Kent Blaxill officially opened its new, larger and more modern Ipswich store on Wednesday (March 13) when the ribbon was cut by Neil Ogilvie, chief executive of the Painting and Decorating Association (PDA).
The new 10,000 sq ft store at 5 Trinity Street, Ipswich, has enabled the company to expand its painting and decorating and glass stocks, as well as adding a plumbing and heating department. There is also a specialist designer paints area. In addition, the new site has a larger parking area and access is easier.
Mr Ogilvie told guests, customers and staff: “It is a pleasure to be here today to open this store for a company that has been around for 175 years.”
The PDA represents thousands of painters and decorators across the UK, from large national contracting organisations through to small businesses, and aims to ensure all members adhere to the highest standards.
Simon Blaxill, Kent Blaxill’s managing director, thanked branch manager James Park and his staff for the work they had put into preparing the new store. He said: “I am very confident that this new branch will increase Kent Blaxill business in Ipswich.
“There were three good reasons for us to move location, even if only 200m down the road. Firstly we are expanding and had outgrown our old premises. Secondly, the more modern fabric of this unit enables us to display products in a more suitable environment.
“Thirdly we are introducing to Ipswich a new part of our business with plumbing and heating being our latest business venture, in addition to decorating and glass materials which we have sold in the town for a number of years.”
The glass department now features coloured glass, glass balustrades and bespoke shower screens. In the designer paints area, Kent Blaxill is a major stockist of Farrow & Ball, Paint Library and Earthborn eco paint ranges.
Andy Cherry, decorative sales and operations manager, said: “Our aim is to have the right people behind the counter and the right products in front of it.”
