News
Kährs Earns PRFC Certification
KÄHRS has has received PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) recognition. The PEFC is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation, dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management (SFM) through independent third-party certification and is said to have over 251m ha certified. PEFC certification – along with Kährs FSC accreditation – contributes to BREEAM, while FSC also contributes to LEED. ‘Kährs is committed to good environmental, social and sustainable practices, says Bruce Uhler,...
read moreVan Users Missing A Trick
VAN users who think fuel cards are just about refuelling are missing a trick, according to Steve Clarke, marketing manager for THE FUELCARD PEOPLE. He says: ‘Discount fuel is just the first reason for using fuel cards. Having the right fuel cards should open up a wide range of other useful benefits.’ Customers of The Fuelcard People, a Fuel Card Group company, can opt for CO2Count, a service offering vehicle emissions reporting, said to be to Defra standards. They can also apply for a free discount service card, which it is claimed...
read moreFloorWise Aware Advancing
RETAILERS are beginning to receive their FLOORWISE Aware marketing packs as interest in the pink underlay in support of Breast Cancer Care grows. The Floorwise Aware campaign sees a charitable donation for every roll of pink underlay sold, but it is also a chance for retailers to draw footfall to store without resorting to advertising or other forms of paid-for exposure. Breast Cancer Care has several low-cost fundraising activities, details of which can be found at www.breastcancercare.org.uk Retailers can use these activities to raise...
read moreNew Rewards For Fila Members
FILA has a rewards package for new and existing members of its Professional Installers Club. Available to trade customers in the UK and Ireland, the club claims to help support businesses with a wide package of rewards and benefits. Features include a new rewards catalogue, with a wider selection of ‘fixer-focused’ gifts. All new members will receive a complimentary 3M Thinsulate beanie hat. The Professional Installers Club aims to promote best practice and enhance product knowledge. Members can access free practical Fila surface...
read moreLooseLay Series In New Designs
KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING is unveiling new wood, stone and textile designs as part of its LooseLay Series Two launch. Introduced in 2013, Karndean LooseLay is a new format of luxury vinyl flooring designed with convenience and style in mind. The collection features six wood tones, two stone designs and two textile tiles, available in large planks (41.3 x 9.85in) and tiles (19.7 x 24in). Inspired by natural materials, the LooseLay collection is said to feature enhanced acoustic properties and environmental credentials. Karndean LooseLay’s...
read moreInstarmac Adds 50% To Warehouse Space
INSTARMAC GROUP has completed a month long development project at its Tamworth factory. Ahead of its 40th anniversary, Instarmac has installed a new VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) racking system. This modern storage method allows for over 2000 tonnes of stock to be kept in a relatively smaller area, increasing productivity. Such VNA storage allows ‘inter-leaving’, meaning that operatives can ‘put away’ and ‘pick’ orders simultaneously. Up to 26 pallets of product can be efficiently stored in an hour. The Instarmac factory now runs with...
read moreCashflow Help Offered To CFA Contractors
FINANCIAL support services to help flooring contractor members of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) secure credit and improve cashflow has been launched in co-operation with the NSCC (National Specialist Contractors Council) to which the CFA is affiliated. The new services will support CFA contractor members in fields, including credit insurance and the provision of retention bonds. Support is also available in the form of a new ‘credit manager’ app called I Know My Customers. CFA members can download a trial version of for...
read moreNew Brighton Flooring Show To Focus On Contract Flooring Market
THE Hilton Brighton Metropole is the venue for the new Spring Floorcoverings Exhibition (SFE) to be held from March 3–5, 2015. It is decades since the last flooring show in Brighton. In 2015, however, contract is to be a major area of interest. Stewart Crofts, of Norcro Exhibitions which is organising the event, said: ‘From the enquiries we have received, it is clear that the commercial sector would welcome the return of the spring show in Brighton. ‘We are looking to contractors, facility managers and specifiers who are involved in...
read moreCowboy Builders ‘Harming All Honest Tradesmen’
BRITISH tradesmen are getting a poorer name among homeowners, says TrustMark, the Government endorsed quality mark for firms in the home repair, maintenance and improvement sector. It’s a concern for Government as stated in its Industrial Strategy for Construction and which says the reputation of the domestic sector is important to the success of the construction industry overall and its ability to attract bright young people into jobs in the industry. TrustMark research into public perceptions of trades people shows almost a quarter have...
read moreOnline Trading Predicted To Boost Flooring Sales
THE flooring sector is expected to benefit from the sharp growth in e-commerce and online services over the next five years, says a new market survey. The carpets and floorcoverings update from business intelligence specialist Key Note, points to a recent prediction that total online sales in the UK will rise by 47.6% between 2013 and 2017 from £44.06bn to £65.05bn. This will see e-commerce accounting for around 16% of total retail sales by 2017. The data compiled by eMarketer anticipates that m-commerce (i.e. online shopping via mobile...
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