Unlike other flooring products, most tile is selected by local distributors once a year at large international tile markets. These distributors pick styles and colors they think retailers like us (and clients like you) will enjoy. This matters: Tile you find online or in a store somewhere else in the country MAY not be available to us — unless one of our distributors carries it too.
How Tile Really Gets Chosen — And Why Your Local Showroom Matters
Most people assume tile styles are simply “available” everywhere. Walk into a store in Newport, Boston, or New York, and the collections look polished, current, and intentional. But behind the scenes, the tile business works very differently. While there are national manufacturers like Daltile and Porcelanosa whose collections are consistent from region to region, most tile is not universal. In reality, what you see in a local showroom is the result of decisions made months earlier — often at a single, massive tile market.
About once a year, tile distributors from across the country attend major tile markets. These events bring together manufacturers from all over the world — Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, China, and beyond. At these markets, distributors decide which styles to carry that they believe retailers and clients will want.
Why We Represent Over 13 Tile Suppliers
Relying on just a couple distributors can be limiting. That’s why we represent over 13 different tile suppliers in our Middletown showroom. This approach allows us to offer a wider range of styles, colors, and price points. We showcase an incredible amount of tile—thousands of options—in our local showroom.
See Something You Like Online? We'll See If We Have it Too
Another takeaway is that tile your find online (or at another retailer) may not be available to us. If our local disctributor decides to carry it, we can get it for you. If not, you may need to simply order it online. Just be sure to buy a single box first to make sure the visual look and durability of the tile matches the online photos.
If you have any questions about tile or want to look at thousands of options in our store, give us a call at 401-214-0285 or visit our showroom. We serve customers throughout Rhode Island and southeastern New England, including Newport, Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, Bristol and more.
About Ken: Ken Fain is the co-owner of Island Carpet in Middletown, RI and a floorcovering veteran of more than 40 years. His popular 'Ask Ken' video series answers common flooring questions on a variety of topics. It has reached thousands of viewers on both YouTube and Facebook.
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