The GOLD winners are announced.
The category winners for 2021
CATEGORY 1 • CARPETS, NATURAL
No Bother Sisal by Alternative Flooring
Woodland Heather Twist by Cormar Carpets
Durham Tweed by Hugh Mackay • GOLD WINNER •
Royal Velvet by Victoria Carpets
CATEGORY 2 • CARPETS, MAN-MADE
Stainfree Wilton Collection by Abingdon Flooring
Anywhere by Alternative Flooring • GOLD WINNER •
Marble Fusion by Balta
Elegance by Furlong Flooring
CATEGORY 3 • SMOOTHS
Carbontex by Avenue Floors
Ocean+ Collection by BerryAlloc • GOLD WINNER •
Hurst Herringbone by Harvey Maria
Kährs Life by Kährs
CATEGORY 4 • DESIGN, CARPETS
Wool Enigma by Crucial Trading • GOLD WINNER •
Grand Designs by Fells Carpets
Galaxy by ITC Natural Luxury Flooring
• GOLD WINNER (Editor's Choice)
•
Natura by Ulster Carpets
CATEGORY 5 • DESIGN, SMOOTHS
Invictus LVT by Associated Weavers
Northmore Collection by Harvey Maria
Vitality by Leoline
LayRed Woods by Moduleo
CATEGORY 6 • UNDERLAY + ACCESSORIES
Feel The Difference by Floorwise
renu by Interfloor • GOLD WINNER •
Q-Range DUO by Quantum Flooring Supplies
CATEGORY 7 • INSTALLATION PRODUCTS
ECO FusionBac by Associated Weavers • GOLD WINNER •
Flowing K Screed by CPG Flowcrete
Stopgap Micro Rapid by F. Ball and Co. Ltd
F596 Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive by Floorwise
UZIN NC 151 Smoothing Compound by Uzin
CATEGORY 8 • ENVIRONMENTAL
Recycled PP Backing by Balta
PP Carpet Recycling by Innovate Recycle Limited
Ezy-Warm Underfloor Heating System by Iobac
• GOLD WINNER •
CATEGORY 9 • MARKETING
Colour Tin & Creations by Cavalier • GOLD WINNER •
Modular POS Displays by Furlong Flooring
New Brand Concepts by Kellars
Carpet Cake Stand by Victoria Carpets
CATEGORY 10 • TECHNOLOGY
Carmen Companion by Computers for Flooring
Virtual Site Visits by F. Ball & Co Ltd • GOLD WINNER •
CFJ Live by Kick-Start Publishing
Digital Printing Technology by i4F Patents & Technologies
Follow the winners on social media
Snapshots of the winners
(More details in the October issue of The Stocklists - out October 27)
WINNERS • CATEGORY: NATURAL CARPETS
- No Bother Sisal by Alternative Flooring
What’s different about No Bother Sisal carpets? On the top, it’s the same as Alternative’s other sisal carpets. But underneath, the backing, it's not latex - so these sisals can be traditionally fitted. Ideal as bedroom carpet, lounge carpet or fitted on stairs. The two designs are Sisal Boucle and Sisal Super Boucle in a total of eight natural shades that bring out the characterful texture of this natural fibre.
- Woodland Heather Twist by Cormar Carpets
Woodland Heather Twist from Cormar Carpets is set to become a modern classic. This is an 80% pure new wool carpet launched for Spring/Summer 2021 and available in a palette of 14 beautiful shades, including earthy neutrals and on-trend grey tones such as Pine Nut, Charcoal and Silver Fox. It is tufted on tenth gauge machinery to create a fine and elegant, dense pile finish.
- Durham Tweed by Hugh Mackay
• GOLD WINNER •
Durham Tweed has been created through the love of colour and the firm’s designers say that having seen a beautiful blue tweed jacket, its team were inspired by the blend of stunning shades that went into making that jacket appear ‘blue’. This one encounter has inspired a full range of quality wool carpets which take that very essence and add a little magic to it.
- Royal Velvet by Victoria Carpets
Velvet ranges have been in Victoria Carpets history for 125 years – most recently for Kate & William’s wedding. Over the last 12 months Victoria have been working on Royal Velvet. This 100% wool offer based on Royal Victoria is available in 20 timeless shades and care is taken to get the look, feel and colours, on point for today’s new velvet consumers who want to add that quintessential finesse to their home.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: MAN-MADE CARPETS
- Stainfree Wilton Collection by Abingdon Flooring
Pattern is making a strong and welcome return to home interiors, so Abingdon is inviting retailers to embrace its reappearance so they are ready to capitalise on the style’s strong performance. The Stainfree Wilton Collection is divided between florals, tartans, checks and hessian effects and the collection uses a palette of elegant blues, greys and naturals perfectly in balance with today’s schemes.
