The Carpet And Rug Institute Blog

FloorDaily Interviews CRI on Asthma, Allergy & Carpet Issues

2010-03-18T08:01:00.002-04:00

FloorDaily Interviews Carpet and Rug Institute Communications Manager on Asthma and Allergies Issues

It is an honor and a pleasure to be invited to talk with Floor Focus publisher Kemp Harr for his Floordaily.net news site. Recently he asked me to update him on CRI’s appearance at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, or AAAAI. See the related blog post Carpet, Asthma, Allergy & Doctors here.

Briefly, I told Kemp that, slowly but surely, I felt that CRI was making headway with doctors in getting them to hear CRI’s message that carpet is an acceptable floor covering for asthma and allergy patients. In fact, our research shows that carpet actually improves indoor air by trapping heavy dust particles and the allergens attached to them, and holding them until they can be vacuumed away with a Seal of Approval-certified vacuum.

During their training, doctors are told that asthma and allergy patients should remove their carpet, and for most doctors, that continues to be a strongly-held belief. However, several doctors at the AAAAI meeting told me that CRI’s research on carpet and asthma and allergies “gave them a new way of looking at the situation.”

It’s hard to change someone’s opinion, and even harder to change their beliefs – a doctor’s beliefs may be the hardest nut of all. Still, it seems like CRI is making a little headway, and that’s good news. Even bigger news is how many doctors wanted more information for their patients about CRI’s Seal of Approval testing program for vacuum cleaners and online list of certified carpet cleaning professionals.

Thanks, Kemp, for this opportunity to help CRI spread the word.

Listen to the interview here: Bethany Richmond Discusses CRI's Efforts to Educate Asthma & Allergy Doctors on Carpet.

~Bethany

WebMD Nasal Allergy Relief: Keep Carpet Clean

2010-03-16T13:32:00.002-04:00

WebMD's Nasal Allergy Relief slideshow offers solutions that make better use of the carpet in your house through proper cleaning and maintenance.

Over the years, I have seen some pretty inflammatory remarks concerning carpet, and in almost every case, the author of such remarks is usually relying on outdated information or unsupported data. One of the biggest topics has been, and continues to be, the notion that carpet somehow or another triggers or exacerbates asthma and allergy when it does not.

If you look back at some of our blog posts you’ll see that we address this subject quite frequently, well….because it continues to pop up in the mainstream. We attend doctor conventions and engage them in conversation; we respond to websites and media outlets; we have even gone as far as to issue press releases when the offending entity is so big, it deserves the warranted attention.

I liken it to a boxing match because no matter how many times we go to the ring to fight it, we know that there is always going to be another challenger answering the bell wanting a piece of the action.

Of course, the good news is that not everybody we battle is a heavyweight contender. In fact, the reason I wanted to bring all of this to your attention is because sometimes if you keep punching and punching, it does make a difference.

One of the real heavyweights as far as information for consumers is the website WebMD. With more and more people doing all they can to avoid co-pays and such at the doctor’s office, getting free medical advice for what ails you is a pretty popular thing these days. WebMD is pretty much the Rolls Royce of such things and based on their marketing and national TV campaigns must be making a pretty good living in order to afford such things.

WebMD currently has some information up regarding “Nasal Allergy Relief” and in it they provide 17 items one can incorporate to provide just that. Several of those items have carpet ramifications in them.

For starters, they suggest walk-off mats for entry ways into the house. Many irritants -- dust, mold, dust mites, wood smoke, pesticides -- get tracked into your house on your shoes they say, and of course, a walk-off mat helps to keep them outside and off your flooring. Even if a carpet does hold such allergens from being circulated into the breathing zone, prevention of having them in the carpet in the first place is a high order.

The website also recommends using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter on it. Now we would love for them to go a step further and recommend using a Seal of Approval/Green Label vacuum, but part of that is probably an education matter. Our SOA/GL program not only removes the allergens trapped in the carpet, but our testing protocol guarantees that everything off that vacuum cleaner is being contained to a very high degree. For instance, a gold level approved SOA/GL vacuum has to pass a test that shows it has no more than 35 micrograms of particle per cubic meter emitting from it. And by emitting from it, I mean from the filtration device as well as the vacuum cleaner itself which includes all the tiny parts underneath the machine where all the agitating action takes place as from the parts of the vacuum itself including the belts and hoses.

WebMD also mentions using steam cleaners to rid carpet of the dust mites that set up shop, and again, we’re all aboard with that. Deep cleaning the carpet every 12-18 months is necessary to pull out the soil and particles that settle deep into it, and hot-water extraction with an SOA-approved machine is a wonderful recipe for removing dust mites and such.

Certainly WebMD does have authors who recommend removing carpet and replacing it with hard surface and we have engaged them on this personal viewpoint in the past. The great news about this most recent article is that it doesn’t recommend removing carpet. It provides solutions on how to better utilize the carpet people have in their house through proper cleaning and maintenance, and that is the message we have been taking to doctors for the last year or so.

Recently, one of the doctors we met with made a very profound statement when asked about carpet and allergies: “Most of my patients don’t sleep on the carpet, but they do sleep on mattresses and pillows.” The message is starting to resonate that cleaning a carpet is the much better resolution than removing it.

Carpets are wonderful filters that can be used to protect those with allergies and asthma, but they need to be cleaned and maintained just like any other filter in your house. And it is nice to see when heavyweights such as WebMD are getting the message.

~ James

ProTeam's Gold-level SOA Certified Vacuums

2010-03-11T08:03:00.002-05:00

Vacuum Manufacturer ProTeam Goes for Gold in Ad Featuring Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval

One afternoon last week, CRI Communications Manager Bethany Richmond came by my office, excited to show me a magazine ad for ProTeam, a commercial vacuum manufacturer and one of our most successful participants in CRI’s Seal of Approval vacuum testing program. The full-page ad featured a display of six of ProTeam’s Gold-level Seal of Approval-certified vacuums under the headline, “Announcing The Gold Medal Lineup.” The ad was, of course, a clever reference to the recent Winter Olympics, and a world-class endorsement for the Seal of Approval program.

To achieve a Seal of Approval gold rating, a vacuum cleaner must remove more than 55 percent of the available soil and exhibit dust containment equal to or less than 35 micrograms emitted per cubic meter of air. It must also pass the texture appearance test, which means the vacuum should not affect the texture appearance of the test carpet – a commercial cut-pile construction - more than a one-step change based on one year of normal vacuum use. Measurements are taken after 800 passes of the vacuum, with the sample rotated every 200 passes. So you see, it’s not an easy thing to do.

Another interesting element of the Seal of Approval vacuum testing is the technology behind it. To determine just how much soil is removed from a carpet sample, the SOA vacuum testing uses X-Ray Fluorescence, a technology that was originally developed by NASA for the Space Shuttle program to help it identify the materials in the shuttle’s metal alloy parts. X-Ray fluorescence was modified to identify down to the tiniest microgram the exact amount of soil removed. For more information about how X-Ray fluorescence was adapted for vacuum testing, click here.

Whenever I travel for CRI to cleaning and maintenance industry trade shows, I like to walk around the show floor and visit the booths of companies that participate in the Seal of Approval program, to see if they display the SOA logo or label on their displays or certified products. I am always heartened when I see it, and puzzled when I find a company that has passed CRI’s testing but doesn’t promote the fact in their marketing.

“CRI Seal of Approval is a well-recognized certification in the industry highlighting vacuum equipment that meets higher levels of carpet cleaning effectiveness and indoor air quality. ProTeam’s accomplishment with our backpack vacuum system achieving gold Seal of Approval sets us apart from the competition,” said Matt Reimers, ProTeam’s vice president of sales and business development.

