Preface: Lancaster business history — With headquarters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Armstrong World Industries is today a global business. Learn about one of Lancaster County’s business leaders. 

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In 1860, Mr. Armstrong launched a two man, one room, cork-cutting shop in the new frontier of western Pennsylvania, carving bottle stoppers. Mr. Armstrong was the son of a Scotch-Irish immigrant. Credited with obtaining success because he adhered to a family credo of hard work and faith, Mr. Armstrong worked with employees who held the same values, and who were dedicated to manufacturing quality products that upheld the Armstrong name. Mr. Armstrong was so conscientious in his business decision that he was among the first entrepreneurs to retire the old business maxim of entrepreneurial trail blazers “Caveat emptor” (“Let the buyer beware”). Instead Mr. Armstrong’s credo was “Let the buyer have faith”. As customer faith increased in the Armstrong brand, so did national sales. In 1891 the company was the largest cork supplier in the world. That year Armstrong was incorporated.

In 1906, Mr. Armstrong’s market research and entrepreneurial insights had him strategizing the solid foundation of the businesses future in linoleum. In the same year, construction began on new factory in a cornfield at the edge of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It wasn’t always easy. In 2006, Armstrong emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In 2014, Armstrong World Industries net sales were $2.5 billion, with operating net income of $60 million.

Today Armstrong operated 32 plants in eight countries and has more than 8,500 employees worldwide. Mr. Armstrong’s formula for success? Keep to your core business values, but adapt to changing conditions as the market and your customer demand.

A century later that business formula still works.

“Let the buyer have faith” credo – watch and learn about one the stories here.