It has been our business for 100 years. We believe in leaving the primary industry right here in Northwest Georgia.
DALTON, Ga. - Carpet manufacturing pioneer Bob Shaw, named to the Junior Achievement of Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame this week, says he thinks he's in good company.
"The Hall of Fame is tied to the carpet business," said Shaw, the 86-year-old founder and chairman of carpet maker Engineered Floors who, before that, oversaw the growth of floorcovering giant Shaw Industries.
Shaw, in an interview prior to accepting the award Thursday, said the Dalton area developed a business a century ago called tufting that has led the city to be known as the nation's carpet capital. That remains a driving force for him personally, he said.
"It has been our business for 100 years," Shaw said.
But, he added, over the years some of it began moving away from Northwest Georgia.
"I think our town, hospitals, schools, colleges, churches are all really important," the carpet executive said. "We believe in leaving the primary industry right here in Northwest Georgia. We're on the rise. Count on it."
Nine years ago, at age 77, Shaw started Dalton-based Engineered Floors. That came after he had overseen Shaw Industries and its exponential growth for many years. That company was sold in 2001 to Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the holding company of investor Warren Buffett.
After he retired from Shaw Industries in 2006, Shaw began the privately held Engineered Floors, steering the business to where it now has more than 4,600 employees. And, it's hiring, Shaw said.
He said that 2018 will be "an excellent year for us, and we think it will be a good year for the carpet business."
Shaw wouldn't give Engineered Floors sales revenues, but he projected the company will be in "double digit growth" in 2018.
Last year, Engineered Floors bought substantially all the operating assets of competitor Beaulieu Group, which had earlier sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Engineered Floors' U.S. sales in 2016 were put at $659 million by Floor Focus magazine. But the combination of the two companies and their 2016 sales would top $1 billion, according to Floor Focus.
Prior to that acquisition, late in 2015, Engineered Floors unveiled plans to merge with J&J Industries, a 60-year-old family company that specialized in commercial carpet.
Shaw said the union with Beaulieu is "like most integrations, good days and bad days. The folks are doing a good job of putting them together."
Anna Adamson, director of Junior Achievement for Northwest Georgia, said the Hall of Fame looks for business people who are role models for students in terms of achievements as well as people who value youth.
"They've done that through commitments, financial or time " she said.
Adamson quipped that Shaw "likes children better than adults. He'll tell you that."
Among those who've entered the Hall of Fame over the past 13 years include Jack Bandy, who co-founded Coronet Industries; Alan and Shirley Lorberbaum, founders of Aladdin Mills; Harry Saul, who created Queen Carpets, and a number of others.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.