Tile Flooring with Doug Disney & Chris Nezbeth of Tile Outlet Always in Stock

In This Podcast Episode

Floor guy, Rob McNealy, interviews Tile Outlet Always in Stock® Founder and President Doug Disney, along with Vice President Chris Nezbeth about their unique business model. Tile Outlet Always in Stock® stores have at least 50 products in stock and ready to go, to help homeowners get projects done quickly, and products that need to be ordered come from local distributors in an average of three days.

More About Doug Disney and Tile Outlet Always in Stock®

As a 19-year-old, Doug Disney started his own business called Yachtin’ America, in which boat owners across the country agree to swap boats while on vacation, similar to popular home exchange programs. Then, he got started in the tile industry, and there was no doubt he had the drive and desire to succeed on his own. He just needed some direction.

That’s when Disney came across the book, “Start Small, Finish Big” by Subway co-founder Fred DeLuca. The book contained DeLuca’s 15 key lessons to start and run a small business.

“I read the book in two days,” Disney said. “It made me realize that I already had a great concept, but that franchising was a much better alternative for growing than opening my own stores. As soon as I
finished the book I called an attorney to get started.”

Disney put the lessons he learned to good use when he began franchising in 2002. Today, Tile Outlet Always in Stock is not only one of the fastest-growing consumer goods franchises in the western United States,
but it is positioned for national growth, as well. Tile Outlet is the only franchised retail tile concept of its kind with 65 locations in eight western states. Thirty-three more locations are in development and expected to open within 12 to 18 months. Disney’s goal is to have 200 stores sold by the end of 2008.

Nothing derails the excitement surrounding a home improvement project faster than the seemingly inevitable delay in finding everything you need to get started. Tile Outlet Always in Stock® founder Doug Disney could literally feelthe pain of do-it-yourselfers during the dozen years he worked in the tile industry before taking matters into his own hands when he opened his first store in 2001.

“The biggest complaint from customers was that they would walk into a tile store, find a sample they like, order it and wait one to two weeks for it to come in,” Disney said. “And because each batch has a different
shade lot, the tile you picked out in the showroom could be slightly different than what you got a couple of weeks later.”

Tile Outlet makes matters immeasurably easier. Of the approximately 300 ceramic and porcelain tile and stone products on display at each store, more than 50 products are ready to go and the lead-time for ordered products from nearby distribution centers averages about three days.

Many other small discount tile stores are “special-order only” with lead times that typically stretch two or three weeks. The same can oftentimes be said for big-box home improvement retailers that also carry a limited amount of in-stock products.

“Each of our locations has a good selection of the basics,” Disney said. “If you walked into one of our stores today and needed tile for a project this weekend, they would have enough in stock for you to tile your floor.”

Besides an incredible array of ceramic and porcelain tile, stores carry a wide selection of slate, travertine, limestone, medallions and marble at savings of typically 20 percent compared to competitors because of Tile Outlet’s low-overhead, low-price concept. Top-selling prefabricated granite countertops offer savings of as much as 70 percent when compared to the cost of traditional installation. Tile Outlet also sells all the
necessary products, equipment and materials necessary for installation.

“We’re a one-stop shop,” Disney said. “We’re a very well-rounded tile retailer. We have inexpensive tile from 99 cents a square foot to glass tile that sells for $15 a square foot, as well as high-end granite products. You can find what you’re looking for whether you’re looking to inexpensively tile a laundry-room floor or choosing tile for a $5 million custom home.”

Tile Outlet also offers consumers more choices since many big-box retailers oftentimes carry products from only one supplier. “We have our own line of products, but we also have products from 20 other suppliers. From a consumer standpoint, it’s like being able to look at the products of 20 other companies at one time.” Disney also pointed out that product samples come from current stock, not a product lot that might have been produced last year, helping to ensure that customers’ purchases match their samples.

Prefabricated granite countertops are a top-seller simply because of the incredible savings they offer. Prefabricated granite is produced in smaller slabs and cut to a standard two-foot counter depth with a
finished edge already on it. Conversely, the fabrication costs alone to add a bullnose (finished edge) to customized granite countertops can cost about $50 per linear foot or $450 for a nine-foot counter.

Water Based Hardwood Finishes & Other Innovations with Chad Nordhagen of BonaKemi

In This Podcast Episode

Floor guy, Rob McNealy, interviews Chad Nordhagen, Director of Marketing & Product Management at BonaKemi about the company and their innovative products. They discuss how BonaKemi pioneered waterborne hardwood floor finishes, and a new hardwood floor mop which sprays a BonaKemi floor cleaner.

More About Chad Nordhagen and BonaKemi

Chad Nordhagen joined BonaKemi in early 2006 as a marketing project developer and quickly moved into the position of finish product manager, where he was responsible for all wood floor finishing products, as well as activities for all market channels, including: new product introductions, promotions, line extensions and meeting the demands of the marketplace for these products.

