For us at Crossville, the  Surfaces show heralded a step into a new era for our company. (And we promise that the phrase “new era for our company” isn’t just trade show talk or corporate speak.) We’re strategically rolling out new approaches to expand our market reach while refining our brand message and product designs, and Surfaces offered a first step toward some exciting new things for Crossville. Here are a few highlights…

Refined Product Selections: We kept the spotlight on our latest lines at Surfaces: Structure, Main Street, Bluestone and the not-yet-launched Origins Glass. With ever-deepening market awareness, we’re carefully creating and introducing new products that hit the target and complement our existing product offerings well.

Core Messaging: More than ever before, we’ve defined the essence of our brand. Our products are uniquely American made, sustainable and beautiful. We have such strengths in our American roots, our proven commitment to environmental practices and the selection of well-crafted, beautiful designs. Going forward these key points will reverberate in our marketing messages and advertising as the cornerstones of the Crossville brand.

Progressive Programs: On Tuesday and Wednesday of the show, we held informational sessions at our booth to emphasize important programs that are part of our future-forward focus.

On Tuesday, we shared an announcement with the National Tile Contractors Association about our participation in the Five Star Contractor and Trowel of Excellence programs. These programs are tangible ways we can connect with contractors and encourage the highest quality installations of our products through rebate rewards. We believe making a difference takes proactive leadership.

On Wednesday, we gave distributors a crash course in the use of our innovative Crossville Q2R mobile app. This app makes even in-store sales a digital/mobile experience, plus it provides consumer-specific tracking on the showroom floor. The app is part of Crossville’s growing marketing efforts to reach audiences where directly, in the places they gather to seek information. That’s why we’ve heightened our social media communications, as well.

Meaningful Connections: There’s no denying the power of relationships in any business. That’s one reason trade shows continue to draw attendees and exhibitors, even in tight economic times. It’s valuable to meet face-to-face, to show products live and in person and carve moments for relaxed interactions. We hosted a party for a few of our closest friends on Wednesday night of the show. It was great to relax after a busy day and just spend time together.

While this has always been part of Crossville’s approach to doing business, we’re already thinking ahead for ways to enjoy more face time and direct connections with not only our customers, but the press, homeowners, designers and architects. Stay tuned as this year rolls forward; you’ll see firsthand the many ways we’ll be deepening our meaningful connections.

Bravo to Mikeal Jensen, Rita Christmas, Karen Briones and the entire Crossville team for putting together a great booth and wonderful exhibition! Thanks to all who attended the show and spent time with us! We’re now on to prepare for more product roll-outs, important new marketing efforts and, of course, the Coverings show in April!  See you soon…

Since we at Crossville are in the business of leading trends, we’ve found a fun way to blend the Tangerine Tango and the penchant for pinning. For our first Pinterest board, we’re bringing you a menagerie of tangerine scenes, from our own colorful tiles to other fun designer products that coordinate with the color of the year.

We invite you to repin and share our posts on Pinterest! Follow us to see what’s trending next for this colorful new year… Find us on Pinterest by clicking here.

In our recent “7 Days of Structure” series, we introduced you to the many ways that Structure, our latest line of porcelain stone tile, answers your many design needs. With its versatility and sophisticated subtlety, Structure is the ideal canvas for creating a nearly endless range of designs—interior or exterior, contract or residential.

The line comes in 5 colors, each with nuanced style to support and complement your project’s overall look. With Structure’s 4 size options and the additional sizes attainable through Crossville’s Get Planked program, you can bring configure this tile to create your most unique patterns idea, while answering very specific installation requirements.

Now that Structure is officially launched, take a closer look at this contemporary yet classic line, and imagine how these looks can be structure to your next project. And be sure to get the full details on our website by clicking here.

Surfaces Expo 2012 is just around the corner, and now’s the time to plan your schedules for the show. Be sure to block 20 minutes on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 11 a.m. to be at “Crossville:Connect,” our gathering lounge located at our booth – B3613. Each day, we’re offering 20-minute info sessions on topics targeted just for you.

★ Tues., Jan 24th – 11 a.m.: Improve Your Business with NTCA’s Five Star Contractors Program

Join our own Mark Shannon and NTCA’s Jim Olson to learn how new standards are shaping the business of tile installation and how your participation in NTCA’s Five Star Contractors program ensures you’re on the leading edge.

Who should attend? Contractors, Distributors, Retailers, Specifiers…anyone who has a role in helping customers find the best tile installation solutions

★ Wed., Jan 25th – 11 a.m.: Reach Customers with Digital – Social – Mobile Marketing Solutions

Learn how to tap into Crossville’s active social media and mobile marketing programs to connect with your customers online and in person. Our interactive marketing consultant Irene Williams will give smart, practical tips to boost your entire marketing & sales effort.

Who should attend? Distributors, Retailers, Designers…anyone in the business of selling tile and surfacing products who’s ready to go social and mobile with their marketing

Each session will last 15 minutes with time for questions to follow.

While other Surfaces workshops will be broadly targeted, we’re offering specific, apply-now ideas relevant not only to you as a Crossville partner but for your business overall. Join us Tuesday and Wednesday at 11, and leave with real-life tactics to apply as soon as you return from the show.

We look forward to connecting with you at Surfaces!

