FLOORING AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND august / september 2018 Choices Flooring by Thomsons in Euroa and Seymour continue the family name into the third generation! p6 Print post approved 100018531 www.flooringmagazine.com.au ACHIEVE A PREMIUM LOOK WITH EASE, USINGENGINEERED TIMBER | CLICK HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS heartridge.com.au DISCOVER ENGINEERED TIMBER | CLICK RIVIERA OAK AVAILABLE IN 8 COLOURS Amalfi Apostle Indus Loire Mandalay Orinoco Whitehaven Bora Riviera Oak is designed to the highest standards of manufacturing, comprising a 5G click lock, micro-bevelled edges and a brushed and lacquered surface, making it the perfect choice for any home. • Real oak veneer • Lifetime structural guarantee • 20 Year surface finish guarantee* • Available in 8 colours • Easy and quick installation • Manufactured with sustainably-sourced timber • Klumpp coating for superior surface protection * Residential settings only. Commercial/retail spaces are not covered by this guarantee For more information contact Dunlop Flooring on 1800 622 293 or visit heartridge.com.au Upfront FLOORING AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Welcome to the August/ august/ september 2018 September 2018 edition of vol 36 no 4 Flooring magazine. In this issue we interview News the team at Ontera who discuss the WellBAC range of 04 Innovative Industry Training Pilot Seeks carpet tile backing systems Government Funding Boost and more. 10 New e-learning Resources for Apprentices There’s also an interview with Bruce MacLaren at QEP. Overseas News We take a close look at QEP’s 18 Beaulieu International Group Acquires expansion and distribution Beaulieu Canada and Beaulieu Australia plans as well as the launch of Interview new products. Our Icon is John Millard 24 Ontera from the aptly-named Icon 36 QEP Carpets out of Perth, Western Australia. John delves into Icons his work-life and we take a 31 John Millard wander down memory lane and explore the success of Regular Reports Icon Carpets and its ever- growing presence Australia- 46 Airstep Retailer of the Month wide. 62 Software We always welcome your feedback…. Front Cover All the best, 01 Choices Flooring www.choicesflooring.com.au Ronnie Gramazio Editor www.flooringmagazine.com.au www.flooringmagazine.com.au Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 3 News training consultant, Margo Couldrey from Innovative Industry Training Pilot Lista Consulting, the feasibility study was successfully completed and the Alliance Seeks Government Funding Boost now has an opportunity to apply for a larger WTIF grant to carry out a pilot training program at Holmesglen Institute. “Trade training is an industry wide priority and the Alliance members are keen to work with all industry stakeholders to increase the numbers of installers in training,” Mr. Flierman said. In other industry news, the Australian Resilient Flooring Association (ARFA) has successfully revived the Resilient Flooring Standards Committee PL015 to review and update standards relating to resilient flooring installations in Australia and New Zealand. A Project Manager has been appointed and a committee is currently being formed to undertake the review. ARFA is seeking the widest possible input into this important standard to ensure it reflects the interests of all stakeholders. AFS Brings Ardex to QLD Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) are delighted to announce that they will now be supplying Ardex products into Queensland. Due to recent acquisitions, Ardex will now be available via AFS’s newly acquired branches in Yatala, Virginia, Slacks Creek, Molendinar, Warana and Garbutt. This expansion continues the long standing, ever-growing partnership between AFS and Ardex. For more The Australian Flooring Industry Alliance Spokesperson of the AFIA, Randy than 60 years, ARDEX has been a (AFIA) continues its campaign to strengthen Flierman said the pilot formalises work quality leader for the flooring and tiling the standards and infrastructure that that is ongoing on a number of fronts industries, the brand of choice for will attract and retain quality installers to find new, innovative pathways for installers and distributors. to the industry. The body, comprising young people to enter and stay in the representatives from five industry sectors, profession. has secured a ‘seed funding’ grant from “The pathway engages employers in the Victorian Department of Education’s a number of key roles including design Vermeister Workforce Training Innovation Fund (WTIF) and administration of capstone tests to investigate the feasibility of a new pre- to lift employer confidence in training apprenticeship program that will sustain outcomes. The program includes a New Australian a pipeline of qualified installers within the number of components previously industry. not experienced by employers or our Distributor Working in collaboration with training provider, Holmesglen. This offers Holmesglen Institute, the Alliance both parties an opportunity to trial and Vermeister, leaders in wood floor members developed a plan for a pilot that evaluate new approaches,” Mr. Flierman solutions, is pleased to announce would