The Floor Store

Cambria Hance: Flooring Fanatic

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RICHMOND — Cambria Hance developed a passion for the flooring industry as a young woman, thanks to an early introduction. “My mother was a real estate agent, so that was my initial connection to the industry,” she recounts. “I started as a greeter at property showings when I was 15 years old. At 17, I began working in the design center, where I helped new homebuyers choose among different options for flooring. That’s where I really found my passion for the flooring industry. Later, I worked for a stone company and gained a deeper understanding of stone and tile flooring products.”

In 2009, Cambria got a job working for The Floor Store, again due to a connection from a maternal family member. “I actually started working here because of my grandmother,” she explains. “She was purchasing flooring from the Dublin location and the salesperson she was working with was the assistant manager, who mentioned they were looking for more salespeople. My grandmother said, ‘My granddaughter is in the flooring industry,’ and through that I ended up interviewing and being hired. I started as a salesperson, moved up to management and eventually became general manager of all nine Bay Area locations.”

Today, Cambria says her favorite part of her job is interacting with customers. “I especially enjoy speaking to customers after their jobs are complete and hearing about their experiences—how the salesperson walked them through the process, set proper expectations and met those expectations. We really pride ourselves on our quality of service, so it’s very rewarding when the customers see that and appreciate it.”

A resident of Martinez (where she lives with her husband, Rocky, and their children), Cambria spends her time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “I like getting out of town and doing things with my husband and kids. For example, my husband owns motorcycles, so sometimes I’ll jump on the back of his Harley and we’ll go for a ride up in the hills. But in general, I just enjoy spending time with my family. They’re always my number one priority.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Cambria believes that virtues like perseverance and honesty are crucial for ongoing improvement. “In our industry, we’re always faced with new challenges and obstacles, and we have to persevere and work hard to make our way through them. We also need to be honest with ourselves about what’s working and what isn’t working. As a manager, there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing I did my very best and was honest with myself and my team about where we can improve. That helps us move forward and become a better company.”

When asked what she’d do if she were to retire tomorrow, Cambria says she’d plan a vacation. “The first thing I would do is shut my phone off,” she laughs. “Then I’d plan a trip. I’d probably spend a couple of weeks in Hawaii right away, followed by some international traveling.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: The Dead Fish in Crockett.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: I’m an early bird. I’m usually asleep by 9pm.

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I would go to the past to spend more time with family that I’ve lost over the years.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Halloween.

Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up?
A: The Little Mermaid.