The Story of London Stone

Their path wasn’t easy; it involved hard work, persistence, and navigating numerous challenges. This introduction to our history highlights the key phases of our growth, showcasing how London Stone evolved from a small startup to a respected name in the industry.

2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

2008

London Stone is Born

London Stone is Born

London Stone began in 2008 when brothers Gavin, Steven, and Duncan Walley from Stoke-on-Trent chose to expand their hard-landscaping business. As experienced landscapers, they recognized the rising demand for imported Indian sandstone and decided to establish a stone supply business in London.

Gavin and Steven embarked on a memorable journey to Rajasthan, negotiating their first Indian sandstone order. Their trip involved a 16-hour taxi ride through the Rajasthan desert, visiting quarries in extreme heat of up to 45 degrees, and finalizing their first order for ten containers of mixed Indian sandstone after spirited negotiations with suppliers.

Back in the UK, Duncan was on the hunt for storage space. He eventually secured 200m2 of yard space in Dorking, Surrey, from a farmer for £100 per week, marking the official start of London Stone.

2009

Relocated Our Stock Yard
Built Our First Showroom
Launched the Sawn Sandstone Range
Joined the ETI

Relocated Our Stock Yard

In 2009, London Stone took a strategic step by relocating our stock yard from Dorking to Vermeulen’s Garden Centre in Middlesex. This move brought us an hour closer to London, significantly reducing delivery costs and time. The new location also enhanced our customer service, making us more efficient and responsive.

Built Our First Showroom

Recognizing the value customers placed on seeing stone before purchasing, we observed many visiting our yard to view our paving stock. This insight led us to build a showroom at Vermeulen’s.

We started by purchasing a run-down Portakabin, transforming it into a sales office. Outside, we constructed a modest display showcasing our range of Indian sandstone and setts. This marked the beginning of our journey in developing showrooms.

Launched the Sawn Sandstone Range

The popularity of riven Indian sandstone was soaring in the UK, and our suppliers were innovating with new products, including sawn sandstones. Aware of our London-based garden design clients’ appetite for new materials, we broadened our inventory to include a variety of sawn sandstones in shades like beige, harvest, buff, and grey.

Joined the ETI

During our frequent trips to Rajasthan to meet suppliers, we were struck by the poor working conditions in the quarries and stock yards. Feeling a strong sense of responsibility, we aimed to make a positive impact.

Consequently, we joined the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) as the smallest company ever to do so. Subjecting our supply chains to independent scrutiny early on played a crucial role in shaping our reputation as a progressive and ethically-minded business.

2010

Expanding The Range
A Bigger and Better Showroom
Introducing Sawn Sandstone Steps
Our Bespoke Operation Is Born
In-House Yorkstone Cutting

Expanding The Range

The opening of our new showroom quickly proved to be a success, attracting a significant increase in customers from across London and the Home Counties. This surge in visitors provided us with valuable insights into customer preferences, highlighting opportunities to expand our paving range. We responded by sourcing more Indian sandstone and introducing new Indian limestones from our existing suppliers. Additionally, we extended our offerings to include slate from China and Yorkstone from Yorkshire, further diversifying our range to meet the evolving demands of our clientele.

A Bigger and Better Showroom

With our expanding range came the need for a larger showroom. We leased additional space from our landlord and began constructing a bigger, more improved showroom. The old Portakabin was replaced with a sturdier block building, equipped with a sales desk, back-office space, and a staff welfare area. Additionally, we quadrupled the size of our paving display, transforming our new showroom into the largest outdoor paving display in the UK.

Introducing Sawn Sandstone Steps

As the sales of our sawn materials increased, we noticed a growing demand for matching step treads. Initially, we met this need by either manually resizing paving with handheld grinders or ordering bespoke sizes from overseas suppliers, but neither method was ideal.

To improve, we innovated by importing full container loads of large 2000x500x40mm bullnose step treads from India. We anticipated that these generously sized steps would suit most projects and could be trimmed down as needed, with offcuts repurposed for step risers. Our intuition proved correct, as these large step treads quickly became a popular choice among our clients.

Our Bespoke Operation Is Born

The introduction of large bullnose step treads led to an anticipated request from customers for custom sizing. Cutting these large stone pieces accurately with handheld grinders and a small table saw was proving to be a slow and inefficient process. Recognizing the need for a more effective solution, the decision to purchase our first bridge saw was straightforward. This investment marked the inception of the London Stone bespoke operation, a significant step forward in enhancing our reputation as an innovating customer focussed business.