Thanks to ProTeam for helping to promote the Seal of Approval program. They score a perfect 10 from me!

~Pat

ReSource Members Join CARE Aligned Dealer Program

2010-03-09T08:03:00.002-05:00

I am so proud of my friends at the Carpet America Recovery Effort. This year, CARE has doubled its membership by reaching out to various new groups interested in carpet recycling and landfill diversion. Congratulations to CARE Executive Director Georgina Sikorski, Operations Manager Jeremy Stroop, and CARE’s talented board of directors for their successful marketing efforts – we all benefit from them.

The latest boost for the Carpet America Recovery Effort’s Aligned Dealer program is a significant coup for CARE membership. The dealers in the nationwide ReSource Commercial Flooring Network are supporting carpet recycling and reuse by becoming members of CARE. ReSource represents 64 commercial flooring dealers at 97 locations across the U.S.

"ReSource dealers are a welcome addition to CARE’s Aligned Dealers Program," said CARE Executive Director Georgina Sikorski.

CARE seeks to find market-based solutions to the challenging problem of post-consumer carpet contributing to crowded landfills. Since its inception in 2002 as a joint industry-government effort, CARE has helped divert over 1.3 billion pounds of post-consumer carpet from landfills, and has led efforts to find and market new products that can be made from materials derived from post-consumer carpet. Examples include new carpet, fiber cushion for carpet underlay, injection-molded auto parts and various plastic consumer products. CARE's Aligned Dealer program offers carpet dealers a cost-effective opportunity to join CARE and support carpet recycling.

In a press release CARE sent out recently, ReSource Vice-President Ken Daniels is quoted as saying, "ReSource has consistently supported CARE as a corporate member, and we are pleased that our members have chosen to support CARE individually as well. Partnering with CARE on the membership as well as the corporate level further demonstrates ReSource’s comprehensive commitment to environmental sustainability.”

Thanks to Resource dealers for caring about resources - in the form of CARE, a great organization that stands for carpet recycling, new product development, and landfill diversion.

~Bethany

Carpet, Asthma, Allergy & Doctors

2010-03-04T15:34:00.003-05:00

Carpet and Rug Institute Attends American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Annual Meeting in New Orleans

Or, No Sneezy [Allergies] in the Big Easy...

I spent the weekend in New Orleans at the annual meeting of AAAAI – the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, talking to doctors who stopped by the CRI booth. I talked to allergists and pediatricians, family practitioners, academic researchers, and practice nurses, among others, about the suitability of carpet as a floor covering for patients with allergies and/or asthma, and about the best ways to keep carpet clean. I handed out hundreds of copies of our booklet, Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies, as well as a brochure that summarizes Dr Mitch Sauerhoff’s international literature review that concludes that there are currently no scientific studies linking carpet to increased asthma and allergy symptoms.

This was my second AAAAI meeting, and the third meeting of allergy doctors I have attended for CRI, and my sense is that the doctors seem to be getting used to having CRI there. While the first year we showed up we definitely met some skeptics, this year I felt much more accepted and welcome. CRI had arranged to have the Sauerhoff brochure titled "Clearing the Air About Clean Carpet" placed in specially-prepared bags of literature that were given to each attendee.

I’d estimate at least eight or ten doctors mentioned to me that they had read the brochure, and of that group, three or four said the information had definitely made them rethink what they had been taught during their training – that asthma and allergy patients should always remove carpet from their homes. Several others commented that they agreed that there didn’t seem to be any science behind the recommendation to remove carpet - only presumptive and anecdotal evidence - and that information on effective cleaning was valuable. Dozens of docs requested that I send them packets of Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies books to distribute to their patients.

It was gratifying to feel like I met a receptive audience for the message that clean, dry carpet is a great floor covering for every home – including those where asthma and allergy patients live.

~Bethany

P.S.: The Housekeeping Channel published today a Q&A on Asthma, Allergies and Carpet. Would you add any questions to the list?

CRI Annual Congressional Reception & Capitol Hill Visits

2010-03-02T18:24:00.001-05:00

The Carpet and Rug Institute's Annual Visit to Capitol Hill and Congressional Reception

Last week I participated in a noteworthy Carpet and Rug Institute event: the annual visit to Capitol Hill. Of course, for me, it’s not so much of a visit since I’m located in the DC area year ‘round. But it is an amazing experience. When James Beach shared with me that he would be writing today’s blog, I pooh-poohed the idea of him blogging about something he didn’t personally experience. So now I’m today's designated CRI blogger….

For the past several years, shortly after Congress convenes for a new session, CRI staff Werner Braun, Frank Hurd and I accompany a group that includes members of CRI’s Government Issues Committee and representatives from the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce on a trip to Washington DC to visit selected Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. We also schedule a reception on The Hill. This year 's delegation was bigger than any previous year's, which allowed for more visits and more "face-time" with our elected representatives. We not only met with members of the Georgia Delegation, we branched out and met with members from Alabama, Tennessee, and the Carolinas!

This was the first year we had enough attendees to split into two groups, which enabled us to cover more ground. And when I say ground I mean it. Those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of traipsing back and forth between the House and Senate and even into the U.S. Capitol can’t truly appreciate the value of comfortable shoes! (I had warned our member company folks that they should come rested and in appropriate footwear!)

We packed more than 20 meetings into just over 24 hours. Wednesday morning, February 24, we began with a pre-briefing to discuss our talking points and divide into groups before setting off. Our Schedule included visits to Congressman Westmoreland (R-3rd, GA), Congressman Gingrey (R 11th, GA), Sen. Shelby (R-AL), Congressman Hank Johnson (D 4th, GA), Senator Isakson (R-GA), Sen. Hagen (D-NC), Congressman Marshall (D-3rd, GA), Sen. Session (R-AL), Congressman Broun (R 10th-GA), and Congressman Deal (R-9th GA). And that was just on Wednesday.

On Wednesday evening, CRI hosted a reception in the Rayburn House Office Building that featured food from Chick-fil-A. This was no small undertaking, because, unlike Georgia, there isn’t a Chick-fil-A on every other corner. We know that the staffers enjoy it and so we work to have it there and not disappoint. It’s also the occasion where attendees get a small rug with a depiction of something representative of Georgia. This year it was the Live Oak.

The reception was followed by dinner with CRI staff and member company personnel to relax (i.e. finally sit down!), recap the events of the day and prepare for the next full day of meetings.

Thursday we had more meetings with the following offices: Congressman Linder (R-7th GA), Sen. Alexander (R-TN), Sen. DeMint (R-SC), Sen. Corker (R – TN), Congressman Barrow (D-12th GA), Sen. Chambliss (R-GA), Congressman Kingston (R-1st GA), Congressman Lewis (D-5thGA), Congressman Price (R-6th GA) and Sen. Burr (R-NC).

During each of our meetings with Congressmen, Senators and staffers we addressed a number of issues relevant to the industry. We began every meeting with a “thank you” for efforts already made on behalf of our industry. Then we launched into our hot topics this year: Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA or the “card check” bill), the home furnishings tax credit (HIRE Act), Climate Change, Recycling, EPA Coal Fly Ash Regulations and Extended Producer Responsibility Laws at the state level.

It was a lot of information to cover but we did it! A big thank you goes out to our contract lobbyist, Dutko Worldwide who managed much of the scheduling and logistics. An even bigger thanks goes to our GIC members who took the time to travel to DC and share their expertise with policy makers. I think this might possibly have been our most successful visit to-date!

