Fosters on the Go with new Floors to Go Franchise
New Business Owners Relocate to leave Past Business Practices in the Past

As if buying a business was not tough enough, what do you do when you purchase an existing business only to learn later that the persons owning it before you did not conduct business in a manner you might have hoped? The answer for the Fosters was to move.
The Foster family, consisting for the sake of this story of Tony Foster, Lola Foster, Michael Foster and fiancee Jody McCracken, thought they had come across a dream come true. Lola had always wanted a shop of her own, while Tony was unable to pursue his previous employment and son Michael had experience as a carpet technician, plus Jody was seeking a place she could work while watching the two small children...the opportunity to take over a Floors To Go franchise recently revoked by Western Bank seemed just the ticket. They would own the territorial rights for Floors To Go from Long Beach, to Gold Beach and up Highway 30 to St. Helens.
According to the Fosters, Floors to Go franchise owners have access to over 35 carpet mills, purchasing power for carpeting at a reasonable cost, and the ability to pass those savings on to the consumer.
What they found after opening the business was that they had also inherited with their purchase the reputation of the previous franchise owners. Customers had a hard time separating the new operation from the franchise that previously existed in the downtown Astoria store.
So, the next move was in the form of a physical one to a new location. They re-opened January 7, 2000 in Expo 101 on Highway 101 just South of the Astoria Golf and Country Club. Funny thing is, with this move also came an inheritance, but one of a different type.
At Expo 101 they find they must also supply milk and convenience store items for local residents, and they have an inventory of gemstones, Native American art, espresso drinks and Italian sodas and more to add to their inventory of carpet and furnishings. "We have just about everything it takes to decorate," said Tony, "from flooring to furniture to home decor." Carpet Mills represented include Mohawk, Aladdin, Shaw, Galaxy, Sunrise, Tuftex, World, Mannington, Insignia, Wilsonart and more. Pricing changes every 30 days and they have rental tools for the do-it-yourself installer.
According to the Fosters, customers come in, buy an espresso and browse for as long as an hour and a half, due to the extent of things to see. LCB

Foster's Home Furnishings/Floors To Go
Owners: Tony and Lola Foster
Address: 90334 Highway 101
Warrenton, Oregon 97146
Telephone and Fax: 503/861-6079
E-mail: foster@vtown.cum
Hours: 6a - 7p Seven days a week

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