Fort Worth business thrives on humble beginnings

By Anna Gasowski

When driving on I-30 in Fort Worth, Texas, a small stone building can be seen on the side and often goes unnoticed. The building houses a construction installation company, Thurman Tile and Stone. It may seem like any other business, but the company and its founder carry a rich story that many customers are unaware of. 

Paul Thurman, the founder and owner of the company has been deeply rooted in construction from a young age. “My dad was a brick mason, so I grew up laying brick and rock. I got into flooring because I could lay tile at night and use the money to pay for college,” he said. Paul dove into construction because it was what he had the most experience with and knew best. “I originally wanted to go to college so I could get out of the construction world, but really I just wanted to break the poverty cycle that I had seen in my family,” he said. Paul grew up living in trailer parks and rental houses and was determined to make a better life for himself.

Paul graduated from the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University and was the first in his family to go to college. He chose to start Thurman Tile and Stone because he knew he had no safety net from his family. Starting his own company in something he was familiar with would be able to make him the money he had been longing for, but it was going to take work. “I worked in the library, in the computer lab, on weekends, in retail, laid tile late at night, and laid brick and tile in the summer.” He knew that the key to his success would be to out-work everyone else, so that’s what he chose to do

Paul has faced pressure to grow his company in a world where mass expansion is common. He has made the decision to keep his business relatively small and local. He sees this strategy as a path to stability without sacrificing the values of a small business. “Although I have over 60 people,” he said, “it’s still a small business, but it has done as much as I have wanted it to. I’ve been very fortunate to have made a lot of money and be able to do things like travel all over the world with my family.” 

“His hard work has paid off by giving him a life that he always dreamed of and the freedom to travel and indulge in his favorite hobbies like hunting,” his daughter Landrie commented. Paul prioritized his personal life in a world that tries to convince business owners to grow at an exponential rate, but he’s still been able to keep customers satisfied.

It’s difficult in this industry to keep customers happy, especially with many competitors. According to a Google review, Thurman Tile and Stone has, “extremely friendly staff and great service with the support that's rock solid!” When asked how he maintains such high customer satisfaction, Paul says the key is hiring trustworthy employees who stay with him for the long haul. Many of his employees have been with him for over 20 years. “They are important because they make me look good and make me money while also being shielded under my umbrella because I take care of them.” He says that his employees are key in getting his company where it is today.

Forbes Advisor also recognizes the importance of building a team. Their article said, “As your business grows, you’ll need to delegate tasks and put together a team of people who can help you run the day-to-day operations.”

One of the most difficult parts about making a business successful is attracting new customers. When asked about this, Paul mentioned the importance of relationships in his industry. “Success for me was word of mouth. I never did marketing. I just tried to be really, really good at what we did.” Most businesses need marketing to keep them alive and stable, but his business is successful even with a minimal online presence. “I always make sure on a job, when the job's over, that I try to catch the last five minutes and interact with the customer. I want them to remember the experience they had with my company.” This type of marketing is called word-of-mouth marketing, or WOM. According to Investopedia, WOM marketing is one of the most powerful forms of advertising. Many consumers trust their friends' or family’s recommendations over traditional media marketing. 

Paul also reflected on the learning curve he faced as being in charge of a large group of employees. He mentioned the importance of speaking to his employees as a fellow adult, rather than using a parental tone. “When I first started out, I noticed that I was speaking to some of my employees like I was the parent and they were the child. I realized the importance of speaking to someone as an adult, even if they are less experienced because it helps build that relationship.” 

One of the things that Paul said is most important to him is prioritizing his family. “I enjoy working. I pulled it back, though, as I aged up. My days of working 70-hour weeks kind of slowed down after a while, and you start having a family. I replaced some of that work time with parenting and coaching t-ball, football, and volleyball, which I loved doing with my kids.” Paul mentioned that sacrifice for his family is important to keep a tight bind. He said that could have made more money if he spent more time working, but his family is most important to him. Even though some people value money, he said that making the most money isn’t his priority.

Paul Thurman with Thurman Tile and Stone has captivated his customers and found the secret to a successful small business. He has stayed competitive in his industry not only because of the quality of his work, but the relationships he has built with his customers. Even when employers doubted him at a young age, he had the determination to prove himself to them. Above all this, he recognized the importance of finding time to focus on his family over his career. 

“Even with his large workload,” his daughter Landrie said, “he always comes home every day with a smile on his face and makes it a point to ask me about my day and how I’m doing. I hope that one day I can be successful like him and give my kids the life and experiences that my dad has been able to provide for me.”