- Anywhere by Alternative Flooring
• GOLD WINNER •
Anywhere is an original and ingenious indoor-outdoor carpet collection with the visual texture of sisal but with the fit-anywhere performance of easy-clean polypropylene construction. The collection is available in five textured patterns in classic and contemporary natural shades with 23 choices. There is a range of Anywhere borders making this range ideal for bespoke rugs too.
- Marble Fusion by Balta
With its subtle pattern, Marble Fusion offers character in the form of a stunning marble look which is both classic and timeless, thanks to its contemporary colour palette. Using i-tuft technology to create impressively large pattern designs, these high-performance carpets have a dense, high and low-loop structure and plays with the combination of shiny and matt yarns in solution-dyed polyamide.
- Elegance by Furlong Flooring
Elegance is already a strong best-seller for Furlong but has been re-introduced with a set of substantially enhanced features. it now has 180,000 tufts per square metre, up 20,000, to offer a pinpoint finish and is 3oz heavier for better performance. The range also now features Furlong’s Combi-bac backing for fitter-friendly, scuff-free installation and which also eradicates the risk of carpet separating from its backing.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: SMOOTHS
- Carbontex by Avenue Floors
Carbontex’s stylish wood and stone designs are a great choice for homes looking for a fast and easy fit. Carbontex is the latest Avenue cushion vinyl collection to benefit from Luxatex, a textile-backing that is ideal for quick refurbishment projects and instant room makeovers. Capable of being installed over existing wood, laminate and ceramic floors without glue, it is stylish and supremely comfortable.
- Ocean+ Collection by BerryAlloc
• GOLD WINNER •
BerryAlloc is an original pioneer of 100% water-resistant laminate floors – and now Ocean+ is the company’s latest range to take advantage of this technology, bringing a laminate floor that’s completely safe for bathrooms and kitchens, on top of general household use. A hydrophobic coating repels water from joints and is combined with airtight locking systems to make Ocean+ completely water-resistant.
- Hurst Herringbone by Harvey Maria
Hurst Herringbone is a new authentic wood effect LVT collection of petite planks, designed to be laid in a stylish herringbone pattern. Featuring ultra-realistic wood grain textures, these tactile luxury vinyl floor tiles look and feel like real wood, but are hugely practical, durable and sustainable. They have also been recognised for their low environmental impact including the Eurofins Indoor Air Quality Gold Standard.
- Kährs Life by Kährs
Kährs launched Kährs Life this year as a new type of wooden floor with more durable properties at an attractive price-point. Combining the best of both worlds – the authentic look of a wooden floor with properties close to vinyl flooring – Kährs Life bridges the gap between wood and vinyl, perfectly balancing naturally beautiful aesthetics and performance.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: DESIGN, CARPETS
- Wool Enigma by Crucial Trading
• GOLD WINNER •
Crucial’s distinctive Wool Enigma range is about “creating curiosity” with an impressive floorcovering which immediately catches the eye with its unique pattern and two-tone design. This new wool collection is available in nine colour options, from the subtle tones of Spellbound and Desert Island to the drama of Enchanted Forest and the intensity of Eternal Flame.
- Grand Designs by Fells Carpets
A luxurious wilton carpet, new Grand Designs has a 1 million point construction in heat-set polypropylene to create a fine velvet that is the height of opulence – a style enhanced by the distinctive snake skin and leopard designs launched in conjunction with some traditional favourites including plaids and small geometrics.
- Galaxy from ITC Natural Luxury Flooring
• GOLD WINNER • EDITOR'S CHOICE
Galaxy is a hand-woven and hand-sheared carpet in type 6 nylon with a lovely soft silk-like feel. The antiqued look and fine lustred effect in conjunction with a carefully chosen palette of fashionable colours delights interior designers, reflecting pure luxury alongside the practicality and benefits of utilising a very durable fibre.
