As Fireclay's CEO, I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your support as we reflect on the accomplishments and opportunities of the last year.
Ten years ago we relaunched Fireclay Tile to be a direct-to-customer, vertically integrated brand. Our rationale was simple. First, we saw US artisan tile manufacturing dying as cheap mass-produced imports were taking over, and second, we had watched for years as designers, architects, installers and homeowners faced meaningful challenges sourcing and successfully installing beautiful American-made artisan tile through traditional retail channels.
Ten years later we are so grateful for the support and love from each of you. Your high standards, your appreciation for great, authentic design, and your interest in doing good all inspire us to be better each and every day.
As we step into 2024, I find myself filled with gratitude for what we’ve achieved in the past year. 2023 was a journey of growth, challenges, and triumphs, and as I look back I’m reminded of the incredible community we’ve built.
"Fireclay is, hands down, my favorite tile and B Corp company. Everything from friendly and helpful staff, to the quality of the product has always been stellar. Always. This is my third project using Fireclay and won’t be my last." - Ann Z.
For Our Clients, We:
Introduced our budget- and volume-friendly product line, Natural Press, which features 24 inspired new colors in 15 sizes with volume pricing as low as $6/SqFt.
Expanded our massively popular Essentials Collection with an elegant Satin finish option.
Built a brand new, state-of-the-art Glass Tile Factory in Spokane, meaning we now make 100% of our products in the US.
Deepened our Partnership with Material Bank to deliver in-stock samples within two days to every Trade client in the Continental US.
Enhanced our Concierge Rendering program, and made thousands of updates to our website and technology systems to make your design journey with us smoother and more intuitive.
Delivered an overall 73 NPS score and 94% customer satisfaction for support concerns via support@fireclaytile.com while improving lead times and on-timeliness.
Remained unrelenting in our commitment to improve our products and service even further.
"First, the product quality is incredible. Second, the experience working with our customer service rep was great - she was super responsive and helpful with questions, also helped with figuring out creative shipping to keep things in our budget. Third, Fireclay being a B Corp and the human and environmental sustainability priorities of the company is a meaningful differentiator." - Matthew J.
For Our Environment, We:
Continued our commitment to Transparency and released our 3rd annual Impact Report.
Installed rooftop solar and energy storage system at our Aromas Factory to further our commitment to clean energy.
Continued to be the first and only tile company producing 100% Carbon-Free Tile, validated via an independent 3rd party Climate Neutral Certification.
Engaged WAP Sustainability to be our sustainability partner to strengthen our company-wide goals and produce EPDs and HPDs for all our products, while gaining an even deeper understanding of our footprint.
For Our People, We:
Celebrated one year at our Spokane, WA Factory, with plans to open a brand new showroom in the coming months to serve the Northwest
Grew our team by welcoming new talents, strengthening our ability to serve you better and bring innovative services and products to your projects.
Enhanced our employee benefits and increased wages, ensuring our team members, the heart of Fireclay Tile, are supported, motivated, and recognized.
Celebrated internal achievements and recognized outstanding team members, ensuring that the service you receive is from a team that's valued and appreciated.
"Fireclay customer service is amazing! A real, helpful person reached out to me to help me with my order-- and I'm just a DIY homeowner with a small project. Everyone has been so responsive and given great advice. They clearly know the products well." - Ryan W.
For Our Community, We:
Introduced our first Annual Day of Service and had almost 100% of our team participate in community volunteering in their local markets.
Helped raise $66,170 to support Black women pursuing architecture via the Architects Foundation, bringing our three-year total to $189,791.
Exceeded over $134,000 in cumulative support of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and over $20,000 to Allies in Arts.
Maintained our Pledge 1% commitment and provided over 10,000 SqFt to projects in need including Detroit Achievement Academy.
Maintained our commitment as a B Corp balancing profit and purpose, and ensuring that your choice of Fireclay Tile is a choice for positive change.
Looking Ahead
Our vision is clear as we look forward to 2024 and beyond: to continue inspiring the tile industry with innovation, sustainability, and exceptional design.
We are going to be opening new Showrooms in New York City (Flatiron), Santa Monica (CA), Orange County (CA), at our two factories in Aromas (CA) and Spokane (WA), and we have three other locations in development with more on the way.
We’re going to be enhancing service levels even more by focusing all of our efforts on on-time shipments with even higher quality.
We think there is an opportunity to enhance the installation side of the business, and we’re looking closely at ways to ensure more success throughout the entire design, sales, manufacturing, and installation lifecycle of a project.
Our tireless focus on delivering the very best experience in tile and design will bring more improvements to our online experience, as well as our product offering and merchandising.
Your support and trust fuel our journey. Together, we’re not just making tile; we’re nurturing communities and building a sustainable future. Here’s to another year of creativity, beauty, and purpose.
With heartfelt thanks and excitement for what’s next,
Eric Edelson, CEO
