About Paulson's Floor Coverings

Paulson's roots extend all the way to the post-WWI period, back when Calvin Coolidge was president! Guy W. Paulson, the great grandfather of our current owners, started a business making window shades in his home on March 24, 1924. Guy measured and took orders from home builders, while his wife, Bess, cut and fabricated the orders for him to install the following day. Thanks to their hard work, their business prospered, and in 1928 he purchased the assets and good will of the Rader Shade and Linoleum Co., whose slogan was, “A Shade Better Since 1921.” Mr. Paulson changed the company's name to G.W. Paulson Company and continued to expand his shade business, as well as the newly acquired linoleum trade, at 921 S.W. Yamhill St.

In 1935, Guy Paulson began a partnership with his brother, Max, and expanded G.W. Paulson Company into Tacoma, WA. Then in 1936, a third store was opened in Spokane, WA with his brother Curt. In 1937, Guy Paulson partnered with Jack Weiner to open Oregon Venetian Blind Co., at that time the largest supplier of Venetian blinds in the entire northwest. In 1938, Guy Paulson partnered with Jack Dorris to open Paulson-Dorris Rug and Carpet store on S.W. 10th and Washington in downtown Portland – the first domestic carpet specialty store in the Portland metropolitan area. In 1939 Mr. Paulson bought and completely renovated a two-story building at 820 S.W. Yamhill St., and consolidated his Portland-area carpet, linoleum, and window coverings businesses into a single modern floor covering store: a revolutionary home interiors concept for the area!

The WWII years took their toll, with extensive shortages of material and manpower creating an incredibly challenging time for the business, and Guy Paulson passed away in July of 1948. Richard G. Paulson, Sr., his son, assumed responsibility for the Portland business, while Guy's nephew Robert D. Paulson took over the Washington stores, although the Spokane store closed a few years after this transition.

In 1949, a Portland branch was opened in the Hollywood district, which at that time was an incredibly vibrant retail business district, second only to downtown Portland's prominence in the area. Shortly after opening, the store was renamed Hollywood Floors, and when the Portland headquarters moved to N.E. 31st and Sandy Blvd., the name was discontinued, and the downtown Portland store was closed.

In 1969, the Paulson's opened up Warehouse Floors, to cater to the growing DIY market. In 1971, they constructed a new building in the Market Place Center of Mountain Park in Lake Oswego, focusing on the burgeoning upscale market of that area. In 1981 Paulson's opened their Gresham store, followed by opening the largest floor covering store in Oregon in 1987, at our current Tigard building on Cascade Boulevard.

Then in 1989, Paulson's opened an entirely new concept in floor covering sales: Manufactures Carpet Outlet, or “M.C.O.”, sold to state-licensed contractors and dealers throughout the Northwest. In 1991 Paulson's forged a partnership with a new national purchasing network, and this operation became Pro-Source Wholesale Floor Coverings. In 1990, the Lake Oswego store was moved to a new ultra-modern store in the Director's Furniture building of Tualatin.

Richard Paulson, Jr. and his brother Don Paulson assumed leadership of Paulson's Floor Coverings from their father in 1985. Over the next few decades, they streamlined operations by closing Warehouse Floors, Pro-Source, and the Gresham location. The remaining locations were all re-branded as Paulson's Floor Coverings.

The fourth generation of Paulson family members, Tyler and Ryan Paulson, started in the warehouse at the family business the day they turned 14 years old. Over the years they worked numerous jobs throughout the company, eventually taking over from their father Richard and uncle Don in 2007. In 2012 Tyler and Ryan opened the Beaverton location, and shortly thereafter they moved the Sandy Blvd. store to Southeast Grand Ave. They continued Paulson's expansion over the next few years, opening a Vancouver store in 2015 and multiple Bend locations starting in 2018.

After a century of growth and change, Paulson's Floor Coverings remains committed to our core value: whether we are servicing our new home builders, commercial contractors, or the general public, our customers come first! We are honored to serve the needs of our customers, and look forward to another 100 years of providing the finest flooring and countertops in Oregon and Washington.

Some of the advantages you gain by shopping at Paulson's Floor Coverings include:

• Locally owned and operated for over 94 years.
• We buy directly from the world's largest carpet mills and floor covering manufacturers. Our purchasing power allows us to provide superb value to our customers.
• Large Inventory - We stock many popular products allowing for quick turnarounds on installations.
• We recycle your old carpet and specialize in environmentally responsible products.
• Unbeatable warranties to provide you peace of mind. Ask for details at any of our stores.
• Five convenient and spacious showrooms.
• Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful staff to assist you with all your design needs.
• We'll bring samples to your home and provide a complimentary professional measure.
• Professional, specialized installers who are committed to installation excellence.
• Large selection of carpet, area rugs, hardwoods, laminates, tile, granite, marble, bamboo, cork and vinyl.
• Multiple financing options available with approved credit.