Meet Tile Outlets Employee Owner Tanya Price

Have you met Tanya Price? She's based in the Tile Outlets of America Fort Myers store.

Tanya joined Tile Outlets in 2005 and she's next in the Tile Outlets of America Employee-Owner series.

You see, Tile Outlets of America is now 100% Employee Owned.

We caught up with Tanya to ask her a few questions.

Introducing Tile Outlets Employee Owner Tanya Price

TOA: Tanya, tell us about yourself and your background. Are you from Fort Myers?

TP: I separated from my husband and moved from Joliet, Illinois to Fort Myers in December 2004.

I have two beautiful daughters, Faith and Nicole. Faith went to college, got married to Stephen and is a pharmacist. Stephen is a lawyer.

Nicole has given me three adorable granddaughters ages 4 1/2, 2 1/2 and 11 months. All have blonde hair and blue eyes like their parents.

I met my 'common law' husband Cliff while working at Tile Outlets of America. We've been together since December 27, 2005.

TOA: How did you get started with Tile Outlets of America?

TP: I was hired as a cashier on May 1st, 2005. I knew nothing about tile and remember on my first day wondering what I had gotten myself into...

I stuck it out and learned.

After a year, I was finally moved to the sales floor where I love it!

TOA: Tanya, what is your role?

TP: I feel that my role is to help customers put together tile for their projects. I love to help them pick tile they like and advise them on which tile is appropriate for their project.

People walk in the store not knowing where to start. They need help. I try to make it fun for them and ease their anxiety.

>> Download the Tile Outlets Dream Sheet checklist to help with your Tile Project

TOA: What do you love most about being an employee-owner?

TP: I love being an employee-owner! I also have full benefits and three weeks of paid vacation.

I've been with TIle Outlets for 14.5 years. I consider TOA to be my life and my home and my fellow employees to be part of my family. We get along and argue just like families do. We've also mourned a few who have passed.

TOA: What are the biggest changes you’ve noticed since you started?

TP: When I started, the store was a mess. It was very dusty. Over time, we hired more good employees who cared about what the store looked like.

We re-tiled the bathrooms with beautiful tile. Before they looked like bland, uninspiring, institutional bathrooms.

>> See How to Transform a Bathroom With Tile: Fort Myers Bathroom Makeover

We painted the break room and got nice new tables and chairs. We also put up the inspiration center to show what the tile would look like in your home.

>> See Looking for Tile Design Inspiration? Check Out Tile Outlets in Fort Myers

One of the best things is we bought a floor washing machine. It helps so much with the dust problem.

TOA: Which are your favorite products and why?

TP: My favorite products are the wood look tiles. They're waterproof and very durable unlike real wood floors that, in Florida, get ruined by humidity, a broken pipe or flooding from a hurricane.

>> See Kate's Wood Plank Tile Floor and Wall Guide

I also like the 8" and 9" decorative tiles that make a patterned floor. They're nice for a bathroom floor, a fireplace surround, a foyer, a backsplash, etc.

>> See 4 Decorative Tile Collections with Designs You'll Love!

I also love the mosaics. They can add color to backsplashes and bathrooms or other small projects like a table.

>> See The Ultimate Guide to Mosaics

TOA: What are the biggest challenges you see customers having to deal with when shopping for tile?

TP: The biggest challenges for customers shopping for tile are color, size and the finish on the tile.

If they're tiling a front entry or lanai, they need a non-slip tile.

Some people want a shiny tile throughout their house. The problem is they don't realize that it can get slippery especially in a kitchen or bathroom where water can get on the floor.

TOA: Tanya, what new trends are customers asking about?

TP: There are several new trends they're asking about. The first is large format tile.

>> See Have You Tried Large Format Tile?

Next, people want rectified tile so they can have a 1/16" grout joint.

>> See What is Rectified Tile and Why Does It Matter for Your Tile Installation?

Subway glass tiles or glazed ceramic tiles are popular for backsplashes. They're nice to go with a busy, patterned granite or if customers want a modern simple look.

TOA: What are your top tips for shopping for tile?

TP: When shopping for tile it's good to have a budget of what you can afford.

Then, you need to know what is the size of your room.

Sometimes, your installer tells you what to get, in which case you'll be limited to a selection.

I always say to go big, but big tile doesn't always work well in a small space.

>> See Big Tile or Little Tile? How to Design for Small Bathrooms and Living Spaces

TOA: What do you like to do outside of Tile Outlets?

TP: Outside of Tile Outlets of America, I like to see my granddaughters. I'm lucky that they're only 10 minutes away.

I like to go to the beach or take a bike ride.

I love gardening and recently got a birdfeeder which attracts colorful birds.

TOA: Thank you, Tanya!

Visit Tile Outlets of America to Meet Tanya Price!

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 Tanya Price 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.