Holiday Traditions in Germany: Happy Holidays From DOMOTEX!

Santa! I know him!

If you have seen the movie “Elf” then you will certainly understand the reference above. I was recently in NYC on my way to the Hannover Fairs USA corporate office in Princeton, NJ when I literally ran into a mob of Santas on their way to the next pub during the 2010 Santa Pub Crawl NYC.

Every culture and/or religion has their own way of celebrating this time of year and these celebrations could last a day, a week or even a month as happens in Germany.

For Germans, Christmas is a month long celebration that includes Christmas markets in cities like Munich, Cologne, Berlin and Dresden which is the oldest Christmas market in Germany dating back to 1434. At any one of these markets you will find traditional gifts, music, food and typical beverages like Glühwein, hot mulled red wine. If you get a chance to visit the Christmas markets in Germany and order Glühwein, make sure and try the Glühwein mit Schuss (with a shot of brandy).

[See Hannover Holiday Traditions for additional German holiday traditions.]

Advent marks the beginning of the holiday season with a wreath of evergreens and red candles that are placed in the home; one candle is lit on each Sunday before Christmas.

For most, the real start to the German holiday season is Nikolaustag or St. Nicholas Feast’s Day on December 6th, when children leave a shoe or boot outside their bedroom door the night before. The idea is that St. Nikolaus will appear overnight and put little gifts into their boots if they have been `good` throughout the year. `Bad` kids will only receive a bunch of twigs (a birch).

The Christmas tree, originating in Germany, is also an integral part of the German Christmas tradition and Christmas day is typically a day of gathering with family members.

Whatever your holiday tradition might be, all of us here at DOMOTEX wish you a very happy and safe holiday season. We look forward to a prosperous New Year in the floor covering industry and to seeing you at DOMOTEX 2011!

~ Katherine


Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

Top 10 DOMOTEX FAQs From Katherine Leon

In this post, I share with you what I unofficially refer to as Katherine’s Top 10 FAQs for DOMOTEX. These are the most frequently asked questions that those interested in attending and/or exhibiting at Domotex Hannover have.

1. Who will be exhibiting at DOMOTEX?

Approximately 1400 manufacturers/producers from all over the world will be displaying their latest innovations and products in the floor covering industry. Products categories include carpets, handmade rugs, laminate, hardwood, linoleum, flooring tools, cleaning products and many more.

A quick and easy way to find out who will be exhibiting is to use the Exhibitor and Product search now available on the DOMOTEX website [see link at the bottom of the Domotex home page]. Here you will be able to search by company name or product category. This tool will provide you with booth numbers, floor plan and contact information for the product or services you are looking to find.

2. Who will be attending DOMOTEX?

Simply stated there will be approximately 40,000 decision makers with buying power from all over the world who come together for 4 days in Hannover to evaluate prospective vendors, products and services in the floor covering sector. They come to network, be educated on the latest trends in the market and most importantly meet face to face with industry peers.

3. I am interested in exhibiting at DOMOTEX who do I contact?

Well that’s an easy one… Call me, Katherine Leon, at (404) 214 – 0432 or email kleon@hfusa.com.

4. I am interested in attending DOMOTEX in Hannover. How do I purchase tickets and what is the cost?

Unlike most trade fairs in the US, tickets must be purchased to attend DOMOTEX and can be done so in advance by clicking on this link to the DOMOTEX website.  There will be no lanyards or name badges given out onsite so don’t forget your tickets each day. The cost is as follows:

• Full Event Access – 41 euro
• 1 Day Pass – 23 Euro (16 Euro for Students onsite)

5. Do I need to purchase a separate ticket to enter CONTRACTWORLD?

No. The same ticket for DOMOTEX will give you access to CONTRACTWORLD.

6. Does my DOMOTEX attendee ticket include a show guide?

Show guides or catalogues, however you prefer to call them, are available for purchase on the DOMOTEX website as well. Click on this link to order a DOMOTEX show guide.  Last year’s edition is also available if you so desire.

7. What are the DOMOTEX show hours and dates?

January 15 – 18, 2011 from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily.

8. Are there still hotel rooms available in Hannover?

Yes, but hurry up! You may of course feel free to use travel sites such as http://www.booking.com/, http://www.expedia.com/ or http://www.travelocity.com/, but DOMOTEX does offer its own hotel services and the contact information is below:

Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH
Phone: +49 (0) 511 12345-55
Fax: +49 (0) 511 12345-556

9. How do I get to the DOMOTEX fairground from my hotel?

It all depends on where you are staying, but the rail system in Hannover is fantastic. Your entrance ticket to DOMOTEX will serve as your train pass and will allow you to ride the train for free to and from the fair grounds.

10. Will there ever be a shortage of beer at DOMOTEX?

Absolutely not! What a silly question! Unlike US trade shows, DOMOTEX happy hour does not have a start time. Most exhibitors have refreshments available at their booth space and are always happy to pour you some delicious German brew.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I look forward to seeing you in Hannover at DOMOTEX!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

TalkFloor Discusses DOMOTEX 2011 with Leon & Gould

Last week, Jim Gould and I spent time with Dave Foster from TalkFloor Radio discussing DOMOTEX 2011.

Our conversation became a two part interview which aired on Monday and Tuesday, December 13th and 14th, 2010 on TalkFloor Radio.  It's also available on TalkFloor.com.

Jim, Dave and I spoke about several of the special events that will be taking place at DOMOTEX 2011- which takes place January 15 through 18 - including the VIP Retail Tour on Monday, January 17th, CONTRACTWORLD, Souk Deluxe and FloorForum.

Here is how Dave Foster describes the interview on TalkFloor.com:

Katherine Leon, Jim Gould on Domotex Hannover 2011

Katherine Leon, Director of Sales, Hannover Fairs USA and Jim Gould, President, Floor Covering Institute preview Domotex 2011, scheduled for Jan 15-18, 2011 in Hannover, Germany looking at the number of exhibitors and the expected turnout for the show, contractworld, retail tour and other special events planned for the show.

