The global outlook for flooring

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    Now that it's over, we've learned that attendance was up double digits to 45,000 from where it stood at 40,000 for the last couple of years. Granted, attendance is not the sole measure of a show's efficacy but we believe it is a commentary on the global outlook for flooring since this is the global flooring show―where 83% of the attendees and two-thirds of the exhibitors come from outside of Germany to attend. This show also covers both residential and commercial flooring and the only category that isn't well represented is ceramic tile. To add more fanfare to the summit, Domotex held an evening event―complete with band―on the opening night of the show. This took the place of the more traditional German beer party that Domotex has hosted for years in its Stroh house.

    Change is usually embraced with a varied sense of enthusiasm and this was the case with Domotex's exhibitor layout changes―some liked it and others didn't. Practically every hall was rearranged this year, initially to accommodate the new Wood Flooring Summit and the higher demand for machine made modern rugs―rug exhibition space grew more than 30%. But once show manager Deutsche Messe started moving things around, it decided to rearrange all the product groups and move similar products adjacent to each other as a convenience to the attendees, resulting in a wholesale shift for practically every exhibitor. This show is held at the largest exhibitor fairgrounds in the world―so large, in fact, that buses run throughout the complex to make it easier to get around.

    Another change this year was in the show management leadership. Stephan Kuhne, who has led the show for several years, left Deutsche Messe last summer and the interim leader for this year is Dr. Andreas Gruchow. But starting in April, the new leader for Domotex will be Dr. Jochen K?ckler, who has spent many years in the exhibition field. Domotex shifted the spotlight of this year's show to its Wood Flooring Summit. While none of the big U.S hardwood producers was on hand, many of the European and Asian suppliers had a booth. Amorim, K?hrs, Lamett and Power Dekor were some of the bigger companies with exhibits.


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    Practical 2-for-1 solutions for gardeners

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      What gardener doesn't find tasks like weeding and watering tiresome? To tackle recurring chores like these and more with greater ease and efficiency, consider some practical tools that offer two-in-one solutions.Watering well: For a new twist on watering, try the new Dramm ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler. It takes the usual hose-attached sprinkler experience in a different direction. The spinning head is designed to cast arcs of water up to 38 feet in diameter, while atomizing water into fine droplets for more efficient water usage and more thorough soil penetration. It's geared for use on properties with practically any water pressure, from low to high, making it an especially welcome solution for those on the no-oomph end of the pressure spectrum.

      Weeding and mulching: To gardeners, weeding is the very definition of "relentless." With new Preen Mulch Plus you can apply mulch and prevent weeds for six months in one easy step. Preen Mulch Plus is a premium shredded wood mulch with two highly effective weed preventers already mixed in. It stops weeds, as seeds, before they start growing. It comes in three non-fade colors that add a finished look to any garden or landscape: midnight black, russet red and chestnut brown. As an added benefit, Preen Mulch Plus provides full weed protection when spread only 2 inches deep, instead of the usual 3-inch depth recommended for other bagged mulches, so each bag covers 30 percent more ground. The only mulch with six month weed protection, it's available at Lowe's and independent garden centers.

      Cutting, digging, rock removal, crack cleaning, planting and more: A. M. Leonard's classic soil knife is a multi-solution tool that now comes in a deluxe model. The horticultural tool and supply company founded in 1885 considers this their "must-have tool." The Deluxe Soil Knife is made of rust-resistant Swedish stainless steel, which adds strength to its versatility, with each 6-inch blade crafted to withstand over 300 pounds of pressure. Definitely a two-for-one item, on one side the blade features a tapered slicing edge, on the other a deeply serrated cutting edge. New features include a more comfortable grip and inch markings on the blade shaft.


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      Crystal Cruises is First Luxury Line to Reveal Full 2013Early 2014 Calendar in New Atlas

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         An innovative and picturesque showcasing of Crystal's award-winning service, space, quality, and choices, as well as recent innovations, such as travel easement via Fast-Track Check-In and VIP Airport Service, culinary enhancements like All Inclusive, Chinese "Comfort Food," and a late-night Bistro, plus redesigns, new entertainment and local dignitary visits.Itineraries grouped by region: World & Grand Cruises (South America and Australasia in 2013, and LA to London in 2014), the Exotics, Tropical Escapes, New England and Canada, South America and Antarctica, and Europe and the Mediterranean.