Structure is a very versatile product line. Not only does its look and style offer great range and flexibility in design, but its superior porcelain stone body offers ideal performance for both interior and exterior use. As welcoming as Structure is for spaces on the inside, it’s classic, lasting and durable for faces on the outside.

If you’re specifying exterior cladding, look to Structure as a solid choice to meet your project needs and demands. Structure helps to

• Contain construction costs
• Ensure less site disturbance
• Minimize maintenance long-term (learn more about its Cross-Sheen finish here!)
• Create a powerful structure with 5,000 psi strength

Look for your Structure Power Pack coming soon!

As we all welcome the new year, we at Crossville are preparing to officially launch our new product line, Structure. Power Packs are shipping this week, as a matter of fact! As the market will soon see firsthand, Structure is an important new line that will give your projects an advantage.

Because Structure is crafted of high quality, American-made materials, you have assurance that your projects are in line to be completed on time—and that’s a real advantage. The use of tile in any project is important, as you must plan for product availability, shipping and installation. Likewise, many contract projects demand use of U.S.-made products to save on time and cost, as well as to minimize environmental impact of shipping. Structure hits the mark on all counts.

Founded in Crossville, Tennessee 25+ years ago, Crossville Inc. has always been committed to responsible manufacturing of highest quality porcelain stone tile here in the U.S. Structure certainly stays true to our company’s core values and unwavering commitment to lasting quality.

Look for Day 7 of our 7 Days of Structure coming soon, where we’ll highlight one important design question and share how Structure is the unique answer you’ve been looking for for your projects.  And remember: Power Packs ship this week!

Crafted with high quality, American-made materials available as needed

Readily available supply

 Crossville is a company that’s green to the roots. We were founded with a commitment to environmental responsibility and have lived out sustainable practices for all of our 25+ years in business.

As we develop new products, we continue to raise the bar by incorporating as much pre-consumer recycled content as possible. Our soon-to-launch line, Structure, is made with 20% pre-consumer recycled content using manufacturing processes certified by Scientific Certification Systems.

Whether your design projects are residential or contract, it’s essential to select environmentally friendly solutions. Sustainable products are not just a passion for you in the design community; they are priorities for best practices, LEED certification and other hallmarks of the industry. Tile is an innately ecowise surfacing selection, as it is made of natural materials, is very long lasting and promotes better indoor air quality. When made with Crossville’s high standards of manufacturing, reclaiming, reusing and recycling, tile is that much more the right choice for the environment…and for your designed spaces, indoor or out.

We invite you to learn more about our sustainable practices. Visit our website for details on our programs, manufacturing and LEED support.

Look for additional information on the environmentally friendly Structure line, coming soon!

– Power Packs Ship First Week of January 2012 –

Upon entering West Virginia University’s Extended Learning facility, visitors are greeted by a striking interpretation of the university logo. Artfully cut by waterjet from Crossville Inc.’s popular Wood Impressions porcelain stone tile, the distinctive “WV” sets the stage for a well-designed office with a clean, contemporary and professional style. Wood Impressions provides the foundational look throughout the entire space.

The Extended Learning facility is located in the Jackson Kelley Building, near the waterfront in Morgantown, WV.  WVU’s own interior designer Shelley Johnson led the vision for this welcoming office space in close collaboration with Jennifer Graham of Fierst Distributing, as well as dealer/installer Family Carpet of Parkersburg, WV. The installation required more than 6,000 sq. ft of tile, the only surfacing type used in this office space.

The design features Wood Impressions Birch in 6″ x 36″ and 6″ x 18″ and Brazilian Cherry in 6″ x 36″. The lean plank configuration certainly gives the impression of wood throughout the facility, enhanced by the product’s authentic detailing and colors. Of course, WVU can enjoy the warm style and appearance of wood without the maintenance and upkeep thanks to Wood Impressions’ easy-to-clean porcelain tile body.

If you’d like to learn more about Wood Impressions and view the line’s 6 authentic wood color options in detail, visit the product page on our website by clicking here.

Join us on Facebook or Twitter to share your own Crossville installation photos and stories!

Everyone likes to have options. Crossville is known for creating collections filled with choices, and the soon-to-launch Structure line is no exception. This innovative product offers an array of colors and size options and the versatility to be used inside or our, in contract or residential settings. This broad range of looks and usage truly gives your projects flexibility.

Among the options of Structure, you’ll find 5 Get Planked sizes. Get Planked is our unique capability to provide custom plank sizes for our products. Thus “cutting edge” solutions means you can enjoy plank configurations for Structure or any Crossville tile product.  Plank sizes—lean, modular and immensely versatile—are great for creating custom looks for tile installations.

With Structure’s many options, you can design without constraint, knowing the tile you’re working with can perform and configure to meet your unique needs.

Look for more details and the full Structure reveal coming soon…

– Power Packs Ship First Week of January 2012 –

In the world of design, elements that are understated can’t be overrated. Subtlety is essential to ensure there’s no internal competition within a project—no combatting for attention.

Structure, our soon-to-launch porcelain line, is a prime example. Structure has subdued style, yes, but it’s no shrinking violet. It’s really the “strong, silent type,” a design element that exudes confidence enough to stay in the background in complement to other aspects of design that hold starring roles. Structure’s careful blend of boldness and subtlety is what you need as a canvas for your vision.

This versatile line of porcelain tile is set to launch the first week of January; stay tuned for more details.

– Power Packs Ship First Week of January 2012 –