In-House Yorkstone Cutting

Our initial foray into sourcing cut-to-size Yorkstone paving from Yorkshire suppliers proved challenging. We often faced extended wait times, and when the orders did arrive, they were frequently damaged and dirty, causing issues for both us and our customers. To address this, and with the acquisition of our own bridge saw, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We began purchasing large scants of Buff and Grey Yorkstone and cutting them in-house. This shift not only allowed us to control the quality of the product but also significantly improved our lead times.

2011

Invested In Our Second Bridge Saw
Invested In an Edge-Profiling Machine
Launched the industry’s first Pre-Sealing Service
Launched The Industry's First Sample Box

Invested In Our Second Bridge Saw

Owning a bridge saw enabled us to efficiently manage bespoke projects, leading to a noticeable increase in our handling capacity. This enhancement in our capabilities resulted in a surge in demand for custom orders, which in turn attracted more high-profile designers and landscapers with complex project requirements. To accommodate this growing demand, we made the strategic decision to invest in a second bridge saw, further bolstering our capacity to meet the needs of our clients.

Invested In an Edge-Profiling Machine

As our bespoke operation rapidly expanded, we not only continued cutting sawn sandstone steps and Yorkstone scants but also began to recognize a demand for edge-profiling. To meet this need, we invested in an edge-profiling machine capable of providing bullnose and pencil-round finishes to the edges of steps and coping stones. This ability to offer bespoke stone to residential landscapers and garden designers became a significant unique selling point (USP) for London Stone. We take immense pride in our vision of making bespoke stone readily available to residential landscapers and garden designers.

Launched the industry’s first Pre-Sealing Service

Our extensive experience with sawn paving provided us with a deep understanding of natural stone's performance. Unlike many competitors who were hesitant, we always advised our clients to seal sawn materials. However, the effectiveness of sealing is contingent on the British weather conditions, as the stone must be completely dry before application—a challenging prerequisite in the UK. This led to a common issue among our landscaping clients: weather-related delays in sealing paving, resulting in project completion and payment delays.

Identifying this as an opportunity to alleviate a significant customer pain point, we launched the landscape industry's first-ever pre-sealing service. This innovative solution was immediately well-received by our clients. Pre-sealing remains one of our most popular services to date and continues to be a significant unique selling point for our business.

Launched the industry’s first Pre-Sealing Service

Launched The Industry's First Sample Box

Understanding the tactile nature of natural stone and its appeal, we recognized the importance for our landscaper clients to showcase samples during client consultations. To enhance this experience for customers and streamline the process for London Stone, we addressed the inefficiency of ordering individual samples repeatedly by introducing a trade-only sample box.
Initially starting as a cardboard box, this concept evolved into a durable plastic sample case which is now fully customisable available for order online. This innovation not only improved convenience for our clients but also represented our commitment to customer-focused solutions.

Launched The Industry's First Sample Box 2

2012

Invested in State-of-the-Art Delivery Vehicles
Relocated our Head Office to the Berkshire Garden Centre
KLC School Of Garden Design
Our First RHS Hampton Court Garden

Invested in State-of-the-Art Delivery Vehicles

Initially constrained by financial limitations, we had to rely on second-hand vehicles for our delivery fleet. Unfortunately, these older lorries often required extensive garage time for repairs and maintenance, disrupting our delivery schedules and impacting customer service, while also incurring high repair costs.

However, as our financial situation improved, we were able to invest in two brand-new vehicles, marking a significant shift in our approach. Since then, we have exclusively purchased new lorries. This change has greatly enhanced the reliability of our delivery service, as our vehicles now spend more time on the road and less in the garage. Our current fleet is equipped with state-of-the-art features, including remote control cranes and fuel-efficient Euro 6 engines, reflecting our commitment to efficient, reliable, and environmentally conscious operations.

Invested in State-of-the-Art Delivery Vehicles

Relocated our Head Office to the Berkshire Garden Centre

By 2012, our operations had expanded beyond the capacity of our yard at Vermeulen's Garden Centre, making it challenging to operate effectively. Recognizing the urgent need for more space, we conducted a thorough search in the local area. This search led us to the Berkshire Garden Centre in Langley, which had a 2-acre plot available for rent at the back of their site. We quickly secured a deal and moved our operations there within weeks.

This relocation to the Berkshire Garden Centre was a significant milestone for us. It provided the much-needed space to continue our business growth and improve our operational efficiency.