Each segment lasts approximately 13 minutes.

To access the recordings, click on Katherine Leon, Jim Gould on Domotex Hannover 2011.

In case  you'd like more information on the programs that Jim and I mention in our interview with Dave Foster, here are additional links:

• DOMOTEX Carpet Design Awards 2011
• Souk Deluxe at DOMOTEX 2010, Hall 20
• VIP Retail Flooring Tour at DOMOTEX: January 17, 2011
• ContractWorld 2011
• Domotex: First Time Travel Tips

Thank you, Dave, for a terrific opportunity to talk about DOMOTEX 2011. We are excited about a great event next month and hope to see you there.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

AFA at DOMOTEX 2011

Here is the latest news concerning AFA, the American Floorcovering Alliance, at DOMOTEX 2011!

We are very pleased to welcome once again AFA members in the AFA Pavillion at DOMOTEX 2011.

The AFA has been around since 1979 educating and promoting the US floor covering industry.  They are also a proud supporter of DOMOTEX and will be returning in January 2011 to Hall 5 in space number B26 at DOMOTEX in Hannover, Germany.

[You might enjoy reading about AFA's Wanda Ellis Urging Companies to Consider Going Global at DOMOTEX.]

New to DOMOTEX and AFA, but not new to the industry, is Lexmark Carpet Mills. As a leading manufacturer of carpets for the hospitality segment we are excited to have them on board.

Lexmark describes itself as follows:

Lexmark Carpet Mills, headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, is a leading manufacturer of carpets for the hospitality segment of the commercial market. Founded in 1993, Lexmark supplies carpeting to both mid-tier and high-end hotels for use in public areas and guestrooms. Lexmark’s fully integrated manufacturing capabilities, state-of–the-art equipment and unsurpassed customer service have enabled Lexmark to rapidly gain market share. Lexmark was ranked as the 12th largest specified carpet manufacturer by Floor Focus magazine which includes the corporate, retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, and government segments within the specified commercial sector. Within the hospitality sector, Lexmark is the largest producer of guest room carpets.

You can view two videos about them on their Lexmark Carpet Mills Vimeo Channel.

Joining Lexmark at the AFA Pavillion at Domotex 2011 are:

A.B. Carter
Card Monroe
DuPont
Perpetual Machine Company
Pharr Yarns LLC
TUFTCO International
VRW – USA

Be sure to stop by and say hello to Wanda Ellis and her AFA members in Hannover!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX
Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

VIP Retail Flooring Tour at DOMOTEX: January 17, 2011

One of the benefits of attending DOMOTEX for visitors from North America is getting a firsthand look at how flooring is sold in Europe.  Not just on the DOMOTEX fairgrounds, but also - thanks to the VIP Retail Tour taking place January 17, 2011 - in local Hannover, Germany, retail stores.

The VIP Retail Tour, sponsored by DOMOTEX, officially started in 2010 when we explored several DIY stores in Hannover.  Following a successful DIY retail store tour at DOMOTEX last year, we are happy to announce the return of the program which offers North American buyers a closer look at the retail floor covering market in Germany.

We have lined up three different retail businesses that sell flooring and are located in and around the city of Hannover:  Tedox, a value priced retailer selling a full range of products; Kibek, a mid range retailer selling floor covering and other home decorating products, and SCHLAU Groβhandel, a high end wholesaler for the designer trade.

I expect this tour to be particularly informative.

The Hannover Flooring Stores VIP Retail Tour will take place on Monday, January 17th and will last about 2 ½ hours. Transportation to and from the fairgrounds is complimentary; translators accompany us for each tour and we will meet with store managers for a true insiders' perspective on retailing in Germany.

We offer three Tours to choose from: one departing at 9:30am, at 12:30pm or at 3:30pm. Space is limited so please reserve your spot at your earliest opportunity by letting me know or Jim Gould.

Here is additional information on the stores we will be visiting during the Hannover Flooring Stores VIP Retail Tour on January 17, 2011:

VIP Retail Tour Retailer: Kibek

Kibek is one of the world’s leading commercial traders in the field of carpets and floor coverings. The business was founded in Elmshorn, Germany in 1951 by Walter Sachau. The 14 retail stores across Germany provide the largest selection of floor coverings in the German market. Each Kibek store has over 30,000 carpets, 1,000 rolls of wall-to-wall carpeting and many shelf meters of home accessories and home textiles. The Kibek store in Elmshorn, with its 20,000 m² of sales area, is in fact the largest carpet store in the world

VIP Retail Tour Retailer: Tedox KG

Founded in June of 1972 as Teppich Domane Harste, tedox KG is a rapidly expanding home improvement retailer with over 80 stores across Germany. In addition to carpets and other floor coverings, tedox offers curtains and textiles, wallpaper and paint, lamps, tools and DIY supplies, household goods, interior decorating materials, furniture and a wide range of special items – a rich product range which makes tedox unique throughout all of Germany. tedox stores boast an average floor space of about 3,200 square meters (approx. 34,450 square feet) featuring some 15,000 retail items. More than 14 million customers a year shop at tedox.

VIP Retail Tour Retailer: SCHLAU Groβhandel

The SCHLAU/HAMMER Group operates 13 SCHLAU wholesale stores in northern, western and eastern Germany. Painters, floor and parquet layers, specialist stores and specialist retailers throughout Germany rely on SCHLAU to find the goods they need. The company offers skilled tradesmen and craftsmen one of the biggest and most varied selections in the field of interior and facade design and is thus one of the leading wholesalers in this segment. In addition to the SCHLAU wholesale markets, the Group also operates 180 HAMMER retail stores for interior design.

Please let me know if you have any questions. To reserve a spot on one of the VIP Retail Flooring Tours taking place on January 17, please contact Jim Gould via phone at 314-812-2700 or email at jgould@floorcoveringinstitute.com or me via the contact information below or email: kleon@hfusa.com.

