Surface Group International
Surface Group International is a Barrington, Illinois-based specialty retailer founded in 1995 that distributes luxury tile, natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, glass, cement, hardwood, and vinyl surface materials online via Shopify and through a single showroom, serving residential homeowners and trade professionals (designers, architects, contractors) with premium products from over 50 brand partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBarrington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Surface Group International does
Surface Group International is a Barrington, Illinois-based specialty retailer founded in 1995 that distributes luxury tile, natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, glass, cement, hardwood, and vinyl surface materials through a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront (surfacegroup.com) and a single brick-and-mortar showroom at 201 S Lageschulte St. The company serves two primary customer segments: residential homeowners undertaking kitchen, bathroom, and flooring renovations, and trade professionals (interior designers, architects, and contractors) who source premium materials for client projects via a dedicated Trade Program offering a 20% discount on purchases.
The product catalog is organized across nine material categories and is sourced from over 50 brand partners including Porcelanosa, Atlas Concorde, Marble Systems, Anatolia, Lunada Bay, Duchateau, Eldorado Stone, and Stone Impressions, with pricing ranging from $0.44 per square foot for entry-level porcelain to $298.10 per square foot for specialty mosaics and rare stones. Underlying technology is a stock Shopify storefront with SSL security; there are no documented proprietary features, APIs, SDKs, AI capabilities, or applications. The surfacegroup.com taxonomy enables filtering by material, color, finish, and brand, and a $35 rebatable sample-swatch fee that converts into purchase credit at $300 minimum orders is a key conversion mechanism.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales on a per-square-foot or per-tile basis, with secondary income from sample-fee transactions, closeout sales, and bundled design, layout, installation, maintenance, and restoration services delivered through the Barrington showroom. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer for the homeowner segment and direct-to-trade (field/enterprise motion) for the design-professional segment, supported by content marketing (blogs, vendor features, completed-project galleries, email newsletter) and SEO-optimized catalog pages. The company is privately held, with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no merger or acquisition activity referenced; it serves North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) without other disclosed geographic restrictions.
Surface Group International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Surface Group International
- Legal name
- Surface Group International
- Website
- https://surfacegroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Surface Group International is a Barrington, Illinois-based specialty retailer founded in 1995 that distributes luxury tile, natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, glass, cement, hardwood, and vinyl surface materials online via Shopify and through a single showroom, serving residential homeowners and trade professionals (designers, architects, contractors) with premium products from over 50 brand partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Surface Group International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tile and Stone Retail
- NAICS
- Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (4491)
- SIC
- Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tile & Stone Specialty Retail (CRAIAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kitchen & Bath Surfaces (Backsplash, Wall Panels, Specialty Tile) Showrooms (CRAIAFAJ), Commercial-Grade & Specialty Surfaces (Concrete/Metal/Glass Countertops) (HSAPAIAK), Tile, Natural Stone & Porcelain Surface Care (Non-Grout Focus) (HSAEAOAI)
Keywords
Where Surface Group International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barrington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Surface Group International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time product sales of tiles, natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, glass, cement, hardwood, and vinyl flooring materials. Customers purchase per square foot or per tile at varying price points.
- Design and Installation Services: When customers purchase tile in-store, the company provides layout design, installation, maintenance, and restoration services.
- Sample Sales: $35 rebatable service fee per sample swatch, credited toward future orders of $300 or more.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for consumers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trade Program discount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Surface Group International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Surface Group International retails luxury tile, natural stone, hardwood, vinyl, and complementary surface products to homeowners and trade professionals through an e-commerce storefront and a physical showroom. The company curates premium brands such as Porcelanosa, Atlas Concorde, Tagina, and Marazzi, and supports customers with design, installation, maintenance, and restoration services.
Product overview
Surface Group International operates as a luxury tile, stone, and hardwood online store celebrating 30 years in business since 1995. The company offers a unified e-commerce platform featuring natural stone products (Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Granite, Basalt, Quartzite, Slate, Dolomite, Sandstone, Schist), porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, glass tiles, cement tiles, hardwood and vinyl flooring, wall veneers, stone mosaics, and surface care products. The portfolio is complemented by design and installation services through their Barrington, Illinois showroom. The company distributes products from numerous brand partners including Porcelanosa, Atlas Concorde, Anatolia, Marble Systems, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Natural Stone Luxury natural stone surface materials (marble, travertine, limestone, and related stones) sold through e-commerce and the Barrington showroom to homeowners and trade professionals.
