Industry looks strong as TISE 2016 shines
Informa Exhibitions reports significant attendee growth at The International Surface Event 2016: Surfaces, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, TileExpo, a signal to the industry that positive growth is in store for 2016-2017.
Total attendance was up 10% over the 2015 event. Attendees represented all segments of the industry, including distributors, buying groups, retailers, designers, architects, installers and fabricators, with an overall presence from around the globe. The new Ignite conference program also showed significant growth with standing room only in many sessions.
Canadians also make their mark at TISE every year, and in 2016 celebrated together at Canada Night in the Mandalay Bay’s speakeasy-themed 1923 Bourbon Bar. Sponsored by Coverings magazine and Surfaces, Canadians attending or exhibiting at the show had a chance to drink, nosh, mingle and share stories — and trade business cards.
On the night, one conversation between Canadian businessmen leads to another: an importer of marble is introduced to a contractor that specializes in that flooring, so perhaps there is a deal to be done.
The attendance, according to exhibitors, was definitely up over the previous TISE in Las Vegas. A Canadian distributor with a suite in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center noted that “it was very busy in our room.”
The “Best Of” winners at Surfaces 2016 included categories for Innovation and Technology. Featured on this page and on the Coverings YouTube channel, watch videos for both: Mohawk Flooring (Innovation) and its SmartStrand Forever Clean with AllPet Technology (below also); and, Armstrong (Technology) for its Vivero Luxury Flooring. Schluter-Systems was also recognized for its developments with three ClearSelect awards.
One of the highlight events at Surfaces 2016 was the Lunch & Learn on the digital marketing divide, featuring Google’s Ben Tyson and hosted by FloorForce and Mohawk. (Also watch his presentation on the Coverings YouTube channel.)
In his introduction of Tyson, John Weller, VP at FloorForce, talked about how internet marketing is a powerful sales tool compared to past methods. “I’d drive to five or seven carpet stores in a day” with samples 20 years ago, Weller says, compared to today where his company generates customer traffic daily from the web for hundreds of dealers.
Save the date for The International Surface Event 2017 scheduled to be held January 18-20, 2017, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The educational conference will be held January 17-20. Get notified when registration opens.
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas is THE event for stone industry professional and is home of the MIA annual meeting. The official sponsors are the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Natural Stone Council (NSC). The Marble Institute of America (MIA) and the Building Stone Institute (BSI) serve more than 1900 members in 55 countries who represent every aspect of natural stone industry, offering them a wide array of technical and training resources, professional development, regulatory advocacy, and networking events.
TileExpo is the newest tile industry event in the United States serving distributors, retailers, installers, builders and design professionals. TileExpo brings together buyers and sellers from all over the world to see the latest tile products, tools, services and technologies. Official Sponsors of TileExpo are Ceramic Tile Education Foundation and National Tile Contractors Association.
Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) is an educational institution that offers local, regional, and national training programs for consumers, installers, construction professionals, architects, designers, building inspectors and sales associates interested in the sales and installation of ceramic tile. www.tilecareer.com