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ARMSTRONG COMMERCIAL FLOORING RELAUNCHES WEBSITE TO INCLUDE EASIER NAVIGATION AND EXCLUSIVE NEW WEB TOOLS

Armstrong Commercial Flooring has relaunched its Web site – http://www.armstrong.com/flooring – featuring improved navigation and a simplified structure built around the needs of architects, designers, specifiers, contractors, distributors, facilities managers and other key customers in the contract market. This carefully planned commercial redesign, a result of customer feedback and focus groups, is taking Armstrong’s award-winning Web site to a new level.

According to Senior Marketing Manager Shannon Weir, the site’s goal is to educate, inspire and assist.

“The intent behind remodeling our commercial site was to create a platform that would not only inform customers about the Armstrong product portfolio, but provide information about how and where to utilize our products in their projects in a much easier-to-use, easy-to-navigate way,” she says. “Visiting the site, customers will more quickly be able to find the technical information they want, and be inspired by our broad product portfolio.”

As a result, visitors will find improved site access, clearer, more intuitive navigation, and new features to help them find both what they need and what they want faster. Architects, designers and facility managers wanted more and improved photo features and more information on sustainable design. Armstrong responded with clearer information pathways, improved graphics and an enhanced interface.

To meet the flooring demands of growing eco-consciousness, Armstrong has made it even easier to obtain information on its many sustainable product offerings and policies. The redesign details how each product contributes to or complies with the LEED rating system; LEED eligibility is actually listed on every product page.

Among the Web site’s newest features is EcoScorecard^SM, a time-saving, Web-based tool that presents Armstrong’s entire product portfolio and allows users to quickly search, evaluate and document each product’s environmental contributions according to key industry rating systems. The biggest advantage of EcoScorecard is that it does the entire environmental evaluation—all the user has to do is enter the quantity of the product desired, material cost per unit and zip code of the project, and the EcoScorecard does the rest. Within seconds the EcoScorecard produces a results page showing how the individual product contributes to the key industry rating system criteria with precise accuracy. The results page can then be printed as the documentation needed for the project submittal.

“We clearly show which flooring solutions meet CHPS, Green Guide for Health Care and LABS21, as well as detailed LEED information for all balloted rating systems,” says Weir. “We simply and effectively delineate how every single Armstrong Commercial Floor contributes in one way or another to these rating systems.” Recycled content and rapidly renewable materials are broken out into separate sections for more clarity.

Useful, direct links on the newly revitalized Commercial Flooring Web site include:

• Armstrong.com/buildapec – Build, download, save or print flooring specification online

• Armstrong.com/ordersamples – Request product samples

• Armstrong.com/ordersamples – Download or order commercial flooring literature

• Armstrong.com/smartsample – Information on program that reduces environmental impact of communications; download sample return labels located on the same page.

• Armstrong.com/LEED – Comprehensive chart showing LEED credits by product

• Armstrong.com/environment – Overview and links to all commercial flooring environmental initiatives Not limited to one set of users or industry audience, Armstrong.com’s improved information flow makes specs, experts and solutions available to anyone. Users can handily download product data sheets or CSI specs, request samples and literature and access on-line technical support.

Important to note, Armstrong did not remove any valuable information, but only made it easier to use, adds Sally Kresge, project manager, Commercial eMarketing. “We want the Commercial site to give customers the confidence and inspiration to spec the right product for their project. The feedback we’ve received from focus groups confirms the site is doing just that.”

The site’s improved accessibility of information fits with Armstrong’s goal of reducing the impact its marketing communications has on the environment through its new comprehensive program, SmartSample™, which reduces the use of paper through a variety of electronic communication tools, including:

• The most comprehensive Web site in the industry

• Electronic versions of all literature pieces for viewing and downloading

• Armstrong Source Guide on CD

• Web-based EcoScorecard provides easy documentation for key industry rating systems

“We believe that our environmental impact extends beyond the product, and into every area in which we touch the customer, such as product samples or literature pieces,” says Weir. “By allowing our customers to access a broader variety of information on the Web, we hope to reduce the number of printed communications we need to produce, whether that means saving paper or energy.”

SmartSample also includes a sample reuse program allows users to extend the life of their merchandising materials and return them for reuse when they’re finished with them.

For more information and tips, visit www.armstrong.com or call 1-800-527-5903.

About Armstrong

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of floors, ceilings and cabinets. In 2006, Armstrong’s consolidated net sales totaled approximately $3.4 billion. Based in Lancaster, Pa., Armstrong operates 39 plants in 10 countries and has approximately 13,000 employees worldwide.  For more information, visit www.armstrong.com.

All trademarks owned by AWI Licensing Company or Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Company.  FloorScore is a trademark of The Resilient Floor Covering Institute.  LEED® is a registered trademark of USGBC.

Contact: Michele Zelman Cherry Leaf Communications mjzelman@cherryleaf.net phone: (718) 859-6766	Contact: Carlene Moloney General Manager - Direct Consumer & Trade Marketing cfmoloney@armstrong.com phone: 717-396-5579 fax:  717-396-5029