ANAHEIM, CALIF.—The late, legendary multi-store retailer Marvin Berlin will be the sole 2009 inductee into the World Floor Covering Association’s ( WFCA) Flooring Industry Hall of Fame.

“Marv Berlin was a trailblazer in retail floor covering,” said Chris Davis, WFCA’s president/CEO. “Most, if not all, of his innovations are commonplace practice in multi-store operations or buying groups today. He most definitely earned a position in the Flooring Industry Hall of Fame.”

Berlin was the force behind New York Carpet World (NYCW). Between 1967 and 1996, under Berlin’s leadership, NYCW grew from two stores to a chain of over 250 in 17 states. He visited virtually every location on, at least, an annual basis, and his management and information systems became models for others to follow. The art of multi-store merchandising, private labeling and advertising matured and were perfected by NYCW. NYCW’s semiannual style-out was legendary and the model for major retail flooring chains and buying groups today.

Berlin was committed to developing the largest and most automated distribution center that made over 2,800 cuts per day off a 60,000 roll stock platform and serviced all 250-plus stores daily. According to many in the industry, the company’s state-of-the-art Ringgold, Ga., warehouse and distribution center was the most automated and visionary facility of its kind.

As early as 1980, Berlin had a staff working on the concept of an in-home portable computerized measuring, calculating and selling system. Today, companies like Home Depot are using the Measure-Comp System he created.

Berlin developed a much-heralded mainframe computer system. The system would track all accounting, inventory, installer billing, advertising and personnel, plus one of the most complex pricing and commission systems that allowed NYCW to operate at very high margins. It also allowed controls to be put in place so that managing the far-flung empire was as if walking across a room with ease, noted Don Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing for CAP Carpet, and a former colleague.

Berlin was also well known for training personnel, backing educational initiatives and selfless philanthropy, which he practiced as a key part of his of daily life.

“Marv Berlin is one of the true icons on the retail side of our industry,” Roberts said. “No one before or after him was able to bring multi-store operations to the level of success he did. With over 250 locations, he pioneered many of the innovations retailers take as common everyday practices—private brands, private labeling, central distribution, just to name a few.

“Even when we were 100 stores strong,” he explained, “Marv did all our sales training for all new salespeople. They were not allowed to talk with a customer until they went through Marv’s classes. There are more people today throughout the flooring industry that in some way got their start at an NYCW store more than any other independent retailer.

“Marv is truly one of the icons of our industry,” concluded Roberts. “Everyone focuses on the manufacturing giants of the past, but they forget that they would have never become giants if there weren’t people like Marv Berlin and others to actually sell products to the consumers. And as far as retail, there was no bigger giant than Marv Berlin.”

Berlin will be inducted into the WFCA Flooring Industry Hall of Fame posthumously at an industry dinner coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the WFCA on Oct. 2 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Berlin will be only the 37th inductee into WFCA’s Hall of Fame.

For more information, call 800.624.6880.