Green Step this way!

To Market is all dressed-up and ready to go! Greenbuild 2010.

TO MARKET AT GREENBUILD

To Market has begun to set-up their space at the Greenbuild show in the "Windy City", Chicago. To Market can be located at space #2455. The show starts November 16th and runs to the end of the day on the 18th. We look forward to a great show!

OZOLOC IS GAINING GROUND

Ozoloc is the perfect flooring solutions for so many applications. It can be a quick fix to an existing floor that is less than physically or aesthetically perfect. This was the case with "The Coding Source" in their offices in West LA, California. The Ozoloc custom (two color) installation was installed over the weekend with the assistance of a hydraulic lift on five separate workstations.

OZOLOC GOES TO UNIVERSITY

Across town, at the University of Southern California's John Hubbard Hall, To Market's Ozoloc Granite was used because of the durability and ease of maintenance. During class registration, the hall sees about 400 students per day. The project manager was quoted as saying "I can't believe that floor is holding up so well.” To Market's representative, Russell Walker added "USC is really impressed with the floor because it hasn't had to be buffed". USC found another benefit to Ozoloc when the Hubbard Building flooded about two weeks after it was installed. The Ozoloc tile floor was pulled apart, the sub-floor was repaired and the same Ozoloc tile was re-installed with a repair adhesive.

OZOLOC GOES SHOPPING

In Oakbrook, IL a major department store (that rhymes with lacy) had another reason for using To Market's Ozoloc; mobility. Display areas in today’s department store are continually changing. Ozoloc allows the flooring to move with the display. Unlike, carpet, tile or wood, Ozoloc's patented locking system is able to be installed, taken apart, moved and reinstalled with immediate access to traffic.

A Visit with Phil Wexler Part II

LEED was established in March, 2000, by the U.S. Green Building Council. To Market™ was established in 1998 and now offers a number of products at are eligible and can contribute toward LEED points.

To Market™ was established to bring environmental products to the commercial marketplace. Sustainable design and products that can be recycled are key elements of our responsible approach to what we sell. It’s a different world these days, but we’re still walking on the same planet. The materials we choose can have a big impact on how we live today and how future generations will live tomorrow. To Market™, from the beginning, was committed to ensuring our business and products support a sustainable world. We like the entire manufacturing community, as well as the architects and, designers and end-users were very fortunate The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System® was created. Our vision for To Market™ fell into these guidelines not by accident, but by design, which has further strengthen our brand.

How did you manage to be so ahead of the curve?

There is always a lot of luck in marketing and making the correct decisions in new product direction. I have always advocated to what I call, “UMD,” unique marginal difference, which means differentiating our products, colors, packaging and image from the competition. Products are not price driven, but style driven. Create specs, don’t chase them. That is why we create new and exciting products first and then calculate the selling price later.

Every day you must work on product development and listen to the A&D community who specify your products. New product development always must test the limits of manufacturing by utilizing new technology combined with unique and precise color placement. If you make something that is easy, it won’t work. What has worked for To Market is taking a chance on new designs, textures and colors. And, most importantly, have a great stylist and colorist. I have been fortunate to have Flori Hendron, VP Design and Marketing, work with me for over 25 years. She gets it and transforms our visions into reality.

A Visit with Phil Wexler

To Market's President and CEO, Phil Wexler, is an Icon in the floor covering business. From his creation of Bentley Carpet Mills to present, Phil has managed to attract and inspire talented business professionals around the globe. His associates have a fierce loyalty to him, with some following Phil to each of his new business ventures. We asked Phil if he would mind sharing some of his history as well as his visions for the future of the industry and To Market. We will post excerpt of Phil's interview over the next several weeks.

Part 1

Your notoriety as an entrepreneur in the floor covering business is extensive and three fold; Founder and former President & CEO of Bentley Carpet Mills, Starnet, and now To Market. Which gives you the most satisfaction and why?

All three companies were started from scratch in different time periods. Bentley grew from a few employees in 1979 to over 800 during my tenure and almost $180 million in sales. It was great to build a brand name that was recognized worldwide as an innovator in texture, color, flexibility and service in the commercial carpet business that continues to be a leader in that industry today.

