Welcome back to another #CSIPlus Meet the Member Interview! Today, we are joined by #CSIPlus Member Richard France, Sales and Design Director at PARKSIDE Architectural Tiles .
Take it away Richard!
What do you do at your company, and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?
“Primarily, I am in Sales and my role involves dealing directly with Interior Designers/Architects in providing tile solutions for their projects. I’ve worked in the tile industry for over 30 years as well as working in an Architects office. So, I’ve seen specification from both sides of the fence.”
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
“I think it is people being aware that we have access to the world’s leading tile manufacturers, and also we offer a bespoke tile service so we should be able to offer something for most projects.”
Has your company got any upcoming projects / events / exciting news that you can talk about?
“We will be hosting the next CSI+ Social event in our showroom on Wednesday, 8 October! Painting with Parkside combines hands-on creativity with relaxed networking, offering you the perfect opportunity to unwind, meet like-minded professionals, and explore the world of architectural design through a fresh, artistic lens. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our showroom in the heart of Clerkernwell.”
What has been your favourite cruise project to work on?
“I’ve supplied tiles to the World Cafe on various Viking Cruise ships. This was a bespoke floor tiles which not only had to be aesthetically right it also needed to meet technical criteria such as slip resistance.”
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
“I think I’ve always had a can-do attitude. So when I’m asked, “Can you supply something like this?” I’ve generally said yes (even though in some cases I don’t know how I’m going to do it!).”
Could you share the most significant obstacle you have faced in your career so far, particularly in cruise work? Or, have you ever encountered any problems in cruise work that required you to learn a new skillset?
“I’m continually learning about what tiles work for this industry, so it’s a case of being in tune with current trends.”
What inspired you to pursue this field of work? Or, what was your first taste of the cruise industry?
“I’ve always been involved in supplying tiles for the hospitality industry, and now I can use that knowledge and background to supply this field of work.”
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
“I love to paint, and one day I would love to have a property by the sea with a studio.”
What are the most significant changes you have seen in the Cruise Interior sector since you started, and what emerging trends do you foresee shaping its future?
“I love the design of cruise ships, and they seem to be getting more adventurous in design and what they offer the client as an experience.”
Do you have a fun-fact or piece of advice about your company/industry that you can share?
“I think my main piece of advice is to be realistic in what you are offering the client.”
Do you specialise in a particular type of product? What makes it different to competitors?
“We do have exclusive tile ranges, but I think it is the bespoke service we offer, whether it’s a floor tile design or a particular colour for wall tiles.”
If you could recommend only one of your products, what would it be?
“At the moment, I would say ‘Mas’ which has 95% recycled content as well as being one of the lowest CO2 tile products on the market.”
What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a project, and which piece of information is of utmost value in planning a successful project?
“Generally, I would ask – style, budget, time scale, technical requirements, sustainability criteria. Time scale is so important that you can deliver within the required time frame.”
What role does sustainability play in your company? How do you incorporate environmentally friendly practices and materials?
“We have various initiatives in place as sustainability plays such a huge part in what we do. For example, we work with the World Land Trust – we have a 40 for 40 programme, so every time a tile is specified with 40% or more recycled content, we donate 40p to land purchase projects in Argentina and Kenya. Since we launched this, we have helped protect over 785,000m2 of diverse habitat, protecting some of the world’s most endangered species.”
What goals have you met so far in 2025? Or, what goals/milestones are you working to meet this year?
“We are always striving to be the best we can be and supplying the cruise industry is high on the agenda for the coming year.”
