A love affair with tiles: meet Clare Healey

Role

Commercial Manager

Location

Wellington Showroom

In tiles

33 Years

Behind every great project is someone who cares about the details. In Wellington, that's Clare Healey, our Commercial Manager. She's spent most of her working life surrounded by tiles, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Here's her story, in her own words.

A showroom full of inspiration

My name is Clare Healey, and I've been having a love affair with tiles since I was 19. I'm now 52, so I'll let you do the maths.

I spent 12 years working with Neville at Tile Warehouse in commercial sales before taking a seven-year break from hard flooring to broaden my knowledge and explore other areas of the industry. But home is where the heart is, and coming back to tiles felt exactly like that. I was back where I belonged.

When Neville gave me the opportunity to refit our commercial showroom and make it my own, I was in my element. The result is a space that feels less like a showroom and more like home: a place to explore, experiment, get creative and, most importantly, be inspired.

Tucked downstairs beneath the retail showroom at Tile Warehouse in Wellington, you'll find a world of finishes from across the globe. Tiles fill the space, with drawers curated into colourways to make selection both inspiring and practical. But it's not just about tiles. There are paints, carpets, timber and joinery finishes, everything an architect or designer needs to bring a complete design story together for their clients.

I built it with one thing in mind: the people I get to work with every day. A place where ideas come to life, materials can be explored together, and clients can see how every element of a project works in harmony.

It's all about the relationships

Some of my client relationships span more than 20 years, and I truly cherish them. I've been lucky to be part of some incredible projects across New Zealand, often getting involved early to help bring the vision together through carefully considered material selections. (Some are top secret, so no spoilers from me.)

Every architectural practice and design studio has its own personality, aesthetic and way of working. I take the time to understand that, and I'm careful about what I present. I love introducing fresh ideas and new collections rather than showing everyone the same thing. Each project deserves its own identity.

"For me, it's never just about finding a tile that works. It's about understanding the bigger picture, the people behind the project and the story they want to tell."

Residential projects? Absolutely

Architects and designers are a huge part of my world, but I also love working directly with homeowners. It's more personal, and I get to really understand how people want their homes to look and feel.

My biggest piece of advice? Choose something you love, rather than simply following a trend. Trends come and go, but your home should feel like you.

Ensuites are a particular favourite of mine. I've never understood why everyone feels the need to make them white, bright and sterile. Think about it: it's where you get naked! Surely you want to feel a little fabulous?

Give me a moody colour palette, beautiful textures and rich tones. A space that makes you feel like the best version of yourself, somewhere to escape, unwind and indulge in a little everyday luxury. Be bold. Be a little adventurous. Make it yours.

"Because ultimately, we're not selling tiles. We're creating lifestyles."

Fashion, personality and taking a few risks

Those who know me will know my love of design goes well beyond the showroom. I absolutely love clothes, and I've always believed that if I'm selling design, I should present myself in a way that reflects my passion for it.

I'm sure some of my outfits have people wondering, "Why on earth is she wearing that?" And that's absolutely fine. I've never owned a pair of jandals, and I have more heels than I could ever wear. Life is too short to play it safe with everything, and I think the same goes for design. Sometimes the most memorable choices are the ones that dare to be different.

No project is too small

My days are busy, varied and, at times, full-on. I know how much architects and designers have on their plates. A material specification has so many moving parts, and my job is to make one part of that process as easy as possible.

I treat every practice I work with as an extension of my family. There are no silly questions, only questions that haven't been asked yet. If I can solve a problem, source a hard-to-find product or track down the perfect finish, I will. And if we don't have what a client is looking for, my first instinct is to find out where I can get it.

Please don't think a project has to be large or high profile to get me excited. I love helping with anything, even if it's just a splashback. Sometimes it's the smallest details that make the biggest difference.

A little balance outside the showroom

When I'm not immersed in tiles, samples and selections, I love my garden and always have a few projects on the go. You'll usually find me at the gym every evening. It's how I switch off and burn off all the thoughts that pile up in a busy day. Although, if I'm honest, I'm not sure my brain ever completely switches off.

Still going strong

I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside Neville and to have the freedom to approach my role in a way that reflects who I am. I bring plenty of energy and passion to what I do. I care about the details, the people I work with and getting the result right.

This has never been just a job. It's a career built on relationships, creativity, trust and a love of materials and design. And after all these years, the love affair is still going strong.

My philosophy? Keep looking, keep creating, keep inspiring, and don't stop until the job is done.

Although perhaps every now and then, I should stop long enough to take off the heels.