Our History
The FlorStar story begins in 1850 with the founding of Carson Pirie Scott. Over its history, Carson’s operated various businesses including a wholesale flooring division. In the 1980s, Carson’s chose to focus upon its core retail operations. Consequently, on May 16th, 1988 the company sold off the flooring division to a management team led by our current Chairman, Wade Cassidy. Wade believed in the business and the industry at a time when many did not. Following his motto, “bet on your courage, not your fear,” Wade pledged his own home as collateral to help seal the deal. The new owners renamed the division Florstar Sales, Inc.
People often ask about the spelling of our name, specifically “floor” being spelled with a single “o.” The corporate name arose after a rigorous debate among the company founders. We wanted people to understand that the core business involved flooring and flooring distribution; likewise, we also wanted to be memorable and not to be just another flooring distributor. The final choice in name and spelling represents our commitment to be a model, or “star” by which others are guided to excellence as well as our courage to embrace new ideas. Both are tenets that we live by to this day.
Newly-born Florstar faced significant challenges from creditors, suppliers, competitors and customers. To survive, we embarked upon a program that emphasized efficiency, innovation, and dedication. Florstar built a team of talented people and surrounded them with state-of-the-art equipment and with strong flooring brands.
Almost 40 years later, our founding principles continue to guide us. Quality people, tremendous brands and state-of-the-art technology remain our philosophical cornerstones.
Florstar has come a long way from its inception in 1988. We are now one of the larger wholesale floor covering distributors, not only in the midwest, but in North America. FlorStar is privileged to partner with and serve as a distributor for some of the most globally-recognized brands in the industry, including Ardex, Armstrong, Audacity, Bella Cera, Bruce, Inhaus, Johnsonite, Milliken, NextFloor, Sika, and Tarkett. We also are proud to have won numerous awards from manufacturers and customers.
However, we remain humble and hungry. Family-owned and operated, we have neither forgotten the challenges facing independent business people nor lost the entrepreneurial spirit that this country and our company was built upon. While we are immensely proud of our growth and what we have accomplished, we are not concerned with being the biggest, only with being the best. Put us to the test and see what we can do for you.
Our Leadership Team
Wade Cassidy
Founder & Chairman
Scott Rozmus
President, CEO
Kelly Cassidy
Vice President
General Counsel
Michael Ricker
Vice President
Sales
Daryl Bradley
Commercial Sales
Manager
Greg Stirrett
Chief Financial
Officer
Our Distribution Area
Florstar Sales is headquartered southwest of Chicago, IL and distributes flooring throughout the midwest. We also provide logistical services for clients nationwide. Florstar's network of company and partner distribution facilities throughout Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are dedicated to providing customers with quality floor covering products and related logistical services. Below you will find a map of our trading area and the addresses of Florstar’s distribution facilities as well as those of our logistics partners.
Florstar Locations:
Logistics Partners:
- Illinois
- Indiana - Northern two tiers of counties (Illinois to Ohio border)
- Iowa
- Michigan, including U.P.
- Minnesota
- Nebraska - Omaha and Lincoln Areas
- North Dakota
- Ohio - Indiana border to Toledo area and surrounding counties
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin