BMW and Toyota remodel with Wicanders

With the aim of creating a sophisticated atmosphere reflecting the quality and technology of the cars they market, BMW and Toyota, in Germany, have redesigned their showrooms with the new Wicanders® Woodcomfort product line in the attractive “American Walnut” wood visual

  

BMW showroom in Germany

BMW B&K, with offices in 17 different German cities, remodeled its branch in Taunusstein, a wealthy suburb of Frankfurt, with approximately 5000 square feet of the product in its offices, reception area and lounge.

Toyota showroom in Berlin, Germany

At Toyota Weller, with 10 branches throughout Germany, a first stage saw over 5000 square feet installed in the sales offices and bar of its Berlin branch.

In both cases, the excellent technical performance of the HPS surface finish was chosen for maximum resistance to wear. 

The new Wicanders® Woodcomfort product lines offer an immense range of decorative, versatile and sophisticated options, providing distinctive and customized atmospheres in accordance with the highest standards of quality and comfort.

 

 

Amorim’s ReCORK America and SOLE Footware to Upcycle Millions of Cork Stoppers

Napa, CA– ReCORK America has added another partner to support its cork recycling program.  SOLE, the manufacturer of premium footbeds, socks and sandals, will use a blend of recycled cork wine bottle closures in its line of 2010 footwear products.

SOLE joins the many restaurants, resorts, organizations, wine retailers, and wineries who help collect and find use for used natural corks.

To read the full article on this new partnership, please follow this link

Remodeling with Wicanders

‘Tis the season for home-improvements….
What better way to “better your home” than to use eco-efficient materials. Misty McNally gives her Best for Remodeling choices in an article published in Natural Home Magazine, including Wicanders Corkcomfort Floating Plank.  Click on the Natural Home Magazine image to access the article which explores a few of the many benefits of cork flooring.

Wicanders Corkcomfort Floating Plank, Traces Spice

 

Aveda Frederic’s Institute chooses Wicanders

Aveda Fredric's Institute

The design of Aveda Fredric’s Institute Indianapolis began and ended with the environment and its inhabitants in mind. The design teams were given the task throughout the entire design process of seeking out materials that are eco-friendly and friendly to the end-user of the space. Whether their selections were made from recycled materials, or are recyclable or manufactured in an environmental way with environmentally friendly, sustainable materials, they were challenged to create a difference. Taking the selections one step further, much thought has been given to the psychology of color and the way it can enhance the space for the guests, students and instructors alike. Color was added through the use of varying materials, textures and applications though the flooring, paint, cabinetry, wall materials and fixtures.

Aveda Retail

A natural choice for flooring was Wicanders Corkcomfort Glue-down HPS, which was used in the retail space, the cosmetology clinic and in the hallway.  Wicanders offers a flooring solution that is environmentally friendly, aesthetically appealing, durable yet practical.  Specifically designed for high traffic areas, and with a 15 year commercial warranty, Corkcomfort Glue-down tiles have our patented HPS finish.  HPS, or High Performance Surface, works by embedding a fine shield of nano-beads atop the surface layer of the flooring, protecting it from scratches, scuff marks, stains and abrasions.  The unique strength of this finish is that it also protects the natural properties of cork flooring. 

Guest Care and Gifting Center

Wicanders cork floors with HPS are giving and resilient underfoot, are hygenic and easily cleaned.  Wicanders Corkcomfort Glue down HPS tiles are a perfect choice for salons where students and employees are on their feet all day using chemicals and dyes. 

 

Amorim Flooring partners with Architectural Systems, Inc.

Amorim Flooring North America, Inc. has appointed Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI, www.archsystems.com) as its distributor in the commercial segment of Wicanders cork flooring.   ASI will cover the  Metro New York and New Jersey areas.

Founded in 1990, ASI has been known from the start for its fresh, innovative solutions for commercial interiors.  Today, the company’s products are confidently specified by the foremost architecture & design firms and installed globally in major retail, entertainment, hospitality, corporate, healthcare, education and institutional projects.

ASI’s clients return again and again for ASI’s extensive product expertise, professionalism, commitment to service, and collective eye for what’s next®, and the ability to find it all in one place.  Founders Nancy Jackson (President) and Ron Jackson (CEO) are design advocates who help their clients materialize their vision and have worked with the most prestige clientele.  ASI’s team of experts has been recognized for their involvement in every part of the contract project process from concept to installation.  Their innovative style and established relationships in the A& D community distinguish them from the rest.  Their exceptional knowledge of the industry is known globally and sets trends before anyone recognizes them as trends.

 Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI), a family business, is acclaimed by the industry as a leading provider of architectural materials including sustainable products.

Amorim’s international flooring portfolio is known for its unique ecological properties, aesthetic design and technical attributes. 

This new strategic partnership reinforces the demand for high quality eco-efficient flooring solutions, and will strengthen Wicanders’ presence in the New York and New Jersey markets.

We welcome ASI to our family.

Team WIcanders

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Recuperating from Super Bowl XLIII? What about Punxsutawney Phil?

We hope everyone enjoyed their Super Bowl weekend. We certainly did…thanks to gathering with family and friends, great food, and fantastic, edge-of-your-seat football.

Seems that in spite of all the late-night activity yesterday because of the Super Bowl, our famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, did manage to awake from his winter hibernation bright and early this morning in Pennsylvania, and take a look outside. And, as luck would have it, he saw his shadow and headed back into his cozy home for six more weeks of winter!

We thought about Phil’s Groundhog Day prediction and decided that now,  before Spring, might be a good time to think about some household projects. You could sustain yourself indoors, renew your worn out flooring, and go green all at the same time. How you wonder? By choosing our beautiful and durable cork oak flooring, you’d be helping the Montado forests‘ eco-system survive…home to abundant wildlife (friends of our Punxsutawney Phil)…while helping to make your home healthy, warm, and comfortable for the six more weeks of winter you may have to endure.

Just a thought…now that the Super Bowl is over and Phil has spoken.

Cheers!

Team Wicanders

P.S. And talking about edge-of-your seat, we can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they lay eyes on our new collections being unveiled at Surfaces 2009 in Las Vegas. It starts today, so if you’re in the area, please stop by, we’d love to see you!

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New Hope for the Montado Cork Oak Forests

Happy New Year Everyone!

We hope your holidays were filled with love, joy and peace. And lots of “green” resolutions for 2009…

We thought we’d start the year off right by bringing you exciting updates about some of the efforts that are being made to preserve the Cork Oak forests of Portugal—the Montados.

Cork Oak Tree at the beautiful Alentejo region

Many people still believe that by reducing their use of cork they are helping to save the forests, when in fact it’s quite the opposite that is true.  By choosing cork wine stoppers (instead of metal or plastic) or cork flooring for example, you are creating shared value for the farmers who own the land. You are also helping protect one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world.

The Iberian lynx, the world's rarest big cat

If you are a frequent visitor to our blog, you already know about Amorim’s (the manufacturers of our Wicanders cork oak floors) latest initiatives such as Save Miguel and ReCork America. Now, we are pleased to announce a new partnership in Portugal between WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and one of the world’s leading health and beauty specialists.

Harnn & Thann have produced a limited edition black rice soap which will sell for five Euros in their Portuguese retail stores. All proceeds are going to sponsor WWF’s work in conserving Portuguese forests and biodiversity and to the on-the-ground projects that WWF is running across Portugal.

Also, BBC’s award-winning program entitled Natural World recently focused on the wealth of natural history amongst the Cork Oak forests of Portugal’s Alentejo region. BBC’s Paul Morrison, together with fellow producer Mike Salisbury followed a year in the life of Francisco Garrett, whose family has harvested cork for five generations. They learned about the many threats to the region and how, once felled, cork woodland is very difficult to restore because a complex ecosystem such as the Montados takes knowledge and patience to recreate.

The stripping of the cork bark does not harm the tree in any way. A cork oak tree can be safely harvested up to 20 times during its life cycle, making cork a truly sustainable natural resource.

To quote Paul Morrison:
“There is […] an important reason to insist on cork. Every time you weigh up which bottle of wine to buy, you hold in your hands the fate of one of the most important wildlife areas in Europe.”

Read Paul’s full report here.

If going green in 2009 is a priority to you, cork is certainly a natural choice. So we say bring on the wine (responsibly, of course) and make your home or business healthier and much more stylish by choosing our Wicanders Cork Oak Floors.

Cheers!
Team Wicanders

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