We had the good fortune of connecting with Yvonne Glassman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yvonne, what matters most to you?
I believe that empathy is a value that is super important to me both personally and professionally. We live in a difficult world where it seems that kindness is a virtue that is often left behind.

In addition to owning AFW, I am also a yoga instructor and yoga studio owner. For almost 20 years I have talked to students and individuals in my communities and have heard just how difficult life is for everyone. Everyone has a silent struggle and everyone wants to be loved and understood.

Keeping this in mind I find that I am more patient and empathetic with my children, my husband, my customers, and my employees. When people feel understood the relationships and communication are just better!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
AFW is the premier choice for flooring, tile, cabinets, and flooring products in Steamboat Springs. Our goal at AFW is to provide a luxury experience with affordable pricing options. Customer service and attention to detail are where we thrive!

We recently purchased this business with a vision of improving the existing systems and working to grow the business and team to serve more people in the surrounding areas. Our goal for early 2025 is to open a high end product addition to our store featuring premium product lines for high end homes.

In addition to providing excellent service to our customers, we believe in providing opportunities for our employees to grow professionally and personally. We have regular check ins with each of our team members (there are 16 people) to find out what their goals, hopes, and dreams are both in and out of the store. We believe as owners of AFW we have the ability to help our team reach these goals and are always looking for how we can make everyone’s lives better.

As a yoga instructor and studio owner I also am committed to bringing a mindful environment to my leadership and our store. We have daily meetings with our team in which we discuss our personal and professional wins, learn new skills, and we even have a weekly book club (currently reading Unreasonable Hospitality).

Being a business owner and entrepreneur is hard. I started my first business in 2008 and each business endeavor has come with its own lessons along the way. I would tell anyone interested in this lifestyle to listen to your gut, be willing to make mistakes (and learn from them).

As you grow, look for partners that support you and are in alignment with your goals. Be cautious and get a good lawyer. Not everyone is willing to work as hard as you will. Unfortunately my experience has been the more successful you become the more people you find who want to “work with you” that just aren’t willing (or able) to do what it takes to build a great business. This often ends in frustration and disappointment from everyone.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in Steamboat part time is a new adventure for me and my husband. So far we love eating at all the great restaurants in town. We would suggest Laundry, Aurum, and Salt & Lime. We also love taking a great hike with our dogs and hitting the local hot springs.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband Tony co-owns AFW with me. He is a tremendous support in my life and without him I simply would not be where I am today.

Tony and I had the vision of acquiring a small business together a few years ago. After he quit his full time job as a GC and we fully committed to finding a profitable small business that we could grow and improve.

Tony and I worked through the entire process as a team from finding the business we wanted to purchase to jumping in and moving to Steamboat Springs part time.

Tony is an incredibly patient and smart man. Our strengths compliment each other and we can’t wait to see what we will achieve next!

Website: https://coloradofloordeals.com/

Instagram: afwsteamboat

Image Credits
First photo : EJ Dilley Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.