I think you'll enjoy these photos from the CRI Annual Congressional Reception & Capitol Hill Visit.

Here, Werner Braun prepares to shake hands with Congressman Westmoreland – also in this photo – Rick Hooper, Frank Hurd and Brian Anderson.

Next, Louis Fordham and Werner Braun receive a copy of the US Constitution signed by Congressman Paul Broun.

Drake and Larry Cook with Congressman Broun.

And, here, Brian Anderson, Congressman Deal and Rick Hooper enjoy Werner Braun’s remarks at the reception

~ Jenn Mendez

Platinum Property Care Testimonial for CRI SOA

2010-02-25T08:12:00.001-05:00

Spreading the Good News about Carpet Care and Maintenance

CRI Receives Unsolicited Testimonials from SOA Service Providers

Recently, I received two welcome emails, forwarded to me by Seal of Approval Program Manager Pat Jennings. Both contained unsolicited praise for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Testing and certification program for carpet cleaning equipment, solutions, and cleaning professionals. The first came from Allen Shipley, President of CarpetCare Craftsman in Colorado Springs. (Click here CarpetCare Craftsman testimonial post.)

The second came from Kevin Wilke, who owns Platinum Property Care, LLC, in Cape Coral, Florida. Kevin sent CRI a link to the press release he’d posted on the business news website PRWeb using the press release template he found in his SOA Marketing Toolkit! (For more on the toolkit, click here.)

Kevin has been in business for himself for about three years. I asked him about his decision to put his Service Provider Marketing Toolkit to work for him:

“I got the Marketing Toolkit in an email from CRI – I knew right away the Press Release template was a great idea and it could really drive traffic to my website. Then one day I got a coupon for one free press release posting on PRWeb and it just kind of hit me that I had a really good opportunity to generate interest and gain visibility for my company with very little investment on my part.”

“Whoever thought of this [toolkit] is a genius. The press release template is easy to use – just fill in the blanks. It’s well-prepared and makes a really professional press release. Loading it on PRWeb is easy, too – just cut and paste, really.”

Kevin says he has “definitely seen a response” to his press release in the form of several calls from area homeowners wanting their carpets cleaned. Through the tracking tools on the PRWeb site, Kevin can see that his press release has been opened 1,531 times since it was first posted on January 20, 2010 and has appeared on various websites over 50 thousand times. PRWeb also offers a Google Map showing where his readers are located, and Kevin notes with amusement that it’s been read in Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, and China.

PS: Here’s a link to the coupon for a free PRWeb posting. Kevin says it’s still good, and he forwarded it “in case other Service Providers out there want to do the same thing I did.”

Good luck, Kevin – and thanks for all you do for the Seal of Approval Program!

~Bethany

CarpetCare Craftsman Testimonial for CRI SOA

2010-02-23T08:15:00.004-05:00

Spreading the Good News about Carpet Care and Maintenance

CRI Receives Unsolicited Testimonials from SOA Service Providers: CarpetCare Craftsman

Recently, I received two welcome emails, both forwarded to me by Seal of Approval Program Manager Pat Jennings. Both contained unsolicited praise for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Testing and certification program for carpet cleaning equipment, solutions, and cleaning professionals. The first came from Allen Shipley, President of Carpet Care Craftsman in Colorado Springs. It read:

Pat,

I just wanted to send a note to you and all the individuals in the CRI organization: THANK YOU!!! For the commitment you have made to improve the stature of the carpet industry. It is because of organizations like CRI, the IICRC, and Regional trade associations that we as an industry can hold our heads up and be proud of not only the level of service we can now provide for the consumer but also the quality of employment we can offer to prospective employees. Continue the battle and we on the front lines will continue to follow your lead.

Allen Shipley, President
Carpet Care Craftsman, Inc.

Allen’s email brightened a lot of folks’ days here at CRI, so I called him up to tell him so. I also took the opportunity to get his perspective on being a Seal of Approval Service Provider.

BR: Allen, How do you use SOA in your business?

AS: I use it all the time in presentations to commercial and residential prospects and I can say with confidence that being a Seal of Approval Service Provider improves my ability to sell. I don’t sell price as the bottom line, so we make it clear that there is a right way to do things, and that we do them that way. SOA really helps me reinforce my company’s quality message.

I see too many “shade tree mechanic-type” carpet cleaners who don’t care if they go back to the same house twice. In my business I am constantly developing relationships with individuals and organizations, and they know I will stand behind my work today and in the future – SOA is a big part of that promise.

BR: What’s your take on the program itself?

AS: CRI is doing all the right things – identifying the problems, finding the solutions, and marketing the program the right way – through the manufacturers’ warranties.

Thanks, Allen, sounds like you truly are a Carpet Care Craftsman!

Next time, we’ll talk to an SOA Service Provider who generated some good publicity for his business using one of CRI’s Marketing Toolkits for Service Providers.

~Bethany

CRI SOA in ICS Cleaning Specialist Magazine

2010-02-18T08:04:00.003-05:00

Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval (SOA) Featured In ICS Cleaning Specialist Magazine

The February 2010 issue of ICS Cleaning Specialist magazine features an article entitled, “The CRI SOA Program: 5 Years Later”. The article details the origins of the one-of-a-kind Seal of Approval testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products and equipment, and talks about the changes the program has undergone during its first five years of existence. Authored by Carpet and Rug Institute President Werner Braun, the article begins:

“To my mind, nothing is more rewarding than seeing hard work pay off.”

He then lists some of the program’s accomplishments, such as its growth. As of this writing, there are 285 solutions, 67 deep cleaning systems, 157 vacuums, 83 extractors, and 984 Service Providers on the Seal of Approval lists.

The article explains how the current Seal of Approval program started after CRI performed a nationwide consumer survey that revealed consumers’ number one complaint about carpet was that they did not know how to clean it properly. This survey and the subsequent field study that showed that many cleaning solutions on the market at the time did not perform very well formed the backbone of what later became the testing parameters for the solutions category of SOA testing. As Werner notes in the story,

“In the end, these disappointing first results produced a positive outcome: as SOA testing identified problem products, conscientious manufacturers reformulated their solutions so that the entire industry moved ahead.”

“As pleased as I am with the growth of the SOA Program, I think it is even more important for CRI to do all it can to increase the market share for each SOA participant and Service Provider, and our efforts in that area have been impressive.”

As examples, he lists CRI’s enhanced Service Provider program, with new language emphasizing the importance of ethical business practices and good customer relations. This new SOA “code of conduct” requires certified providers to uphold a high standard of accountability, responsibility and customer-oriented service. The agreement also strongly recommends that Service Providers be certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC.

Other recent additions to SOA:

· New “toolkits” of professional marketing materials for Service Providers and SOA solutions and equipment manufacturers. These downloadable toolkits include customizable versions of a press release, brochure, Frequently Asked Questions and talking points fact sheets.

· The new CRI blog which has gained significant exposure for the Seal of Approval program through search engines and on the internet

· A collection of “Seal of Approval Success Stories” on the CRI blog

· CRI’s YouTube channel, featuring the “Jet Stream Grill” video of a SOA firm bringing some seriously dirty carpet back to life. (Watch the video at www.icsmag.com or go on YouTube and enter Jet Stream Grill in the search window to find it.)

Werner finishes by saying, “Since its beginning, the SOA Program has existed with the sole intention of giving all consumers – businesses and individuals – a better way to tell the carpet cleaning products and services that work from the ones that don’t. We knew from the start that there would be a certain degree of push back to the program, and CRI continues to keep an open ear to potential ways the SOA Program can be improved or expanded.”

