Black Swan: From One Phone Call to Decades of Partnership
A phone call from founder Mark Vitow to Black Swan Manufacturing in the United States marked the beginning of one of our longest-standing partnerships. Nearly 40 years later, Black Swan remains one of Mark Vitow Distribution’s bestselling brands, stocked by over 1,200 independent merchants and asked for by name across the trade.
Where a Great Partnership Began
The best business partnerships rarely begin with a grand strategy.
Sometimes, they begin with a simple phone call.
Back in the early 1990s, Mark Vitow picked up the phone and called Black Swan Manufacturing in the United States with a straightforward proposition: he wanted to represent and grow the Black Swan brand in the UK.
At the time, it was just another sales call.
More than 30 years later, it marked the beginning of a partnership that continues to thrive today.
The Phone Call that Started It All
Looking back on that first conversation, Jeffrey Lichten, President of Black Swan recalls:
“I was sitting at my desk many years ago – probably in the early 1990s – when the receptionist called to say, ‘There’s a gentleman on the phone by the name of Mark Vitow. He’d like to speak with you.’
I begrudgingly took the call.
The gentleman on the other end said he’d like to sell my plumbing chemicals in the UK. (Black Swan is based in the USA.) I remember thinking to myself, ‘Anybody who wants to sell my products can’t be a bad person.’
And just like that, one of the greatest business – and personal – relationships I’ve ever had began.”
A Partnership Built On Shared Values
VITOW Group and Black Swan have a lot in common. As family businesses, they have built their reputations through quality, integrity and long-term relationships rather than short-term gains.
Those shared values have helped create a partnership that has stood the test of time, evolving alongside the plumbing industry while remaining focused on delivering dependable products and exceptional service.
Today, MARK VITOW Distribution is proud to be the exclusive UK distributor of Black Swan products, including the iconic PVC Cements – trusted by professional installers for creating powerful, long-lasting solvent-weld joints.
The Professional’s Choice
When it comes to solvent cements, there’s no shortage of products on the market.
Yet ask many experienced installers, and Black Swan is consistently regarded as one of the industry’s leading names.
Trusted by professionals for decades, Black Swan PVC Cement is renowned for creating powerful, long-lasting bonds with the reliability and consistency that installers depend on every day. It’s the confidence that comes from knowing the job has been done right the first time.
That reputation hasn’t happened by chance. It’s been earned through decades of manufacturing expertise, uncompromising quality standards and continual product performance.
Reflecting on the Partnership
Brandon Vitow, VITOW Group Company Director (and co-founder alongside Mark Vitow) reflects on the decades long partnership:
“Our partnership with Black Swan has always been built on mutual respect and trust. Jeffrey has become not only a valued business partner, but also a good friend to our family. That’s something we are incredibly proud of. More than 30 years on, it’s a privilege to continue partnering with a brand that’s trusted by professional installers and respected throughout the industry.”
The respect is clearly mutual. Jeffrey concludes:
“Mark Vitow is an outstanding company: professionally run, commercially astute, ambitious and, certainly with Black Swan, incredibly successful.
To everyone at Mark Vitow, thank you for everything you’ve done for Black Swan over the years. And to the original Mark Vitow… thank you for making that phone call.”
Looking Ahead
Great partnerships aren’t measured simply by how long they’ve lasted, but by the trust they’ve built along the way.
As the exclusive UK partner for Black Swan, VITOW Group is proud to continue bringing one of the plumbing industry’s most trusted brands to merchants and installers across the UK.
More than three decades after that first phone call, the relationship between Black Swan and VITOW Group remains as strong as ever – and both businesses look forward to writing the next chapter together.
Black Swan
Black Swan PVC Cement & Plumbing Consumables
Premium-grade PVC cement and plumbing consumables trusted by installers for strong, reliable performance on the job. A respected trade name built o...
Learn More
