An Armagh businessman is set to retire from his tiling and stone firm after a career of 44 years – though it’s not quite goodbye yet!
ADL Tiles and Stone was set up by local man Adrian Donnelly, who started his career self-employed at twenty-years-old.
The premises, which is based on the Station Road in Armagh, is complete with manufacturing facilities providing worktops and bespoke items.
Alongside Adrian’s retirement, ADL Tiles is set to enter a new chapter, as the showroom has been leased by The Bathshack, an Antrim-based multi-national tiling company.
To mark this new saga, ADL Tiles will be holding a massive stock clearance sale, with over 20,000 sqm of tiles to be sold at rock-bottom prices, starting this weekend, March 8.
Adrian assures: “Tiles and bathrooms will stay here, because it is that well established, but it will be re-branded as The Bathshack and that starts in the first week of May. I’ll be continuing on to the end of June to service customers and make sure everyone’s left happy.”
The customers will get an excellent service from The Bathshack.
Looking back, Adrian said: “I started out as a plumber and then I opened up a small shop on English Street and then secured a tiling contract.
“I bought this place 25 years ago and it’s been a very well established and renowned company. It’s grown from zero to £4 million a year turnover.”
Reflecting on his career, Adrian said: “I’ve enjoyed it. Over the years I’ve probably employed five or six hundred people and they’ve all went on to be very successful within the industry.
“I’d like to take the pleasure of thanking my customers over these last 40 years. I’m indebted to them all and customers have become friends.”
While Adrian is departing from the showroom, he will continue working in another capacity. He says the land at ADL Tiles has been turned into a mini industrial estate in recent years and there are plans to further develop retail and storage units in the years to come.
“I think there’s potential for fantastic growth for The Bathshack and for all the tenants here on site”, he said.
Visit ADL Tile and Stone’s website to find out more information.