Jim and I look forward to seeing on one of the three VIP Flooring Retail Tours taking place on January 17 during DOMOTEX 2011.

~ Katherine


Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

Souk Deluxe at DOMOTEX 2010, Hall 20

Souk Deluxe brings exotic inspiration to DOMOTEX 2011's handmade rug trend display in Hall 20.

A souq or souk is an Arabic word that typically designates a market or central bazaar where local merchants set up items such as textiles, spices and jewelry. One of the most well known Souks is located in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh.

Inspired by this concept, world renowned designer and contemporary rug artist, Jan Kath, has created a special presentation and trend display at DOMOTEX appropriately named SOUK Deluxe. At Souk Deluxe you will find the highest quality of handmade carpet - created by 17 companies belonging to the world's "knotted rug avant garde" - prominently displayed in a sort of three dimensional format.

As you can see from the photo below, the rugs are displayed in various platforms that allow visitors to view the pieces from different angles which further ties in the concept of a souk because none of the platforms are perfectly aligned.

According to the recent press release,

"The underlying concept for Souk Deluxe in 2011 is a “Rug Wave” – a wave that washes the latest innovations and trends in hand-made carpets onto the market. The visual impact of the stand design communicates both elegance and creative energy."

You can read the entire release Souk Deluxe: Hand-made carpets of the highest quality. It details the source of inspiration as well as how the displays contribute to the overall effect.

The concept of Souk Deluxe is for buyers, designers and other industry members to view the latest new products in the handmade sector as well as network with their peers and exhibitors in the neighboring booths. This special presentation in Hall 20 is not to be missed. It will be as elegant and stylish as only Jan Kath can create!

I can't wait to experience it myself and look forward to hearing your reactions.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

Shaw Contract Group at DOMOTEX 2011

Great news!  Shaw Contract Group has returned to DOMOTEX after a long hiatus.  They will be located within the CONTRACTWORLD forum in Hall 4 with award winning designs prominently displayed in their booth space. Shaw is interested and excited about networking with global buyers.

Shaw will also be engaged in a panel discussion during which they will talk about their journey to sustainability and their commitment to Cradle-to-Cradle design.

As a key component of DOMOTEX, CONTRACTWORLD is emerging as the largest forum for European architects, interior designers, and planners to share ideas, network with manufacturers and be exposed to new trends in their industry.

As Jim Gould explains in his November 3rd, 2010 interview with TalkFloor's Dave Foster [link to MP3], CONTRACTWORLD will have a noticeable theme of environmental sustainability that will include special presentations and panel discussion with prominent architects and designers and leading global manufacturers. One of these manufacturers will be Shaw Contract Group.

[You can also access Part 3 of the interview with Jim Gould via this link.]

More information will be forthcoming regarding specific speakers at CONTRACTWORLD, but we are working on bringing in expert industry leaders in the Cradle to Cradle model. Stay tuned for new developments.

In the meantime, take a look at this Forbes interview about designing Earth-Friendly products with William McDonough, renowned architect and creator with German chemist Dr. Michael Braungart of the philosophy of Cradle to Cradle Design.  It explains the concept of C2C and how Shaw has taken huge leaps to improve production of their carpets while keeping the environment safe.

Welcome Shaw Contract Group to DOMOTEX and CONTRACTWORLD 2011! We look forward to learning more about sustainability and Cradle to Cradle design.

~ Katherine


Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

NWFA at DOMOTEX 2011

Here's the latest news concerning NWFA at DOMOTEX 2011!

We are thrilled to announce that The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) will have the largest presence at DOMOTEX to date. Twelve companies will be representing their association in Hall 8 in January 2011.

[Here is a link to a pdf showing the floorplan for DOMOTEX 2011.]

Why DOMOTEX for NWFA?

Ed Korczak, CEO/Executive Director at NWFA simply said, “The wood flooring industry has gone global with unique designs, species and accessories from around the world. Being part of DOMOTEX has the NWFA contributing to the advancement of wood flooring internationally.”

Ed also went on to explain that even though DOMOTEX is a huge show encompassing more than eleven halls, their members as a part of the NWFA pavilion will have the advantage of high visibility, steady traffic and an attractive display at affordable costs.

New NWFA Participants at DOMOTEX 2011

We are also happy to see new participants in the NWFA pavilion who obviously find value in exhibiting in Hannover.  Ed wants to remind his members as well as other manufacturers that, “relationships aren’t built overnight” and participating at DOMOTEX should be at least a 2 or 3 year commitment. I have spoken to several long time exhibitors at DOMOTEX and industry experts like Richard Burkemper and Jim Gould who share the same sentiments as the Ed.

Below you will find a list of the participating companies at the NWFA pavilion, located in Hall 8, Booth C18, at DOMOTEX 2011.

W-D Flooring

Powernail Company

Basic Coating

Advantage Trim & Lumber

Wagner Electronics

Tresca Exotic Hardwood

Shamrock Plank Flooring

Great Lakes Veneer

Diversified Industries/The Floor Muffler

Graf Brothers Lumber

Mullican Flooring

Robinson Lumber Co.

We welcome the NWFA and its members - new and returning - to DOMOTEX 2011. I look forward to meeting each of you in person in Hannover.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

AFA Brings Together Dalton and Savannah College of Art & Design

The American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) Brings Together the City of Dalton and Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)

Perhaps you've heard about SCAD - a.k.a. the Savannah College of Art & Design? It's been in the Dalton, GA news lately and for good reason. Did you know, though, that there's a further connection between SCAD and DOMOTEX supporter and exhibiting organization AFA?

Back in October of 2009, American Floorcovering Alliance Executive Director, Wanda Ellis, and AFA Board Chairman, Elichai Hoenig, discussed the possibility of offering some type of internship program to AFA members that would benefit them in the areas of creative design and sustainability.

After all, carpet and flooring companies are always on the lookout for new ideas to incorporate into new product offerings.

