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Momentum
A Pattern of Trust
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Before founding Momentum Textiles in the mid-1980s, CEO John Wilkinson spent years shaping his understanding of the upholstery industry. After graduating from the University of Texas, he joined Van Waters & Rogers and later transferred to Hickory, NC in 1970—working in an upholstery-fabric branch that served residential furniture manufacturers. In the afternoons, after finishing his daily responsibilities early, John began calling on contract furniture makers across Hickory and High Point, NC. That steady side effort grew into a thriving upholstery- supply business and ultimately laid the groundwork for what would become Momentum. Early sales meetings took place around a single conference table, supported by just a handful of reps covering multiple states. John’s leadership was shaped by simple principles: pair culture with strategy, listen to the people closest to the work, and treat everyone with fairness. He remained especially proud of creating an environment where women were supported and respected at a time when that was far from common. That people- first approach—and his belief in harnessing the “brainpower” of every employee— carried Momentum through challenges and growth alike. In retirement, his hope endures: that Momentum continues striving to be “the best in the world,” powered by the character and collective purpose that shaped its earliest days.
John Wilkinson Founder History.
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