Tilemaster

What Tilemaster does

Tilemaster is a family-owned specialty tile retailer founded in 1981 by Ton Holten and headquartered in Ontario, Canada. The company operates four physical showrooms across Aurora, Barrie, Kitchener, and Toronto, and positions itself as a direct importer of European tile lines sourced from manufacturers in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Its offering spans ceramic and porcelain tiles, natural stone, mosaics, 2CM pavers, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and complementary installation materials including tools, shower systems, and floor heating products, with curated exclusive collections such as Muse 2.0, Pierre Neuve, and oXid.

The company serves a diversified customer base that includes retail homeowners, contractors, builders, designers, and architects, with a dedicated trade account program offering negotiated pricing and account support for professional repeat buyers. Its go-to-market is fundamentally showroom-driven: customers consult in-store with tile specialists, view physical samples and full displays, and complete purchases through the retail or trade channel, supplemented by a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Training events hosted at the Kitchener location for installers and commercial developers indicate ongoing investment in trade-segment relationship building.

Tilemaster employs 51-100 people and operates as a private, founder-family-controlled retailer. Its business model is classic specialty retail: purchase inventory directly from European manufacturers, hold stock across multiple Ontario locations, and sell at margin to a mixed retail/trade customer base. Revenue mechanics depend on showroom footfall, average ticket size across tile categories and accessories, and the volume contribution of repeat trade accounts tied to Ontario construction and renovation activity.

Name

Tilemaster

Legal name

Tilemaster

Website

https://tilemastercanada.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tilemaster is a family-owned tile retailer founded in 1981 operating four Ontario showrooms, importing European ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, mosaic, and LVT products directly to serve homeowners, contractors, builders, designers, and architects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tile and Flooring Retail

akta.pro primary industry

Tile & Stone Specialty Retail (CRAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flooring Tools, Adhesives, Grout & Installation Supplies Retail (CRAIAGAJ), Ceramic, Porcelain & Natural Stone Tile Flooring (IMADAJAE), Tile Setting Materials (Mortars, Mastics & Grouts) (IMADAOAG), Stone & Tile Cleaners (Granite/Marble/Ceramic) (CRAJACAE)

Keywords

• Porcelain ceramic tiles
• Natural stone flooring
• Luxury vinyl plank
• Tile installation materials
• Trade tile distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tile and Stone Product Sales: Tilemaster operates as a direct importer of tiles from Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands), selling porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, mosaic tiles, luxury vinyl flooring, and large format slabs to homeowners, contractors, builders, designers, and architects. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales at retail showrooms with trade account pricing available for contractors.
2. Tools and Installation Materials: Sale of professional tile installation tools (wet saws, cutters, leveling systems), setting materials, adhesives, grouts, waterproofing membranes, and maintenance products. The company warehouses complementary products including setting materials, care products, and accessories.
3. Trade/Commercial Accounts: Structured wholesale accounts and priority allocations for builders, commercial developers, and trade professionals with dedicated pricing structures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tilemaster is a direct importer and retailer of European porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, mosaic, and luxury vinyl tile products, sold through four physical showrooms in Ontario, Canada. The company also stocks a full range of complementary installation materials (setting compounds, grouts, waterproofing membranes, floor heating systems), professional tile cutting and installation tools, edge protection profiles, and tile cleaners, providing homeowners and trade professionals a one-stop shop from product selection through installation support.

