TileLetter is the industry's leading tile magazine
6 questions for evaluating your leadership and achieving your mission
Many years ago, I regularly met up with a group of friends at a local breakfast joint for coffee. It was a bonding ritual...
Who will replace China – and what will be the damage of COVID-19?
The imposition of countervailing and antidumping duties on Chinese tiles
On May 4, the U.S. International Trade Commission confirmed that Chinese exports of ceramic tile are...
Virtual meeting tools, prompted by shelter-in-place rulings, become the future norm for business interaction
As part of their normal business practices, commercial contractors are required to attend weekly status meetings, contract reviews, change orders, etc., but with the...
Clarification of the new SBA FAQ about PPP loan forgiveness
On May 13, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a new 17-page Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)....
Estimating costs and profits to win at the tile game
The problem: underestimating time and costs
It had been dark outside for some time. My stomach was empty and delicious smells from downstairs were making...
Other options besides PPP for small businesses
Whether or not a tile or flooring retailer, contractor, or installer was able to secure a Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan, they are likely...
Health insurance: Finding the best plan for your employees
How do you find good health insurance for your employees? It’s a tough question, with answers that never seem to get easier. The challenge...
NTCA contractors sound off on Coronavirus and their businesses
We’ve been reading a lot about legislation being rushed through to address the Coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis, amidst rumors of work slowdowns...
How to future-proof the use of social media for your business
Whoever coined the phrase “the only thing certain is change” must have been talking about social media. For those of us who use social...
Do your people know the play? Practice the daily huddle to align your team
It works for (insert your favorite quarterback here) and it can work for you, too. It is, perhaps, one of the most effective leadership...
Why Tile is your ceramic tile education resource
Three years ago, the ceramic tile industry leaders came together to create what is now Why Tile. This initiative is the tile industry’s joint...
Evaluate your team’s competitive advantage
It’s still fairly early in the year, with most of it ahead of you, affording you the ability to make positive changes to take...
Your journey to emotional ownership
Pain and pleasure are such close cousins. In life, it’s painful not to experience pleasure. Too often though, it’s the holding on for dear...
Go ahead, Tweet it: seven ways to capitalize on the social power of your satisfied (and not-so-satisfied) customers
We love telling people about our latest experiences, and we love hearing about what others have experienced. But author Ron Kaufman says many companies...
Synergy amongst the trades: How teamwork makes the dream work
Fast-track construction projects often can be ultra-fast paced and hectic. They require industry professionals across several different trades to blend together for a common...
Negotiate and draft “pass through” clauses you can live with
Owners, contractors, subcontractors and lower-tier contractors must have a sound understanding of the operational details and triggers of “pass-through” provisions as their terms can...
Creating a great culture could be your best retention strategy
Results from the People in Construction 2019 study
A recent survey asked several hundred construction professionals across all trades about leadership and culture in their firm....
How small is a small business? The answer could cost you money!
Are you a small business? That depends on whom you’re asking.
Lots of people I know define a small business in lots of different ways,...
Do you have to pay employees like superstars to keep them?
Last year, five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love signed a contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. His new deal will pay him $120M over...
The changing market for ceramic tile in the USA
Donato Grosser’s Coverings presentation looks at the sales patterns for independent distributors
As part of the conference program at Coverings 19, Donato Grosser, principal of...