Ballots for this year’s awards program were included in the January and February issues of NFT. Voters also were given the option of filing an electronic ballot through the magazine’s website, NFT Online (www.ntlfloortrends.com), or casting their votes at NFT’s booth during Surfaces 2001 in Las Vegas. All flooring professionals, from any segment of the floor covering industry, were eligible to vote for the companies they deemed best according to 10 product-specific groups and an Overall Best Product category.

The results were conclusive when voting wrapped up on Feb. 21. In fact, there wasn’t a single dimpled or hanging chad in any of the ballots cast.

In the Overall Best Product category, Mannington Mills took the first-place award, and Mohawk Industries and Shaw Industries tied as runners-up. The remaining Best Service categories and their winners follow.

Carpet: Shaw Industries, first place; Mohawk, runner-up. Commercial Carpet: Shaw Commercial, first place; Mohawk, runner-up. Area Rugs: Shaw Rugs, first place; Milliken, runner-up. Training Programs: Armstrong World Industries, first place; Mannington Mills, runner-up. Installation Products, Tools & Equipment: Mapei, first place; W.W. Henry, runner-up.

Ceramics/Stone: Dal-Tile, first place; Florida Tile, runner-up. Wood Floors: Bruce Hardwood and Mannington Mills (tie), first place; Harris-Tarkett, runner-up. Laminate Floors: Mannington Mills and Wilsonart (tie), first place; Pergo, runner-up. Resilient Floors: Mannington Mills, first place; Armstrong World Industries, runner-up. Rubber Floors: Armstrong World Industries and Johnsonite (tie), first place; Roppe, runner-up. In our June edition, NFT will run a follow-up story on the Supplier Service Awards program that includes the reactions and comments of all winners.