- Porcelain Tile Premium porcelain tile sourced from brands such as Porcelanosa and Atlas Concorde, sold to residential renovation customers and trade professionals.
- Ceramic Tile Ceramic tile offerings for residential kitchen, bath, and flooring applications, available through the online storefront and showroom.
- Glass Tile Decorative and architectural glass tile, including brands such as Hirsch Glass and Country Floors, sold for backsplashes, walls, and accents.
- Cement Tile Patterned cement tile (including brands such as Mosaico+) for floors and walls in residential and commercial design applications.
- Hardwood & Vinyl Flooring Hardwood and luxury vinyl flooring sold alongside tile and stone to complete surface material needs for residential renovation projects.
- Wall Veneer Decorative wall veneer products for interior architectural applications, sold through the showroom and online.
- Stone Mosaic Decorative stone mosaics offered for backsplashes, shower walls, and accent areas in residential design.
- Surface Care Products Cleaning, sealing, and maintenance products sold to support tile, stone, and hardwood installations purchased from the company.
- Design, Installation, Maintenance and Restoration Services Professional design, installation, maintenance, and restoration services bundled with material purchases for residential and trade clients.
- Trade Program Dedicated trade professional program offering a 20% discount on the full product catalog to interior designers, architects, and contractors.
Companies that use Surface Group International
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Surface Group International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Surface Group International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PorcelanosacoreFeatured brand partner showcasing wall tile, floor tile, and mosaic products on Surface Group's website. Featured in rotating featured collection carousel.
- Atlas ConcordecorePorcelain brand partner offering Boho and Path featured collections. Sells through Surface Group's catalog.
- Lunada BaycoreCeramic brand partner offering the Mistral Zellige collection. Sells through Surface Group's catalog.
- Driftwood Design Lab (DDL)minorCeramic brand partner offering the Zel handmade Moroccan zellige collection.
- Marble SystemscoreMarble and natural stone brand partner offering Moroccan Zellige, Cotto Med Terracotta, and various mosaics including Verde Tia collection. Featured as a partner brand.
- Anatolia TilecorePorcelain brand partner offering Precept collection closeout tiles, Vintagewood wood-look porcelain, Ledger Stone Sierra Slate, and more. Featured in closeout sale section.
- DuchateauminorWood and vinyl brand partner offering engineered hardwood flooring including Global Winds Mistral and Chateau Domenico collections.
- ArtominorCeramic brand partner offering Artillo concrete field tiles and glazed brick veneers in various colors.
- Eldorado StoneminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering Mountain Ledge Panels in Russet color, sold through Surface Group.
- Stone ImpressionsminorNatural stone deco tile brand partner offering artisanal printed patterns on natural stone including marble and limestone.
- m - SystemsminorBrand partner offering Moroccan Zellige tiles, sold through Surface Group's catalog.
- MSI (Moroccan Stone Imports)minorNatural stone brand partner offering various stone products through Surface Group.
- HaussmannminorNatural stone brand partner offering limestone tiles including Albi, Antique Dore, and Argent collections.
- OsmominorCare and accessories brand partner offering wood care products.
- Eben StoneminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering trims and accessories including Water Hydrant Box, Keystone Onyx, and Trim Stone Onyx.
- StoneCraftminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering trims and accessories including Trim Stone Grey and Keystone Grey.
- Old World VeneerminorNatural stone veneer brand partner offering sill samples in Yorkshire and Autumn Brown.
- LandmarkminorPorcelain brand partner offering porcelain veneer products through Surface Group.
- ProfilitecminorCare and accessories brand partner offering installation and finishing products.
- Stone ProminorCare and accessories brand partner offering stone care and maintenance products.
- Casa di SassiminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering products through Surface Group.
- Creative MinesminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering products through Surface Group.
- Dutch Quality StoneminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering products through Surface Group.
- Ply GemminorFaux stone veneer brand partner offering products through Surface Group.
