Washington D.C.-based Hanley-Wood LLC, a business-to-business information provider for the residential and commercial construction industry, purchased Surfaces from the World Floor Covering Association in early 2000. The company’s exhibitions division produces eight trade shows, including World of Concrete and Custom Home.

While the behind-the-scenes names may have changed, the show’s outward appearance remains essentially the same. Surfaces plays host to one of the largest and most diverse gatherings of floor covering industry professionals in the marketplace. Hanley-Wood officials are projecting a 2001 attendance of more than 35,000, with close to 900 companies from more than 27 countries looking to fill more than 500,000 net square feet of exhibit hall floor space.

The 2000 event was one of the more visually stimulating shows, with exhibiting companies bringing in bigger and better demonstrations and entertainment to attract customers. Domco Tarkett enlisted a troupe of inline skaters and professional bikers to showcase their skills on a half-pipe clad with the company’s resilient flooring, while Armstrong retained Steve Young, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, to sign autographs and pose for pictures with booth visitors. It will be interesting to see what the exhibitors have in store for 2001.

But Surfaces is not simply a venue for buying and selling. The event allows industry professionals the chance to network, engage old friends and initiate new business relationships. The three-day show is filled with a variety of conference programs, pre-show workshops and educational seminars structured to help people from all segments of the industry advance and develop both themselves and their businesses.

This year’s comprehensive educational conference program will feature 37 seminars aligned in a multi-track schedule, with emphases on marketing, business, installation, sales, new technology, and design. Topics will include e-business, new profit centers and sales staff maximization, among others. The seminars are scheduled to run from 8-9:30 a.m. and 3:30-5 p.m. during each day of the show. Each seminar costs $45 if the attendee is registered for Surfaces by Dec. 28.

The regional installation contests show off the skills of the nation's best installers in both carpet and resilient categories.

The $40 billion-plus floor covering industry continues to grow and mature, and Surfaces continues to be the best opportunity for professionals in all segments to observe the changes.

Competitors at this regional installation contest receive their final instructions.

Installation Excellence on Display

CARPET

RESILIENT