Empire Today

Empire Today, LLC
Private
Industry Home Improvement
Founded 1959
Headquarters Northlake, Illinois, U.S.
Products Flooring
Website www.empiretoday.com

Empire Today, LLC is a Northlake, Illinois-based home improvement and home furnishing company, specializing in installed carpet, flooring, and window treatments.[1] Empire Today was named the country's #1 or #2 Specialty Flooring Retailer (in total dollar amount of sales) from 2007 to 2010 by Floor Covering Weekly.[2]

History

Empire Carpet is the common name for Empire Today LLC, which was founded by Seymour Cohen in 1959 as Empire Plastic Covers, a family-owned business in Chicago. In 1965, Empire Plastic Covers changed its name to Empire Home Services, adding carpet to its product line. The company assumed the name Empire Today after a sale in 2003.

The advertising mascot "Empire Man" was introduced in 1978 as a live action character and later adapted into an animated version.[3] The company also paid to have the mascot featured at a Chicago Cubs game.[4] The character was portrayed on television by company ad executive Lynn Hauldren from 1978 through 2011. After Empire Today decided to retire the live character in favor of a computer-animated version, Hauldren continued to provide voiceovers for the ads until his death in 2011. Some of the commercials with his voice are still airing.[5]

In 2011, the company implemented a carpet and padding recycling program to minimize the environmental impact of its day-to-day operations.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Jingle Fever". Replacement Contractor Magazine. 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  2. ↑ "Top 50 Retailers 2010". Floor Covering Weekly. 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
  3. ↑ "Empire Today's icon character 'Empire Man' celebrates 30th anniversary". Weatherford Democrat. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  4. ↑ "Empire Today Honored at Historic Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs Declare "Empire Day"". Home Renovation Guide. 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  5. ↑ "Chicagoland Memories". Lisa's Web World. Retrieved 2 March 2006.
  6. ↑ Empire Today’s Recycling Program

External links