We recently connected with Nick Barreiro and have shared our conversation below.

Nick, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

In the early days of the business, much like many start-ups, though I was confident in the products clay imports offered, I was struggling with sales and unsure of how to raise capital. I used to work in our studio regularly and guided customers through the tile design and purchasing process. One day, I was helping a customer design her bathroom. It was a very routine process. She purchased her tile and left. The next day, the customer came back to the Clay Imports studio and told me that she was fascinated with Clay Imports. She then told me that she had just inherited some money, and asked if she can invest $150,000 in our company. Prior to this, Clay Imports had never more than $1,000 in the bank. I felt like I had a very small window to seize this opportunity and that I needed to be very strategic in how I invested the money. This mattered a lot, because there was really no other way Clay Imports could have received start-up capital and it allowed us to make purchases and payments that helped to build a lasting relationships with our vendors and producers.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My involvement in the tile industry started shortly after high school. In the early 2000s my brother Zac and I were tile installers. We were installing projects primarily in Central and West Austin. It was a very common practice for customers to send us to pick up their tile orders from various tile stores around town. One of the stores we used to pick up tile from, for our customers, was “The Tile Center” in North Austin. This small local Austin tile store was owned and operated by Beto, an older gentleman who, in his later years, struggled with operating the business and was unable to fill orders for many of his sales. My brother and I, needing the tile, so that we could complete an installation, and get paid, occasionally resorted to sourcing the tile for Beto. Beto would give us gas money and send us to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to pick up the tile that he has sold to our customers. Though my brother and I are Hispanic, these were our first trips into Mexico and generally international trips. As Beto aged, he relied on me and my brother more to source the tile for his customers. Eventually, Beto offered to sell the company to me and my brother. Though our tile installations were going well, and we knew nothing about operating a business, we decided to move forward with the purchase. That was the beginning of Clay Imports and the start of a business adventure I never could have imagined. Today, Clay Imports uses its e-comm platform and digital influence to sell to customers all over the country. Clay Imports designs all of its products, and has expanded into furniture and architectural products production. We employ over 30 people in the U.S. and Mexico.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to make handmade tile and other clay building products understandable and accessible to consumers. By striving to improve the processes of design, manufacturing, and logistics, I will have more customers to purchase our products instead of conventional big box store products. My secondary goal is it for Clay Imports o be the largest, most reputable handmade tile company in the U.S.

Furthmore I will constantly promote a healthy relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Not only regarding tile and building products, but also business, imports, exchange programs and tourism.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Shortly after my brother and I purchased the business from Beto, one of the first things we tried to do was to buy tile from Beto’s existing vendors in Mexico. We were shocked to find out, that Beto owed the Mexican vendors over $100,000, for materials that have already been sold. Though my brother and I could have looked for new vendors, and not paid the business’ existing debt, we chose to pay off the old debt. It took years of relationship building, travel to factories and immersing myself into the life of our partners, that Clay Imports operates completely debt free and holds no line of credit with any of our vendors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://clayimports.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clayimports/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011370346405
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-barreiro-5a57832a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahJR8UElba9x17q6hmq76Q

Image Credits
Courtesy of Clay Imports