In addition toThe International Surface Event(TISE) West, which is held every January in Las Vegas, NV, a new trade show has been developed to appeal to all floor covering and surfacing industry professionals known as TISE East. The new edition is scheduled from October 19 to 22, 2014 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, FL.

TISE East — a newfound combination of Surfaces, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and TileExpo — will bring together thousands of retailers, architects, distributors, installers, manufacturers, designers and home builders for four days of face-to-face networking, education and product sourcing. Educational events, including seminars and topic-specific sessions, will begin on October 19, with exhibitions that showcase the latest in the flooring industry, including carpet, stone products, alternative surfaces, hardwood, laminate, tile, machinery, services, and tools and accessories, beginning the following day on October 20.

This year’s show is sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association, Marble Institute of America (MIA), Building Stone Institute (BSI), Natural Stone Council (NSC) and its affiliate members: Canadian Stone Association; Elberton Granite Association (EGA); National Building Granite Quarries Association, Inc.; Northwest Granite Manufacturers Association; Indiana Limestone Institute of America, Inc.; and American Monument Association. Endorsers include Marmomacc, Allied Stone Industries, Vitoria Stone Fair, Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (SFA), Ceramic Tile Institute of America, Certified Floorcovering Installers, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), The Experience, Floor Covering Industry Foundation, International Concrete Repair Institute, International Standards & Training Alliance, National Institute of Certified Floorcovering Inspectors, National Wood Flooring Association and Tile Partners for Humanity.

With so many different exhibitors and visitors expected to attend the inaugural event, there will be a variety of things to keep everyone busy. Some of the events that should be noted include the Social Learning Lab, which will present an opportunity to troubleshoot your biggest problems with social media; Artisan Avenue, an area that will feature products used above the baseboard, such as countertops, wall coverings, window coverings, decorative concrete, hand-crafted tile, sinks, cabinets and many other products consumers are looking for when remodeling a kitchen or bath or renovating another room; and the Product Marketplace, which will highlight all of the “must have” products and give visitors a chance to visit the manufacturers of the products to get more information.

Live demonstrations

The event will also include several live-action demonstrations, presented by the SFA, which will be held in “The Cage,” a caged in area that will allow visitors to experience first-hand how the latest tools seam-set, texture and polish natural stone products. On October 21, The Cage will host the “Fabricator Olympics,” where contestants will compete in timed events, such as square eased edge polishing, half bullnose shaping and surface polishing. The winner will receive a cash price and be named the Fabricator Champion.

In addition to the live demonstrations taking place in The Cage, there will also be a variety of other live demonstrations throughout the convention center that will feature hands-on, expert-led and up-close experiences, specifically designed to provide attendees with spot-on training and unique techniques using today’s stone, tile and flooring products and technologies.

Women In Stone

The MIA has announced plans for a Women in Stone Connection Conference to be held in conjunction with TISE East in Miami, FL, on Sunday, October 19, 2014. The program features dynamic speakers, including Lisbeth Calandrino, Toby Morrison, Dave Mitchell, and a panel discussion of key women in the industry.

The conference will discuss the process of building relationships with customers, colleagues and co-workers. Each item on the agenda will focus on the opportunities and challenges that exist for women. Attendance at this leadership summit will award participants the following learning objectives:

  • Learn how to take advantage of your assets to make your way in the business world.
  • Review today’s building industry statistics and how key demographic factors affect your customer’s decision to buy.
  • Discuss factors that affect women in the stone industry including working with family members and managing men.
  • Assess your personal leadership style and find out how to present information about ideas, products and/or services in a manner that is most engaging to those with a different interactive style than your own.

“The Connection Conference is the first education event held by Women In Stone,” said Sarah B. Kelly, Administrator of the MIA initiative. “This event will help serve our primary goals to recruit, retain and advance women in the stone industry.”

Women In Stone member, Jacqueline Tabbah of International Stoneworks in Houston, TX, added, “The Women In Stone Connection Conference is an excellent opportunity for professional women in this industry to learn and network with one another. I am thrilled to be part of the panel discussion and share my point of view with this prestigious group of ladies.”

Celebratory events

Other than the above mentioned events, TISE East is holding two celebratory events, which will both take place on the second day of the show. In the morning, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a major networking event targeted towards the younger individuals in the industry — the “140 Under 40 Luncheon.” The luncheon — led by eight “mentors” who will be on-hand to answer any questions and mingle with guests — will be held in the Palm 4 room and requires tickets, which can be purchased before or at the event.

On the night of October 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., TISE East will also host the “Launch Party by the Pool,” an after-hours event with an open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres and music, which will be held at the Delano South Beach hotel, located only a couple of blocks from the Miami Beach Convention Center. Tickets are required for this event, with transportation provided, and $10 from the sale of each ticket will go towards benefitting the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF), MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Fund and the NSC Sustainability Initiative.

In addition to all of the events offered at the show, attendees can earn the brand new TISE East Masters Certification. Attendees completing eight hours of coursework during any given annual trade show automatically earn a TISE East Masters Certification. Certifications will be offered in focused areas of study, such as Business/Retailing/Business Management, Installation, Stone Fabrication, Sustainability and Design/Trends. Different amounts of CEU credits will also be offered for the various educational seminars held at this year’s event to further help professionals reach other accreditations and certifications.

While the majority of the exhibition focuses on the business and educational aspects of the flooring and surfacing industries, there will also be an extra-curricular area where attendees can go to have some fun. The “Snap N’ Share Studio” is a new area on the show floor where people can go to take and share selfies with a larger-than-life TISE display. The TISE East photo booth will also be located in this area, making it easy for you to have your picture taken and document your experience.

For more information, to buy tickets for the show or to register for any events, go to tiseeast.com.