The game has changed. The products have increased in scope and variety. The team continues to grow – and since 2001 World Floorcoverings has been providing homes and businesses with the highest quality of flooring products, backed with legendary service. More than 6,000 happy clients, more than 20 years of service and more than 400 independent five-star reviews back up this claim. What is behind this success? Owners Mike McCormick and Markus Gerbrandt say it is the solid foundation set by the original owners combined with their vision of how to continue the legacy, alongside a team that cares passionately about service.
McCormick and Ger abrandt were high school friends that stayed in touch after graduation. While McCormick went into flooring as his career got underway, Gerbrandt took a different track and moved to Norway to play hockey.
“His sports career was winding down when he saw on my Facebook page that the company I was working for was adding to their team, says McCormick. “Markus messaged me saying he was looking to get into the flooring business.”
The duo worked together for four years for a different flooring company before the opportunity to purchase World Floorcoverings came about.
“We jumped at the chance to build up our own company together, providing the products and services we both felt would best serve clients.”
As friends who became business partners, they are able to create a unique corporate culture.
“We have gelled really well,” says Gerbrandt. “We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we stay in our lanes. We bounce ideas off each other and we trust each other. The truth is, we actually agree on most things! There have not been significant challenges in the working relationship. We started this journey as friends and this has provided a deep layer of understanding and respect that translates into the workplace. Additionally, our families are very intertwined. Our wives are best friends. As for our children, we have five boys between us under the age of six, and they are also good friends!”
McCormick agrees, adding, “We promote a family-style atmosphere, and this is underscored by the number of clients and installers that say our corporate culture is evident through the whole of their experience with us. We keep things light and friendly while also being incredibly efficient and focused. We are genuinely interested in the lives of our clients and our team and show a lot of care and respect. For us, this is more than just a job. It’s a passion and a calling.”
This is a very competitive industry with a plethora of new and established flooring showrooms in and around Edmonton. Yet, thanks to the curated culture, World Floorcoverings continues to attract both clients and staff.
“The feedback we receive from our team,” shares Gerbrandt, “Is that the workplace feels like family. From the sales floor to the warehouse to the accounting and administration, it is clear how much everyone cares about their co-workers and what we do here. The team gets along both inside and outside of work. We know we are very fortunate in that regard.”
McCormick adds, “Personally, I really love to see how people grow into their roles here and reach their goals. We know lots of people don’t enjoy having to go to work. So, having a respectful, positive place for people to grow their personal and professional skillsets is part of the reason why we built this.”
The co-owners’ leadership style is a large driver of the corporate culture. While McCormick cites having fun and being less formal than expected, he also values not micromanaging and trusting in the team’s abilities.
“They are here for a reason,” he explains. “I give them a long reach to make decisions, and I support them.”
Gerbrandt enjoys leading by example.
“I listen to what our employees say they need to be successful, then we provide those tools. Everyone works differently. We trust them and let go of having everything done ‘our way.’ They always get to the finish line.”
When the duo bought the company there were seven on the team. Now there are 24 and when someone enters the showaroom, without an appointment, it is not uncommon to see everyone from the back of the house to frontline sales stepping up to help.
“It’s a family. Everyone cares. Everyone wants the others to succeed. We are renowned for the care and attention we give to every customer and person that is part of us, from clients to builders and installers. We listen to them and we strive to be an asset and strive to build personal relationships with every client. We have formed a lot of friendships, not just working relationships. They appreciate that too. We certainly do! It makes it more enjoyable when you can get along and work through things when challenges arise.”
Things do get tough. There is no shortage of choice among flooring companies in the city, and many offer the same – if not very similar – brands. The difference is being able to offer experience, service and added value in every stage of the transaction, and that applies from the customer to the installer to even how the vendors perceive the interactions.
Gerbrandt says, “Cultivating those relationships is paramount. Most residences change their flooring once in the lifespan of home ownership, but the options of floor covering places are endless with more than 100 in Edmonton alone. It is very competitive.”
McCormick adds, “We have been very fortunate to have clients that we have worked with for years, due to the outstanding relationships we have built. We are very aware that there is always someone down the street for those looking for those clients. We stay on top of our game and always try to improve. We choose to not get comfortable where we are, but always strive to learn, grow and discover ways to provide even better service. We strongly feel that when we do the right things and produce a great experience, word-of-mouth keeps the business flowing and those clients coming back to you.”
With this service model in mind, the legacy started by the Cook family has been preserved, updated and grown. Yet it is not the client list or sales numbers that the co-owners cite as the most rewarding aspect of their jobs.
“World Floorcoverings gives us a platform to give back to the community in so many ways. From hiring local talent and being able to help the team personally and professionally to being engaged in non-profit and charitable initiatives, the business gives us lots of satisfaction over and above financial gain.”
In addition to being heavily involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Youcan Youth Services, Motionball and more, World Floorcoverings hosts an annual bonspiel in support of Kids Kottage.
Kids Kottage serves as a lifeline for families in crisis, offering a haven for children and critical support for caregivers. Dedicated to crisis prevention and early intervention, Kids Kottage provides shelter for children aged up to 10 who are at risk of harm. While children are cared for in a nurturing and secure environment, parents and caregivers receive the resources they need to overcome challenges, strengthen their skills, and stabilize their families. This vital service ensures that every child is protected, and every family is given the tools to build a resilient future.
World Floorcovering’s annual bonspiel (worldfloorcoverings.com/2025-bonspiel) has become a standout fundraising initiative over the past two years by raising an impressive $60,000 to help provide over 440 nights of safety to children in crisis. With high hopes and generous community support, this year’s event aims to surpass $100,000, proving yet again that teamwork on and off the ice can create life-changing outcomes for those in need.
McCormick says with gratitude, “As we get into our third year of running the bonspiel, it is great to see all the support from our clients, friends and suppliers. We are so grateful to have this platform to give back. Giving back truly is in the DNA of World Floorcoverings.”
Another non-profit World Floorcoverings is happy to support is the Ben Stetler Foundation, which helps children diagnosed with cancer.
“A lot of our clients have their own charitable events and support community giving,” Gerbrandt adds. “We are excited to help them out too, when we can.”
When McCormick and Gerbrandt took the helm at World Floorcoverings in 2021, they didn’t just acquire a business; they took on a legacy. The Cook family, who had grown the business since 2001 with integrity and care, entrusted these two motivated and visionary young men to continue what they had built. It’s a responsibility that isn’t lost on McCormick and Gerbrandt, who reflect on that handshake that put everything in motion with profound gratitude.
“The Cooks had other options, but they trusted us. They believed in us and that trust means everything.”
Over nearly 25 years, World Floorcoverings has grown into a trusted name, and the past four years have been a time of transformation. The co-owners brought fresh energy and ideas, rebranding and modernizing the business while staying rooted in the foundation of excellence laid by the Cook family.
“We put our own spin on it, but we never forget how we got here,” smiles Gerbrandt.
The gratitude doesn’t stop with the Cooks. McCormick and Gerbrandt humbly thank their employees and loyal clients who have stood by them through this exciting chapter – and beyond.
“Our clients’ and team’s support means the world to us. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their trust and belief in what we’re doing. We want to carry this legacy forward for the next 50 years and more, always honouring where we came from while pushing forward with the same passion and progress.”
The conclude with a message to their past, present and future clients and team members, “Thank you for believing in us and for trusting us. We love what we do, and we love doing it with and for all of you.”
