Topps Tiles takes £5.3m share in online retailer

Leicester-based Topps Tiles has taken a 60% share in Pro Tiler, an online retailer of consumables and equipment to the trade sector, in a deal worth £5.3m.

Pro Tiler was established in 2010 by Andy Bucknall, his wife Wendy, and their two sons Sam and Todd. Andy, Sam and Todd all previously worked as professional tilers and are well respected within the industry. As part of the deal, Andy and Wendy will retire from the business while Sam and Todd will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the firm.

In the financial year ended 31 March 2021, Pro Tiler reported turnover of £9.3 million and profit before tax of £1.1 million.

Rob Parker, chief executive of Topps Tiles, said: “Pro Tiler is a well-respected brand with a strong customer service ethic, which fits closely with our core values. The acquisition of an online specialist supplier to trade customers complements our omni-channel Retail business and Commercial brands. It also moves us closer to our 20% market share goal of ‘1 in 5 by 2025’ while maintaining our specialism of tiling and related products. I look forward to working with Sam and Todd Bucknall and helping them to take this successful business forward into the next stage of its growth. The development of our digital offer remains an important area of focus for the Group and we have plans in place to expand this further in 2022.

“Trading for the year to date is in line with our plan and we are confident of delivering performance in line with our expectations.”