Linda Krienke

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Finding solid ground: How a flooring company recovered with an American Express^® Business Line of Credit¹

Linda Krienke can trace her affinity for flooring back nearly 50 years. “People who love floors, we’re a different breed,” she says. “Any building I walk into, the first thing I do is look at the floors and start thinking about what would work best.” No matter the material, flooring for Linda was more than a job. It was a passion, one that eventually inspired her to launch a small business in Houston.

She and her business partner started Linron Company in late 1993. Krienke’s love for the industry and her commitment to customers have been driving forces in Linron’s success, and for decades she has provided flooring for retail giants. “We’re a solutions provider,” she explains. “You tell us your problem and your expectations, and we work with you on getting you the right products.”

By 2020, Krienke’s family business was extremely profitable and successful. That year, she was named one of Houston’s 50 most influential women by Houston Woman Magazine. Yet no amount of success could have shielded her from what came next. As Covid-19 spread across the country, many of her clients were forced to postpone projects or cancel them altogether, and the business suffered a significant loss of revenue. Krienke had to sell off her rental properties and dip into her retirement savings to keep the doors open.

“The pandemic nearly killed our business,” she recalls. “I had maxed out. There was nothing left for me to sell. And my employees are like family to me. I didn’t want to send them home without a paycheck or healthcare. I just could not shut the business down.”

Krienke knew she had to find a way to keep her business running. Luckily, she received an email offering her the opportunity to apply for a business line of credit.

“It was getting to the point where cashflow was almost nonexistent,” she says. But she knew that with Amex, she’d be in good hands. “I’ve been an Amex® Card Member since 2000, so I trust them,” she adds. “I reached out immediately.”

Flexible access to funds and caring customer service

Krienke was deeply impressed by the Amex rep’s genuine concern, empathy, and resolve to help get her on her feet. “This guy was nice, and he would check in every week,” she says. “It’s amazing that a huge company like American Express could care so much about us.”

Her Vice President of Operations also expressed satisfaction with the customer service. “I was really impressed because he made it personal, and he really seemed to care about our story,” she says. “It was important to him that we knew we were important to Amex.”

Capital to cover cash flow gaps

With her approved line of credit, Krienke had the funds she needed to cover operating expenses and pay suppliers¹. “I used it to pay bills. I used it for payroll. Wherever I needed the money,” she reports. As a result, her business has picked up in the last quarter of last year. While still recovering, Linron has more than doubled revenue since the height of the pandemic in 2020.

In the end, Krienke’s decision to turn to American Express for a Business Line of Credit proved to be a turning point for her business. With the extra capital, she was able to invest in the business, maintain her staff, and stay competitive in the flooring market.

Smiling, Krienke reflects on her work: “One of the things I like about my job is when someone comes to me with a floor problem. Getting them to a solution is great fun for me.” American Express takes pride in helping business owners like Krienke overcome their own challenges.

Story Footnotes

¹American Express® Business Line of Credit

American Express® Business Line of Credit offers access to a commercial line of credit ranging from $2,000 to $250,000; however, you may be eligible for a larger line of credit based on our evaluation of your business. Each draw on the line of credit will result in either a separate installment loan or a single repayment loan. All loans are subject to credit approval and are secured by business assets. Every loan requires a personal guarantee. For single repayment loans, we charge a total loan fee that ranges from 0.95%-1.80% of the amount you borrow for 1-month loans, 1.90%-3.75% for 2-month loans, and 2.85%-6.05% for 3- month loans.  Single repayment loans incur a loan fee at origination and the principal and total loan fee are due and payable at loan maturity.  There are no required monthly repayments for a single repayment loan.  Repaying a single repayment loan early will not reduce the loan fee we charge you. For installment loans, we charge a total loan fee that ranges from 3-9% of the amount you borrow for 6-month loans, 6-18% for 12-month loans, 9-27% for 18-month loans, and 12-18% for 24-month loans. Installment loans incur a portion of the total loan fee for each month you have an outstanding balance. If you repay the total of the principal of an installment loan early, you will not be required to pay loan fees that have not posted for subsequent months. For each loan that you take, you will see the applicable loan fee before you take the loan. Once you take the loan, the loan fees that apply to that loan do not change.  We reserve the right to change the loan fees that we offer you for new loans at any time.  American Express reserves the right to offer promotions to reduce or waive loan fees from time to time. Not all customers will be eligible for the lowest loan fee. Not all loan term lengths are available to all customers. Eligibility is based on creditworthiness and other factors. Not all industries are eligible for American Express® Business Line of Credit. Pricing and line of credit decisions are based on the overall financial profile of you and your business, including history with American Express and other financial institutions, credit history, and other factors.  Lines of credit are subject to periodic review and may change or be suspended, accompanied with or without an account closure. Late fees may be assessed. Loans are issued by American Express National Bank. 

Single repayment loans may become available to eligible new and existing Business Line of Credit customers at different times.  

If eligible, you can be approved in minutes for a line of credit from $2,000 to $250,000 when we are able to automatically obtain your business data and verify your bank account. If a manual review is required, it will take longer to provide you with a decision.

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