Recent Government Retiree Finds New Path in Footprints Floors Franchise

In 2023, Rich Ricciardi retired from the Secret Service. Having worked for the government for over 25 years, he wanted to do something on his own for his next chapter. In search of a faith-based franchise that aligned with his beliefs, Ricciardi came across Footprints Floors*, the flooring franchise with over 160 territories nationwide. 

After initially considering Footprints Floors and setting it aside, Ricciardi revisited the opportunity a few months later. He received a follow-up email, prompting him to take a closer look. As he explored further and engaged with the company, he was impressed by its family-oriented atmosphere and the support offered by the corporate team and CEO. The brand’s values resonated with Ricciardi and his wife, ultimately leading them to decide to move forward with the franchise. Now, they are bringing Footprints Floors to the Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Charlottesville Virginia, areas. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Ricciardi about his journey into franchising with Footprints Floors and his plans for the future.

FEATURE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Ricciardi: I was working with the Secret Service. I had done that for over 20 years. Prior to moving to Virginia last August, my last assignment was in Estonia, working at the embassy there. When I decided to retire and do something different, one of the things on my heart was to do something on my own, whether that was in the realm of a business or franchise. I was in the military prior to going into the Secret Service, so I've been working for the government for a while and I felt ready to do something on my own. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee?

Ricciardi: I knew that franchises — good franchises — had good systems in place. And a good system increases your chances of being successful with a business. So I had that perception of franchises. I understood a little bit about what makes a good franchise versus something that may not be a real good opportunity. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Ricciardi: I did a search online for faith-based franchises. Everybody knows about Chick fil A, but I was just looking to see if there was anything else out there because I figured, if I'm gonna go the franchise route, I wanted to do something aligned with my beliefs. Footprints Floors came up in the search and I looked into it a little bit more. Initially, I pushed it off, put it on the shelf, but then I came back to it after a couple months. I got a follow-up email from them and I looked into it a little bit more, started talking to them, and just gave it more exploration to see if this would be a fit for me and my family. After traveling to Colorado and meeting with their corporate team and CEO, I saw that it's very family oriented and how much they really strive to give you the support you need to be successful as a franchisee. That really resonated with me and my wife, and that was what put us over in making a decision to go forward with this franchise.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Ricciardi: We have a pretty large area that our territory encompasses here in Virginia. So, in the first year, our goal is to just build the brand name in the area, build the relationships with the customers and, hopefully, gain their trust. Ultimately, we would love to give back to the community in certain ways, whatever those might be, and in whatever ways might present themselves to us in the future. That's what's in our heart to do with this business. It’s not only about being financially secure on our side, but also about having it as a vehicle of being a blessing to others in some way. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Ricciardi: I'm just an average person. I don't want to make it about me. So much of this business is having a  servant mindset. Everyone — from the CEO to the corporate team that I met to some of the other franchise owners that I've spoken to — is what attracted me to this. Whether it's serving customers, charities, or the community in some way through our business and its success, that’s what it will ultimately be about for us.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Ricciardi: If you're looking at franchises, look at what franchises align with your personal beliefs and values. Make sure they have a good system and leadership in place. Make sure their goal is ultimately to support the franchisees and give them the best chances for success. 

ABOUT FOOTPRINTS FLOORS:

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 2008, he founded Footprints Floors, which today specializes in installing hardwood floors, tile floors, backsplashes and laminates. With more than 150 territories, Footprints Floors offers franchisees a robust support system, including a call center, flexible hours for work-life balance and a low cost of entry with outstanding economics.. For more information about the Franchise Times Top 500 brand, visit https://footprintsfranchise.com/.