What better way to do that than to involve fresh, young perspectives from schools that focus on art and design and have an interest in applying that focus to manufacturers involved in home related markets!

Savannah College of Art and Design came to mind because SCAD is a premiere school for innovation, sustainability, & design.  These compoments are fit perfectly in with what a key focus for the floor covering industry.

AFA approached the school and soon after the concept became a reality.

In July of 2010, Dalton, Georgia hosted the first ever Savannah College of Art and Design internship program. Interns from SCAD lived in Dalton and worked in several different companies in the Carpet Industry in the design and sustainability areas for 8 to 10 weeks.

At the end of the summer, the companies were very impressed with the insight & workable ideas the students brought to the company. [See TalkFloor.TV where Elichai Hoenig summarizes the program's successes.]

The program is going to be a long lasting relationship between SCAD and Dalton’s carpet industry and potentially even evolve into something greater in the future, such as a creative design/ fibers satellite campus in Dalton if the program becomes something of that magnitude. That would certainly have huge benefits for the City of Dalton, the Carpet Industry, and even SCAD.

Getting back to why SCAD has been in the Dalton news... Check out What's Next For Dalton: SCAD Students Weigh In. SCAD students are generating conversation with Dalton residents about what makes Dalton unique. As the "Carpet Capital of the World" it certainly carries a lot of history. Won't it be fascinating to see what SCAD students recommend for Dalton's future?

Thanks, Wanda and AFA, for putting together such a program!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

DOMOTEX 2011: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Travel Tips

DOMOTEX 2011 Only 3 Months Away!

I can hardly believe that DOMOTEX 2011 is only about 3 months away! I'm happy to tell you that the Domotex team has been busy preparing for what is going to be another exciting global flooring event!

Become a fan of DOMOTEX on Facebook for new and relevant information regarding the event. We are up to 89 Fans and growing!

If you're not on Facebook, you can also follow us on Twitter or even join us on LinkedIn via the DOMOTEX Group.

So you say you’re not a social media fan? We have you folks covered too!

Sign up for the DOMOTEX Newsletter that will be delivered right to your inbox. Find out about all the special events that will be happening at next year’s Domotex.

Time to Make Flight & Hotel Arrangements for DOMOTEX 2011!

I also want to remind you to make your flight and hotel arrangements if you have not already done so for Germany. Hannover is a small city so hotel accommodations need to be done in advance.

Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH and Deutsche Messe have joined forces to help with hotel rooms as well as B&B accommodations in and around the city. You can find a listing of these properties by clicking on this link.

You may also contact them directly:

Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH
Phone +49 (0)511 12345-555
Fax + 49 (0)511 12345-556.

I look forward to seeing you at Domotex 2011!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

NWFA Wood Flooring Installers Site

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has been a long time supporter of DOMOTEX and has been instrumental in promoting and advancing the hardwood floor industry in the US, Canada and globally, so it’s no surprise to hear that they have put together a fantastic site for consumers to find professional wood flooring installers.

Anita Howard, Communications Director at NWFA, provides the following description of the Wood Flooring Installers website and its use.

The National Wood Flooring Association has developed a new web site to help consumers find professional wood flooring installers in their area.

The new NWFA site, http://www.woodflooringinstallers.com/, allows consumers to search for professional installers using a variety of options. Searches can be conducted by city, state or province, zip or postal code, mileage, area code, country, or even by individual name or company name.

The benefit of using this site is that consumers can be assured that the individuals and companies listed are members of a professional trade association dedicated to educating installers about proper installation techniques. NWFA installers have access to the latest industry information to provide consumers with the high-quality job they expect and deserve. Individuals or companies that are NWFA certified installers and/or sand and finishers are identified as well. These certifications are acquired after taking and passing a written exam, as well as a hands-on test administered by industry experts.

The National Wood Flooring Association is a non-profit trade organization, with more than 3,400 members world-wide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. NWFA members receive the best in educational training, benefits, technical resources and networking, to advance their professionalism and success.

The NWFA is located at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Boulevard, Chesterfield, MO 63005, and can be contacted at 800-422-4556 (USA & Canada), 636-519-9663 (local and international), or on-line at http://www.nwfa.org/.

Thank you, Anita!

As NWFA's Wood Flooring Installers site states: "A Solid Investment Deserves a Professional Installation...The wood floors you choose today will last for generations, so you want to make sure that the wood flooring professional you choose has access to the latest industry information to provide you with the high-quality job you expect. By choosing a member of the NWFA, you can be certain that he or she has the knowledge and skills to deliver a beautiful wood floor that will last for the lifetime of your home."

I encourage you to check out NWFA's new site for finding certified wood flooring installers.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

Find the Future of Flooring at DOMOTEX!

Jim Gould, founder of The Floor Covering Institute and respected Industry Consultant, contributes this post about Finding the Future of Flooring at DOMOTEX.

With over 40 years of industry experience, Jim shares his observations of the DOMOTEX brand of events and how he considers it a "Treasure Hunt into North America's Floor Covering Future". Products and trends that were first seen at DOMOTEX continue to influence the US market and he is eager to see what new experiences he will be exposed to at future DOMOTEX events.

[Click here for links to previous posts that Jim has contributed to this blog.]

Thank you, Jim!

~ Katherine

DOMOTEX: A Treasure Hunt Into North America's Floor Covering Future

By Jim Gould

I love attending Domotex. Why? Because it's like a treasure hunt into the future of floor covering.  A visit to Domotex allows you to observe European trends and that's like gazing into a flooring crystal ball for North America: always inspiring and sometimes life changing. Every time I go, I find something new and exciting that inevitably challenges what we consider to be flooring norms in North America.

I'll share with you a few of my personal experiences.

Pergo Laminate Flooring

Many people in the floor covering industry associate me with bringing Pergo to America. How that happened is that in 1992 Paul Murfin (now an executive at Armstrong) and I were walking through the Domotex Hannover show looking for a unique wood supplier when we stumbled upon the Pergo exhibit. It caught our attention! Laminate had been sold in Europe for a while; in the States, we had never heard of it. Even the people at Armstrong had no idea what I was talking about. In 1993 my company, Misco Shawnee, brought Pergo to the U.S.

