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Creating a design concept for a kitchen or remodeling an outdated bathroom requires an understanding of the products and services available to those looking to undertake such a project. The ProSource Podcast breaks down the home remodeling industry and highlights the merchandise and experience that it requires to achieve your vision. Join ProSource Director of Digital Marketing Content Kevin Devine, as he speaks with those who facilitate the ideal project and offer valuable information for how to choose the ideal products and services that transform your ideas into reality.
Today we have on to the podcast,
Patrick Warren from Daltile.
Very excited to welcome him back.
He is the vice president of dealer sales
and showrooms over at Daltile.
We've had him on before.
Last year
we talked about made in the USA products.
We're going to talk about that
a little bit again today, I.
But Patrick,
thank you so much for joining me today.
Thanks, Molly.
Good to be here.
Hello everyone on the pro search world.
Good to good to talk to you
it makes so much sense for us
to be talking about made in the USA again
because we are celebrating
250 years of America this year.
Sure.
So you were kind of ahead of the curve
last year.
You predicted this big celebration,
I guess, but we're going to be continuing
that celebration.
And the talk about the Daltile products
that are made in the USA today
why domestic manufacturing matters.
That was a big topic last year
when we had you on.
We talked a lot about just
why it's easier
for everyone overall
to have manufacturing in the USA,
not just for prices,
but for time and scheduling as well.
Why do you feel like that
conversation might even
be more important in 2026
than it was in 2025?
I think you've got a couple of things
in America right now.
I think there's some there's
a definite desire
to support local heritage.
You know, I think our 250 years
is just the perfect timing of all of this.
You know, I think it's been coming on
for quite some time now.
But I think last year
with all of the tariffs,
I think this year with everything that's
going on in the geopolitical spectrum,
I think it's just everybody's becoming
well aware that
there are products in the US
that have been in the US for a long time.
We could talk about some of those
with tile, and it's it's
more of a heartfelt realization
that, you know what, let's support
our local businesses
that are have been here for a long time.
They make products here.
They make amazing products here.
And let's continue
that heritage of what what we started.
we discussed the manufacturing aspect
in the footprint in the US last year.
I kind of want to continue that
conversation a little bit today as well.
How has that continued investment
at tile support
trade professionals and homeowners
in today's market from just the cost?
You know,
I think it's a good it's a good question.
I think there's there's the cost component
because it's domestically made.
Right.
You're not you're not
you don't have to worry
about coming over on a container
or the time it's
going to take to get here, or
in some cases with tariffs that we saw
over the last year plus and now
with the Strait of Hormuz, can is stuff
even going to arrive.
Right.
Things are getting stuck on the water
where you have a dependability
of what products are here.
The designs are amazing and you have a
a spectrum of product color design
that not just in tile within the home
furnishings and really beyond
that, that people have pride
in what they're purchasing.
And it's being made here, being
manufactured here for their projects.
So I think there's a there's a loyalty
that is building has been building,
and I think the tariffs and the Strait
of Hormuz as an example have fueled that.
No pun intended.
Know for sure.
For sure.
While we're on the topic of made
in the USA products, I wanted to quickly
ask, what are some of your favorite
off the top of your mind?
What are some of your favorite Daltile
made in the USA products?
Well, I got to tell you, there's we have
we have a lot of them.
In fact, we produce in our
we have 11 domestic plans,
nine in the United States.
We produce and sell to the pro source
members.
Over 80% of our products
that are made in the USA.
Such a great story.
We have so many products
that are fantastic.
We have our, I think, you know,
probably my favorite right now
because of the story that it brings,
is our one quartz countertops
out of our Dixon, Tennessee facility.
We we had a plant that we opened up
nearly ten years ago.
We just opened up another line
with a lot more advanced
technology and capabilities.
So I think that's probably
our largest investment, in addition
to what I think it's going to bring us
in the future, even just since last year
when we were initially talking
about these made
in the USA products, have you seen there
be an even bigger increase
in your product category
being domestically made?
You mentioned the 80% number.
Do you see that number
just continuing to rise?
And I guess is the ultimate goal
trying to get to 99, 100% now.
