Better Bathrooms

About Better Bathrooms

Better Bathrooms operates as a UK-based e-commerce retailer specializing in bathroom fixtures, fittings, and accessories. The company's business model is centered on direct-to-consumer sales via its online platform, a strategy solidified after a significant corporate restructuring. It targets homeowners seeking to purchase bathroom products, from full suites to individual items like taps, showers, and furniture, by offering a wide range of products online. Revenue is generated through the sale of these goods, which include both own-brand items and products from major brands like Grohe and Mira.

The company was originally founded by Colin Stevens in 2001. Stevens, a former aspiring professional golfer, initially funded his sporting career by selling golf equipment on eBay. On his mother's suggestion, he transitioned to selling bathroom fittings online, an idea that proved successful and led to the creation of Better Bathrooms. The venture began from a bedroom, with Stevens listing his first set of taps on eBay and seeing them sell within 24 hours. This early success prompted further investment into a wider array of bathroom products.

From its online beginnings, the company expanded into physical retail, opening its first showroom in Wigan in 2005, followed by several others across the UK, growing into a £60 million business by 2014. A significant milestone occurred in 2013 when the Business Growth Fund (BGF) invested £10 million for a minority stake to fuel further expansion. However, after a period of rapid growth, founder Colin Stevens departed from the company in November 2017 following a boardroom disagreement. The business subsequently entered administration in early 2019. In March 2019, the Better Bathrooms brand and assets were acquired by the Buy It Direct Group, an established e-commerce operator. Under the new ownership of Nick Glynne's Buy It Direct, the business was restructured into an online-only model, closing its physical stores and focusing on its digital platform, betterbathrooms.com. This strategic shift proved successful, with the company returning to profitability within six months of the acquisition.