Glueless Laminate Flooring

Since then, every journey to Hannover has yielded at least one idea or discovery that has made the trip worthwhile. I first saw glueless laminate at Domotex. A demonstration of Alloc’s aluminum locking system at Domotex inspired Unilin to profile tongue and groove to lock together.

Flooring Color, Design & Display Ideas

While America is the largest consuming market for floor covering in the world, we certainly don’t have a lock on innovation, product advancements or fashion trends. Innovation and inspiration in flooring come from all over.

Colors and design trends vary around the world and nowhere is that more evident than at Domotex. Bolder European colors may not sell in the US. However, they do spark the imagination of those attending.

Sometimes, just the way products are displayed shows a creative flare that can help retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Take carpet for example. While Americans were stuck displaying carpet on waterfall fixtures, I noticed that Europeans were using sophisticated lighting and design to showcase carpet as fashion.

Robotic, Laser Driven Wood Floor Sanding Machine

Manufacturers keep product innovations secret before unveiling them in front of over 40,000 floor covering professionals at Domotex. There’s always treasure to be found - and it’s not always the large manufacturer that has the most interesting innovations. A couple of years ago I found a robotic, laser driven wood floor sanding machine.

Click LVT, Wood Veneer on HDF Core, High Gloss Laminate Flooring

Several years ago I saw the first “click” LVT by a German company. I expect that at this year’s show at least 15 new manufacturers will introduce their variation of this hot product. Meister showed wood veneer attached to an HDF core at Domotex long before Shaw introduced Epic. High gloss laminate was displayed years before Armstrong introduced Grand Illusions.

Over 1,400 manufacturers exhibit in Hannover in January and over 1,000 in Shanghai in March at Domotex Asia. Many of these manufacturers you may not recognize, but then at one time American’s didn’t know Pergo or Unilin either. For a guy who loves flooring it doesn’t get better than this!

Exposure to new things is the key to recognizing how coming changes in flooring may impact your business and it gives you an edge to capitalize on those changes. If I missed a Domotex show I wouldn’t feel like I knew what was happening in floor covering. For me it’s a must.

If you are interested in finding the future of floor covering spend just a few days at one of these flooring shows and you’ll feel like you’re on a treasure hunt and gazing into a flooring crystal ball. Domotex Hannover runs January 15-18, 2011 and Domotex Asia runs March 21- 24, 2011. Both shows are worth the trip and I hope to see you there. Feel free to contact me if you have questions about attending as either a visitor or an exhibitor.

Jim

Jim Gould is President of the Floor Covering Institute

Floor Covering Weekly Global: DOMOTEX 2011

With less than 4 months to go, preparations for the upcoming DOMOTEX show in Hannover are heating up. DOMOTEX 2011 is shaping up to be a huge global success and the numbers are there to prove it as reported in the latest article from Floor Covering Weekly’s Global newsletter.

The article features feedback from our team in Hannover that includes Susanne Klaproth, DOMOTEX Director, Martin Folkerts, Director Global Fairs, Deutsche Messe Hannover and Onuora Ogbukagu who is the spokesperson for Deutsche Messe. Also commenting is our industry consultant, Jim Gould from the Floor Covering Institute. He is correct in pointing out that this upcoming DOMOTEX will have a large focus on sustainability and that CONTRACTWORLD is positioning itself to attract the European A&D community.

Floor Covering Weekly Global

Vol. 4 Issue 8 August
Asia/South Pacific • Europe • The Americas • Middle East

Domotex prepares for a big year in 2011

By Kimberly Gavin

Ogbukagu

Domotex Hannover and Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor are both preparing for strong shows in January and March 2011, respectively, show organizations say and industry watchers agree.

Domotex Hannover, scheduled for January 15–18, is already 95 percent booked with exhibitors, show organizers recently reported. Onuora Ogbukagu, spokesperson for Domotex, told FCW, “We have currently sold 95 percent of the exhibition space — a great success since we are still five months from the show. We are expecting to reach approximately the same number of exhibitors as last year [about 1,400].”

Through June, bookings were higher than last year, according to Susanne Klaproth, head of the department. “We are very optimistic about Domotex Hannover 2011. The positive trend in the level of stand bookings reflects the confidence of the exhibitors and demonstrates that the action we took last year to further develop Domotex was exactly right.” 



Klaproth


Klaproth added that bookings are especially high for the handmade area rug sector. She attributes this to the decision to move the category to the northern end of the Messe. And this year, Domotex is opening up its Carpet Design Awards to rug manufacturers who aren’t exhibiting at the show.

Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor, scheduled for March 22–14, also has high expectations. The show will host some 1,000 exhibitors and will cover eight and a half halls. More than 60 percent of the space has already been booked.

With the Chinese economy already recovered from the 2009 crisis, the upcoming 2011 Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor is very likely to exceed the 2010 record-breaking figure of more than 40,000 trade visitors. The organizers are now working on increasing the number of foreign visitors from Asia-Pacific and improving the quality of local and regional buyers at the show.

With the tagline “Innovation and Respect for Nature,” the 2011 edition will offer an Innovative Product Display Area for exhibitors to show their products free of charge in a specially designed area. Environmental issues will be at the core of the Wood Flooring Forum. The Wood Flooring Forum will be held on March 21, a day ahead of the opening of the show.

“Asia offers a great future for the flooring industry, and it is happening now,” said Martin Folkerts, director of Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor. “Looking at the flooring industry perspectives in China, and encouraged by last year’s very positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors, we feel committed to deliver the high quality platform the industry needs to conduct business in this blooming economic environment.”

“With the changes in manufacturers happening, it’s an important time for buyers to look at the market and reassess their partnerships,” said Jim Gould, president, Floor Covering Institute. He added that both shows offer an unprecedented ability to view what’s out there.