- Natura from Ulster Carpets
Ulster has curated the Natura collection to present a set of designs that magnify the beauty of nature by focusing on the intimate detail of the world around us – a perfect balance between impactful aesthetics and subtle beauty. The concept is carried through into the 24 colourways available – balancing the strongest earth hues with the hushed tones of nature.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: DESIGN, SMOOTHS
- Invictus from Associated Weavers
The Invictus LVT collection was launched to great acclaim and additional design effort is delivering fashionable new options including three stone designs – Pure Marble, Hudson Stone, Bergamo – as well as Royal Oak, an eye-catching parquet to add even more breadth to this agenda-setting, high performance range.
- Northmore Collection from Harvey Maria
• GOLD WINNER •
19th century encaustic floor tiles form the inspiration behind Northmore - a new and best-selling LVT collection - that blends unique decorative pattern, heritage colour pigment and authentic patina. Harvey Maria has reinterpreted these stylish and prestigious Victorian floor tiles to create a collection that stands up to the demands of modern home life.
- Vitality from Leoline
Using technology developed for LVT, Vitality delivers an authentic natural look that’s not been seen before on sheet vinyl flooring. The floor uses an original texture and stunning optical clarity to deliver a range of wood and concrete effects that provide homeowners with a premium look and the practicality of sheet vinyl. In 14 designs, Vitality has all the hallmarks of a floor that offers premium looks and great performance.
- LayRed Woods from Moduleo
This remarkable collection comprises 40 unique, nature-inspired wood decors, designed in line with growing consumer desire for more natural styles and comprises elegant, outspoken and vibrant patterns from light to dark shades. Moduleo LayRed has already received a Red Dot Design Innovation Award for outstanding design quality and a and a German Design Award for innovation.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: UNDERLAY & ACCESSORIES
- Feel The Difference by Floorwise
Elegance, from the Feel the Difference underlay collection by floorwise, is a premium recycled PU underlay that has the ability to outperform other underlays, while remaining light weight, easy to handle and completely recyclable. The recycled PU construction offers advantages over recycled felt underlays, offering more robust, long-term performance with the sumptuous underfoot feel that is increasingly being demanded by homeowners.
- renu by Interfloor
• GOLD WINNER •
A truly innovative underlay, renu is made from 98% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life. It is the most ethically sourced and recyclable carpet underlay Interfloor has manufactured. All materials in the manufacturing process have been considered down to the recycled paper backing and the carbon negative bio-based film used to complete the underlay plus in the packaging.
- Q-Range DUO by Quantum Flooring
Q-Range DUO is the most innovative stair nosing by Quantum to date, which marks a new evolution in stair nosing specification. Q-Range DUO measures 55 by 55mm for both the tread and the riser in 25 solid colours. Like all of Quantum’s Q-Range stair nosings Q-Range DUO has an all-over tread design to reduce the risk of slips on stairways.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: INSTALLATION PRODUCTS
- ECO FusionBac from Associated Weavers
• GOLD WINNER •
ECO FusionBac is a unique premium carpet backing. It is made by fusing together a fleece layer and a woven polypropylene backing. ECO FusionBac carpet backing combines advantages of these materials: it is strong and stable as well as soft and insulating. This backing makes carpet easy to install, improves its heat and noise insulation and makes it last longer. ECO FusionBac is suitable for all installation methods including stretch fit.
- Flowing K Screed from CPG Flowcrete
Flowing K Screed from Flowcrete is a new flowing cementitious screed that delivers
the fastest drying time, high strength and versatility. Using the latest cementitious technology, Isocrete Flowing K Screed can be used with a range of subfloor systems, such as underfloor heating and acoustic insulation,whilst maintaining a lower thickness profile compared to a standard screed build up.
- Stopgap Micro Rapid from F. Ball and Co. Ltd
Using the latest advancements in cement technology, F. Ball has created a new ultra-smooth, flexible, rapid-drying floor finishing compound for creating a flawlessly smooth subfloor finish. It is walk-on hard and ready to receive new floorcoverings from just 20 minutes after application. The water-mix product is suitable for use in biologically sensitive areas and its beige colour allows for easier marking out.
- F596 Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive from Floorwise
The newly formulated F596 spray adhesive is a heavy duty product for fixing a wide variety of floorcoverings to almost any subfloor with excellent bond strength and super quick drying – and it’s free of chlorinated solvents and is non-carcinogenic. Fitters also find the handy can ideal for detail fixing work with trims, profiles and edges.
