Finally! Pantone Colors Codes & Carpet!!!

So the other day we received a request from RES Exhibits, a company which provides trade show exhibit services here in Rochester, NY. They build custom and super creative booth and display units for businesses to showcase their brand.  Sometimes these displays require carpet.  For instance, in 2012 we supplied the carpet for The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) which is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the country. 

CPAC Political Conference 2012

Sarah Palin, seen walking off the stage.

Anyway, what was interesting about this request was the fact that they were looking for a very specific shade of red. They wanted the Pantone code, PMS 173C shade of red.

Now, that code above is just going to sound like jibberish to most of you. And No, this kind of PMS has nothing to do with that time of the month.  Its an acronym for PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM® which is a universal coding system we artists and designers use to distinguish very specific colors...Yes, first and foremost I am a professional Artist & Designer. Besides working as a designer here at Carpet Source Flooring, I teach painting (you know those Paint n Sip Parties) and I create surface designs and patterns for product manufacturers, and that requires the use of Pantone PMS codes daily.. Never did I think my knowledge of the Pantone Matching System would come in handy in a flooring store, but it did!

Let me give you an example: If Starbucks were to hire me to create a new to-go cup design with their famous green logo on it, then I better be sure that I used that exact Pantone color code for that very specific and particular Starbucks shade of green.  And the company that handles the printing must know that Pantone code as well.  It is what distinguishes Starbucks Green, from John Deere Green or any other shade of green!

I believe that in the near future, all flooring and paint manufacturers will be using the Pantone Matching System®  In fact, Mohawk, a brand we carry here in our showroom has now partnered with Pantone, which I think is really interesting and makes total sense.

Check out the link below!

Pantone and Mohawk Team Up!

Here comes a customer, I'm signing off for now! Have a wonderful and colorful day!

-Vanessa Sheldon