Lee Launches Tiles Showroom In Tredegar

After eight years in the business, Lee Walsh has taken the plunge into self-employment with support from Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lee decided to go it alone earlier this year launching LMC Tiles in Tredegar- and the results so far are very promising. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new showroom on the Bridge Street Industrial Estate is attracting a growing number of visitors, drawn to the wide range of quality tiling and personal service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are not competing with other suppliers, but aiming at a different market. If anything, we are looking at the mid to higher end of the market with quality products,” said Lee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“People invest a lot in their homes these days and are looking for the best they can afford.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The business is, he says, building a reputation rapidly and sales are above the targets set out in the business plan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Customers like the fact that I can give them a price for fitting as well as supplying the tiles and this is convenient for them,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

LMC Tiles received support from the Kickstart Fund run jointly by Blaenau Gwent County Council and Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise. A grant of £593 helped Lee make changes to the unit and set up an impressive showroom. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am very grateful to the Kickstart programme for this, and for the other support I have received from Blaenau Gwent Council. Without it, starting up would have been more difficult,” said Lee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ruth Headon of UK Steel Enterprise added: ”LMC Tiles will help ensure that business is kept local to the Tredegar area and will help residents find what they are looking for nearer to home. We wish them all success.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sarah Jeremiah of Blaenau Gwent Council commented: “It has been very rewarding to work with Lee and provide Kick Start support towards the establishment of LMC Tiles in Tredegar. The showroom offers a wide range of high quality tile designs and Lee’s friendly personality and experience will ensure great customer service for anyone thinking about updating or creating a household space. We wish LMC Tiles continued success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​