WESTERN EUROPE

On October 23, Tarkett was presented withthe 2012 CODIR Award, in the “Entrepren-eurial and Innovative” category. The cere-mony to award this brand new prize,organized by the RH&M Group in France,the first interactive gathering of thehuman resources world, took place underthe high patronage of Michel Sapin,French Minister of Labor, Employment,Vocational Training and Social Dialogue

and in the presence of Laurence Parisot,President of MEDEF (movement of Frenchbusinesses). This trophy rewards theentrepreneurial dynamic and the innova-tive culture of the Tarkett Group, whichachieved a turnover of 2.3 billion euros(proforma including Tandus) in 2011,including 90 percent revenue from abroadand 30 percent revenue from products lessthan two years old.

The Executive Committee has successfullydeveloped a strong culture capable of fed-erating this aggregation of SMEs around acorporate project, cemented by a strategicvision and shared values.

Tarkett was also honored with this tro-phy because of its ambitious innovationstrategy in the field of sustainable devel-opment that utilizes a “Cradle to Cradle”(circular economy) approach. �

Tarkett receives Entrepreneurship and Innovation CODIRAward from the RH&M Group

A part of Tarkett's Executive Committee in the company of Laurence Parisot and the event organizers.

Laurence Parisot presents the CODIR trophy to Michel Giannuzzi.

As a worldwide leader in flooring and sports surfaces solutions,Tarkett is set to build a strong global brand. To support thisambition, the new Tarkett Group website www.tarkett.com isnow online, dedicated to corporate information and news.

Targeting our key global partners (customers, journalists,

potential employees, etc.), it covers the following topics:• Tarkett’s identity, through its strategy, innovation, history

and worldwide presence,• our expertise in integrated flooring solutions by application

(Healthcare, Housing, etc), and a number of case studies

A new Tarkett corporate website for a strong global brand

by

page 1

NOVEMBER2012

11

T A R K E T T G R O U P M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

by

page 2

NOVEMBER2012

11

WESTERN EUROPE (cont’d)

showing Tarkett’s excellence,• our Corporate Sustainability strategy, presenting

Environmental and Social initiatives,• a Career section intended to provide specific details of what

it means to work at Tarkett,• last but not least, a news feed to inform our stakeholders

about Tarkett events, success stories and key milestonesespecially thanks to the articles that you submit to theGroup Communication team for the Experiences newsletter.

From the new www.tarkett.com website, our online visitors willalso have the option to navigate to all country-specific websites, where they will discover our flooring and sports surfaces solutions.

This website is also a first step toward a more harmonizedidentity across Tarkett’s web platforms, intended to improve our users’ online experiences, service to our customers and theimpact of the Tarkett brand. Please explore this new corporatewebsite and spread the news! �

The new home page of the Tarkett website.

A new merchandising concept for flooring retailers The decision to work on a new merchan-dising concept for Tarkett WesternEurope arose from the acknowledgmentthat flooring presentations are oftenunattractive and unhelpful. The decisionwas taken to work on this strategic topicin project mode together with the rele-vant experts: the marketing and salesmanagers of three key pilot markets,with external help from specialized mer-chandising agencies and a central coor-dinator to lead the project. Over andabove the development of new furniture,the objective was to establish a mer-chandising model that would be adapt-able to the different configurationswithin our sales networks.

To determine the pillars of our con-cept, we began by studying the mainplayers at the point of sale: the shopperand the project team. We discoveredthat it is important to create a decora-tive environment: flooring is not a“building material” but a decorative ele-ment for the home. Then they identified

that it is essential to offer guidance onthe main choice criteria: for what roomam I looking for a solution and whatstyle? Hence, what material can I use inthis room? It is also important to offerreassurance both technical (how toinstall, maintain, accessories, etc.) andglobal (guarantees, environment, certifi-cations, etc.). Last but not least, train-ing (both for our sales force and in-storeteams) should be fully integrated intothe deployment of the concept.

All these requirements formed thebasis of the furniture of the shop-in-shop system which was developed as a modular system adaptable to the dif-ferent store sizes and product categoriesto be presented.

To make sure the solution was work-ing, the project team also tested theshop-in-shop system in nine differentsituations (three stores each in Germany,Sweden and France) and came to a jointconclusion: the system works and isliked! We are now making the final

adjustments and preparing a completetraining and methodology booklet. Theconcept should be ready for roll-out in2013. �

The new display units in Sweden.