Starnet was started to bring an organization together with flooring contractors nationwide that could take advantage of their expertise in floor covering sales, service, installation and contacts by utilizing the collective strengths of each member company all banded together with a limited number of manufacturing vendors to increase market share and professionalism in the commercial flooring industry. Today, it is bigger than ever and continues growing.

To Market™ was created out of a vision to bring to the commercial marketplace “Alternative Materials for Interior Spaces,” all centered on environmentally friendly and well designed sustainable products manufactured from recycled materials. Creating products and specifications with an environmental story has been great fun and has opened up an entirely new category of sales in a previously untapped market.

Today, all three entities continue to thrive, which is very rewarding because thousands of people and their families earn their incomes and are touched by each company on a daily basis.

“However, what gives me the most satisfaction is when the University of Southern California, where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree, beats U.C.L.A., their cross town rival, in football or any other sport.”

TRIBECA PARK DERMATOLOGY

New York City

"No Blemish on This Floor"

"People love these floors" states New York City
dermatologist, Dr. Adam Geyer.

"My clientele is so impressed with my new flooring.
We must have ten people a day asking about the new floors and wanting to know where they can buy them."

From the day he opened Tribeca Park Dermatology in New York City, Dr. Adam Geyer received nothing but rave reviews about the flooring.

What's behind these accolades?

To Market's Ozoloc Etchings specified by Architect Tom Opera and Interior Designer Darren Andereck of New York City's Opera Design Group.

Commented both, "we were looking for an aesthetically pleasing and modern-looking plank flooring. Etchings, with it's unique metallic finish, fit perfectly within our design."

Due to the high traffic performance rating on Ozoloc Etchings, it was installed throughout Tribeca Park Dermatology including all procedure and exam areas. This kept the design open and continuous.

Ozoloc features an environmentally friendly, adhesive free, patented and innovative connecting technology. Designed for high traffic areas in commercial or residential interiors, Ozoloc can be installed directly over most existing flooring with no floor prep, as a floating and glue-less locking tile flooring system. It is a durable, flexible and performance driven solid surface flooring.

"Style that stole the show" That's how To Market's Lynn Rinehart explained Jules Wilson's, of Jules Wilson Interior Design, decision to go with To Market's Atmosphere Structure. The project was the Fitness Center at the Breeza Luxury Condominiums in San Diego, CA. "It's more interesting than just specks" Rinehart went on "and Atmosphere has no rubber smell, which can be found in some of our competitors products." To add further interest to the floor, Jules Wilson use two colors, Alabaster and Elemental Grey at the harbor view, Breeza Condo.

Working with Design Arc Neiman Studios, To Market's Russell Walker was able to score a 9000 sq ft specification at the California State University Dominguez Hills Library, in Los Angeles, CA.
The specification combined two colors of Ozoloc Granite; 71180 and 71181, along with Dakota Plank color 71166.

"This was a difficult project", Russell said, "because the project was a retrofit of the old library space, which was the entrance to the new $50m library and from conception to completion we had only 4 months." Russell went on to say that "the spec was hard to hold on to but Phil (Wexler) was able to airfreight about 1,500 sq ft of material in to make the project work"

To Market's OZOLOC Etchings was awarded ADEX Silver Award, only to be out done by To Market's OZOLOC's "Patented Locking Floor System", which received the Platinum Award! Too bad we didn't enter Concrete, Granite or Index. We may have won the trifecta!

ADEX (Award for Design Excellence) has awarded To Market's OZOLOC Etchings it's silver award in the floor covering catagory.

TEKNOFLOR 12 Year Warranty Change

The Teknoflor Warranty has changed to a 12 Year Commercial Warranty for the following collections; Natural, Oak, Maple, Granite & Fireside Collections

OZOLOC & GREEN LODGING NEWS

Do you know that To Market advertises OZOLOC on the Green Lodging News Website? Check-out the banner on the lower left portion of the page. While you're at it check out the site. If you want to know what is going on in the hospitality market, as it pertains to GREEN DESIGN, you must check this site out. A wealth of great information.

WELCOME!

Welcome to the To Market Eco-Blog. Keeping you posted and up-to-date on what's happening in the world of "Alternative Materials for Interior Spaces" is our intent. We invite you to check in with the Eco-Blog every time you visit the To Market website to be informed and entertained.
Stay Green My Friend!