The Great Franchisee: Arnett Hudson, Footprints Floors, Philadelphia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, former corporate manager Arnett Hudson was furloughed from his job at a Fortune 500 company. That setback, however, proved to change the course of Hudson’s career for the better, inspiring him to become his own boss as one of the newest owners with fast-growing flooring franchise Footprints Floors*.

Hudson was the 50th franchisee to sign on with the brand, and the first to introduce Footprints Floors to the Philadelphia market, marking the franchise’s 100th territory.

We spoke to Hudson to learn more about his path to franchising and his experience with Footprints Floors.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Arnett Hudson: I have worked in corporate leadership and supervisory roles for most of my career, beginning in college. While I attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania, I held various jobs working in a managerial position, and I quickly realized that I enjoyed leading a team and working directly with the public. I’m a people person, and I loved the constant interaction and the challenges that come with being in a management role. After college, I immediately jumped into a career in upper management for three different Fortune 500 companies: Rite Aid, CVS, and Enterprise. Over the past twenty-five years with these companies, I have juggled customer service responsibilities in addition to profit assessments, inventory control and employee efficiency, not to mention handling all recruiting and hiring. 

All of the skills that I have developed throughout my professional career easily translate to being a successful franchise owner, and before franchising, I felt like all of my hard work didn’t always pay off in the way that I would like. Regardless of the hours that I would work, I would never have the opportunity to earn equity or a real legacy within these companies, and I was looking for a larger sense of purpose. I wanted to be able to redirect all of my hard work into a business of my own. 

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Hudson: I’ve been aware of franchising for quite some time; it was just not something that I thought of pursuing. However, in April of 2020, I was furloughed from my job due to COVID-19 and was subsequently laid off. When that happened, I had time to reflect and think about how I wanted to move forward with my life. I decided that it was time to pursue my dream of owning my own business. An otherwise dark moment in my life ended up turning into the opportunity of a lifetime. 

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Hudson: We’re living in a difficult moment for small businesses. I knew that I wanted to follow my longtime dream of becoming an entrepreneur, but the thought of stepping out alone in the current climate was a bit daunting. I wanted an opportunity to have autonomy over my business but with a support network behind me that I could leverage at any time. It’s truly the best of both worlds — independence with the benefit of having years of collective experience and business knowledge at your fingertips that you can tap into at any time. 

1851: How did you perform your research?

Hudson: My research was pretty meticulous. I poured over information online, digging deep into franchise backgrounds before scheduling phone calls with members of the corporate team and other franchisees to get a better sense of each company. I spoke with anyone and everyone, asking all questions that I could think of to make sure that I was entering into a decision fully prepared and comfortable with the choice that I was making. 

1851: Why did you pick Footprints Floors? What excited you most about the potential?

Hudson: Coming from my background in management, customer service is key for me. I know the importance of effective and positive customer service, and I was impressed with the tremendous emphasis that Footprints Floors placed on customer service and satisfaction. There is no better way to attract and maintain a loyal customer base. The Footprints model aligned perfectly with my views, and each conversation that I had with members of the corporate team made me even more excited to jump right in. 

Additionally, I was immediately attracted to the fact that the Footprints Floors model doesn’t require a brick-and-mortar location, which gives me the autonomy to decide whether or not to have employees on our launch date. Most importantly, I was looking for a company that could lead to success without forcing me to deal with immediate issues or high call volumes 24/7 since I value the time spent with my family. I wanted an opportunity that would provide me with sovereignty over my schedule, and this does just that. 

Finally, as I got further along into my research, I was blown away by the members of the corporate team. The support from Mike Edwards and the rest of the team has been astounding. At one point, I sent Mike an email with a question, and I received a thoughtful response in moments. That solidified it for me — I wanted to be a part of a company that cared so deeply to respond so promptly. The training process has also been incredible, and I feel like I’m entering into ownership with the skills that I need to hit the ground running and achieve success. 

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Hudson: I’m excited to be one of the first Footprints Floors owners in the Northeast, and I look forward to building the Footprints Floors brand to help make it a household name. I am the company’s 50th franchisee, and my opening will mark Footprints Floors’ 100th territory, so there is already a lot of buzz around the opening! Right now, my focus is on this first location and making it successful, but I have plans to grow from there. 

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Hudson: My advice is simple — do your research. I can’t stress it enough. Research every aspect of the brand — its mission, corporate team members, current franchisees, and make sure that they align with what you are hoping to achieve for yourself and with your business. Becoming a franchise owner is no small decision and it should not be made lightly. It requires research and lots and lots of questions. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Hudson: I love going for long walks and using that time to learn new things by listening to podcasts. I’m also a huge sports enthusiast, and I enjoy watching and playing sports in all forms. My children are both currently involved in sports as well — soccer and basketball — and that keeps me busy! 

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, carpet, tile floors, backsplashes and laminates. With more than 50 current locations, 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.