Floored: ‘Inspired’ Business Owner Focuses on Educating Clients

When Nancy Shipley’s job in “corporate America” was eliminated, she decided the time was right to become a small business owner.

Using all her managerial skills and new-found excitement, she opened Floor Coverings International (FCI) on Homestead Road in Hillsborough about a year ago.

Shipley entered this new phase of her life cautiously. She evaluated 8 franchise possibilities before deciding on FCI.

“I love their business model,” she said, reflecting her business degree and project manager certification. “It gives me the best of both worlds – corporate support but I am my own boss.”

Now that she has fully educated herself in the world of flooring through extensive and ongoing training, Shipley prides herself on educating her customers.

“I want them to understand what they’re buying. There are so many variables, in product and in price,” she said. “I can’t believe how excited I get about flooring.”

FCI, she explained, offers many varieties of carpeting, hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, luxury vinyl, tile (for floor, countertops and backsplashes), natural stone and environmentally friendly options such as bamboo and cork – in brand and private label brands names – for residential and commercial use.

The majority of the products, she pointed out, are made in the U.S.

The process begins with a phone interview to understand the client’s lifestyle and budget. “I want to find out the overall feel they are trying to project in their home, whether it’s Old World, country, fresh and clean, and how they will use the floor,” Shipley said.

She uses that information to make some initial suggestions and then schedules a free 45-minute in-home consultation. To help clients imagine the changes, she uses a visualization tool that creates a computer-generated picture of the client’s space with the new flooring.

“The right flooring,” Shipley said, “is an inspiration that adds value to the beauty of the home.”

Once a decision is made, she presents a “no-surprise” proposal. FCI is a full-service flooring business, bringing clients design, product and installation expertise, with licensed and insured career professionals.

Shipley selected the location at 249 Homestead Road, Building 5, Suite 9 for several reasons. No stranger to the area, she has lived in the Bridgewater/Flemington area for more than 20 years and husband John was born and raised in Belle Mead. The Hillsborough location was centrally located in the Mercer/Somerset/Hunterdon territory she serves and was an ideal space for her product.

It also enables her to continue her community involvement, which she feels is an important element of her business. The FCI franchise recently donated several rooms of carpeting to the Anderson House, a half-way house for women recovering from addiction.

To schedule an appointment or consultation, call 908-264-6348 or email nancy.shipley@floorcoveringsinternational.com.