By Mark Ambrogi
Ann and Greg Beriault were looking for the right franchise.
The Carmel couple found the right fit with Flooring Coverings International, opened April 18.
There will be a mobile show room in a van with more than 3,000 samples of all kinds of flooring from hardwood, tiles and carpeting.
“We’ll come to people’s homes and consult,” Ann said. “Neither one of us have any flooring background. My background is in advertising. I was a partner at Young and Laramore (advertising agency). I left in 2011 and have been doing marketing consulting. My husband was a federal agent for the U.S. Postal Service. He retired from that six years ago and had since been working for CNO Financial Group.”
Greg left the position in late March, and now, both are full time in the business.
“I’m using my marketing and advertising skills, and Greg is also a CPA, so he’s using all his financial skills,” Ann said. “We’re a good team.”
The Beriaults hired a consultant to share some of the best franchise opportunities.
“Floor Coverings International appealed to us because it had a great track record,” Ann said. “They’re own by a company called FirstService Brands and have other franchises such California Closets and CertaPro Painters. We liked their model and we liked their experience with in-home sales. We like the idea of bringing joy to people. Flooring is a big deal, and it’s a lot of money, being able to change up their home in an easy fashion where they don’t have to go from store to store.”
The Beriaults have been training since January to learn about the flooring business.
“We’ve been studying our heads off. It’s like going back to college again,” Ann said.
The couple can market in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist and Zionsville.
“Because there aren’t any other franchises in Indiana yet, we can service the state but we have marketing territory,” she said.
For more, carmel.floorcoveringsinternational.com
