Empire Carpet

Empire Carpet is the historical, commonly-known name for Empire Today LLC, a national provider in the installed home improvement and home furnishing industry, specializing in carpet, flooring, window treatments, and bath and shower liners. Empire Today serves more than 35 major metropolitan areas in the United States. With more than one million satisfied customers, Empire offers brand-name products.
History behind the Empire Name
Empire Carpet was founded by entrepreneur Seymour Cohen in 1959 as Empire Plastic Covers, a private, family-owned business in Chicagoland from a small office space. Owner Seymour Cohen decided to expand its product line in response to growing customer request. In 1965, Empire Plastic Covers changed its name to Empire Home Services, adding carpet to their product line. Over the years, Empire’s product line grew, as did the company’s national presence, and the company name was changed to Empire Carpet. In 2007 the company adopted its current name - Empire Today.
Empire Today
Currently, Empire Today is a national provider of installed home improvement and home furnishings industry for both commercial and residential applications alike. Empire’s comprehensive product line has grown from its original offering of plastic slip covers to flooring including carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic and vinyl flooring as well as window treatments and bath & shower liners. Now operating in more than 35 major metropolitan areas in the United States, Empire Today is well known for their shop-at-home convenience and next-day installation business model. Empire has served more than one million customers and in 2007 and 2008, was awarded the #1 Specialty Flooring Retailer in the United States.
And in 2008, Empire was named one of the Nation’s Top 200 Brand Names.
Empire Today Jingle & Empire Man
The company made a name for itself with its popular jingle—"eight hundred, five-eight-eight, two-three-hundred,"
(which has been featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien) and with its signature spokesman, The Empire Man, which has spawned a line of popular bobble head dolls. In 2007, 800-588-2300 was named one of the top 10 most recognizable phone numbers in the country. That same year, the Empire Man threw out the first pitch for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Contrary to popular belief, The Empire Man is not the company’s owner. The Empire Man is played by Lynn Hauldren, a former ad executive. In the 1970s, Hauldren was one of the advertising copywriting forces behind the Empire brand. The company’s owner during the time requested that he serve as the on-air talent for the spots after unsuccessfully auditioning several other people for the role. Over time, The Empire Man persona evolved into a popular animated character, for which Hauldren still provides the voice today. Hauldren also wrote and recorded the tune used as the company’s famous jingle.
Awards and Honors
* 2009 Torch Award Winner for Marketplace Ethics: Western Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau
* 2009 Torch Award Winner for Customer Service: Atlanta Better Business Bureau
* 2008 American Business Award Finalist - Best Overall Company
* 2008 American Business Award WINNER - Best Customer Service Organization
* 2008 Torch Award for Marketplace ethics: Chicago and Northern Illinois Better Business Bureau
* 2008 Angie's List Super Service Award - Orlando
* 2007 American Business Award Finalist
* 2006 Torch Award Winner for Marketplace Ethics: Chicago and Northern Illinois Better Business Bureau

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