        New routes, including cruises beginning and ending in Reykjavik, Dublin, Bali, Brisbane, and Kobe in 2013, as well as explorations of Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Andaman Sea in 2014.19 maiden calls, plus returns to less-visited ports-of-call and lands like the Shetland Islands; Savannah, Georgia; Pusan, Korea; Izmir, Turkey; Tokyo; Burma; Namibia; and the Cook Islands.2013 theme cruises, including new Photography, Garden Design, and Esprit du Grand Prix Experiences of Discovery.A more than 250% increase in shorter European voyages, with 75% of 2013's summer sailings lasting 7 to 12 days, more than half of those departing on weekends.

        More than 85% of 2013's voyages in port for two or more days, marking a continued increase in days and nights spent locally.Crystal's all-inclusive value, including special offers such as Crystal Family Memories and Explorer Combinations, as well as always-complimentary offering like specialty restaurant cuisine from Nobu. With "Book Now" fares expiring every 60 days, a pull-out compendium outlining all pricing, including cruise port, security, and handling charges, will be issued every two months. Crystal will also soon be issuing an iPhone App and Aurasma videos that embrace the unique watercolor and photography elements displayed throughout the Atlas.


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        Floor-Covering Business Has Been Through Many Recessions

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          The longtime owners of a Lakeland floor-covering business know a recession when they see one ― and they know when one is fizzling out.This recession is far from over, Fernando and Carol Midence say.The Midences have owned Fashion Floors of Lakeland, just east of downtown, for 32 years, since 1980, so they've been through several recessions.They don't see an end in sight for this one."Since we bought this business, we've been through four recessions," Fernando Midence said. "This is by far the worst one.""Up until a year ago or two, we sold a lot of floors to snowbirds, mainly from Michigan, Illinois and New York," Carol Midence said. "Now it's just Canada ― and nothing to northern U.S. snowbirds."

          The Midences speculate that the U.S-Canadian monetary exchange rate now favoring Canada is the main reason for continued Canadian business at their store.For consumers, buying new carpeting can be postponed for a year or two simply by continuing to clean the old carpet, Fernando Midence said.The Midences say they've been able to withstand the recession because they've been in business for so long and have low overhead.The Midences also manage to survive by cutting back. Their former full-time secretary ― the only other worker besides them ― now works two days a week. They clean their 14,000 square-foot warehouse by themselves instead of having a cleaning woman do it. And they've cut back on advertising and utilities, mostly air conditioning.

          One tip: Laminate may be cheaper, but "once you get a good scratch in it, it's done," Fernando Midence said.The Midences said they can compete with the likes of Home Depot because of the service they and their installation crew provide. Plus, Fernando Midence said, the big stores aren't as great as they make themselves to be."Most of them don't remove the old carpet for free, move furniture or replace metals like we do," he said. "By the time you add up all those incidentals, they aren't incidental."Tammy Littlefield, manager of Kings Manor Mobile Home Park in Lakeland, said the Midences have remodeled six of the Kings Manor mobile homes in the past several months.


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          Ballard Clothing Bank in need of men's jeans and blankets

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            The Bridge Care Center, on 1516 NW 51st St., was successfully able to clothe people through the wet and cold winter months, but as the chilly nights linger, they're running out of jeans and blankets."The numbers that The Bridge are serving have increased steadily, so we're gratified at our success, but it's also just so upsetting to see so many people in need," said Rita Weinstein, co-founder of the clothing bank.Weinstein said the clothing bank is having a hard time keeping jeans stocked and are especially in need of men's jeans sizes 30-34.

            "With cool night-time temperatures lingering, we also need blankets, sweaters, jackets, and hoodies. And we always need clean or new socks and underwear," added Weinstein.Open since June, 2011, The Bridge Care Center's clothing bank serves upwards of 50 people a week, providing them with clothing, shoes, sleeping bags and rain capes at no cost.The clothing bank was started when the Ballard Food Bank moved into their new location and no longer had space for clothing.

