Minoli 2024 – A Year In Review

At the end of a busy year, it’s always encouraging to look back at what we’ve achieved, and the broad range of activities undertaken to keep Minoli moving forwards.

We started the year in January with the publication of the annual Minoli Design Trends Report. Exploring six prevailing porcelain tile trends, the Report examined the emerging design directions and how they accorded with the latest additions to our expanding product portfolio. Now in its 3^rd year, the report has established itself as a valuable reference resource for our design and development clients. Look out for the 2025 edition which will be published soon.

January also saw the airing of the first piece of Minoli promotional video content, this one featuring a filmed tour of the London showroom to give people a sense of what’s on offer at this customer-focused facility.

In February we announced our continued relationship with the Pata Prometeon Yamaha World Superbike team, as a Technical partner. Whilst 2024 was our fifth season of association, it’s always exciting to see the Minoli brand logo in place on the bikes and race truck, as well as the pit walling and hospitality zones all around the world.

March was the launch month for eight brand new additions to the Minoli Core Essentials Collection. Including new designs with stone, marble, wood and concrete-effect finishes, in porcelain and ceramic, plus coordinating décor pieces, they were all chosen for design and style aesthetics, but with affordability and durability very much in mind.

We also started the annual Minoli Outlet Spring Sale, which ran over 6 weeks with extra savings available on all Outlet Stock. With new lines added especially for the sale period, there were around 325 different designs available with very significant savings. The Outlet sale contributed to what has been another successful year for the Outlet store, as a means of offering excellent value batches of stock at reduced prices, so clearing our warehouse of discontinued lines.

Just after Easter, with April upon us, we published a new brochure including details of all the new Core Essentials collections, focusing on the value and versatility that they provide.

Spring is also the season when thoughts turn to the garden and, to coincide with the RHS Urban Show, we began a series of articles showcasing the Outdoor By Minoli Collection of 20 mm porcelain pavers, with structured, slip-resistant surfaces. This included some interesting statistics about the increased propensity for garden design and its positive impact on both wellbeing and property values.

It was also on April 18^th that Lucy Minoli and the team hosted the inaugural ‘Women In Property Design & Development’ event at the prestigious Home Grown private members’ club, part of the Home House group, on Great Cumberland Place, London, W1. Some 75 guests attended including interior designers and architects, property developers and housebuilders. Guest speaker, Samantha Day gave an inspiring presentation, offering insights into navigating the modern workspace, as a woman in business.

Lastly in April, the latest addition to the Minoli truck fleet went into service. Registration number M1 NOL is a DAF CF Series 340, 26 tonne Curtain Sided Rigid with Moffett forklift. This new truck allows us to carry increased tonnage and to unload safely and efficiently greater volumes of tiles and extra-large slabs.

In May we explored Minoli’s heritage and present-day expertise in the automotive sector. Reflecting the two sides of our association with the motor trade, we initially showcased our experience in providing bespoke garage solutions for supercars and collectable classics, with stunning imagery of the facilities at our friends Girardo & Co and DK Engineering. We also featured a case study about supplying the BYD – Build Your Dreams – network with specialist tiles to support their expanding representation, as one of the newest car brands to the Minoli portfolio. Throughout the year, we have been steadily growing our automotive business with deliveries to sites including Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Omoda, BYD, Volvo and Kia, amongst others.

Mid-month we chose to publish our thoughts on how porcelain tiles and pavers provide an environmentally friendly and sustainable choice. It was interesting to set out, not only how we strive to reduce the impact of our daily business activities, but also the actions and policies of our supplying production partners in pursuing their Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental objectives.

With the summer in full swing, in June, we made the case for porcelain pavers to a very particular market – that of swimming pool designers and installers. In a feature-length article we explored the positive attributes of porcelain tiles and paving as the surface solution of choice for pool surrounds, adjoining patio areas and even as an attractive alternative to traditional pool tank linings.

In July our attention turned to ‘Summer Tiles & Design Styles’, showcasing a stunning selection of stand-out, principally porcelain ranges that feature different colours and patterns, textures and formats, which are frequently specified by our professional design practice clients.

We also supported the Henley Festival and the RISE Charity as a Corporate Member Sponsor. Promoted as an ‘exclusive, boutique, black-tie festival’, the event celebrated the best of UK and International music and arts, from 10^th – 14^th July. The RISE initiative aims to inspire and support the next generation of talented performers and technicians hoping to work in the creative arts industry. This year’s line-up included headline acts such as Nicole Scherzinger, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, Gladys Knight, Nigel Kennedy and Sam Ryder.

Taking a moment to focus on our own team and the investments we make in stock, warehouse operations and our delivery fleet, in August we put some of our Oxford departments centre stage – the Sales Administration and Finance Teams, and the Showroom team who manage the Minoli Outlet facility as well. Also, the Warehouse and Delivery teams who manage the storage of some £4m in net cost value stock and can coordinate the safe delivery of in excess of 100,000 kgs of material per day.

In September, Minoli exhibited at the ultimate design and decoration show – Focus/24 – held at the stunning Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour, from 16^th – 20^th September. With a newly designed stand, we spent the week showcasing cutting edge porcelain tile and slab designs to the interior design and property development community.

Also, on Thursday 12^th September we were delighted to hold a prestigious event at the Home House private members club on Portman Square, London, W1, co-hosted by Paul Denning and the Yamaha Racing World Superbike team. Star participants for the panel discussion included compere Tim Harvey, British Touring Car Champion and presenter, plus competition riders, Beatriz Neila, currently competing in the FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship, and Jonathan Rea, six-time World Championship winning rider and the most successful participant in the history of the FIM Superbike World Championship.

To conclude the proceedings, as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for Minoli’s London showroom, we were delighted to unveil a unique artwork commissioned from artist and interior designer Rebecca Tucker.

At the end of that busy month, the Minoli team paid their annual visit to the Cersaie International Exhibition of Ceramics in Bologna to meet with production partners and choose the new collections for launch the following year.

October saw the conclusion of the season for the Pata Prometeon Yamaha World Superbike team, for which Minoli are Technical partners, and it was great to see them earn another podium position.

Also, as we begin to mark the 65^th anniversary of Minoli in 2025, our very good friends at Road Race Rally presented Minoli with a remarkable piece of artwork that recognises the part that the Minoli distribution fleet has played in the success of the company, featuring the flagship vehicle M1 NOL.

In November, Lucy Minoli and Kelly Marsh, our Company Accountant & Head of Finance, attended another new networking opportunity – the ‘Women In Interiors’ event at the Kitchen Architecture Design Centre at Brasenose Farm, Oxford.

We were also delighted to reveal the finished refurbishment works at Minoli HQ in Oxford where the Sales Administration and Finance Team offices have seen a comprehensive refresh and refit of the environment, in keeping with the brand standards seen in other areas of the Minoli facilities.

And so, to December and the launch of the iconic Marvel DIVA series of fine, Italian porcelain tiles, extra-large slabs and matching décor pieces. This year, on Thursday 5^th December, Minoli welcomed some 250 guests to celebrate Christmas and to preview this stunning new collection, at our regular venue of Home House – House 21. The event was a huge success and it’s particularly rewarding to end the year in the company of so many of our valued friends of Minoli.

We wish all our clients, suppliers and partners a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.