Meet Tina Salas | Part Owner of High Plains Flooring & Blinds

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

Hi Tina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
James Salas, owner started as an installer and worked with many different companies. Through this experience, he noticed a gap between the customers, installers, and sales(flooring companies). This gap was a lack of customer service provided to the customers. His concerns finally drove him to speak with his wife, Tina Salas, about opening their own flooring store to provide their customers with a customer service that actually serves the customers and the community. His experience as an installer gave him knowledge and connections that would lead to a successful flooring store in Pueblo, CO.

What should our readers know about your business?
High Plains Flooring & Blinds first started with flooring installation. James Salas, started at a young age helped his mom at a flooring warehouse in California and eventually would begin installing flooring. Although young for his age, he decided that even if others discouraged him from installing and eventually starting his own business as an installer in his 20s, he would keep going. Eventually him and his wife, Tina Salas would move to Colorado. James Salas continued to install flooring and eventually would decide to start his own store. Being in the flooring industry for over 30 years and working with builders, other installers, flooring stores, etc… He finally decided that it was time to open a store after seeing the mistreatment and lack of customer service his repeating customers were receiving. Through this time, his son James A Salas was working with him and learning the trade. Both have been educated in flooring installation by going to classes to become certified for flooring installs(LVP, Carpet, Hardwood,etc…) This certification has helped High Plains Flooring & Blinds grow as a company and provide customers with proper installations according to industry standards. In 2019, during the pandemic, James Salas spoke with his wife, Tina Salas about opening a flooring store. They began to rent a small unit in Pueblo West, CO and started the process of opening accounts with different flooring vendors to sale their product. This part did not come easy as there were other companies(competitors) in Pueblo, CO that were telling the vendors not to open an account with High Plains Flooring. Eventually those accounts that were not going to open an account with High Plains Flooring came to James and Tina to open an account. While being in the small little unit, builders and returning customers began to come to High Plains Flooring for their flooring needs. The space began to become to small and James and Tina would soon need to start looking for a bigger space. During this time, Felicia, their oldest daughter was asked to help as business was growing past the point of James and Tina handling. Since James had many connections, a good friend of his would come to him about buying his flooring business. After some contemplation, James and Tina bought their friends business which came along with window coverings(blinds). Knowing nothing about Window Coverings, Felicia and Tina jumped right in to learning the products, installation, etc…. Eventually another store was open and meaning more business and employees, adding on Vanessa(daughter) and Joana(wife of James A Salas). While the business has continued to grow, each family member that has become apart of this growth has made it a point to become certified in blinds installation, consulting, etc….

Although many of the competitors tried to make it hard for the business to open, James and Tina kept going. James is kn0wn as a quality installer. The business has come with other challenges such as implementing systems and innovating to provide our customers with quality service. Other issues that occurred during this growth was James Salas having a stroke, but thankfully recovered.

What separates us from other installers and flooring stores is our certifications in flooring and blinds that we have taken the time to do. Also High Plains Flooring & Blinds has made it a point to be up to date with technology and aesthetics that match the times.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
People being a small town, I would take them to the river walk/ Down Town, Fuel & Iron, Copper River, maybe the reservoir for fishing, etc…

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
God is the one we give glory to for the success of our company as He has helped us through the highs and lows in business. Also shout out to the Vendors and Companies that aloud us to open accounts even when others in our industry tried to stop us. To friends and family who have continued to be a support as we continue to grow.

Website: https://www.highplainsflooring.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highplainsflooringandblinds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highplainsflooringllc

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/high-plains-flooring-pueblo-west-2

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@highplainsfloorsandblind?lang=en

Image Credits
Not sure what this means… my photos for some reason turned sideways in this system