Shining stars!
Stars of a shining success The stars shone out in September for the winners in the Flooring Innovation Awards after an unprecedented number of entries to the scheme that recognises the ideas and initiatives that are driving the industry forward. “The extremely high standard of entries received for the 2019 Flooring Innovation Awards has been a real challenge for the judges,” said Chris Moffat of SMG who was chairman of this year’s judging panel. “The Innovation Awards initiative has certainly proved popular within all sectors of the Flooring Industry with many companies reaping the inevitable PR and promotional benefits,” he said. “It was encouraging to see so many top quality, environment friendly and diverse products being submitted.” The National Flooring Innovation Awards sets out to identify products and services that are genuinely new and exceptional in the sector. The award scheme’s star certificates and trophies have now become a highly coveted accolade which is widely recognised across the industry and adds kudos to a company’s winning product and its marketing for the year ahead.
The “star” judges line-up (l to r): Chris Moffat, Bridgette Kelly, Laurence Bird, John Hopkins, Deborah Barker and David Spragg. The awards scheme organiser Bridgette Kelly commented: “We did wonder if 2019 was going to be a thin year for innovation given the state of the market, but the record number of entries, more than 40% up on last year, and the quality of those entries proved us wrong. Flooring companies have risen to the occasion.” David Spragg of The Stocklists magazine, the scheme’s sponsor, agreed: “In a tight market, companies do not have the resources to launch a blizzard of new products so they have to be more selective and savvy about those products they do introduce.
“But while businesses are often accused of sitting on their hands instead of investing for tomorrow, these awards have proved that flooring continues to have the appetite and ability to invest in its future.” This year there were more than 140 submissions to the award scheme with more that 40 shortlisted entries receiving an Innovation Star. The independent panel of expert judges then went on to select the Innovation Gold in each category – the best of the best – to receive the ultimate award which was presented at The Flooring Show in Harrogate.
Check out all the winners on pages 51–78 and at www.flooringinnovationawards.com
1. CARPETS NATURAL Aalya by Axminster Carpets Southwold by Cormar Carpet Co. Architect Twist from Cavalier Carpets Quintessential Twist from Hugh Mackay Carpets Spendore de Venezia by Louis De Poortere 2. CARPETS – MAN-MADE Stainfree Twist and Stainfree Ultra from Abingdon Flooring Zoffany Boutique for Alternative Flooring Wild Luxury by Balta Ultimate Impressions from Victoria Carpets 3. FIBRE DEVELOPMENT UltraBond from Beaulieu Fibres International Lakeland Herdwick from Brockway Carpets Gloss from ITC Natural Luxury Flooring Ltd Wool Piccolo by Kersaint Cobb 4. SMOOTHS Majestik by Adore Luxury Flooring Ceramica by Leoline Alter One by One Flor Europe Quick-Step Surface & Edge Protect+ 5. DESIGN – CARPETS AND RUGS Panache by Adam Carpets Ritzy Infinity Collection by Balta Carpets / ITC Artisan Wilton by Fells Carpets terræn by Ulster Carpets 6. DESIGN – SMOOTHS Tapestry Collection by Distinctive Flooring Dovetail by Harvey Maria The Natural Timbers Collection by J2 Flooring Altro Ensemble 7. UNDERLAY DB FIX acoustic underlayment by EarthWerks Premium Pure Recycled Foam Underlay from Luxe Underlay Nomafloor Premium 3mm from NMC Tredaire FR6 by Interfloor 8. ACCESSORIES MagTabs by IOBAC Palette floor bar collection by Lifestyle Floors Ali Wrap Nosing, Tramline Joiners and Tramline Scotia from Stairrods UK WPC stair nosing kit from PRO-TEK 9. INSTALLATION Stycco Flex from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. ST15/50 Gas Carpet Gripper Nailer by Spotnails Maestri NC 111 BiColor from Uzin Utz UK Decibel from Interfloor 10. ENVIRONMENTAL Sedna Eco Regenerated Nylon by Associated Weavers Ultra Fresh Technology from Ball and Young Dyehouse and Energy Centre at Ulster Carpets Eco Pouch from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. 11. MARKETING Invictus Flooring LVT by Associated Weavers Adam Carpets Collaboration with Little Greene Luvanto by QA Flooring Solutions The Wool Benefits Campaign from Wools of New Zealand 12. POINT-OF-SALE ‘Shop-in-Shop’ Concept by Abingdon Flooring Haute Couture Design Box by Louis De Poortere Pure from SMG ‘Shop in Shop’ Showroom by Moduleo 13. TECHNOLOGIES Fitter and Estimators Companion from Computers for Flooring Visualmine from freetail limited International Textile Flooring Academy Carpet Care iFrame from WoolSafe Innovation GOLD winners
50 October 2019
Carpet&FlooringReview