You know,
I don't think you'll ever get there.
I think a healthy balance is probably
where we are.
You know, there are
there are there are areas of the world
that are going to have products
that we can't produce, specifically
on the natural stone
and some mosaics that come in.
But, you know, so
I think we're in a we're at a good balance
with our manufacturing and what we sell.
I do think that there are going
to continue to be evolutions
in the technology that we provide.
You know, I think for a long time,
the international manufacturing spectrum,
let's say, had a better
or what the consumers perceived as being
a better product, styling and technology.
And we are past all of that
which is which is really love it.
Really helpful to see.
Yeah,
I think that's good insight to for people
that maybe aren't aware of some of those
details of just how the product is made,
that it's unrealistic
to say that everything's
going to be able to be made in the USA.
But I would say
80% is a pretty good number,
like definitely higher
than probably some of the competitors.
You know, it's interesting we didn't
actually go down the Made in America path.
That's just what that's is who we are.
You know, downtown will celebrate
celebrate our 80th birthday in February.
So we're 79 years old.
Six months from now will be, you know,
most six months, less than six months,
we'll be celebrating our 80th birthday,
which is something to be said.
And, you know, the path
that we're going down is to continue
to support the facilities that we have.
And again, there's 11 that are domestic
and nine that are in the US.
Yeah.
When it comes to just like choosing
the products, how does Daltile help
not just,
you know, trade pro members that we have,
but we have a lot of homeowners
that come into our showrooms as well.
How does that help homeowners
feel confident that they are choosing
products that aren't just beautiful,
but like durable and practical as well?
You know,
we we love the Made America story, but
in the end, it's about color and design.
And if the color design aren't spot
on, the homeowner, the project,
the developer, whoever's purchasing
or specifying
that product,
they're not going to purchase it.
So we spend an enormous amount of time
making sure that we are on trend.
We are seeing what's coming,
and we're producing
what a consumer or a specifier in
this case
is visualizing for their project,
not just today, but going forward.
And that's
I think that's a very important point.
You brought up trends. Are you seeing any
that are coming up, coming down
the pipeline that you're excited about
or any that are happening right now
that you're really into?
Yeah.
You know,
I think there's there's all kinds of,
you know, there's technology trends.
You know, with what we do is
take stepwise, for example, reveal 3D, 3-D
sync reveal or our defend with micro band.
I think those technologies
are very important.
The trend that I believe is important
right now is what
I just I'm all excited about bundling
and you know, it.
Tile we can provide everything
for really let's say a kitchen, right?
You guys Pro
sauce does a tremendous amount of kitchen
remodeling and product support.
You know we don't have cabinets.
You guys
you guys have sources for cabinets.
But everything else within that room
we can provide.
It's the wall tile. It's the floor tile.
It's the countertops.
It's the systems that build them
and put it together.
You know, under the hood elements.
Because I think the consumers are really
migrating more to that one stop shop.
You know, our category,
our the home furnishings category,
if you will, is very fragmented.
And a lot of times you have to
you have to go to multiple locations.
And the more you can crunch that down
into more of an efficient approach to,
you know, that that intent to purchase,
the more you're going to win the sale.
No, I'm absolutely we see that across
all industries.
Everyone just wants to get everything done
at one time.
They want the quickest results.
And if you can get the quickest result
with the best products
and just the options
that we have at ProSource,
we're always adding new categories as well
to make sure that we can complete
that one stop shop
for all of our members and homeowners.
But just going into like our Saint Louis
showroom, it's hard to miss Daltile
like when you're in the the
when you're in the countertops, there's,
you see the logo
and the beautiful products.
Even just like the tile
displays are always
You just briefly mentioned
stepwise technology.
I know we talked about this
a little bit last episode last year.
Can you just talk
a little bit more
about how that technology is
constantly being improved, how it balances
like slip resistance, clean ability
and then of course, style?
Yes. I mean, it's
you know, what's great about stepwise
is my favorite technology to talk about.
And we have quite a few
that are exclusive to Dow tile.
But stepwise is the best product
that we all need to sell more of.
And the reason for that is we'll
get into the design component first.