For suppliers as well, both shows offer a great way to reach a broad international market, efficiently and economically, Gould added. The show in Germany will focus on the contract market and the environment, while China will focus on innovation and the environment.

“A single store owner may not look at business as being global, but it really is a global and international industry,” Gould said.

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Thank you, Kim, and Floor Covering Weekly Global!

If you don't already, you might consider subscribing to Floor Covering Weekly Global and FCW Prime.  Simply click on this link.

I look forward to seeing you at Domotex 2011!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

NYC Carpet and Rug Shows: September 2010

There was a buzz and energy this past week in NYC with the launch of Fashion Week September 9-16, 2010. Designers were all over the city showcasing their latest clothing fashions and styles. While many in the textile industry were busy making decisions for their fall apparel collection so were buyers in the carpet and rug industry as they attended several shows.

I attended Metro Market Week and NYCIS for the first time.

Metro Market Week which takes place in individual rug and carpet showrooms throughout NY and NJ ran concurrently with The New York International Carpet Show (NYICS) at the 7W New York building.

Just in the shadow of the Empire State Building and the traditional carpet district not too far in the distance, the NYICS showcased 33 handmade rug producers.

In its 6th year, The NYICS has slowly increased in size and moved from its previous location at the 69th Regiment Armory to its current location in the heart of midtown. Free shuttle bus service was offered between NYICS and ORICA, taking place across the Hudson River in NJ.  The Oriental Rug Industry Center of America (ORICA) was holding its Fall Market.

Interestingly, there were also many carpet producers that extended complimentary transportation to and from their showrooms so buyers can have the flexibility to visit as many rug producers as possible.

The mood at fall market was upbeat and positive. Many of these rug and carpet producers are slowly seeing an improvement in their sales and are looking forward to a successful and productive years to come.

If you attended any of these shows, I'd love to hear your reactions.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

BuildDirect's Rob Banks on DOMOTEX and Social Media

If you are like me and have embraced Social Media as a viable tool to reach out to your customers, then you probably know Rob Banks, Co-Founder of BuildDirect. He was recently featured in a Mashable post about how CEOs in various industries are using Web Video to engage with their customers. Fortunately for us, Rob is not only responsible for running one of the leading online manufacturer/wholesalers of building material, but he is also a loyal attendee at DOMOTEX Hannover and DOMOTEXasia/CHINAFLOOR.

I was introduced to Rob through an industry friend and we spoke about his company’s goals and how they are using the various Social Media outlets like Twitter, Blogs and Web Videos to make personal connections with their customers.

Rob explained that the building material industry has a very traditional way of doing business and most have not embraced social media. Contrary to most of their counterparts, BuildDirect understands that their customers are consuming media and information differently from the more traditional methods and they are leveraging that knowledge to reach those customers.

Rob told me a great story where Twitter allowed him to meet a potential business partner from Scotland. Since -of course- he is very active on Twitter, they were able to connect and actually met personally at DOMOTEX as “pre-qualified strangers” because of their online interaction. Since the meeting they have not only established a business relationship but a personal one as well.

Take a look at these two blog posts with highlights and video footage from DOMOTEX:  BuildDirect at Domotex Flooring Show in Hanover, Germany and 2010 Domotex Show in Germany and wood flooring thoughts.

As Rob and I spoke further about his experience at DOMOTEX, he explained that he only attends 3 trade shows a year and two of them happen to be DOMOTEX Hannover and DOMOTEXasia/CHINAFLOOR.

• His main purpose in coming to Hannover is to get a glimpse of the trends that will be hitting the North American Market in the next year of two.
• He views DOMOTEX as a valuable time saver where he is able to set-up pre-arranged meetings with top level executives and decision makers from all over Europe.

The one piece of advice he can offer to other attendees interested in international products is to do your homework prior to DOMOTEX. Set meetings with those suppliers you are looking to do business with ahead of time.  If you are prepared prior to attending, the event is not only an incredible time saver, but it will also minimize your travel costs by avoiding you having to travel the world over to meet with individual companies.

Thank you, Rob, for spending time with me on the phone.  Thanks, too, to BuildDirect for making me laugh after watching BuildDirect’s Pancake Day. These guys sure know how to make a work day enjoyable!

You can connect with Rob Banks on Twitter and via the Building Materials with Co-Founder Rob Banks Blog.

You can find BuildDirect on Twitter, on Facebook, on YouTube and actively engaged via the BuildDirect Blog, BuildDirect CEO Blog and the Green Building Blog.

Rob, I look forward to connecting with you in person at DOMOTEX 2011 in Hannover!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

DOMOTEX Carpet Design Awards 2011

2010 Carpet Design Award Recipients*

DOMOTEX Carpet Design Awards 2011: Let the Competition Begin!

Every year at DOMOTEX Hannover, the world’s top designers of handmade carpets and rugs will be competing to receive top honors at the Carpet Design Awards.

The presentation ceremony that takes place during DOMOTEX, January 16, 2011, is presented by Deutsche Messe, Hali and Cover Magazines.

All industry innovators are invited to submit their entry by November 5, 2010. Unlike previous years, the competition will be open to all producers of handmade carpets regardless of whether or not you will be exhibiting at the event.

Simply Click on this link for the Entry Form to the DOMOTEX Carpet Design Awards 2011.

The 2011 Carpet Design Award judges and the categories have already been announced so don’t delay in submitting your entry.

