Few people can claim that, through the success of their business, they have introduced a phrase into the national lexicon. But Tom Helme and his business partner Martin Ephson did so when, in 1992, they took over the paint company Farrow & Ball. Tom had been working as the advisor on decoration to the National Trust when he came across the Dorset paint firm and suggested to Martin, an old school friend, that they take over the business together and produce historical paints.
Over the following years, on seeing a newly painted earthy and subtle interior, people far and wide began to use the phrase: ‘You’ve been Farrow & Ball-ed.’ The paints started selling in more than 20| countries, and eventually they were producing more in a week than they had in their first year of ownership.
English