Pacific Contract Flooring’s hard-working team includes (from left to right): Richard Lopez, Warehouse & Logistics Manager; Paige Ordaz, Data Entry and Contract Administrator; Perry Ordaz, CEO; Joe Castillo, Estimator; and Ramon Sustaita, Chief Estimator.

Pacific Contract Flooring can adapt its work processes to any commercial or industrial space, including high-traffic locations like City Sports Club in San Jose.

Perry Ordaz, owner of Pacific Contract Flooring in Fresno, California, wants to be clear: he is a flooring contractor who plays music, not a musician who owns a flooring company.

The distinction is important for the entrepreneur, who left Colorado for California in 1983 while working as a musician. His travels took him to Fresno, where he put down roots and began working in flooring installation. Ordaz’s career had him moving up the ladder from installer to warehouse worker and eventually to sales.

In the 17 years he was working his way up the ladder, Ordaz worked for Kerr Rug Company and others. With his professional experience and an array of contacts in the industry, Ordaz opened Pacific Contract Flooring in October 2000. The flooring company provides design and installation services for commercial and retail clients throughout Northern and Central California.

“Flooring isn’t easy. It takes determination, hard work and integrity to survive in this competitive market,” Ordaz says. “But I don’t want to talk about me. Let’s focus on the business.”

Exceeding Client Expectations

From the beginning, Pacific Contract Flooring differentiated itself by focusing on working hard and exceeding client expectations. “We put our nose to the grindstone and work harder than the competition,” Ordaz says. “We did this by being fair to our clients and playing the long game. If that meant working on a small job, so be it. If that meant losing a little bit of money, we were OK. What I—and my clients—wouldn’t lose, under any circumstances, was the trust and integrity my residential clients had in me that I had built for years.”

Perhaps it is their strong work ethic that helped the company to survive the hard times in 2007 and 2008. “Things got a little scary during the recession,” Ordaz says, noting that many competitors reduced operations or closed shop. But while the competition struggled, Pacific Contract Flooring survived unscathed.

Pacific Contract Flooring adapted its strategies during those lean years. “We used the recession as a launching pad into the commercial market,” Ordaz says. “And we grew during the recession, which a lot of other people can’t say.”

By focusing on the commercial market during the recession, the company was ensured longer-term stability. “Most restaurants replace their flooring at regular intervals, so we knew there would always be work,” he says. “We focused on building a strong network of installers so that we could be responsive to any request, day or night. Our responsiveness helps the business grow.”

Poised for Commercial Growth

Ordaz says that the future of Pacific Contract Flooring is in restaurants, hotels and retail. The company today employs two full-time estimators, two administrative assistants (both his daughters) and a warehouse manager. “We are pretty much a family business,” Ordaz says.

Pacific Contract Flooring keeps 45 to 50 installers on hand at a time. Its client list includes big brands, such as Old Navy, Bass Pro Shops, CarMax, Applebee’s Grill + Bar, Panera Bread, Starbucks and The Habit Burger Grill.

“One of my favorite memories was an emergency job for a retailer,” Ordaz recalls. After another flooring company wasn’t able to complete a highly detailed project on time, the tire company called Pacific Contract Flooring for help.

“This was a complicated project with an incredibly short window to complete it in. I was nervous but had faith in my team that we could get it done.” Ordaz mobilized a team of 20 installers, who worked around the clock in shifts to get the project completed on time and budget.

“I was proud of our team,” he says. “They executed the project well and proved that we have the knowledge, expertise and tenacity to complete any project.”

Though most of the company’s installers are contractors, they have long-standing relationships with Pacific Contract Flooring. “They’re a part of our family and know how we do things,” Ordaz says.

Pacific Contract Flooring’s footing is solid. “I think we’re doing a lot of things right but there’s always room for improvement,” he says. “But the future is bright, and I am confident that Pacific Contract Flooring will be around for a long time.”