Today we’d like to introduce you to Marquis Wright.
Hi Marquis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Since I was five years old, I’ve been asking one question: How do you get rich? Some adults told me to save. Others said to get a job. I could invent something or own a business. Those answers stuck with me—and they shaped how I saw life.
At 16, I got my first job at McDonald’s. I worked to own the place. I wanted to be the guy signing the checks one day. I trained people, cleaned, worked the registers, and made it my business to be the best all-around employee. After a year, I noticed something: everybody I trained was getting raises. I brought it up to management, and they realized they’d never given me one. So they added five cents—which was still five cents less than the guys I trained. That didn’t sit right with me. So I quit.
Around that time, 2009, I was living with my grandma and started helping my Uncle Jamie. He was the first person to teach me business. We ran games together like a neighborhood casino, and I was the house. I handled the cash, kept up with the games, and made sure nobody cheated. I didn’t know it then, but that laid the foundation for how I’d understand business, money, and people. If I could keep angry gamblers calm, an old lady with a flooring issue wasn’t going to shake me.
I also started working with Ronie, my grandma’s neighbor, who offered me \$75 a day to help him install floors. I liked stacking checks just to make big deposits. At the time, it felt like side cash—but I had no idea it would become my future.
In 2012, my life hit a rough patch. I was at a crossroads, trying to figure out who I wanted to be. I was tired of living like life had no outs. That’s when my uncle and his wife stepped in. Over casual conversation, I mentioned I was good at installing flooring and knew a guy making \$250K a year doing it—legally. The next day, after coming up with a name, they helped me go on Sunbiz to incorporate Mr. Wright Flooring. They didn’t just support me—they believed in me.
But I wasn’t instantly successful. I was still figuring it out.
I started taking flooring more seriously and went to Ronie with an idea: I wanted him to train my family so we could run his jobs. He said, “I’ll never take food out of my kids’ mouths for you.”
That hit hard. I had already saved up \$5K, had my tools and a truck. But I valued everything Ronie had taught me, and I didn’t want to be seen as someone stepping on his toes. So I quit and left Jacksonville.
I moved to Fort Lauderdale to figure things out on my own. I stayed with my mom and stepdad—but I went flat broke. After nine months of trying and failing, truck getting repossessed a couple times, Ronie called me up and offered a week of work at \$200 a day. So I came back home.
That week, I stayed at Ronie’s place a few nights, then bounced between an abandoned family house, my other grandma’s, my truck, and cheap hotel rooms. It wasn’t comfortable—but it was sink or swim.
After that, I landed subcontracting work with USIG through Home Depot. I was finally earning again—about \$30K a year. But \$1 per sq. ft. for installs wasn’t enough to pay helpers and get a place. I was always playing catch up. Around that time, I met my daughter’s mother. Life was fast and wild—but I stayed committed to figuring it out.
Eventually, I got my own place. Then I met Earl. A 70-something-year-old white man who completely shifted my mindset. We met at his house every evening at 6pm for seven months straight. He taught me about leadership, ownership, and integrity—not just in business, but in life. I learned to let go of complaining and be present. That mindset shift let a lot of suppressed stuff rise to the surface.
One night, Earl begged me to tell him what was bothering me. I finally told him about how Home Depot had taken money from my check without warning. I was upset. He asked if he could coach me his way. I said yes.
He slammed a book on the table and said, “You like getting f*cked, don’t you? Walking around with this sob story playing victim. You’re just letting people f*ck you with no Vaseline!”
I was furious—but I heard him. The next morning, that line echoed in my head. I knew I had to quit. I wasn’t going home without either a pocket full of money or a job that paid me what I was worth.
After that, everything changed. I started subcontracting with Keller Interiors, doing installs for Lowe’s. I went from \$30K to \$180K in a year. I made promises to do better by my cousins since I was now getting \$1.50/sq. ft. My daughter was born. I had \$30K saved and no debt. I wasn’t just surviving—I was building.
I earned certifications through the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), became a Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) instructor, served on NWFA’s Emerging Leadership Council, and got coaching from Scott Humphrey, CEO of the World Floor Covering Association. I led crews, taught classes, and stayed hands-on.
A couple years ago, I stepped away from all of that to work in a retail flooring store. I wanted to learn the business side. The original plan was to work alongside the owner, Jeff Jones, and eventually buy the store. But I didn’t have the capital, and getting a loan was harder than I expected. Meanwhile, life at home was rough. I was commuting over an hour each way, with a fiancée pregnant with twins, a 1-year-old son, and a 7-year-old—and they were all being neglected by my obsession with building and running to cope.
In July 2023, my Uncle Jamie passed away. That loss cut deep. We were close—like brothers, but also like father and son when he needed to be. He had his struggles, and honestly, I was looking out for him just as much as he was for me. Everyone knew we had a bond. He was our chief—we’re Chyenne—and after he passed, there was this quiet expectation I’d step into that role. I’ve felt the weight of it, but I haven’t fully felt like the chief since he’s been gone. But I know he believed in me—and that still fuels me.
A month later, in August, I had a conversation with Jeff. I asked him if he thought I had what it takes to run the store.
He said no. Said I’d fall flat on my face.
That told me everything. He saw me as an employee. I’ve never thought like one.
So I built my own.
In September 2024, I opened my own retail flooring showroom in Jacksonville. My brother, cousins, and uncle are still with me. We’re building out the space to be a luxury-style warehouse showroom—something that reflects our standard and vision. I talk to my 9-year-old daughter about the business like it’s already hers—because one day, it will be.
I don’t know if this store came from grief, growth, or God—but I know I’m where I’m supposed to be.
Still learning.
Still building.
Still doing it the Wright way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No it hasn’t balancing a personal life and business 24/7. There’s no room to function emotionally you have to persevere through your thoughts to do what you said you’d do. When it comes to installs I’ve got that part mastered. Running my own store everyday is challenging until its mastered.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mr. Wright Flooring?
Mr. Wright Flooring is a family-run business based in Jacksonville, Florida. We specialize in full-service flooring—residential and commercial—including hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, tile, and carpet. What sets us apart is our standard. We bring luxury-level quality with working-class grit. Every job we take on is backed by skill, integrity, and pride—because we were installers before we ever became business owners.
I founded the business in 2012, but my journey in flooring started back in 2009. I’ve worn every hat—helper, installer, crew lead, business owner, and now, retail showroom operator. Today, we run a luxury-style warehouse showroom that gives customers a hands-on experience with high-end materials, expert guidance, and honest service.
We’re known for our attention to detail, clear communication, and strong relationships with both clients and contractors. I’ve earned certifications from NWFA, I’m a CFI instructor, and I’ve taught classes across the region. But what I’m most proud of is the fact that my brother, cousins, and uncle work with me every day—and that my 9-year-old daughter is already learning how we run things.
Mr. Wright Flooring isn’t just a business—it’s our legacy. We’re not here to do quick jobs. We’re here to do things the Wright way.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is legacy—building something solid that my family can stand on long after I’m gone. I’ve been through the struggle, I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve learned lessons the hard way. But through all of it, I’ve kept one thing in mind: I’m doing this so they don’t have to.
I want my daughter to see that her dad didn’t quit. I want my cousins to have more options than I had. I want to show my family what it looks like to build something from the ground up—with grit, faith, and consistency.
There’s a quote I live by: “Stress is mine, happiness is yours. Pain is mine, joy is yours.”
That’s how I carry it. I’ll shoulder the pressure so my people can breathe easier. That’s what matters most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mrwrightflooring.com
- Instagram: MWF_Donn
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063736546447
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquis-wright-2b86bb174
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/h7G-PJN2FrU
