By 1978 Classic Ceramics had established itself as one of the most recognisable importers and distributors of quality Italian and European tiles. Having outgrown the original building, Sam commissioned a leading architect and an Italian designer to create new, bigger, and better premises. It was a showroom ahead of its time in terms of design and was instantly recognised by overseas industry figures as being the most elegant, exciting, and modern ceramic showroom in Australia. It was a place, according to Sam, to “stimulate the imagination”.
Classic Ceramics distributed exclusively on a wholesale basis until 1983, when it expanded into the retail sector by once again designing a state-of-the-art showroom. With his innate eye for design, and unwavering determination to be at the cutting edge of the industry, Sam introduced bold, innovative products. To the professional design and building sector. Commercial and residential stakeholders were excited by what the company had to offer.
During the 1980’s & ‘90’s Classic Ceramics established showrooms, offices and warehouses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as distributors throughout Australia. Sam continued to shape the evolving face of the retail experience by leading the way in creating the next design identity, which had started in the 1970’s with the ‘tile shop’, becoming in the 1980’s the ‘tile showroom’, and maturing into the ‘tile design Studio’ of the 1990’s and beyond.