b'TILE TRENDSTile Trends for 2020 Find Yourand Trend Strategy NicheBy Joe Lundgren, Joseph Lundgren ConsultingTrendsin2020whatshotandsay is its backlash or trend matu- allowedmanufacturerstotakethe whatsnot?Beforeweembarkonrity stage. Emerging or peakingcurrent trend to a new generati on of this journey lets make sure we defi netrendsarewherewelooktoseelooks via technological advances with Trend vs. Fad. A trend has stam- whats upcoming, and today many ineven more realisti c textures.He also ina and builds up over ti me, while athe industry point to gauged porce- said, it has allowed us to be bett er fadfi llsanicheandisnotabroadlainti (GPT)orgaugedporcelainpositi oned to meet the needs of ourles selling category. We have seen thoseti le panels (GPTP). This product cate- clients from the inside to the exterior come and go in our industry, but thisgory has emerged from the 3mm andof their homes.arti clefocusesonsolidtrends.The3.5mm thicknesses initi ally launchedNow for the trends we see today:ti leindustryisobviouslyonethatto 6-, 12- and 20-mm products that rides the trend cycle as it changes butconti nue to grow. Once we conquerWall ti lewe also experience the trend stages.theinstallati oneducati on,wewillThe year of the wall is here! It is Forthosewhomayhavejustbeensurelyconti nueourexcitementonimperati vethatdistributorsinvest in the business for the last few yearsthis trend. in a variety of wall ti le lines as this is they would know that wood, marbleWhile we all would love our trendagrowthcategoryforourindustry, and concrete are sti ll categories westagetobeemergingorpeaking,vs.justfocusingonfl oors.Oneof would call trendy, but the diff erenceitsimportanttounderstandwethe reasons is right in front of us: as is what stage are they in. Below are aalso live in the backlash or matu- we conti nue to watch the growth of few diff erent stages of trends. rity stage. A perfect example is woodLVT and compete against other fl oorBrand-newtrendIsitrealandlooks. While diff erent looks are in dif- coverings the walls are ours to domi-does it have staying power in theferent stages its important to look atnate! Come on, who cant sell against ti le industry? your product mix to ensure you havewallpaper and paint? While we tradi- Emerging trendThis is the part ofyour portf olio balanced to your mar- ti onally focus on white wall ti le, we thetrendwherethoughtleadersketrequirements.Itsvitaltohaveseecooltonesbeginningtoevolve emerge and set the tone. somethingyoufeelisabrand-newwith Pantones Classic Blue (a calm,PeakingtrendItsfrenzyti trend to make certain youre deliver- cool color that is the beginning of ame. Everyone will be excited about theingyourcustomerssomethingthatnewdecade)asitsheralded2020 trend. maybethatnexttrend,becauseifColor of the Year, a defi nite departureBacklashEverybodyisawareofyoure not, someone else will. from 2019s Living Coral.the trend. People think the trend isWhenponderingtrends,weallMediterraneasMichaelMariutt o, overdone. think of visuals, yet Mark Seal withone of our industrys emerging trendTrend MaturityTheres a lot lessEmser Tile noted that the adopti onleaders, developed the new Key West excitement than there used to be. of the Ceramic Factory 4.0 model line as yet another example of walls For example, when concrete lookswhich is the next generati on of thegrowingpopularity.Additionally, wereiniti allylaunched,thiswasaceramicti lefactorywillfeatureMediterraneasVPofsalesGeorge brand-newtrend.Nowconcretepreviously unseen levels of efficiencyLarrazabaladded,TheKeyWest looks have evolved into what we mayand technology. Essenti ally this hasseries off ers the beauty, subtle shad- Largest Selection of Niches in the Industry422020|TRENDS 2019 Noble Company, Spring Lake, MI | Image courtesy of Daltile.2019 Avondale & Glass Horizons.2019 NTCA Reference Manual Niche Ad.indd 1 7/2/2019 10:47:36 AM'