Minoli 65th Anniversary – Client Stories – Bell of Northampton

Continuing our series of articles highlighting some of the longest-standing business relationships that Minoli has enjoyed, in our 65^th year since incorporation, today we feature Bell of Northampton, a key retailer and distribution client since the 1990s.

“Bell have been trading with Minoli for more than 35 years and they are without question one of our most reliable and trusted partners.”

Bell specialise in Kitchens, Bathrooms, Fires & Stoves, Barbeques & Outdoor living. Located on Kingsthorpe Road in Northampton, their extensive 25,000 sq. ft. showroom showcases the world’s leading brands, and their expert staff are on hand to help and advise you every step of the way.

Throughout the many years that we have partnered with Bell, they have consistently represented the Minoli brand to the highest standards, professionally retailing Minoli porcelain and ceramic tiles to customers in the region, as a key distribution client.

Given the breadth of the Bell offering at their ‘Home Lifestyle Store’, it’s exciting to see how they have incorporated Minoli porcelain and ceramic tiles into kitchen and bathroom room settings and displays, and with their ‘Outdoor Living’ specialism, they also feature selected series from the Outdoor By Minoli collection of 20 mm porcelain paving, specifically designed for external applications.

Lee Ferris, Managing Director of Bell of Northampton, said of the relationship with Minoli:

“Bell have been trading with Minoli for more than 35 years and they are without question one of our most reliable and trusted partners. For us things really took off with Minoli following a visit to their showroom in Oxford in 2001 by our late Managing Director John Kirkham and myself.

“We were simply “blown away” by the breadth and quality of the displays which were just so far in advance of anything we had seen before in the UK. Tile retail at this stage was very much one or two tiles stuck to loose hardboard panels, ‘donkey boards’ and pivoting wall mounted ‘clapper’ panels. The Minoli displays comprised custom made, large, perfectly engineered and framed sliding wall and floor panels where the customer could see a large tiled and grouted area of each tile. This was a revelation to us!

“Jonathon subsequently introduced us to Carmalasa of Castellon who manufactured the Minoli showroom displays, and we soon set about our own plans to replicate the Minoli showroom concept in our Northampton base. Early the following year Carmalasa came over and spent around a week installing the displays, and Minoli fully tiled, grouted and fitted more than a hundred large format panels of their finest and latest tiles.

“Minoli quickly became our main tile supplier, and a real trust has developed between our companies in the years since, that I think is becoming in this day and age quite rare. We share the same values in regard to customer service, integrity and honesty that make our companies a great fit for each other.

“At the heart of this trust are the strong personal relationships that have developed with Jonathon, Darren, Sophie and the rest of the Minoli team over many years of working together.

“Congratulations to Minoli on your 65^th anniversary, a significant milestone and a testament to the hard work that I know you all put in to deliver such high standards of customer service. It’s a wonderful achievement and I wish you continued success in the future.”

Our thanks to Lee for those kind words, and to all the team at Bell for so professionally and enthusiastically showcasing and retailing Minoli ranges over the many years, as a valued distribution client for Minoli.