Today we’d like to introduce you to Otis Carter.
Hi Otis, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I practically grew up in the flooring business, learning the trade from the ground up under the guidance of my uncle. He was an incredible mentor who made sure I mastered every single type of flooring installation. His philosophy was simple: learn it all so we could take on full-house jobs and never have to turn a customer away.
I spent 22 years doing hands-on floor installations in Louisiana before bringing that deep experience to the Texas Hill Country. On May 1, 2013, I opened our first retail location right here in Dripping Springs, Texas. Over the years, as we welcomed more and more clients traveling from the Horseshoe Bay area, I decided to expand and opened our second location in Marble Falls, Texas, in December 2019.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We face all the usual business struggles. Honestly, I was pretty worried when I first opened because I didn’t know a single soul in Dripping Springs. My very first sale didn’t happen until our 30th day of being open—but right after that, business completely took off.
When I launched the store, I was the sole employee. Shortly after, my wife’s grandmother stepped in to answer the phones while I was out measuring jobs, which allowed me to hire my first salesperson just six months later.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am incredibly proud to have transitioned my hands-on trade into a thriving business, and it is genuinely rewarding when fellow installers look to me for industry advice. We have intentionally built our store to offer a boutique experience. Our sales consultants guide customers through the entire process, prioritizing education so that every client feels confident and fully informed about their purchase.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For me, finding a mentor was easy because it was my Uncle. But if you don’t have a family connection to the flooring industry, you can look into trade schools and certificate programs. Another great option is to stop by local flooring stores and ask the owners if they know any mentors. Even if a business owner has never installed a floor themselves, they usually have contacts for experienced installers looking for a journeyman. The establishments likely to provide the most assistance are small, independent stores similar to my own.
Pricing:
- competitive rates
- higher than big-box clearance
- We don’t cut corners to meet big-box store prices
- specialized service
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Carterfloorsandmoretx.com
- Instagram: Carterfloorsandmore
- Facebook: Carter Floors and More LLC
