Villa Lagoon Tile, based in Gulf Shores, Ala., has been chosen by Google as an Alabaman representative of a successful small business that utilizes the Internet in a powerful way. An online only business, Villa Lagoon Tile relies on web advertising, email, and Google business tools. Google and independent research firm Ipsos MORI analyzed the online strength of local small businesses in cities in all fifty states in order to select recipients. The cities with the highest scores in each state were designated a Google “eCity.” Potential businesses will now consider Gulf Shores as Alabama’s digital hotspot for Internet based enterprises.

Villa Lagoon Tile was launched in 2008 by Lundy Wilder. While building her new home in Gulf Shores, she wanted to incorporate the floor tile designs she’d seen from her travels to Spain, Italy, and South America. She contacted tile makers and was delighted to learn that she could create unique tile designs for herself. Wilder realized that there was a niche market of consumers seeking an alternative to standard floor tiles. Combining her web design skills and love for these exceptional cement tiles, Wilder founded Villa Lagoon Tile and began offering custom cement tiles to residential and commercial customers.

With 150 different products and over 60,000 square feet of warehouse space, Villa Lagoon Title has provided tile for projects such as Disney-Orlando, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Ralph Lauren-Barbados. International shipments drive 15% of its sales as business continues to grow in North and South America, Asia, Europe, and most recently the Middle East.

“There’s been an explosion of interest in encaustic cement tiles,” said Wilder. “Architects and designers who love our product and excellent customer service will use our tiles in project after project. We are a small town on a big beach. Small businesses like ours are everything to this community.”

Google has presented Villa Lagoon Tile with two all-expense paid trips for team members to visit the Googleplex, learn, and network with award winners from the other 49 states.

For more information, visit www.villalagoontile.com.