Paris Ceramics
Paris Ceramics is a US luxury building materials retailer founded in 1982 that sources and sells natural stone, reclaimed antique tiles, wood, ceramic, porcelain, and architectural elements to architects, designers, contractors, and high-net-worth homeowners through ten showrooms and a regional field sales team.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersFarmville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Paris Ceramics does
Paris Ceramics is a US-based luxury building materials retailer specializing in natural stone, reclaimed antique materials, wood, ceramic tile, porcelain, and architectural elements for high-end residential and commercial projects. Founded in 1982 as a small tile shop in London focused on French ceramics, the company has grown into a multi-category surface materials brand with corporate headquarters and a fabrication workshop in Farmville, Virginia, and ten showrooms across major US design markets including Palm Beach, the A&D Building in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Miami, and Richmond. Its portfolio spans limestone and marble, antique and new terracotta, reclaimed French wood and engineered collections (Hungarian, Provence, Dominion), handmade French and Seville metro ceramic tiles, Moroccan Zellige, Spanish antique encaustic cement tiles, hammered German silver accents, limestone- and marble-look porcelain, and fabricated fireplaces and moldings under the Architecturals line. A separate e-commerce sub-brand, Paris Tile, enables direct online purchase of tiles.
The company sells primarily through a specification-led, project-based go-to-market model: regional sales directors and managers cover defined US territories (Florida, New York, Mid Atlantic, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Midwest, New Jersey), engaging architects, interior designers, contractors, and high-net-worth homeowners. Pricing is per square foot for stone and tile products (outlet items range from $5/SF to $28/SF), with bespoke/custom orders fulfilled through the Studio division at quoted prices. Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time product sales, supported by an outlet channel for discounted or discontinued materials.
The underlying technology is a conventional WordPress-based e-commerce platform integrated with standard marketing and analytics tooling (Google Analytics, Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity, Google Adsense, Wistia, Vimeo, YouTube, Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts). The company's competitive differentiation rests on curation of rare reclaimed century-old materials sourced from quarries and artisans worldwide, decades of in-house expertise, the Virginia workshop's bespoke fabrication capability, and a physical showroom network in premier design districts — not on proprietary software or AI. Paris Ceramics is privately held, founder/partner-operated under Managing Partner Guy Kellner, with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or M&A activity.
Paris Ceramics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paris Ceramics
- Legal name
- Paris Ceramics
- Website
- https://parisceramicsusa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Paris Ceramics is a US luxury building materials retailer founded in 1982 that sources and sells natural stone, reclaimed antique tiles, wood, ceramic, porcelain, and architectural elements to architects, designers, contractors, and high-net-worth homeowners through ten showrooms and a regional field sales team.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paris Ceramics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Tile and Surface Materials
- NAICS
- Other Building Material Dealers (444180), Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing (327991), Other Building Material Dealers (44418)
- SIC
- Cut Stone & Stone Products (3281)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tile & Stone Specialty Retail (CRAIAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Other Dimension Stone (Slate, Sandstone, Quartzite, Travertine) Quarrying & Fabrication (IMAKAHAF), Marble Quarrying & Dimension Stone Fabrication (IMAKAHAE), Manufactured/Engineered Stone & Agglomerates (Quartz, Terrazzo, Sintered Stone) (IMAKAHAG), Granite Quarrying & Dimension Stone Fabrication (IMAKAHAD)
Keywords
Where Paris Ceramics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Farmville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Paris Ceramics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Stone and Tile Product Sales: One-time product sales of natural stone (limestone, marble), terracotta, wood, ceramic tile, porcelain, and specialty items. Products sold by square foot with pricing varying by material type and finish. Bespoke/custom orders available through Studio division.
- Outlet/Discounted Products: Limited quantity or discontinued materials sold at discounted rates, providing immediate availability and clearance pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Outlet discounted products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Paris Ceramics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Paris Ceramics sources and sells luxury natural stone, terracotta, wood, ceramic tile, porcelain, specialty items (Zellige, Antique Encaustic, Hammered German Silver), architectural fireplaces and moldings, and in-stock stone slabs through showrooms and an e-commerce site. The Studio division delivers bespoke custom stone products with personalized sizes, shapes, patterns, and engravings for special projects. Materials include both newly quarried stone and reclaimed century-old antiques sourced from quarries and artisans worldwide.
Product overview
Paris Ceramics is a luxury tile and surface material retailer offering a comprehensive portfolio of natural stone, wood, ceramic, and porcelain products. The company operates two main product channels: the Collection (standard natural stone products in set sizes and finishes including limestone varieties like Bulgarian White, Cote d'Azur, French Refined Light, and marble options) and the Studio (bespoke custom products for special projects). Their product portfolio spans Terracotta (antique reclaimed French and new Italian/French handmade), Wood (antique reclaimed French oak, Hungarian Collection engineered planks, Provence Collection with antique veneer coatings, and Dominion Collection North American white oak), Specialty Items (Moroccan Zellige, Spanish Antique Encaustic cement tiles, and Hammered German Silver decorative accents), Ceramic Tile (French Metro handmade tiles and Seville Metro subway-style tiles), Porcelain (limestone-look, marble-look, and wood-look rectified tiles), Architecturals (fireplaces and moldings), Stone Slabs, and an Outlet section for discounted/discontinued materials. Founded in 1982 in London and now serving the US market, they work with quarries and artisans worldwide to provide both newly quarried and reclaimed century-old materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Paris Tile: Online tile shop for purchasing tiles with direct delivery.
Products and services
- Natural Stone Collection Curated collection of natural stone products including limestone and marble, available in set sizes and finishes at standard thickness. Designed for architects, designers, contractors, and homeowners specifying stone for luxury residential and commercial projects.
