Vol. 63 No. 19 A Hearst Business Publication October 13, 2014 $4 Surfaces East makes Miami debut F LOOR C OVERING W EEKLY The Industry’s Business News & Information Resource 8 Karndean CEO maps retail growth By Brittany Walsh [Export, Pa.] While Larry Browder, newly named CEO of Karndean USA, has already been instrumental in the company’s rapid growth within the retail flooring market-place, he expects to maintain an upward growth trajectory across all channels by keeping a customer-first mentality. Brought on board in 2011 as vice president of retail sales, Browder replaced Ed Perrin earlier this month who will now assume the position of Group CEO. Browder told FCW Karndean’s strategy at retail was to create a level of value and profitability that its partners could not find with other Larry Browder manufacturers. “We did this by creating partnerships with our retailers, by creating products that are second to none in design, innovation and quality. We did this through excellent customer service and product availability. We did this through a customer-centric group of employees who Mannington’s Duncan to lead residential By Brittany Walsh [Salem, N.J. ] Earlier this month, Mannington named Ed Duncan president of its residential business. It’s a role he is well prepared for after 27 years with the company and having held positions across both the commercial and res-idential businesses. “I’m incredibly lucky and very humbled to accept this new position. I feel that I’m Ed Duncan well prepared to take on this new challenge, and I have support from the entire residential organization to help in the transition,” he said. “We’re in full product development mode right now, preparing for Surfaces and spring launches. Moving forward, I’ll be working with the management team to work on strategy for 2015 and beyond.” A major guiding principle for the com-pany continues to be its Made in the U.S.A. story. According to Duncan, there are many reasons that Mannington continues to cham-pion a strong American-made strategy. “We continue to invest in domestic manufacturing: rapid product development; faster reaction to an increase in market demand; quality assurance; and job creation, in addition to stronger communities for our associates and a commitment to a strong economy through U.S. manufacturing. It’s just a fundamental part of Man-nington’s business model,” he explained. Keeping that principle top of mind, one of Duncan’s first initiatives is to oversee the transition of products into its new domestic plant. “We are in the midst of expanding our Madison, Ga. LVT facility and the transition of our residential products into that facility, so that’s a primary job for me,” he said. Being at the helm of a family-owned com-pany approaching its 100th year in business is quite a responsibility to shoulder, and Duncan says he is certainly up to the task. “I’m honored to be here during such an important time in Mannington’s history. The Campbell family and the management team always have the company’s legacy in mind,” Duncan said, quoting Keith Campbell, added, “We’re not working for the next quar-ter, we’re working for the next generation.” Duncan replaces Kim Holm who is retiring. FCW Continued on page 9 Vendors showcase innovation at NFA convention season. While issues like service and pricing were still topics of discussion here, members told [Maui, Hawaii] If the fall NFA meeting, held here at the Fairmont Kea Lani earlier FCW that they were looking for new thinking this month, is any indication of things and new product from key vendors at the to come, then there is a lot of innovative vendor/member meeting — a practice akin to product and strong selling stories to look speed dating where each vendor and member forward to during the winter show and Continued on page 23 By Amy Joyce Rush Channel Clifford, Piet Dossche, Sam Ruble introducing CoreTec Plus to Gary Cissell at Bob's Carpet Mart. Retailers find new profit opportunities on Main Street USA By Janet Herlihy The Main Street market for flooring has grown beyond entry-level products and now offers retailers more opportunities than ever. Historically, the Main Street arena was filled with low-styled product meant more for function than form. Now these prod-ucts can offer both. “It meant commodity products that were sold at retail to be used in home applications for basements, game rooms and home offices, as well as local small businesses, education or retail appli-cations,” explained Quentin Quathamer, Shaw’s commercial brand manager for Philadelphia Commercial. “It was called ‘commodity’ because there was not a lot of high fashion involved. The products were more practical and functional. But today’s end user doesn’t have that idea. ‘Main Street U.S.A.’ is often used now to mean ‘local,’ and in the flooring business, it means a commercial project that doesn’t involve designers or architects and where Periodical For breaking news updated each business day, visit us online at www.fcw1.com Continued on page 22