Why This Seasoned Operations Expert Turned to Flooring
This article was originally published in Patch.com on March 24, 2026.
(St. Louis, Mo. March 2026) Mo Ragland, a South City resident and longtime retail and operations leader has recently opened Floor Coverings International®, the leading in-home flooring experience in North America. His unique Mobile Flooring Showroom™ is serving Saint Louis City and Saint Louis County.
Ragland’s path to entrepreneurship spans 24 years with Best Buy, where he started as a part-time employee in Philadelphia and steadily advanced through every role in the store. His career included serving as a General Manager in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, followed by a decade in multi-unit leadership positions such as Market Operations Manager and District Manager. Most recently, Ragland held an Associate Vice President role, supporting teams across the St. Louis Metro area, Southeast Missouri, Central and Southern Illinois, and Eastern Iowa.
“Best Buy was an incredible chapter for me. I grew as a leader and as a human, and I’m grateful for the people and the experiences,” said Ragland. “But I’ve always had the entrepreneur dream. Over the last few years, I’d look in the mirror and ask myself if it was time to step outside my comfort zone. This summer, after a lot of reflection, it became clear it was time to say yes.”
That decision led Ragland to explore whether to start a business from scratch, acquire an existing operation, or partner with an established franchise system. As he learned more about franchising, he realized he wanted a proven model that aligned with his values — one built around service, trust, and meaningful community impact. When he was introduced to Floor Coverings International, he said the fit was immediate.
“FCI was my number one choice from day one,” Ragland said. “The brand stood out because it’s centered on creating world – class experiences, and that’s always been core to how I lead. Every flooring project requires selling skills, inventory management, production, and coordination —work I’ve led at scale for years. And technology is a critical component that helps make the entire experience smoother for customers and for the team.”
Ragland believes the strengths he honed through decades of leadership – empathy, adaptability, critical thinking, decision-making, and human-centered leadership — translate naturally into his new role helping homeowners improve the spaces where life happens.
He also sees his new business as a personal commitment to the city he now calls home. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ragland spent the first 10 years of his career working throughout the tri-state area, finally landing in St. Louis. Soon after arriving, he says he felt he had found the right community.
“St. Louis is an awesome city, and I felt that instantly,” Ragland said. “Opening a business here gives me the chance to plant roots, create stability after moving so often, and make a tangible impact in the communities we serve. I’m excited to make St. Louis my home.”
As he begins meeting with local homeowners, Ragland is especially energized by today’s design-forward flooring trends, and the personalization customers are looking for in their homes.
“Don’t get me started about the new and amazing flooring available now. Best Buy taught me to recognize high quality and well produced products, and I see the same in the new flooring options.I love the focus on customization -wider planks, bold patterns, unique stains, mixed-material layouts,” he said. “People want floors that stand out. That gives us a chance to tailor the experience, help customers bring their vision to life, and create something that feels right for their home.”
For more information or to schedule an in-home consultation with Mo Ragland’s Floor Coverings International team serving Saint Louis City and Saint Louis County, call (314) 988-2455 or email Mo.Ragland@fcifloors.com.
About Floor Coverings International
Floor Coverings International is the #1 flooring franchise in North America with over 300 locations between the U.S. and Canada. Known for its unique customer experience and Mobile Flooring Showroom™, the business model brings over 3000 flooring samples to the customer’s door. For more information, please go to www.floorcoveringsinternational.com.
