As industry across Australia emerges from what can only be called a tumultuous year, the need for the flooring industry to employ apprentices is more important than ever. With the Australian Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements Scheme now in effect, employing apprentices has never been more cost effective in keeping businesses [...]

That depends on your insurance policy. They are not all the same and provide different covers in the same way that floor coverings have different qualities. Article by Ian Jones. Retail Flooring businesses have similar requirements and needs for insurance as other retail style businesses. There may, however, be aspects [...]

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need to better understand and address our supply chain issues and opportunities. The Australian Made Campaign Ltd (AMCL) is calling on all Australians to ‘Buy Australian Now and Support Aussie Jobs’ and the Morrison Government has announced the launch of a new era of [...]

The flooring market has, for decades, presented a parallel reflection of the lifestyles and decor of urban and rural communities across Australia. Those who get all teary eyed about the past often forget that the so called simple life, more often than not, usually just meant fewer choices. In post [...]

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) Victorian employers must take every reasonable step to protect workers from risks to both their physical and mental health, including those risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).This includes ensuring workplaces have appropriate systems and processes in place for the safety of [...]

Apart from a short stint selling shirts, Bob Fletcher has spent his entire working life in the flooring industry. Early next year he turns 76 but remains busy with the family business, Designer Flake. His philosophy now is, “Work smarter, not harder.” Bob Fletcher was born in 1945 in the [...]

Ever since static electricity was recognised as a problem, efforts have been taken to control the risks. Centuries ago, the biggest issues caused by unwanted Electro Static Dischar¬ge (ESD) events was the ignition of gunpowder storage and other explosive or flammable material. As the electronics industry started to grow and [...]

The basis of this article is one that I wrote some time ago; in simpler times. Now more than ever, we need to recognise those things we can control, and those we cannot. In fact, for the benefit of our mental health, the mental health of those around us, and [...]

Welcome to the first Insurance Matters article by FloorInsure. FloorInsure are proud to be involved with Flooring Magazine as their insurance partner by providing relevant and current information about the insurance sector and its effect on the flooring industry with regard to specific insurance trends, products and general information on [...]

Ian Valentine passed away in April this year. He is described by his TAFE teaching mate Ray Cook as ‘A man for Floor Covering and training’ and ‘Good at whatever he set his mind to’ by his son, Peter Valentine. Ian Valentine was born in Preston, Victoria in 1939. He [...]