These are the judges for the coming Carpet Design Awards:

• John W. Bain (UK), Director of Brinton's Global Commercial Design
• Montse Cuesta (ES), Editor in Chief, Architectural Digest (Spanish edition)
• James A. Ffrench (USA), Director, Beauvais Carpets
• Ewald Schlögl (A), Buyer with XXXLutz KG
• David Sorgato (IT), founder of the Michail Gallery

The Carpet Design Award categories include:

• Best Modern Design Standard
• Best Modern Design Superior
• Best Modern Design Deluxe
• Best Traditional Nomadic Design / Ethnic Superior
• Best Traditional Nomadic Design / Ethnic Deluxe
• Best Traditional Urban Design /Workshop Carpets
• Best Old / Antique Carpet
• Best Collection Modern
• Best Collection Traditional
• Best Innovation

I had my first exposure to the DOMOTEX Carpet Design Awards this past January 2010 and it was an experience unlike any other!  The beauty and range of carpet designs were intense.  Take a look through this brochure with photos of the 2010 Carpet Design Awards Winners and you'll understand what I'm referring to.

I hope you’ll consider submitting an entry form. If you have any questions, please let me know.

I look forward to seeing you at the DOMOTEX Carpet Design Awards in January 2011!

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432
Email: kleon@hfusa.com


*Note: 2010 Carpet Design Award Recipients with, on the extreme right in the dark suit, Stephan Ph. Kühne, member of the Deutsche Messe Managing Board and responsible for DOMOTEX.

Build Floor 2011 Addresses Bangalore Economic Growth

Despite the dismal home construction related news in North America, Bangalore, India, is experiencing the opposite scenario with strong home and commercial building activity to meet demand.  No wonder that it will be the site of Build Floor 2011, taking place February 23 through 26, 2011.

Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of the East and is home to many major technology companies. Starting with the boom of the technology industry in the early 90s, Bangalore continues to grow in population as does its commercial and residential infrastructure.

[This Wall Street Journal Online article titled "Where the Rich Live in India" offers perspective on the range of luxurious residential building projects in the works. You can well imagine what commercial projects might look like and the types of flooring they might call for...]

Bangalore's continued growth has led to opportunities in the construction and real estate markets so it makes sense that there would be a forum for buyers in India to source new products, meet with potential suppliers in the building and flooring industry as well as gather information on new and innovative products.

Enter Build Floor 2011, an exhibit which focuses on carpeting, flooring and floor covering trends and products for the Indian flooring trade - architects, interior designers, property developers, decision makers from the flooring retail and many other sectors of the flooring market.  It is organized in five sections as follows:

* Parquet & Laminated Flooring
* Resilient Floor Coverings
* Textile Floor Coverings & Rugs
* Natural Stones
* lApplication & Installation Technology

What makes Build Floor 2011 particularly interesting is that it will run concurrently with BuildArch 2011 and Build Up 2011, which focus on Real Estate and Construction.  The three events take place February 23-26, 2011 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.

This biennial event that was founded in 2008 will also attract regional engineers, retail companies, architects, designers, contractors as well as project managers and consultants in India. The event is organized by Bangalore International Exhibition Services and Hannover Milano Fairs India PVT. Ltd. It is endorsed by the Confederation of Indian Industry which is a non-profit association dedicated to the development of India.

Here's a link to the Fact Sheet for the show. If you'd like more information about Build Floor 2011, I'll be happy to put you in contact with the right person.

~ Katherine


Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432
Email: kleon@hfusa.com

Summer 2010 Atlanta International Rug Market

Atlanta’s AmericasMart is a permanent wholesale showroom that is open daily here in Atlanta for the trade only and services the home, rug, gift and apparel markets. The International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and the Atlanta International Rug Market typically run concurrently during the winter and summer markets and most recently July 15 through 18, 2010.

I was fortunate not to have to travel too far to visit the summer International Rug Market last week. Unlike the Merchandise Mart in Chicago [see Elephants, Flooring & Green at NeoCon 2010], AmericasMart is composed of several buildings which are connected by walkways above the street level so on those Hotlanta summer days this is a much appreciated feature.

Four floors in Building 1 are dedicated to the area rug industry.

Even though the floors seemed slow on the second day that I walked the hall, there were a number of rug companies that were moving product as seen by the pallets of rugs ready to be shipped to buyers [see photo below].

Companies such as Karastan expanded their presence at the event with expanded show room space and Concepts International returned to Atlanta.

Among the larger companies such as Couristan, Jaipur, Shaw Industries and Capel, there were smaller family owned companies that are producing beautiful rugs such as Amadi Carpets and Mobayen.

Rugs on display varied from modern and contemporary to antiques and artisanal. Let’s take a company like Renaissance Carpet & Tapestries that produces and designs handmade rugs in all the categories I mentioned above. Their showroom displayed their diversity as well as their newest designs of Tibetan-Nepalese rugs.  Many of these rugs are made in difference parts of the world like Asia, Turkey and Tibet.

[Note: Jaipur and Renaisssance have been long-time exhibitors at DOMOTEX.]

Although I did not encounter a company that solely dealt in Persian rugs, the entire industry will be affected in some way by President Obama’s embargo on all Iranian-made carpets. This Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 will become effective September 29th of this year and will ban all imports of Iranian made rugs.
 

All in all, AmericasMart Atlanta continues to provide a forum for rug producers to display their new collections and meet with prospective buyers in the industry. I will certainly look forward to visiting the Atlanta Rug Market again in January.

Note: You can also check out AmericasMart Blog post titled AmericasMart Recognizes Visual Excellence and Grand Opening, Expansion and Relocation of Showrooms This July with additional perspective on the recent show.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432
Email: kleon@hfusa.com

DOMOTEX Middle East 2010 Highlights

DOMOTEX Middle East took place this past May 10th through 12th, 2010 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Here are highlights. 

This first picture gives you a sense of what makes this show in Dubai so very unique.  It is of the DOMOTEX Middle East 2010 ribbon cutting ceremony just as the UAE Minister of State, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashemi, cuts the opening day ribbon.  Angela Schaschen, Managing Director of Deutsche Messe Dubai stands to her right.

For the first time, DOMOTEX Middle East was held in combination with R+T Middle East, the Middle East spin-off of the world’s leading show for roller shutters, doors, gates and sun-protection systems. The result was a resounding success with 225 exhibitors from 34 countries.

