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Saturday, April 24, 2010

April 2010 High Point Furniture Market

Where is the positive news about this spring market? Just when we need a bit of optimism, the press decides to keep it a secret? What gives? My partner and I merchandised three showrooms, all who had brisk sales. I also helped out a New England representative in some of his accessory lines. We wrote good orders every day. Traffic was up, and they were there to BUY! To me this is a sign that we are lifting out of this slump, and I for one welcome it!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Warm, Beautiful, Resilient Cork.

Where do I begin? Cork has a multitude of wonderful qualities. I discovered cork flooring years ago at the Surfaces show in Las Vegas. There I saw a multitude of cork in every color and pattern imaginable.
Like bamboo it regenerates. Harvesting the cork does not kill the cork oak tree. The 6" thick bark regenerates over a period of seven years. Cork oak trees are grown in Portugal, under the protection of Portugese law.
This environmentally friendly product has been used in Europe as flooring for hundreds of years, especially in churches. We have cork floors in this country that have endured for over 200 years. Not only is this product strong and durable, it is warm, resilient, and naturally antimicrobial. It provides the additional benefits of being acoustical and insulating.
The cork tiles which we recommend come pre-finished with a protective urethane layer. Additional urethane my be applied if the cork is being installed in areas where moisture is a concern, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
For a warm, resilient, eco-friendly floor, consider the natural beauty of cork for your next project.