            Weinstein along with fellow volunteers Rebecca Butler, Sheila, and Susanne, started the new clothing bank to help meet the ongoing demand for clothing for the homeless. A project of Quest Church, The Bridge Care Center is an outreach center for men and women who are experiencing homelessness, displacement and financial hardship and offers computer and internet access, counseling services, and case management. The care center provides clients with three clothing voucher a month to be redeemed in the clothing bank.


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            HOM Furniture adds flooring to six Twin Cities stores

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              HOM Furniture says it is expanding its array of flooring products with its new World Floor and Rugs department.The Top 100 retailer already sells area rugs in its World Rugs department. It recently added the other flooring products to its six Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area showrooms. Offerings include hardwood, stone, tile, vinyl and laminate flooring and granite, marble, quartz and other stone countertops.

              "In response to strong customer demand, we dramatically transformed our World Rugs departments to include a comprehensive selection of solid and engineered hardwood floors, bamboo, cork, ceramic tile, vinyl and laminate flooring," Rodney Johansen, CEO, said in a statement. "The customer will not be disappointed in the selection of top quality or name brands in our showrooms."The company said its flooring design team also has received additional training in the new categories to help customers select flooring and countertop products for their homes. The team assists with the coordination of colors and pattern designs and also provides custom measurement services, installation and other support and supplies.

              World Floor and Rugs is an authorized Shaw carpet gallery and displays a full line of Karastan carpets. Its other brands include Masland, Mannington, Tuftex, Congoleum and others.Seven who bid more than $500 for labor and materials face misdemeanor charges for contracting without a license. Some also must appear in court for illegal advertising. Contractors must place their license numbers in all advertisements.The nine workers bid on painting, flooring and concrete jobs during a sting, according to the Contractors State License Board. The board's investigative fraud team set up an undercover operation on Tuesday in a single-family home in Lincoln.


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              Are These Clothing Stores a Good Fit Now ?

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                With the Easter shopping surge behind us, apparel retailing has fallen quiet for a while, the lull before the summer sales. And retailers are feeling positive; the National Retail Federation expects we'll spend 8.4% more on Mother's Day gifts this year, so that's an early indication that this could be a good summer.And one area where things are definitely getting better is apparel. Cotton prices have fallen by more than half since peaking this time last year and as the economy recovers, shoppers are spending more. The latest Commerce Department retail figures showed clothing-store sales in 2012 so far running 10.5% over the same period in 2011.

                As we said before about The Gap, specialty apparel chains are beginning to see results from their efforts to freshen up merchandise and appeal to younger shoppers, with the macro trends giving them a headwind. Putting aside the discounters like TJX Cos. (parent of T.J.Maxx and Marshalls) and the "fast-fashion" retailers like Forever 21, there is a whole lot of mushy middle in apparel that had not been getting much attention until recently. Its target consumer is midprice shoppers, a group that cut back early in the recession and is still not quite back to their old spending habits.

                And that makes for an opportunity to play the macro trends. like The Gap, was suffering from a case of the uglies. Shoppers just weren't liking the clothes. Since hiring a new head designer from Club Monaco in 2010, it's been turning this ship around and same-store sales are up 5.3% for the year, and there is hefty double-digit growth online, which shows the company is finally joining the 21st century and grasping e-commerce.Fool John del Vecchio rightly points out that the boomer consumer segment Ann Taylor aimed for is not growing, but there are signs that the brand is aiming younger now. At the end of last year, it had nearly twice as many of the younger-skewing Loft stores as Ann Taylor locations, and its plans call for opening more while redesigning existing Ann Taylor locations.


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                Eco Trackway & Prima Flooring – on the right track

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                  Leicestershire-based trackway and event flooring solutions specialists, Eco Trackway & PRIMA Flooring was formed by key Directors of the original PRIMA Group who bought all PRIMA's assets including large stocks, goodwill and manufacturing rights together with  tooling, over a year ago.The company played an integral part in the success of two of the UK's biggest family events last Winter.  Firstly the Eco Trackway team was commissioned to provide over 7,000 m2 Eco Gridmat Walkways and Decking for the UK's spectacular Christmas destination, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London from November 2011 to January 2012 before heading off to Belfast to rig the marquees with 2,000 m2 Eco Terra-Tech heavy-duty temporary flooring and trackway for the Royal Ulster Winter Fair in Belfast throughout December.