Congratulations, Werner on a well-written article! And thanks to ICS Cleaning Specialist for helping CRI tell the Seal of Approval story.

For the complete version of the CRI SOA: 5 Years Later story in the ICS Cleaning Specialist magazine, click here; you'll find it on pages 16 and 18.

~ Bethany

Pat Jennings, CRI Technical Services Manager

2010-02-16T08:02:00.001-05:00

Meet Pat Jennings, the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Technical Services Manager

"Congratulations! Your (solution, vacuum cleaner, deep-cleaning system, or extractor) meets all the testing requirements for CRI Seal of Approval… "

Anyone who has ever gotten this letter from CRI is familiar with Technical Services Manager Pat Jennings. That’s because one of Pat’s main duties here at CRI is to communicate to SOA solutions and equipment manufacturers when they have passed SOA testing (as well as the less pleasant duty of telling them when they haven’t).

Pat came to CRI in 2005, after retiring early from Delta Airlines. Pat spent 25 years at the Atlanta-based airline, primarily as a buyer with the company’s purchasing department. In her last position with Delta, Pat told me she negotiated the contracts with catering vendors all over Asia, traveling to their kitchens and working out the menus “down to the last lettuce leaf and ¼ teaspoon of salt”. When I asked her if we as consumers had her to blame for the lousy airline food, she laughed and said, “Absolutely! But only if you were on a flight from, say, Bangkok or Hong Kong.”

Pat is the staff representative on the CRI’s Cleaning and Maintenance and Standards and Specifications Issues Management Teams. She’s CRI’s primary administrator for its Continuing Education program. On top of all that, she travels on behalf of CRI, representing the carpet industry at cleaning industry trade shows and government and private seminars and meetings dealing with Indoor Air Quality and related issues. She enjoys being a Diplomat for the Dalton-Whitfield County Chamber of Commerce and participates in the Chamber Leadership program.

Little known facts about Pat: she only drives cars with straight shifts. Her older son, a sergeant with the Army National Guard, is about halfway through a one-year tour in Afghanistan - Pat keeps up with him everyday on Facebook. She has two five-year-old granddaughters – one in Georgia and one in California. She likes to garden.

I asked Pat to answer a few questions for me.

BR: Pat, what do you like about your job at the Carpet and Rug Institute?

I enjoy the challenges and the people I work with both in and out of the office. I like the varied tasks associated with my job, and the diversity of each “hat” that I wear here at CRI.

BR: Do you miss traveling around the world for your job?

I do miss the different cultures, but not the long flights.

BR: Did you ever think you’d know so much about carpet cleaning and maintenance?

When I first stepped into the world of The Carpet and Rug Institute, I thought, “I’ll never catch on to this.” After all, I had spent 25 years in the airline industry – what did I know about carpet! But I stuck with it, and with the help of some very knowledgeable people I’ve worked with over the years, I’ve learned, and continue to learn about carpet cleaning and maintenance, as well as the carpet industry as a whole.

Thanks, Pat, for all you do for CRI!

~Bethany

CRI Offers Carpet Cleaning & Maintenance Advice at Flooring Shows

2010-02-11T17:26:00.001-05:00

Carpet and Rug Institute's James Beach shares carpet cleaning and maintenance advice with upbeat retailers at recent flooring shows.

I thought my colleague Jeff Carrier did a fabulous job of capturing the general attitude that permeated Surfaces last week. There is guarded optimism that flooring sales have turned the corner, or at least hit the bottom and have bounced. Having read that most experts feel that the recovery will start to kick into at least low gear once spring arrives (which depending on what part of the snow-covered country you are reading this from might still seem like a LONG way away!), there is a general sense of relief sighing going around in the industry.

Surfaces was actually the final of a three-week trek across the country in which I found myself face-to-face with flooring retailers. Prior to the big show in Las Vegas, I attended two Shaw Aligned Dealer Shows, one in Toronto and one in Portland, and had a pretty good lay of the land coming into the nation’s top flooring event. You can hear all you want to hear from so-called experts and even industry insiders, but if you want to know what is really going on, then retailers are where the rubber meets the road.

At all three shows, you could feel a sense of sanguinity, and that the people walking the floor with their hands in their pockets weren’t doing so as much to protect the money inside them, but rather to dig in and start to spend a little. I am personally going through a major remodel at my house in Tennessee and, quite honestly, haven’t been this excited about it since we built it originally almost 13 years ago.

And shopping around for carpet with my wife was certainly a positive experience as the warm fuzzy stuff of today is leaps and bounds ahead of the choices we had when we built our domicile way back when. The colors, the stain resist properties, the styles, the sustainability aspects of today’s carpets were all important factors we figured into our purchase and, I have to tell you, it made me proud being able to share such knowledge with my wife in a purchase that ordinarily would be all hers.

I can certainly understand why retailers have reasons to be excited if for no other reason than the product they have available to sell to the consumer.

At all three of the shows I attended, the main selling point I had for retailers through CRI was the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated in the arena of cleaning and maintaining carpet. With our recently released second edition of the Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies books out now, it is a wonderful mechanism for retailers to have at their disposal because it has all the basic information in it, especially regarding the Seal of Approval program, and it directs them to our website (carpet-rug.org) for all the other info a new buyer could need. The booklet has always been popular and worthy of a good conversation starter, so it doesn’t surprise me in the least that I have handed out over 1,000 of them individually in three weeks time.

What I try to stress with the retailers is that we offer these booklets to them as hand outs to give away with every new carpet purchase. It introduces the consumer to the proper way to maintain their carpets, and ultimately, that retailer will be the one benefitting from a consumer who is more satisfied with their purchase. And trust me, a happy customer is a customer who will return to your store for their next purchase when that day comes.

And the best deal about our Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies books is the price: they are free to retailers. All it costs is the time to go to our website and visit the publications section. Shipping and handling will get you a case of 300 of them.

Since we reprinted the book we have given away over 100,000 of them, so it is obviously something that has a demand. If the residential replacement and remodeling market for our industry does start to boom as so many are suggesting, well, it just makes sense to teach folks the proper way to care for their new purchase.

What do you think?

~ James

Photo credit: CRI's James Beach and Frank Hurd take a breather to compare notes at recent Surfaces 2010. Photo courtesy of C.B. Whittemore.

CRI's Jeff Carrier: Upbeat After Surfaces

2010-02-09T08:03:00.001-05:00

Carpet and Rug Institute's Jeff Carrier Brings Upbeat Message Home From Surfaces Show

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in one of the world’s premier flooring events- Surfaces in Las Vegas, Nevada. Having been around Dalton and the carpet industry for most of my life, I had wanted to see this spectacle for some time and I can tell you that it did not disappoint. It’s no secret that the flooring industry has been hurt as badly as any other by this prolonged financial crisis, but I detected a noticeable presence of optimism that I haven’t seen in the two years since I returned to the carpet industry.

As I walked the Surfaces trade floor and spoke with industry people, I saw orders being placed and deals being made. In fact, it was busy. Attendance was up 15% over 2009 and the increases were evident to those who’ve struggled through a couple of down years. The general sense I gathered was, “We made it. Let’s get back to work”. I was not alone in this interpretation. Many of the manufacturer members that I spoke with shared the opinion. The travails of the past two years have led to open doors for many of our industry members. Said one member, “There are a lot of open doors now. Areas that used to be locked up are now wide open”.

