Several hundred flooring industry professionals from the Pacific Northwest made their way to the Lynnwood Convention Center in Lynnwood, Wash., for The Market tradeshow sponsored by Flooring Association Northwest (FAN), formerly the Washington State Floor Covering Association. And Debbie Tott, executive director, noted attendance was not only up, “there was definitely a more upbeat attitude, with people interested in finding out what is new.”

The one-day show featured close to 70 exhibitors and three educational seminars—working with LVT click products, presented by Roy Leach of Floor Covering Inspections NW; a heat-welding demonstration from Scott Esmay of UFloor Systems, and an overview of the HAZCOM federal labeling program, led by Dale Yerabek of Northwest Independent Contractors Association.

Tott said the show welcomed a wide array of flooring professionals. “We had a lot of dealers at the show, both in retail and commercial. We had designers and installers. We had a sprinkling of people from all across the industry. The show is multi-faceted, with everything from underlayment and pads, to tools on display, as well as machines, adhesives and almost any finished good you could imagine.”

She added the show, which brings people from across the Northwest and parts of Canada, is a great way for flooring professionals across the region to network. “It is absolutely the best in the Northwest to make connections in the flooring industry. There are new products and services unveiled every year. The educational sessions we hold are always well attended. This year we also took the opportunity to unveil the association’s new website, flooringassociation.org.”

Attendees  and vendors said they were pleased with the turnout and the optimistic tone of the event. “I found the vendors knowledgeable about their products and more than willing to share,” said Cara Fleming of Cara’s Interiors in Monroe, Wash.

Added Louis Gordillo, Mullican Flooring’s Western regional manager, “It is rare to find an event where so much good connecting and participating is going on.”

Distributor personnel who attended also found the show useful to their business. “The Market was a very worthwhile event that showcases a lot of new products as well as some very good buys; the importance of this market grows with each and every year,” said John Luttrell, product manager for the Cronin Co.

Barry Lindgren, owner of Abbey Carpet & Floor in Puyallup, Wash., noted how “This trade show gives us the ‘Northwest perspective’ of what is new and being offered in our area. A lot of us would never see some of these products unless we attend The Market. We are fortunate to have one of the very few regional markets like this in the entire country.”

Tott said the group is not only already planning next year’s event, with the date and location to be determined, “Vendors were so pleased [with this year’s show] many have already begun to book their space for 2015.”

For more information on FAN and The Market, call (425) 885-0012, or visit flooringassociation.org.