Relocated our Head Office to the Berkshire Garden Centre 1

Relocated our Head Office to the Berkshire Garden Centre 2

KLC School Of Garden Design

The KLC School of Design approached us to speak to their new students about the role of natural stone in garden design. Our first visit was a bit of an adventure, as we navigated through Hampton Court with our samples and equipment, arriving at the presentation somewhat red-faced and dishevelled. Despite this initial challenge, we must have made a positive impression because we have been invited back every year since.

Our annual visit to KLC has become a cherished event, providing us the privilege of meeting, and interacting with the next generation of garden design talent. It's an opportunity we greatly value, allowing us to share our expertise and insights with those who will shape the future of garden design.

Our First RHS Hampton Court Garden

Our journey into supplying stone for RHS Hampton Court show gardens began when Stephen A Ryan approached us to provide Moleanos limestone for his garden. This was a new and exciting challenge, and we collaborated closely with Stephen to develop the stone elements of his design. The result was a highly commendable Silver Gilt medal for the garden.

Our participation in this first show garden marked the beginning of a rewarding and ongoing journey. We have since been instrumental in assisting designers and contractors in creating award-winning RHS show gardens, reflecting our commitment to supporting the landscape industry and showcasing the potential of natural stone in garden design.

2013

Opened Our Second Showroom in Kent
Re-branded the Business
First-Ever Chelsea Garden with Landform
Second Hampton Court Garden with Andrew Fisher Tomlin
Featured On George Clarke’s Restoration Man
Built our Bespoke Stone Production Centre

Opened Our Second Showroom in Kent

Following the success of our first showroom, we set our sights on expanding to a second location. Cooling’s Garden Centre in Sevenoaks approached us, seeking a paving supplier to replace their current tenant. We travelled to Kent to meet with Paul Cooling, where we shared our vision for London Stone, emphasizing our commitment to quality and service. After weeks of negotiations, we received the welcome news on Christmas Eve that we had been chosen as the preferred tenant, marking the establishment of our second showroom in Kent.

Re-branded the Business

Recognizing our reputation as an innovative and forward-thinking supplier, we made the strategic decision to undergo a rebranding of our visual identity. To maintain control and ensure the project's ongoing nature, we chose to bring in our own graphic designer rather than engage an external agency. The result was a distinctive and enduring appearance that defines London Stone to this day. This initiative marked the beginning of our in-house team of graphic designers, responsible for continually evolving the visual identities of London Stone and Chelmer Valley.

First-Ever Chelsea Garden with Landform

Our involvement with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gardens began when Mark Gregory of Landform Consultants, a renowned landscaper in the industry, approached us. Landform was constructing a trade stand for Hartley Botanics at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show and required bespoke Yorkstone. While we initially delivered the material on-site as planned, a design change necessitated additional bespoke Yorkstone on very short notice. In an unprecedented move in the landscape industry, we fulfilled the order overnight and had the material on-site the following morning. This impressive response marked the beginning of our involvement in many RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gardens.

First-Ever Chelsea Garden with Landform 2

Second Hampton Court Garden with Andrew Fisher Tomlin

In 2013 we also had the privilege of partnering with celebrated garden designer Andrew Fisher Tomlin for his Hampton Court Garden. This garden was constructed by Streetscapes, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to assisting disadvantaged young individuals in pursuing careers in landscaping. For this project, we provided sawn sandstone paving with matching steps and coping. Our collaboration with Andrew Fisher Tomlin and Streetscapes resulted in the garden earning a well-deserved Silver Gilt medal, creating lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment for all involved.

Second Hampton Court Garden with Andrew Fisher Tomlin 2

Featured On George Clarke’s Restoration Man

The year 2013 brought a unique opportunity for London Stone as we were featured on the Channel 4 show "The Restoration Man", hosted by George Clarke. This experience was quite surreal as film crews arrived at our yard. The episode was particularly memorable because the clients reclaimed a substantial block of Yorkstone from construction excavations. We salvaged this block and meticulously transformed it into linear paving, which was then repurposed as kitchen flooring in the renovated property. It was a remarkable project that showcased the versatility and timeless appeal of natural stone.

Built our Bespoke Stone Production Centre

Our dedication to enhancing our bespoke stone operation led us to invest significantly in this area. We had assembled a skilled team of stone masons equipped with bridge saws and various edge-profiling machines. As the operation continued to expand, it outgrew the facilities at the Berkshire Garden Centre. In search of a dedicated production facility, we identified the ideal location—an existing factory in nearby Colnbrook. This marked the establishment of our Bespoke Stone Centre, where we have the capacity to craft custom stone products to exact specifications. We also take pride in regularly hosting working factory tours for landscapers, designers, and students, providing them with insights into our stone production process. Contact us to schedule your factory tour and explore the craftsmanship behind our bespoke stone creations.

