Vol. 62 No. 8 A Hearst Business Publication April 22, 2013 $4 NWFA experiences double digit growth 18 Creative Flooring Solutions Canada’s retail brand powerhouse By Janet Herlihy ended up acquiring the business. Hallmark Carpet One has moved to a new Brook eld predicted. “But, will stay in Atlantic Creative Flooring Solutions is now the location, which, at 10,000 square feet, is the Canada. We’ll continue to improve and ne- In less than ten years, Creative Flooring parent company of a trio of businesses that largest of any of Creative’s showrooms. tune our businesses.” Solutions has grown into one of, if not the dominate the Halifax/Dartmouth area of Nova “It is located at the Atrium, a 200,000 largest, privately owned ooring company Scotia. Taylor Flooring, Wacky’s Floor Design square foot mall made up of furniture stores. First, there was Wacky’s in Canada, according to Scott Brook eld, Centre and Hallmark Carpet One Floor & Hallmark is the only ooring store. We In 2007, Creative purchased Wacky Wheat- chairman and CEO of the diverse, on-the- Home were independent operations until each designed it to have more space so it is not ley’s operation from partners Mike Wheatley move operation. was acquired by Creative Flooring Solutions, crowded and has a very modern look. Hall- and Larry Gumbley. “Wacky’s started in 1980 in Brook eld was a venture capitalist/ resulting in a diversi ed ooring powerhouse. mark will be our major residential renovation Bedford, Nova Scotia, as a large discount retailer chartered accountant with a background in In 2013, Creative Flooring Solutions brand, while Wacky’s and Taylor are more Continued on page 21 construction and insurance when Wacky acquired a fourth company in Halifax — builder focused,” Brook eld said. Wheatley’s asked him to help nd a buyer. RCCL (Ralph Connor Company Limited), Watch for Creative to continue to grow. “We Canadian market focus He liked the business so much, Brook eld an all commercial ooring business — and will do more expansion outside Nova Scotia,” Coverage continues on pages 16 & 19 NFA looks to future Courts sends ITC China dumping opportunities, branding determination for further review By Kimberly Gavin “Business is getting By Amy Joyce Rush better,” Sam Roberts, owner, [B, C] Roberts Carpet and Fine e Department of Commerce (DOC) case e National Floorcover- Floors, told FCW, during the regarding the dumping and countervailing ing Alliance (NFA) — 42 vendor round-robin, where of imported engineered hardwood ooring of North America’s largest members visit each of the from China was remanded to reconsider its dealers — met here April group’s core vendors in one ndings by the International Trade Com- To be clear, the court is only reviewing 4 – 7 for the group’s spring NFM’s Dave Snedekar meets with day. Roberts’ business is up mission (ITC) on March 20, 2013. e the record that exists and is limited to the meeting — an opportunity Congoleum at NFA. approximately 17 percent Commission must le the remand results speci c issues that the Court of Interna- to discuss challenges facing versus a year ago, but margins with the court on or before Sept. 30, 2013. tional Trade has directed the ITC to review, members such as tight margins and big box remain tight. “I’m hoping as business continues e petition was initially led with the according to Je Levin, counsel for CAHP. competition as well as to propose new pro- to improve things will A, get better for specialty ITC and DOC November 10, 2010 by the “ e commission conducts a ‘mini inves- grams like an NFA brand and a group e ort to stores, and B, see margins improve,” he said. Coalition for American Hardwood Parity tigation.’ It’s a much di erent animal than solve issues like an aging sales force. e rst quarter was quiet in Montana, (CAHP), a group of American manufac- what went on rst go around in fall 2011. e Business conditions overall have improved according to Jon Pierce, general manager, turers including industry leaders Shaw/ ITC can’t just start over again. It is limited since last year. Most dealers are reporting busi- Pierce Flooring. “ en when the snow went Anderson and Mannington claiming mate- to the re-examination of the speci c issues ness up anywhere from single to double digits. away, something happened. We’ve had a nice rial injury by reason of below market value the court remanded on,” said Levin. “One is Margins remain tight, even for these dealers — uptick in retail, in builder business, property multilayered wood ooring products being whether the ITC correctly identi ed all U.S. most report at margins. A few said they are up management