Chester County Tile

MEET our MEMBER

Chester County Tile

By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer

In 2002, Larry Phillips founded Chester County Tile Supply. His mission was to provide quality tile products and installation to Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia counties.

“They get the whole package with us,” Phillips explained. “We provide design, tile products and installation. That was very important to me. I have always been focused on customer service, so it seemed only natural to do it all. In other businesses I’ve seen where those things may be done by three different people, and I feel it works much better for the customer if they have one person that does it all.”

Larry Phillips has a lot of experience with customer service and logistics, having worked with big names like QVC and Amazon throughout his career.

These days he will say he is semi-retired, and his son Jason has stepped up to the plate, but it doesn’t really sound as if he will ever completely step away.

The pandemic did momentarily stop the business, as he explained.

“During COVID, it was a little scary at first. We had to shut down for 12 weeks. We were not allowed to work, and actually would have been fined if we did. So, we took that as an opportunity to clean up and organize our showroom. When we did go back to work, you would have never known there was a pandemic. I was really surprised to see how quickly work picked up,” he explained.

Evidently, now that people weren’t working, or working from home more, they decided it was the right time to fix up their homes.

“People had more expendable cash. They were working from home. They weren’t going out to eat or do things with the family,” Phillips explained. “Right now we have work lined up until the end of the year.”

Chester County Tile has many happy customers, because Larry and his son Jason put people first.

“I learned so much from my eight years at QVC. My background was in logistics, and as such planning and preparation were a big part of my background,” he said.

Larry got recruited away from QVC by Amazon and he actually set up the first Amazon distribution center in New Castle, Del. as the distribution manager.

After he left there, he decided he wanted to start his own company.

“I have worked ever since,” he said.

He decided he wanted to do it all in the business.

“I had the background to sell product, and then I decided to move product. After the first year I went into installation. I had done a few summers doing tile setting. I knew the mechanics of it. I realized I knew everything to do with tile,” Phillips said.

Phillips said what really sets them apart from others is that they stand behind everything they do.

“We provide design, tile products and installation, and that does really make a difference. You don’t have to coordinate a job between three different businesses. We do that for you,” he said “We are continuing to grow and

are looking for more talented personnel with a passion for tile flooring and customer service. Additionally, we have recently added new products and services, such as luxury vinyl plank and hardwood flooring.”

His most memorable job thus far was for Chris and Terry Mullins, the owners of Apple Travel.

“We used 9,000 square feet of tile on that job. The master bath had a huge marble mural four feet wide. That was amazing,” he said.

Phillips had four sons, and lost his first wife.

“I never pressured my sons to get into the business, but I am very happy Jason chose to join me. He does an amazing job. Hopefully, I can try to relax. I would really like to travel in the U.S., I’ve always wanted to do that,” he said wistfully.

Phillips added, “Jason, who is a partner now, worked for me as a mechanic. All my boys learned what I did. Jason came back and joined the business. We are moving toward the second generation of ownership. I’m semi-retired and will probably stay that way. I’ve been able to step back. Jason is learning. He recently said, ‘When I came back on board I thought I knew it all. I realized I don’t.’ The fact that he knows that shows me he has grown a lot. I’m so proud of him. He is customer service oriented too.”

Both Larry and Jason believe in fair and honest business practices. Customer service will always be their top priority. They treat individuals the way just as they would want to be treated. They give the utmost respect to their client’s home. They are committed to maintaining a professional, safe and clean work space. It is their mission to satisfy their clients with quality workmanship while providing an exciting and enjoyable experience along the way.

They are located at 31 Reeceville Road in Coatesville. Their phone number is 610-380-5040. Call them for a great job and great experience.