Floor Coverings International Expands to Area

(Seattle, WA)-Mark Baldwin has launched a new business he hopes will become a family legacy. And in a way, he’s been preparing himself for more than two decades to become the owner, along with his wife, Katie, of Floor Coverings International of Seattle.

The 43-year-old Lake City resident spent 22 years working in corporate finance and human resources for both GM Financial and Amazon, leading both large and small teams in a variety of areas. Now he’s ready to put his corporate skill set to use as a small-business owner. “I’ve always thrived creating new things and helping people, but I wanted to do it on my own,” Baldwin said. “I’ve always enjoyed working with high-performing teams and Floor Coverings International is the best of the best. Their corporate mindset is customer obsession and that goes hand-in-hand with my experience at GM and Amazon.”

Floor Coverings International is changing the game for those looking to upgrade their homes or offices with new flooring. With their innovative and award-winning customer service tools and unique mobile showroom experience, customers can now view more than 3,000 flooring options. Launched in September, Floor Coverings International of Seattle serves customers throughout North Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline.

Katie Baldwin – who spent the past 10 years working in the beauty industry – has joined her husband and will be making a full commitment to Floor Coverings International in the coming months. The couple has two small children, ages 2 and 4. “We hope to build something that someday they could take over if they want,” Mark said.

The Design Associates at Floor Coverings International provide personalized assistance in choosing from their extensive collection of flooring styles and materials. The mobile showroom allows clients to see how different options will look with existing furniture, lighting, and paint colors all within the comfort of their home.

“Being out on my own for the first time is exciting, but partnering with a franchise that supports its franchisees and customers in the way that Floor Coverings International does is the most exciting part for me,” Mark said.

Floor Coverings International has already revolutionized the market as it consistently ranks as the No.1 Mobile Flooring Franchise in North America by Entrepreneur Magazine. As projected by Hardware Retailing, home improvement sales are expected to reach $625 billion by 2025 worldwide. The flooring industry is undergoing significant changes and innovations as consumers demand more quality, variety, and sustainability in their flooring choices. According to a recent report by Expert Market Research, the United States flooring market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.50 percent through 2028, driven by the increasing population, rapid urbanization, and growing investments in renovations and remodeling of infrastructures.

Baldwin said he is excited about a number of industry trends:

• Lighter and brighter wood looks/finishes. “Whether it’s hardwood or a luxury vinyl product, these looks bring a lot of brightness, durability and character to a home.”
• Wider variety of patterns and colors. “Larger-format tile is coming back in style, as well as muted shades of brown that really complement the terra cotta and greens that are showing up in design these days.”
• Textured looks. “Whether it be tile, wood or stone, they are all great ways to layer in a unique design element to your space.”

According to the latest figures, there are more than 5.5 million family businesses in the United States and family-owned businesses contribute to 57 percent of the GDP and employ 63 percent of the workforce. Baldwin said setting boundaries is an important part of making a family-owned business work.

“Work stays at the door, and we focus on the kids and pets when we get home,” he said. “At work, we each have our own duties and own that part of the business,” he said.

For more information about a consultation go to Floor Coverings International of Seattle.

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About Floor Coverings International

Norcross, GA-based Floor Coverings International has 240 franchises and 30 more under development throughout the U.S. and Canada and is growing rapidly. For franchise information, please visit www.flooring-franchise.com.