Consumer blog

Children cooking during lockdown

April 16, 2020

Like many, we have got our children cooking one meal a week each during lockdown. Bearing in mind they are 23 and 20 and both at university, one may be forgiven for thinking (or hoping) that they had learnt some cooking skills. Clearly not! All I can say is that it is like being a […]

What does our home say about us?

April 7, 2020

Let’s be honest - we aren’t faced with a lot of decisions in our daily lives at the moment (apart from ‘what shall I do today? and ‘what time is wine o’clock?’). Furthermore, many of us are working from home, at kitchen tables, in box rooms, garden sheds etc. Meetings, however, are still going ahead […]

Reasons to be cheerful

April 1, 2020

In unsettling times, we must look on the bright side, be optimistic and thankful. Here, for a start, are my ’10 reasons to be cheerful’: It has stopped raining – and we are in British summer time Brexit seems a thing of the past On that note, no one is asking Nigel Farage for his […]

New research shows you can breathe easy with wool and carpets

March 6, 2020

Carpet is the UK’s favourite floorcovering, but one stigma, and total misconception remains, namely that carpet is not good for indoor air quality and is a breeding ground for dust mites and can aggravate asthma. It is nonsense – we have the research to prove it (please look under Carpet Concerns on our site). Now, […]

A logo you can trust

February 5, 2020

Everyone will have their own recollection or anecdotes of that age-old phenomenon - the cowboy. As consumers, we are often drawn to professional bodies and logos in the all too often misguided view that a certain logo or membership of a trade association is a badge of merit. However, a membership of thousands may sound […]

Support your High Street

January 30, 2020

Last year was the worst on record for retailers. The latest big name to ‘go’ was Beales, one of the UK’s oldest family owned department stores. One could be forgiven for thinking that the high street is on its way to the morgue. Damn the downbeat statistics! There is plenty still to celebrate on the […]

Blue is the colour

January 23, 2020

Got the January blues? You are right on trend! Classic Blue is Pantone’s colour of the year for 2020. Shades of blue are a richer alternative to greys, yet easy to live with. According to Pantone, this year’s shade ‘brings a sense of peace and tranqulity to the human spirit, offering refuge’. We agree. Look […]

Which? Magazine rates independent carpet retailers the best

January 20, 2020

We have long known it, but now it’s official - independent retailers are the best place to buy carpet. In a ringing endorsement, a survey of 2,100 carpet purchasers by consumer champion Which? magazine, published in December 2019, saw independent retailers top the table. They got a full 5 stars for customer service, product quality […]

Index of Quality Names

July 4, 2017

For years, the industry had an unofficial ‘IQN’. Manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers would register names of new products to avoid clashes. The Carpet Foundation used to administer it for the ‘general good’ of the industry. It has been suggested that we reintroduce it. Is this something that you would like to see us do/ your […]

New Point of Sale Material

New point of sale material is being produced for our retail members. We know from the calls that we receive that our retail partners like Point of Sale. It is our most frequently asked question in the office! In the next few weeks we will be sending all our retail members new point of sale. […]