Article Number : 1282 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 8/22/2006 10:00:33 PM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=1282 |
| Abstract | Dalton—For 42 years, Ed Williams helped steer the carpet industry through its dramatic growth period of the late 1960s through the early 1980s, its massive consolidation and vertical integration; broadloom manufacturers expanding into hard surfaces, mill programs, and more... |
| Article | Dalton—For 42 years, Ed Williams helped steer the carpet industry through its dramatic growth period of the late 1960s through the early 1980s, its massive consolidation and vertical integration; broadloom manufacturers expanding into hard surfaces, mill programs, and more. After participating in all that, the senior vice president of marketing for Mohawk Industries has decided to hang up his hat and spend time with family and friends. He becomes the third high ranking industry executive to announce his retirement in the last six weeks. The other two were Shaw Industries’ Julian Saul (FCNews, July 10/17) and Robert Shaw (FCNews, Aug. 7/14). With a career spanning more than 40 years that put him in the heart of the industry, Williams has witnessed and been a part of many changes within the carpet sector and flooring in general. Talking about his time in the industry “could be a long conversation,” he told Floor Covering News. “But today versus when I started 40 years ago my exposure was carpet only. It was a time when the cost of entry into the business was not so high and this allowed many entrepreneurs into the business, and there were plenty of start-up companies as well. I would say it was also a rather new and immature industry.” Throughout the 1970s and early ’80s the industry moved along in what many term its glory days when carpet was riding high. “Along comes the [late 1980s and] 1990s,” he explains, “and the business is maturing and consolidation of companies begins.” Williams goes on to note that in recent years, he has become more of a well-rounded flooring person as opposed to just a carpet executive. “After 2000 we see a more mature business with large players becoming flooring companies focusing on marketing and distribution of all flooring products.” The Beginning Williams’ career in the flooring industry began in 1964 with the Evans & Black Co. (E&B). He spent eight years at the carpet mill. During this period one could say the foundation was laid as he rose through a series of sales and managerial positions. He joined Galaxy Carpet Mills in 1972 before venturing forth on his own for almost 14 years. His company, North American Carpet Corp., would eventually become of the industry’s most important companies in the international export market. As fate would have it, Williams sold North American Carpet to Galaxy in 1986, thus rejoining the company he left to start the business. He would go on to become Galaxy’s president and COO. Three years later, Galaxy was sold to the Canadian mill, Peerless Carpet Corp. Williams continued to run the Galaxy division and made it one of the shining stars under the Peerless umbrella. So much so, that in 1996, it caught the eye of Mohawk, which purchased it. Recognizing the talent it had acquired in the deal, the company, which by now was the industry’s second largest overall, immediately gave Williams an executive position. He took the critical role of senior vice president of marketing and “became the driving influence to unify all the various brands Mohawk had purchased through acquisition,” said Tom Lape, president of Mohawk’s Residential division. Lape noted how Williams oversaw the strategy and implementation of communications which brought more than a dozen “well established brands under the umbrella of the Mohawk master brand.” Since joining Mohawk, Lape added, Williams “has been a key member of the team which pioneered and expanded our marketing and retail initiatives, including Floorscapes, ColorCenter and Floorz. “In addition,” Lape continued, “Ed has been a long time champion of Mohawk programs in the area of training where he actively guided the teams at Mohawk University into the industry’s largest and most comprehensive training network.” In addition to coordinating Mohawk’s brands; overseeing the development, implementation and operation of its various retail buying groups, and managing the evolution of the mill’s training programs, Williams directed the company’s advertising and marketing programs. “These continue to drive the Mohawk brand,” Lape said, “and that has resulted in Mohawk being one of the best-recognized names in flooring. “Ed is one of the reasons Mohawk is the preferred brand of consumers and dealers alike,” he added. “His guidance and foresight amplified the impact of our acquisitions by making many diverse groups and ideas work as one. His works changed the face of our industry, and created new ways of reaching consumers. “Our dealers are seeing the impact of Ed Williams’ legacy on their bottom lines every day,” Lape concluded. As for Williams himself, he told FCNews his plans “are to pursue my hobbies and spend more time with family and friends. However, I am sure I will find time to keep up with industry issues and news.” |