NO ORDINARY TILES…
Libby Faulkner catches up with Jody White of Collins White to find out about the ongoing success of this prestigious tile importer and distributor. Photography: Paul Currie
Set back from the hustle and bustle of Clitheroe town centre lies Collins White, a hub for the import and distribution of quality porcelain and ceramic tiles with its own on-site tile gallery.
“We have been in Clitheroe now for seven years and have really developed what we offer from when the business first started. Our primary customers are trades people, building companies, architects and tile and bathroom showrooms. However, our tile gallery often attracts customers via word of mouth recommendations,” says Jody.
Collins White is made up of business partners Carl John Collins and Jody White, who have both brought different expertise to the table. Carl has been in the tile business for over 20 years and Jody previously worked in the property market.
“I think the combination of our career history has formed a really great partnership. We work on some fabulous property projects, so me knowing that side has helped and there isn’t anything Carl doesn’t know about tiles. We work directly with showrooms to make sure they have access to the huge range of styles that we see in the European factories and we are never behind on current trends.”
The stock is handpicked by Carl and Jody then imported from Spain and Italy to their Clitheroe warehouse and gallery, where it can be stored until clients are ready to collect. Travelling is an important part of their work as they annually visit partner factories in Italy to select new ranges. The team welcome trade, commercial and retail enquiries and nothing is too much trouble.
“Local customers find it really helpful that we have the space to store all the tiles until they are ready for them, particularly for big projects, where people often don’t have the ability to hold the materials once they have been imported.”
“Importing directly also gives us a huge range of stock from which to choose. If someone sees something online, in a magazine or at a friend’s kitchen or bathroom that they love, we find it for them from our factory network in Italy and Spain,” says Carl.
Collins White has a wide selection of the most popular and latest tile trends available to view in the Clitheroe gallery, as well as stacks of art books that feature pieces of tiles so customers can get a better idea of the material and finish before ordering. Tile samples can then be imported to ensure they are exactly what the client wants, before committing to a full order.
“Choosing the right tile for your space is very important, whether it’s for a kitchen or bathroom, or any other room, we always strive to have the best and widest range available. People often come in with pieces of a worktop or door sample and use them to match up to the tiles.”
Collins White is open Monday to Friday as well as Saturday mornings but they have no objection to providing evening or weekend appointments to ensure clients can spend the time they need to select the right product.
“If someone is doing a big project, perhaps an architect needs more time to decide on colour and style, or a commercial client wants to go through our latest styles, they have the opportunity to meet with us at a time when there are no distractions that fits in with their lifestyle – as we know not everyone works 9am to 5pm.”
Jody is quick to admit that tiles are very much a ‘fashion game’ and that they are always keen to import the latest trends and styles for distribution to stores up and down the country: “So many people find their dream kitchen or bathroom online through Pinterest, blogs or inspirational websites and we know that keeping up with the latest trends is so important. Popular styles are always changing, and we always aim to keep up to date with what’s on trend.”
Collins White have an extensive range of indoor and outdoor tiles in their Clitheroe gallery available for trade, commercial or retail projects. They also run a busy trade counter offering tiling materials such as adhesives, grout and trims. New trade accounts are most welcome. Contact them directly to make a personal appointment or stop by to see for yourself.
Collins White
Unit 1 Hawthorn Business Park
Lincoln Way
Clitheroe BB7 1QD
01200 538973
www.collinswhite.co.uk
