Abbey Carpet & Floor: A Legacy of Excellence in Flooring Solutions

Founded in 1958 as a single floor covering store in Sacramento, California, Abbey Carpet & Floor has grown into a prominent franchise in the flooring industry. The company began franchising in 1966, becoming one of the pioneers in the franchising sector. Today, its headquarters are located in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Abbey Carpet & Floor specializes in offering a wide range of floor covering products, including carpets, hardwood, tile and stone, laminate, vinyl, and area rugs. Additionally, they provide window treatments, catering to both residential and commercial clients. Each showroom is locally owned and operated, ensuring personalized service and attention to detail.

What sets Abbey Carpet & Floor apart from the competition is its unique business model that combines the benefits of national buying power with the personalized service of local ownership. Franchisees gain access to exclusive branding, comprehensive marketing services—including digital and traditional advertising—and merchandising support.

Training

Abbey Carpet Co., Inc. provides training programs to support its franchisees, focusing particularly on enhancing operational and sales capabilities.

1. Voluntary Regional Training Programs: The franchisor may offer regional training sessions that are voluntary for members. These programs concentrate on sales and management skills development. Franchisees who choose to attend are responsible for associated costs, including a per-trainee fee, travel, accommodation, and meals.
2. Store Conversion and Setup Support: Although not labeled explicitly as training, Abbey provides on-site assistance to help franchisees convert their existing showrooms to conform with the Abbey Showroom standards. This includes delivering display racks, samples, and providing a store design consultant to assist in the layout and aesthetic of the store, which supports the franchisee in understanding and implementing the brand image and operational setup.‍‍

‍Territory Protection

Abbey Carpet Co., Inc. does provide a form of territory protection to its franchisees. Upon entering into a Membership Agreement, franchisees are granted a designated geographic territory, which is officially detailed in Schedule "A" of the agreement.

Within this assigned territory, Abbey commits not to open or license another showroom using the Abbey trade name, which offers a degree of territorial exclusivity. However, this protection is not absolute.

Franchisees may still face competition from other Abbey outlets or programs, such as the Abbey Floors At Home initiative, and from affiliates like Floors To Go that may operate nearby. Additionally, while initial territories are protected, they can be reduced upon renewal or transfer based on updated demographics and corporate standards.