COMPANY FOCUS: PRO TILER TOOLS
BUILDING ON SUCCESS
Oliver Stanley attends the official opening of Pro Tiler Tools’ refurbished HQ.
procurement, marketing and key accounts. They now operate out of a six-times-larger flagship unit in Prologis Park Pineham near the M1 with vastly improved access and display space.
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ro Tiler Tools, the UK tiling supply merchant, opened its newly refurbished 140,000 sq. ft headquarters and distribution centre at Prologis Park Pineham, Northampton, with an open event that welcomed over 200 customers, suppliers, and members of the local community.
The event, held on July 11, featured live demonstrations from suppliers, exclusive giveaways, a charity raffle in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, and an official ribbon- cutting ceremony conducted by the Mayor of Northampton, who helped mark the milestone for the family-founded business.
Spot the opportunity Founded in 2008 by Andy Bucknall, a professional tiler, and his wife Wendy, Pro Tiler Tools was born out of frustration with the lack of easy access to high-quality tiling tools and materials.
Joined later by sons Sam and Todd, the Bucknall family gradually shifted from tiling to retail, growing from one small unit to three, before becoming a limited company in 2010. Pro Tiler Tools has since grown from a single industrial unit into a nationwide distributor employing over 60 people. Director Sam Bucknall explains, “When we started Pro Tiler Tools, the goal was simple, to build something that truly
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served our customers in the best possible way. Over 75% of our leadership team have known or worked with my family for years, many coming from tiling backgrounds themselves, and that shared history has shaped a culture built on respect, accountability, and a genuine love for the trade. We’re a team-first business, we listen to each other and move fast when the right decision is clear, and the data backs it. That trust and mutual respect mean our people go above and beyond every single day, delivering the kind of service our customers can rely on.”
A unique perspective The family’s history as tilers is, according to Bucknall, one of the company’s unique selling points. “Our experience and background in the industry enables us to have a great relationship with our customers, we understand the struggles they face, use the same terminology and speak their language. If they’re unsure about the best product available to suit their needs, they know they can pick up the phone to us and get practical and honest advice and I think they appreciate that personal touch.”
Following its recent move, Pro Tiler Tools has gone from a pre-COVID turnover of £4.5 million, to an expected £30+ million this year, expanding its workforce from 48 to over 60 strong and adding roles across warehouse,
The move has enabled the company to expand their operations and create a state- of-the art trade counter whilst also offering a 9pm next-day dispatch service to meet their customers’ increasing needs.
As recent winners of the ‘Excellence in Supply and Services’, and ‘Best E-commerce Website/App’ in the 2025 Tile Association Awards, the business is more determined than ever to maintain their first-class reputation. “The new location, chosen due to its fantastic position next to the M1 was a bold decision but the right choice”. Says Bucknall. “The move has been a massive benefit to our supply line, we’re easily accessible and have 14 large loading bays making it easy for suppliers to get to us. We’re also seeing even more passing trade which is great.” “We’ve got distribution hubs surrounding us, and it’s a much more viable for customers to come and collect from us.”
Commercial manager Luke Stratford added: “We’ve been able to increase our portfolio of products, add new ranges and brands and grow the amount of stock we hold on site enabling our customers to get the products they need.”
“The reason we’ve succeeded while others have struggled is simple: our people,” says Bucknall. “From the very beginning, this has been about solving problems for tilers, because many of us were tilers or in the trade ourselves. Every decision we make starts with, ‘what does the customer need?’ Revenue comes after that.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2025
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