Antonia Rodas is owner of Watson’s Floor Covering, Inc., a Diamond Certified company. She can be reached at (650) 318-6015 or by email.
Antonia Rodas: Flooring With the Family
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
SAN CARLOS — When Antonia Rodas followed her father and brothers into the family trade, she had no idea how far the path would lead. “My father, Waldo, has been a carpet installer for more than 20 years, so I grew up around the flooring industry,” she says. “My brothers ended up following him into the industry and becoming installers, so when the time came for me to choose a career, I decided to try it as well. My first job was working in the warehouse, where I handled phone and online orders. A couple of years later, I was hired at Watson’s Floor Covering, Inc. as a salesperson. Working with customers face-to-face was completely new to me, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly, and eventually, I was promoted to a management position. In 2021, my father and I purchased the company from the original owner.”
Today, Antonia says her favorite part of her job is interacting with customers. “I like sharing my knowledge with our customers and forming relationships with them. I find that making friends with them at the beginning helps them relax and enjoy the process.”
A resident of San Mateo County, Antonia spends her time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “I tend to be outgoing and even a little adventurous, so I enjoy taking road trips, hanging out with family and friends, and outdoor activities like hiking. However, I can be pretty laid-back, too, so I also like to be home, relax in my backyard or binge-watch Netflix. It just depends on how I’m feeling in the moment.”
In regard to a professional philosophy, Antonia espouses the importance of instilling trust. “My goal is to make every customer feel comfortable about entrusting their job to us,” she explains. “Most of our customers are local to the San Carlos area, which means they’re our neighbors, so earning their trust is very important to me. It makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger—not just doing my job, but being a valuable member of my community.”
When asked the first thing she’d do if she were to retire tomorrow, Antonia says she would see the world. “I’d like to see every place on Earth. There’s just so much to explore and learn about—so many different cultures and environments. I haven’t had the chance to do a lot of traveling yet, but if I retired early, I’d definitely visit some new places.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: I’m a dog person.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Spain.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: I’m a night owl.
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: Real Madrid CF.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: I like listening to calm music and watching the rain.
