Successful tile contractors, distributors and retailers come to Surfaces for a number of reasons. Many want to walk the show floor, checking out the latest tile products and technologies, while enriching their own education on the industry. To this end, Surfaces aims to provide a wealth of business opportunities for those in the industry.

According to Michelle Troop, Surfaces senior show director, tile professionals will have the chance to enrich their knowledge at the Surfaces Conference Program, which offers 42 courses in six tracks – Business, Installation, Marketing, Sales, Design and Window Coverings. “These sessions are designed to provide strategic information that attendees can take away and apply to their jobs right away.” she says.

On the installation side of the coin, Surfaces will also present seven, one-hour installation demonstrations during the run of the show, Feb. 1-3. Expert installers will address the installation of hardwood, resilient, ceramic, stone. carpet and self-leveling compounds. The Installation Showcase, which is sponsored by Laticrete, is produced in conjunction with the World Floor Covering Association, the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Assoc., Floor Covering Installer and National Floor Trends magazines.

Editors and columnists of BNP Media’s TILE, NFT and FCI magazines will be among the presenters slated to speak at the Conference Program, which is sponsored by Mannington. Before the start of the show, Jan. 31, NFT columnists Janet Carter and Dave Gobis will present workshops (“Making the 5th Wall an Important Feature” and “Ceramic Tile: Meeting the Consumer Demand,” respectively). During the first day of the show, Feb. 1, TILE columnist Patti Fasan will speak about “Trends in Ceramic Tile,” 8 to 9:30 a.m. On the same day, Al Stewart, editor of NFT, will moderate a retailer panel called “Retailers’ Most Valuable B2B Practices,” 4 to 5:30 p.m. On the final day of the show, Feb. 3, TILE editor John Moore, FCI columnist Jon Namba, Mickey Moore of NOFMA, and Paul Micalizzi of TCNA will present “Common Causes of Installation Failures.”

For further information, phone (800) 547-3477 or visit www.surfaces.com.