About Us

Our Story: Two Decades of Expertise

Since September 2004, Taps UK has been on a mission to bring showroom-quality kitchen and bathroom fixtures directly to your door at trade prices. What began as a small operation in Redditch has grown into one of the UK’s leading online specialists, now serving over 1.5 million visitors every year.

For over 20 years, we’ve remained a family-run business based in the heart of Worcestershire. Our growth is built on a simple foundation: sourcing the world’s best brands—like Blanco, Grohe, and our own exclusive Astini range—and backing them with expert knowledge and a commitment to honest, competitive pricing. Whether you are a homeowner, a developer, or a tradesperson, we treat every project with the same level of care that we did back in 2004.

A Quick Note from the MD

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to say a proper thank you for stopping by Taps UK.

When I first started this over 20 years ago, I just wanted to help people get a nice kitchen or bathroom without having to pay the "showroom tax." I’ve lived in the Midlands most of my life now, and I’m very proud that our team is based in Droitwich. We aren't some big, faceless corporation; we’re a local team that actually knows what we’re talking about.

Whether we are helping families on the telly—like on Cowboy Builders or 60 Minute Makeover—or just helping you find a spare part to fix a leaky tap, we always try our best. I always tell my team: the customer is trusting us with their home, so we have to get it right.

Thank you for supporting us all these years. It really means a lot to me and the whole team here.

Best,

Maz Utsumi
Founder & Managing Director, Taps UK

2004 ~ 2007: Humble Beginnings

The Taps UK story began in September 2004 with a simple mission: to make high-quality kitchen and bathroom fixtures affordable by cutting out the "showroom tax."

  • September 2004: Launched as a small eBay specialist based in Redditch, Worcestershire. With no prior industry experience, the focus was entirely on sourcing the best brassware directly from European and Far Eastern manufacturers.
  • 2005: Operations expanded quickly. The business moved from simple resale to building direct relationships with global suppliers, ensuring a steady stream of exclusive designs that couldn't be found in high-street DIY stores.
  • 2006: Following a rapid increase in demand and a growing reputation for reliability, the first dedicated Taps UK website was launched. This move allowed for better customer interaction and more detailed technical product support.
  • 2007: By the end of this period, Taps UK had successfully transitioned from a local startup to a nationwide online retailer, setting the stage for the massive product diversification that was to follow.

2008 ~ 2011: Diversification & Market Expansion

Following the successful launch of the dedicated e-commerce platform, Taps UK entered a period of rapid inventory growth, transforming from a specialist boutique into a comprehensive kitchen and bathroom retailer.

  • 2008: In response to the growing DIY and home renovation market, the company significantly diversified its product range. This year saw the introduction of kitchen and bathroom sinks, plumbing fittings, and specialized installation accessories.
  • 2009: Strategic partnerships were formed with premium industry brands. This allowed Taps UK to offer a tiered pricing strategy—providing high-end designer labels alongside the affordable, direct-import ranges that built the company’s early reputation.
  • 2010: The business outgrew its original facilities and streamlined its logistics to handle larger-scale items, such as Belfast sinks and vanity units. This year also marked a major focus on "Customer Experience" (UX) design, optimizing the site for mobile users and improving the technical filter systems.
  • 2011: Taps UK became a recognized authority in the UK bathroom and kitchen sector, leading to our first invitations to provide expert products and support for national TV renovation programs.

2012 ~ 2023: Resilience & The COVID-19 Challenge

During this decade, Taps UK evolved from a growing retailer into a vital part of the UK home improvement infrastructure. This period was defined by our ability to navigate unprecedented global challenges while maintaining our commitment to our customers.

  • National Media Presence: Our reputation for quality led to Taps UK becoming a regular contributor to national television. We were proud to provide expert products and support for high-profile renovation shows, including ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover and Channel 5’s Cowboy Builders, helping families across the UK restore their homes.
  • The Pandemic Shift: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the home improvement sector faced a massive surge in demand coupled with a total shutdown of global logistics. While many retailers struggled, Taps UK remained operational, implementing strict safety protocols to ensure we could continue providing essential fixtures to homes across the country.
  • Navigating the Supply Chain Crisis: The following years brought global shortages in raw materials and shipping. We leveraged our long-standing direct relationships with manufacturers in Europe and the Far East to secure stock when others couldn't. This "battle" to keep our warehouse full was a turning point, proving the strength of our supply chain and our dedication to never letting a customer down.
  • Expertise in Print: Our exclusive Astini brand continued to gain critical acclaim, featuring prominently in leading home and garden publications like Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom and Period Living.
  • Technological Investment: To handle the increased volume of online shoppers, we heavily invested in our back-end systems and customer service training, ensuring that even during the most difficult trading periods, our expert advice remained available to every customer.

2024 ~ To The Future: A New Era in Droitwich

2024 marks the most significant chapter in our history. We have completely evolved our infrastructure and digital presence to ensure Taps UK remains the country’s leading specialist for the next 20 years.

  • New Headquarters & Showroom: We consolidated our entire operation into our new, state-of-the-art facility in Droitwich, Worcestershire. This major move allowed us to open a dedicated Collection Point for trade and public, alongside a brand-new showroom where customers can experience our products in person.
  • The Shopify Transition: To provide a world-class shopping experience, we launched our new website powered by Shopify. This platform shift ensures lightning-fast speeds, industry-leading security, and a seamless checkout process across all mobile and desktop devices.
  • Sustainability & Innovation: As we look forward, we are committing to a greener future. This includes a major initiative to reduce packaging waste and expanding our range of high-efficiency, water-saving technologies to help UK households reduce their environmental impact.
  • A Specialist Core: While we continue to grow, our core remains the same. We are a dedicated, UK-based team of specialists combining "old school" product knowledge with modern digital efficiency. Our goal is to continue providing the best brands at the best prices, backed by the expertise only two decades in the industry can provide.

You Can Find Us On

Promotional banner
Promotional banner
Promotional banner
Promotional banner
Promotional banner

Where We Have Been Featured

As an established online retailer, we are often approached by ITV, Channel 5 and other mainstream channels to help out with TV Shows such as 60 Minute Makeover and Cowboy Builders. We have donated to Cowboy Builders 6 times, to help out families left in distress after being let down by their original building contractors. If you click below, you can see each episode, and what was donated to them for the show, as well as links through to the main site where you can see us credited. As well as working with these companies, we have had several articles published in leading Home & Garden magazines such as "Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom" and "Period Living" in which our exclusive brand Astini was featured heavily. You can see all of these listed below.

House To Home

Country bathroom in blue and brown

ITV 60 Minute Makeover

April 2012 - Uxbridge

April 2012 - Uxbridge

August 2011 - Horsham

Channel 5 Cowboy Builders

August 2011 - Worcester Park

Channel 5 Cowboy Builders

August 2011 - Langley

Channel 5 Cowboy Builders

July 2011 - Balham

Channel 5 Cowboy Builders

January 2011 - Lewisham

Channel 5 Cowboy Builders

September 2010 - Woking

The Essential KBB Magazine

August 2008

Period Living Magazine

February 2009