A History of Innovation

Fifty years ago, Mr. Robert E. Shaw turned the flooring industry on its head when the company bearing his name became the first carpet manufacturer to break into the Fortune 500. He guided the company to further growth as CEO until his retirement in 2006. But that’s not the end of the story.

In 2008, during the teeth of the recession, Mr. Shaw had a vision for a new flooring company. Mr. Shaw’s vision was so compelling that he left retirement and invested in what he called ‘disruptive methods’ – innovative technology that changed the way carpet had ‘always been done’. Knowing that he was taking a risk, yet believing it would pay off, in 2009 he founded Engineered Floors, LLC, and acquired the assets of Beaulieu in 2017, and in 2018 formed EF Contract.