Georgia Native Justin Kidwell Opens TWO Northeast Atlanta Footprints Floors Locations!

Congratulations are in order for Justin Kidwell, who decided that starting a flooring business with faith-based Footprints Floors was the right move in 2020! Now up and running along under the supervision of General Manager Greg Bowman, Justin’s two Footprints Floors territories are able to serve cities in Northeast Atlanta, including the Lawrenceville/Suwanee area.

We caught up with Justin to talk about starting a flooring business, and to find out what made him choose to invest with Footprints Floors. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself. What is your personal/professional background prior to starting a flooring business with Footprints Floors?

A: A native Georgian, I grew up just northeast of Atlanta in Duluth. I received a B.B.A. in finance from Georgia State University and an M.B.A. from Kennesaw State University. I make my home in Auburn, GA with my wife Nicole and three kids Grey (8), Andie Lou (6), and Howell (4). Professionally, my 15-year career has been spent managing commercial real estate projects and transactions across the Southeast.

Q: What are some of the hobbies or interests you enjoy in your free time?

A: I enjoy coaching youth soccer, playing pickleball and tennis, and reading. I also love classic Chevy cars and trucks and have owned several over the years.

Q: How did you first learn about Footprints Floors?

A: I first learned about Footprints Floors Christian Franchise from Sue Derene who is a franchise consultant based in Alpharetta, GA, and the owner of Franchise Connect Pro, LLC.

Q: What made you decide that starting a flooring business with Footprints Floors was the right fit for you?

A: Footprints Floors is the right fit for me because I feel like the organization truly cares about its Franchise Owners. Also, its system of values aligns with mine which gives me assurance that it will always operate with honesty and integrity and make decisions that are in the best interest of the Footprints brand and the organization as a whole.

Q: What did you like about Footprints Floors’ business model?

A: Overall, I really liked the simplicity of the Footprints Floors faith-based business model. Specifically, I was drawn to the low overhead and the ease with which the business can be scaled up and down. I also liked the proven track record of using HomeAdvisor as the primary means for lead generation. Lastly, I liked the professional services and tools (i.e., customer service reps, technology services, ClientTether, Joist, etc.) provided by the Footprints headquarters thus allowing Franchise Owners to focus more of their attention on sales and production.

Q: What did you like about meeting Footprints Floors’ Founder Bryan Park and the rest of the corporate team?

A: Meeting Footprints Floors’ team gave me a chance to understand who they are, what’s important to them, their beliefs and core values, and their vision for the organization. It went a long way in helping solidify my decision to become a Faith-Based Franchise Owner.

Q: What did you like about the Footprints Floors Discovery Day?

A: The Footprints Floors Discovery Day gave me a behind-the-scenes look at the business including the franchise’s technological infrastructure, the foundational elements of the business (marketing, sales, and production), and how success is measured.

Q: Some of our Franchise Owners talk about a specific “a-ha moment” where they realized that starting a flooring business with Footprints Floors was the right move for them. Did you have a moment like that? 

A: My “a-ha” moment came when I was watching a webinar, “A Conversation with Bryan Park & Aaron Benedict,” hosted by Franchise Growth Mastermind. Three things really resounded with me. First was the simplicity of the business model with its low overhead and scalability. The second was how the business was started during the Great Recession which was reassuring given the pandemic we’re in. Third and last was Bryan’s calm demeanor and perceptible servant leadership coupled with all of the positive things that Aaron had to say about his personal experiences as a Franchise Owner.

Q: Why did you want to become an entrepreneur?

A: Part of me has always wanted to own and operate my own business. I just didn’t quite know how I would go about doing it and the kind of business I would pursue.

Q: What do you think will make you successful as a Franchise Owner?

A: I think two things will make me successful. First, following the Footprints Floors business model, as it has a proven track record. Second, the determination not to give up coupled with a willingness to self-reflect and improve my shortcomings.

Q: What sets Footprints Floors apart, in your eyes, from other franchise opportunities in the Service Industry?