2014

Opened Third Showroom in Essex
Held our First-Ever Customer Open Day

Opened Third Showroom in Essex

In our pursuit of expanding our showroom network, we decided to open our third showroom, this time in Essex. After extensive exploration of Essex and East London, we discovered the Brentwood Garden Centre, strategically located just moments away from the M25. This location perfectly suited our vision for an Essex showroom. The showroom's design, masterminded by Andrew Marson and executed by GNC Groundworks, provided an inviting and informative space for our customers to explore our range of quality paving and landscaping materials.

Held our First-Ever Customer Open Day

In 2014, we embarked on a new initiative by hosting our very first customer open day. The response was overwhelming, with a significant number of people signing up to attend. To accommodate everyone, we organized both morning and afternoon sessions and provided transportation to shuttle guests between our yard, production facility, and showroom. Additionally, we extended invitations to various members of the landscape press. The open day proved to be a tremendous success, offering our customers a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the behind-the-scenes operations of London Stone.

2015

Launched our Landscape Specialist Scheme
Supported Perennial and Greenfingers
Our First Chelsea Garden with Rosebank Landscapes
Left the ETI
Joined No Child Left Behind
Joined APL and BALI
First Paving Company to Stock Millboard

Launched our Landscape Specialist Scheme

As our primary focus was catering to the landscape industry, we continuously sought innovative ways to support our landscape contractors. In response, we introduced the Landscape Specialist Scheme, designed to provide landscapers and garden designers with valuable benefits. Participants received a welcome pack, gained access to exclusive trade discounts, and were granted a dedicated business listing on our website. This initiative has thrived over the years, with over 1000 members currently benefiting from our Landscape Specialist Scheme. For every member who joins the Landscape Specialist scheme, we donate £5 each to Perennial and Green Fingers charities.

Supported Perennial and Greenfingers

We are dedicated to supporting important landscape industry charities, namely Perennial and Greenfingers. Perennial plays a crucial role in assisting landscape industry workers during challenging times, while Greenfingers focuses on creating gardens for children's hospices. These gardens provide a vital space for terminally ill children and their families to experience the outdoors and connect with the natural environment. As a part of our commitment, every time a new member joins our Landscape Specialist Scheme, we make a generous donation of £5 to each of these charities. Furthermore, we take great pride in being platinum supporters of Perennial, demonstrating our unwavering support for the industry and its charitable endeavours.

Our First Chelsea Garden with Rosebank Landscapes

Our collaboration with renowned designer Matt Keightley marked a significant milestone when he approached us to supply materials for his Sentebale garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. This project posed a substantial challenge for our production team as it featured extra-large crazy paving with sandblasted children's footprints on the surface. The extraordinary effort paid off as the garden was awarded a prestigious Silver Gilt medal and the coveted People's Choice award. Subsequently, we continued to partner with Matt on numerous other high-profile projects, further solidifying our commitment to excellence in the industry.

Left the ETI

Our membership with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) spanned six years, during which we made substantial advancements in enhancing working conditions within our Tier 1 supplier factories. However, despite our efforts, we faced considerable challenges in improving conditions further down the supply chain, particularly in the quarries and stock yards. Recognizing the ongoing difficulties and limited progress, we ultimately made the tough choice to withdraw from the ETI. Our decision aimed to seek alternative methods to support workers in the lower tiers of the sandstone supply chain, reflecting our commitment to ethical practices.

Joined No Child Left Behind

The issue of child labour in the Indian sandstone industry, particularly in the production of sandstone setts, is a pressing concern.

Bram Callewier, representing Belgian stone supplier Beltrami, extended an invitation to collaborate on the "No Child Left Behind" project. This initiative's primary objective was to establish child-labour free zones in and around the village of Budhpura, a crucial sourcing area for Indian sandstone setts. Participating in this project provided us with a meaningful opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and engage directly with the supply chain at its grassroots level.

"No Child Left Behind" continues to this day and has successfully removed hundreds of children from labour and reintegrated them into the education system, exemplifying our commitment to ethical practices and social responsibility.

Joined APL and BALI

We recognized the vital role played by trade associations in advancing the landscape industry and advocating for higher standards. To strengthen our commitment to the industry and enhance collaboration, we became affiliate members of two prominent organizations: the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). Our affiliation with these respected bodies reflects our dedication to working closely with industry stakeholders to drive improvements and elevate standards within the landscape sector.

