Thursday, 4 November 2010

Norwich Entrepreneur Opens Third New Bathroom Business in Three Years


Norwich entrepreneur, Gareth Pendleton (38) has opened his third new bathroom business in three years. The Bathroom Company at Thorpe End, Norwich is a boutique bathroom shop offering design, supply and installation of some of the most stunning and adventurous designer bathrooms available.

Gareth’s other businesses are Bathrooms by Design in Thorpe St Andrew (opened October 2007) and Norwich Bathrooms & Kitchens, Heigham Street on the Norwich Inner Ring Road, opened in partnership with Pete Garrett in January 2008.

The bathroom businesses employ eighteen people. Gareth is one of the few bathroom specialists in the Norwich area that employs his own team of specialist fitters.

Projected turnover for the three businesses by the end of 2011 is £2 million. Gareth is also actively on the lookout for opportunities to expand The Bathroom Company brand beyond Norwich.

Gareth did a plumbing apprenticeship with his father in Bungay before moving into car sales with Warwick Shubrook. But a desire to work by himself saw a move into bathroom fitting in 1998.

“I have always been very practical and started off with my mum’s bathroom. Fortunately she was pleased with the result. Half the battle with bathroom design is being able to visualise the final result as you go along. I discovered that I had a talent for this and quickly picked up work through recommendation.”

Gareth was full time on the tools for three years, running his business via a mobile phone, then took on a trainee and gradually expanded, bringing on board additional fitters.

“As the business grew, I recognised the need to establish a shop window so people could see bathroom ‘sets’ and visualise their upgrade. I found a vacant unit next to Kitchens by Design on Spinney Road in Thorpe St Andrew, so called the shop Bathrooms by Design to complement the other brand.”

Within one month of opening Bathrooms by Design, Gareth had agreed to set up Norwich Bathrooms & Kitchens with Pete Garrett as a trade and retail outlet.

The Bathroom Company at Thorpe End is a natural development. “I wanted a larger showroom which could focus on luxury and the peace and tranquillity of a special bathing experience. We want our customers to relax and enjoy the experience of choosing and visualising their dream bathroom.”

The Bathroom Company, Thorpe End, Norwich, tel. 01603 300866, email sales@thebathroomco.com, http://www.thebathroomco.com/.

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