enable students to transition from said. that their new Australian distributors a specially designed 16-week pre-industry “Due to the combined efforts of AFIA is SquareWood Pty Ltd, based out of program to a 12-month Cadetship under members, working closely with Franklin Melbourne, Australia. training contract as a precursor to a O’Carroll, of Holmesglen Institute and Contact SquareWood to find out Certificate 111 Apprenticeship. with great support from our vocational more. 4 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 www.flooringmagazine.com.au opened a furniture store in Shepparton - Xavier and brother Tony went into partnership together and bought the Thomson’s Floor Coverings part of the family business – Paul moved to Ararat and opened a furniture store, and later years opened Paul Thomson Carpet Choice (now known as Choices Flooring Ararat which is owned by Rod and Jody Mills who are both originally from Euroa – Pauls wife and Rod are brother and sister) – Christopher still currently owns Thomsons Home Furnishers in Euroa and is assisted on a daily basis by his three children – Mark is a ‘retired’ flooring installer but called upon when things are desperate. The Carpet Choice buying group was formed in 1993, and Xavier and Tony both agreed that continuing the association with Newfurn was a no brainer, and decided to rebrand their stores to Thomson’s Carpet Choice, which involved moving into a new premise at 8 Station St, Seymour. Xavier managed the Euroa store and although living in Euroa, Tony managed the Seymour store until this year! On 31st December 2001 Xavier Choices Flooring by Thomsons decided it was time to retire and Tony and his wife Christine bought Xavier out and in Euroa and Seymour Continue continued to offer the region with quality products at competitive prices. the Family Name into the Third Tony & Christine continued to work full time in both stores after Xavier retired – Generation Tony in Seymour and Christine in Euroa. After doing some travelling and The Thomson name in North East Cyril and Lena Thomson acquired their adventuring, in 2009 Tony & Christine’s Victoria goes hand in hand with Floor first store in 1959, being Thomson’s eldest daughter Jacqui joined the team Coverings and Furniture stores and has Home Furnishers in Euroa. Cyril was a and provided a huge amount of help now officially been passed onto the part of a group of independent furniture to her parents in both stores, quickly third Generation after Jacqui Thomson retailers who suggested in forming an picking up the knack to help Tony with purchased Choices Flooring by Thomsons association to maximise their businesses the measures, cutting of carpet / vinyl, in Euroa and Seymour on the 1st July - as a result Newfurn Floor Coverings was unloading trucks but also able to help 2018 from her parents. formed, and Thomson’s Floor Coverings out with the administration side of the was opened, branching out from the business as well. furniture store into its very own store in 2011 saw the introduction / Euroa in the mid 1960’s. rebranding of Choices Flooring, which Cyril & Lena had 7 children, John, now saw the store as Choices Flooring by Xavier, Paul, Anthony, Mary, Christopher Thomson’s. and Mark – it was a family affair in the Jacqui left the business in 2015 for 18 stores, with all siblings except Mary months but re-joined her parents in early having careers in either the Flooring and/ 2017 with the desire to purchase the or Furniture industry. Tony Thomson left stores off her parents – “the 18 months school at the age of 15 in 1969 and away from the business really made me went straight to work with his parents and want it more, and made me realise that older brothers in the stores. In the early it’s what I actually wanted to do – I’d 1970’s the family decided it would be a bought a house in Euroa a few years in great option to add another store to their prior and didn’t want to go anywhere and empire and opened the Furniture and wanted to follow on the family tradition so Flooring store in Seymour. spoke to Mum and Dad about my plans After Cyril and Lena passed on, all and we started getting things in place,” of the boys went their own ways – John says Jacqui. 8 6 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 www.flooringmagazine.com.au At Choices Flooring we know that good interior decorating starts from the floor up and that is why our Inspiration Station has been an integral part of our store evolution program. The Inspiration Station help our customers to make informed decision instore. Some features include; Ability to compare flooring types Customers’ ability to view any in the same room. Wall, and décor colours can be flooring sample in-store to a ‘real easily changed to create the life’ room setting, in a larger area perfect room on screen The ‘Your Floor’ program allows customers to upload their rooms onto the Inspiration Station (via Window Furnishings can be a website upload) to provide viewed in 2 sizes, complimented customers with the opportunity to by the motorisation function for view various flooring options they Rugs can be viewed on a variety of those that have it and can be are considering hard flooring tones and textures.