From the development project to the choice of product.

by

page 3

NOVEMBER2012

11

WESTERN EUROPE (cont’d)

approval. An equestrian themed meal atthe Lille and Paris Vincennes racecourses,a barge trip along the Garonne, circusskills workshops in Toulouse, a tour of theMichelin Museum in Clermont-Ferrand, ajazz themed lunch in a sumptuousStrasbourg château, and a meeting at theLyon rugby stadium were just some of theactivities they enjoyed.

In the words of one of our businessmanagers, “At the end of this type ofevent, we come away feeling proud tobelong to the Tarkett brand”. A real feat ofteam work that should be converted inthe coming month into sales figures! �

The LVT launch in France featuring high impact customer events!Since mid-September, the launch of thenew modular iD Selection 40 and iDInspiration 55-70 ranges has been a majorfocus within the French network.

Tarkett France chose to roll out a wideranging launch plan at national level, andto organize customer evening events inprestigious, surprising and even offbeatvenues in the regions, bringing togethermore than 550 clients in a celebratoryatmosphere!

A host of opportunities were presentedto bring our customers together for apresentation of this new range, to whichthey unanimously gave their seal of

LVT range display unit at the Strasbourg launch.

Guests at the equestrian themed meal.

First annual seminar bringing together Tarkett Academymanagers and trainersFrom October 29 to November 2, 2012,the TEC (Tarkett Expertise Center) playedhost to a number of Tarkett Academy’stechnical experts and managers from across the globe. Gary Eggers (TA Australia), Srdjan Kirtic (TA Serbia),Tomasz Waczynski (TA Poland), Victor Zhebrakov and Nikolay Yakubchik (TA Russia), Richard Schmidt(Johnsonite US) and Mats Söderbom(PVC HO expert, Sweden) all made thetrip in order to share knowledge andcapitalize on installation methods andteaching resources.

The aim of this week was to agree ona common discourse (methodology,technical aspects, Tarkett recommenda-tions, etc.) and to harmonize training

media so that the same services can bedelivered within all the TarkettAcademies.

The group worked on the principaltraining modules offered by Tarkett:preparation of the medium, installationand welding of PVC floorcoverings andlinoleum, together with the TarkettShower Concept. At the end of the week,participants were provided with the pre-sentations for the various training mod-ules (theory training material) alongwith a summary of the technical specifi-cations validated by the group.

By and large, all participants wentaway equipped with new techniques,new tips and above all contacts to shareideas with. �

Demonstration of the bathroom installation technique.

Participants pay close attention to the training.

by

page 4

NOVEMBER2012

11

Paris Design WeekendIn early October, 66 architects fromDenmark, Finland, Norway and Swedenmet in Paris for a design event featur-ing design presentations and knowl-edge sharing workshops involvingdifferent aspects of flooring functions.

The Tarkett Studio in Aubervilliers isa great source of inspiration and infor-mation about the world of flooring, atrue meeting place for people inter-ested in flooring from all around theworld. As such it is the perfect place toinvite Nordic architects to.

The famous and colorful Frenchdesigner Matali Crasset made a highlyinspirational speech on her designwork. In particular, the architectsenjoyed hearing about her work inTunisia where she has designed adesert hotel in cooperation withNomadic groups.

Béatrice Mange, VP Design TarkettWestern Europe, gave a presentation onhow Tarkett works when developing

new collections and how her team han-dles issues of taste and preference indifferent parts of the world. Togetherwith Anna Bernagozzi and PatrickRenault from the French Design SchoolENSAD, she talked about the Tarkett-ENSAD cooperation. The workshopswhere all the architects participated insmaller groups located around theshowroom were much appreciated.Here, they found out what sports floor-ings to use for different purposes, howto do advanced design installationsusing vinyl or wood and what Tarkett’sforthcoming Lino collection will looklike color-wise.

Many of the experts from TarkettNordic reported on the latest newswithin their areas. Jörgen Baden fromthe technical team educated us – withthe help of a decibel-meter and someLego-toys scattered around the floor –about how loud noise levels can be ina school. He also demonstrated the

rolling resistance of different flooringmaterials by inviting an architect topull a cart with him on top. AnnikaHolman, the LCC (Life Cycle Cost)expert at Tarkett Nordic, showed howdry buffing works and how to do a LCCcalculation. And Dag Duberg gave aninteresting workshop on tactile floor-ing and how to design flooring solu-tions for visually impaired people.Here, the architects themselves wereable to perform practical tests for abetter understanding of the issue.