business and contract,” he said, sold on U.S. soil. e case also claimed that manufacturers of multilayered wood ooring a little due to concerted e orts. Continued on page 7 the products were being subsidized by e and one is whether or not the Commission People’s Republic of China. correctly and comprehensively evaluated e hard-fought battle went to Washing- other economic factors that may have con- ton in October of 2011 for a nal hearing tributed to the injury aside from cheaply sold and in November, a nal a rmative deter- products. ey can’t collect new evidence.” mination was made. Also in October 2011, Levin further clari ed that the ITC can’t the DOC determined separate rates, which collect new evidence unless it nds that it applied to the majority of Chinese imported did not correctly identify all of the relevant engineered hardwood, of 3.31 percent for producers. In that case, he said, the ITC Periodical antidumping and 1.51 for countervailing. e would ask for the missing companies’ oper- rates, which are currently being appealed by ational and nancial data. “I do not see that both sides, are also subject to annual reviews. Continued on page 18 For breaking news updated each business day, visit us online at www.fcw1.com fcw42213-pages.indd 1 4/17/13 4:15 PM Untitled-2 2 4/12/13 10:52 AM Untitled-2 3 4/12/13 10:52 AM 4 News Acquisitions, new programs position J.J. Haines for future By Mallory Cruise Haines is also enthusiastic that economic sales, marketing and cus- indicators are pointing to recovery. “ e tomer service. [A, V.] Acquisitions that expand forecast is bullish for the rst time in six Je Shipe, president of the company’s regional reach and market years. I believe we are in the second inning At Your Door Floor Store, depth, new lines added to its robust product of the early stages of a multi-year recovery in Derwood, Md., said he assortment and an all new private label pro- the housing sector,” added Zwicker. bene ts from the advanced The Haines executive team: John Coakley, Scott Roy, Bruce gram and web service were some of the key technology Haines pro- Zwicker, Rosana Chaidez and Fred Reitz initiatives that shaped J.J. Haines’ annual New initiatives vides. “Haines helps its Loyalty Club Summit held here April 8-9. Haines introduced a web-based bene t for members grow business because it likes to stay delivering the latest products, colors and styles Technology was another important focus. its customers called Web Service Lead Gen- ahead of advancements in technology. is new across all categories,” said Roy. rough its acquisitions and smart busi- eration. Using zip codes and consumer loca- portal is also a great way to gain product knowl- J.J. Haines also named its Retailer of the ness plans, Haines continues to grow, allow- tions, it can help drive tra c to a member’s edge, and to reach the consumer and generate Year during its annual summit meeting. Gary ing the company to expand during this initial website using the Haines Loyalty Club portal sales,” said Shipe. Hurst, president, and Elmer Stoltzfus, prin- stage of economic recovery. e acquisition site. e company also enhanced its Haines Ranked No. 1 on FCW’s Top 25 Distribu- cipal, of Heritage Floor in Ronks, Pa., took of Allied happened in January 2013 and the Connect customer portal by expanding the tor List, Haines continues to be the leader the top honors this year. A young company, company said it has more work to do. tools it o ers. Using the portal, members can because of its product assortment, according Heritage Floors opened in 2010 during a down “With Allied Products we now have a le claims, issue credit for mistakes and pay to Haines’ Roy. e company has an entirely economy and accredits the company’s success supplies division; we will treat sundries and bills online. e revamped portal also includes new private label collection in ceramic, hard- to its corporate culture and business strategies. supplies as separate but complementary busi- information on new product launches. wood and carpet called Chesapeake that the “We’re the strongest in residential remodel- nesses, and we will continue to look to make “We are driving a big technology charge company will continue to expand upon. ing, and our installation sets us apart.We’re not more acquisitions in the mid-Atlantic and with all customers including our Loyalty Club “It’s about having the right product at the afraid to go the extra mile ,” o ered Stotlzfus. southeast regions. Haines is strong nan- members. One of the newest bene ts to the right time. Hardwood is currently experiencing Hurst added, “We take the extra steps to cially.