We were pleased to have the opportunity this past November to bring to members of the construction community our first ever Lunch & Learn program. In attendance were representatives of Architectural firms, Interior and Designer companies as well as Builders.
This was a great way for those in the trades industries to gain a continuing education credit which in this instance covered techniques in shower building and waterproofing. The CCE class was presented by Mr. Chris Daffer of Schluter Systems.
Also included in the lunchtime event was a fine spread of great food by Sonny's B-B-Q. When the class concluded those in attenadance were offered a chance to hear from State Senator Tim Burchett and former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchins both of whom spoke on the state of the economy as it pertains to East Tennessee and the building trades. The event was recorded by Allison Morrow of WBIR who placed a segment on the evening news.
As the event proceeded, many took advantage of the chance to visit our showroom and get firsthand knowledge of the many lines of tile and stone, several of which we are the exclusive dealers of. They also had the opportunity to meet the staff and owners of Exact Tile and get a feel for the personal on-on-one service that those who know us already expect.
This event was our first foray into offering CCE credits and we look forward to offering events like this in the future. There was a lot of planning and effort that went into this event and we would like to thank all those who helped make it a resounding success:
- Zac and Marni Redmond, owners of Exact Tile
- Jennifer Kurtz, showroom manager
- Crystal Yant for all her hard work in assembling all the pieces
- Ashleigh Park and Zac Baker who made sure everyone had plenty to eat and drink
- Bruce Park for set up and tear down
- Chris Daffer for teaching the CCE class
- Sonny's B-B-Q for the great food
- Allison Morrow of WBIR for the great PR
- Sen. Tim Burchett
- Former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchins
Thank you all for your efforts!
We were fortunate this year to have attended one of the nations premier tile and stone trade shows. Known as Coverings 2009, this event is typically held in Chicago, Illinois and this year was no exception. While there were many benefits to the trip and much to see, we would like to mention a few of the highlights of the trip.
There were several informational seminars and though it would have been great to attend them all, we had to pick the ones that we felt would be of most benefit to you, our clientele.
The first was titled, ‘Trendscape 360: Today’s Retailers Must Understand Customer and Industry Changes.’ The seminar was presented by Jonathan Trivers, owner of Marketing Wit and Wisdom, a retail training and consulting company and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the World Floor Covering Association.
Information regarding how the customers lifestyle evolves and being able to match products to them smartly as well as assisting in predicting these changes were one of the primary benefits. As a specialty retailer, we also came away with the incentive to continue to be at the forefront of these changes. You expect us to be first with new products and to possess the knowledge pertaining to new looks, whether it be grout, field tile or glass.
Another seminar we attended was titled, ‘The Stone Showroom of the Future.’ The information was presented by Mark Fernandes of the Luck Stone Corporation. This seminar was an opportunity to explore the vision that the Luck Stone Company used in creating a place to “provide inspiration, showcase creativity and display product to homeowners, architects, designers and builders.” The showroom exemplifies true luxury and fine design. We look forward to bringing some of these showroom ideas to you in the coming year and to make your selection process even more enjoyable.
Many booths at Coverings 2009 featured replicas of natural products, including porcelain that looks like stone, slate and marble. A favorite of mine was at the LEA booth, which we now have displayed in our showroom. The material looks and feels like slate but with less maintenance than the real thing with none of the worries of flaking or upkeep. We found and brought in to the showroom new porcelain lines by the Italian Company Impronta and Casa Dolce Casa, which can be installed over existing structurally sound floors. We now feature new thin tile lines as well.
In between trying new Italian foods and coffees, I stumbled upon a new and improved way to design with one of our current Landmark Metal Coat and Bombay tile lines. This is a high glazed ceramic with Giant Flowers available in this years popular pinks and purples.
As we revamp our showroom through the coming year we will feature more and more of these new trends and materials. We are also looking forward to expanding our showroom space. When we do we will feature many new product lines and displays featured at the Coverings 2009 show.
And did I forget to mention how much I love Chicago? It was so beautiful and had so many things to do and see. In my never ending quest for the perfect pizza, I tried both Uno’s Pizza and the famous Geno’s. My pick: Uno’s Pizza any day! The service was great and honestly, it was the best pizza I have ever had. Here is hoping that Coverings will be in Chicago for a long time to come!
Finally, here are some of the HOT COLOR TRENDS for 2009. The choices reflect concern for the economy and outlook to the future. We find comfort in colors that are familiar and at the same time embrace colors that make us happy, especially where accents are concerned. Also, the colors and products that reflect an environmentally greener world goes beyond being a trend to a given.
Purple, which emerged last year as a hot fashion is no longer a just a fad. It’s now an entrenched trend. Grayed out violet works equally well as an accent or a neutral. Purple is 2009’s “must have” color and includes the redder, plumier purples as well as bluer-influenced fuschias that come in a huge range.
Blue is the new green. Though greens have symbolized “green-living” over the last few years, this year the environmental message is being delivered by the color blue. Watery blues, sky blues and a whole range of blues now represent the commitment to living on a greener planet.
Cooled-down, Greyed-out Bowns and Greys, are complex neutrals that satisfy our urge toward classic colors. They are also a bridge between black, which seems harsh, and brown, which doesn’t seem strong enough.
Yellow for energy. Neutrals may have greyed, but lots of bright, vivid yellow give us energy as we look toward the future. It’s the stand out color for 2009.
Bright Accents allow the exotic to become the familiar. Oranges, turquoises and teals, reds and yellows abound in hues from far away countries like India, China and Turkey. They are the optimistic touches we hunger after.
White is the new business color due to the technology that has produced amazing new and practical finishes. The contrasts are all in the finishes: matte versus gloss, shine and shimmer on reflective surfaces; textured versus smooth. White also represents purity of thought, motive and result. Exactly what we want from the world around us.
Muave is an old color that looks new again. Used in dusty shades, mauve works as an accent but also serves as a neutral, punched up by the bright Asian accents. Source: The Color Marketing Group