For more perspective on this show and its success, I invited Ms. Angela Schaschen, General Manager of Deutsche Messe’s Dubai branch and organizer of both shows, to answer a few questions.

KL:  How long has DOMOTEX Middle East been taking place?

Angela: The first edition of DOMOTEX Middle East was launched in the year 2006. The 2010 show was the 5th edition of DOMOTEX Middle East.

KL: How did the show get started?

Angela: It was my vision to launch in Dubai the flagship of DOMOTEX Hannover which is a successful trade show for carpet and floor coverings organised by Deutsche Messe Hannover AG - one of the leading World Trade Fair organisers.

KL:  What makes it unique?

Angela: DOMOTEX Middle East is the only international trade fair for carpets and floor coverings in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. This is an important region of the world which has witnessed immense growth in the construction, hospitality and industrial sectors. Despite global downturn there has been a demand in the requirements and needs of the ongoing projects which are in process of completion in Dubai and our focus is to reach the growing wholesale markets not only in UAE but all over Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and MENA region. Consequently this has created opportunities for the carpet and floor coverings sector.

KL:  How did DOMOTEX Middle East 2010 go?

Angela: The fifth edition of DOMOTEX Middle East maintained its status as the only professional trade show dedicated to carpets and floor coverings in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Moreover this year’s exhibition became more attractive due to the combination of DOMOTEX Middle East along with R+T Middle East. Approximately 4,860 trade professionals from the MENA region visited the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from 10 to 12 May. The trade event targeted wholesalers and retailers as well as decision-makers from construction companies, architects, interior designers, project planners, floor layers and fitters.

KL:  Who exhibits at this show? 

Angela: DOMOTEX Middle East 2010 yet again succeeded in assembling a global selection of leading exhibitors who presented a comprehensive selection of carpets and floor coverings. The majority of the exhibitors were keen to find new business contacts, meet existing clients or partners and further raise their company profile in the Middle East market.

KL: From which countries?

Angela: Exhibitor’s countries of origin regionally comprise of Europe, Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), Far East, Indian Subcontinent and America.

KL: What kinds of products are exhibited?

Angela: A comprehensive selection of carpets and flooring products and services, including hand-made and machine-made carpets; textile and resilient floor coverings; parquet and other wood floors; laminates; ceramic tiles, natural stone floors and marble, floors for sports arenas and sports facilities; fibres, yarns and textiles; application and floor laying techniques and equipment; machinery and technology.

KL:  What are some of the other highlights?

Angela:  Visitors were also treated to practical demonstrations of application and installation systems via Creative Flooring which is a live “how-to” demonstration area, where our visitors could discover how to install mixed material combinations on a variety of surfaces including wall-to-wall carpet, wood flooring, carpet tiles and resilient flooring as well as find out the latest techniques on floor leveling (sponsored by Thomsit – Henkel Polybit) and the use of dust-free sanding and grinding tools (sponsored by Janser). The demonstrations were held by professionals of TAOFS ( The Academy of Flooring Skills) from the UK.

The series of events offered a wide range of showcases, seminars and displays of designer flooring that were attended by architects and designers from across the region. Similarly the APID Flooring Seminar invited high profile speakers to conduct seminars at the DOMOTEX Middle East Designers Corner.

KL:  Based on the success of this show, what's your perspective on the global flooring marketplace?

Angela: DOMOTEX Middle East clearly benefited from the momentum generated by its parent tradeshow, DOMOTEX HANNOVER, in January and DOMOTEX Asia/CHINAFLOOR 2010, which was held in March this year, also recorded high visitor numbers, testifying to a resurgence in the Chinese floor covering sector whilst DOMOTEX Middle East 2010 continues to be a highly attractive destination for global suppliers of carpet and flooring solutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Thank you, Angela,  and congratulations on a successful DOMOTEX Middle East 2010!

Have you considered attending or participating in DOMOTEX Middle East?  Do you have additional questions? Please don't hesitate to ask me.

For more information about DOMOTEX Middle East, click on this link to the full 2010 recap document.

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

Email: kleon@hfusa.com

Elephants, Flooring & Green at NeoCon 2010

What do elephants, flooring and green have in common? Lots when it's NeoCon 2010!

Instead of the elephant being in the room, it was standing outside of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago this past week at NeoCon. The elephant was brought to you courtesy of Interface Flors who summoned artist Andrias Botha of the Human Elephant Foundation to display his life size mammal sculpture made out of recycled truck tires.

This display was a clearly an extension of Interface Flor's company message to achieve a zero carbon foot print by 2020 and was seen by the 40,000 attendees that were projected for this 3 day event. Green was certainly a stand out feature among exhibitors at this year’s event but equally as impressive is the 4.2 million square foot Merchandise Mart which is the world’s largest commercial building that has received a LEED-EB Silver Certification from the US Green Building Council.

Neocon not only encompasses commercial furnishings such as chairs, tables and wall coverings but also on display are the various floor covering options that are available in the commercial sector.

Notable displays came from US Floors, Milliken and Shaw Contract Group who won the Modular (Tile) Silver Award for their 18x36 product. The Mohawk Group who cleverly added a photo booth to their display where attendees can take away a snap shot of themselves along with the company’s My Solution product line.

The mood at NeoCon seemed hopeful and positive as the commercial interiors industry slowly starts to recover from the economic hardship of this past year. Exhibitors hosted show room parties on the first day and industry associations such as the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) hosted their annual gala. Other networking and social events such as cocktail receptions were held at various sites around the city of Chicago. All in all, a good looking event and a great experience.

If you were there, what did you find most interesting?

~ Katherine

Katherine León
Director of Sales - DOMOTEX and LIGNA Worldwide Events

Hannover Fairs USA
1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404.214.0432

Email: kleon@hfusa.com

Note: for another image of Nomkhubulwane by Andries Botha visit The WILD Foundation

Image Credit:
NeoCon 2010 - 6.15.10 greenspot 003 originally uploaded by The HON Company.