Meet Dennis Werley, Employee-Owner of Tile Outlets of America | The TOA Blog About Tile & More
Posted by TOA's Blog Team on May 9th 2019
Have you met Dennis Werley? He's based in the Tile Outlets of America Fort Myers store.
Dennis joined Tile Outlets in 2012. However, we were used to seeing him regularly as an installer shopper. He is next in the Tile Outlets of America Employee-Owner series.
BTW, Tile Outlets of America is now 100% Employee Owned.
We caught up with Dennis to ask him a few questions.
Introducing Dennis Werley, Employee-Owner of Tile Outlets of America
TOA: Dennis, tell us about yourself and your background. Are you from Fort Myers?
DW: I was a tile installer for 20 years.
I'm not from Florida. I moved here in 1994. I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan and lived in Kansas City for 17 years.
TOA: How did you get immersed in tile and stone?
DW: I had a pressure cleaning business and fell off a roof and broke my ankle. That's when I decided to get a business closer to the ground!
There was a tile installer friend who went to my church. I asked if I could come over and watch him and ended up being his helper for two years. And then I went out on my own.
TOA: How did you get started at Tile Outlets, and what's your role there?
DW: I became a member of the Tile Outlets sales staff in Fort Myers when I was 58. I was just getting too old to be on my knees installing. And, yes, I did take advantage of the knee time! Tile installation is rewarding but hard on a body.
Tile Outlets had a notice on the door of the Fort Myers store saying they needed a part-time salesperson, so I applied.
I worked part-time for two or three months and then I went full-time.
TOA: What do you love most about being an employee-owner?
DE: It's a nice benefit to receive a certain amount of Tile Outlets of America stock every year. That's one thing I like about being an employee-owner.
TOA: What are the biggest changes you’ve noticed since you started?
DW: Our contractor products have grown and we have most everything they need.
And then our tile line is getting better.
>> Shop Tile
TOA: Which are your favorite Inspiration Area vignettes and why?
TOA: My favorite shower in the Inspiration Area is the hemisphere copper. I like the way it looks - dark and classy.
>> See Looking for Tile Design Inspiration? Check Out Tile Outlets in Fort Myers
TOA: Dennis, which are your favorite products and why?
DW: One of my favorite products is the wood look porcelain tile. It really does look like wood!
And the vinyl plank is cool because of the easy installation and the waterproofing.
>> See Discover Stone Polymer Composite Flooring aka SPC Flooring on Suncoast View
Dennis in front of his favorite Inspiration Area vignette, the hemisphere copper
TOA: What new trends are customers asking about?
DW: I find my customers are looking for the 12x24 shiny porcelain for showers and the 4x12 and the 2x12 glass tile for backsplashes.
TOA: What are your top tips for customers shopping for tile?
DW: A few of my top tips for customers are:
- For tile, I recommend porcelain rather than ceramic.
- And, small grout lines!
>> See What is Rectified Tile and Why Does It Matter for Your Tile Installation?
TOA: What do you like to do outside of Tile Outlets?
DW: After Tile Outlets hours, you'll find me enjoying time with my wife, involved in my church and Life Group and researching our next cruise.
TOA: Thank you, Dennis!
If you haven't yet visited Tile Outlets of America, we hope you'll come to visit soon. You'll definitely get a chance to meet Dennis Werley at the Fort Myers store.
When you visit, be sure to let us know how to help make your dream home become a reality. You'll find a beautiful selection of in-stock and first quality porcelain and ceramic tile, stone, mosaics, cabinets, ledger stone and more available for a whole lot less at all Tile Outlets of America stores!
See you soon.