The optimism I detected at Surfaces was shared by the good people I spoke with from the concrete industry (who were attending “World of Concrete” in Las Vegas). The woes faced by the concrete industry have been very similar to those faced in the carpet industry. When I asked many of them if they were optimistic, most were surprised to admit that they were indeed feeling optimistic. It wasn’t something they had expected to feel or had even hoped to feel. Yet, there it was. That element of surprise was repeated many times during the Surfaces show as well. People came to the show hoping that things were improving but confidence had been so battered by the past two years that believing what they were seeing was difficult. It had been so long since expectations had been exceeded that few wanted to take the leap of faith and say that things really were looking up.

In the end, Surfaces provided so many tangible and valuable benefits. Perhaps none of these are more important than the evidence and reassurance that the long-awaited recovery is finally underway. Having so much of the carpet industry together provided a great view of the state of the industry. The remarkable leadership of our carpet industry members has enabled us to emerge from this dark time ready to resume growth and prosperity. Yes, I dared to say it. Prosperity. It’s not so far away as it once sounded.

Finally, we can get back to the work our growing our businesses and industry.

~ Jeff

Jeff Carrier
CRI Sustainability and IAQ Program Manager

Sears Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners: SOA Participant

2010-02-04T08:05:00.005-05:00

Sears Carpet and Upholstery Care Group Joins Seal of Approval Program

The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products, equipment, and service professionals received some good news recently - a participation agreement from the Sears Carpet and Upholstery franchise group that clears the way for all 145 Sears franchised companies to become Seal of Approval Service Providers.

Carpet cleaning professionals who use Seal of Approval solutions in conjunction with Seal of Approval equipment are eligible to be recognized as Seal of Approval service providers. At CRI, we work hard to raise consumers’ awareness of the benefits of using a Seal of Approval Service Provider, for example, by publishing a complete list of the nearly one thousand “SPs” as we call them on the CRI website – listed by zip code, so individuals and businesses looking for a carpet cleaning professional can find someone quickly and easily.

Hiring Seal of Approval Service Providers is the best way to ensure that carpet is being cleaned with quality products. Not all carpet cleaning products clean equally well and some may even damage carpet fibers. Using Seal of Approval service providers is also the best way to make sure residential or commercial carpet warranties are being met since many major carpet manufacturers are now tying their warranties to the use of Seal of Approval products.

Wes Dvorak, Director of Research and Development for Sears Franchise Businesses, explained to me that Sears has always supported the CRI Seal of Approval Program as “a good idea to help support the industry and support quality carpet cleaning.” As for Sears’ decision to enroll their service professionals in the program, Dvorak said that, at Sears, “We do things the right way and we’re not afraid to tell people.” (For a related blog post on one consumer’s experience with a Sears Cleaning Professional, click here.)

Here’s an interesting detail - according to Seal of Approval Manager Pat Jennings, Sears was the first company to submit their deep cleaning system for SOA testing back in 2006. They were subsequently awarded Gold Level Certification.

“CRI is gratified to have Sears cleaning professionals join the ranks of Seal of Approval Service Providers,” said CRI President Werner Braun. “The Seal of Approval program raises the bar for the carpet cleaning industry, and CRI will continue to do all it can to increase market share for our Seal of Approval participants.”

I’m excited! Congratulations to Pat Jennings and the Seal of Approval Service Providers program.

~Bethany

CRI Seal of Approval on ISSA TV

2010-02-02T08:04:00.004-05:00

CRI's Bethany Richmond Talks Seal of Approval on ISSA TV

One of the things I do as Communications Manager for the Carpet and Rug Institute is travel to trade shows to talk about CRI programs and research about carpet. Last October, I attended the ISSA InterClean trade show in Chicago. ISSA is the worldwide cleaning industry association and InterClean, the premier meeting for the commercial cleaning industry.

While I was there, I had an opportunity to participate in an ISSA TV video explaining the benefits of the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Program.

The 3-minute video is introduced with this paragraph:

“A thoughtfully designed and implemented maintenance program performed by properly equipped and trained personnel is essential for optimal long-term performance of a facility’s carpet. The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Program identifies effective carpet cleaning solutions, equipment, and professionals that clean carpet right the first time and protect a facility’s carpet investment. Not all products clean well enough to earn the Seal of Approval, so look for the blue and green CRI Seal of Approval as proof that you are using quality products.”

The video is posted on the ISSA website under the ISSA TV link for “product demos”. It’s also posted on the CRI’s YouTube channel, carpetchannel1.

I would be happy to provide a download link to any CRI Seal of Approval participant who would like to use it. Just email me at brichmond(at)carpet-rug.org or post a comment to this blog at the link below.

~Bethany

CARE’s Jeremy Stroop in Carpet Pie Fight

2010-01-28T08:07:00.001-05:00

Getting His Just Desserts? CARE’s Jeremy Stroop Takes a Pie in the Face for Carpet Recycling

Jeremy Stroop is a favorite around the Carpet and Rug Institute building. Although he officially works for the Carpet America Recovery Effort as its operations manager, his office is only two doors down from mine, and when he is not on the road traveling on behalf of CARE, he is always at work and always busy. He is known for his red hair, infectious cheerfulness, and offbeat sense of humor. So I wasn’t surprised when he told me he had signed up to participate in the world’s biggest pie fight at Shaw’s Dallas Market show - of course he had – the Jeremy I know is always up for a challenge. He is also very community oriented and he liked the fact that, as part of the Guinness Record-setting pie fight celebration, Shaw was making a donation to the hunger relief agency Feeding America – enough to provide 70,000 meals.

Jeremy was in Dallas at the Shaw show because CARE has been offering a special membership opportunity to selected commercial and residential carpet retailers around the U.S. (see the blog post about StarNet dealers joining CARE). As part of the membership promotion, Jeremy has traveled to several manufacturers’ market events, including Shaw’s Dallas market, which is where the pie fight was held on Jan 7, 2010.

Jeremy after the pie fight.

“It was fun,” Jeremy said of the experience. “I got chocolate in my ears and cherries in my hair, but in spite of the mess, it was just good, clean fun.

My five year-old likes the pictures of me covered with pie – except now he wants to have a pie thrown-down of our own at home!”

Thanks for all you do, Jeremy – we appreciate you!

~Bethany

The carpet after the pie fight...

Watch the video of the entire pie fight on YouTube.

CRI Co-Sponsors Georgia Legislative Reception

2010-01-26T08:09:00.003-05:00

Carpet and Rug Institute Co-Sponsors Annual Georgia Legislative Appreciation Reception

The Carpet and Rug Institute [CRI] and Dalton Whitfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Dalton/Whitfield Legislative Appreciation Reception on Monday, January 11, 2010 at The Freight Room in downtown Atlanta. This was the tenth year of the popular event that is always held on the first day of the Georgia legislative session. Three hundred and twenty people attended, including Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, Insurance Commissioner and Gubernatorial hopeful John Oxendine, U.S. Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal, and newly-elected Georgia House Speaker David Ralston. Local representatives Tom Dickson, Don Thomas, and Roger Williams also attended the reception, as well as various state and local dignitaries.

Per tradition, guests were presented with commemorative rugs depicting classic Georgia scenes and symbols that were designed and manufactured in Dalton. This year’s rug design featured a Georgia Live Oak, the Georgia State Tree. Past years’ included a Cherokee Rose, the Georgia Capitol dome, and the state seal.

During the reception, CRI President Werner Braun said he took the opportunity to voice his support to delegates for several issues, including funding for a northern connector between Interstates 75 and 85 and continued funding for the Traditional Industries’ Program.

