on the road with john zubovic

What is your role at National Tiles?

Franchise & Store Development manager

How long have you been working with NT and has your role evolved?

I have worked in a number of roles, in two stints over 12 years. I started with National Tiles in B2B in Melbourne before managing the Port Melbourne site. After a two-year break I joined the team again as State Manager when we expanded into SA. From there I moved to Queensland and took on my current role.

How has National Tiles evolved as a company over this time?

The evolution of the company has been amazing. Although it’s still a family business, the biggest change has been the strategic injection of expertise and knowledge from outside the tile industry. Also, the overall look of our stores has seen a massive change. I remember the day I came back to National Tiles after being away for two years, I sent some pictures of the new Grovedale store to my wife. It was so different she questioned if that was ‘really’ a National Tiles store…

How many days a month are you on the road?

I’m certainly on the road more often than not, depending on where the projects are. The year before last – 2019 - was a huge year with the majority of our projects outside of Qld. During that 12-month period I racked up 96 plane trips!

What does your usual day look like?

A ‘usual’ day depends on what the project is. If I’m on the road, I will get to site early to make sure the trades have a clear direction for what needs to be done on that day. Then it’s a matter of making sure the tasks for the following days are on schedule which includes ensuring tiles are on site and joinery is delivered. When I’m in Brisbane, I spend considerable time liaising with suppliers and trades to plan upcoming projects. I’m constantly in touch with Amy Spasojevic, our National Visual Merchandising Manager, as we bounce ideas off each other and confirm the finer details for new projects. Throw in issues that arise at store level combined with maintenance issues and questions/ issues from our franchises - and my day quickly fills.

What’s your favourite part about what you do at National Tiles?

My favourite part about my role is contributing to the evolution of the business and brand. It’s great to be part of a business that is not complacent and is always striving to improve. Although travelling is far from glamorous, it gives me an opportunity to catch up with family and friends in Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide.

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