installation and stability.

Appearance options

Vinyl tiles and planks cover a hugh variety of sizes and shapes and can be mix-and-matched to achieve an infinite number of designs. Current fashions include extra wide and long planks for wood through to very small planks for wood. Border effects can be easy to achieve in LVT.

Other notable options include:

• Embossed – this is where the top clear layer of the tile has been embossed to create a realistic texture that matches the style of the stone of wood decor. Registered embossed is the most authentic –the texture matches the design so that, for example, a wood knot or hand-scraped element in the wood design can be felt on the surface of the flooring.

• Grouting and grooving – vinyl tiles can be laid with grouting inlay strips or beads of vinyl for addewd realism – and there are acrylic grouts that can be applied. In wood decors, planks are available with v-grooves or bevelled edges between planks for added realism.

LVT construction

PVC Middle Layer(s)

Fibre Glass Layer(s)

PVC Base Layer

www.bramptonchase.co.uk

www.invictus.co.uk

www.krausflooring.co.uk

www.myvictoria.co.uk

Top coating – A polyurethane or aluminium oxide coating provides protection against scratches and stains and gives enhances anti-slip.

Wear layer – This is a key layer - determining the performance and resilience of the product. A 0.3mm (12 mil) wear layer is a good for heavy wear areas. Commercial installations need 0.5mm wear layers or above with 0.7mm at the top end. The wear warranties and guarantees carried by products will be based on this thickness.

Decor layer – This is the decor itself - in essence it is a paper- or filmbased photographic inkjet print. (A few LVT floors have the image printed directly to the surface of the floor but this implies less image definition and different wear characteristics.)

PVC and fibre glass layers – The construction ‘sandwich’ can vary between products but a combination of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) layers for strength and flexibility and fibre glass layers for structural stability may be used. Any click-system profile will be incorporated into these layers. Products often use a combination of recycled vinyl which is cheaper and virgin PVC which lasts longer and is more stable.

Rigid core LVT has a solid, less flexible PVC layer with maximum stability which means it can be laid over exisiting, less even flooring without showing imperfections and therefore avoiding wear problems.

Base (or backing) layer – The final high density PVC layer varies according to the installation requirement and is designed for taking adhesive or as an ‘underlay’ for loose-lay and click installations.

Wholesale Distribution Directory

NATIONAL

Fells Carpets

Leeds 0113 3071900

carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk

www.fellscarpets.co.uk

TCS “The Carpet Specialists”

Morecambe 01524 840177

info@tcsthecarpetspecialists.com www.tcsthecarpetspecialists.com

Xylo Wood Flooring

London 020 8368 8122 infouk@xyloflooring.com www.xyloflooring.com

NORTH WEST

A&A Carpets

Manchester 01204 701188 sales@aandacarpets.co.uk www.aandacarpets.co.uk

Hathaway Flooring

Manchester - see Floorwise page 63

Kellars Limited

Manchester - see pages 19,21 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk

Lakes Flooring Supplies

Kendal - see Floorwise page 63

Millbrook Carpets

Darwen 01254 703999 millbrookcarpets@live.co.uk

Preston Underlay Centre Ltd

Preston/Lancashire - see Floorwise page 63

EAST

Beds Flooring

Bedford 01234 341234

sales@bedsflooring.co.uk www.bedsflooring.co.uk

Salesmark Ltd

St Neots Tel: 01480 212888 sales@salesmark.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk

STS Flooring Distributors

Cambridge - see page 13 and Floorwise page 63

NORTH EAST/YORKSHIRE

Fells Carpets

Leeds 0113 3071900

carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk

Kellars Limited

Darlington - see pages 19,21 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk

Fells Carpets

Goole 0113 3071900

carl.cummings@fellscarpets.co.uk www.fellscarpets.co.uk

RBV Flooring

Bradford 01274 670011 rbvflooring@yahoo.com

Trade Carpets and Floors Ltd

Rotherham 01709 437723

sales@tradecarpetsandfloors.co.uk

MIDLANDS

Birch Distribution Sheffield - see Floorwise page 63

Birch Distribution

Leeds - see Floorwise page 63

Birch Distribution

Hull - see Floorwise page 63

Cornerstone Flooring Supplies

Doncaster - see Floorwise page 63

Cornerstone Flooring

East Midlands and Warwickshire 01159 444711 sales@cornerstoneflooring.co.uk www.cornerstoneflooring.co.uk

DMS Flooring Supplies

Northampton 01604 664850 sales@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk

Floorwise D & J Ltd

Southam - see Floorwise page 63

Kellars Limited

Rugby - see pages 19,21 0161 443 0970 sales@kellars.co.uk

Matty’s Wholesale Carpets

Birmingham 01675 433072 sales@mattys.co.uk

STS Flooring Distributors

Hemel Hempstead - see page 13 and Floorwise page 63

Trade Counter Carpets

Leicester 0845 604 3055

tradecountercarpets@gmail.com

Woodall Brothers Ltd

Shrewsbury - see Floorwise page 63

SOUTH WEST

BL Flooring Supplies

Bristol - see Floorwise page 63

BL Flooring Supplies

Gloucester - see Floorwise page 63

Fitwell Flooring Ltd

Redruth - see Floorwise page 63

Fitwell Flooring Ltd

Newton Abott - see Floorwise page 63

Flooring Supplies (Wessex)

Amesbury 01980 625888 orders@flooringsupplieswessex.co.uk

R & M Wholesale

Bristol 01179 531222

Tiverton 01884 258266 sales@rmwholesale.co.uk

Salesmark West Ltd

Amesbury - see Floorwise page 63 Tel: 01980 880933 mail@salesmark-west.co.uk www.salesmark-west.co.uk

Solent Wholesale Carpet

West Sussex 01243 774623 sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk

SOUTH EAST

Ashmount Flooring Supplies

Tottenham 0208 808 2158 sales@ashmountflooring.co.uk www.ashmountflooringsupplies.co.uk

Ballister London 020 8570 1668 london@ballister.co.uk www.ballister.co.uk

Ballister Reading 0118 931 3535 reading@ballister.co.uk www.ballister.co.uk

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

Clifford Floors

Strood 01634 285900 sales@clifford.uk.com

Culpeck Strood 01634 299000 sales@culpeck.uk.com

Columbia Flooring

Middlesex 020 8443 3322 sales@columbiaflooring.co.uk www.columbiaflooring.co.uk see page 9 for details

DMS Flooring Supplies

Hemel Hempstead 01442 502562 sales@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk

DMS Flooring Supplies

Milton Keynes 01908 049006 sales@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk

DMS Flooring Supplies

Colindale, North London 0208 036 9945 colindale@dmsflooringsupplies.co.uk

Flooring Supplies UK

Potters Bar 01707 245999 info@flooringsuppliesuk.com www.fsuk.floorgear.co.uk

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

John Palmer Carpets

Fareham 01329 221933 sales@johnpalmercarpets.uk.net

Potts & Ward, Woodcocks Ltd

Brighton 01273 557211 sales@pwwflooring.com www.pwwflooring.com

Salesmark

Lancing - see Floorwise page 63 Tel: 01903 750522 sales@salesmark.co.uk www.salesmark.co.uk

Solent Wholesale Carpet

West Sussex 01243 774623 sales@solentwholesale.co.uk www.solentwholesale.co.uk

STS Flooring Distributors

Basildon - see p13 & Floorwise 65

STS Flooring Distributors

Croydon - see p13 & Floorwise 65

STS Flooring Distributors

Orpington/Croydon - see page 13 & Floorwise page 63

Trade Carpet London

Wimbledon 0208 247 3891 sales@tradecarpet.com

www.tradecarpet.com

IRELAND (NI + ROI)

Flanagan Flooring Distributors

Saintfield, Belfast 028 9751 0932 sales@flanagan-flooring.com

www.flanagan-flooring.com

Flanagan Flooring Distributors

Republic of Ireland 048 9751 0932 sales@flanagan-flooring.com

www.flanagan-flooring.com

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd

Dublin - see Floorwise page 63

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd

Belfast - see Floorwise page 63

Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd

Limerick - see Floorwise page 63

TCS “The Carpet Specialists” Co. Louth 00353 429 351 351 info@tcsthecarpetspecialists.com

