{{Short description|Home improvement company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Empire Today, LLC | logo = Empire_Today_logo.svg | logo_size = 260px | former_names = Empire Plastic Covers (1959–1965)<br>Empire Home Services (or just Empire) (1965–2003) <br>Empire Carpets (1983-1984, 2001-2002 [on-website; empirecarpet.com (old website)]) | type = Private | industry = Home Improvement | founded = {{start date and age|1959}} | founder = Seymour Cohen | hq_location = 333 Northwest Avenue<br />Northlake, Illinois 60164<br />U.S. | area_served = United States<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.empiretoday.com/locations |title = Empire Flooring & Carpet All Locations |publisher = Empire Today |access-date = January 29, 2023 }}</ref> | products = Carpet<br>Hardwood Flooring<br>Laminate Flooring<br>Ceramic Flooring<br>Vinyl Flooring<br>Area Rugs | parent = H.I.G. Capital {{small|(2016–present)}} | website = {{URL|https://www.empiretoday.com|empiretoday.com}} }}
'''Empire Today''' is an American home improvement and home furnishing company based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in installed carpet and flooring. The company operates in more than 75 metropolitan areas within the United States, and is most well-known for TV ads featuring a distinctive jingle that recites the company's phone number and name. The company's name comes from the slogan on some of its commercials, "Empire today, carpet tomorrow". Empire Today claims that it is the largest in-home sales flooring company in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last = Channick |first = Robert |date = November 19, 2016 |title = Empire and its jingle bought by private equity firm |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-empire-carpet-sold-hig-capital-1119-biz-20161118-story.html |access-date = December 22, 2022 |website = Chicago Tribune }}</ref>
==History== thumb|Prior logo from 2004-2015 Empire Today LLC (commonly referred as Empire Today) was founded by entrepreneur Seymour Cohen in 1959.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date = 2007 |title = Empire Today |magazine = Floor Covering Weekly |volume = 56 |pages = 13 }}</ref> It was initially known as Empire Plastic Covers, a private, family-owned business in Chicago from a small office space. Cohen decided to expand the company's 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. In December 2002, the company was sold, and then in January 2003, adopted its current name: Empire Today.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher = Empire Carpet Chicago |title = Empire Carpet Born and Raised |url = http://www.empirecarpet-chicago.com/empire-carpet-born-and-raised |url-status = dead |access-date = August 18, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120109015737/http://www.empirecarpet-chicago.com/empire-carpet-born-and-raised/ |archive-date = January 9, 2012 }}</ref> It was acquired by the investment company Mercury Capital LP.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last = Hirsch |first = Lauren |date = June 3, 2016 |title = Flooring retailer Empire Today explores sale: sources |language = en |publisher = Reuters |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-empiretoday-m-a-idUSKCN0YP1YK |access-date = December 23, 2022 }}</ref> In 2016, the company was sold to H.I.G. Capital, a private equity firm, for an undisclosed amount.<ref name=":0" /> In February 2022, Empire Today acquired Sitton Contract Flooring, a flooring based in California.<ref>{{Cite press release |first = Gina |last = Cielocha |date = February 1, 2022 |title = Sitton Flooring Joins Empire Today |url = https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220201005894/en/Sitton-Flooring-Joins-Empire-Today |publisher = Empire Today |access-date = August 18, 2024 |via = Business Wire }}</ref> === Carpet recycling === In 2023, Empire Today implemented a carpet and padding recycling program to minimize the environmental impact of their day-to-day operations. All of the padding removed by Empire Today's installers that can be recycled, will be recycled as part of their program in cooperation with Carpet America Effort (CARE) and Carpet Landfill Elimination and Recycling (CLEAR). In first quarter 2023, Empire piloted the program in select areas, and the program is currently operational in more than 25 of Empire's service areas. Since the program's inception, over eight million pounds of carpet and padding have been recycled, according to Empire's waste tonnage reporting.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Empire Carpet Recycling |url = http://www.empirecarpet-eco-recycling.com/empire-today-recycling-program/ |access-date = April 20, 2019 |publisher = Empire Today Recycling Program }}</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=August 2022}}
