Leading manufacturers in decorative and industrial coatings Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints (AGLP) recently announced at its Colour and Coatings seminar plans to open up to 50 new Dulux Decorator Stores (DDC) over the next five years.
“The Middle East is of great importance to us as the EMEA region currently accounts for 46 per cent of our annual turnover,” said Tony Myers, MD, Dulux Licensing and Export Business, ICI Paints.
“ICI Paints invests over AED184 million annually worldwide on research and development. It is an important part of our business. Over the last five years, 35 per cent of our business has been represented by new products. This year, we plan to launch two new innovative products in the premium exterior and interior emulsion category in the UAE.”
The Dulux Decorator Centre (DDC) concept is a one-stop shop for transforming a home into a lifestyle statement. Each of the in-house colour consultants in these colour boutiques are trained to offer inspiration and colour advice based on personal requirements and individual personality.
Dulux Decorator Centres offer the widest choice of decorating solutions and services in the UAE, with a number of unique services exclusive to Dulux, including free colour consultation and one of the largest colour portfolios.
There are currently five DDC’s in the UAE: two in Dubai, two in Sharjah and one in Abu Dhabi.
Philip Mathew, General Manager, Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints, said: “The decorative paints market is evolving at a rapid pace. The five DDC’s in the UAE have stimulated the growing need for quality ‘Buy It Yourself (BIY) and ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) services. Through opening new stores and continually launching innovative products, ICI Dulux intends to keep up with the increasing demand for quality decorative products and services.”
The recent Colour and Coatings seminar at Madinat Jumeriah in Dubai gathered together more than 150 UAE-based consultants, project managers, engineers and designers from reputed architectural and consulting firms to discuss the evolution of the paints market and global trends in colour industry.
ICI Paints’ international team of colour experts carry out research every year. Research into colour preferences is carried out with customer focus groups, and looking at design trends from the world of fashion, architecture, music and popular culture.
The seminar announced that colour code yellow mixed with a hint of green from the ICI Paints Master Colour Palette would be a popular colour in 2006.
In 2004, ICI Dulux achieved sales of over AED165 million in the Middle East and projects sales growth to reach approximately AED750 million by 2010. The business is headquartered in the UK and operates 49 manufacturing sites in 25 countries, selling in more than 120 countries.
ICI produces 1.1 billion litres of paint each year, which is enough paint to cover 2.8 million football pitches or paint every house in Los Angeles, Beijing and London combined, with some to spare.
Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints manufactures protective coatings under licence from Leigh’s Paints, UK and high-quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK. AGLP manufactures and distributes the full range of paints under the Dulux, Leigh’s, and Firetex brands.
Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints (AGLP) was established in the Emirate of Sharjah in 1988 to manufacture a wide range of Industrial and decorative coatings. The protective coatings for the industrial, marine and petrochemical Industry including coatings for fire protection are manufactured under licence from Leigh’s Paints, UK while high quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK. AGLP manufactures and distributes the full range of paints under the Leigh’s, Dulux and Oasis Brands.
In addition, Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints operates a regional technical laboratory equipped with the latest R&D and analysis equipment providing a high degree of technical commitment to the region. Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints is a member of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group of Companies.
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg (ESAG) Group was founded by the Chairman of the Group and the UAE’s ambassador to the UK, H.E Easa Saleh Al Gurg CBE, in 1960. Today the group is associated with over 20 brands such as British American Tobacco, Unilever, Dunlop, Siemens, United Colors of Benetton, and Burmah Castrol.
