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Hi, I'm Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I use my expertise gained over 44 years in the garden buildings industry to understand that each customer is different. With my manufacturing, retailing and customer service experience my articles help people choose their ideal shed, garden workshop, summerhouse, log cabin or garden office needs to suit their requirement and that is key to satisfaction. And what do I do when I'm not writing? You may find me following Grimsby Town Football Club or riding roller coasters - so plenty of 'ups and downs' in my life.
History from 1979 with Titan Garden Buildings until 2015 with 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
The foundations for Titan Garden Buildings were laid in 1979 by Robin Antill after retailing for another manufacturer – using this term very loosely – as the sheds were made from old packing case sliced into planks and nailed together. He was not very impressed by what he was selling, so he researched the market and decided that he could do a lot better and at a much better price. He left his job at a large haulage company and took out a lease on some farm buildings at Ottershaw in Surrey. Here he made buildings with hammer and nail by day and delivered them on a trailer which he towed behind his Maxi in the evening. Soon he started to advertise in Exchange And Mart and the buildings became very popular. He started to take on staff and got a small flatbed truck for deliveries, adding compressed air nailers and industrial power saws as business increased.
Agents were recruited to sell the buildings to a wider market, many of whom still sell Titan buildings today. After a while, it was apparent that larger, more suitable buildings were required. He was offered Titan’s present factories which he soon snapped up. The business continued to expand and more staff, vehicles and plant were added as the range expanded. Craig Antill, his son, joined the family firm in 1990.
Titan had now been manufacturing for over 32 years and offered a full range of quality sheds, chalets, workshops, playhouses, garages and sectional buildings. These are all made to order and delivered on their large fleet of lorries, most customers taking advantage of our on-site erection service. In this time, Titan has built up an enviable reputation by combining their ability to manufacture sound, quality buildings at most competitive prices, together with a fast, reliable delivery service and excellent after-sales service.
In September 1998, Titan Garden Buildings Ltd was purchased by the Midlands-based Haywood Holdings Group. This takeover affords Titan the financial stability which only being part of a larger group can bring and will ensure that ‘Titan’ continues to thrive and expand throughout the challenging economic climate which we all face at the start of the new millennium.
In 1996 Craig Antill designed a web site (www.titan.uk.com) which became the ‘Titan Garden Buildings’ official web site. His responsibilities then included, as part of his job description, running this web site. In January 2001 it was decided it should be independent and was re-branded as 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. This new independent site, to be run by Craig, was then appointed as a fully authorised agent of ‘Titan Garden Buildings’.
Robin Antill joined Craig at this time and it was decided that other ranges of buildings should be offered so that the demand for buildings could be met from all over the country. However, the criteria for these other companies must meet the very high standards which ‘Titan’ had always maintained. After careful vetting we are now able to offer products from Diamond Garden Buildings (with over 33 years experience), Platinum Garden Sheds and Workshops and also to fill demand for steel and PVC (plastic) sheds, we now offer SafeStore metal Garden Buildings.
They are now using their unique knowledge of their experience in manufacturing and retailing to offer an unrivalled service to the public making full use of Robin’s 40 years and Craig’s 26 years in the Timber Buildings industry. All the ‘Titan’ buildings were also designed by them. Robin Antill having started the company in 1979 with Craig joining him in 1990. Craig was also responsible for the main Web design although Robin took over in 2001.
A display site was set up so the quality of the garden buildings offered could be viewed which is a rare thing for internet web sites. don’t risk buying a garden building without viewing beforehand as you may regret it.