What is happening to the big tile chains?
Searches like “has Tile Giant gone into liquidation” and “has CTD gone bust” have surged as branches of the national tile chains close around the country. Whatever the fate of any individual chain, the practical problem for local customers is the same: the branch you bought from is gone, your tile range may be discontinued, and half-finished orders are left hanging.
The good news: independent specialists are still here, and often source from the same — or better — manufacturers.
If you are mid-project and short of tiles
- Find the tile reference — check the box for the exact name, batch and shade code. Photograph it.
- Count precisely what you need — area plus 10% for cuts. Over-ordering matters when a range is scarce.
- Bring a physical tile to us — batch variation means even the same product can differ; a sample lets us match shade, not just name.
- If no match exists — we will suggest design solutions: a contrast band, a feature wall, or reworking the layout so the change looks deliberate. Cheaper than retiling the room.
Choosing your next tile supplier
Look for a physical showroom you can walk into, people who can talk substrates and adhesives as fluently as colours, real stock relationships with manufacturers rather than a dropshipped website, and — ideally — a supplier who also installs, because they have to stand behind what they sell.
That is the model we run at our Letchworth Garden City showroom: a dedicated tile library, trade counter, and a design-supply-install team under one roof, ten minutes from Hitchin and Baldock and twenty from Stevenage.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a tile that has been discontinued?
Bring a sample or clear photo to a specialist. Manufacturers often produce similar ranges under different names, and an experienced supplier can identify the maker from the tile itself. Where no match exists, a good designer can make the change look intentional.
Where is the best place to buy tiles near Letchworth?
We would say this, but come and judge for yourself: Letchworth Tiles & Bathrooms, Unit 25 Woodside Industrial Estate, Works Road, Letchworth Garden City. Hundreds of ranges in the showroom, samples to borrow, and advice from people who install what they sell. Rated 5.0 on Google.
Are independent tile shops more expensive than the chains?
Not usually, once you compare the same quality tile. Independents carry lower overheads than high-street chains and will price-match realistic quotes. You also get advice that prevents expensive mistakes — the costliest tile is the one laid wrong.
Ready to talk it through?
Visit the showroom, call 01462 480 716, or fill in our short project form — we respond within one working day.
Bring In Your Tile