Olsons ‘take show(room) on the road’

Executive Interiors takes its product on the road, arriving at destinations via a motorbus so customers can view flooring and tile at its destination – not merely in the showroom.

“Anyone can have a flooring business. We cater to the needs of the client,” sales representative Chris Gatewood said the unique marketing niche.

Matt and Alyssa Olson offer all types of flooring, countertops and Amish cabinetry at the showroom at 506 Henrietta North – ceramic, porcelain, tile, carpet, vinyl, stone and wood.

But parked in the garage, is the bus, loaded with samples.

“It’s the nicer of the uglies,” Alyssa joked of the truck they found in Brainerd in 2009, the decision to buy following prayer on the matter – and lunch for the kids.

A home’s lighting is often much different than a showroom’s, Matt explained of bringing samples on site. “This saves time for both.”

Matt’s experience in the industry began 11 years ago, working with Keith Blumberg. He attended seminars to learn the “tricks of the trade.” He began Lakes Area Tile in Park Rapids in 2003, but subsequently moved to Rochester, where he opened a store.

Matt was returning to Park Rapids with samples when the idea of a mobile showroom emerged. “It started from necessity,” he said. “But it’s worked out well.”

The move to Rochester proved pivotal, not from a business perspective, but for the twins Alyssa was pregnant with at the time. Alexander and Aiden, now 4, were not sharing blood and oxygen properly. The Mayo doctors detected the problem and corrected it.

“Meanwhile, the economy dipped,” Matt said. “We still had our home, so we moved back.”

Executive Interiors products are backed by warranty. They offer free estimates, with installation completed on residential and commercial properties – from restaurants to grocery and bookstores, to hotels, apartments and churches. References will be supplied on request.

They also will complete custom showers and concrete countertops. And their service radius ranges from Rousseau to Minot and points in between.

“No job is too small,” Matt said.