TAPS opens sixth plumbers merchant

TAPS, the North East’s independent plumbers’ merchants, have opened a new branch on Tyneside.

The new 4000 sq ft site at Eastern Avenue Trade Park, Team Valley opened on Monday and is the second the company have opened this year.

The new TAPS – which represents an investment in excess of £250,000- will create four new jobs initially and brings the total number of outlets across the region up to six.

It was officially launched by chief executive of the Entrepreneurs Forum Carole Beverley, who attended a special open event featuring a giant 5ft tap made of balloons.

The new branch will be run by George Vincent who has been trained and promoted from within the company and has 20 years experience in the plumbers’ merchants industry.

Managing Director Anne Ganley said that the long term development strategy for the TAPS brand will continue.

“We have slowed our business plan down but we are confident we will continue to grow, albeit it perhaps a more cautious pace,” she said. “We already have a builders’ merchants at Team Valley so it made sense for us to open a plumbers’ merchants close by.”

TAPS services the domestic plumbing and heating market, contract sales as well as designer bathrooms at affordable prices and now has sites at Sunderland, Durham, South Shields, Birtley, Team Valley and Newcastle.

TAPS is part of the Thompson Group of Companies which also includes Thompson Building Centres.