When customers walk into our Penrose showroom, they are dealing with an owner who spent his first years in the trade, laying floors. Paul Bryan, Owner and Operator of The Flooring Room Auckland, recently shared the story of how he came to open the store with The Icehouse, and it is a story worth telling here too.

Who Is Behind The Flooring Room Auckland?

Paul brings over 27 years of experience in the flooring industry, including more than 13 years in the Auckland market across both residential and commercial projects. He started on the tools as an installer, which gives him a practical understanding of how flooring actually performs once it is down.

That background covers retail and trade sales, project management, subcontractor coordination and quality assurance. Before opening the Penrose store he was second-in-command at the company where he completed his apprenticeship.

Why Start a New Store Rather Than Buy Into an Existing One?

Paul had the option to buy into the business he was already working in. Instead he looked for outside perspective and completed the Leadership Development Programme with The Icehouse, an organisation that runs courses and coaching for owners and senior leaders in New Zealand businesses.

As he told The Icehouse, the programme gave him clarity rather than a business plan. Sitting alongside leaders from other industries showed him how differently people build and run teams, and helped him recognise the kind of team he wanted to lead.

A conversation on a fishing trip did the rest. A mutual connection introduced Paul to John Ferris, who was looking for the right person to open a Flooring Room store in Auckland. What made the conversation work was not the numbers but the shared view on culture and how people should be treated.

“It’s around working with good people, because good people get good results.”

Is The Flooring Room Auckland a Franchise?

No. The Penrose store is a joint venture with Paul as a genuine owner-operator, in the same way the Tauranga, Nelson and Palmerston North stores are locally owned and operated.

For customers the difference is practical. When a decision needs to be made on a job, the person who makes it is in the building.

What Family Ownership Means for Auckland Customers

Real value with real family values sits at the core of every Flooring Room store. In the Penrose showroom that comes down to values customers can hold the team to.

• The Right Product for the Space. A busy family hallway, a rental between tenants and a commercial fit-out are three different problems. The team will say when the more affordable option is the better one.
• Honest Advice on Preparation. Subfloor condition, moisture and levelling all determine how a floor performs. These are raised before the quote rather than discovered on installation day.
• Doing What We Say, On Time. Showing up, communicating clearly and delivering what was promised is the standard across all four showrooms.
• Advice You Can Trust. Including when the answer is that a product is not right for the room.

Visit The Flooring Room Auckland

The Penrose showroom serves the wider Auckland area from the North Shore to the Bombays, including Epsom, Panmure, Remuera, Ellerslie, Greenlane, Māngere, One Tree Hill, Onehunga and Mount Wellington.

You can see and feel carpet, laminate, timber and vinyl on the floor rather than judging from a small sample, and the team offers a free measure and quote at a time that suits. Visit 131 Station Road, Penrose or call (09) 525 0909.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who owns The Flooring Room Auckland?

Paul Bryan is the Owner and Operator of the Penrose store, which is locally owned and operated in the same way as the Tauranga, Nelson and Palmerston North showrooms.

How much flooring experience does the Auckland team have?

Paul brings over 27 years in the flooring industry, including more than 13 years in the Auckland market, starting out as an installer before moving into sales and project management.

Does The Flooring Room Auckland handle commercial projects?

Yes. The Auckland team works across residential and commercial flooring, including project coordination for builders, designers and commercial clients.

Do you offer a free measure and quote in Auckland?

Yes. We provide a free measure, quote and site check so you understand exactly what is involved before any work begins.

What areas does the Penrose showroom cover?

We service the wider Auckland area from the North Shore to the Bombays.