Ambitious EMC Tiles Finds A Perfect Match For Business Expansion In Leicester

A NOTTINGHAM tiling business looks set for expansion after buying a Leicester-based rival.

EMC Tiles, which is based in Hucknall Road, has bought Leicester Tile Centre for an undisclosed sum.

The move comes only two months after EMC splashed out £500,000 on developing a trade centre of excellence on the Southglade Industrial estate next to its existing premises.

EMC employs 31 people and will take on an additional nine with the acquisition of Leicester Tile Centre.

Done deal: East Midlands Ceramics managing director, Barry Slawson, left,

with John Newcombe, of Leicester Tile Centre.

The deal has come about because the owner of Leicester Tile Centre, John Newcombe, wanted to sell out of the business.

Barry Slawson, managing director of EMC Tiles, says the move means the business will be able to build on its existing branch in Loughborough and expand its customer base further south.

He said: "We have been looking to expand our business into the Leicester area for some time. We already have a highly successful branch in Loughborough and the opportunity to acquire the Leicester Tile Centre was too good to miss.

"This has made 2014 an exceptionally exciting year for us. This new acquisition opens up a whole new trading area – into south Leicestershire and the central Midlands and we are very much looking forward to introducing new customers to our blend of customer services and value for money."

Mr Slawson says the two firms are similar businesses. EMC was founded more than 35 years ago, while Leicester Tile Centre is also family-run and was launched around 30 years ago.

"It could really be described as a marriage of two companies with compatible backgrounds," said Mr Slawson

"This is a very exciting time for EMC Tiles and we relish the prospect of bringing our particular way of providing a very focused service for our retail and trade customers.

"Over the next few months, we will be introducing some exciting new product ranges – along with an even more comprehensive selection of tiling tools and materials – at the best possible prices.

"We would like to stress that we are building on a very sound foundation with a very popular and well-run business and we believe our experience and expertise can only enhance the opportunities for all tile buyers in the Leicester area."

Mr Newcombe, who has now decided to pursue other business interests, said: "Both companies were founded around the same time and over the years we have developed a huge amount of respect for each other in the ways in which we conduct our business.

"EMC Tiles is the perfect match as a buyer and we are delighted that our long established family business is being handed over to another."

EMC Tiles Provide Hospital Tiles For Children

Nottingham Children's Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre Campus, recently received a donation of ceramic tiles from East Midlands Ceramics Ltd (EMC).

The contribution of tiles was made as part of an initiative to provide young people the opportunity of having fun, rather than for addressing a particular problem.

Children of all ages, on the ward, were asked to create attractive and colourful designs on the tiles and these were then used to decorate and brighten up the ward's bathroom and corridors.

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EMC Tiles Raise Over £3000 For Charity At Opening Of New Trade Services Centre

Nottingham Post - 07 April 2014

THE opening celebration for East Midlands Ceramic's (EMC) new centre of excellence for the tile trade raised more than £3,000 for charity.

The event, at the centre on the Southglade Business Park, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, was attended by more than 100 guests.

It featured a fundraising darts competition with prizes donated by suppliers and manufacturers – as well as by EMC Tiles itself.

Players included tile professionals who qualified to take part by collecting bonus points during a special week of trade events.

Picture: From the left, Phil Slawson, of EMC, tiler Craig Ashford and MC Mel Stanley

Prizes not claimed after the match were auctioned to raise cash for charity. The amount raised by the auction was matched by donations from EMC Tiles and Weber Tile Adhesives Ltd.

The total raised was more than £3,000, which has been donated to Step Out for Stroke, the Seacole Ward at Nottingham City Hospital and Jon's Rehab Fund, a charity founded by the wife of a customer who suffered a stroke.

The new £500,000 centre of excellence is next to the company's showroom and warehouse and is designed to be a focus for the sale, delivery and promotion of tile industry products and services.

It has been redeveloped as a flagship unit featuring 5,000 sq ft of warehousing, a state of the art trade service area and a computerised resource centre for education and training.

EMC Tiles' managing director Barry Slawson said: "It was a fantastic evening and we were delighted to share this event with so many industry figures, along with their partners and families.''

East Midlands Centre of Excellence puts EMC Tiles at the Heart of the Tiling Trade

Published: Tilezine - April 2014

East Midlands Ceramics have opened a new regional Centre of Excellence for the tiling trade — in one of the company's most ambitious projects since it was founded more than thirty five years ago.

The new centre is purpose-built to serve trade professionals and includes an extra 5000 square feet of warehousing, a state of the art trade service area and a special computerised resource centre for education and training.

The resource centre will create a regional forum for manufacturers and suppliers to showcase the latest innovations and developments and to demonstrate new techniques to trade professionals and tiling students.

EMC Tiles Trade Operations Manager, Phil Slawson said: "It will mean that professionals won't have to travel all over the country to keep up with manufacturers developments — industry leaders will be giving master classes and demonstrations here in one place.

This will also give tiling students the unique opportunity to meet the top practitioners and learn directly from their experience."

All Things Bright And Beautiful  -  At EMC Tiles All New Trade Services Centre

The development is the result of EMC Tiles bold decision not to stand still during the recession — but to expand in readiness for improved trading conditions.

The company bought an available engineering factory next to its existing warehouse and showroom on the Southglade Business Park, Hucknall Road, Nottingham and re-developed it as a flagship unit, dedicated to servicing its trade and contract customers.

Phil Slawson said: "This will streamline our service to the trade. Until now all our business, domestic and trade has been going through one counter.

"This new centre means we can give our hundreds of trade customers a specialised facility — featuring generous discounts and a loyalty points scheme.

"The trade counter will be well staffed and there will be absolutely no change to our unrivalled personal customer service."

