Tom January Floors started with the January family name back in the late '40s. Tom January grew up in the flooring business, alongside his father, Herb January. His father moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1945 after spending time in the shipyards during World War II. When the war concluded, his father began to install floors here in NWA, which started a bright future for their family.
At a young age, Tom was helping his dad by sweeping the floors and stacking the linoleum that was to be installed. At just 14 years old, Tom was carrying the some-odd 70-pound box of tile to the installers. Eventually, Tom, at 17 years old, found himself even closer to the installation process. His job was spreading the glue for the new floors. He remembers starting that job at the city library here in Fayetteville. At this time, he started to learn more about the operations, as he would talk to the installers while he spread the glue.
Tom went on to attend the University of Arkansas in the '60s. After that, he joined the army. When he got back, he, his brother, and his dad continued in the flooring business in Fayetteville. Later in 1991, Tom and his family Cathy, Chris, and Wade, incorporated much of his flooring values into opening Tom January Floors.
The family’s first store was located on Township where Tom could remember the road still being gravel back in the day. He recalled how the community used to fish the creek on the road after a hard day’s work. In the early 2000s, the store grew and moved further up Township Street to its current location.
As Tom and I walked around his store on Township, he showed me everything from the showroom to the custom library he built to hold books of available products. As we rounded the corner to the front door, he pointed to the back of the store toward his sons, Chris and Wade. He said they work as a group to maintain their strong family work values and continue the legacy that started many years ago.
After starting his business in 1991, Tom said he was happy to just get the business of five bathrooms a week. But, Tom’s persistent hard work and love of this community gave way to growth. “Now, we are doing whole homes, and, sometimes, we do whole neighborhoods,” he said. “We’re working from Bella Vista to the tunnel near Winslow and even to Harrison.”
Now, Tom is proud to say that his family has served Northwest Arkansas for over 75 years. And, with his sons to carry on his and his father's work, it is a legacy that will continue to serve Fayetteville families moving forward.
One pillar that has been instrumental in the business' growth and legacy is Tom’s commitment to the customer and to having an excellent product to install. “We want to provide you, the customer, with something that will be there for the long-term,” Tom said. “There are people that will sell price, that’s one thing, and there’s people that sell quality, and that’s where we want to be…with something that will fit your budget and that you will be really happy with.”
Before I could go, Tom told me that a few years ago, a contractor came into the store frustrated and tired. He was complaining about what a nightmare it was to get these floors up from the old library that needed to be replaced. Tom, in recognition of his job well done at 17 years old, turned to the contractor and said thank you.
“There are people that will sell price, that’s one thing, and there’s people that sell quality, and that’s where we want to be too." - Tom January
“We’re working from Bella Vista to the tunnel near Winslow and even to Harrison.” - Tom January