Tile Depot remodels management structure for future growth

Tile Depot, the UK’s largest independent tile and stone retailer is delighted to announce some important changes in its management structure, designed to facilitate the company’s plans for future expansion.

Earlier this month, Rob Gilbert, Managing Director and founder of Tile Depot became Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the company while Danny Steptoe, Financial Director, was promoted to the position of Managing Director. Danny now plays a key role assisting the Board with operational matters and continues to have full responsibility for the financial side of the business.

In addition, Graham Brown has been appointed as non-executive Director and Deputy Chairman to advise the Board on external matters and to help co-ordinate Board activity. Graham has extensive experience of growth within the retail sector, having held senior Board positions at MFI, Texas Homecare and several other large retail groups. With Graham as Managing Director, Ritz Video became the most prominent video rental chain in Europe before selling to Blockbuster. Graham is currently advising five major PLC’s on growth and internal management and is highly regarded within the financial and investments community.

Tile Depot was established in 1994 and now operates from 14 stores, all in prominent locations around London and the South East with its head office and 1,800sqm warehouse in Slough. There are plans to increase the number of Tile Depot stores to 30 in and around the M25 area by the end of 2012.

Rob Gilbert, CEO and Chairman of Tile Depot, said: “In order to grow in size and profitability it is important to have a strong management team and it is with this in mind that I have made these changes. I have every confidence in both Danny and Graham in their new roles, and we’re all looking forward to achieving the planned expansion of Tile Depot in an efficient and sensible manner.”
Luke Johnson, ex-Chairman of Channel 4 Television and writer of a weekly column in the Financial Times is also a shareholder in Tile Depot.

Tile Depot provides everything needed to complete any wall or flooring project, stocking a comprehensive range of ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles and an extensive selection of wooden flooring as well as underfloor heating and all adhesives, grout, trims, sealants and accessories, available to browse and purchase in-store and online at www.thetiledepot.co.uk.

For further information, contact Tile Depot on 08000 740720, visit www.thetiledepot.co.uk or email info@thetiledepot.co.uk.

Buying a garage door opener

You might be surprised at the variety of garage door prices and sizes you face when the time comes for you to buy a garaged door opener. There are at least 10 things to look for when buying one. It includes a number of aspects that you need to take into account to make the best choice for your garage.

First is the type of drive system you want for your garage. This is the most important choice that you have to decide on. There are three types of drive: chain, belt and screw. Chain drive openers are the oldest, common and cheapest type. They can be noisy so putting them under a bedroom or near a room will not be appreciated. Belt-drive openers are the quietest type. Screw-drive openers are the third type which is the easiest to install and needs little maintenance however it is slightly expensive.

The next thing to consider is the amount of power you may need. A single door will work fine with the smallest motor and a double door will work with at least ½ horsepower. So consider the garage door sizes and power available.

Another consideration is the door size. The standard size for a door is 7-feet tall, and the standard garage opener will accommodate doors up to 6 inches taller than that. Taller doors will require an extension kit.

Safety is important so when buying a door choose the one with safety mechanism. It consists of stopping and reversing a closing door when some object passes beneath it. Through this reversing mechanism, damage to cars, people and pets can be saved. This mechanism should be regularly maintained and tested.

For security features, be sure to buy a door opener that has a rolling code feature. This will protect you from burglars and thieves. This prevents them from having access to your garage. It makes it difficult for a potential burglar to access the code that will open the door.

Another thing to consider are the lights. Light source is very important in the garage. You may choose units that can handle two 60-watt bulbs or one that can handle two 100-watt bulbs.

Though battery backup is not a standard feature it is available on some models. The backup kicks in and allows you to use the garage opener when your electrical power is knocked out. Without the backup battery you will find yourself locked out of your own home.

Another thing to consider when buying a garage door opener is the remote control. For new garage door openers two remote control units are standard. Some remotes come with a single button which only opens one door while others have multiple buttons and opens more than one door.

Warranty must also be taken into account. This usually varies from model to model.

Lastly, consider garage door prices. The price for a type of drive you choose varies according to the horsepower unit. Find for yourself the simplest door opener model that suits your needs. With the price, choose the one that will require little maintenance.

For more tips and information about electric garage door opener, check out http://hubpages.com/hub/garagedoors.

Time to start using the greener Eco bulb

There are a few reasons to choose an Eco bulb, for one, they are a better way to save energy over the standard bulb with a filament. They also emit the same amount of light and burn longer. Whether you want to participate in a greener earth or just want a bulb that is designed to meet the new energy standards, check out the Eco bulbs of this generation and see how they compare to what you’re used to.

Eco bulbs began showing up on shelves a few years ago because energy standards increased but didn’t sacrifice wattage. It doesn’t matter what kind of bulb you are looking to replace, tube lighting, track lighting or speciality illumination. Eco bulbs are made to fit your current settings without compromising quality.

On the front end they are a bit more expensive, most people don’t want to invest in a light bulb, they just want it to work and brighten their area. Because CFL (Compact Florescent Light bulb) have been rated by the Energy Star they have a requirement to last a certain number of hours, 6,000 to be exact. Some last longer but the minimum must be met to receive the Energy Star rating. If you don’t see it on the box when shopping for bulbs just pass that brand on by.

Because the Energy Star rating is the gold standard for bulbs sold today many people look for this symbol when shopping for energy related products. There is generally a yearly savings listed if you buy a certain bulb with the Energy Star rating so you can understand the upfront cost versus the energy savings. You can find the logo on many appliances such as refrigerators, dish washers and laundry machines.

If you look at the bulbs on the market today they might seem alien in their design. They don’t look like a light bulb; they look more like a curly pig’s tail. Some bulbs also resemble really big Christmas bulbs, either way, the design is supposed to give you more light for longer because the CFL is distributed from all areas of the bulb, not just from the filament on top as standard bulbs were designed to do.

Many Eco friendly companies are choosing bulbs that save them energy since costs are rising. Kilowatts are how energy is recorded, the less you use, the more money you save. It’s not as though you are being forced to buy energy efficient light bulbs but if you want to save money your choices are becoming a bit more limited.

Even if you don’t agree with the political statements about energy independence you cannot argue with a product that gives you more light and saves you money at the same time. The reduced mercury content is an attractive aspect for those who have younger children. Many of the bulbs are sold in 5 packs to help you replace more than one at a time.