Footprints Floors Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary with Nearly 50,000 Total Customers Served

In 2008, upon his return to Littleton, Colorado, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Bryan Park noticed that Denver’s flooring industry lacked a higher level of customer service and sophistication. So, in an unassuming Colorado garage, he founded Footprints Floors, specializing in installing hardwood floors, tile floors, backsplashes and laminates. 

Fast-forward 15 years, the brand has flourished into a 160-plus-territory-strong franchise, focused on providing integrity and a five-star experience to every single customer. Since day one, Footprints Floors has had a positive impact on the lives of an impressive 48,800 homeowners with its uniquely customer-centric and value-driven approach to flooring. 

“The past 15 years seem to have flown by, but it's enjoyable to reflect on where we started back then,” Park said. “We’ve come a long way, but even after all those years, I feel like we are just getting started. Countless opportunities lie ahead of us. Our journey hasn't reached a plateau; in fact, we're eagerly anticipating the next chapter.”

Franchising wasn't Park’s objective, initially. But five years later — due to the overwhelming amount of work and the realization that the brand was growing rapidly — he decided to bring fellow franchise owners into the system to expand in Colorado. In 2019, after establishing four franchises in the Centennial State, Park decided to expand beyond its borders. This expansion catalyzed the brand’s growth from four to 87 franchisees today operating in more than 160 territories.

Dan Satchell, one of the initial four franchisees, started his Footprints Floors business in Sedalia, Colorado in 2013. He was immediately impressed by the business model's simplicity and efficacy. 

“I reached out to Footprints Floors as a customer 13 years ago,” Satchell said. “Throughout the project, I had several conversations with Bryan about the business, leading to a series of phone calls where he asked if I was interested in starting a franchise in my area. Bryan’s explanation seemed almost too good to be true. The straightforward model allowed for hiring crews without having to be directly involved in the work. I didn’t have any prior experience in flooring, so the simplicity of the model was a key selling point.”

Footprints Floors offers franchisees like Satchell a scalable business model, a leading training program and a robust lead generation platform, which ensures they can ramp up quickly (between three to four weeks, on average). Franchise owners also don’t have to build or lease a showroom, nor are they limited to any particular set of brands when completing a job. This keeps costs low and margins attractive. Owners hire subcontractors for jobs, which allows them to focus on exceptional service and strong managerial leadership instead of navigating real estate and inventory — or worrying about eventual scaling costs.

How the Footprints Floors Brand Has Evolved

Over the brand’s 15-year history, Park says there have been many ups and downs, but two significant milestones stand out. The first occurred eight years ago when he was able to stop full-time field work and spend more time with his family — a luxury he aimed to pass down to fellow franchise owners.

“We've always homeschooled our daughters, and since I work from home, being more present with my family since has been immensely valuable,” Park said. “We wanted to design our business model so other franchise owners could achieve the same work-life balance.”

The second milestone was the launch of the brand’s First Fruits Fund philanthropic arm, which allocates 25% of the brand’s profits to benefiting various non-profits. Since launching First Fruits Fund, Footprints Floors has donated funding, materials and volunteered hours to various nonprofits.

“Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed the franchising experience, particularly the aspect of mentoring and aiding others in achieving the success I've experienced,” said Park. “We've mastered the art of delivering exceptional customer service while also ensuring profitability, effectively bringing new participants into our business model.”

Mark Duskus, a decade-long Footprints Floors franchisee in Colorado Springs, Colorado, marvels at the brand's evolution: “Bryan's vision to formally market and package this business into a thriving franchise has allowed the company to grow to a scale I never could have imagined,” Duskus said. “Reflecting on the early days in Colorado compared to where we are today is truly amazing.”

“A major part of that brand evolution has been the ongoing development and optimization of the business model,” Satchell says. “As Bryan's success grew, so did the quality of the organization and support provided. It's great to see these support tools and resources develop. Nowadays, franchisees have access to immediate assistance. Whenever I have a question, a quick phone call is all it takes to get a response.” 

Last year, for example, Footprints Floors launched optional Power Pack training weeks for franchisees to learn more about a specific product or process. The team hosted two different week-long training sessions where franchisees convened for in-depth hands-on training regarding relevant industry trends and technical skills.

As Footprints Floors worked to develop its existing owners, it also teamed up with industry giant Revel Woods to roll out the Footprints Collection, a premier product line designed with the Footprints Floors business model in mind.

Growth hasn’t slowed down. In 2023 alone, the brand added 15 new territories through 12 franchise agreements. And as new franchise owners continue to join, the Footprints Floors network only becomes increasingly enriched with shared knowledge and best practices, Duskus points out. 

“Footprints Floors really is unique as a franchise,” Duskus said. “The level of communication and support among fellow franchisees and from the corporate team really stands out from the stories I hear from other friends who are franchisees with other brands.”

Plans for the Future

Looking ahead to the next 15 years, Park says the flooring industry presents a vast opportunity for continued growth and innovation. The brand aims to further expand its presence in key states such as California, Massachusetts and New Jersey, while also tapping into new markets like Maryland and Delaware.

“As pioneers in our field, our focus remains on seizing new opportunities, enhancing national relationships, introducing new revenue streams and inviting more individuals into the Footprints family,” Park said. “I am profoundly grateful for the journey thus far and the successes we've achieved and we plan to stay on the path.”

As Footprints Floors celebrates this major milestone, every member of the Footprints family shares in Park’s excitement to usher in this next chapter.

“To Bryan’s credit, he always had this dream and he stuck to it,” said Satchell. “It's been amazing to watch the brand grow. It is definitely a point of pride to have been here since the beginning. I guess I had good instincts! I put my trust in the right person. It was kind of a longshot at the time, but I couldn’t be happier with the decision and look forward to the future.”

For more information on franchising with Footprints Floors, visit: https://1851franchise.com/footprintsfloors/info.