Latest news with #FootprintsFloors
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Down to Business: Naperville-based franchise floor business an extension of family profession
Business: Footprints Floors Naperville/Fox Valley Address: Naperville Phone/website: 630-613-0519, Owner: Dan Yangas, 59, of Lombard Years in business: Started April 28 What does your business do? 'I don't do carpet, but I do tile and LVT, luxury vinyl tile. It looks like wood. Actually, it's a vinyl product. We install that and regular wood as well,' Yangas said. 'Footprints Floors has been around since 2008. They started franchising around 2013.' Why did you purchase this franchise? 'I've been in corporate American off and for my entire career. The last four or five years, I was seriously considering doing something for myself, going to work for myself. I looked into other franchising opportunities. This one stood out as being something that would fit my lifestyle and what I enjoy doing.' What's your area? 'Lombard to the east. Sugar Grove to the west. Most of Naperville north from 75th all the way up to Geneva and back east through West Chicago, Wheaton, Warrenville, Winfield, Lisle. … It keeps me busy. I enjoy meeting people.' What did you do before? 'I had been in sales my entire career, mostly in paper and security. … However, I grew up in the flooring industry so I'm quite familiar with it.' How so? 'I had a grandfather who owned a flooring store in Chicago in the 1930s and '40s. My grandfather was a tile setter. My uncle owned a flooring store in St. Charles and I worked for him through high school and college doing installations, deliveries and so forth. For him, it was carpet and tile.' What about your father? 'He was in the business his entire career. The last 10 years of his life, he owned his own hospitality furnishings company. They provided carpeting, furniture and so forth for retail (stores) and hotels.' Do you enjoy your work? 'I do. Very much. I've always enjoyed doing things like installing tile. All the tile in my house I've installed over the years.' Is there a science to tile? 'There is. You have to do it in a specific order, a specific way. The floor has to be brought to a certain level before you start installing. If it's too slick or too wet the mortar or thinset will not adhere to the floor so you have to condition the floor in a way that the thinset will stick to it. Thinset is what you set tile in. … You trowel it on and then you trowel it onto the back of the tile. … There's a lot of different tools you use.' How's business so far? 'It's good. It's been ramping up. … I'm happy with where things are. I certainly want to grow as quickly as possible.' How do you grow? 'Through social media advertising. Through stories such as this. Through referrals. … Angie's List. Thumbtack. Google.' What's your business philosophy? 'Show up when you say you're going to. Do the job in the time you say. And complete the job to their satisfaction. That's one of the things missing in a lot of the industries out there. The customer service. The attention to detail. The communication with customers. … I pride myself on strong communication. … It's a big disruption for people when they have floors or backsplashes or tub surrounds put in their home. You lose a bathroom or kitchen for days. It's important you have clear communication. We have different crews, but I'm there throughout the process to make sure the customer knows what's going on. … My goal is to get a five-star review from every customer.' What did you learn from your father? 'His attention to detail. He prided himself on good quality products installed correctly. … You don't want a slick tile on your bathroom floor. Slip and fall. You want a tile with some texture.' What happens when you meet a customer? 'Often times, a customer has selected a tile. They'll ask for suggestions. I will measure the area. Do they have dogs? What's their usage? You want to know if it's above or below ground. You don't want solid wood in your basement because solid wood absorbs and releases moisture. A basement tends to do that dramatically. … I do recommend to squegee your shower (walls) when you are done with your shower. That helps keep the tile clean.' What's your advice for someone starting a business? 'If you have an interest in a particular type of business, I highly suggest looking into a franchise because they have a lot of the beginning processes taken care of. That helped. That's one reason why I picked Footprints.'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peachtree City Franchisee Wins Franchisee of the Year Award at 2025 Footprints Floors Convention
Matt Therriault, owner of Footprints Floors of Peachtree City, was recognized at the brand's 2025 annual convention in Orlando for business success and dedication to customer service and the local community. PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Footprints Floors, the leading flooring franchise with over 150 active territories, recently hosted its 2025 national convention in Orlando, Florida. The annual gathering brought together more than 85 franchise owners, industry professionals, product representatives, and corporate partners for a weekend of education, collaboration, and celebration. Among the highlights of the event was the award ceremony, where Matt Therriault, owner of Footprints Floors of Peachtree City, was honored with the Franchisee of the Year Award. "I'm truly honored to receive this recognition," said Therriault. "Owning a Footprints Floors franchise has been an incredibly fulfilling journey, and I take great pride in the service my team provides to our community. Having our hard work acknowledged by the leadership team and my peers makes this even more special." The Franchisee of the Year Award celebrates franchisees who have demonstrated exceptional business growth, leadership, and commitment to excellence, achieving outstanding financial success while upholding the brand's values and contributing to their local communities. "We are honored to recognize Matt for his outstanding contributions to the Footprints Floors family," said Bryan Park, founder and CEO of Footprints Floors. "He embodies the dedication, professionalism, and entrepreneurial spirit that drive success within our system. We look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in 2025." The award ceremony was part of a larger event designed to set the stage for another year of growth and innovation. Franchisees participated in targeted learning tracks, discussion panels, and hands-on product demonstrations. The expo allowed owners to engage directly with top industry experts in flooring, marketing, financing, and other critical business services. This year's convention also marked the first since the launch of Footprints Bath and Tile, the brand's expansion into bath and tile installation. Attendees had the opportunity to explore this new division through informational sessions, product showcases, and discussions on how it complements the established Footprints Floors model. Footprints Floors continues to see strong growth, with the system expanding into new territories and franchisees experiencing increased demand for high-quality flooring solutions. This year, the brand is focused on expansion in key markets such as Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware. "Attending the Footprints Floors convention and celebrating the achievements of my fellow owners has been an inspiring experience," said Therriault. "I'm excited to take what I've learned here and apply it to my business as we continue delivering top-tier service to our customers." ABOUT FOOTPRINTS FLOORS: Upon his return to Littleton, Colorado, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Bryan Park noticed that Denver's flooring industry lacked a higher level of customer service and sophistication. So, in 2008, he founded Footprints Floors, which today specializes in installing hardwood floors, tile floors, backsplashes and laminates. With more than 150 territories, Footprints Floors offers franchisees a robust support system, including a call center, flexible hours for work-life balance and a low cost of entry with outstanding economics. For more information about the Franchise Times Top 500 brand, visit Media Contact Jessica Tcholkov, Mainland, 3125263996, jtcholakov@ View original content: SOURCE Footprints Floors
