Career Change Takes Local Resident into Booming Home Improvement Biz
This article was originally published in Patch on January 14th, 2025. Erick Sousa, aged 43, is the proud owner Floor Coverings International of Fall River, MA. Residing in Westport, MA, Erick’s territory encompasses Fall River, Taunton, and New Bedford. His career path is as diverse as it is inspiring, transitioning from a resolute pharmacist of 20 years to an enthusiastic entrepreneur in the flooring industry.
After 20 years as a pharmacist, Erick decided to make a significant career shift. His years in pharmacy taught him invaluable skills in helping people and solving their health issues. Erick shared, “There are far too many folks in healthcare and insurance making record profits and salaries all on the backs of patients who often cannot afford the care they deserve. It is a system that just no longer resonated with me. I did not like the idea of making money off people’s illnesses and more so driving profits for a large company with a limited personal return.”
“Compassion and the art of listening will help me in this new venture as it did in the pharmacy,” said Erick. “There are skills you can develop based on your character that you can then move to every business you transition to. What will make you feel better and happier are two important questions I ask anyone I deal with.”
Erick’s decision to leave the pharmacy industry was influenced by several factors: strict hours and limited flexibility, making it challenging to balance work and personal life, the struggle to secure time off, the daily commute becoming increasingly tiresome and unappealing, and the primary motivation to spend more quality time at home with his daughters.
What excites Erick the most about his new venture is the transformative power of flooring. He is passionate about creating unique and beautiful spaces using a variety of materials. The advent of vinyl and laminate products that resemble actual hardwood, yet are more economical and durable with waterproof properties, particularly captivates him. These innovations allow Erick to offer his clients practical and aesthetically pleasing solutions that enhance their homes. He also loved the idea of working for himself and being able to run a company the way he sees fit and to create a work culture where people will be happy to come to work daily and will be compensated appropriately based on their value.
Erick decided to join the Floor Coverings International (FCI) network for multiple reasons. He fully appreciated the company structure and values from day one. “They have a very similar culture to the aspirations I had for my own business, and their training and onboarding process were far beyond the other franchises I considered,” said Erick.
The big flooring favorites throughout the system? Pet and kid-friendly floors that clean up with one mopping and look like genuine wood. Local favorites are:
- Sustainable materials-homeowners are turning to laminate flooring crafted from eco-friendly materials such as recycled wood fibers.
- Authentic Wood Look: the demand for realistic-looking wood floors continues to soar.
- Waterproof Performance: Given erratic weather conditions, waterproof laminate floors are hot!
- Vinyl Flooring: As technology advances, vinyl flooring gets close to natural wood and stone looks easily cleaned with a damp mop.
- Carpet: There are still die-hard carpet lovers because of the feeling and look of cozy and warm. Not so much shag. Many more flat pile and textures and patterned looks are available.
- Engineered Hardwood Flooring: this is the best in luxury flooring offering real wood veneers with remarkably high quality and detail.
“I am a first generation Portuguese American and I want to fulfill my family’s dreams when they emigrated to the USA and achieve things that they were not able to. My parents sacrificed to raise myself and my siblings and I want to show them it was worth it,” Erick proudly concluded.
