More than 60,000 ballots were distributed in the publication's January and February issues. Visitors to NFT Online (www.ntlfloortrends.com) also were given access to an electronic ballot. Voting closed on Feb. 20 with ballots being submitted by fax, e-mail and dropped into ballot boxes stationed throughout the exhibit halls at Surfaces 2003 in Las Vegas.

All segments of the industry were eligible to vote for the 10 best service categories (by product segment) and the overall best product category.

The winner in the Overall Best Product category was last year's runner-up, Mannington Mills. Shaw Industries, category winner in 2002, was runner-up this year.

In the Carpet Residential category, Shaw Industries/Queen/Tuftex was the winner with Mohawk Industries runner-up. In Carpet Commercial, the winner for the second consecutive year was Mohawk Industries and Shaw Commercial finished as runner-up.

And for the third straight year, Shaw Rugs took first place honors in Area Rugs, and Milliken captured runner-up honors.

Johnsonite again won the Rubber Floors crown with Roppe taking runner-up. In Ceramics/Stone, the results were a repeat of 2002 with Dal-Tile taking first place and Florida Tile in second. Bruce Hardwood repeated in the top spot in Wood Floors, with Mohawk finishing as runner-up.

In Laminate Floors, Wilsonart repeated in first place with Mannington Mills coming in at a close second. Mannington Mills again won Resilient Floors, with Armstrong World Industries finishing runner-up.

Mapei repeated in Installation Products, Tools & Equipment, with Bostik garnering the runner-up spot.

The Training Programs winner was Mannington Mills. Wilsonart was runner-up.