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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

A Sustainability is a big one. Customers A Sustainability matters to us because anticipate project needs and ensure the
want lower impact products, but they customers deserve transparency and right products are selected from the start.
also want honesty. We focus on being honesty. It’s important that we show Overall, the trends point towards
transparent about our materials, our real progress, not promises. Through personalisation, performance and
testing and the real performance of our our Karndean Evolve sustainability partnership, and our product development
floors, rather than making broad claims. programme, we focus on evidence based reflects that.
The second challenge is the pressure action and have already reduced our
created by legislation, inflation and the emissions by ten percent since 2022. Q What is your major selling point with
general commoditisation of the category. At its core, sustainability is important contractors? What do your products
Costs, compliance and global uncertainty because our customers trust us. offer them that others don’t?
all squeeze the market. Our approach is to Q A Contractors value us because we give
stay agile, plan ahead with suppliers and How robust is your supply chain in them reliable access to everything they
keep innovating so we can deliver value the face of global issues such as war? need. Our technical support, installation
without compromising quality. A Our supply chain is built to be highly guidance and product expertise are
The third challenge is the shortage of agile. We have the flexibility to adjust always available, and our head office
skilled fitters. Fewer people are entering our supply routes quickly when global and warehouse in Evesham provide fast,
the trade, and labour demands are rising. events create disruption. This allows us to dependable supply when deadlines are
We’re investing in training and making maintain service across multiple territories tight. This consistency removes risk and
our products easier and quicker to and protect continuity of supply. keeps projects moving.
install to give fitters confidence and help We plan ahead by securing access We also work hard to protect
strengthen the skills base for the future. to raw materials, maintaining strong
relationships with multiple factories contractors from value engineering. Our
Q Can you give an outline of your most and building contingency options products are designed to perform, and we
popular product ranges and explain a bit into our operations. This outsourcing help contractors demonstrate that value
about them? strategy gives us resilience and reduces to their clients so they can deliver the
A Our most popular ranges with dependency on any single region. right solution without compromise.
consumers are Van Gogh and Knight In short, we have structured our supply The result is smoother installations,
Tile. They sit in our mid and entry level chain to adapt rapidly and continue fewer callbacks and stronger long term
collections and are loved for their delivering reliably, even during periods of relationships with their customers.
versatility, reliability and easy to live with uncertainty. Looking ahead, our aim is to get
designs. Retailers often highlight Knight Q even closer to contractors. We want to
Tile for the sheer choice it offers, while What flooring trends are you seeing understand their challenges in more detail
Van Gogh stands out for its colour range at the moment, and how do these and support them throughout the project
and impressive plank sizes. influence your product development? journey.
Van Gogh is a real favourite. Its wood A We’re seeing a growing demand for
designs cover everything from clean, customisation, both in design and in Q Where do you see the company in five
modern tones to warm, characterful technical performance. Customers want years?
classics like Country Oak and French floors that offer creative freedom while A In five years, we see the business even
Oak. This spring we’re introducing four still delivering practical benefits such as more connected across retail, commercial
new herringbones in existing plank sizes, improved acoustics, easier installation and trade. Customer behaviour is changing
giving customers the option to match and higher slip resistance. These fast, with homeowners and designers
designs room to room. They also bring the expectations shape how we develop new relying more on digital tools, so we’re
opportunity to get more creative with a products, ensuring every range delivers strengthening our omnichannel experience
mixed herringbone designs. both style and functionality. to support every step of the journey.
At the top end, Art Select is always a Nature continues to be a strong We’ll continue growing and enhancing
standout. Retailers love it for its depth source of inspiration. The textures, our existing showrooms at the Design
of design, especially the stone, marble tones and movement found in natural Centre and Evesham, making sure they
and onyx looks that bring a real sense of materials influence our design direction stay aligned with what customers need. At
luxury. and help us create products that feel the same time, we’re investing in our retail
Fitters play a big part in the popularity authentic and calming. This is becoming network and bringing partners with us as
of these ranges too. They take real pride an important part of the specification we adapt to the shopper of the future.
in herringbones and border details, process, particularly as designers look We also expect a much closer, more
and we love seeing how creatively our for materials that support wellbeing and collaborative relationship with installers,
products are installed. create inviting spaces.
Across all three ranges, the theme is the We also see increasing demand for contractors and interior designers.
same: choice, creativity and flooring that technical clarity at the specification stage. Working together will help create smoother
brings together beauty and practicality, Our commercial team plays a key role journeys and better outcomes for everyone.
designed for modern living. here. We understand LVT deeply, and that Our goal is simple: to be more
expertise allows us to guide specifiers accessible, more collaborative and more
Q Is sustainability and ethical with confidence. Strong relationships at in tune with how people choose, specify
manufacturing a key commitment to the design and architecture end mean and install our products. 
your business, and if so, why? we can support better decision making, www.karndean.com

34 CFJ April 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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