NewslineVolume V, Issue 27 - December 17, 2004The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: Simple Solution and Spot Shot Earn SoA Certification Two new spot cleaners have joined the family of cleaning products that have
passed the Carpet and Rug Institute's new Seal of Approval testing program. The CRI Seal of Approval program tests products for efficacy, resoiling, pH, optical brighteners, and colorfastness to light. Thus far, four spot removers and one in-tank/pre-spray solution have been certified since the program was launched a month ago. The Seal of Approval certifies that the product has passed the program's rigorous testing protocol. Contact Barbra Wilson at 706-428-2125. Information on the SOA Program Seal of Approval Testing Program - The Word is Spreading Contact Barbara Day at 706.428.2138. B2B Software: A Burgeoning ConceptAt Surfaces 2005, floor covering retailers, installers and distributors will
be introduced to the floor covering industry business-to-business (B2B) standard,
the new ecommerce technology intended to maximize profits and reduce overhead
cost. Presentations on Wednesday, January 26 and Thursday, January 27 will showcase
the software as a new vehicle to conduct business through the distribution channel:
from the manufacturer to the distributor to the retailers. B2B software for
the floor covering industry is promoted by industry leaders as a "must-have"
business tool. B2B software allows web-based communications between trading
partners, to place purchase orders, acknowledge delivery of shipment, up-to-date
price list and electronic invoices. This presentation is highly recommended
for owners, presidents and managers in the industry who will be attending Surfaces.
Representatives from several exhibiting software companies will be available
for a question and answer closing session. Visit the Surfaces website for more information and registration. CRI Members Are Encouraged To Link to CRI WebsiteThe CRI website is among the most popular sites visited when it comes to carpet,
averaging over 32,000 visits (and over 165,000 page views) per month. All CRI
members and affiliate/ally organizations are encouraged and invited to create
a link to the website (www.carpet-rug.org) from their own websites in the hope
of disseminating the large volume of data readily available on the CRI site.
Reciprocal linkages between websites improve their "link popularity"
and rankings in internet search engines. Flooring Sciences.org Provides Forum for "White Paper" Publication
Visit the International Flooring Sciences Resource Center "Technical Guru" Barbra Wilson Featured in the Charlotte ObserverThe Charlotte Observer recently ran an article entitled "5 Questions for
... Barbra Wilson" in the Home & Gardening section. In the article,
Barbra, who is CRI's Manager of Technical Information, answers consumer questions
regarding the selection of carpet and pad. North Carolina School District Working On Pilot Program for Asthma TriggersThe Guilford County School Systems and the Guilford County Department of Health
in Greensboro, NC, are working together on a new pilot program to help students
with asthma. The program will start in six elementary schools and the schools
will be inspected to help improve indoor air quality. One concern with the program
was a suggestion by the Public Educator within the Health Department for those
children suffering from asthma to remove carpet in their homes where possible.
CRI has already engaged the reporter who wrote the story and plans to contact
the School System and Health Department to offer expertise in helping with the
pilot program and educating them on the benefits of carpet. EU Launches "Buying Green" GuideThe European Union's (EU) Environment Commission has produced a working document
entitled "Buying Green: A Handbook for Environmentally Friendly Public
Procurement." The handbook is intended for public and semi-public authorities
within the EU, and offers "green procurement" tips and examples of
best practices from various countries. In addition, it seeks to clarify the
legal issues associated with the new public procurement directives released
earlier this year that allow public agencies to specify environmental specification
in procurement procedures. The guidelines stress total project lifecycle considerations,
and are intended to help make the policies more operable "in the field,"
according to Environment Watch: Europe. CRI Meetings* CRI Operating Committee, December 20, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., CRI Boardroom CRI Participation in Upcoming Events* Surfaces, January 25-28, Las Vegas, Nevada If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. Check our website calendar for other industry related events |
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