However, business was also com-bined with pleasure.

Enjoy Paris on a bike! This is whatthe Nordic team did – in total 90 peo-ple – accompanied by professionalParisian guides. Paris Design Weekendwas very interesting and great fun,according to feedback from the archi-tects. They find the flooring world isfascinating with lots of areas still to bediscovered. �

Demonstration of flooring layouts designed to guide unsighted people. Demonstration of acoustic performance and rolling resistance.

WESTERN EUROPE (cont’d)

by

page 5

NOVEMBER2012

11

EASTERN EUROPE

Creative floor: Tarkett Eastern Europe shows new LVTArt Vinyl New Age collection

The New Age collection incorporatesa wide range of designs (12 wooddesigns in plank format and five stonedesigns in tile format), which make itpossible to create specific zoneswithin the space, combining differenttypes of flooring coverage and creatingoriginal interiors.

New Age has the ECO certificate – ECO certificate of the RussianEcological Union; Vitality Lief is a partof The Global Ecolabelling Network –guaranteeing that Art Vinyl New Age iseco-friendly, protecting both humanhealth and the environment. �

During November, Tarkett EasternEurope launched on the Russian marketa new LVT collection for housing andpublic buildings – the Art Vinyl NewAge collection. Art Vinyl New Age com-bines the generosity and elegance ofparquet, the flexibility of linoleum andthe modularity of tiles.

The New Age collection has beencreated especially for those who likecomfortable, modern solutions andappreciate beauty, comfort and cre-ativity. With the modular format ofNew Age it is easy to create an interiorwith individual features.

Ecology is a TREND. “Think ecologically!” Ecology is becoming more and moreimportant. It is a new trend thatTarkett adheres to, both as a leader inenvironmentally responsible manufac-turing and in sustainable product devel-opment.

Tarkett is promoting this ecologytrend in all the countries where theGroup has a presence. This is how ourSlovakian team came to organize a con-test for schools.

The topic was to identify environ-mental issues in or around a schoolbuilding and suggest a solution. If thiswas not possible, contestants wereasked to write a story about theoreticalissues, and propose an innovation in

the education process to make it moreecological or create a better environ-ment for students (e.g., using tabletsinstead of paper notebooks and books).

The project needed to be createdonly by students. Their teacher couldbe involved as a coordinator, coach andtutor and any elementary school withinSlovakia – public or private – could jointhe initiative.

The contest begun on June 1 andlasted for a month. Fifty applicationswere received from all around Slovakiaand for each region (East, Central andWest). A winner was chosen to receivea prize – 2,152.8 sq ft of linoleumfloor for their school. �

by

page 6

NOVEMBER2012

11

The Tandus Flooring Novo Collection.

The Novo Collection took home the topspot in the newly introduced Carpetingcategory at this year’s NightingaleAwards. Contract magazine’s NightingaleAwards honor the best in excellence andinnovation in healthcare product design.The products are judged by a panel ofhealthcare facilities executives and inte-rior designers on several criteria: contri-bution to the healthcare environment,functionality, quality/durability, aesthet-ics/style and environmental sustainability.

Novo, a broadloom collection, con-sists of five rich designs and an inspir-ing palette in an innovative, tip-shearfinish. The Dynex SD nylon provides asilky sheen and vibrant color withoutcompromise to performance while thedense, tip-shear construction delivers awarm, elegant aesthetic with enhancedergonomics and ease of mobility.

A range of motifs, scales and colorsaccommodate spaces for corridors, lob-bies, physical therapy and dining.

For Terry Mowers, Chief CreativeOfficer of Tandus Flooring, the NovoCollection delivers both beauty and per-formance. Using the solution-dyed Dynexfiber, these styles reap the benefits ofsolution-dyed nylon with long life, col-orfastness and cleanability, all perfectattributes for the healthcare market.