First Paving Company to Stock Millboard

In 2015, London Stone embarked on a pioneering journey by becoming the first paving supplier to offer Millboard composite decking. This marked a significant expansion of our product range beyond paving materials. Over the years, we continued to diversify our offerings, introducing clay paving, cladding, pergolas, and metal planters to provide our customers with a comprehensive selection of high-quality products. This commitment to innovation and diversification has allowed us to cater to a broader range of landscaping needs.

2016

Revamped our Trade Counter
#ThisIsLondonStone Hashtag Created

Revamped our Trade Counter

In 2016, we marked a significant milestone in our company's history with the ambitious project of refurbishing our trade counters. This initiative was a departure from the traditional, purely functional trade counter design. We transformed these spaces into modern, professional environments, complete with WiFi and complimentary refreshments for our customers.

#ThisIsLondonStone Hashtag Created

Our marketing team set out to create a captivating London Stone hashtag. Following several brainstorming sessions, Fiona Campbell from our sales team proposed #ThisIsLondonStone. This straightforward yet powerful hashtag excellently captured our brand promise. It quickly gained popularity and was embraced by our team, customers, and supporters alike.

2017

Delivered 13 Chelsea Flower Show Gardens
Launched DesignClad
Launched DesignBoard
Launched our Porcelain Range

Delivered 13 Chelsea Flower Show Gardens

2017 marked our most active year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with our materials featured in 13 show gardens and trade stands. Coinciding with our peak season in May, meeting the demands of the Chelsea Flower Show alongside our regular customer orders was a formidable challenge. However, our dedicated team excelled under pressure. This effort was recognized with several medals for the gardens we supplied, including multiple Gold awards.

Delivered 13 Chelsea Flower Show Gardens 2

Launched DesignClad

In 2017 we launched DesignClad, a revolutionary cladding material that significantly impacted the landscaping industry. This large-format, lightweight porcelain cladding system comes in a wide array of colours and sizes. Its easy maintenance and stylish appeal made it an excellent alternative to traditional render.

DesignClad has since been featured in thousands of gardens, including numerous medal-winning RHS show gardens, attesting to its quality and versatility.

Launched DesignBoard

In our quest to offer an alternative composite decking product to our Millboard collection, we discovered an exceptional product, which we named DesignBoard. Offering a contemporary take on classic composite decking, DesignBoard has been a game-changer. We secured the UK distribution rights, and it has since become a top choice in the landscape industry, well-regarded for its modern appeal and quality.

Launched our Porcelain Range

The porcelain market rapidly expanded from 2016, and we aimed to lead this trend. After thorough research, we partnered with the esteemed Italian supplier, Caesar Ceramics. This partnership has flourished, making us their largest European customer for external porcelain. Our strong collaboration with Caesar has led to the development of many exclusive products tailored for London Stone and the UK market.

2018

Stopped Supplying Commercial Projects
A Change of Direction
Lean Programme Launched
Expanded Porcelain Collections
Launching Our Florence Range
Opened North London and Surrey Showrooms
Won an APL Award
Won a BALI Award
Launched an Evening with London Stone Events
Launched 40mm Porcelain Downstands

Stopped Supplying Commercial Projects

After years of supplying stone for commercial projects, we recognized that the demanding public realm environment wasn't aligned with our friendly, family-oriented business ethos. Our true passion lies in garden projects, working closely with landscapers and garden designers. Consequently, we decided to fully withdraw from the commercial market to concentrate exclusively on what we excel at: providing materials for exquisite residential gardens. This strategic shift proved to be one of our best decisions, propelling our business to new heights of success.

A Change of Direction

Until 2017, our business had seen consistent growth each year. However, that year's plateau signalled the need for significant changes to sustain growth, particularly beyond London and the Home Counties. While our brand was synonymous with quality and service, our prices had become comparatively high. Committed to maintaining our standards, we leveraged our industry expertise and buying power to understand market needs better.

This led to the introduction of a new range of value materials that maintained our quality commitment. We recognized the importance of offering exceptional value alongside quality and service, which now stand as the three foundational pillars of our brand promise.

Lean Programme Launched

We launched our Lean Programme, a people-focused work philosophy emphasizing creativity and continuous improvement by eliminating waste. Aligning with London Stone's core value of prioritizing people , Lean was an ideal choice for our production facility. Our team swiftly embraced Lean's principles of respect for people and continuous improvement. The programme, tailored and implemented in-house, has had a transformative impact.

Remarkable results include the production department turning a profit within 18 months, a consistent 25% yearly reduction in defects over three years, and on-time order delivery soaring from 50% to over 90%. The most significant outcome was the boost in team morale, as employees are now empowered to enhance their work environment for safety, ease, and productivity. Following this success, we expanded the Lean programme across the company, a move that helped us to freeze our prices for 3 years.