- UZIN NC 151 Smoothing Compound from Uzin
UZIN NC 151 is a heavy duty, cement based smoothing compound which dries quickly, reliably and consistently. It is ready to receive most floor coverings after only 6 hours whether applied on an absorbent or non-absorbent surface. It has great strength, excellent flow and is easy to spread, producing an exceptional finish ideal for all floor coverings such as vinyl, lino and luxury vinyl tiles.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL
- Pure Loop by Balta
Production waste is a big challenge for maufacturers so Balta set out to find new uses for waste materials. Pure Loop is the result of that research: a machine that turns polypropylene waste from its manufacturing sites into backing for automotive and exhibition carpet and an extra backing for broadloom carpet. It recycles some 1.500 tonnes of polypropylene every year, processing a single bale in just 10 minutes.
- PP carpet recycling by Innovate Recycle Limited
Innovate Recycle’s mission is to transform the way in which the UK utilises post-consumer and industrial carpet. The company’s first recycling line is under development in Northamptonshire and is chemical and emission free. It will recycle 15,000 tonnes of polypropylene carpet per annum to produce a polypropylene pellet for use in a wide range of industries. The bi-product of calcium carbonate powder will be used to replace virgin mineral in concrete production.
- Ezy-Warm Underfloor Heating System by Iobac
• GOLD WINNER •
Ezy-Warm is an incredibly simple and efficient underfloor heating system with one of the thinnest profiles available. Natural radiant heat technology produces super-efficient uniform heating versus conventional gas radiators or electric heaters, enabling the homeowner to significantly reduce energy costs and power their heating with renewable energy, for example, from solar panels.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: MARKETING
- Colour Tin & Creations from Cavalier Carpets
• GOLD WINNER •
Cavalier has developed its ‘Colour Tin’ system, holding yarn in stock for fast-track custom woven axminster carpets for retailers who need to respond to rapid turnaround requirements from customers. The concept runs alongside the Creations collection of eight in-stock 'off the peg' axminster designs based on the Colour Tin yarn system. Muted tones and highlights that are designed to co-ordinate with fabrics and other finishes.
- Modular POS Displays from Furlong Flooring
Furlong Flooring has developed new innovative POS display stands which can exhibit a mixture of products together, specially designed for those retailers who like to display a mixture of hard flooring and carpet or vinyl together. The modern, eye-catching stands are adaptable and can be ordered as a small standalone unit or a larger graphic unit, creating a perfect display stand for any size store.
- New brand concepts from Kellars
Kellars Flooring has undertaken a major re-branding programme, developed in-house by its marketing/design team, to develop the company’s range of own branded products Each brand is a different distinctive creative concept and has been created in a unique style of product promotion and advertising including the dramatic Centicus carpet collection, classical Forma laminates and elegant Allora SPC products.
- Carpet Cake Stand from Victoria Carpets
Victoria Carpets set out to celebrate their 125th anniversary with cake, of course, and created an imaginative Carpet Cake Stand. This exclusive walk-around concept has been designed to create a showroom centrepiece without dominating the retail space and carries curved, bespoke sampling and folders for the company’s best-selling EasiCare ranges – First Impressions, Ultimate Impressions and the Heartland collection.
WINNERS • CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY
- Carmen Companion from Computers for Flooring
The Carman Companion App is a revolution for the flooring sector and sets out to connect retailers, fitters and estimators, allowing you to stay in control of your business whilst on the go. Carman Companion can manage stock, deliveries, sales, and fitting staff – all from your handheld device. App users can also monitor sales data, product lines, profit as well as taking pictures and managing the diary dynamically.
- Virtual Site Visits from F. Ball & Co
• GOLD WINNER •
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, F. Ball introduced virtual site visits, allowing flooring contractors to receive on-the-spot site assessments and answers to their technical questions via video calls with the company’s technical service officers using mobile and tablet apps. The popularity of the virtual site visits has led the company to make them an ongoing option.
- CFJ Live from Kick-Start Publishing
The CFJLIVE Online Flooring Expo in July 2021 was the first UK online flooring exhibition. Exhibitors were able to broadcast live feeds from their showrooms, training centres, demo areas and pop-up stands in offices plus share video, apps or powerpoints. Visitors interacted by going live to ask questions and the main stage included 5 hours of live demonstrations and technical help.
- Digital printing Technology from i4F Patents & Technologies
i4F sets industry standards with cutting-edge digital printing technologies enabling flooring manufacturers to create unique designs, achieve superior optical quality and avoid unnecessary inventory on pre-printed materials. i4F licenses the world’s most advanced digital printing technologies delivering results so close to the real thing it’s almost impossible to tell the difference.
