Surfaces 2004

January 6, 2004

   As of late last year, thousands of industry professionals are signed up for pre-registration for the Jan. 27-30 floor-coverings educational and exhibition event. In addition, Las Vegas room reservations for Surfaces are 30-percent ahead of the previous year.
   Those attendees will also have plenty to see on the exhibition floor at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, which will grow to more than a half-million square-feet for the 2004 event. More than 1,000 vendors are expected, with a growing contingent dedicated to the stone trade.
   Surfaces continues to provide professionals with critical information and education with its conference program (sponsored by Mannington Mills) that includes 41 information-packed sessions. Five targeted tracks—marketing, business, sales, design and installation—allow attendees to choose courses that focus on key areas of their business.
   Workshops, which take place Jan. 27 from 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m., are in-depth, focused sessions with an entry fee of $120 each. Seminars take place Jan. 28-29 from 8-9:30 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m., and Jan. 30 from 8-9:30 a.m. The cost is $85 each.
   Surfaces also offers a chance for the industry to speak up at the new Town Hall meeting on Jan. 28 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Venetian Hotel. Attendees can submit questions about challenges they face in their businesses or simply concerns they have about the industry; a panel of experts, including a retailer, a manufacturer, a distributor and industry forecasters will tackle the subjects.
   The Town Hall moderator will be K. Bruce Koepcke, president of New Horizons Marketing since 1990. Prior to that, he served as a marketing manager for the DuPont Co.; he has expertise in strategic business planning, marketing planning, brand and product positioning and e-commerce planning.
   The Town Hall cost is $15. Registration for the session includes a continental breakfast.
   There’s also time to kick back at Surfaces 2004 with the first-ever Celebration, featuring ’70-‘80s funksters Kool & the Gang. Enjoy food and beverages, as well as connecting with friends and colleagues on Jan. 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Mirage Hotel & Casino; the cost is $25 per person in advance, $35 on-site.
   The trade show, at the Sands Expo Center, provides plenty of time for attendees to wander through its 500,000 ft² of exhibits. Show hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Jan. 28-29, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Jan. 30.
   The official sponsor of Surfaces is the Anaheim, Calif-based World Floor Coverings Association (WFCA), representing retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America. Hanley Wood LLC of Dallas owns the event.

   The following are stone-related exhibitors at Surfaces 2004, as of mid December 2003:

A
Accu-Cut
Alay Marble
Al-Hassana Marble
Alkusari Stone
American Olean
Aqua Mix Inc.
Architectural Stone Collection Inc.
Avireco Granite & Marble

B
Beno J. Gundlach Co
Bid Tech Inc.
Bostik Findley Inc.
Boulder Creek Stone and Brick
BTI Tile & Stone
BVH Gregg Inc.

C
CamTech Industries Inc.
Casa Italia/Quick Stone
Casta Tile & Stone
C-Cure
Color Marble
Colorado Stone Planking
Custom Building Products

D-E
Dal-Tile Corp.
Echeguren Slate
Emser Tile & Natural Stone
Executive Stone Trading

F
FBR-Travertine Marble & Tile
Felker/Target
FILA Industria Chimica S.P.A.
Florida Tile Industries Inc.
Florim USA

G
Garden Stone by Surface Concepts
GBI Tile & Stone Inc.
Gemini Saw Co. Inc.
Glaze 'N Seal
Gramar Stone Center

I-J
Import Stone Inc.
International Masonry Institute
Intertile Natural Stone Surfaces
Jungsun Marble Co.

K-L
Karl Dahm
Laser Products Industries Inc
Laticrete International Inc.

M
Mapei Corp.
Marble World
Marmi Mecca S.P.A.
Marmol Export USA
M-D Building Products
Medimer Marble & Granite
Midwest Padding LLC
Miracle Sealants Co.
MK Diamond Products Inc.

N-R
The Noble Co.
Old World Stone Imports LLC
Pearl Abrasive Co.
Rubi Tools USA Inc.

S
Sawmaster Diamond Tools Inc.
Schluter Systems
Southern Grouts & Mortars
STONE & STYLE
Stone Business
Stone Care International
Stone Mart
Stone World
Stonemar Stone and Marble LLC
StoneTech Professional Inc.
Stoneworks of Art

T
TEC Specialty Products Inc .
Tekmar Mermer Ve Maden
Travertine Imports Corp.
Tureks/Marble Systems
Turmar

V-Z
Vytek
Waterjet Wonders Ltd.
World Wide Stone Corp.