Carpet friends are on a roll

Champagne moment: Tony, left, and Martin toast their new venture

TWO friends with more than 40 years experience of the carpet industry between them, have invested £50,000 to open Lifestyle Carpets in Shaw — in what they describe as “the best premises in the town.”

Martin Fielding, from Shaw, and Tony Hurst, from Royton, worked together at Lanebottom Co-op in Ogden until that venture closed several years ago.

They always harboured ambitions of going it alone and kept in touch after they went their separate ways following the demise of Lanebottom.

Now operating from Shaw Mill, the first mill ever built in the town, on Eastway facing the Asda superstore, Martin and Tony are ahead of their business plan as they enter their third month of trading.

Martin said: “Everyone was looking at these premises once the previous tenants, a printing business, moved out.

“I got lucky — I made a call to the owner, met him ten minutes later and shook hands on a deal.”

Three months later Lifestyle Carpets opened to the public selling roll ends from the expansive basement, offering 16 rolls from the main showroom alongside vinyl and wood flooring, plus a large selection of rugs.

Tony said: “We have stock on the premises and can lay a carpet within 24 hours of a customer making a choice.”

In addition to the flooring offer, the partners have teamed up with Lifestyle Curtain Call run by Martin’s wife Gail and her business partner Lynne Kenyon, from Norden.

Martin explained: “Often customers will say they would like new curtains to go with their carpets. Gail and Lynne call in their van with a selection of materials and fabrics, measure, manufacture and fit the curtains.

“It’s all part of the service.”