Careers at Mohawk Industries

Mission

Mohawk Industries’ mission is to create fashionable and sustainable products that enhance the spaces where people live and work.

Business segments

Mohawk Industries is a producer of floor covering products.  The firm operates three reportable business segments:

  • Global Ceramic – Includes all worldwide stone and ceramic tile operations.
  • Flooring North America (NA) – Includes North American operations in all product categories except natural stone and tile
  • Flooring Rest of the World (ROW) – Includes operations outside of North America in all product categories except natural stone and tile

History

In 1875 entrepreneur William Shuttleworth and his four sons migrated from Great Britain to the Hudson Valley in New York. In 1878 he passed away and the sons moved to Amsterdam, New York, where they took over an empty factory. They then shipped over 14 used Wilton looms from Great Britain and launched a carpet mill, weaving floor coverings from the preferred material of wool.

In 1902 they incorporated the firm as as Shuttleworth Brothers Company. In 1908 it created and unveiled the Karnak carpet pattern, which became hugely popular. Even as their profile grew, they faced increasing fragmentation in the industry. This encouraged them to strengthen their position by merging with McCleary, Wallin, and Crouse in 1920. The firm was renamed Mohawk Carpet Mills.

The new company became the only carpet producer with a comprehensive line of domestic carpets, featuring the Axminster, Chenille, Velvet, and Wilton weave varieties. It also developed the carpet sector’s first textured design (Shuttlepoint), its first sculptured weave (Raleigh), and Woven Interlock, billed as "the first successful application of the knitting principle to the manufacture of carpet."

The next few decades saw a number of major milestones. In 1956 Mohawk joined forces with Alexander Smith to form Mohasco Industries – creating the world’s largest carpet firm. In 1988 Mohasco was bought by MHS Holdings in a leveraged buyout, and the carpet segment was spun off to form Mohawk Industries. In 1992 Mohawk went public, becoming listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ.

Benefits at Mohawk Industries

Business model of Mohawk Industries

Customer Segments

Mohawk Industries has a segmented market business model, with customers that have slightly different needs. The company targets its offerings at both residential and commercial customers.

Value Proposition

Mohawk Industries offers two primary value propositions: accessibility and brand/status.

The company creates accessibility by providing a wide variety of options. Its products are used in both residential and commercial spaces, and consist of a broad range of items, including carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, wood, stone, luxury vinyl tile, and vinyl flooring. It has been able to greatly expand its portfolio due to many acquisitions. In 2015 alone it acquired International Flooring Systems (a manufacturer of luxury vinyl tile and sheet vinyl), Advent KAI Luxembourg Holdings (a manufacturer of ceramic tile), and Xtratherm Limited, a manufacturer of insulation boards.

The company has established a powerful brand due to its success. It touts itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of floor covering produccts. It maintains operations in numerous locations, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, and the U.S. It offers a number of well-recognized brands, including American Olean, Daltile, Durkan, Karastan, Marazzi, Mohawk, Mohawk Group, Pergo, Unilin, Quick-Step, and IVC. Lastly, in 2015 it was recognized by Builder Magazine as the most-used carpet product, as well as the carpet product with the highest quality rating and level of brand familiarity.

Channels

Mohawk Industries’ main channels are company-operated service centers, independent distributors, home center retailers, independent floor covering retailers, tile and flooring retailers, mass merchandisers, department stores, buying groups, commercial contractors, and commercial end users.

The company promotes its offering through its website, social media pages, advertising, promotions such as rebates, and participation in trade shows and conferences.

Customer Relationships

Mohawk Industries’ customer relationship is primarily of a self-service nature. Customers utilize its products while having limited interaction with employees.

Key Activities

Mohawk Industries’ business model entails designing, developing, manufacturing, and distributing its products to customers.

Key Partners

Mohawk Industries’ key partners are the suppliers that provide it with the raw materials it needs to manufacture its products. It also relies on various parties to help distribute its products, including independent distributors, home center retailers, independent floor covering retailers, tile and flooring retailers, mass merchandisers, department stores, buying groups, commercial contractors, and commercial end users.

Key Resources

Mohawk Industries’ main resources are its human resources, who include the flooring product experts and engineers that design, develop, and manufacture its products. It also depends heavily on physical resources in the form of manufacturing plants and equipment.

Cost Structure

Mohawk Industries has a cost-driven structure, aiming to minimize expenses through significant automation and low-price value propositions. Its biggest cost driver is cost of sales, a variable expense. Other major drivers are in the areas of sales/marketing and administration, both fixed costs.

Revenue Streams

Mohawk Industries has two revenue streams: revenues it generates from sales of its products to customers and from fees earned for the licensing of its patents from third parties.

Our team

Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum,
Chairman and CEO

info: Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Denver. He previously held several leadership roles at Mohawk Industries, including President and Chief Operating Officer. He also served as President, CEO, and VP of Operations at Aladdin Mills.

W. Christopher Wellborn,
President - Global Ceramic and Chief Operating Officer

info: W. Christopher Wellborn previously held several leadership roles at Dal-Tile Industries, including Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Assistant Secretary. He also served as SVP and Chief Financial Officer of Lenox, Inc.

Frank H. Boykin,
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance

info: Frank H. Boykin earned a BBA in Accounting at Georgia State University. He previously served as VP, Corporate Controller of Mohawk Industries, as an Audit Senior Manager at KPMG LLP, and as a Controller at Murate Erie.

Dave Patton,
VP Business Strategy, General Counsel, and Secretary

info: Dave Patton earned a BSBA in Finance at University of Central Florida and a JD at Harvard Law School. He previously served as Chief Sustainability Officer of Mohawk Industries and as a partner at Alston & Bird LLP.