==Advertisements== Empire Today's advertising is prevalent throughout major metro areas across North America. The company's television and web ads feature the "Empire Man" character. He was originally portrayed as live-action but is now portrayed as a cartoon character at the end of their advertisements. ===Empire Man=== {{main|Lynn Hauldren}} {{Infobox character | name = Empire Man | image = Empire Carpet - Mrs Nelson Is No Fool She Called Empire Carpet.webm | caption = 1979 commercial featuring Empire Man | first = 1977 | portrayer = Lynn Hauldren (1977–2011) | species = Human | occupation = Carpenter | gender = Male }} The "Empire Man" was introduced in 1977 as a live action character and later adapted into a popular animated person that has grown to become a cultural icon, especially in the Chicago area.<ref name="anniversary">{{Cite news |date = July 18, 2007 |title = Empire Today's icon character 'Empire Man' celebrates 30th anniversary |work = Weatherford Democrat |url = http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/business/local_story_199205349.html |url-status = dead |access-date = January 29, 2008 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130209141416/http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/business/local_story_199205349.html |archive-date = February 9, 2013 }}</ref> The "Empire Man" has been seen internationally in commercials and other media, has spawned a line of collectible bobblehead dolls and inspired the Chicago Cubs to declare an official "Empire Day" at Wrigley Field in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date = August 17, 2007 |title = Empire Today Honored at Historic Wrigley Field: Chicago Cubs Declare 'Empire Day' |work = Home Renovation Guide |url = http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/LandingPage.aspx?id=150428&p=1 |url-status = dead |access-date = January 15, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090620014736/http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/LandingPage.aspx?id=150428&p=1 |archive-date = June 20, 2009 }}</ref>
The live action "Empire Man" was portrayed on television by Lynn Hauldren, a former ad executive, from 1977 through 2011. After Empire Today retired the live character in favor of an animated version, Hauldren continued to provide voiceovers for the ads until his death in 2011, though ads with his voiceovers continue to air on television.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Chicagoland Memories |url = http://members.tripod.com/lisawebworld1/chicagoland2.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020912203719/http://members.tripod.com/lisawebworld1/chicagoland2.html |archive-date = September 12, 2002 |access-date = March 2, 2006 |website = Lisa's Web World }}</ref> Since 2017 the "Empire Man" has been portrayed by Ryan Salzwedel in various television spots.<ref>{{Cite web |date = July 11, 2017 |title = Replace old flooring with Empire Today |url = https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/new-day-northwest/replace-old-flooring-with-empire-today/281-455761092 |access-date = August 19, 2024 |website = King5.com |location = Seattle |publisher = KING-TV |language = en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date = July 19, 2018 |title = The Empire Man Ryan Salzwedel demonstrates HOME Fresh odor-neutralizing carpet |url = https://www.khou.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/great-day-houston/the-empire-man-ryan-salzwedel-demonstrates-home-fresh-odor-neutralizing-carpet/285-575534386 |access-date = August 19, 2024 |website = KHOU.com |language = en-US }}</ref>
=== Advertising jingle === Empire Today's advertising jingle, which has been broadcast since 1977, is a widely recognized theme.<ref>{{Cite web |last = Channick |first = Robert |date = November 18, 2016 |title = Empire and its jingle bought by private equity firm |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/11/18/empire-and-its-jingle-bought-by-private-equity-firm/ |access-date = August 19, 2024 |website = Chicago Tribune |language = en-US }}</ref> The jingle is simply a small vocal group singing out "800-5-8-8,2-300" (the company phone number) and the company name. Over time, many different revisions to the song have been made, such as the word "today" being added in 2003, as well as the 800 part of the phone number also being added in 1995.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWn4PlRYsZI |title=Empire Today's Newest Ending Animation |date=November 4, 2015 |last=Empire Today |access-date=December 6, 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xo29fUtrHo |title=History of the Empire Today® Jingle - Compilation Through the Years |date=August 30, 2022 |last=Empire Today |access-date=December 9, 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Lynn Hauldren (also known as the Empire Man), a barbershop quartet performer, wrote and sang the tune<ref name=":1" /> to accompany the singing of the company's phone number, and recorded the jingle with an a cappella group, the Fabulous 40s. The famous Empire Today advertising jingle has made the Empire Today phone number one of the most recognized numbers in the country.<ref name="anniversary" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.empiretoday.com}}
Category:Home improvement retailers of the United States Category:American companies established in 1959 Category:Retail companies established in 1959 Category:Companies based in Cook County, Illinois Category:Culture of Chicago Category:1959 establishments in Illinois