Last year, Blue Rock Industries opened a new showroom at 92 York Street in Kennebunk. In his interview with MH+D Inside Out, Rob Leskowsky, who works at the Kennebunk Tile and Design center, shares how he got involved with Blue Rock and why he’s excited about the company’s future.

Q. What motivated you to join the team at Blue Rock Industries?

A. After owning my own tile business, I joined Blue Rock in 2010 when they were just starting a tile division. They decided to put me into the sales department, and I had never done sales before. I didn’t know I could do sales or design, but it just happened naturally. Because of my experience in tile installation, I knew how all our products worked, and people trusted me. We eventually opened a showroom in Kennebunk and hired another designer, Olivia Mariani. We’re an unbelievable team. And that’s how it all happened.

Q. How do you continue to stay on top of changes in technology and trends?

I don’t stop. I’m always researching and trying to understand the next product. In connecting with some of the companies that we sell, Instagram has been huge. It’s a great way to connect with people in the industry.

Q. How does this knowledge enrich your customers’ experience?

I think it’s comforting for customers to talk to someone who knows what they’re doing. And I can bring up ideas that they wouldn’t think of necessarily. There’s also a level of trust; I would never sell a customer inexpensive mortar if it’s not a quality product, just to get the sale. I educate customers on our products, too, such as shower systems, grouts, mortars, everything.

Q. What are the most interesting trends in tile right now?

Geometric shapes are coming back, and designers are getting more modern and contemporary with colors. I love the arabesques, too. It’s amazing to see these tiles styled after ancient shapes that have been around for a thousand years. We just installed geometric Walker Zanger porcelain tile in our entry that is just beautiful.

Q. What do you see in the future for Blue Rock?

We just built a beautiful 7,500-square-foot showroom in Kennebunk. I think our fabrication division will be stocking slabs in the future. They’re getting better all the time.

Q. What makes Blue Rock so successful right now?

In 1920, Blue Rock was started with two horses, wheelbarrows, and a shovel. Nearly a hundred years later, it’s become one of the state’s largest provider of stone products, and it’s still owned by the same family. We have an amazing team of over 50 people now who have a lot of passion for what we do. We are improving all the time, and our future’s going to be even brighter.