Business Profile: Westcountry Tile & Bathroom
OM Magazine, Issue 120, January 2019
3rd January 2019
Ways to stay healthy this New Year…
3rd January 2019
Westcountry Tile and Bathroom, based in Christian Mill Business Park, has over 25 years experience in supplying and fitting bathrooms and wet rooms. Jamie Shewbrook, owner and Director has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to bathroom design- we catch up with him at the showroom to find out more.
Westcountry tile and bathroom was born from a mixture of genuine passion and life-long aspiration
from owner and Director Jamie Shewbrook. With over 25 years experience in the industry- Jamie’s drive and love for the industry has enabled him to run a polished and successful state of the art modern showroom.
First opened in March 2014, the showroom boasts a huge range of products offering bathrooms from
contemporary to classic design. The dedicated team offer Inspiration, consultation, design and a installation services making for a hassle free and friendly approach to your new bathroom- from start to finish.
Looking back, Jamie
originally had eagerness to join the police force from school and began a pre-services course at the age of 17. At 18 Jamie applied for the police and was told that he would be an ideal candidate, but perhaps he should go and gain a year’s life experience before embarking on a career with the police force.
Taking this advice, Jamie started working for Plumb Center, originally as a stop gap before going back to the forces. After a year went by, it was obvious that he had a drive and passion for the industry, impressing his superiors and gaining promotion to Area Sales Representative within 18 months.
After a successful period of nearly five years, Jamie was rewarded for his hard work with a brand new Plumb Center store, as a Branch Manager. He continued to grow within the company managing larger stores, developing staff, increases sales and margins over the next 4 years.
It wasn’t long before he was head hunted by Plumbase to help rejuvenate their flagship Plymouth Store. Within 12 months he was able to increase sales, bring all their policies up to date, cleanse dead stock & generate more business for the company.
Jamie gained valuable industry experience over the course of his career history, working for both Plumb Center and Plumbase in fast paced and demanding roles.
“My most recent role before Westcountry Tile and Bathroom was as a Regional Sales Manager for Plumbase- running 23 branches and over 300 members of staff. You have to be motivated to work in that field and I was, because I enjoyed what I was doing”.
Jamie explains that the idea of opening his own bathroom showroom had been a dream for many years; it was just a case of plucking up the courage and making the leap of faith.
“I just decided to act on it. It had been a pipedream for so long, I had the experience so I went for it”. Jamie spent some time putting a three year plan together, and pitched a detailed Profit and loss statement to the bank to get him started.
“Myself and my partner Melanie, had two young children at that point and we had recently moved house so everything was up in the air. We had no income so everything was riding on getting the new business up and running as soon as possible”.
Jamie looked everywhere for the perfect showroom when the 4000 sq ft premises became available at Christian Mill Business Park. Together with the help of his family and the good will of friends, Jamie put in long hours to get the showroom ready for opening.
“We had to pay for absolutely everything, all the products in the showroom, including the fit-out. It’s amazing to look back on actually, to be able to say that we did it”.
Westcountry Tile and Bathroom will soon be celebrating their 5th year of trading and Jamie, along with 6 dedicated staff members keep the business running smoothly, offering their services and expert advice to both new and longstanding clients.
“I have never put my feet up thinking I can take a break. It has been manic from the word go but I wouldn’t change it. The business just grew and grew organically through word of mouth and as we are approaching 5 years, we are starting to get a lot of repeat business”.
With a comprehensive showroom offering over 50 professional displays to spark your imagination, Westcountry Tile and Bathroom can guide you through the entire process of your renovation project with a selection of products to suit your needs and budget.
Jamie explains that the team are on hand from start to finish. “First we talk through what is important to the client and what little touches really matter to them. Next we help to visualise the design by CAD drawings or hand drawn renders. Once we reach a stage where the client is 100% happy- we call upon our team of trusted installers to complete the fit out”.
Jamie and his team can confidently talk you through the benefits and features of every brand they display; and they regularly attend trade fairs around the world to keep up to date with the industry’s ever changing technology.
The newest edition to the showroom is a state of the art, fully functional AXOR display- where clients can test the water pressure on a range of shower heads and faucets. Jamie explains that it may seem trivial, but when you are selling a dream-these things matter.
“Our vision is to offer our customers quality service that stands out from the competition and to be the destination of choice in Devon & Cornwall”.
“Innovation is always at the forefront of our minds, that’s precisely what Westcountry Tile and Bathroom stands for”.
Running a successful business may be time consuming enough for some people. Jamie not only balances a busy work and home life, but he also finds the time to compete in a number of fundraised events each year to raise money for charity.
Jamie’s experience knows no bounds, after previously Scaling the Great Wall of China in 2000, completing Mount Kilimanjaro in 2003, climbing Machu Picchu, crossing the Arctic on Husky dogs and most recently- taking on the infamous Marathon Des Sables, a gruelling 6 stage 156 mile marathon across the Sahara desert.
Looking to the future, Jamie aims to continuously progress in both his personal and work life. Already setting his sights on the next challenge – the Ultra trail de Mont Blanc, Jamie enjoys pushing himself to the limits whilst raising funds for a good cause.
In terms of the business- Jamie is already in the process of expanding his knowledgeable team, to further solidify the professionalism of the services on offer.
With his drive and determination coupled with his impressive experience within the industry, there is no doubt Westcountry Tile and Bathroom will continue to grow from strength to strength.
