Former accountant and CEO of Evesham-based Plumbworld James Hickman is celebrating 25 years of business for the online bathroom and kitchen supplier.
Hickman, who set up the Worcestershire business in 1999 and has sold it twice, said: “It is great to break through the £100m sales level for the first time and enter our 25th year of trading in such a strong position. Now £200m has to be the next milestone for us to aim for.”
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Plumbworld was the bathroom industry’s first online pure play business when it was established, well before social media and smartphones.
Hickman had taught himself to code through reading books and built websites for big brands, before moving into the bathroom space.
He had an idea about how to make an online retailer work in a sector where many thought it wouldn’t.
“Our strategy was always to provide attractively-designed products at affordable prices,” he said.
“Getting someone to trust you enough to buy a product they have not seen can be tough for some.
“But what you have to do is provide reassurance, present the right information, and then go the extra mile with, for example, a warranty so there is no fear of purchase.”
He added: “There aren’t too many recognised brands in this sector. If you ask someone on the street to name a shower or tap brand, they would struggle.
“That works well for us. We focus on the lower to middle range of the market and it allows us to get our own house brands in front of the consumer.”
Today, the company employs more than 160 staff across its two sites – the HQ on Enterprise Way and a call centre in Barrowford, Lancashire.
Hickman sold a 25% stake early on to finance growth. He bought it back years later for £250, then sold the whole business to Grafton Group for £7.1 million.
But the businessman remained involved and in 2018 bought it back. Then he sold it once again, this time to private equity owned Highbourne Group in 2022.
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