A: In my eyes, a number of things set Footprints Floors apart from other franchise opportunities in the service industry. First, the initial financial investment is quite low. Second, once open, overhead is very low which in the short run significantly increases the chances of success and in the long run increases the viability of the business especially in economic downturns. Third, Franchise Owners can make money as soon as the business is open and very quickly reach profitability. Fourth, Franchise Owners are not required to purchase materials through the franchisor and as a result are able to form relationships with local suppliers. Fifth, Footprints Floors has a great infrastructure in place in terms of support and technology thus allowing Franchise Owners to focus more of their attention on sales and production.

Q: What has been the best part of your experience with the Footprints Floors corporate team so far?

A: The best part of my experience with the Footprints Floors corporate team has by far been their patience and flexibility with my becoming a Franchise Owner. From start to finish, the process for my discovery and purchase took about seven months. All along the way, though, Corporate more than anything felt like a partner, which put me at complete ease.

Q: What advice would you give to a potential Franchise Owner who is thinking about starting a flooring business with Footprints Floors?

A: Look at the values of the organization you’re about to go into business with. Consider your initial investment and how long you think it will take to recoup it or if you can adequately and consistently service your loan if you funded the business with debt. Consider the infrastructure and tools in place, your cost for those as a franchisee, and whether or not they will add value to your business and help you be successful.

Q: Why did you decide that starting a flooring business was a better investment than starting a business in a different industry like the restaurant industry?

A: The cost of entry for the restaurant industry is hundreds of thousands of dollars at a minimum. Owners need real estate, equipment, employees, inventory, etc. The hours are long. And, because margins aren’t particularly high, owners oftentimes need to own several restaurant locations before realizing significant financial gains.

Q: What do you look forward to most about owning your own Footprints Floors franchise?

A: I look forward to living out a dream that I wasn’t sure would actually come to fruition. I also look forward to seeing how my business as well as the Footprints brand will grow in the years to come and how I will grow both personally and professionally.

Instead of starting a flooring business independently, Justin made the decision to franchise with faith-based Footprints Floors and receive all the benefits of being a Franchise Owner with us, including comprehensive Franchise Owner training, in-depth corporate support, and access to our call center, which handles ALL lead generation, appointment scheduling, and customer service queries, allowing him to grow his business faster while still having time for a good game of pickleball!

Glad to have you on board, Justin! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for your NE Atlanta territories!

Interested in starting a flooring business with Footprints Floors? Visit our franchise website to learn more. 

We got to know more about Martin, including what prompted him to invest in our affordable, faith-based franchise, his expectations for future success in his market, and what kind of experiences he’s had so far as a Franchise Owner. 

Finding an Affordable Franchise in Little Rock- Martin’s Story

Martin has worn many hats in life, but we noted how he had embraced change and continued growing all through; he never stops at the same spot. He encountered Footprints Floors while researching affordable franchise businesses that could offer a good return on his investment. 

Footprints Floors stirred his interest so much that he entered our Franchise Education Process, went all the way through to be awarded his Little Rock franchise territory, and has not looked back since.

When it came down to choosing to invest in Footprints Floors, Martin gave us two reasons why he felt it was the right move for him:

First, the business model resonated with Martin and his love for home improvement, especially flooring. As a manager of established companies, the business model made sense to him from a managerial perspective. 

He could also tell that success as a Franchise Owner was achievable and not far-fetched. He was looking for an investment that he would enjoy, that would give him value and time for himself and his family. The Footprints Floors franchise was offering all that – plus the potential to earn unlimited income.

More Than Just an Affordable Franchise – It’s FAMILY!

As a Franchise Owner, Martin now puts his focus and effort into ensuring that he satisfies customer needs and gives them a quality experience. He is rolling his sleeves and putting the knowledge acquired over many years into action.

Martin is not new to startups either, with many years of experience in various roles, including several management and supervisory positions in his previous line of work. He has dealt with customers and appreciates customer satisfaction, qualities he brings to his franchise.

A problem-solver by nature, Martin has always had a genuine interest in home improvement, and this affordable, Christian Franchise was just what he needed to push him forward. When the opportunity presented itself, he could not hold back. His franchise is now the first Footprints Floors in Arkansas, and he wants to take advantage of the great potential within the state and lay the foundation for a reputable franchise. 

