'This Is Just the Market': Shaw's Liebert Tells FEI to Stop Waiting for Recovery

Year four of consecutive demand declines has become the market itself, not a downturn to outlast — that was the message Shaw Industries' Benjamin Liebert delivered to independent contractors at FEI Group's annual conference, which opened October 22, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.

The three-day event gathers FEI's national network and buying alliance of independent contractors and showrooms across flooring, cabinetry, countertop, decorative plumbing and exterior building products, with companies preparing their plans for 2027.

FEI president Graham Howerton moderated the opening panel featuring Liebert of Shaw Industries, Scott Maslowski of Daltile, Stanley Bastek of Atlas Roofing and Dana Hudson of MasterBrand. The panelists declined to speculate on when housing might recover. They focused instead on how firms operate now.

What did Shaw's 'no recovery' message mean?

"We're not planning for a recovery," Liebert said. "I think all of us in this room are sick of talking about a recovery because, this is year four of consecutive declines in demand. At some point, this is just the market. This is just where we are."

Liebert said Shaw is concentrating on operational fundamentals and building three separate business scenarios — base, upside and downside — rather than banking on an economic rebound. He urged attendees to invest in ways that strengthen their businesses regardless of market conditions.

For practitioners, the implication is direct: budgeting models built on a rebound now carry more risk than models that treat current demand as the new baseline.

How are manufacturers deploying AI?

The panel turned to artificial intelligence in daily operations. Hudson described MasterBrand's use of AI to streamline processes, manage complex data and explore manufacturing efficiencies.

Bastek warned against letting technology spending crowd out people development.

"If you're not investing as much into your people and developing your leadership skills in your organization as you are in AI and technology, that's the miss," Bastek said.

What pressures remain in freight and forecasting?

Supply-chain pressures, rising transportation costs and forecasting accuracy rounded out the discussion. Maslowski detailed the challenges facing both domestic and international freight operations. He called for closer communication between manufacturers and their customers.

Maslowski also framed the path forward for attendees: adapt selectively, and hold onto what already works.

"I'm not a big believer that you need to disrupt your entire business, but you do have to lean in, remember your legacy, remember why you're here today," he said.

The afternoon featured a trade show where attendees connected with suppliers and discussed business opportunities. The conference continued the following day with educational sessions and additional networking.

FEI announced that its 2027 annual conference will run October 20–22 in Aventura, Florida.

The organization traces its roots to 1998, when Dave Gheesling and Andy Hogan co-founded Floor Expo as a buying group for flooring contractors serving the builder and multifamily sectors. It now operates as part of Nationwide Marketing Group, backed by Gridiron Capital.