Still a fairly young company, 3-D Tile Inc. has been making a difference in home remodeling and contracting for nearly four years now. The company, which started as 3-D Construction, is the brain child of owners and employers Matt Mitchell and David Long, two Sussex County locals and graduates of Indian River High School.
Coastal Point • RYAN SAXTON
David Long III and Matt Mitchell, owners of 3-D Tile in Ocean View, strive to make customer service the base of their tile business.
Long — who is the third in a line of David’s in his family — came up with the original name, 3-D. With their move just over a year and a half ago to a new office location off Route 26, behind Ocean View Deli, Long and Mitchell were able to establish their company a little more, opening a showroom for their clients.
Running their own tile business seemed to be a logical decision for the two.
“I had a couple of regular jobs around town,” said Mitchell, who had spent time employed at Parts Plus and Hocker’s G&E shortly after high school. “I wanted to learn a trade and make some money.”
As for Long, “I didn’t want to sit behind a desk,” he said. Long began working in construction five years prior to acquiring a license for the tile company he established.
The friends specialize in a wide assortment of tiling and flooring, from hardwood to laminate, preparing traditional styles and custom orders. Custom showers and backsplashes are among their favorite projects.
Competition in the area is not an uncommon thing for 3-D, as they quickly learned. “There are some businesses that have been here longer than we have,” said Long. “We just try to stay competitive.” At least three other floor and tile companies are located along Route 26, and at one point, 3-D was one of five vying for customers.
So what’s the secret for 3-D? “Our labor prices are very competitive with other guys in the area,” said Mitchell.
“And we call people back,” Mitchell said with a laugh. “We hear that a lot. People really seem to like that.”
When they first started out, it was Long’s and Mitchell’s goal to steer away from the hassle and confusion of dealing with the large, commercial-driven businesses. “If you’re ever in there trying to get assistance on a specific thing, or trying to order something special,” said Long, “it can be a pain in the neck. We strive for customer satisfaction.”
“Since it’s just us, it’s easy to establish the personal connections with our customers,” added Mitchell, “and our work is always guaranteed. We base it all on quality, not quantity. When we get a job, we’re the ones doing it, and a lot of people like that. Our customers will ask us, ‘Are you the ones actually doing it?’ and they’re pleased when they find out that it is us.”
With only the two of them and a couple of secretaries who mind the office, though, work can get hectic for 3-D Tile.
“We don’t have 10 or 40 guys to help us out,” Mitchell said. The location of their office, situated behind the deli and tobacco shop, is another factor in their business. “We don’t get the exposure that other businesses along [Route 26] have,” said Mitchell. “We depend a lot on word-of-mouth.”
Scheduling and time management are some of the taxing aspects of the job for Long. “When tile is supposed to be in on, say, a Tuesday, and it doesn’t get in until the following Friday, it can get kind stressful,” he said. “Sometimes, a lot of the burden is put on our shoulders to get done. It forces us to play catch-up.”
Business for 3-D picks up primarily in the spring and fall, with returning home-owners keeping the guys on their toes in the summertime, too.
“A lot of people want [projects] done just before Memorial Day or just after Labor Day,” said Long. “That way, they get a jump on next year. In the middle of winter, no one’s in a big rush.” Contractors, such as Brosnahan Builders, help keep 3-D working when custom projects are slim.
Despite struggling to stay on top of the frenzied to-do list, Long and Mitchell said they definitely find the positives that keep them going each day that make everything come together.
“I like to be out there, working hands-on,” said Mitchell, “but I also really like being in [the office] selling tile, and working directly with the customers.”
Long said he’s proud with how far the team has brought the business.
“We’re steadily getting more selections all the time,” he said. “At first it was slow. Nobody wanted to give us a chance, and then as soon as we got one distributor, everybody was knocking at the door.”
Looking toward the future, Mitchell and Long said they hope for a little more expansion and increased business.
“We’d like an apprentice-type thing with someone who wants to learn about the craft,” said Long. “We’ve had people come in with their own experience, and we’ve tried bringing friends in, but we’re looking for someone we can work with and start from scratch.”
The extra hands would free up some of the responsibilities for Mitchell and Long, allowing them to get more done, they said.
To contact 3-D Tile Inc., call (302) 539-5088.