Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Bowring.
Hi Allison, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2013, my husband, Travis, launched our flooring business after gaining experience with another company in town. Fresh out of college with a degree in entrepreneurship, he was ready to build something of his own. For the first decade, he ran the business independently while I worked in the corporate world. He created a great foundation for the company. Gaining trust and a good reputation in Kansas City.
By 2021, I found myself ready for a change. After working at a hospital, I made the decision to join the business full-time—and I immediately fell in love with it. As I stepped in, my husband transitioned out to pursue other interests, leaving me to manage nearly every aspect of the company aside from the hands-on trade work. That said, he has always remained a trusted advisor when needed.
In the beginning, I wasn’t afraid to roll up my sleeves. I helped with tear-outs and trim work when necessary, gaining firsthand experience in the field. This allowed me to truly understand every facet of the business. For the first time, I was able to fully apply my business management degree along with everything I had learned in the corporate world. Even more rewarding was the flexibility and autonomy that came with business ownership. With young children at home, I could prioritize my family when needed—something that has been a huge win for us.
After stepping into my role full-time, I focused on growth and structure. Sales increased significantly, and I built and maintained a strong network of reliable contractors. We took on our first major commercial project—a 195-unit apartment complex—which marked a turning point for the business. In 2023, we were honored to receive a National Wood Flooring Association Award for Best Historic Restoration. We launched an initiative that allowed us to donate approximately $17,000 in profits to charitable organizations in Kansas City. It has been a challenging and rewarding journey, and we are excited about what lies ahead.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, the road hasn’t been without obstacles. One of the biggest challenges I faced was building trust in a predominantly male industry. While I had been around flooring for years, I had never worked in it full-time. I felt a strong need early on to prove myself, often working alongside crews on job sites to demonstrate that I wasn’t afraid to get my hands dirty. Over time, that effort paid off, earning respect and confidence from our team. Today, I’ve stepped back from fieldwork to allow our crew to take the lead, trusting in the culture and standards we’ve built together.
The commercial sector presented its own set of challenges. There were moments when I wasn’t taken seriously, and progress felt like an uphill battle. At times, my husband had to step in to reinforce our capabilities. Those experiences, while difficult, ultimately strengthened my confidence and leadership.
Like many business owners, I’ve also had to wear multiple hats—accountant, marketer, salesperson, HR manager, and more. Balancing all of these roles can be overwhelming, and finding the right people to delegate to has been an ongoing challenge.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about RippnFinish?
At our core, we are a family-owned and operated flooring company specializing in wood flooring installation and refinishing. While we also offer vinyl options, wood remains our specialty and passion. We approach each project as a concierge service, recognizing that home renovations can be stressful for clients. Our goal is to make the process as seamless and worry-free as possible.
To achieve this, we’ve built strong partnerships with other local professionals. We work with a trusted, husband-and-wife-owned moving company to safely handle client belongings. We coordinate with a cleaning professional who ensures homes are spotless upon completion. We also partner with a vent cleaning company for larger projects that require extra care. These collaborations allow us to provide a truly comprehensive service.
We also invest in top-tier technology to keep our clients informed every step of the way. Communication is a cornerstone of our business—clients receive daily updates, photos, and progress reports, even if they are out of town during the project.
One piece of feedback I hear often is how much clients appreciate having a woman involved in their home renovation. Frequently, it is the wives who are making design decisions, and they value having someone who understands their perspective. Beyond design, I can empathize with the disruption that renovations bring and work to make the experience as smooth as possible.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Ultimately, what sets us apart is trust. Our clients know they can entrust us with their homes—even unsupervised—and that we will treat their property with the utmost respect. We do not consider a job complete until the client is fully satisfied.
There is a noticeable gap in the construction industry when it comes to communication, coordination, and craftsmanship. These are the three pillars we prioritize in everything we do. We believe in setting clear expectations from the beginning, maintaining transparency if changes arise, and obtaining approval before any additional work is completed. We also understand how important timelines are, helping homeowners plan accordingly when they need to be out of their homes.
At the end of the day, trust is the foundation of everything we build.
Pricing:
- Refinish ranges $6-7
- Installation/Refinish $11-$15 (varies based on wood prices)
- Vinyl Installation $3 (labor only)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://RippnFinish.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rippnfinish
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RippnFinish/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/RippnFinishKansasCity