www.tcsthecarpetspecialists.com

SCOTLAND

Flanagan Flooring Distributors

Baillieston 0141 773 1122

scotland-sales@flanagan-flooring.com

www.flanagan-flooring.com

Flanagan Flooring Distributors

Loanhead 0131 2029 291

scotland.sales@flanagan-flooring.com

www.flanagan-flooring.com

Kellars Limited

Glasgow - see pages 19,21 0141 647 7685

sales@kellars.co.uk

MCD Scotland

Uddingston

Glasgow 01698 808000

mcdscotland@mcd.co.uk

www.mcdscotland.co.uk

Neil Smith Ltd

Glasgow - see Floorwise page 63

WALES

CBW Flooring Supplies

Pontyclun 01443 492510

www.cbwflooringsupplies.co.uk

1 Neil Smith Ltd

Glasgow, G4 0TX

Tel: 0141 552 1141

sales@neilsmithltd.co.uk

2 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd

Belfast, BT15 3GU

Tel: 028 9075 3202

Fax: 028 9075 3901

salesbelfast@pfl.ie

3 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd

Dublin, D12 E540

Tel: 00353 (0)1 626 3913

Fax: 00353 (0)1 460 4669 salesdublin@pfl.ie

4 Provincial Floorcoverings Ltd

Limerick, V94 W863

Tel: 00353 (0)61 227 100

Fax: 00353 (0)61 227 000 sales@pfl.ie

5 Lakes Flooring Supplies

Kendal. LA9 5RR

Tel: 01539 726500

sales@pucflooring.co.uk

6 Preston Underlay Centre Ltd

Preston, PR1 1PN

Tel: 01772 556345

sales@pucflooring.co.uk

7 Birch Distribution

Leeds, LS10 1AG

Tel: 0113 244 4363

Fax: 0113 244 8665

l.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk

8 Birch Distribution

Hull, HU7 0XD

Tel: 01482 826654

Fax: 01482 878693

h.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk

9 Hathaway Flooring

Manchester, M17 1EB

Tel: 0161 872 8003

sales@hathawayflooring.com

10 Cornerstone Flooring

Doncaster, DN3 3FE

Tel: 01302 835117

Fax: 01302 302542

cornerstonefloor@ btconnect.com

11 Birch Distribution Sheffield, S9 5PH

Tel: 0114 243 1230

Fax: 0114 243 5118

s.sales@birchdistribution.co.uk

12 Woodall Brothers Ltd

Shrewsbury, SY1 3JE

Tel: 01743 441584

Fax: 01743 441629

sales@woodallbrothers.co.uk

13 Floorwise D & J Ltd

Southam, CV47 0DR

Tel: 01926 814922

Fax: 01926 817899

sales@fwdj.co.uk

14 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd

Gloucester, GL2 5HY

Tel: 01452 223355

Fax: 01452 371284

info@blflooring.co.uk

15 BL Flooring Supplies Ltd

Bristol, BS2 9SH

Tel: 0117 955 5454

Fax: 0117 955 2626 info@blflooring.co.uk

16 Salesmark West Ltd

Amesbury, SP4 7LN

Tel: 01980 880933

mail@salesmark-west.co.uk

17 Salesmark

Lancing, BN15 8UN

Tel: 01903 750522

Fax: 01903 851111

sales@salesmark-floorwise.co.uk

18 Fitwell Flooring Ltd

Newton Abbot, TQ12

Flooring factsheet

Underlay

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

The Carpet Foundation and its Consumer Code of Practice approved by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) recommend that new carpet underlay is bought with every new carpet. Many consumers are now aware of the benefits of underlay but more needs to be done to provide information about the different types available and their suitability for different areas of the home.

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

Benefits

Good underlay will...

• Improve underfoot comfort

• Increase appearance retention, reducing flattening

• Absorb the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear

• Improve thermal insulation and warmth

• Increase sound insulation

• Smooth out sub-floor imperfections

• Last the lifetime of the carpet

Poor or old underlay will...

• Feel hard and unwelcoming

• Reduce carpet life

• Cause wrinkling and premature wear spots

• Cause carpet fibres to break down more quickly

• Not meet British Standards

How thick?

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

Combination PU foam

Types

PU (polyurethane) foam

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

Sponge rubber

• A more traditionally manufactured underlay available in flat or waffle patterns in a wide range of weights for different applications. It performs well for comfort and has a durable spring retention.

Crumb rubber

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

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

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

Underfloor heating underlay

• Always ask if there is underfloor heating. Most manufacturers offer specialised products. Underlay and carpet with a combined tog rating of 2.5 can be used – which means the underlay would normally have a tog rating of 1.0.

Felt • This traditional (but environmentally friendly) undelay is made from recycled fibres – wool, jute and synthetic – to create a firm, dense pad with excellent thermal insulation. Still a very popular choice among contractors when stretch fitting woven carpets.

Pre-tackified underlay

• A self-adhesive single stick underlay in both needlefelt and PU. A removable system for heavy use when comfort is desired.

Underlayment for LVT

• This provides a smooth surface on which you can glue down immediately. If there is a time or acoustic issue or a problematic underfloor, a stable, smooth dual underlay system will provide the best solution.

www.interfloor.com

www.floorwise.co.uk

www.carpenterunderlay.co.uk

www.unifloor.nl

www.underlay.com

www.wilsons-carpet-underlays.co.uk

Sponge rubber Crumb

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