NEWS BRIEFS tion for consumer loan applica- tions. This state-of-the-art technol- ogy will provide approved home improvement contractors the abil- ity to quickly submit a consumer loan application for approval at the point of sale. Consumer loan appli- cations will be rapidly decisioned, and with electronic signature of loan documents in the consumer’s home, the entire process is typical- ly completed in just a few minutes. https://bit.ly/2GRB3ET Belknap and Haines grow rela- tionship – The Belknap White Group, the privately held full- line floor covering distributor in the Northeast, has announced an expanded equity investment in the JJ Haines Company of Baltimore Maryland. In 2017, Belknap and Haines entered into a strategic partnership, with Belknap mak- ing an initial equity investment in Haines. The partnership allowed both companies to collaborate and work together to build an east coast flooring distribution platform. Collaboration in areas such as sales, IT and logistics has been on-going. Recently, Belknap increased its equity investment and now holds a controlling interest in JJ Haines. Haines will continue to operate as a separate entity based out of Baltimore. https://bit.ly/2Xp4Hq9 Coverings marks 30th anniver- sary with range of show expe- riences – Coverings, the largest international tile and stone show in North America, will feature a wide range of interactive onsite experiences, including expanded favorites like the Installation & Design Experience and new acti- vations in celebration of its 30th Anniversary. The show takes place April 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Commemorative displays, interac- tive opportunities for attendees to create and share their own mem- ories, a timeline with highlights from Coverings’ heritage and a 30th Anniversary-branded photo booth, as well as a DJ in the lobby reception with music from 1989 (Coverings’ launch year) are just a few highlights. The Installation & Design Experience will expand its presence in 2019 with live, interactive showcases of the best tile installation techniques. For full information, visit https://bit. ly/2SClGSk or coverings.com. Florida Tile launches new web- site – Florida Tile, Inc., a lead- ing US manufacturer of porce- lain tile, recently announced the 98 TileLetter | March 2019