Japanese Visitors Share Carpet Issues with U.S. Carpet Industry by Werner Braun
In his weekly column for the Dalton Daily Citizen dated October 8, 2010 and titled "Visitors can shed some light", Carpet and Rug Institute President Werner Braun talks about some recent visitors from Japan and what they might offer the U.S. carpet industry. The article points out that, while the U.S. and Japanese carpet markets do not overlap to any appreciable degree, the two industries share many of the same issues and concerns.“Currently, only about 3-5 percent of the floors in Japan are covered in carpet, and one of the biggest issues in getting people to select carpet is the asthma and allergy problem we continue to wrestle with ourselves. The Japanese contingent shared with us the data and studies they had accumulated to help in the battle against this urban myth and we gladly shared with them the information we have that helps dispel the notion that carpet somehow or someway aggravates asthma and allergies.
Aside from being hospitable, though, what exactly is the benefit to us? Well, if we can get Japan armed and help them to hurdle this obstacle it gives us yet another “third party” spokesman for what we are trying to tell consumers. One of the things we have long tied our hitch to has been a Swedish study in which the Swedish government literally banned carpet from buildings because of a high asthma rate. And they did a great job at it, reducing carpet to a share of 2-3 percent in Sweden. The result, however, showed asthma rates skyrocketing even more. One would think if carpet were “the” problem then the rates would do anything but rise.
So if Japan can help shed some light and affect carpet share there, it would be something we could obviously point to and cite in our own talking points.”
Thank you, Werner!
~Bethany
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