Ever wondered how a product is plucked from someone’s imagination, designed, manufactured and then brought to life in your own bathroom? Let us take you on an unexpected journey…
Exclusive products
At VictoriaPlum.com, we place great value on producing unique, high quality bathroom products you can’t get anywhere else, with many of our items designed in-house.
In this blog post, we’ll be following the story of the Beaumont tap from its inception on the VictoriaPlum.com drawing board, through design, manufacturing, quality control and delivery, so you can see just what goes into making our products the finest around.
From imagination to drawing board
Like many things in life, we started off with a problem that needed solving. Some of our customers suggested that our traditional tap range was a little limited and they wanted more choice.
“This set the cogs of inspiration whirring in our minds”, says Nicky our in-house Stylist.
“We visited trade shows (you may have seen us at the Ideal Home Show), spoke to customers and tradespeople and also looked at current trends to fuel our thought process.”
After sketching, designing and modelling a range of different tap designs, we finally settled on our No. 1 choice. Nicky says, “We chose a lever handle tap option that complements a variety of traditional styles whilst being easy to use, especially for those with limited hand movement.”
Collaboration across nations
Once the design was completed, the next step on the journey involved some serious air miles, with a long haul flight to China. We collaborate with key tap manufacturers in the Far East who know the manufacturing process better than anyone, producing taps that are both innovative and affordable.
Tap buyer Jess continues the story, “After examining the design, our partners produced a chrome-plated plastic model for us. With Nicky’s input, we then decided to add a black ceramic handle to mirror the latest trends.”
“Our partners help us get the most out of the manufacturing process, collaborating on a regular basis. This certainly isn’t a one way street. We trust them to make sure we can deliver the best, most reliable products at the lowest prices.”
Quality control
Once agreed, we gave the green light to our partners in China to begin the manufacturing process. The Beaumont tap is cast in brass, which is polished to remove any impurities, before being passed on to another partner who adds the chrome-plating. The tap is hand-polished to ensure a sparkling finish.
Throughout the process, from the ceramic discs that provide smooth operation to the aerator that maintains a straight flow, the product is checked and checked again.
Andy, our Quality Control Manager, explains. “We ensure every product we produce is of the highest quality and we do that by employing a team who are local to our partners. They check every single item is in perfect condition before shipping.”
There and back again
Once all parts have been manufactured, the Beaumont tap is finally assembled, with our own Quality Control team ensuring each and every product performs as expected.
The tap is then carefully packaged in our specialist box under “The Bath Co.” brand. It comes complete with a dedicated set of instructions to make installation as easy as possible.
Finally, the tap arrives at our Distribution Centre in Doncaster, South Yorkshire where it’s stored, ready to be delivered to you. Jess says, “We’re really proud of our Beaumont tap and we hope our customers are too. It holds a unique place in our product line-up, giving customers a wider choice of traditional products with accessible features.”
Beaumont taps in your own home
Now you’ve found out what it takes to make a Beaumont tap, why not discover the range for yourself? Simply head to the Beaumont lever tap range or browse the full range of traditional taps available from VictoriaPlum.com.