But in the manufacturing piece,
you know, we build that
into the manufacturing process.
So it's for the life of the tile.
And what really makes it
valuable is there's not or desirable
even more than valuable.
It's not you can't see it.
You can't feel it. You can't.
You know, a lot of times
they'll put an aggregate on top of the
tile and it's real rough,
which is understandable
that that provides a slippery distance.
But if you wipe a paper towel over,
the paper towel is going to fall apart.
You don't have that with stepwise.
And because of how we
manufacture it, we're able to
pronounce that
we are 50% more slippery resistant
than the competition.
And anytime you want to talk to a
homeowner or project
or a specifier, as we've mentioned before,
and you can say, hey,
slip resistance important to you?
Of course it is, right?
It is for everything.
So we build it into certain products.
Not every product.
We put a build in a certain one.
You know, we have some products
that you can do, a floor tile in the home,
let's say a would look tile.
And you can take it outside
and you can have the
the same exact product,
but it'll have stepwise on on that.
So if you have kind of a moisture
outside from the, you know, morning Dew,
it won't you won't slip.
And I think that's important especially to
with you have this aging in place.
Right.
You have all of these people
staying in their homes longer.
And, you know, you want to make sure
that you're not going to slip on a product
that that is inferior to what we're making
with our stepwise products.
Yeah.
You mentioned outdoor
like some of your products.
You can put them inside, outside
and they work just as well.
Either way, with outdoor
living having such a boom back
in 2020 during Covid
when everyone was staying at home.
Are you seeing that boom continue?
Or people still really investing
in outdoor projects, or do you have any,
I guess, pulse on that trend
at all? Absolutely, yes.
We look at that
very closely to big growth area for us.
We call it our Dow tile exteriors.
And you know,
people have been realizing for some time,
I think you had a couple
of different approaches here.
People have been consumers
have been realizing that, you know,
I've got this great backyard
kind of an okay patio.
But you know what?
We could spend more time out here.
That's very pronounced
in the southern markets where it's warm,
like I'm in Dallas and we live outside.
We are outside more than we're inside.
And then, you know, I think during Covid,
I think if people were outside more
and they're just like, wow, we gotta
we gotta spruce this up a little bit.
So we capitalized on that.
We make some of our our two CM pavers,
our two and three kid pavers.
We make those in Dixon, Tennessee,
which is literally across the highway
from where
we make the countertops, one quartz.
And we also make some of them in Italy
and bring them over.
So it depends on kind of the
look we're going after.
But that's a big area for us.
And I also think you've seen an evolution
within the selection process from a
from a ProSource point of view, a showroom
where we're not just indoors.
Right?
There's
if a consumer is redoing their home
or couples redoing their home, chances are
they're going to they're going to consider
doing something on the exterior.
And we want to be part of that. Yeah.
You guys have a great exteriors program
as well.
Everything from the product photos
I see from the samples that we have
in the showroom, it's a definitely,
I think, a huge market
that will continue to boom as people
are prioritizing wellness as well.
That's a big trend across
all industries, is just wellness
and making your home your sanctuary.
That's like a big 2026 design trend.
And I think that falls into that as well.
Even just outside of making like a spa
bathroom, which is one of those trends.
Just to circle back
a little bit to made in the USA,
what would you want
trade professional members
to know when they are briefly
bringing up your made
in the USA products to their clients?
I would say the first thing to know
is we're changing constantly.
Our product development is second to none.
And the Dow tile that they saw, products
they saw 18 months ago,
let's say for a customer, you know, look,
we have we've advanced even beyond that.
So first thing is
look at everything that we have.
Second piece would be bundling, right.
We build all of the products,
all of the categories that we have to
your point exteriors, floor tile, wall
tile, countertops, everything that we do,
all the components to put the tile
on the floor or on floor and walls,
we have all of it together so you can
bundle and it's designed to work together.
That's number two.
And the number three
is let the consumer style
dictate where you're going to go
from manufacturing point of view.
And we believe
that you'll end up with doubt.
And following up on that,
just because something is made in the USA
does not mean
there's any limitations to the customizing
or the design options
that there are right now.