“The legislative reception helps us reinforce the message that Northwest Georgia is a powerful economic engine for Georgia,” said CRI Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Frank Hurd. “CRI and the Dalton/Whitfield Chamber are strong partners – we want our elected officials to be reminded that, even in hard economic times, effective economic development is essential.”

~Bethany

Photo credit:
Representatives Dickson, Thomas, and Williams hold the 2010 legislative commemorative rug as shown in the January 2010 issue of Chamber Link.

Carpet Cleaning Standards Part 2: CRI SOA Story

2010-01-21T07:57:00.002-05:00

CRI Seal of Approval Formulas for Success

High Test Standards Improve Carpet Cleaning Product Performance: Part 2

[Link to Part 1 of this conversation]

This is the second of two conversations I had with Professional Testing Laboratories’ President Gary Asbury talking about his experience with how Seal of Approval testing helps manufacturers of failed cleaning solutions improve their product formulas so that they pass the second time through. It is a frequent claim here at the Carpet and Rug Institute that the Seal of Approval (SOA) testing and certification program for carpet cleaning solutions and equipment was developed primarily to increase customer satisfaction with carpet by raising the bar on cleaning performance – and there is no one more able to assert the truth of that than Gary Asbury and the rest of his team at Professional Testing Laboratories.

The most significant testimony to the success of any testing program lies in its power to shape product performance, right? What good is a standard if everyone can pass it? CRI’s claim that “Only the Best Pass the Test”, is a statement we stand behind.

Last time, Gary talked about a manufacturer who didn’t use his product’s SOA failure as a teachable moment for product improvement, but today he relates some more positive examples.

“A large commercial cleaning solution manufacturer presented its product to PTL for Seal of Approval testing. The company had been doing its own performance testing on their product – which is commendable of them, but the problem was, they had only been comparing their product against their number one competitor, and the competition’s product had a horrible problem with accelerated resoiling. Accelerated resoiling happens when a carpet cleaning solution leaves a sticky residue behind that acts like a dirt magnet. The first manufacturer’s product performed better than its competition in terms of resoiling, but it was a far cry from being at a level that would meet the Seal of Approval requirements.

After receiving their failure notice, the first manufacturer was astounded. But, after looking at the test results and seeing the problem, they went back to the drawing board, and within three months, they had reformulated and passed the testing.

Another time, a huge carpet cleaning retail supplier had a product that failed the colorfastness testing. We’d tested their product on over two dozen fiber types, colors, and constructions of carpet, and the testing definitely showed their product caused a significant color change in the carpet after it was exposed to light. This was a major concern – a big manufacturer with a lot on the line. Within a week of the failure notice, the company sent a private jet to Dalton with five of their top executives on board. In two months the problem was solved.

One more example - several years ago, a fairly high-level executive from a major retail chain visited PTL to look at our testing methods and tour the facility. He was impressed with the lab, and particularly impressed with the Seal of Approval program itself. The day after he left, he contacted every one of his suppliers and told them to submit their products for Seal of Approval testing. It was a powerful testimony to the value of the program.”

Located in Dalton, Georgia, Professional Testing Labs is an ISO 14025 and NVLAP-certified lab that has provided federally-certified test results for all types of flooring manufacturers since 1988. In 2009, PTL performed more than 3000 batteries of tests, at an average of five tests per battery.

Thanks, Gary!

~Bethany

Photo caption:
Professional Testing Laboratories’ President Gary Asbury receives the Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award during CRI’s 2009 Annual Membership Meeting.

Carpet Cleaning Standards: CRI SOA Success Story

2010-01-19T07:56:00.002-05:00

CRI Seal of Approval Formulas for Carpet Cleaning Success

High Test Standards Improve Carpet Cleaning Product Performance

It is a frequent claim here at the Carpet and Rug Institute that the Seal of Approval (SOA) testing and certification program for carpet cleaning solutions and equipment was developed primarily to increase customer satisfaction with carpet by raising the bar on cleaning performance. The rationale behind the SOA program is captured in CRI President Werner Braun’s trademark statement, “If you can measure it, you can improve it.”

The most significant testimony to the success of any testing program lies in its power to shape product performance. What good is a standard if everyone can pass it? CRI’s claim that “Only the Best Pass the Test”, is a statement we stand behind, and CRI touts the benefits of using SOA products and Service Providers in multiple marketing efforts, including the CRI blog. We celebrate every product that passes SOA testing; no more so than when a once-failing product tries again and gets it right.

One of the key players behind the scenes of the Seal of Approval testing program is Professional Testing Laboratories President Gary Asbury. Located in Dalton, Georgia, Professional Testing Labs is an ISO 14025 and NVLAP-certified lab that has provided federally-certified test results for all types of flooring manufacturers since 1988. In 2009, PTL performed more than 3000 batteries of tests, at an average of five tests per battery. According to Gary, PTL prides itself on helping carpet maintenance equipment and chemical manufacturers make better products that result in improved satisfaction for flooring consumers.

Gary says he’s seen “dozens of cases” where manufacturers of carpet cleaning products that initially failed CRI’s Seal of Approval testing used what they learned from the test results to improve their products’ performance to the point where they received a passing grade the next time through.

“For the most part, if a conscientious manufacturer fails the first time, they’ll go back to the drawing board,” he says. “Many times, the testing will reveal a problem they didn’t realize they had, but once they see the problem, they can fix it.”

I asked Gary to share a few of his more interesting testing stories with CRI blog readers. Sadly, not every solutions manufacturer is willing to learn from his mistakes, as you shall see in Gary first story about a colorful carpet cleaning fat cat who wouldn’t change (or remove) his spots.

“Several years ago, PTL was doing some compliance testing for a “big-box” retailer on a carpet spot remover they were considering for inclusion in their product mix. The product failed miserably and we informed the manufacturer. Next day, the president of the manufacturing company shows up at the lab unannounced and wants to see our testing. We understood this contract meant a lot of money to him, and luckily, we still had his tested carpet samples, so we took him through the process. He wanted to try his product on our test materials for himself, so we re-stained some carpet samples and let him have a go.

Normally, we let a staining agent dwell for 24 hours on a piece of carpet before we start the product testing, but there was no chance for that with this guy. He took his product and set to work on the stains himself. It was Kool-Aid – a toughie. He rubbed and blotted on that stain until he’d just about worn the pile to a nub, but - nothing – the stain stayed put. He didn’t understand it – said the product worked great when he demonstrated it on his infomercials.

He decided the problem must be with our carpet samples, so he goes and gets some of his own samples out of the trunk of his car. We could see right away what was going on – his samples were made of polypropylene – a powerfully hydrophobic fiber that shrugs off just about any wet stain. He pours Kool-Aid on one of his polypropylene samples, and shows off how his product removes the stain – obviously pleased with himself. I couldn’t believe it, but here was a guy who represented himself as an expert on carpet stain removal and he didn’t know the difference between nylon and polypropylene in terms of their stain resistance!

I’ll never forget what happened next. PTL lab chief Lee Phillips picks up another of the guy’s samples, douses it with Kool-Aid, and, without saying a word, takes it over to the sink and turns on the faucet. Of course, the running water takes the stain right out.

Needless to say, the guy lost his contract with the big box retailer. Last I heard, he was still selling his product on infomercials where his polypropylene carpet samples clean up just like magic”!

In the next blog post, Gary talks about three SOA testing cases with very different outcomes…

Thanks, Gary!