The styles include a range in motifs,all steeped in heritage and nostalgia.Complex lattice, classic Oriental patternsand soft geometrics borrow the charm of an elegant manor, while being rein-terpreted for today’s healthcare environ-ments. Stunning saturated multi-colorsinclude lavender, wood-toned olive,berry, bronze-infused mango and hintsof copper and turquoise. Novo carries

our lifetime guarantee, which includes32 percent recycled content, meets CRI Green Label Plus and contributes to LEED points. Introduced at this year’sNeoCon, the Novo Collection is nowavailable. �

Tandus Flooring Novo Collection wins Gold NightingaleAward in the USA

Tarkett FiberFloor is certified asthma & allergy friendlyExperts estimate that Americans spend as much as 93 percentof their time indoors and according to the EPA (EnvironmentalProtection Agency), the level of exposure to chemicals indoorscan be five times greater than outdoors. Poor Indoor AirQuality (IAQ) is considered a leading contributor to asthmaand allergies.

More than 60 million people in the United States, nearly onein five Americans, are affected by asthma and allergies. Thenumber has doubled in the past 30 years and continues togrow. Tarkett’s FiberFloor can offer a more suitable flooringchoice for those with sensitivities because FiberFloor is nowcertified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and AllergyFoundation of America (AAFA) for loose-lay and glue-downapplications – currently the only one in the flooring industry!The certification approves both the product and the mainte-nance method, as cleaning methods can also contribute toasthma and allergy irritations. Tarkett FiberFloor is recom-mended to be cleaned with a neutral cleaner, ensuring thatboth the flooring and its cleaning method are safe for peoplewith asthma and allergies.

During the floor certification process, products are sub-jected to both physical and chemical tests in independentlaboratories to ensure that they do not contain propertieslikely to irritate asthma and allergy symptoms in susceptiblepeople; these include low capacity for allergen retention,VOCs off gassing, whether or not the recommended cleaningprocedures effectively reduce allergens, together with otherin-depth investigations.

In addition to the asthma & allergy friendly certification,Tarkett FiberFloor is FloorScore certified and adheres to thestrictest IAQ measurement standards, which are measured usingTVOCs. �

The Tarkett FiberFloor banner.

NORTH AMERICA

by

page 7

NOVEMBER2012

11

REST OF THE WORLD

Korean hospitals prefer TarkettTarkett was once again chosen as the preferred flooring solu-tion for two hospitals built this year in South Korea. Thanksto the efforts of Tarkett’s long term distribution partner, BMSKorea LTD (limited company), the hospital management oftwo hospitals in Busan and Dongtan acknowledged the unpar-alleled features and benefits of Tarkett’s iQ Optima flooring.Ease of maintenance and the overall secure investment of aTarkett iQ floor were the key drivers for their decision, alongwith Tarkett’s commitment to the environment.

If we also take account iQ Optima’s 64 color range giving unlimited design possibilities, it is no surprise that an additional 678,126.35 sq ft. of iQ Optima flooring hasbeen installed so far. Korea has the highest number of hospi-tal beds per capita and around 50 million Koreans are coveredby health insurance. Furthermore, Korea has a thriving cos-metic surgery industry that boosts demand for high quality,beautiful flooring. � Installation of the Optima, Standard Plus range.

SPORTS NEWS

FieldTurf has installed its very first artificial turf “Cruyff Court”football pitch in Barcelona, supporting a project that uses sportto improve the quality of life of children with disabilities.FieldTurf has transformed a schoolyard, which was once unusableand even a danger for children’s games, into a sports facility thatguarantees an ultra-safe environment for the children, thanks tolatest generation artificial turf.

The project has put a smile on the faces of the pupils of LaSagrera School, their families and the residents of the Poblenoudistrict of Barcelona, who view FieldTurf and the CruyffFoundation (a non-profit foundation that seeks to promote sportfor children with disabilities and in disadvantaged neighbor-hoods) as an opportunity to enhance their daily lives by encour-aging sporting values, such as responsibility, integration,teamwork and preventing a sedentary lifestyle and child obesity.

Johan Cruyff, the legendary ex-Holland player and former FC Barcelona player and manager, is the founder of the CruyffFoundation and has stated that sport and games should form partof child education and should contribute to children’s develop-ment. The Foundation always opts for FieldTurf, in its quest to

achieve its objective, as FieldTurf pitches are the safest on themarket for children with disabilities. �

FieldTurf artificial turf is helping children with disabilities to enjoy sport

Children with disabilities play and exercise on the new FieldTurf pitch.