Linoleum Larry's, Inc. Comparative Summary

Linoleum Larry’s Inc.'s is a family-owned, San Francisco-based company that offers complete floor covering services, from sales to installation. “We’re a small company, so when you walk in, there won’t be 15 people ahead of you waiting to talk to a salesperson,” says Gail Corridan, who’s owned the company with her husband, Bob, for the past 20 years.

Mrs. Corridan says her business’ family touch is evident as soon as you enter the store, where she and her staff can show customers samples and discuss various flooring options. Once customers have made their selection, Mr. Corridan or his son, Bob Jr., can come to their house and give an estimate on their upcoming flooring project.

Linoleum Larry’s professional installers are all employees of the company. “We use our own installers, which ensures higher quality installations,” says Mrs. Corridan. “Unlike big box stores that might work with 100 subcontractors, our installers report directly to us. I’m comfortable with the installers we send to clients’ homes, because they’re people who’ve worked with us for many years.”

The Corridans believe this employee longevity translates into a positive business experience. “The minimum training program for our installers is four years,” says Mrs. Corridan, “so they’ve all been apprentices for at least that long. When you add up all their experience, they each have at least 20 years in the trade.” Out of courtesy to customers, it’s their practice to always work cleanly and quietly to keep disruption to a minimum.