Dulux Trade has, for the first time, created a new colour to celebrate the 145th anniversary of one of its oldest customers by using its new Colour Match technology.

The Dulux Trade Colour Match technology enabled the creation of a bespoke Baroque Blue for Bagnalls Group, a family-owned national painting and decorating contractor based in Shipley, Yorkshire, which has worked alongside Dulux for more than 90 years.

The cutting-edge technology enables Dulux Trade products to be mixed into a unique colour that can then be named and stored, allowing decorators to return to store and re-tint the exact colour in any product for years to come from the one single scan.

Bagnalls was established in 1875 by Alfred Bagnall – the great-great-grandfather of current Group Managing Director Stephen Bagnall – and started trading with Dulux in the 1930s.

One of Bagnalls’ first uses of Dulux paint was for the newly-built factory for pharmacy chain Boots in Beeston, Nottinghamshire in 1932.

Dulux came up with the idea of creating a personalised colour for Bagnalls after the coronavirus pandemic thwarted plans to celebrate its milestone anniversary at its headquarters.

Bagnalls selected the blue from their company logo, which was then colour matched precisely by Dulux Trade before a sample tin of paint was created and presented to them at a virtual presentation.

Bagnalls chose to name the colour Baroque Blue to reflect and honour the decades-long partnership between the two companies.

Nick Halton, National Contractor Manager for Dulux Trade, said: “We are delighted to have been able to give the gift of a brand new colour to Bagnalls.

“Bagnalls embodies all the values that are important to Dulux. They’re focused on providing great quality products and, as a family-owned and family-run business, are committed to the wider community and society.

“While it was a shame we weren’t able to celebrate with Bagnalls in person, we’re proud to have been able to give such a unique gift to an immensely valued customer, allowing them to get Baroque Blue mixed any time they want to use it on a project.”

Bagnalls has said they are hoping to put the paint to good use in the community, such as using the paint for a community scheme or donating some to charitable causes.

Joanne Gualda, Bagnalls Group Marketing Director, said: “Bagnalls have been around for 145 years so we were pioneers in a lot of things in the painting industry, including one of the companies who first used Dulux.

“Our relationship with Dulux Trade continues to strengthen and we often get together to test newly developed products, review innovation in the painting industry and consider long-term sustainable solutions.

“So we’re thrilled that Dulux has named a bespoke paint in our honour, but we’re also very proud of our own heritage and the partnership between us both.”

For more information on Dulux Trade Colour Matching, visit: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/