In his current role as director of marketing and product management, Nordhagen leads marketing and Bona’s Strategic Business Units (SBU) in Finishes, Floor Care and Machines/Abrasives. He is responsible for creating and implementing marketing strategies, developing sales and public relations efforts and overseeing product development for BonaKemi, while seeking out global solutions.

Most recently, Nordhagen comes from Echostar Communications Corporation as promotions and communications manager, where he focused on sales lead generation, sales collateral support materials, trade shows, event marketing and retail sales.

Chad acquired his MBA from the University of Denver with a focus on E-Commerce Marketing and earned his BA in Business from Washington State University.

Since 1919, BonaKemi has provided professionals with premium quality finishing and cleaning products and systems developed to maintain the natural beauty of wood floors. With global headquarters in Malmö, Sweden and subsidiaries and distributors in over 50 countries, BonaKemi has led the industry worldwide with innovative, environmentally responsible solutions to a formerly hazardous and toxic process. The pioneer of waterborne finishes and dust containment in the industry, Bona provides the cleanest, most convenient and healthiest hardwood floor finishing process available.

The BonaKemi product line includes a trailer-mounted dust containment system, waterborne hardwood floor finishes, and floor care products, including the hardwood floor mop pictured here, which sprays a specially designed hardwood floor cleaner.

HGTV & DIY with Eric Stromer of Over Your Head

In This Podcast Episode

Floor guy, Rob McNealy interviews Eric Stromer, popular HGTV host, author and do-it-yourself expert, about his career in contracting, and how he got his start in the entertainment business. They also discuss his hit HGTV television show, Over Your Head .

Eric Stromer’s Bio

What do you get when you mix construction, comedy and music? Chicago native Eric Stromer, host of the hit HGTV show Over Your Head, author of Do-It-Yourself Family, and one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive.”

Eric’s entertaining DIY advice and infectious personality have won the hearts of millions of viewers nationwide! He is a spokesman for SEARS/Craftsman Tools and can be heard regularly dishing out home improvement advice to listeners of Adam Carolla’s nationally syndicated radio show.

As the host of Over Your Head, one of HGTV’s top series, Eric comes to the rescue of homeowners who have tackled a home improvement project that failed miserably! Saving rooms, homes and potentially marriages, Eric and his team guide the homeowners’ projects to completion every week. You never know when one of Eric’s alter egos (such as knitting guru Granny Stromer) will show up to join in on the fun!

In 2007, Eric partnered with AOL and GMC to create Home Improvement with Eric Stromer, a series of web videos and interactive features that help viewers conquer their fears and tackle home repair projects themselves. The series of videos feature a wide range of projects such as hanging wallpaper and eco-friendly landscaping, and they are available for free on AOL’s Living channel.

Eric is also an accomplished author. His book, Do-It-Yourself Family, is a helpful guide for busy parents, with suggestions for home projects that will not only bring the family together but also buy some quality time for mom and dad. Published by Random House/Bantam Dell, it is available in stores nationwide! Eric also pens a monthly column, “Superhandy Dad,” for LA Parent magazine.

Born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, Eric grew up enjoying both sports and drama. He excelled in track and football and participated in local talent shows. His passion for the arts and an early break in commercials led him to enroll in the University of Colorado’s theater department where he lasted only one week. After realizing a structured curriculum in drama was not satisfying, he desperately tried to return home, but soon found himself on the next plane back. In order to financially survive, Eric found a niche in construction. Eric’s four years of painting and putting crown molding in just about every house in Colorado laid the foundation for his future career.

Upon graduation, Eric moved to Los Angeles and began remodeling houses. His eye for design, attention to detail, and great craftsmanship captured the attention of many A-list celebrities. In 1993, Eric started his own company, Big House Construction, which quickly flourished into a lucrative business. Eric has remodeled homes for celebrities including Dylan McDermott, Elijah Wood and Jasmine Guy.

Although his business is thriving, Eric has not given up his first love of entertaining. And it didn’t take long for Hollywood to come knocking on his door. He was even honored with the Best Comedy Short award at the Houston Film Festival for producing, scoring and starring in The Acting Thing, a comedy film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Eric is also an accomplished singer/songwriter who has written and performed music for The Drew Carey Showtime Special, The Wild Side starring Christopher Walken, and numerous television shows. Eric is currently recording his debut full-length album with some of Nashville’s greatest musical talents.

A father to three, television host, construction extraordinaire and product spokesman keep this blonde hunk busy, but just ask Eric; there is nothing else he would rather do!

Be sure to tune in to watch Eric on Over Your Head on HGTV! See him save the day for American families that have undertaken home renovations that have turned into nightmares.