Floor Coverings International Comes to Syracuse Region

(Syracuse, New York)-Brad Hawkins knew the importance of building relationships when he served as managing director of the Washington, D.C., office of a global asset management firm that provided wealth advice and planning to high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and non-profits. Hawkins was responsible for business development, client service, marketing, recruiting, hiring, and training. Now he’s transferring that same diligent, client-centric approach from his former decade-plus career to a new vehicle when he launches operations in March as a franchise owner with Floor Coverings International, the brand that’s consistently ranked No. 1 in the mobile flooring category, visiting customers’ homes in a Mobile Flooring Showroom stocked with thousands of flooring samples from top manufacturers. Floor Coverings International serves customers in Central New York within a 60-mile radius of Syracuse.

“Relocation is just one of the many trends emerging from the pandemic,” said Tom Wood, President and CEO of Floor Coverings International. “We are awarding many new franchises this year, and so many of the new owners state reasons relating to the pandemic for their decision to change careers and start their own businesses.”

The 40-year-old Hawkins, his wife and three young children moved to Camillus after spending almost 16 years in the Washington, D.C., area so the couple could raise their kids closer to family. During the pandemic they had reassessed their values: how they wanted to raise their family and how they were spending their time. They decided a major lifestyle change was in order that involved moving north. “Leaving my firm, my team and clients was really hard to do since I tremendously value the relationships I built over the years. However, we knew this was the right move for personal and family reasons,” said Hawkins, whose wife grew up in Baldwinsville and whose family still resides there. “The only definitive plan I had was not returning to corporate America and rather starting my own business. After many years in corporate America, I was excited to build something on my own.”

While some might consider Hawkins’ transition a 180-degree turn from his previous career in wealth management, he said there are more similarities than one would imagine. “While the end product was much different from flooring, the principles of delivering exceptional client service – building trust and relationships in the community, having consultative conversations with clients that lead to solution-oriented results and leading an engaged team focused on service – will serve me well as we build Floor Coverings International in Central New York,” Hawkins said.

In Floor Coverings International, Hawkins found a company that has tripled in size since 2005 by putting a laser focus on consumer buying habits and expressed desires, its impressive operating model, growth ability, marketing, advertising, and merchandising. Floor Coverings International further separates itself from the competition through its customer experience, made up of several simple and integrated steps that exceed customers’ expectations. For this, Floor Coverings International was given the Innovation Award for Customer Response from Franchise Update Media in 2020, and the same award again in 2021 for Best Use of Technology. Franchise Update is the benchmark publication and conference entity that is the Gold Standard of Franchising.

“I was blown away by the Floor Coverings International opportunity,” Hawkins said. “First, the differentiated business model of bringing the showroom to the customer’s home was extremely attractive. Second, the training and support the corporate team provides along the journey showed me how invested they are in the success of their franchisees. And third, the culture of the company shines through every day by way of their client-centric approach to everything.”

With the home improvement industry booming, the flooring market is also keeping pace. The global flooring market was estimated to reach $409 billion in 2021, according to Grand View Research. The market is expected to grow at an annual rate of more than six percent through 2028, reaching overall sales of $621 billion.

“We aspire to be our flooring clients’ trusted advisor,” Hawkins said. “I’m coming from a role in my former career where we served our clients as fiduciaries, meaning that at all times we had to do what was in the best interest of the client. My team and I are going to take that same approach with Floor Coverings International. I want to find solutions to flooring projects that are unique to the needs and wants of each client.”

For more information, visit https://syracuse.floorcoveringsinternational.com/ or call 315-960-5510.

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About Floor Coverings International

Norcross, GA-based Floor Coverings International has ranked consistently as the No. 1 Mobile Flooring Franchise in North America by Entrepreneur Magazine. The 181 franchisees and their Design Associates offer a unique in-home experience with a mobile showroom that comes directly to the client’s door. More than 3,000 flooring choices are available to view in the home with and alongside the existing lighting, paint, and furniture. The company will open several more locations throughout the U.S. and Canada through franchise expansion in 2022. For franchise information, please visit www.opportunities.flooring-franchise.com and to find your closest location go to www.floorcoveringsinternational.com.