New Ownership of Brass & Traditional Sinks and Eclectica

Richard and Sarah Tyzack, founders of Brass & Traditional Sinks and The Eclectica Partnership, have sold both companies to entrepreneur Stephen Thompson for an undisclosed sum. The sale was completed on March 1st 2008, and both Richard and Sarah Tyzack have been retained as consultants for the next 12 months to ensure a smooth transition of ownership.

Stephen Thompson (left) shakes hands to seal the deal with Richard Tyzack (right), founder of Brass & Traditional Sinks and The Eclectica Partnership

Widely considered one of the UK's leading specialists in sinks and taps, the Tyzack's decision to sell the two extremely successful businesses may come as a surprise to those who know them, but, says Richard, it is time for a change. ‘I have worked within the kitchens and bathrooms industry for 23 years and it has quite simply come to the point where I want to embrace new experiences outside of kitchens and bathrooms. I love the industry but when I realised about a year ago that my enthusiasm was waning, I decided it would be better to move on, so that the businesses could continue to thrive with the enthusiasm they deserve,’ explains Richard.

In the 23 years since the Tyzacks have worked within kitchens and bathrooms, the couple has been responsible for a number of firsts, which have arguably done much towards making it the diverse and forward-thinking industry it is today. For example, under the Brass & Traditional Sinks banner, the Tyzacks were the first, in 1988, to re-introduce Fireclay sinks to the UK after an absence of many years. The Eclectica Partnership also saw the first ever copper sinks and basins introduced within the UK - another first.

In order to allow new owner Stephen Thompson to fully get to grips with the inner workings of the companies, for the next three months they will continue to be run from their existing headquarters in the Wye Valley with the same staff in place. In the summer they will be relocated to Shropshire with the full support of Richard and Sarah Tyzack for a further nine months.

‘In the process of selling both companies we had many suitors and offers, however from a personal perspective it was very important for us to find the right individual whom we felt would continue to respect the values that both companies have always upheld, and in Stephen we believe we have the rightful future owner,’ says Richard. Stephen Thompson has a successful commercial tableware and cutlery business, Camel Tableware, which, among others, supplies P&O ferries, the NHS, Pizza Express, ASK and Zizi restaurants and he is very much looking forward to the challenge of moving Brass & Traditional Sinks and The Eclectica Partnership forward into an exciting new era of development.

‘I saw in Brass & Traditional Sinks and Eclectica a fantastic business opportunity,’ adds Stephen. ‘The synergy between Camel Tableware and Richard and Sarah's business was very appealing. I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into this industry, but I do want to stress that for our customers it is very much business as usual.’

Brass & Traditional Sinks 01291 650 738; http://www.sinks.co.uk