Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Epstein.
Nancy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began my career in the luxury stone and tile industry in 1986, when I worked with a cabinet showroom to create custom cabinets for my young son’s bedroom. The showroom owner hated my cabinet design, but was impressed with my business ideas. After he made the furniture, he asked me to come work for him and I did – I brought in all sorts of lighting and furniture to his facility – until I was approached by someone to sell decorative plumbing and I took an interest. I studied plumbing until I knew the architecture of showers and sinks so well, I could draw plumbing guides and install the sinks myself.
Once we were selling decorative plumbing, the vision evolved and I wanted to be able to sell a full bathroom, so I started bringing in and displaying tile lines. After renovations, it became a plumbing and tile showroom. My boss offered me the option to buy out my end of the business, and I did. I couldn’t afford a new sign for the outside, so with paint, I changed the AP on the sign to an AB and we called the showroom Artistic Bath.
We worked together until 1993, when I decided to open my open showroom on a major highway. It was the first luxury plumbing & tile showroom in the US that was open to consumers, instead of the trade, and it was very successful. For a while I purchased from other importers, but they never had enough stock for the demand, so I decided to lease a warehouse and house my own stock. With any surplus inventory, we were able to begin selling to other retailers. It started with a network of 10, and today, Artistic Tile has become one of the largest wholesale distributors of luxury tile and stone, with nine Artistic Tile branded showrooms nationwide, and a dealership network of more than 200 luxury tile and stone showrooms across the United States.
In the late 1990s, I started designing my own tile products because I couldn’t find enough of what I liked on the market. Today, we have an in-house design team that frequently travels in search of inspiration for award-winning proprietary designs. We look to historic buildings, palaces, fabrics, jewelry – we look to everything but tile to inform our designs!
With the large production facility, we opened in 2001, we’re able to offer our clients extensive in-house customization options, powered by a working shop of advanced waterjet cutting, custom mosaics, cut-to-size options, stone sawing, and surface finishing machines. These altogether provide a comprehensive domestic design hub meeting the needs of architects, designers, and homeowners, with short lead times.
While I remain the company’s CEO, I am proud to be in business with my sons, Vice President, Zachary Epstein, and VP of Marketing, Michael Epstein; and my cousins, Joshua Levinson, Wholesale President, and Lauren Cherkas, Retail President.
This year marks Artistic Tile’s 30th year in business, and we’re renovating many of our showrooms, continuing the expansion of our proprietary product line, and moving our successful A&D showroom on 58th St, NYC to a larger space in the same building. This year, we’re also launching a totally revamped website that will enable users to see Artistic Tile products simulated in their own spaces and to purchase our products online.
Going forward, I see Artistic Tile continuing to expand while retaining its status as a leader in the world of luxury tile design. I’ve watched Artistic Tile grow to a point where it’s a large enough business that it no longer depends on me to survive. The next generation is just as passionate and involved, and I believe the future will continue to build on what I’ve worked hard to establish.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Business is always a struggle, you’re always running just to stay ahead. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry presents its own challenges, most of which make me laugh. But I love this industry, the people we collaborate with, and I love our products. Since I’ve started, I’ve never woken up thinking, “I don’t want to go to work today.” So, the struggle has always been worth it!
Artistic Tile – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are and always have been leaders in innovation. We don’t follow trends, but instead offer products of permanence. When considering designs and materials, we always think in terms of what will last our customers for 25 years or more, while paying close attention to developments in technology that will allow us to create novel and innovative designs.
What I’m most proud of is our company’s core value of generosity, which we express in many ways. We donate stone to re-building causes, shelters, and charitable organizations, and contribute to humanitarian organizations supporting refugees, literacy, rehabilitation, and poverty alleviation.
We are also a very green company. Our philosophy is that the best way to be green is to buy products you love and that will last.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Personally, being able to see and live close to my children and 8 grandchildren is the greatest measure of success in my life. Knowing I can contribute to the charities that are close to my heart and knowing that I’ve made a difference in other peoples’ lives is extremely gratifying.
Contact Info:
- Address: Artistic Tile Chicago
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 105A
Chicago, IL 60654 - Website: www.artistictile.com
- Phone: 312-670-0612
- Email: atchicago@artistictile.com
- Instagram: www.instagram/artistic_tile
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/artistictile.com
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/artistic_tile
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/artistic-tile-chicago
- Other: www.pinterest.com/artistictile
Image Credit:
Artistic Tile
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
