Articles

Consumers demand a seamless and simple journey. Once complicated by the stark contrast of what was presented online and what was in store, web-based and brick-and-mortar, when done right, can allow the consumer to research and select the product that fits both their need and personal style in a truly aligned and easy way. Today, that journey is being influenced by opposing forces further complicating the process of engaging and capturing the consumer’s attention and dollars. Read More

Just as the world comes out of the two-year pandemic, record inflation and gas prices have put the brakes on what was a fast-growing economy. With everything from groceries to gas costing more, consumers are reconsidering where to spend their money — and increasingly, that doesn’t seem to be on home projects and flooring products. Read More

In 2021 the worth of Italy’s exports of machines, installations, tools and other equipment to extract and process natural stones rose by 18.5% from the previous year, reaching 1 billion 107.1 million euros. Read More

According to the analysis, in 2019 it took 39 days for a container ship to travel from China to the United States, while in 2020 it took 49 days and in 2021 68. Costs increased as well: in 2019 shipping a container by sea cost an average of US$1,421, rising to US$2,171 in 2020 and to a whopping US$7,556 in 2021. Read More

Final 2021 data processed by the Confindustria Marmomacchine Studies Center confirm the excellent growth in sales to the United States, the top destination market for both finished stone products and complementary stone technologies Made in Italy. Read More

After closing 2020 with a 17.3% drop in sales abroad, the Italian stone industry last year recorded a marked growth in its exports - which affected almost all the main sector reference markets -, linking the economic recovery and the renewed momentum of the construction sector worldwide. Read More

Catalina Research has released its latest Floor Coverings Industry Quarterly Update. According to the report, U.S. floor coverings dollar sales (shipments minus exports plus imports) growth has been increasing at double-digit rates in the first half of 2022. Read More

The annual RēCo Market Intelligence Report has held strong for 19 years. Each year, Floor Covering Weekly commissions third-party research company The Wayman Group to conduct a nationwide survey of retailers. Read More

The annual RēCo Market Intelligence Report has held strong for 19 years. Each year, Floor Covering Weekly commissions third-party research company The Wayman Group to conduct a nationwide survey of retailers. Read More

If your company is having trouble finding qualified workers to fill open positions, you’re certainly not alone. Many companies have been forced to cut back services, extend deadlines or even turn down new business because of labor shortages. There are more than twice as many job openings nationally at present as there are unemployed persons, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Read More