Articles

Archaeologists excavating a construction site in London have uncovered a rare mosaic floor dating to ancient Rome. It’s not uncommon to uncover Roman ruins and artifacts in South London, where the Roman city of Londinium was located. (The Romans ruled Britain from the first to the fifth century and founded the capital of Roman Britannia in London.) Read More

Even highly successful flooring contractors can find it challenging to grow their business across the country. Gaining access to more competitive markets, especially in large cities, requires skilled workers with verifiable, quality training. Read More

The glossy finish on this collection enhances the unique brush strokes in each tile, and the variety of color options makes Tongue in Chic a highly versatile offering from AlysEdwards. Read More

For projects calling out for elegant and innovative solutions, look no farther than Tile of Spain. This year’s porcelain entries emphasize modern evocations of marble, the rich veining and luminous hues exuding warmth and elegance as the tiles move seamlessly from indoor to outdoor applications. Read More

While farmhouse is a distinctive interior decor style, certain farmhouse elements are becoming so popular that they’re now staples of modern interior design. For example, the clean look and brick layout pattern of white subway tile is right at home in farmhouse interiors. Nevertheless, subway tile has become so popular that it has transcended any single decor scheme, lending itself to numerous looks. Read More

More than 12 years ago, we wrote this headline: “When will ceramic tile outsell carpet?” That was provocative but did not happen. Today, the question is “When will LVT (and its cousins) outsell carpet?” That is not so far-fetched. Read More

Despite these difficulties, business outlook remains strong, with 64% anticipating their revenue will increase in the year ahead. Read More

Every retailer attuned to marketing could see it coming, but perhaps not to this degree. Five years ago, I did not fully foresee the significant benefit an evolving change in marketing would bring to independent flooring retailers. Ten years ago, budget lines included 2 percent to 6 percent of sales earmarked for advertising. That is what it took to drive consistent foot traffic. Read More

Visuals and style have always been a critical part of the customer’s shopping journey. These days, there’s an even greater emphasis on aesthetics and style is a bigger part of the conversation. There are a number of reasons for this shift, including the rise of social media and home improvement influencers, renovation shows, not to mention the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Consumer spending on home grew 20 percent in 2021 over 2020, which followed an 8 percent advance in 2020 over 2019. While 2020 growth didn’t come close to the unprecedented increase in 2021, it was still double the average 4 percent year-over-year advance tracked from 2010 after the recovery from the last recession. Read More