Business Profile – Original Style

For over 30 years Original Style has been manufacturing tiles using a combination of raw materials, traditional techniques and a skilled and dedicated workforce. They have a broad range of products, from hand decorated wall tiles, contemporary large format tiles and geometric style Victorian Floor Tiles. 

Based in Exeter the company was originally set up in 1986. It was launched to create tile sets for the cast iron fireplaces that sister company Stovax produced. When it became apparent that tiles were being used for areas other than fireplaces, particularly in the USA where they were being used on the walls of luxury bathrooms, Original Style created a thinner range of authentic Victorian designs on thinner tiles more suited to walls.

The first Original Style Tile showroom was opened in Exeter in 1996 followed by the second showroom in Plympton in 2001. As well as a recently launched showroom in Cheltenham Original Style tiles are also sold through a network of independent retailers who have been selected based on a mutual pursuit for high standards and a passion for tiles.

Henry Brook, Head of Retail Stores at Original Style explains more about the company’s development ‘In the 1900s, 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 became such an important marketplace that we opened our own distribution centre in Boston.”
The shop in Exeter was so successful that Original Style opened a second shop in Plympton “our original showroom in Exeter was set up in 1996 to offer our second quality products and clearance items. The shop was so successful we opened another retail store in Plymouth 5 years later.”

All three Original Style showrooms still stock and sell seconds but also materials and accessories for all tiling projects as well as huge choice of high quality wall and floor tiles and mosaics in glass, stone, ceramic and porcelain, all suitable for residential locations, and most of them can be used in commercial settings too.

In 1997 Original Style acquired the Winchester Tile Company, adding hand crafted, transparent glazed tiles and mouldings to its growing product portfolio. This led to slip casting and wet clay pressing equipment as well as more kilns to the production department.

Keeping up to date with home interior trends is a key focus for Original Style

This is reflected throughout the company’s showrooms with carefully selected on trend products on display to inspire customers. Designs that are achievable and realistic are also displayed whilst showcasing the manypossibilities that are available from the wid
e range of products on offer.

Henry added “we want our clients to feel completely at home, even in the largest and brightest of spaces. We try to support them by ensuring that they are able to visualise their own space, as it will look in the end when the tiles are installed.”

“Adding to that we now offer a 3D experience using the newest technology, so that once the patterns and colours are picked, our ViSoft technician can show the customer what their room will look like in a rendered version. Not everyone is a designer or has sufficient imagination – we understand that completely.”

Supplying a large network of retailers and having three showrooms, the brand does not lack ambition, with plans to expand its outlet even further. New showrooms help local retailers who can send customers from the area to see the tiles in real life without having to display thousands of products in a limited space themselves.

Henry concluded: “Our showrooms have been very successful and we would love to build on this by opening more stores in the future. We like to pick our locations carefully, taking into consideration a number of different factors, especially ways in which our dealer network can benefit from our presence in chosen markets.”

Visit- www.ostileshop.uk |  | Call- 01752 338399 | Find Us – 2 Lister Close, Newnham Industrial Estate, Plympton,  PL7 4BA