Brian Gallop, Business Relations Manager, GRAFF USA

By Newsletter Staff

Long before Brian Gallop found his place in the kitchen and bath industry, he was drawn to style, presentation, and design. He grew up in El Toro, CA, but credits Phoenix as the place where he found his footing. Nearly 20 years ago, influenced in part by his mother’s career in the kitchen and bath industry, Brian found his own way into the business and quickly realized it was where he belonged.

Before kitchens and baths, however, there was fashion.

From Fashion to Faucets

Early in his career, Brian worked in visual merchandising for The Gap and J.Crew and, as he recalls, was the first man to work on the sales floor at The Limited. He loved helping customers put styles together and creating experiences that made them feel confident.

“To this day, that’s still what I do,” he says. “The products have changed from fashion to kitchens and baths, but I’m still helping people create something that reflects who they are.”

His first paid job was considerably less glamorous. At 14, Brian spent a summer digging ditches and putting tar on roofs because he wanted spending money for a trip to Hawaii.

Enjoying the park with his husband, Brian.

Learning the Business

His mother would play a role in his career again years later when she helped arrange an interview with Central Arizona Supply. His kitchen and bath career began.

At Central Arizona Supply, Brian found an important early mentor in Creative Director Jeremy Smith, who helped him understand the industry, challenged him to grow, and gave him opportunities to expand his knowledge.

Today, as Business Development Manager for GRAFF, Brian says his favorite part of the job remains the people. He learns from the designers, architects, and clients he meets every day, while Ziggy Zulig, President and CEO, and Eric Dietz, National Sales Director, continually challenge him to think bigger and expand his perspective.

He’s especially excited about GRAFF’s new Experience Center in the A&D Building in Manhattan, which is set to open later this year.

Betty and Simon take the best spot.

Beyond the Business

Outside of work, Brian is an accomplished runner who has completed the Boston Marathon and two New York City Marathons. He also enjoys a great pizza or sweet treat, heading to the beach, and spending time with his husband, also named Brian, and their two dogs, Betty and Simon.

“I’m kind of shy, which surprises people because of what I do for a living.”

One thing colleagues may be surprised to learn is that Brian considers himself shy. Large networking events don’t always come naturally, so he turns them into a challenge, setting goals like finding the best story in the room or meeting the most interesting person he doesn’t already know.

It makes networking more enjoyable and brings Brian back to something he’s been doing since his retail days: connecting with people and discovering what makes them unique.

Looking Ahead

Brian is looking forward to returning to GRAFF’s factory in Krakow, Poland, a city he describes as “incredible” after discovering it on his first visit a couple of years ago, as well as spending the holidays with family in Palm Springs, CA. For Brian, there’s always something new to discover, whether it’s a place, a person, or a new perspective.