When he met with our corporate support team at Footprints Floors headquarters in Colorado, Martin felt at ease as he realized that they are genuinely interested in the Franchise Owners’ growth and individual success. It gave him an affirmation that it was the appropriate investment for him. He appreciates that the corporate team takes time to support and guide new Franchise Owners to their maximum potential. 

During his Discovery Day, Martin enjoyed the experience at the job sites. He saw firsthand how the business model produces results. At the end of the day, he had a conversation with Footprints Floors Founder Bryan Park, which sealed the deal. He noticed their like-mindedness in the outlook towards life and investment. He knew that in addition to being an affordable franchise, owning a Footprints Floors would be a perfect fit for him and his family.

The Footprints Floors corporate team is one of the best aspects of owning a franchise, says Martin, sharing that he feels right at home with the positivity and energy they bring. “They provide support and communication with unmatched capability, making them such a great team to be around,” he says.

On venturing into entrepreneurship, Martin believes he has done all there was to do in employment, and he is now ready to focus on his franchise. “After delegating tasks over many years, gaining all the knowledge I have, experience, and skills, I decided to invest in myself,” he explains.  He believes he will be a successful entrepreneur thanks to the formula of perseverance and determination he attributes to previous career successes, noting, “You will never succeed if you are scared of failure.”

Martin considers Footprints Floors as an affordable franchise that has set itself apart from other service industry investments. There is a demand for the franchise’s services, aside from being a venture that directly impacts customers’ lives. 

Footprints Floors’ business model did not just offer Martin potential unlimited growth; it came at a relatively affordable cost. After working for multiple companies managing and opening new operations on their behalf, it is time for Martin to invest in himself and grow. He is well equipped and will utilize his managerial and problem-solving skills in his Franchise.

Looking Ahead to Owning an Affordable Franchise in a BOOMING Industry!

As a Franchise Owner, Martin now looks forward to growing his business and enjoying the flexibility of hours and making his schedule his way. He is also looking forward to the immense potential of sales and income. In addition, his main aim is to connect and help customers build the home of their dreams, the core business of the franchise. 

Martin also has great discipline and leadership skills from being an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army in his earlier years. He feels confident that these skills will help him in the running and maintenance of the franchise. He advises fellow and potential entrepreneurs to conduct proper research on their states’ laws and regulations before starting home improvement services.

Best of all, the flexible work-life balance that comes with owning a faith-based Footprints Floors franchise gives Martin the time to enjoy his favorite pastimes while still achieving his entrepreneurial goals. “I can now focus my family, and also dedicate time to my hobbies, including scuba diving, hunting, fishing, house remodeling, skydiving, hiking, working on cars, and gardening,” he tells us, adding, “My interests are God, family, and the great American dream.”

As Martin embarks on his new career as a Footprints Floors Franchise Owner, we are excited to see how his great confidence and previous career experience will help him expand his Little Rock, AR franchise territory and add to the great reputation for customer service that our affordable franchise has already established in other markets nationwide. 

Are you feeling like it’s time to break free from the 9-to-5 corporate grind and find your own success as a business owner? As an affordable franchise opportunity with great potential for quick ROI, Footprints Floors helps Franchise Owners just like Martin live a more balanced life while providing a necessary service to homeowners in their communities and doing something they can feel great about every day. Please visit our franchise website for more information.

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram. Connect with us via LinkedIn. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

At Footprints Floors, our faith-based, flooring franchise family is endlessly proud of our Franchise Owners and the hard work they do to build their businesses. All of our Franchise Owners come from a wide variety of backgrounds, so it’s always interesting to catch up with them and talk more about what drew them towards owning a Footprints Floors Franchise. 

Steve Namio, a married father of two and passionate Packers, Badgers, and Brewers fan, is our very first Wisconsin Footprints Floors Franchise Owner, so we were excited to chat with him about his Madison-based flooring franchise business. 

