Talasey recently marked its 20th anniversary with a series of events including a birthday party for its nearly 100-strong team and 20 fundraising challenges to raise money for a number of charities. But how has a company that started life as a new small business Natural Paving Products grown to become one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of landscaping solutions? Builders’ Merchants News finds out that product innovation and diversification are at the heart of its growth.
It’s come a long way in a short amount of time: changing from offering one product range to five, moving to a new HQ on a four-acre site in Scunthorpe, setting up a training academy, playing an increasingly active role in supporting the landscaping industry and, of course, changing its name.
In a recent message to staff, partners and customers, founder Mark Wall said
“Over the past two decades, Talasey has grown from a small start-up into a leading name in our industry. Our journey has been marked by numerous achievements, awards and innovative projects, as well as the establishment of strong relationships within the industry.
From our humble beginnings as Natural Paving Products to becoming a trusted provider of high-quality landscaping solutions, we have navigated through tough external factors and industry challenges. Disruption has become the new normal, and our ability to adapt and thrive amidst these changes has been a key driver of our success.”
It was founded by Mr Wall after he spotted a gap in the UK domestic market for high-quality, ethically sourced natural stone landscaping products – including paving stones block paving, walling, copings, cobbles, kerbs and edgings, and stepping stones. And thus Natural Paving Products was born in 2004.
Natural Paving Products wholeheartedly supports its supply chain and the people who work in it. The company joined the Stone Federation and has become part of the Ethical Stone Register – which recognises natural stone companies that use responsible and manageable ethical sourcing solutions.
As the business grew, it began introducing other complementary products and ranges, such as Pavetuf (to aid the installation, maintenance and protection of hard landscaping) and the Vitripiazza collection of high-quality, vitrified porcelain paving and porcelain wall cladding.
By the time the Luxigraze range of high-quality artificial grass products was launched in 2017, the company had recognised the need for the business to evolve to reflect its position as one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of landscaping solutions. It rebranded to Talasey and later added a collection of composite decking, fencing and cladding solutions, called Piranha.
If one product symbolises the pioneering spirit that has driven Talasey forward it’s the introduction of Bellezza Lite, 16 mm porcelain paving, to its Vitripiazza collection of high-quality, hard-wearing vitrified porcelain paving. It was one of the first companies to introduce 16 mm to the UK market, and it’s fair to say that there was much industry cynicism about the performance and durability of a 16 mm paver.
However, all the testing and specifications stood up to the highest standards and scrutiny, and Talasey started offering it to merchants who wanted a product at an alternative price point for customers. It proved to be an instant hit with merchants and landscapers alike.
In many ways, the introduction of composite decking, fencing and cladding has also been something of a trailblazer for Talasey. Piranha is a range of wood–plastic composite (WPC) that is made from a mixture of 60% hardwood powder and 30% recycled HDPE plastic materials. On its website, Talasey says: “We are passionate about the responsible sourcing of our raw materials, as demonstrated by our FSC Certification.”
Like Bellezza Lite, Piranha is also shaking up the industry – not just by offering merchants a wider range of products but also, in turn, by giving merchants’ customers (such as designers, landscapers and DIYers) greater choice and options to create stunning projects. This was borne out in the Talasey Landscaping Awards 2023, where many of the winning projects used a combination of materials to stunning effect.
Assembling a collection of inspiring and innovative products is an enviable achievement in itself, but Talasey has long recognised the value of training and support – not just for merchants but also for the wider industry. This is why the Talasey Training Academy (which is based at the company’s head office in Scunthorpe) offers informative and interactive practical courses that cover the installation of landscaping products in domestic applications through a blend of knowledge-based and hands-on learning.
There’s also Talasey on Tour – a fleet of mobile showrooms that are used to take Talasey to its customers so they can view its comprehensive range of products. This is ideal for customer-facing merchant trade days and also offers internal training sessions for merchants.
As well as developing its own training, Talasey also backs industry initiatives – such as sponsoring the BMF’s online training modules, for which it provides content for its courses.
A lot has been achieved in two decades, but Mr Wall is well known for constantly thinking ahead and looking to the future. He said:
“While we are proud of our past, we are equally excited about the future. The landscaping industry is evolving, and we are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.
Our focus will be on reinvesting profits to support the development of new products, embracing cutting-edge technologies and continuing to provide exceptional service to our customers, through an ever-expanding and effective team.”
