Karpet Mills

Karpet Mills: a sixth-generation flooring retailer in North East England

Karpet Mills is a family-run carpet and flooring business that traces its origins to 1878 and is now in its sixth generation. The company describes itself as the leading quality carpet retailer in the North East and states that it covers Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham. Its stated approach is to sell quality carpets at low prices supported by customer service.

The retailer operates a network of flooring superstores in the region. The branches named in its material are Kingston Park, Gateshead, Hetton-le-Hole, Hexham and Benton. The Benton branch opened in June 2019 in the North Tyneside Industrial Estate, opposite the ASDA megastore, and was described as the fifth superstore in the region and the second new branch in two years, following the Hexham store that opened in early 2018. The company also announced that its flagship Kingston Park branch would double in size in autumn 2019, reaching a total of 9,000 sqft and incorporating a Designer Flooring premium department.

Product range: carpets, laminate, vinyl and LVT

The product offer is organised into four main categories: carpets, laminate, vinyl and LVT. Within carpets, the website groups content by carpet style, carpet fibre and aftercare, as well as guidance on measuring for carpet and fitting. For laminate, the material covers benefits, ranges, understanding wood laminate, aftercare and measuring and fitting. Vinyl and LVT have equivalent sections on benefits, ranges, aftercare and installation, and Moduleo is named in relation to both vinyl and LVT.

In its commercial communications, the company refers to specific carpet types including woven Axminsters, heavy-weight 80/20 wool twists and stain-free saxonies. It also mentions hard-wearing, stain-free carpet tiles for busy city-centre office space. The Designer Flooring department at Kingston Park is described as featuring luxury products such as Amtico, Moduleo, Hugh Mackay and Crucial Trading.

Sourcing and pricing approach

Karpet Mills states that it sources A-Grade stock from across Europe and buys in bulk to pass savings to customers. It argues that cutting out intermediaries between carpet factories and end users allows it to offer genuine wholesale prices. The company describes its stock-holding capacity across its superstores and depots as a factor in its buying power. Its promotional material claims guaranteed lowest carpet prices in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham and Hexham.

Commercial and contract work

Beyond residential retail, Karpet Mills undertakes commercial flooring projects. One example given is the refurbishment of a 4,400 sqft office space on Market Street, Newcastle, for the technology firm Hive (HR), an employee feedback platform and People Science service. The company says its commercial scope across the North East covers office spaces, hotels, schools and churches. A director is quoted describing the approach as offering the best choice, quality and prices.

Head office and operations

The company has invested over £600,000 in a purpose-built head office at the Bridge End Industrial Estate in Hexham, Northumberland. The facility houses departments including Accounting & Finance and Marketing & Advertising, and acts as a hub for commercial, contract and business development. At the time of the material, Karpet Mills operated five stores and employed 40 people across the region.

Finance options

Karpet Mills has launched flexible finance options including 0% Interest Free Credit for up to 36 months, available to all customers spending £500 or more on carpets and flooring. The company presents this as a way to make home improvements more affordable by spreading the cost.

Store network and access

The branches named are Kingston Park, Gateshead, Hetton-le-Hole, Hexham and Benton. The Hetton-le-Hole store is on Market Street and is described as about 10 minutes from Sunderland and Durham. The Kingston Park store is at Airport Industrial Estate, Newcastle upon Tyne. The Gateshead branch is at Tyne Bridge Retail Park, next to Matalan. The Hexham branch is at Gilesgate, less than five minutes from Tesco. The Benton branch is in the North Tyneside Industrial Estate, opposite the ASDA megastore. All branches are described as open for trade seven days a week.