How Footprints Floors Nashville Grew Despite a Lumber-Shortage Crisis

2020 created the perfect storm for a nationwide lumber shortage, but one flooring franchise not only persevered but thrived. Footprints Floors Nashville, the flooring installation and restoration franchise owned by Josh and Natalia Byrd, has been flourishing since its opening in July 2020.

Pandemic lockdowns and closures, new protocols that slowed down mill production, a surge in home remodeling projects and a devastating wildfire season have turned the lumber industry upside down. Prices finally hit an all-time high in May of this year at $1,686 per thousand board feet, 406% higher than May of 2020. According to the National Association of Home Builders, this increased the construction price of a single-family home by nearly $36,000.

The Byrds’ goal was to reach $100,000 in revenue by the end of the year, and they exceeded that by $70,000. They set an even loftier goal of reaching $400,000 in revenue by the end of 2021, and are on track to reach that by the end of July. Consistently ranked as a top franchisee in Footprints Floors 50-plus unit system, the Byrds weathered the lumber shortage storm with ease.

“The success we’ve seen since our opening is a testament to our team and the strength of the Footprints Floors brand,” said Josh Byrd. “We were able to weather the lumber shortage crisis that so many other companies endured and not only survive it but come out the other side stronger than ever.”

How Footprints Floors Leverages a Unique Business Model and Flexible Service Options

Home renovations have seen a huge uptick over the past 18 months as people decided to tackle long-awaited projects. Footprints Floors is able to distinguish itself from other flooring companies with its unique approach to sourcing supplies and flooring vendors.

Normally, using a middleman like Footprints Floors causes flooring prices to increase due to the extra step between suppliers and customers. But the company provides customers with a list of lumber vendors to choose from, which eliminates the markup in price.

“Our business model allows us to send customers directly to suppliers and vendors, which means they can buy materials at wholesale prices,” said Byrd. “It helps them avoid higher prices, and gives them more control over the process, which is hard to find elsewhere. This definitely gave us an advantage during the past year, as lumber prices just kept going up with no end in sight.”

Due to Nashville’s recent flooding problems, the Byrds have also seen an increase in requests for tile—so much so that it now represents 25% of their business. The variety in Footprints Floors offerings, from hardwood and vinyl to tile and stone, give franchisees multiple revenue streams to adapt to the trends in their local market.

“Nashville has been getting more floods, which means our requests for tile are going up as customers tackle home projects,” said Byrd. “It’s now about a quarter of our revenue, which is more than we expected, but we’re grateful the Footprints Floors business model gives us the flexibility to offer a variety of products and services, especially when one of them [lumber] takes a hit like it did last year.”

What’s Next for Footprints Floors Nashville

The Byrds currently own two units in Nashville and are planning to expand to a third in the near future to own the entire Middle Tennessee region. They are well on their way to exceeding 2021 revenue goals and being a leading flooring provider in the area—impressive accomplishments, considering they’ve only been open for a year. And the recent drop in lumber prices hints at a stabilizing industry, which is good news for the long-term success of the business.

“The Byrds are an incredible addition to the Footprints Floors family,” said CEO Bryan Park. “Their performance in such a short period of time and in such a difficult economy has been amazing, to say the least. They have the right mindset and team in place to take the lead in the Nashville flooring market, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the second half of the year and into 2022.”

The startup costs for a Footprints Floors franchise range from $68,130–$95,580, which includes a franchise fee of $60,000 for a single territory. To learn more about franchising with Footprints Floors, visit https://footprintsfranchise.com/.