For any homeowners wondering,
you don't even
you don't even have to wait for your trade
pro member to bring up tile to you.
Bring it up to them
and ask them about it,
and they can go into their local ProSource
and connect with an account manager.
Look at all the beautiful samples.
Shatter.
Their Pro is a very important partner
with Daltile, and we've been partnering
since the very beginning.
And and we make sure
that all of our showrooms
and if there's a showroom out there
that needs some help,
just be sure to reach out to me or Molly
and we can help you.
But we want to make sure
that we are front and center.
And when you're when you,
your contractor comes in or you start
account manager starts working with them,
we've got our products there for you.
Absolutely.
What is exciting that's happening
with tile over the next year?
You know, I would say that again, I've
got to go back to product development.
You know, really
the two most important things
at Daltile are, number one, are people,
you know, like I was just in somebody's
office, crossed off way here.
And, you know, she's here 37 years.
And she would give me some history
about it.
I mean, it's not you know,
we have a we have a quarterly magazine
that we push out kind of internally that,
you know, at the back page covers
all of our, you know, anniversaries.
And it's it's not uncommon
for us to have 7 or 8 people
at 40 years plus, which is fantastic.
So I think number one is our people.
Number two, absolutely. Our products.
I mean, just the what we're doing
with product design technology.
You know,
I talked about, you know, our second line
for one Quartz in Dixon, Tennessee.
You know, that's that's not just capacity.
Although of course it's part
capacity. It's also what we can do.
You know, you have through body veining
so you can cut the edge
and you don't have to see
just strictly white.
You'll see the vein
go all the way through absolute technology
and what we can focus on and ultimately
bring what your account manager
and their in their contractor
are looking and needing within a project.
That's great. Thank you so much.
If anyone listening is wanting
to check out more Tile Resources products,
obviously on our website Pro Sauce
Wholesale, we have a Delta brand page.
We have Delta products up in the product
area where you can kind of filter
through the different brands and styles.
Where else can they find
Daltile inspiration or product options?
So if you go to our website,
we have a fantastic website
that has all the product.
You need information about that.
But we also have in our in
our kind of our trend area,
and it'll talk about projects
that have happened in images.
If you if you post something
on social media and you tag hashtag dow
tile, that picture will go in
and be populated within that.
So you can see actual room scenes
and visualization of what projects
have used to our products.
I would say that would be to
our website has everything.
Our team does a great job with that.
Yeah, this is kind of random,
but I just thought about it.
Didn't you guys do something with Jason
Derulo, the singer?
We did.
He did his outdoor patio.
That was a patio. Yeah,
it was actually really cool.
I mean, it was all kinds of
panoramic porcelain, which is our kind of
that thin gauge porcelain that we that
we produce in Italy and bring it over.
He did that in his whole backyard.
I mean, it was, it was quite a quite
a, quite a project for them.
Look beautiful.
Yeah,
I saw the videos, the photos from it.
And I was like, oh wow.
This is like kind of a random
awesome thing that's happening right now.
But I just thought that was cool.
So congratulations
on getting that project as well.
That's cool.
You can also look in there.
Jason, Kelsey and
Jason or Travis can't remember.
It might have been Travis
and Justin Timberlake
actually opened up a new restaurant
that used all that tile in there,
so that's actually in there.
It's actually pretty neat.
I can't remember which.
Kelsey apologize, but it doesn't matter.
It's still a great story.
Yeah, yeah.
Wow. That's cool. Yeah.
That either. Yeah. Very cool.
That's just one out too.
Yeah.
You should check it out. Really cool.
Okay, cool, cool.
Well, thank you so much, Patrick,
for coming on today.
Celebrating these made in the USA products
and also celebrating
250 years of America.
They both just go so seamlessly together.
And we could not talk about it.
But I really appreciate you coming on.
Thank you so much.
My pleasure.
And you know look pro sauces is
colors are red white and blue.
Down tiles are are red white
I've got red white and blue Honda today.
You'll notice that like we are here,
we are here to support whatever you need.
If you need any help at all.
Molly knows how to reach me
or if you need,
just reach out
to your local downtown person.
But your business is important
and we want to thank you for that.
I.