Rick Meyer, Founder of Carpetland USA, Dies

Chicago, IL, September 26, 2016—Ulrich Emil "Rick" Meyer, founder of Carpetland USA, died September 16 at the age of 91, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Meyer established his first floorcovering store in 1960 in Munster, Indiana and grew it into a chain of 103 locations in more than a dozen states, which were a mix of company-owned locations and franchise stores.

He later sold the company to Shaw Industries.

Meyer decided to start his own firm, his wife said, after receiving an offer from a retailer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He borrowed $5,000 from his brother-in-law and struck off on his own.

At its peak, Carpetland USA was one of the ten largest carpet retailers in the U.S.

Related Topics:Shaw Industries Group, Inc.