Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Grams.
Hi Erik, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started installing tile in 1999 during my summer break from high school with my neighbor Ken who owned a residential tile installation company. After a full summer of apprentice work I then went on to installing tile with a union company that completed large commercial tile projects. My brother Reis and I started Touchdown Tile with an ad in the Minneapolis Star Tribune paper in 2004. Since 2004 we have continued to grow our tile installation service including getting our general contracting license and opening our first showroom in 2016. In 2020 we experienced a remodeling boom that coincided with the pandemic. After experiencing a massive period of growth, we were able to purchase a property and build a brand new showroom and warehouse which we completed in the fall of 2024. In the spring of 2024, I lost my business partner, brother, and best friend Reis to a tragic accident canoeing in the BWCAW. With resilience we were able to make the necessary moves to continue to operate in Reis’ honor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anything but smooth. 2 recessions. The pandemic. Massive growth. Staff. Building our new headquarters. The loss of a business partner.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We began as a tile installation company installing custom ceramic, porcelain, handmade, and stone tile. Some of the work I’m most proud of are our large commercial projects that I managed including the IDS Fountain Feature in down town Minneapolis which consisted of large granite stone slab and tile and an infinity water feature. I also managed the installation of a water feature at Ridgedale Mall which was a stone relief replica of a portion of Lake Minnetonka and Minnihaha Falls.
Our company expanded our services by getting our contractors license. Some of our best work is in the remodeling of bathrooms for residential customers. We have completed everything from full house renovations to small bathroom facelifts.
What are your plans for the future?
Continue to grow into our new showroom and improve our efficiency
Contact Info:
- Website: https://touchdowntile.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/touchdowntile/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/touchdowntile/
