Nicholls & Clarke

In 1875 Nicholls and Clarke was founded by Samuel Nicholls at 6 Shoreditch High Street. Originally Nicholls and Clarke described themselves as glass, lead and colour merchants. In the 1880s the company became involved in sanitary ware and architectural ironmongery. In 1900 Sydney Nicholls began the manufacture of ready mix paints at the factory in Bow.

N&C Nicobond
In 1958 Dr Leigh developed and marketed the first water based read mix tile adhesive - Nicobond tile cement. The immediate success of the product not only in the UK but overseas as well turned the expansion of the business in a new direction. Over the coming years Nicobond became a national manufacturer and distributor of ceramic tiles and adhesives. With branches opening in Wales in 1966, Stoke on Trent in 1968 by the 1970s the company's adhesive business had expanded to an extent that a new factory was built in Stoke on Trent and Dover in 1976 (which later moved to Southampton) and Glasgow in 1978 the company was moving from strength to strength.

N&C Phlexicare
N&C Phlexicare was launched in 1976 creating specialist products in sanitary ware and kitchen equipment, designed for the disabled and elderly.

N&C Glass
In 1984 the company's glass operation moved to Bow industrial park and the company later acquired two new sites in Dunstable and Fareham. Over the past two decades the glass business has grown from a distributor to a manufacturer and distributor of over 170 glass products which include:

• Sealed units
• Toughened glass
• Mirrors
• Bevelling
• Shop fronts
• Fire glass

N&C Tilestyle
In 1995 Nicholls and Clarke Tilestyle was founded after the company wished to expand into ceramic tiles, natural stone, adhesives and bathroom and began with their first location in New Southgate. Over the next 12 years the company have added Tilestyle showrooms to both new sites and existing distribution sites.

N&C Olympus
N&C Olympus was created in 1998 which is the part of the groups which manufacture and distribute sanitary ware and ironmongery. The first range was the modern range of sanitary ware which is still popular today.

N&C Moderna
In 1995 N&C Moderna tiles was founded, it was a business dedicated to the installation of ceramic and natural tiles in the south east of England.In 2003 Nicholls and Clarke finally left its home of 120 years in Shoreditch high street and moved to a purpose built 6 acre site in Chadwell Heath, at the same time it acquired the Texsol builder's merchants which gave the company the opportunity to sell heavy side building materials for the first time.