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Russ DeLozier has been appointed president of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), the US source for science-based information on carpet. With more than 30 years of industry experience, DeLozier has held prominent positions in corporate sustainability, chemical and floor covering manufacturing, and materials recycling. He took up his position on 1 June 2023 and is based in Dalton, Georgia. His previous involvement with CRI's EPR panel and recognition for outstanding volunteer service demonstrate his commitment to the advancement of the carpet industry. DeLozier holds a degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
After the takeover of Kika/Leiner, the new owner has now announced "far-reaching restructuring measures" to turn around the Austrian furniture store chain. Accordingly, it is planned to close 23 of the 40 stores and to cut 1900 of 3900 jobs. Hermann Wieser, the new managing director, told the newspaper Handelsblatt: "We started out to save Kika/Leiner. And we are now saving what can be saved." Deep and rapid cuts were necessary to ensure the survival of the company, he said.
Pieter Tops has passed away. He died on 30 May 2023. Born on 26 May 1947, he took his well-deserved retirement at the end of 2021 after working for many years as a sales representative in the carpet industry. In his last position, Tops had worked for the Belgian machine-woven rug manufacturer Ragolle since 1997.He worked as an independent sales representative, representing well-known companies such as Damoka, Talis and Arte Espina. Tops was known for his expertise, commitment and personable manner and enjoyed an excellent reputation in the industry. With Pieter Tops, the carpet industry loses a special personality.
The Signa Group of investor René Benko is selling the Austrian furniture chain Kika/Leiner. This is reported by the Kronenzeitung. Initially it had been said that Benko had only sold the more than 80 properties to the Supernova Group, which specialises in the development and operation of DIY store locations and retail parks. On 1 June, the Signa Group confirmed that the operational business had also been sold. The new owner, a management team led by former Kika/Leidner managing director Hermann Wieser, intends to continue the two traditional Austrian brands.
The XXXLutz furniture store in Wels, Austria, reopened on 25 May after months of total reconstruction. "The new XXXLutz is the most modern furniture store in the group. In total, more than 20 million euros were invested in the Wels location. All three sales channels (XXXLutz, Möbelix and Mömax) were completely rebuilt and renewed from the ground up.
Flooring suppliers from Belgium and this time also from the Netherlands invited visitors to the second edition of the Flanders Flooring Days. From 22 to 25 May, ten companies opened their showrooms within a radius of less than 25 km. According to a press release from the organisers, 1,553 trade visitors from 68 countries participated in the event, 60 % more than last year. For the next Flanders Flooring Days in May 2024, suppliers from outside the Benelux countries have also announced themselves as exhibitors.
1600 exhibitors are expected to exhibit in 200,000 sqm of space at the 25th edition of Domotex Asia / Chinafloor. The show will be held from 26 to 28 July 2023 at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center. The organisers expect Domotex Asia to „further strengthen its positioning as the largest industry’s international gathering in Asia Pacific and a not-to-be-missed event for re-discovering untapped opportunities in the region.“ To ensure a smooth return to China after a long time for many, the organizer has put in place the “Welcome back to Shanghai” campaign which includes a set of hospitality services. The visitor registration platform for attending the trade fair is now open to all worldwide flooring professionals.