                  Shortly after the initial phases of both projects were completed, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland's Event Producer Suzy Griffiths from PWR Events telephoned Eco Trackway's CEO Jonathan Vaughan to source a further 300 m2 of Eco Club outdoor carpeting and was delighted that within less than 24 hours, the entire changing area of approximately 8,000 sq ft at the events' Ice-Skating Rink had been professionally fitted.Ms Griffiths commented: "I was delighted with the efficient and speedy response that Eco Trackway provided and the end result was spot on."

                  While at the same time across the Irish Sea, the Winter Fair was in full swing and Eco Terra-Tech trackway was ensuring heavy duty access for vehicles and complete ground protection for one of Europe's most prestigious showgrounds.David Browne, operations manager, King's Hall commented: "The weather conditions here in Northern Ireland can sometimes be extreme when compared with the rest of the British Isles. We were impressed that Eco Terra-Tech was not only installed but de-rigged and removed in record time, all this under the harshest of conditions, including gale force winds and freezing hail. This trackway system is perfect for our requirements and the Eco Trackway team are professional, courteous and very efficient, we will definitely be using them again."


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                  Wholesale Dresses are Available Online

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                    Wholesale evening dresses are mostly casual wear and needn't be looked for more colors or designs. The prices of these wholesale evening gowns are reasonably priced. Actually there is no need to wait for a particular day to purchase these wholesale evening dresses. When we go out for a shopping or when we see sale put up we can simply buy these dresses. The ordinary prom dresses or casual dresses will certainly look grand on anybody because of its design. These dresses would be great for wearing as evening dresses or for the prom dresses because of its quality and attractiveness.

                    On the other hand the wholesale evening gowns can also be used as casual evening dresses or can also be used as party dresses. Usually the students of some model schools and the professional oriented people would mostly try the whole sale sales since they can get more dresses at lesser prices. In fact there are many wholesale cocktail dresses showrooms that offer the cocktail dresses at affordable prices. The bridesmaid dresses with high quality and unique designs are at all times available in the wholesale party dresses sale. When looking for wholesale bridesmaid dresses it is apt to check them online before coming to a conclusion.

                    The party dresses are also available online, therefore when looking or planning to buy party dresses or any kind of dresses it is very important to check prior to buying. When buying the whole sale bridesmaid dresses online the brides will be very happy because they are available at affordable prices along with top quality. To find the wholesale prom dresses or wholesale prom gowns all one has to do is log on to the website with the right term entered and one would find a collection wholesale centers that offer the party dresses, wholesale prom dresses, evening dresses, party gowns, wholesale bridesmaid dresses etc at affordable prices and also with wide variety to choose from.


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                    Clothing retailer pulls'get tanked'displays after Marin groups plan protest

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                      Irvine-based surf-and-skate clothing retailer Tilly's Inc. killed a corporate store display featuring red plastic cups and the phrase, "It's time to get tanked" on Wednesday after several Marin groups said it promoted underage drinking."This is a huge triumph for our community," said Teri Rockas, a health education staffer for Kaiser Permanente and chairwoman of the Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth, a health and safety advocacy group.

                      Rockas was one of about two dozen Marin advocates who gathered outside a Tilly's store in Novato on Wednesday to celebrate removal of the display. The groups had planned a protest but the event morphed into a celebration after the Tilly's corporate office, prompted by a media inquiry, ordered its 145 stores in 14 states to take down the displays.It was not immediately clear how many of the stores actually carried the display; a company spokeswoman said it "could be 145," but displays vary based on stores'sizes.In February, Tilly's used the phrase "get tanked," to promote tank tops, in its corporate Twitter account. Webster's dictionary defines tanked as "drunk."

                      The store displays, which advertised tank tops, included overturned coolers and the type of cups commonly used at parties for beer drinking and celebrated in singer-songwriter Toby Keith's homage, "Red Solo Cup.""We just have a very strong tank category, so it was just a way to promote our tank tops," said Cheryl Rudich, vice president of marketing for Tilly's. "We didn't intend anything negative by it."A banner for T-shirts also read, "This is the time to par-tee.""We saw that they were promoting binge drinking, and we are surrounded every day by these marketing techniques," said Brieana Polk-Perez, a Novato High School junior and participant in Friday Night Live, an anti-drug and alcohol program.


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