North Carolina-based, multi-brand franchisee Jeff Barnwell decided to enter the hardwood flooring and tiling industry after recognizing Footprints Floors’ well-positioned business model, expert leadership team and impressive growth trajectory.
Footprints Floors, the 145-plus unit flooring franchise, has been growing exponentially this year as the demand for home services reaches an all-time high. The brand signed seven new deals in Q2 of 2021, including one with Jeff Barnwell, a lifelong North Carolinian and Wilmington business owner who is introducing the Footprints Floors brand to his community.
“I’m originally from western North Carolina, but I went to UNC-Wilmington in 1997 and ended up staying here,” Barnwell said.
“I graduated and went into pharmaceutical operations by starting at a contract manufacturing company, and then I moved on to quality assurance. I worked for a couple of companies in pharmaceuticals and chemicals helping with logistics, materials control and warehousing.”
In 2018, Barnwell decided it was time to leave this operations position and the corporate world.
“While in the corporate world, I was in a miserable position, and my wife had breast cancer,” said Barnwell.
“We were really struggling at the time. My wife recovered, and we decided to make the jump out of our corporate roles to make ourselves happy and spend more time together.”
Barnwell originally decided to dive into the world of franchising with a local power-washing company called Bio-Dry. After a successful few years with Bio-Dry, Barnwell wanted to expand his portfolio with a new concept.
“I wanted something very common and easily understandable,” he said. “Flooring is something that everyone has in their homes and is common. I also wanted something in the service industry and something that could get me home at night. I didn’t want the upfront cost of a building or to staff a restaurant. You factor in the COVID pandemic, and that shifted my perspective on what I was looking for.”
During the research process, Barnwell ran into some issues with other brands, but when he discovered Footprint Floors and met the corporate team, he said the difference was night-and-day.
“Footprints Floors CEO Bryan Park is actively trying to find new relationships to build that support for everyone within the system,” Barnwell said.
“There’s a lot of support between corporate and the other owners, so there is always somebody I can find and reach out to.”
In addition to support, Barnwell recognized the strength of the Footprints Floors business model. “It’s a business that has been done before and can be replicated,” he said. “Footprints Floors also has different relationships with suppliers and restoration companies that are being built for more opportunities. As the franchise grows, more people are interested in working with us.”
Now, Barnwell has opened his Footprints Floors location and is thrilled to serve the homeowners of the coastal Carolina area. “The dream is to be stable and growing,” he said. “I would like to walk down the streets of Wilmington knowing I’ve provided a business that is helping others.”
For those interested in replicating Barnwell’s path to business ownership, Footprints Floors aims to sign 48 new franchisees in 2021 and is targeting markets nationwide for expansion.