Employee-Owner Tanya Price Celebrates 20 Years at Tile Outlets of America

When you're employee-owned, reaching a 20-year milestone anniversary is a big deal! It certainly is for Tanya Price.

It's a big deal for loyal customers who return to Tile Outlets of America whenever they have a new project. Maybe they've moved to a new place, or they're renovating their current place, or they're coming with someone else to help them along with their projects. 

For the store, retaining employees matters because you're spending less time getting associates trained and up-to-speed. Instead, you're adding to the knowledge and experience that employees have already developed.

And, for the employee-owner it represents a commitment... To better understand that commitment, we caught up with Tile Outlets Employee Owner Tanya Price who has reached that impressive milestone!

Tanya Price Celebrates 20 Years at Tile Outlets of America

Tanya, what's your reaction to reaching this 20-year milestone?

TP: I can't believe I've been here this long! And I started thinking, why? It's the customers. I love what I do so why go somewhere else? I've got full benefits, 401K, and it's close to home.

How have customers changed since you started in sales? Do they ask the same questions? 

TP: Customers haven't changed much other than trying to get used to the larger tiles.

There are more coming for tile accent walls and a lot of them have checked out our website. I don't remember if we had one 20 years ago.

[Ed. note: Tile Outlets of America did have a website 20 years ago; it wasn't anywhere close to being as user-friendly, educational, and visual as it is now.]

How have products changed over the last 20 years?

TP: Tiles have gotten LARGER!

When I started here we had about 4 wood plank tiles 8x24 and now we have about 80 up to 12x60. We also have 24x48 tiles that are popular for walls, showers, outdoor kitchens...

People were looking for gray tiles for a while and now beige is coming back.

Which products are your all time favorites and why?

TP: I have a lot of favorites. Too many to name. I like the 24x48 size. The ones with the leaf prints and the 12x36 wavy tile.

>> For examples of those leaf prints, check out Wallpaper Looks in Tile for Your Home.

My favorite mosaic is Avalon Seafoam along with others.

The wood planks - too many to name.

We have so many tiles that people can usually find something they like.

>> See From Tile Dream to Tile Installation Reality in Fort Myers, FL 

Tanya, how has the store changed over these past two decades?

TP: When I started here the store was dark with fluorescent bulbs and a lot of them were burned out. It was very dustry and the presentation of the tiles weren't on a display rack like they are now.

We added Inspiration Centers displaying showers, floors, walls, cabinets and vanities.

>>See Shower Installations in Fort Myers Highlight Bathroom Design Inspiration

And we recently added faucets for kitchen and bath.

>> See ​Try Faucets and Fixtures From Tile Outlets of America!

What is the best store improvement you've seen?

TP: I'd have to say that the best improvements are brighter lights, the Inspiration Centers, the remodel of the restrooms. They looked like prison bathrooms when I started here. I kept thinking that the bathrooms are ugly and we have all these beautiful tiles! Finally, they tiled it and its' beautiful.

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

What do you like to do outside of TOA?

TP: I love to see my 3 granddaughters that live 10 minutes away.

I love gardening and watching the birds and ducks that come to eat at the feeders and birdbath.

In the evening, my boyfriend/significant other Cliff and I like to watch TV. Nothing too exciting.

Thank you, Tanya, and congratulations!

Have you celebrated a similar milestone? What's your take on Tanya's experience?

We hope you'll visit Tile Outlets of America for your next tile installation project and work with our employee-owners. Be sure to say hi to Tanya when you see her!

Thanks for reading.