The new centre opened on Monday March 24th and was launched with a special Trade Extravaganza Week. This featured five days of events, supported by leading manufacturers, a top-prize darts competition and a Ferrari FI Simulator, with all proceeds donated to charity.

Pictures: Fun, Games and Frivolity... with a good time had by all!

EMC Tiles managing director, Barry Slawson says: "This is a major development for us and a statement of our confidence in the future of this business. We have certainly come out of the recession in a strengthened position — thanks to our decision to forge ahead and buy and redevelop this property. We are now fully able to capitalise on improved trading conditions and are offering our trade and contract customers something extra special.

"We have created a Centre of Excellence for the sale, delivery and promotion of everything the trade could wish for from the tile industry. We have always supported young tilers through our strong links with New College Nottingham, where we sponsor annual awards. We will be looking at ways to integrate our new resource centre into the learning process.

"This will put Nottingham firmly on the map as a regional focus for the tile trade and will stimulate new business from the whole of the East Midlands and beyond."

AT EMC TILES - YOU JUST WOODEN BELIEVE IT!

THESE TILES LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE REAL THING

They say that seeing is believing - but to convince yourself these wonderful ceramic wood look alike tiles are not the real thing – you actually have to touch them.

Ceramic tile technology has advanced in leaps and bounds in recent years so that now the latest generation of wood look-alikes are devastatingly realistic... you may even find yourself taking care not to get a splinter.

These fabulous products are taking over from the real thing – both inside and out.

Designers are discovering their hard-wearing resilience and attractive looks make them ideal for interior flooring and the new range of look-alike wooden decking is a hit with garden enthusiasts.

One of the biggest advantages of wood look-alikes is their outstanding ability to resist wear. They are made from porcelain, one of the hardest materials known to designers.

If they are correctly fitted, they will look as good in the years ahead as they did the day were new.

Whereas real wood needs constant attention and extra care to avoid disfiguring scratches and scrapes, ceramic tile will stand up to anything normal use can throw at it.

A water spillage which could ruin a wood floor can simply be wiped away.

Superior products like Wood-ker are astonishing. The colour, the texture and the feel of wood are uncannily reproduced in full bodied porcelain, with an amazing amount of attention to detail – including saw marks on the surface.

Barry Slawson, the managing director of the region’s leading ceramic tile supplier, East Midlands Ceramic says: “The range and choice of wood look alike styles is expanding all the time – as leading manufacturers develop new lines in response to the ever-growing popularity of these products.

“I would say that the development of look-alikes is one of the most dramatic and successful innovations in the industry in the past decade.

“I think it is safe to say that many people are now making look-alikes their first choice ahead of the real thing.

Picture: The realistic look of a natural wooden floor... full of character... but having
the hard wearing and minimal maintenance benefits of a ceramic tile.

“Some customers say they are concerned about the perception that tiled floors are cold to the touch. This is easily overcome by fitting luxurious and energy efficient undertile heating. It gives the tiles a fabulous warm glow – which contributes to the overall background heat of the room, for a very economical cost. There are instances where it has even allowed customers to cut back dramatically on their central heating.”

Garden decking made from tough porcelain has taken the look-alikes into new realms and proved that its qualities are ideal for outdoor applications too.

Wood decking demands almost constant upkeep to maintain it in peak conditions and nothing looks sadder than a neglected deck.

The porcelain version is indistinguishable from real wood. It is easy to lay and will stand up to everything the weather and heavy garden use can throw at it – without losing any of its attractive finish.

Picture: Ceramic Tiles - displaying all the rich, warm textures of natural wood

Barry Slawson says: “The advantages are numerous. They will never rot, unlike timber they don’t need regular weatherproofing treatment to keep them in peak condition, they will resist heavy usage, they won’t be damaged by staining or sparks or embers from a barbeque and they will look great all year round.

“We are all very excited about these innovations – which are giving designers brilliant new opportunities to replace traditional wood products with something more hardwearing – but without any loss of attractiveness.

 “The introduction of ceramic tile decking is also a highly significant breakthrough that will be welcomed by gardeners and home owners who may have been reluctant to invest in a fashionable deck – simply because of the hassles involved in their upkeep.

“Now buyers can have the best of both worlds – great looking “wood” designs they don’t have to worry about.”    

Classic Retro-Decor Style Retain Their Timeless Appeal

Highly decorated tiles – evoking delightful memories and feelings from a time gone by.

Complex, individual patterns will provide a fascinating, eye catching backdrop or they can be used in a mix to give a myriad of tile displays.

Image: Eye Catching Display Using A Mix Of Individual Designs

These tile designs have a retro feel about them that reaches back through time, evoking memories of the hippie inspired days of the 1960s and 70s. Then, viewed from a different angle, they also tend to hint of Northern Africa… with places like Morocco coming to mind.

At this year’s International Ceramic Tile Fair in Bologna, where traditionally the industry shows off its latest innovations, these fabulous tiles were one of the buzz products that generated a lot of interest. There is a wide range of selection in these types of tiles, some of which are quite colourful.

East Midlands Ceramics managing director, Barry Slawson is an annual visitor to the fair and is always on the lookout for new ideas to inspire local interior designers.

He says: “In recent years, tile trends have leaned towards a minimalist approach where neat clean lines are the order of the day. These tiles represent a departure from that, to provide a totally different feel and experience.

“Beautifully designed, they seem quite revolutionary with a lively individual character. They are definitely not tiles that can be ignored and they almost cry out for attention.

Image: Always Interesting - Whatever The Design!

“These tiles certainly provide the impact factor – and could become a very popular choice for those looking to make an impression by creating something different. The fact that they are so eye catching, means they could very well appeal to a whole new generation of tile buyers.”

Visit EMC Tiles to explore the full range of these fantastic new tiles which are available to order – with rapid delivery.