~Bethany

Photo Caption:
Professional Testing Laboratories’ President Gary Asbury receives the Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award during CRI’s 2009 Annual Membership Meeting.

Carpet Cleaning Tips For Dummies, 2nd Edition

2010-01-14T08:03:00.001-05:00

Learn About The Best Carpet Cleaning Tips

At the Carpet and Rug Institute, we believe strongly in educating people on how best to keep carpet clean. That's why we love the Carpet Cleaning Tips For Dummies booklet which I wrote about in June 2009 in a post titled Carpet Cleaning Tips For Dummies - Get Yours Now! It's a terrific resource for carpet cleaning tips.

Since then, we've updated and reprinted the booklet and we're very excited about it. Here to tell you more is Kristin Smith who has been involved in this project with us since its beginning.

You may remember Kristin from Clean Carpet Begins at Home - CRI SOA Success Story. Kristin Smith is a Vice President in the Creative Studio at Ogilvy Public Relations. She has been working with CRI for the past six years on our marketing, communications and advertising programs.

An Easy 2010 Resolution to Keep: Simplify Your Chores With Carpet Cleaning Tips For Dummies®

As we start a new decade, here’s a resolution that will make your life easier and will be simple to keep: clean your carpet regularly. Does the thought of carpet cleaning make you want to run for cover? Hold on! The newest edition of the Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies guide gives you the most up-to-date information on how to make carpet cleaning easy and effective. And it shows you how the proper cleaning can help improve your indoor air quality and protect your carpet investment.

Sponsored by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and HousekeepingChannel.com, Carpet Cleaning Tips For Dummies® , published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., has just been updated with even more easy-to-use information about best practices for keeping carpets looking beautiful for years to come.

Household management expert Elizabeth Goldsmith, the book’s author, provides simple solutions for fighting dirt, removing nasty spots and stains, using the right products and calling in professional cleaners. She has tips for pet owners and advice on how to clean precious Oriental rugs. Consumers can request a free copy at the CRI website for a small shipping and handling fee of $2.00.

The booklet advises that not all carpet cleaning products are effective and some can even damage your carpet. “Regular and proper vacuuming is the single most effective means of keeping carpet clean,” says Werner Braun, CRI president. “And using cleaning products, equipment and professional cleaners certified under the CRI Seal of Approval program helps get the job done right, the first time.” Carpet care is easy with a little preventative maintenance and know-how. This booklet also shows you how to prevent carpet from getting soiled in the first place, plus dozens of ways to get maximum results in minimum time.

More than 70,000 Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies booklets have been distributed, and this updated edition is packed with even more information, including the newest enhancements to the CRI Seal of Approval program. And just think, carpet cleaning is just like exercise – only better. If you get into a routine and keep it up, you will see great results. But unlike exercise, carpet cleaning can be effortless – and you don’t have to sweat.

------------------

Thank you, Kristin!

Do you have a copy of the new updated edition? What do you think? We'd love to hear your reactions.

~ James

Starnet Members & CARE Aligned Dealer Program

2010-01-12T08:09:00.003-05:00

Starnet Members Embrace CARE Aligned Dealer Program

The Carpet America Recovery Effort, or CARE, has something exciting going on – an expanded membership program that offers carpet dealers a cost-effective opportunity to join CARE and support carpet recycling. So far, the first few months of CARE’s new Aligned Dealer Program has attracted some impressive support, including from Starnet Worldwide. CARE is the nationwide alliance of carpet manufacturers, recyclers, dealers, and regulators committed to finding new markets for post-consumer carpet and diverting carpet from landfills. (See this list of earlier blog posts titled CARE Stories from the Carpet and Rug Institute Blog.)

Nearly half of Starnet Worldwide’s 160-plus membership of independent commercial flooring contractors has joined CARE, according to Starnet vice-president of operations Fred Williamson. The program was introduced to Starnet members at the group’s November 2009 Membership Meeting held in Washington, DC. “It’s been a great response in a short period of time,” Williamson says, adding that memberships continue to come into his office daily. Williamson is a current member of CARE’s Board of Directors.

CARE’s commitment to finding new markets for products made from post-consumer carpet content “supports Starnet’s mission to offer carpet reclamation on every project,” says Starnet’s Environmental Issues Committee Co-Chair Linda Goldstein. Linda was kind enough to speak to me in the few minutes she had to spare between her duties as General Manager for CI Carpet Select in St. Louis and serving as the elected mayor of Clayton, Missouri.

Under the program, dealers may join CARE for $150 annually, and may add additional stores for $50 each. Normally the price to join is $500 yearly. For their membership fees, CARE Aligned Dealer members receive a packet of materials that includes a framed certificate, window cling, counter card, business card template, press release template and other marketing materials. CARE is also offering its discounted membership program to Shaw and Mohawk aligned dealers, and plans to expand the program further in the future.

“It’s a great way for residential and commercial carpet dealers to show their customers they are making a sustainable difference,” said CARE Executive Director Georgina Sikorski. “We are thrilled with Starnet’s participation so far – it’s a great organization, full of people who really care about the environment.”

If you'd like more information about the CARE Aligned Dealer Program, please let me know!

~ Bethany

Note: The photo above shows Starnet’s Environmental Issues Committee Co-Chair Linda Goldstein telling Starnet members about the CARE Aligned Dealer program at the group’s Annual Meeting in November.

Carpet Backing Demand Increases

2010-01-07T08:02:00.001-05:00

Carpet Backing Statistics Show Cause for “Cautious Optimism”

Saying he hoped it might prove to be “an early Christmas present” for the carpet industry, Carpet and Rug Institute Vice-President Frank Hurd disclosed in a recent online interview that CRI’s Primary Backing Report for November, 2009 showed positive growth for the first time in three years. The interview aired on Floordaily.net, a flooring industry news site produced by Floor Focus magazine. Frank was interviewed by Floor Focus publisher Kemp Harr.

Sometimes even good news can get lost in all the hubbub of the holiday season, so even though it’s been a couple weeks since the interview appeared, I thought it worthwhile repeating.

CRI routinely tracks the demand for primary backing – the foundation material on which carpet is constructed - as a bellwether for the industry at large. According to the information provided to CRI by several of its largest members, the demand for primary backing in November 2009 increased by 14% over November 2008. That’s good news in and of itself, but particularly so, according to Frank, because it marks the first year-over-year increase in this important carpet industry indicator since early 2006.

The good news is juxtaposed against an overall decline in demand of approximately 41% between 2005 and today, including reductions of nearly 17% in 2009 alone. Still, there are other reasons for “cautious optimism”, reported Frank, including lower consumer revolving credit, and the National Association of Manufacturers’ report that in October, U.S. exports outpaced its imports.

Listen to the entire six-minute interview by clicking on this link to Frank Hurd on FloorDaily.

Thanks for your insights, Frank.

~Bethany

Walk-Off Mats Protect Carpet & Floors In Winter

2010-01-05T08:04:00.002-05:00

Protect Your Carpet From Ice-Melting Chemicals With Walk-Off Mats

Keeping Clean and Cozy – Winter Care for Carpet

After 20-plus years of living in the South, I tend to forget the hazards of winter that are commonplace in the Northern states. My nephew Mark is a disc jockey on a Chicago radio station, and whenever I hear him describe the meteorological horrors he endures every winter I feel myself lucky to live below the Mason Dixon line, no matter how good the pizza is in his neighborhood.

Consequently, I don’t worry much about what ice-melting chemicals will do to my carpet, but Lew Migliore does. His recent enewsletter, The Commercial Flooring Report, looks at how winter weather outside can affect the floors in our businesses and homes. Did you know that the pellets that melt ice so effectively on the front stoop can cause a lot of trouble if they get tracked in on the soles of shoes?

