It all started in 1965 when Bournemouth businessman Ken Loader had a vision to open the first Flooring & Tile Centre in the country. He quickly expanded with successful branches in Southampton, Poole, and Swindon, all managed by his business partners and relatives.
By the late seventies, Ken, the father of six sons, moved to his holiday retreat in Devon for a quieter life. However, he soon opened new branches in Torquay and Newton Abbot with his two eldest sons, Kevin and Gary, to focus on the evolving retail market.
The Flooring & Tile Centre operated in Plainmoor and Newton Abbot Town Centre for over 25 years, specialising in high-quality floor coverings and ceramics, as well as the popular wood and laminate flooring from the USA and Scandinavia. Over time, Ken handed the business over to his sons. All of them – Gary, Kevin, Ian, Jason, and Mark – worked for the company at some point, and the youngest, Darren, trained as a carpet and flooring fitter and is well-established in the trade today.
In 2005, the business outgrew its Newton Abbot location and moved to the Swift Industrial Estate in Kingsteignton. This new, more accessible showroom offered free parking and a wider range of products for customers. Ten years ago, the company underwent a major overhaul, adding more carpets to their product line. As ceramics declined in popularity, the business changed its name to The Flooring & Carpet Centre and became a Platinum Karndean and Quickstep Partner, specializing in Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) ranges.
Today, Gary Loader and his knowledgeable staff have completed 25-30,000 successful flooring and carpet installations in the area. The company’s 60-year history is a testament to its commitment to quality products and exceptional service, always going the extra mile for its customers. As a proud family-run business, it has built a great reputation and looks forward to serving the community for many more years to come.