Expanded Porcelain Collections

As porcelain’s popularity surged, we diversified our offerings into three distinct collections to cater to various price points. Our range now includes the Luxury and Premium collections from our Italian supplier, Caesar, and the Project range sourced from India. This segmentation into Luxury, Premium, and Project collections allowed us to broaden our customer base significantly. This strategic expansion played a crucial role in our business growth as we transitioned from a regional presence in the South East to a nationwide operation.

Launching Our Florence Range

In our journey with porcelain, a standout achievement was the introduction of the Florence range. This range was developed in partnership with Caesar Ceramics, created exclusively for London Stone. It emulates the aesthetic of European sawn limestone, offering high quality at an accessible price point. The Florence range quickly became a customer favourite, prompting us to expand it with various colour options.

Opened North London and Surrey Showrooms

In 2018, we embarked on a significant transformation of our showroom expansion strategy. Transitioning from our three existing garden centre locations, we focused on enhancing accessibility and customer experience by choosing established retail units for our new showrooms. This shift led to the creation of two state-of-the-art indoor showrooms in North London and Surrey, expanding our portfolio to five showrooms. This new approach raised the bar for our future showrooms.

Opened North London and Surrey Showrooms 2

Won an APL Award

Winning the Association of Professional Landscapers' (APL) Supplier of the Year Award at their annual ceremony was an unexpected yet incredible honour for us. Our longstanding involvement with the APL made this recognition even more special. This accolade was a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team – from delivery drivers to sales assistants and everyone in between.

Won a BALI Award

After our success at the APL awards, we decided to compete for the BALI award in the Affiliate Exceptional Service category. Winning this category and being invited to the London ceremony to vie for the principal award was a significant achievement, especially considering the strong competition. Winning the grand prize and receiving it in front of industry peers was the standout moment in my career in the landscaping industry.

Launched an Evening with London Stone Events

We decided to engage more directly with our customers by organizing a series of "Evening with London Stone" events. These gatherings, held in pubs or restaurants, provided an ideal setting for meeting up with our trade clients in a relaxed setting. Each event included a presentation by our team, detailing the latest developments at London Stone, and was followed by an opportunity for food, drink, and networking. The success of these events was evident, and they have since become a regular and anticipated part of our annual calendar of events, strengthening our customer relationships.

Launched 40mm Porcelain Downstands

We introduced a groundbreaking product in the form of 40mm Porcelain Downstands, addressing a significant gap in the market. Traditionally, porcelain, due to its manufacturing process, is produced in large batches at a standard thickness of 20mm, limiting customization options. However, with our in-house production facility, we were uniquely positioned to innovate within this space. We developed a production system that enabled us to craft 40mm thick porcelain steps and copings, available in both downstand and bullnose finishes. This advancement, a first in the industry for London Stone, effectively removed the creative limitations previously faced by our clients when using porcelain. This innovation has enhanced their ability to design and construct superior gardens.

2019

Launched our E-commerce Website
Operations Director Won Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30
Launched a 900x600 Porcelain Range

Launched our E-commerce Website

We recognized the landscape supply industry's slower adoption of technology and were committed to changing this trend. To this end, we launched an E-commerce website, aiming to provide our customers with the convenience of purchasing our range of materials online, anytime, and anywhere. Since its inception, we have continually invested in enhancing our online platform. A dedicated E-commerce team works tirelessly to improve the user experience, focusing on making the platform faster, more user-friendly, and offering better value. This initiative represents our commitment to embracing technology and adapting to the evolving needs of our customers.

Operations Director Won Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30

We always had a strong tradition of recognizing and nurturing talent within our business, often promoting from within. A prime example of this is Marius Catrinoi-Cornea, who began his journey with London Stone as a yard assistant. Demonstrating remarkable skill and dedication, Marius quickly ascended through the ranks and was invited to join our board of directors, achieving this significant milestone before turning thirty. We were immensely proud when Marius's exceptional achievements were externally acknowledged as he was honoured as one of the winners of Pro Landscaper Magazine’s prestigious 30 Under 30 awards. This recognition is a testament to his hard work and the opportunities for growth and advancement we strive to provide at London Stone.

Launched a 900x600 Porcelain Range

With our extensive experience in the industry, we understood the preferences of our customers well. In the UK, the 900x600 size has been consistently popular for paving. However, this size wasn’t available in porcelain, a product primarily designed for the European market. Recognizing this gap, we persuaded our porcelain supplier, Caesar Ceramics, to produce a range of 900x600 porcelain tiles, a first in the UK. This new size offering was an immediate success, leading many of our competitors to follow suit. As a result, 900x600 porcelain has now become a standard part of the porcelain size range in the UK market.

