Starting in 1971, Merle B. Smith was busy building one of the Midwest’s biggest wholesale distributors. Prior to founding his namesake business, Merle Smith worked directly for a hardwood mill. His love of the industry and of the product, prompted him to branch out on his own, and 40 years later, his vision is still going strong. In 2014, Merle B. Smith merged with E.J. Welch. As a team, they're leaders in residential and commercial flooring products in Chicago. With new technology in finishes and installation methods, hardwood has entered a renaissance. And we’re still right here, with the help of our team of hardwood flooring professionals, supplying the best people, products, and solutions to help complete the projects you start.