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DAVID of Shaw, who I’d interviewed on Teams
for our flooring in education feature a
few weeks earlier. And I found out a bit
STRYDOM belatedly that the ever-friendly Andy
Smith, someone I knew from his days at
Parador, is now Manchester area account
manager for Shaw Contract.
Lunch at The Slaughtered Lamb pub
provided more networking opportunities,
this time with a table that included Carl
Harper of Westcotes Flooring. Carl is
always one of the first to ask which
Westcotes entries have been made
finalists in the CFJ Awards. His passion for
the awards is impossible to miss.
The F Ball and Co contingent included

Why flooring is thriving at CDW Simon Jenkins and Alan McEwan of F Ball.
Alan is, of course, CFA president,
Clerkenwell Design Week in May is increasingly and still tolerates me asking the same
becoming a must-visit festival for fl ooring contractors question each time we meet: 'How’s the
weather in Scotland?'
Meanwhile, Tim Hayes of Quantum
Flooring Accessories told me he’d
’VE been going to Clerkenwell Design MacFarlane, former sales director of received a few WhatsApp messages after
Week (CDW) for 10 years, and each Loughton Contracts, once dubbed his A Week in the Life column appeared in
time, I marvel at how such a diverse the ‘Queen of Flooring’, and winner of May CFJ. Good to know our new People
Ifestival manages to remain so keenly Outstanding Contribution Award at the section is creating a buzz.
relevant to the contract flooring industry. 2020 CFJ Awards. I also chatted to Richard Catt, CFA
It was founded in 2009 – so, relatively Inside, Donna Howard, Shaw Contract’s CEO, about a range of subjects from
recently – to showcase the concentration marketing manager, provided a cheerful sustainability to the economy and
of architects, designers and creative presence as she busied herself at the business. On a sadder note, we spoke
businesses based in Clerkenwell, Mood Board. Outside, I met Ryan Moody about the recently departed Hamish
London. Although it started as a small MacGregor, founder of MacGregor
three-day showroom event, it quickly Flooring. A former CFA president,
grew into one of the country’s most Hamish’s passing has deeply impacted
influential commercial design festivals, the contract flooring industry he served
centred around Clerkenwell’s established so faithfully for so long.
reputation as a hub for architecture and As Richard notes in the CFA’s tribute to
interiors. Hamish elsewhere in this issue: ‘Hamish
Word spread about CDW because will be greatly missed and his contribution
it combined local showrooms with to the CFA and the wider flooring sector
exhibitions in unusual historic venues will be long remembered. His direct
including the Farmiloe Building, St John’s impact leaves a lasting legacy within both
Gate and the House of Detention. These the CFA and wider construction.’
gave CDW its character and international At Milliken showroom on Berry Street,
appeal, attracting visitors from across I caught up with the company’s PR,
Europe and beyond. Lucie Parkin of Parkin Whitman. I’ve
Since its inception, CDW has expanded known Lucie for more than a decade
significantly, with hundreds of brands – a testament not only to how fast
exhibiting across furniture, lighting, With Kate Burnett at CDW time flies but also to the importance of
flooring, surfaces and workplace interiors. long-term relationships in the industry.
Alongside product launches, it features a Kate Burnett, director of product and
broader programme of talks, installations, CDW has expanded strategy development at Milliken, told
workshops and networking events. significantly, with me she’s passionate about sustainability,
Today, CDW is widely regarded as the wellbeing and collaboration, and believes
UK’s leading independent design festival hundreds of brands contractors have a vital role to play in
and one of the most important dates in ensuring flooring materials remain in a
the commercial interiors calendar. exhibiting across reuse and recycling loop rather than being
This year I visited on Wednesday furniture, lighting, lost to landfill.
and managed to spot old friends right ‘Relationships still underpin the
through to recent acquaintances. In flooring, surfaces and industry,’ said Kate. ‘Over many years
Shaw Contract’s buzzing showroom, we’ve built those relationships as a brand
I was delighted to catch up with Bev workplace interiors people can trust.’ 

www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk 5
@CFJMagazine CFJ July 2026