2020

Acquired Chelmer Valley Clay Paving
A Renaissance for the Landscape Industry

Acquired Chelmer Valley Clay Paving

Our acquisition of Chelmer Valley represented a significant milestone for us. We had been sourcing clay pavers from Chelmer Valley for several years, appreciating their quality and the vision of their owner, Paul Menzies. Paul was a pioneer in recognizing the potential of European clay bricks as paving material in the UK and had successfully established Chelmer Valley to cater to this market.

After 25 years at the helm, Paul decided to retire but was keen to pass on the business to a company that would respect and build upon the legacy he had created. Identifying London Stone as a suitable successor, Paul approached us with the proposal to acquire Chelmer Valley. We recognized this as a unique opportunity for our first business acquisition and eagerly accepted.

The acquisition process was efficiently handled by our finance director, Duncan Walley which culminated in the successful transfer of the business in September 2020. This acquisition not only expanded our product portfolio but also marked a new chapter in our growth and expansion journey.

A Renaissance for the Landscape Industry

The Covid pandemic initially brought widespread panic and uncertainty to the landscape industry, as it did with many other business sectors. During this tumultuous period, I participated in an online supplier's debate organized by Pro Landscaper Magazine. While most suppliers expressed concerns and pessimism, I offered a different perspective. I proposed that the pandemic might serve as a catalyst for a renaissance in the landscape industry. My reasoning was that people, spending more time at home, would start valuing their outdoor spaces more than ever before.

This prediction proved to be accurate. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the landscape industry experienced two years of extraordinary growth. This period redefined the industry's significance, highlighting the importance of outdoor spaces in people's lives, especially during times of crisis. This shift in perspective led to a renewed appreciation and investment in landscaping, marking a positive turn for the industry amidst global adversity.

A Renaissance for the Landscape Industry

2021

Our Marketing Manager Won Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30
Took Over the Berkshire Garden Centre

Our Marketing Manager Won Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30

Building on our commitment to nurturing young talent, we were thrilled to celebrate another significant achievement within our team. For the second consecutive year, a member of the London Stone team was honoured as a winner in Pro Landscaper Magazine’s prestigious 30 Under 30 awards. This time, the accolade was awarded to Diana Catrinoi-Cornea.

Diana's journey with London Stone began in the role of a marketing admin assistant. Demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication, she rapidly advanced through the company, eventually being promoted to the position of marketing manager. This recognition is a testament to Diana's hard work and the opportunities for professional growth and development we strive to provide at London Stone. Her achievement in the 30 Under 30 awards not only highlights her individual excellence but also underscores our commitment to fostering emerging talent in the industry.

Our Marketing Manager Won Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30

Took Over the Berkshire Garden Centre

The integration of Chelmer Valley into London Stone, combined with the surge in demand triggered by the Covid pandemic, led to a rapid expansion of our operations. This growth soon outstripped the capacity of our storage yard at the Berkshire Garden Centre. Faced with the need for significantly more space, yet wanting to avoid the disruption of relocating our distribution hub during such a busy period, we explored alternative solutions.

We successfully negotiated a deal with the owners of the Berkshire Garden Centre to lease the entire site. This strategic move effectively doubled our storage capacity, providing the much-needed space for continued expansion. This solution was vital for meeting our immediate needs, but we were aware that it was a temporary fix. As our business continued to grow, we anticipated the need for even more space soon. The next steps in our expansion journey are detailed further in our story.

2022

Appointed A New Marketing Director
Opened our Birmingham Showroom
Opened a Northern Distribution Hub
Re-focused the Business on the Landscape Market
Pergolas and Planters

Appointed A New Marketing Director

Diana Catrinoi-Cornea, having initially joined us as a marketing admin assistant and rapidly progressing to marketing manager, had become an integral part of London Stone, leading both our marketing and E-commerce departments. Her contributions were not only significant but also pivotal to the company's growth and success.

Acknowledging her critical role and the value she brought to the company, we aimed to secure her commitment for the long term. Recognizing her exceptional talent and leadership qualities, we offered Diana a position on the board of directors as our marketing director, a remarkable achievement at just 28 years old.

This appointment was a strategic move, signalling our confidence in Diana's abilities and vision for the future of London Stone. It also reflected our commitment to recognizing and elevating talent within our team, ensuring that key contributors like Diana are given the opportunity to shape the company's future.

