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Vendors & Affiliates

Our Preferred Vendor List vs. Big Box Store (BBS)

Why the big box stores (BBS’s) i.e. Home Depot, Lowes, Sears, etc. are not on our Preferred Vendor List

We have observed over the past several years that the products offered by the BBS’s are not necessarily the same quality that is offered by distributor stores.

Major manufacturers may build a lesser quality product at the request of the BBS’s in order to sell the item at a reduced price.  The item may even have the same product name.  Sometimes manufacturers use a licensed third party manufacturer to produce product under their trade name.  In these cases the product is only available through the licensee’s distribution network.  This has occurred with plumbing fixtures, vinyl flooring and carpet.  There is evidence that it is happening in other products as well.

The BBS’s often give the name brand item an exclusive item number.  It then becomes impossible to shop the price in the distributor market.  When we have managed to find the item through the distributors it may be at a lower price than the BBS’s.

Still another method of managing the market is to offer name brand selections at multiple locations with each location having a different item number for the same selection.  A recent example of this is the Martha Stewart line of paint colors.  Martha Stewart colors are available at Sherwin Williams, Lowes, Home Depot, K-Mart and Sears.  Each location has an exclusive color number for the same shade of paint.  The primary problem with this is selecting a shade of paint at one location that is not available everywhere else.  The paint company will try to color match but doesn’t guarantee the same shade as the original shade color code.

Clearly these distribution methods add additional product procurement costs and endless searches for your selections.  As a result it has become necessary that you only make your selections with the vendors on our Preferred Vendor List.  We have been working with these vendors for many years and have established an excellent relationship with them.  They will treat our clients respectfully and have a wealth of product knowledge.

Ceramic Tile & Stone

Byrd Tile Distributors
3400 Tarheel Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609
876-5997
Website
Hours M-F 9-5, Thurs. until 8
Appointments recommended

Mosaic Tile Company
Stone and Tile
2641 Noblin Road, Raleigh, NC 27604 871-0848
Website
Appointments strongly recommended

Traditions in Tile & Stone
2201 Brentwood Road, Raleigh, NC 27604
871-0203
Website
Hours M-F 8-4:30
Appointments strongly recommended

Rainbow Home Interiors
Ceramic Tile & Stone Counters
202 N Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Call for Hours- Appointments strongly recommended
552-6666 Gail Taylor
Website

Cultured Marble

Majestic Marble and Glass Co.
8411 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612
(inside showroom of Kitchen & Bath Galleries)
782-7710
Website
Large selection of stone countertops and stone tiles style and color
Hours Mon., Wed., Fri. 9-7, Tues., Thus. 9-6, Sat. 9-5
Appointments strongly recommended

Solid Surface Tops

Majestic Marble and Glass Co.
8411 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612
(inside showroom of Kitchen & Bath Galleries)
782-7710
Website
Large selection of stone countertops and stone tiles style and color
Hours Mon., Wed., Fri. 9-7, Tues., Thus. 9-6, Sat. 9-5
Appointments strongly recommended
See also cabinet suppliers

Plumbing Fixtures

Wilkinson Supply Company
3300 Bush St., Raleigh, NC 27609
899-3889
Website
Plumbing Fixtures & Bath Accessories
Hours Monday - Thursday 8 - 6 Friday 8 - 5
Appointments recommended