Steve’s Journey to Flooring Franchise Ownership

Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Steve is no stranger to working in sales and building relationships with customers. While he started his career in sales and customer service, he transitioned to the life of business ownership with his own sports pub a few years ago. His wife, April, also owns a gymnastics gym, and he often helps out with her business when he’s not working on his own. 

After years of owning his own sports pub, Steve decided it was time for a change, and his wife discovered Footprints Floors as they were searching for franchise opportunities. Steve was immediately drawn in by the idea of running a business where he could work in in-person sales, but without needing to maintain his own premises or hold an inventory. 

Steve was also inspired by his wife to take the leap into franchising. “I’ve watched my wife become a successful entrepreneur, and I’ve been lucky to be a part of her business,” Steve says. Having watched her work hard to build her gym, Steve knew that he wanted to be an entrepreneur. 

With his visions firmly set on a flooring franchise business, Steve made his way to the Footprints Floors Discovery Day after spending time learning more about us with our Franchise Development Director. He says the highlight of his day was meeting with our Founder, Bryan Park, and seeing real Footprints Floors job sites. 

It’s here that he learned more about the Footprints Floors business model, which he says is the biggest reason why he wanted to own a Footprints Floors territory. Learning more about the personal call center support we offer each of our Franchise Owners, Steve was thrilled to learn that our call center team would set appointments for him, as well as handle appointment bookings and lead generation. 

Through his years of experience working in sales, he also knew that he wanted a business that gave him the flexibility to approach customer relationships in his own way. Thankfully, he found that Footprints Floors gave him the freedom to do just that, which is when he decided that Footprints Floors was the franchise opportunity for him. 

Steve credits the ease with which he set up his Footprints Floors business to our corporate team, whom he says were “accessible, friendly, and helpful.” While he knew starting his business would come with a lot of ups and downs at the start, and he’d be facing a steep learning curve having never worked in flooring before, he knew he could count on the support and guidance from our corporate team to help him every step of the way. 

With over 120 hours of training before Steve opened his Footprints Floors business and all the marketing tools he could ever need, Steve’s passion for customer service and family values were all he needed to shine as the newest Franchise Owner of our nationally-known flooring franchise. 

Looking Ahead to Flooring Franchise Success

Since investing in Footprints Floors and opening his own business, Steve’s been working hard to grow the franchise throughout Madison and the surrounding areas. While his wife inspired him to be his own boss and work hard to make his business successful, he also appreciates that he doesn’t have to do everything alone. With regular training opportunities, webinars, and a robust support network behind him, Steve’s safe in the knowledge that faith-based Footprints Floors will continue to help his flooring franchise territory grow. 

Having owned a Footprints Floors business for a while now, we asked Steve how owning a franchise in the service industry differs from his experience working in the restaurant industry. “I like that I don’t have to deal with employees,” he tells us, particularly as he used to find managing teams stressful. “I also enjoy the one-on-one [conversations] with customers, and [seeing] an awesome finished product when you’re done.”

As one of our Franchise Owners, Steve has the added benefit of never needing to hire employees to fit or renovate flooring. Through our industry-leading system, Footprints Floors helps Steve to manage subcontractors to complete the work for his customers, which allows him to pass on the cost savings from not needing any employees on the payroll. 

That’s not to say it’s all work and no play for Steve, however. Outside of work, Steve loves putting his personal trainer certifications to good use and spending time with his family. Along with his wife April, he loves riding his bike around Madison’s beautiful riding trails and walking his two German shepherds. With two grown children, Alli and Joe, and five grandchildren in the area, Steve loves that his Footprints Floors business gives him the flexibility to schedule time away from work and spend quality time with his family. 

If you’re looking for a Christian Franchise opportunity that treats you like family, supports your growth, and allows you to work from home, then look no further than Footprints Floors. We’re proud to have ranked #463 on this year’s Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, and we can’t wait to continue building on our and our Franchise Owners’ success in the years to come. 

Want to learn more? Have burning questions you need answers to? Head over to our franchise website, where you can find out more information about how to invest in a Footprints Floors Franchise territory and the unmatched level of support we offer our Franchise Owners.

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram. Connect with us via LinkedIn. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.