"Ice melt pellets, calcium chloride, are…effective at melting ice and snow especially at lower temperatures and this material will not damage concrete… It will however wreak havoc on interior flooring and leave a very dangerous residue on hard surface floors. Calcium chloride pellets, when dissolved, leave a residue that feels like “3 in 1” oil – very slick and slippery…. This chemical can also be tracked far into a building, not just at entry areas, but into elevators and up into the high regions of a building. It is carried on pedestrians’ feet to its final resting place anywhere in the building. It may not damage concrete but it will do a number on carpet."

According to Lew, calcium chloride is the same material used in the moisture-absorbing “fresheners” we put in our basements and closets to keep them from smelling damp. It actually pulls moisture from the air, creating a situation on your carpet that is prone to attracting soil. Over time, it could cause discoloring of the fiber and even more serious damage.

"Dark spots will form from the attraction of soil and unless this chemical is flushed from the carpet it will continue to create heavy soiling conditions. If it exists in sufficient volume it can actually weaken the laminate strength of carpet resulting in buckles and wrinkles. Not that this will occur overnight or with one contamination but left ignored it will cause damage."

How to keep these chemicals, plus the plain, old-fashioned messiness of snow and dirt at the door? Walk-off mats. Big office buildings may have walk-off areas permanently installed as part of the architectural plan – smaller businesses may rent mats from a service that exchanges them weekly for fresh ones. Whether in a business or home setting, it’s important to make sure walk-off mats are long enough to have time to work. It usually takes 3-4 steps to get shoes cleaned off, so at home, the best thing may be to just have everyone remove their shoes. Just be careful not to trip over the pile of shoes that tends to collect at the door.

Thanks to Lew Migliore for his good information about how important it is to keep dirt outside, especially in the winter. And to my relatives and friends up North, call me wimp if you want, but this time of year, my winter song goes, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow…Somewhere Else!!”

~Bethany

CRI Green Label Plus Program New Standard For Indoor Air Quality

2009-12-29T08:29:00.005-05:00

Green Label Program Takes Its Final Bow in 2009

Original Indoor Air Quality Standard is Replaced by Stricter CRI Green Label Plus

As the bells ring out on the year 2009, something else will be making its exit as well – the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Standard. Developed in 1992, the Green Label standard set the first limits on carpet’s emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds. After its planned 5-year transition period, it is time for Green Label to conclude, replaced by the stronger and more comprehensive Green Label Plus standard that was adopted in July, 2004.

Beginning January 1, 2010, there will no longer be any listings on the CRI web site for carpet certified to the Green Label standard. The good news is: all U.S. manufacturers have upgraded their products to meet the GLP program, so no one will be affected by the change. More than anything else, it gives us here at CRI an opportunity to look back briefly on the challenges involved in getting to this milestone in the history of the carpet industry.

The Green Label program developed out of consumer and governmental concerns about carpet’s effect on Indoor Air Quality. The original standard, developed in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, measured four compounds against an established criterion, as well as total volatile organic compounds, or TVOC. As you might expect, the work that went into developing the standard was significant, and interestingly, long before Werner Braun became president of CRI, he was involved in the dialog with the EPA in his role as a toxicologist with the The Dow Chemical Company. (For more on Werner Braun, see this earlier blog.)

Green Label Plus came about as the carpet industry worked to meet the requirements of the California Indoor Air Quality regulation known as CA 01350. (Coincidentally, the California regulation is currently being updated, and the CRI is involved in the process.) Compared to Green Label, Green Label Plus measures 13 compounds against a standard criteria, plus TVOC. Carpets certified under GLP earn credit toward project totals under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED program and are approved for the California Collaborative for High Performance Schools.

Congratulations and thanks to the CRI member companies and others who worked so hard over a decade ago to ensure that carpet is a low-emitting floor covering. Your efforts paid off for all of us.

~Bethany

Happy Holidays! From the Carpet and Rug Institute

2009-12-23T08:04:00.002-05:00

The Carpet and Rug Institute Elves

wish

everyone

Joyous Holiday!

Werner Braun, Frank Hurd, Ken McIntosh, James Beach, Louise Dobbs, Jennifer Mendez, Bethany Richmond, Susan Newberry, Jeff Carrier, Pat Jennings, Linda Harrington, Pat Stovall, Jason Porter, Joy Dillingham, Ryan Williams,

and

Georgina Sikorski and Jeremy Stroop from CARE!

Image credit:
holly leaves and holly berries - _MG_5338 originally uploaded by sean dreilinger.

Carpet, Like Insulation, Increases R Value of Carpeted Areas

2009-12-22T08:03:00.013-05:00

If Home Insulation is Sexy, Carpet Should be “R Rated”

Carpet Increases R-Value of Carpeted Areas

The word is out: according to our president, home insulation is “sexy”. In a speech he gave December 15 at a Home Depot in Alexandria, Virginia, President Obama talked about how many jobs would be created if Americans retrofitted their homes with more energy-efficient building materials, like additional insulation and energy-efficient windows and doors. It was part of his so-called “cash-for-caulkers” plan to offer incentives to citizens who tighten their energy leaks at home.

"The simple act of retrofitting these buildings to make them more energy-efficient -- installing new windows and doors, insulation, roofing, sealing leaks, modernizing heating and cooling equipment -- is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest things we can do to put Americans back to work while saving families money and reducing harmful emissions," said Obama.

While he didn’t mention it by name, I contend that carpet belongs on the list of energy-saving products. Carpet has long been recognized for decreasing the energy loss from a room and making the room feel warmer to the people inside. Here is an excerpt from an article that appeared in Educational Facility Planner, the professional journal of CEFPI, the Council of Educational Facility Planners International. The article was written by CRI vice-president Frank Hurd, and is discussed in an earlier blog post titled "Carpet Aids Learning in Schools" in CEFPI Journal.

Thermal Comfort

Research conducted over the past two years at the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as independent scientific studies, demonstrates that carpet increases the R-value, or insulation level, of the carpeted area. The R-value (thermal resistance) measures how much a material resists the movement of heat through a ceiling, wall, or floor in a building. The higher the number, the more effective the insulation.

This research confirms carpet and pad significantly increase R-value compared to other flooring materials. Results varied according to the carpet’s construction, with heavier products generally providing higher R-value. Carpets were tested with and without cushion, and the combination maximized the R-value.

The enhanced R-value realized with the use of carpet can actually contribute to energy savings and lower utility costs.

Moreover, Dr. Alan Hedge, professor of Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University, cites another aspect of thermal comfort as one of carpet’s advantages. “Carpet feels warmer to the touch than other floor coverings because the air at room temperature is trapped by the carpet fibers which acts as an insulator, and carpet has a low thermal diffusivity compared to other floor materials that have higher thermal diffusivities and that conduct heat away from the body more rapidly, resulting in a lower skin temperature, cooler sensation, and greater thermal discomfort.”

So, if the President’s pulse races (and whose doesn’t?) at the idea of creating jobs through improved home energy efficiency, how might he feel about the proposed HIRE Act legislation that would provide tax incentives for individuals and some businesses to make other home improvements, like new carpet and other flooring, and appliances? (For more on the HIRE Act, see these earlier CRI blog posts Proposed HIRE Act Would Mean More Jobs in Home Furnishings and CRI President Featured On Japanese National Television.)

~Bethany

Pictured: Samsara courtesy of Masland Carpets and Rugs