So, 2014 is in full swing and by now, you probably have a solid idea about your marketing initiatives for the coming year. With more pressure being placed on marketing executives to do more with less, a sound digital strategy will definitely work harder for your brand than most traditional methods (i.e. print advertising, mailings etc).
No matter the category, technology has been playing a major role in the types of products manufacturers are able to produce, and the tile industry is no different. In fact, many would argue there’s a technological revolution taking place in the category—some would call it an evolution—as companies are creating products with looks and textures never before seen.
There was a time when the typical floor tile used in the U.S. was under a foot. Today, a 12-inch tile is considered small, as Americans have discovered the unique styling attributes of large format tiles.
If there was any doubt as to whether the industry is starting to bounce back from the deep pit it fell in due to the Great Recession, one only needed to attend this year’s Surfaces, as both exhibitor and attendees expressed the kind of optimism and hope that had been absent for the last six-plus years.
In conjunction with the 2014 InterCork II campaign being launched by APCOR, the international trade body representing cork producers from Portugal, I would like to elaborate further on their efforts while extolling the many virtues cork flooring has to offer the independent retailer.
Since bamboo’s initial introduction to the U.S. flooring market in the early 1990s, it has continued to evolve into different flooring formats, which has served to increase the product’s use and demand, especially in today’s eco-conscious flooring market.
Back about 30 years ago, a close friend introduced me to a small group of people at a party. He jokingly told the group an old cliché: “Be careful with Kelly he can sell ice cubes to Eskimos.”