By Deena Bouknight

HIGH POINT, N.C.—Despite economic woes and consumer spending on home furnishings down at least 4.5%, the market here survives. In fact, this is a milestone year in that the market began a century ago. An unlikely location for what has become... more

By Louis Iannaco

CHICAGO—While attendance might have been down overall— much like other trade shows around the country—Coverings once again paved the way in technology, trends and new products in ceramic tile and natural stone. With hundreds of exhibitors from more than... more

By Matthew Spieler

LANDSDOWNE, VA.—With sales of floor coverings estimated to be down 10% to 30% depending on the category last year compared to 2007, the amount of old material taken up as a result was down as well. So, it would seem logical to presume... more

CHICAGO—NeoCon will return this summer for its 41st year at the Merchandise Mart from June 15 to 17... more

CHICAGO—A major component of Coverings that has flourished over the years has been its seminar programming. Careful planning and investment throughout the show’s history have resulted in a diverse menu of sessions, totaling nearly 70 in 2009, that offers something for... more

LAS VEGAS—With “A Brand New Day” as the backdrop for Show-Case 2009, officials at Preferred Brands, parent company of the Floor To Ceiling (FTC) and World of Floors buying groups, decided quite a while back they wanted to focus on the positive aspects and... more

CHICAGO—Bold new looks and concepts in tile and stone from all corners of the world will be in the spotlight at Coverings 2009, celebrating its 20th anniversary from April 21 to 24, at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center here. And, although the show is not immune to current economic conditions, Coverings still promises to be... more

By Matthew Spieler

SHANGHAI—All eyes were on China last month as the 11th annual Domotex asia/China-Floor (DACF) opened to larger than expected crowds despite the world’s dire financial condition. Final figures for the world’s second largest flooring market were not available at press time, but organizers estimated first-day as... more

ATLANTA—To give its area rug exhibitors a better opportunity at capturing more business as well as to expose more buyers to the category, AmericasMart has changed the dates of the summer edition of its Atlanta International Area Rug Market so it will run parallel with the International Gift & Home Furnishings Market... more

The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the largest tile contractors association in the world, will be holding live demonstrations each day on four important categories for tile contractors during Coverings 2009 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, to offer attendees an up-close look at how a variety of challenging tile installations are handled... more