Most of the talk coming from the Countersync booth this weekend at the Augusta Home & Garden show won’t be about countertops. It will be about the fastest growing part of Bill Phillips’ 15-year-old ownership of the 22-year-old Countersync business; and that is Bathroom/Shower renovations and a new partnership with the Los Angeles, California creator of the MR Walls company, Mario Romano.
This year, Bill will have a walk-in shower display and information about an exclusive distributorship he has with MR Walls. “This company designs contoured and textured solid surface walls we can install in kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor patios, and pool houses. The product can also be used in business or commercial applications, which may be its greatest potential.
Photo courtesy of Countersync
Bill completed his first project just in time for the Masters last year. He says a local attorney came to him wanting him to turn his Summerville pool house into an oasis. Originally, the lawyer was just looking at putting in a shower in his pool house. Bill said, “Let me give you an option we can do now, and you will be the first.”
We actually wound up doing the entire shower, several walls of the bathroom, and the textured non-slip shower floor/pan.
Bill says the homeowner commented that the executive of the company renting the house for the tournament will stay in the pool house. The customer was even able to light the room from the ceiling coming down to accentuate the MR Walls’s contoured design.
“You don’t typically see that in a CSRA bathroom, this is where I see our growth is going to be,” said Bill.
“I had to send a video of my showroom and ensure the creator of this new product that we are able to meet their standards. I discussed the whole process with Mario himself, before he entrusted me as the exclusive distributor in the CSRA,” added Bill.
The product MR Walls is durable and recyclable. It has no harmful chemicals. Most importantly, it is a custom-fit product.
The Countersync team has several fabricators and installers, which is critical because MR Walls has a very specific installation process and can come in large sizes.
Photos Courtesy of Mario Romano Walls
Want to impress the boss? Suggest retrofitting the lobby to include one of many examples of corporate upfitting. Want to impress your retail client base with either a great first impression or a feeling of positive vibes? Consider making a splash (or backsplash).
How many times have you gone into a hospital, bank, or car dealership and didn’t come away blown away? Consider a two or three-story wall with your brand.
“Let’s say, people are coming to visit your event space or hotel to bring a group to town. “If they walk into your lobby and see something special like a Mario Romano Wall design, it will make a great first impression,” added Bill.
When driving on the Riverwatch Parkway, Countersync’s colorful signage is hard to miss! The company has come a long way since Phillips bought it about 15 years ago. The original owners had the showroom in downtown Augusta with parking in an alley. They only did countertops for spec homes, but the housing market tanked around 2009.
Phillips took courses with UGA’s Small Business Development Center. He visited 45 small business owners after he left a career in IT to start his company.
Phillips tries to put some of his marketing money towards home-oriented sponsorships like this weekend’s Augusta Home and Garden Show. He’ll bring the above example with him to the Augusta Marriott’s Convention Center when things start Friday morning there.
When you speak directly with him this weekend, he’ll share his philosophy. The only corners he cuts are when his in-house fabricators make up your custom countertop or shower. His team does not do a bathroom project in just one day as others claim, because they tear down the existing shower/tub walls back to the studs and start over.
“If we don’t do that process you are just covering up a problem that will rear its head down the road.”
Countersync is very proud of winning many “Best of” awards in local publications. They are a (5) star Google Review company.
He’s proud of how his office manager Dawn Galloway takes care of Countersync’s customers and the high level of craftsmanship from the fabricators and installers, evident in every one of the 150-plus jobs the team does every year. If he or his installers are behind schedule, the customers will receive a phone call updating them.
“Our motto is we do it right the first time. If not, we will re-do it until our customer is satisfied.”
Visit the Countersync booth on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Booth 707-709 at the Augusta Home and Garden Show at the Augusta Marriott’s Convention Center.
The website is www.countersync.net to hear from Bill, learn about the specific Countertops and Showers they provide, and see customer testimonials.
