Company Release - 03/07/2014 09:00

New store features more than 5,000 tile and natural stone products and 50 inspirational bath and kitchen vignettes

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Tile Shop (NASDAQ: TTS), a specialty retailer of high quality, premium manufactured tile, natural stone tiles, setting and maintenance materials, announced today that it has expanded its presence into New Mexico with the opening of its Albuquerque store, an expansive new tile and natural stone showroom for local and surrounding area residents. The store is located at 5000 Pan American Freeway between Jefferson Street and Chappell Drive.

The Tile Shop’s new 22,000-square-foot Albuquerque location offers customers a selection of more than 5,000 different types of affordably priced tiles and natural stone products. The new showroom also features more than 50 inspirational bathroom and kitchen vignettes to tour and touch, bringing customers real-life tile, trim and accent ideas as they undergo their tile projects.

“There continues to be a strong desire to have hard surface flooring, particularly given the arid and temperate climate in this region. Tile and natural stone have grown in overwhelming popularity – not only are they cooling to the feet, but they are easy to maintain,” said Carl Randazzo Senior Vice President of Retail for The Tile Shop. “We’re excited to join the Albuquerque community, introduce them to our incredible selection of high quality, affordable tile and a ‘Beautiful Made Easy’ customer experience, while helping them achieve their tile project vision for their homes.”

Tile and Natural Stone Inspiration Without the Intimidation
When customers enter The Tile Shop, they can expect to find everything they need to complete a home remodeling tile project, from expert store associate guidance through design and installation advice to high quality, readily available tile, stone, tools and setting materials — all at an attractive price. Customers can find products including:

• High quality tiles and natural stone in a variety of styles and designs, such as ceramic, glass, metal, porcelain and faux wood
• Shapes and patterns including subway, mosaic, square, rectangle, circle and many textured options, as well as all of the finishing pieces
• Wide assortment of ceramic and natural stone pencils, chair rails, listellos, decorative mosaics, and base and skirting pieces used to create a custom look for every space
• Natural stone options such as granite, slate, marble, onyx, quartzite, sandstone and limestone
• Ceramic and natural stone pieces to enhance the look and function of a space, including sink basins, corner shelves, soap dishes, towel bars, thresholds, shower curbs, and switchplates
• Floor tile installation tools, including sealants and caulks, grout, adhesives, floats, substrates, tile cutting tools and more

Defining The “Beautiful Made Easy” Customer Experience
Shopping for tile can be exciting and sometimes overwhelming with so many choices – from shapes to colors to materials. When customers visit The Tile Shop, they receive a Beautiful Made Easy™ experience from trained associates, who help identify their project needs, provide the best product recommendations, offer sound project planning, design and installation guidance, and make it as easy as possible for them to purchase exactly what they need to transform their homes.

Inspiring Design
The Tile Shop in Albuquerque features fully decorated, room-size displays -- kitchens, baths, and other spaces within a home, as well as premium lighting and plumbing fixtures that allow homeowners to see what their Tile Shop tile and stone will look like installed in their home.

Customers are encouraged to imagine the endless possibilities they can create in their space. Customers can get single ideas from The Tile Shop in-store vignettes or re-create an exact replica of the vignette in their own home using all of the tile products they see in store.

Do-It-Yourself Workshops
For Albuquerque-area homeowners looking for tiling tips to complete their projects, The Tile Shop’s new location offers free “How to Tile” workshop every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Participants are offered a hands-on opportunity to learn how to set ceramic tile, natural stone tile, and mosaic tile. The workshop covers everything that’s needed to tile a floor, wall, or backsplash with either tile or natural stone, as well as how to grout, cut tile, and seal and maintain tile and natural stone. The Tile Shop also provides informational videos on how to install tile at www.tileshop.com.

Store Hours
The Tile Shop in Albuquerque offers convenient store hours both during the week and on weekends. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

About Tile Shop Holdings and The Tile Shop
The Tile Shop (NASDAQ: TTS) is a specialty retailer of manufactured and natural stone tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Tile Shop offers a wide selection of products, attractive prices, and exceptional customer service in an extensive showroom setting. The Tile Shop operates 91 stores in 29 states, with an average size of 23,000 square feet. The Tile Shop also sells its products online at www.tileshop.com.

For The Tile Shop
Lindsey Rose, 612-562-4477
lindsey.rose@tileshop.com

Source: The Tile Shop