CIC Floors, LLC (CIC) helps clients get off on the right foot with flooring that is as aesthetic as it is practical. CIC, which serves both residential and commercial needs, brings more than 16 years of experience to the job.
“As a family-owned business, we promise to treat every client’s home as if it were our own,” says Clara Richardson-Olguin, who owns the company with her husband, Cesar Olguin. “We are a full-service operation with a broad selection of flooring materials and the expertise and an artistic eye to ensure an installation that will beautify the space for years to come.”
Four years ago, the couple wanted to open a showroom in Norcross. “We approached several banks, but we were not able to find anyone who would help us,” she says.
After being referred by a friend to ACE, CIC obtained a small business loan, rented a space and bought the equipment and décor necessary to grow the business. Two years later, the company sought an additional loan from ACE for expansion. “With the additional capital, we were able to make some changes and more than triple our revenues.”
As immigrants with eclectic backgrounds, Clara and Cesar bring an unusual approach to the flooring business. She is a soprano singer and music teacher, but she also holds a law degree from her native Dominican Republic and a master’s in music management from Georgia State University. So, when customers need flooring for their studios or carpeting for their home theater, she brings firsthand expertise to acoustics.
After serving in the military in Mexico, Cesar relocated to the United States, where he met Clara and decided to put down roots. He worked in the flooring industry for 14 years before deciding that he wanted to open his own business.
For both of them, CIC also serves a personal mission that not only supports their four children, but also offers quality jobs for skilled workers so that they, too, can provide for their families. The company currently employs a staff of five, along with independent contractors who function as in-house design specialists. “They help our clients match the right colors,” she says.
Big plans for growth are in the works, though, again with some assistance from ACE. CIC is moving into a 6,000-square-feet warehouse and showroom. “It will be a unique treat for our customers,” Clara says.
This hard-working couple also believes in giving back. A portion of their profits goes to: the Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Georgia Goal Scholarship Program Inc.