From austere beginnings in post-war Miami, the Yarborough family has built an international tile business. When Dave Yarborough bought a World War II surplus truck to begin a tile setting business, little did he realize that in the early part of the new millennium, he would be at the helm of a company considered to be one of the largest tile distributors in the United States.
For those who don't know, D&B Tile Distributors was named after Dave and his wife, Betty. Decades later, his son Harold serves as general manager and his daughter Cindy manages the Palmetto Bay operation, one of nine different locations in Florida ranging from Port St. Lucie to Miami.
D&B Tile Distributors deals with more than 40 manufacturers and imports more than
70% of its product from Italy, Spain, South America, and the Far East.
D&B's objective is to provide everything contractors need to install tile and plenty of it. "We maintain an inventory worth more than $5 million in our Sunrise operation, which also serves as our headquarters," said GM Harold Yarborough. "D&B Tile Distributors purchases more than 2,000 containers each year with each container holding as much as 10,000 sq/ft of tile.”
Each year the Yarboroughs travel and meet with factory representatives in Europe, South America, and the Far East to inspect and order new lines for the Florida and Caribbean markets.
The family has been active in all areas of the construction industry. Both father and son have served as President of the Florida East Coast chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors, a national construction trade association comprised of more than 80 chapters and more than 25,000 member companies.
In addition, David Yarborough was installed in the Hall of Fame in the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA). All of the family has been involved in the CTDA. Dave and Harold served on its board of directors and daughter Cindy, manager of the Palmetto Bay store has been an active board member and past president. The CTDA also recognized the Yarborough family with their Lifetime Achievement Award for their service to the industry.
From the earliest days, D&B Tile Distributors stressed the importance of quality installation and, to this day, conduct a number of seminars and workshops throughout the year to instruct tile contractors and their installers on new material, equipment and techniques.
D&B Tile Distributors is actively encouraging tile contractors to become certified through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF). Testing is held throughout the year at various locations and the certification of installers will greatly enhance the image and stature of the industry.
The company has adapted to industry changes and the way projects are managed.Their architectural/design team is comprised of professionals who work closely with the design community to develop new and different ways to use tile in construction and interior design. D&B Tile Distributors is exclusive distributor for Crossville Tile in South Florida. This line of high-end porcelain tiles is favored by architects, designers, decorators, and specifiers. The in-house design team works closely with the design community to increase the use of this tile in commercial, as well as, residential applications.
Along with Crossville, the company also carries the premier Atlas and American Olean lines. Keeping in touch with consumer tastes, the company provides a wide range of tiles that closely resembles natural stone, thereby enhancing its appeal to all markets.
In addition to their efforts in improving skill levels in the industry, D&B Tile Distributors is active in the communities they serve. They quietly donate tile and other materials to Habitat for Humanity, the Jack & Hill House for abused children, and the Trojan House, built by high school students. In addition, they are a long-time sponsor of a charity golf tournament to sponsor the James Jr. Fund and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. More than $150,000 has been raised in this effort. The company also contributes to the Chris Evert Hospital. D&B Tile Distributors is grateful to their vendors and customers who make it possible to raise funds for these worthwhile causes.
D&B Tile Distributors is well-poised for the future. The company has remodeled all of its nine locations throughout South Florida with updated showrooms and expanded warehouse space. Their expressed goal is to encourage their wholesale customers to use the D&B showrooms as their own.
There are nine locations throughout the region including Palm Beach, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Palmetto Bay, Miami, Port St. Lucie, and Hialeah, as well as the headquarters location in Sawgrass.
It is also worthy of note that the company has made the investments and modified business planning to compete and provide a wide range of products, services and training in an economic downturn.
Here are just a few examples of the steps taken by the company to maintain its position in the industry:
* In October 2007, D&B Tile Distributors purchased a strong competitor in the Miami Dade market. Tile Mart Distributors, with its reputation for effectively marketing setting materials, is the latest addition to the D&B Company.
* In 2008, the company added the American Olean line of products to their showrooms which greatly expanded their appeal to the architectural/design community.
* Also in 2008, D&B Tile went live with a full upgrade of its business software, Activant Solutions/Prophet 21. This advanced software allowed the company to bring all of the business activities into one management setting. This system has allowed the company to upgrade its technology and networking infrastructure.
* In 2009 the company became the exclusive provider of the patented Q-Seal process in the South Florida market. This unique process provides a lifetime sealant for stone, which greatly enhances its position in the design community for residential, as well as commercial installations.
* In 2010, the results of the Q-Seal process have increased stone sales by 25%. In addition, the company has greatly expanded its online presence and continues to expand its marketing in this area.
*To expand its appeal to retail and wholesale customers, D&B Tile has partnered with two major companies in the area offering related products such as Frameless Shower Doors and several Cabinets companies. According to GM Harold Yarborough, "The addition of these two products to our showrooms gives customers the opportunity to more effectively plan their kitchen and bathroom remodeling or construction by visiting just one store."
The growth and development of the company over the past 50 years is due in large part to the opportunities offered to its employees to become part of the management team and to acquire partnership status within the company.
Finally, D&B Tile Distributors further strengthens its resolve in two major areas: customer service and continuing education for its tile contracting customers. "These are two areas that have been major building blocks for our company since day one and will continue into the foreseeable future," according to GM Harold Yarborough.