Opened our Birmingham Showroom

Expanding our physical presence beyond London and the Home Counties was a strategic move to solidify our status as a nationwide supplier. Recognizing the need for geographical diversification, we chose Birmingham as the ideal location to establish our next showroom.

We constructed a flagship store in Erdington, Birmingham, spanning an impressive 800 square meters. This showroom not only represents our expansion into a new region but also sets a new standard for our facilities, being the largest and most advanced showroom, we have opened to date.

The opening of the Birmingham showroom was a significant step in our growth strategy, demonstrating our commitment to making our products and services more accessible across the UK. This development is just the beginning of our plans to further expand our showroom network, ensuring a stronger national presence and enhanced customer experience. Keep an eye out for more showrooms opening in other parts of the country.

Opened a Northern Distribution Hub

Just a year after converting the Berkshire Garden Centre into our main distribution hub, we found ourselves operating at full capacity due to rapid growth. Faced with the need to expand our logistics capabilities, we were presented with two options: find a larger yard or establish a second distribution centre.

We chose the latter, deciding to open a second depot in Manchester. This new facility not only provided the additional storage capacity we needed but also enabled us to utilize our own vehicles for deliveries in the Midlands and Northwest.

The establishment of the Manchester distribution hub was a strategic move to enhance our service quality in the northern regions of the UK. This expansion significantly improved our delivery efficiency and customer service in these areas. Furthermore, it played a crucial role in strengthening our brand presence outside of the South, reinforcing our position as a nationwide supplier and demonstrating our commitment to serving clients across the UK more effectively.

Re-focused the Business on the Landscape Market

In 2021-2022, we expanded our range to include garden furniture, interior tiles, and other accessories. However, we realized this was diverting us from our expertise in supplying quality surface materials for landscaping. Consequently, we revisited our strategy in 2022, deciding to only expand our product range when we can significantly improve upon existing market offerings. This refocus aligns with our core strengths and ensures we maintain our leading position in the landscape sector.

Pergolas and Planters

In our 2022 product review, we identified two ranges that aligned well with our market strategy and expertise: metal pergolas and Corten steel planters.

We recognized a market opportunity for pergolas priced between £1,000 and £7,000. To cater to this demand, we sourced three distinct pergola ranges, each designed to fit within this price bracket. This strategic move allowed us to offer quality options to customers seeking value and variety in their outdoor spaces.

Additionally, we observed challenges faced by some of our clients in sourcing Corten steel planters. Leveraging our supplier relationships, we introduced our own range of these planters in various modular sizes. These were made available at an affordable price point, ensuring accessibility for our clients. Both these product lines – metal pergolas and Corten steel planters – demonstrated our commitment to meeting specific market needs while staying true to our core business focus.

2023

Generous staff pay-rise
Hampshire showroom opened
Bristol showroom opened
Modern Slavery policy introduced

Generous staff pay-rise

The cost-of-living crisis began to bite hard in 2022, with inflation reaching 12% in August and average pay increases only up 6% in September. It was obvious that this was putting pressure on household budgets and, determined to support our staff, we awarded an 11% pay rise for the entire company. Reaction to the news made us realise just how much this was appreciated: “London Stone once again making huge efforts to make us all feel valued,” said one of our longest-standing members of staff. This pay rise was, in part, made possible by our commitment to Lean, initiated in 2018, which has streamlined the business and reduced costs.

Hampshire showroom opened

In April we opened our Hampshire showroom at Eastleigh, just outside Southampton. Our seventh showroom, it was the third in our now standard signature indoor layout, giving customers an all-weather destination with lifestyle displays carefully arranged for easy viewing and to give design inspiration. It also extended our showroom network to the South, strengthening our national presence and bringing our high standards of customer service to a new region.

Hampshire showroom opened 2

Bristol showroom opened

The April opening was quickly followed in July by our showroom at Bristol, adding another important step to our expansion by advancing our network into the West Country. Serving Gloucestershire, South Wales, Swindon and the Cotswolds, it brings us closer to our customers in a region that is often neglected by large companies.

Modern Slavery policy introduced

Improving the conditions of the workers who make our products has long been a priority in our industry. We have consistently participated in initiatives aimed at enhancing living standards in some of India's most disadvantaged regions. With the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act, which mandates that larger companies maintain a Modern Slavery Statement, we welcomed this requirement as an opportunity to strengthen our efforts. Our comprehensive policy encompasses the entire organisation, and includes ongoing training to ensure our staff can recognise signs of modern slavery and know the procedures to report any suspicions.