MERRITT-ORIOUS: Speaking at the 10th anniversary convention of Alliance Flooring in Atlanta, Randy Merritt, president of Shaw Industries, was asked, “What’s changed at Shaw?” “Everything,” he said. “If you don’t change, you get left behind. Who we are has not changed, but what we are changes with the times—so we can be better at what we do. We used to be a carpet company, now we’re a flooring company.” He urged the members of the large buying group to be adaptable. “When business is good, the average person can be successful, but in tough times those with the skills and perseverance will not only survive—they will thrive!” Rise above the norm, be different, be creative, ride the wave of change, he advised.

2007 TARGET: Merritt went on to outline three initiatives Shaw will focus on this year and exhorted the retailers to do the same. 1. Innovation—find ways to differentiate yourself, there are many. When was the last time you changed the way you serviced your customer? 2. Diversity— provide other products, like cabinets and counter tops, paint, lighting, window treatments, items they can’t get at your competitors. 3. Environmental stewardship, a critical issue. “We must be better at it. We must focus on the end game, the ultimate goal is to keep things out of landfills by recycling and using earth-friendly products. In 1987 there were more than 20,000 landfills in the U. S., today there are 1,685 and it is virtually impossible to get a permit for a new one. There is no silver bullet; we are the solution to the problem.”

FINAL FIGURES: The official numbers for Surfaces 2007 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas have been issued by Hanley Wood, sponsor of the show with the World Floor Covering Association, and no one’s complaining. Attendance hit 38,246 and included retailers, manufacturers, distributors, architects, designers, builders and installers. Attendance was down a bit more than 5%, but that’s not bad coming off the record 2006. This year there were 1,065 exhibitors in more than 517,000 net square feet of exhibit space, including 300 companies showing for the first time. The Conference Program attracted more than 2,600 to its 42 sessions, which covered a myriad of subjects: marketing, business practices, sales, design and installation. The Installation Showcase drew throngs of retailers and installers to the five demonstrations, allowing them an up-close look at new techniques and masterful methods under the watchful eye of Jim Walker, head of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI). And the Designer/Architect Program made its debut and was a great networking forum for participants. Surfaces 2007—there was something for everyone.

GOOD NABORS: The carpet industry in Dalton has made many men millionaires—the hard way. They earned it. The newest name on that elite list is Ed Nabors, a Mohawk truck driver. No, he doesn’t own Mohawk stock, or even the Mohawk truck, but he did own a lottery ticket. He was one of two winners of the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history—$390 million. The 52-year-old Nabors of Rocky Face, Ga., bought his ticket at Favorite Market in Dalton and his half of the prize is $195 million. He chose to take his winnings in a lump sum rather than annual installments and will receive $116.5 million before taxes or more than $80 million after. Still, not bad, considering his chances of winning were 1 in 176 million. When Nabors heard about his good fortune, he was shaking so uncontrollably, they sent him home from work. He said he’ll “keep his job at least a couple of more days.” After that it’s fishing for the Georgia millionaire. So there’s a job open for a truck driver at Mohawk Industries.

BE CAREFUL: My advice to Ed Nabors: Sometimes when a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with experience ends up with the money and the man with the money ends up with experience. Keep fishing, Ed, but stay on the back end of the pole. Don’t get hooked.