A retailer to the core, Ulrich Meyer’s first job was with Goldblatt Brothers, a chain of discount stores that dominated the retail landscape in Chicago. For 10 years, Meyer learned the retailing trade at Goldblatt’s until he was ready to open his first store—a 5,000-square-foot Carpetland store in Munster, Ind. The location eventually grew to 40,000 square feet and remains the headquarters of the chain today. In 1968, Meyer opened his first franchise store in Fort Wayne, Ind. Today, there are 90 stores, split evenly between franchises and company-owned. All of the franchisees are former employees, trained and schooled in the Carpetland philosophy.