- Artisan HardwoodminorWood and vinyl brand partner offering hardwood flooring products through Surface Group.
- En BoisminorWood and vinyl brand partner offering products through Surface Group.
- TekaminorWood and vinyl brand partner offering products through Surface Group.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Surface Group International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Clé Tile: Luxury hand-crafted tile boutique known for Zellige, Moroccan, and artisanal cement collections—directly overlapping Surface Group's Zellige and Cotto offerings. Comparable niche positioning with a designer/specifier-driven model.
- TileBar: Online-first tile, mosaic, and bath fixtures retailer targeting design-forward consumers. Overlaps with Surface Group on ceramic, glass, porcelain, and decorative tile categories with a younger, digitally native customer base.
Direct peers
- The Tile Shop: Specialty tile and natural stone retailer with showrooms and a strong e-commerce channel, owned by Leonard Green. Closely mirrors Surface Group's customer profile (homeowners and trade professionals) and SKU breadth in tile, stone, mosaics, and wood-look products.
- Floor & Decor Holdings: Public specialty retailer of tile, natural stone, wood, and flooring with 250+ stores nationwide. Most directly comparable to Surface Group's specialty tile/stone retail model, operating at much larger scale with broad contractor-designer appeal and overlapping product categories.
- Bedrosians Tile & Stone: Family-owned tile, stone, and architectural surfacing distributor with showrooms across the West Coast and nationwide shipping. Competes with Surface Group in premium tile and natural stone, with a parallel builder/designer trade program and multi-brand portfolio.
- Emser Tile: Specialty tile and natural stone manufacturer-retailer with extensive U.S. showroom coverage. Comparable to Surface Group across porcelain, ceramic, glass mosaic, and natural stone categories, with a strong trade-professional customer overlap.
- M S International (MSI): One of the largest importers and distributors of natural stone, porcelain, and quartz slabs in North America, with MSI Surfaces showrooms serving designers and homeowners. Competes head-to-head with Surface Group on premium stone sourcing, including several shared brand-partner relationships.
Broad incumbents
- Dal-Tile (Mohawk Industries): Largest U.S. tile manufacturer and distributor, owned by Mohawk Industries. Operates a broad portfolio across mass and premium channels, competing with Surface Group indirectly through dealer networks and through sister brands like Marazzi and American Olean.
- The Home Depot: Largest U.S. home improvement retailer with extensive tile, flooring, and stone assortment plus installation services. Competes with Surface Group across both DIY homeowners and pros, particularly as it expands its specialty tile and design-center offerings.
Regional players
- Arizona Tile: Natural stone slab and tile distributor with showrooms concentrated in the Western U.S. Comparable to Surface Group on premium surface materials and a design professional trade program, but with a more regional delivery footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Surface Group International social profiles
Digital presenceSurface Group International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Surface Group International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Surface Group International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Surface Group International 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 Surface Group International
What does Surface Group International do?
Surface Group International retails luxury tile, natural stone, hardwood, vinyl, and complementary surface products to homeowners and trade professionals through an e-commerce storefront and a physical showroom. The company curates premium brands such as Porcelanosa, Atlas Concorde, Tagina, and Marazzi, and supports customers with design, installation, maintenance, and restoration services.
Is Surface Group International a public or private company?
Surface Group International is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Surface Group International founded?
Surface Group International was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Surface Group International based?
Surface Group International is headquartered in Barrington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Surface Group International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are design and Installation Services and sample Sales.
Who are Surface Group International's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Clé Tile and TileBar. Direct peers are The Tile Shop, Floor & Decor Holdings, Bedrosians Tile & Stone, Emser Tile and M S International (MSI). Broad incumbents are Dal-Tile (Mohawk Industries) and The Home Depot. Arizona Tile is listed as a regional player.
Does Surface Group International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Surface Group International.
What industry is Surface Group International in?
Surface Group International's product category is Tile and Stone Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAGAA, Tile & Stone Specialty Retail, with a secondary code of CRAIAFAJ, Kitchen & Bath Surfaces (Backsplash, Wall Panels, Specialty Tile) Showrooms. Its NAICS code is 4491 and its SIC code is 5700.