Travis Perkins has recently welcomed a very special guest, Margaret Hill-Tout, to its Northampton branch to commemorate her key contribution to the design of the company’s logo over 30 years ago.

In 1988 Travis & Arnold and Sandell Perkins merged to become Travis Perkins plc which then started to trade nationally as one company for the first time. Hill-Tout, who was a graphic designer for branding agency Cooper Clark and New at that time, was commissioned to lead the development of a new corporate identity for the newly formed company.

“I wanted to develop an identity that was bold, reflected the strength of the two companies coming together, and that would sit well with the earthiness of the company’s trade customers; I took inspiration from Travis Arnold’s colours, which were black and yellow, and the Sandell Perkins colours, which were green and black, and referenced the two equally strong entities coming together by incorporating the ‘T’ from Travis Arnold and the ‘P’ from Sandell Perkins into the logo design,”  she explained.

While Travis Perkins plc now has a different logo, the result of Hill-Tout's efforts is a logo that has endured over 30 years, and which is still very evident in the Travis Perkins merchant business with its 600+ branches and many more lorries.

Head of corporate communications for Travis Perkins plc, Marit Meyer-Bell, said: “As one of the most loved and recognised brands in the building industry, this logo has really stood the test of time, just like our long term commitments to upholding family values and working for our customers. Last year this brand was even nominated for a ‘Brand of The Year’ award by the public. A good logo could last up to 10 years, so the fact that this one has lasted over 30, and is still going strong, is simply remarkable!”

Within the guidelines that accompanied the corporate identity design some 30 years ago, was a statement from then chairman David Perkins, who said: ‘Travis Perkins is a new and major force in the industry and that is how we must present ourselves.

"To our customer we must appear as a cohesive organisation committed to service and supported by a clear identity. When they see a branch, a lorry, an advertisement, a price list or even an invoice, they must recognise it instantly. Hence our investment in the new Travis Perkins Corporate Identity Programme. With your help we need to establish quickly the Name & Logo from Hull to Penryn."