Product overview

Tilemaster is a family-owned tile retailer operating since 1981 with four showroom locations in Ontario (Aurora, Barrie, Kitchener, Toronto). The company operates as a direct importer offering a unified product portfolio centered on premium tiles combined with complementary installation and maintenance solutions. The core offering spans imported porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, and mosaic tiles sourced from European manufacturers (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands), complemented by luxury vinyl plank/tile (LVT/LVP) flooring. Supporting the tile products are three integrated solution categories: installation materials (setting compounds, grouts, primers, waterproofing membranes, and shower systems from Schluter and wedi), professional cutting and installation tools (Rubi, Montolit, and T-lock leveling systems), and tile care products (FILA cleaners and sealants). Floor heating solutions (Schluter Ditra Heat and TRM systems) extend the installation category. The company also stocks a clearance/discount tile sub-brand. Tilemaster serves homeowners, contractors, builders, designers, and architects across Southern Ontario.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tile Products Extensive portfolio of porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, mosaic, marble-look, wood-look, terrazzo-look, cement-look, and metallic-look tiles sourced from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Includes subway tiles, hexagonal tiles, mosaic sheets, large format slabs, and 2CM outdoor pavers. Designed for residential and commercial use by homeowners, contractors, builders, designers, and architects.
• Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank (LVT/LVP) Flooring Waterproof luxury vinyl flooring with SPC foam backing, realistic wood grain texture, and Uniclic click-lock system. Suitable for residential and light commercial applications including basements, kitchens, and bathrooms.
• Tile Installation Materials Professional setting materials including Servolight Wall, Kiesel Servoperl Royal grout, Okatmos UG30 primer, Okatmos DSG moisture barrier, Servoflex-Trio-Supertec, and Oka silicone for tile and stone installations.
• Floor Heating Systems Electric floor warming solutions including Schluter Ditra Heat membrane and cables, programmable WiFi touchscreen thermostat, and TRM floor heating cables designed for integration with membrane systems.
• Waterproofing and Shower Systems Complete shower installation systems including Schluter Ditra uncoupling membrane, Kerdi Corner waterproofing corners, wedi Fundo Riolito Neo and Fundo Primo shower bases, Fundo Ligno curbless bases, shower shelves, and linear drainage channel frames.
• Tile Cutting and Installation Tools Professional tile tools including Rubi manual cutters (Slim Cutter Plus, TZ series, DT-10IN Max, DC-250 PYTHON wet saw, DCX-250 XPERT rail saw), Montolit blades and score cutters, T-lock pliers and leveling systems, suction cups, drill bits, and tile bevelling tools.
• Tile Edge Protection and Transition Profiles Schluter profile systems including Rondec, Quadec, Reno-U, and Vinpro series (Vinpro-T, Vinpro-U, Vinpro-S, Vinpro-Step, Vinpro-RO) for finishing edges, transitions between same-height and different-height floor coverings, and stair nosing for tile and LVT installations.
• Tile Cleaners and Protectors Surface care products including FILA MP90 Eco Plus stain-proofing sealant for porcelain and natural stone, Stone Plus Eco protector for marble and granite, Deterdek acid cleaner for tile and grout, and SR95 protective treatment.
• Clearance Tile Discounted and clearance tile products including various collections at reduced pricing such as Marnes, Jem, Kai, Capa, Maruba, Jewel, Nika, Matter+Canvas, Sensi Gems, Gravity, Chalky, Signature Stone, Nuances, River, Splendida, Country, and others. Clearance tiles start as low as $0.99/PC.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ciot Tile + Stone: Canadian importer and retailer of premium European tile and natural stone with showrooms across Ontario and other provinces. Closely comparable to Tilemaster in product mix (Italian/Spanish imports), premium positioning, and showroom-led retail model targeting homeowners, designers, and trade professionals.
• Bedrosians Tile & Stone: Large North American tile, stone, and flooring distributor with showrooms across the US and Canada. Comparable in imported European product lines, one-stop offering of tile and installation accessories, and dual homeowner/trade customer base.
• Olympia Tile: Canadian tile distributor and retailer with showrooms serving homeowners, contractors, and designers. Highly comparable in product breadth (ceramic, porcelain, stone, mosaic) and dual retail/trade distribution approach, though Olympia operates more extensively across Canada.
• Ames Tile & Stone: Tile and stone retailer/distributor serving both consumers and trade customers, with a product portfolio spanning European imports and installation materials. Comparable in go-to-market (retail showrooms + trade accounts) and product breadth to Tilemaster.
• Centura Tile: Canadian tile and flooring retailer with showroom presence and a trade/contractor program. Comparable in product range and customer segments to Tilemaster, with similar focus on imported European lines and complementary installation materials.

Broad incumbents

• Rona: Major Canadian home improvement retailer offering tile, flooring, and installation materials. Competitor at the broader level given Ontario overlap, though Rona is a generalist big-box rather than tile specialist, putting Tilemaster in a differentiated premium niche.
• Floor & Decor: US-listed specialty retailer of hard surface flooring (tile, LVT, wood, stone) with a much larger footprint and broader assortment. Comparable in tile-specialist positioning but operates at significantly greater scale with both retail and PRO trade channels.
• Home Depot Canada: Large home improvement retailer with broad tile and flooring assortment and trade-focused PRO program. Indirect competitor for both retail and contractor customers, with advantages in scale, pricing leverage, and geographic coverage that pressure Tilemaster's premium positioning.

Emerging players

• Tile Outlets of America: US tile outlet retailer offering discounted tile with showrooms in select markets. Comparable in retail tile distribution model and clearance/discount segment, though Tilemaster's premium imported positioning and trade program differentiate the two.

Others

• Schluter Systems: Manufacturer of tile installation systems (Ditra, Kerdi, profiles) that Tilemaster distributes and resells. Relevant as an upstream supplier partner and ecosystem participant whose product breadth enables Tilemaster's one-stop-shop value proposition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tilemastercan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tilemastercan
• Instagraminstagram.com/tilemastercan
• Xx.com/tilemastercan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tilemaster