After a long career in corporate marketing, Debbie Gartner of White Plains decided to combine her passion of design and creativity with the independence of small business ownership.
That led Gartner to open a Floor Coverings International store in Port Chester, the first one in the Northeast. Smyrna, Georgia-based Floor Coverings International is a shop-at-home floor covering retailer mostly located in the South and Midwest.
Gartner had worked for several years as a marketing executive for companies including Revlon, Procter & Gamble and Cadbury Schweppes.
“I was looking for a change of place and something I can call my own,” she said. “I always felt like I was making money for other people.”
Gartner began to explore her options at that point, and met with a franchise consultant to help her along the way.
In the past, Gartner said she found her work in design ”“ particularly repackaging projects for brands like Almay, Mott”™s and Hawaiian Punch ”“ and her long-time hobby of creating crossword puzzles very enjoyable. She said Floor Coverings International felt like the right fit.
“(Floor Coverings International) gave me the ability to employ a variety of skills from my former careers,” said Gartner. “If done right, design is a critical aspect in making the flooring in your home look beautiful. This isn”™t just about laying down carpet or hardwood anymore; it”™s about bringing your style to life.”
That aspect of going into customers”™ homes and working with them to decide on what design option is right for them was the most appealing aspect for Gartner.
“We involve the customer in the design,” she said.
The company has also recently launched FCIInspireNet, an IT visualization system that allows clients to upload a digital picture of a room in their home and view countless flooring options with the click of a button.
Gartner said this is exciting because it allows a customer to see how different flooring options would look in their homes before trying them.
The customer can view the results and additional samples in their own house or in Gartner”™s studio at 26 Putnam Avenue in Port Chester.
“For such a large investment, the flooring industry has provided very little certainty over the years. Sure, there are countless samples, but there really hasn”™t been a way to visualize the finished product before the installation is complete,” said Gartner. “The (FCIInspireNet) software puts an end to that ambiguity by bringing the flooring to life.”
On the Web: www.floorcoveringsinternational.com.