- Studio (Bespoke Stone) Custom and bespoke stone products for special projects, offering personalized customization options including custom sizes, shapes, patterns, and engravings, fulfilled through the Virginia workshop.
- Terracotta Tiles World-class terracotta tiles including antique reclaimed French classics and newly handmade options from Italy and France, available in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors including hexagons, squares, parefeuille, and firebricks.
- Wood Collection Expansive wood collection featuring new and antique options across planks, patterns, and design panels including Antique Reclaimed French oak, Hungarian Collection engineered planks, Provence Collection with antique veneer coatings, and Dominion Collection North American white oak.
- Specialty Items Curated collection of unique pieces including hand-molded Moroccan Zellige tiles, reclaimed Spanish Antique Encaustic cement tiles, New Encaustic tiles, and Hammered German Silver decorative accents.
- Ceramic Tile Handmade metro tiles sourced from across Europe in various colors with unique artisanal character, including French Metro handmade tiles from the South of France and Seville Metro subway-style tiles with soft pastel glazes.
- Porcelain Tile Premium rectified porcelain tiles imported for exceptional beauty, durability, and value in limestone-look, marble-look, and wood-look variations.
- Architecturals Exquisite fireplaces and moldings featuring timeless classics to custom designs, crafted at the Virginia workshop with focus on craftsmanship for luxury residential projects.
- Stone Slabs Selection of in-stock natural stone slabs including limestone and marble for countertops and large surface applications, available for immediate purchase.
- Outlet (Discounted Materials) Limited quantity or discontinued materials sold at discounted rates, providing immediate availability and clearance pricing for budget-conscious projects.
Companies that use Paris Ceramics
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Paris Ceramics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Paris Ceramics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Paris Ceramics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Tile Shop: The Tile Shop is a publicly traded US specialty retailer of tile and flooring products with a national showroom footprint. Comparable as a tile retail competitor but positioned in mid-market segments rather than Paris Ceramics' luxury specification channel.
- Porcelanosa: Porcelanosa is a Spanish-origin global manufacturer and retailer of porcelain tile, kitchen, and bath products with US showrooms. Comparable in product categories (porcelain, ceramic, natural stone) but operates at broader scale and as a manufacturer-distributor rather than specialty importer.
- MS International (MSI): MSI is one of the largest US importers and distributors of natural stone, quartz, tile, and flooring products. Comparable category overlap with Paris Ceramics, but MSI operates as a broad wholesale/distribution incumbent rather than a specialty specification retailer.
Emerging players
- TileBar: TileBar is a digitally native US tile and stone retailer offering premium and mid-market products through e-commerce. While operating in the same category, TileBar competes more on digital experience and accessibility rather than reclaimed/antique specialty positioning.
- Fireclay Tile: Fireclay Tile is a US-made ceramic tile manufacturer and retailer with strong design and sustainability positioning. Comparable in serving design professionals and offering premium tile, but differentiated by domestic manufacturing rather than imported/antique materials.
Direct peers
- Walker Zanger: Walker Zanger is a US luxury tile and stone retailer with showrooms in major design markets, offering natural stone, ceramic, and porcelain to design professionals. Highly comparable to Paris Ceramics in target customer (architects/designers), product mix, and distribution model.
- Ann Sacks: Ann Sacks is a long-established US luxury tile and stone retailer/showroom operator serving architects, designers, and homeowners. It is the most direct competitor to Paris Ceramics in the premium tile, stone, and architectural surfaces category with comparable showroom-driven specification model.
- Marble and Granite Inc: Marble and Granite Inc is a US natural stone importer, fabricator, and retailer with showrooms serving designers, contractors, and homeowners. Comparable in stone focus, fabrication capability (similar to Paris Ceramics' Virginia workshop), and premium customer base.
- Stone Source: Stone Source is a US-based natural stone and tile distributor with showrooms serving architects and designers in major markets. Highly comparable to Paris Ceramics in target customer, product mix (natural stone, porcelain, tile), and showroom-driven specification model.
- Artistic Tile: Artistic Tile is a US-based luxury tile and stone retailer with showrooms serving the architectural and design community. Comparable product breadth (natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, specialty items) and similar specifier-driven go-to-market approach make it a relevant peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Paris Ceramics social profiles
Digital presenceParis Ceramics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paris Ceramics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Paris Ceramics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paris Ceramics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Paris Ceramics
What does Paris Ceramics do?
Paris Ceramics sources and sells luxury natural stone, terracotta, wood, ceramic tile, porcelain, specialty items (Zellige, Antique Encaustic, Hammered German Silver), architectural fireplaces and moldings, and in-stock stone slabs through showrooms and an e-commerce site. The Studio division delivers bespoke custom stone products with personalized sizes, shapes, patterns, and engravings for special projects. Materials include both newly quarried stone and reclaimed century-old antiques sourced from quarries and artisans worldwide.
Is Paris Ceramics a public or private company?
Paris Ceramics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Paris Ceramics founded?
Paris Ceramics was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Paris Ceramics based?
Paris Ceramics is headquartered in Farmville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Paris Ceramics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Stone and Tile Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are outlet/Discounted Products.
Who are Paris Ceramics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Tile Shop, Porcelanosa and MS International (MSI). Emerging players are TileBar and Fireclay Tile. Direct peers are Walker Zanger, Ann Sacks, Marble and Granite Inc, Stone Source and Artistic Tile.
Does Paris Ceramics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paris Ceramics.
What industry is Paris Ceramics in?
Paris Ceramics's product category is Luxury Tile and Surface Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAGAA, Tile & Stone Specialty Retail, with a secondary code of IMAKAHAF, Other Dimension Stone (Slate, Sandstone, Quartzite, Travertine) Quarrying & Fabrication. Its NAICS code is 444180 and its SIC code is 3281.