Paula Resa, assistant director, Southwest Mountain States Carpenters, and Sandra Rodriguez, director, Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB), have very different points of entry to the skilled trades, but their stories align in that they are women who have overcome hardships to find a career path within the trade unions they represent. Here, they talk more in depth on the many ways the Sisters in the Brotherhood program offers support to current and future tradeswomen.
Commercial flooring contractors face shrinking margins and volatile demand due to traditional bid-based processes. Starnet President and CEO Mark Bischoff recommends strategic transformation, highlighting opportunities in the growing flexible workspace market and responding to design firm consolidation through specialized services and innovative business models.
Swedish wood products innovator Bjelin announces major restructuring with seven companies now unified under Bjelin Group, appointing Fredrik Alfredsson as CEO to drive expansion in commercial sectors worldwide. Plus: learn more about Bjelin's innovative new Nadura flooring.
Much of the $100 billion flooring industry remains archaic and fragmented—precisely what makes it Amazon's perfect next target. With superior logistics, AI-driven inventory, and ruthless efficiency, Bezos' empire could transform flooring distribution while squeezing competitors and rewriting industry rules.
Sika's complete acquisition of Schönox HPS North America creates a single-source provider of flooring installation solutions for residential and commercial projects. Sika Senior Director of Floor Covering Marlene Morin discusses the strategic move, which combines two industry leaders, and what it means for flooring contractors in 2025.
While homeowners hit pause on 7% mortgages, the flooring industry hit fast-forward at TISE 2025. From AI innovations to major tech mergers, industry leaders revealed how they're using this market lull to revolutionize the business – all while doubling down on diversity with a repeat $50,000 investment in women's leadership.
Women In the Floorcovering Industry's (WIFI) spring calendar features virtual Power Hours on storytelling and LinkedIn optimization—all designed to empower women professionals in the flooring industry. Be sure to join the women's breakfast networking event hosted by WIFI at the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Expo.
From Alabama to Montana, flooring dealers reveal how the Floor Covering Education Foundation's training initiative is solving their installer shortage crisis.
Building professionals can expect modest single-family housing growth this year as regulatory reforms and tax cut extensions counterbalance potential tariff and immigration challenges.
The $33.4 billion flooring industry faces extinction-level events as Asian manufacturing dependency, workforce instability, and distribution disruption reshape the landscape. Winners embrace technology while traditionalists falter. The next 24 months will determine who survives the great consolidation—are you standing on the right side?