ORIGINAL STYLE IN STORE AT
In Store At… Original Style
Offering a slightly different insight than our usual ‘In Store At’
features, we take a look at the background and business ethics behind tile manufacturer Original Style. The company’s Head of Retail Stores spoke to TRF about how it runs its showrooms and keeps up with ever-changing trends.
With a portfolio spanning over more than 30 years, tile manufacturer Original Style has a broad range of experience in producing tiles using a combination of quality raw materials, traditional techniques alongside new technology, and a skilled and dedicated workforce.
became such an important marketplace that we opened our own distribution centre in Boston.
“We opened a local superstore in Exeter to sell 'seconds'- tiles that do not quite meet the company’s rigorous standards for first class products."
In 1997, the brand acquired The Winchester Tile Company, adding a range of hand crafted, transparent glazed tiles and mouldings to its burgeoning product portfolio. The acquisition added slip casting and wet clay pressing equipment and more kilns to the production department.
Original Style then went on to acquire and re-launch the Dorset Woolliscroft floor tile collection in 2010. These slip-resistant floor tiles offer exceptional performance and safety standards for industrial, commercial, residential and leisure installations.
As well as having two of their own showrooms in Exeter and Cheltenham, open to both the public and professionals, Original Style tiles are also sold through a network of independent retailers who have been chosen based on a mutual pursuit for high standards and a passion for tiles.
Based in Exeter, Devon, where it was set up in 1986, Original Style was initially launched to develop tile sets for the cast iron fireplaces produced by sister company Stovax. However, when it became apparent that tiles were being used for more than just fireplaces, particularly in America where they began appearing on the walls in the luxury bathrooms of Hollywood stars, Original Style created a range of authentic Victorian designs on thinner tiles more suited to walls.
Henry Brook, Head of Retail Stores at Original Style, explained more about how the company has evolved: “In the 1990s, a Victorian floor tile collection was developed to complement the ever- popular wall tile range. The production department was expanded and in-house glazing and hand- painting sections were set up. North America
twitter.com/TRetailFloors
“In 2015 we opened another showroom, this time in Cheltenham. It has a distinctive and high quality offering to suit all budgets. An eight-metre long colour wall contains more than 1000 samples from all ranges, allowing you to compare tiles by colour to find the perfect shade.
“Our original showroom was set up to offer our second quality products and clearance items of our own manufacture in Devon, which is where we are based. The shop was so successful we moved to new premises and our retail division has grown from strength to strength since then,” Henry continued.
Original Style now supplies to around 600 retailers throughout the UK, as well as having a large online presence.
When asked about the importance of an online presence, Henry said: “It’s impossible not to be online these days.
“We have had an online presence for years, but obviously everything we do in the virtual world is a constant work in progress and tends to change over time in order to best cater for the needs of our customers and business partners.
Tomorrow’s Retail Floors | 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
