HONORING THE PAST
Initially a combination of these two great companies, later expansion in the South Florida market occurred with the acquisition of Mastercraft Flooring Distributors. All three companies long sold only to independent retailers and the trade, offering complete lines of flooring and supporting their customers with loyalty and display programs, promotions, educational seminars, special purchase opportunities and more.
The combined Gilford·Johnson forms one of the largest flooring distributors in the United States, with a significant presence in eight Southeastern states. Throughout our existence, we have prioritized and delivered individualized service to meet the specific needs of our customers. We continually seek to honor the past while building for the future.
A Tale of Three Companies
Johnson Wholesale Floors was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1963 with Donald Johnson as President and Emory Deaton as Sales Representative. Management passed from Mr. Johnson to his daughter, Melinda McChesney, in 2005. From its inception, Johnson was a distributor of vinyl flooring, prefinished hardwood and rubber/vinyl cove base. In 1981, Johnson established its first branch office in Jacksonville, Florida to better serve its growing customer base. Later branches were established in Knoxville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and Orlando, Florida as well.
Gilford Flooring began in metro Louisville, Kentucky in 1991 as the commercial flooring division of Gilford Corporation. A wholesale wallcovering distributor, Gilford Corporation had been in business since the 1940s and led by its President, Dennis Cook, since 1986. Following on its commercial success, Gilford then entered the residential flooring market in 1999, growing from its initial base in Indiana and Kentucky to serve customers in Ohio and Tennessee also.
Mastercraft Flooring Distributors was started in Miami, Florida in 1985 by partners Harvey Johnson and Thomas Barbaglia. Originally focused on South Florida, Mastercraft later expanded to serve the whole state of Florida as well as parts of the Caribbean with a full range of flooring products. A second branch was established in Orlando in 2015.