A TILE supplier is plotting further market growth and job creation after undergoing a major expansion, its founders have told The Northern Echo.

Bosses at TilesPorcelain.co.uk say “the possibilities are infinite” following the warehouse work, which will take the business’ storage and operational space from 130,000sq metres to around 210,000sq metres.

Having started 11 years ago as a near £10,000 venture between Paul Glendenning, Jason Colling and Darren Wragg, the company now supplies tiles to homeowners, property developers and shops, and is a recognisable name at trade shows in Birmingham and Harrogate.

However, Mr Glendenning said he believes the company is only just scratching the surface, adding he will look to strengthen its workforce to maintain its progress.

The business originally traded from a house in Willington, County Durham, before the trio quickly switched to space at W Marley Agricultural Contractors, in North Bitchburn, near Crook, with containers providing much-needed storage and a portable building creating an office and showroom.

However, with space at a premium, even after a warehouse expansion, the business, which also trades as BuyTiles.com, moved to its existing base on Littleburn Industrial Estate, in Langley Moor, near Durham City.

Mr Glendenning said the shift has proven invaluable to the business’ growth, adding he expects the firm to continue developing as increasing numbers of customers recognise its wares.

“We had no experience in tiles but decided to put a bit of money in, and started with around £10,000,” he told the Echo.

“But look how far we’ve come.

“We have got where we are and will continue to go forward because we are firmly looking at the opportunities available to us and are investing in products, operations, and most of all, people.

“The possibilities are infinite.

“We’ve come to the next stage of growth and are on another level now.”

Mr Glendenning said that expansion will be helped by increasing its existing workforce, which stands at about 25 staff.

He also said the business will continue re-investing profits to bolster both its level and range of stock.

He added: “We give people a more affordable solution because we have cracking tiles at a good price.

“We have a massive array of tiles in stock, from marble and porcelain, to quartz, slate and natural stone.

“We’re never going to run out and people know they can come to us, get samples to look at and that we’ll have what they want.

“It’s not just tiles anymore, we’ve expanded into areas such as cladding too.

“It’s all about looking for new skills and we need to have something for the youth of tomorrow to work towards and aspire to.

“I’m always looking for salespeople because they are going to drive business, but we will always be on the look out for new technical people too.

“It’s all about having a can-do and will-do attitude.

“We have just kept going and going, and are going to get bigger.

“There’s no stopping us.”