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Her son, Norman (Nat to his friends) returned
from the war 1954 and needed a larger business to provide for a young family. He injected new energy into the business, adding
furs, millinery and ladies fashions to a list which included furniture but also kitchens, carpets, lino, curtains, washing
machines, fridges, televisions, radios, toys, prams, lawn mowers and giftware. During the late fifties and sixties Rotherham was a bustling and prosperous
place and trade was good. The shop in Sheffield was closed and all efforts concentrated in Rotherham and the new small carpet
shop in Mexborough. At it’s height 33 staff were employed in the shops and warehouse.
Neil Turvey had trained elsewhere and returned to start at Mexborough
in October 1966. Tragedy struck in January 1969 when Nat had a fatal heart attack. Neil’s younger brother Robert, who
had been an articled clerk at a Sheffield accountants, joined him to help unravel the mysteries of running a business.
Changes
were implemented nearly straightaway. One by one all departments were closed except furniture, carpets and curtains and staff
reduced accordingly. The shop at Mexborough and warehouse on Lime St were sold. Robert left to pursue his interests elsewhere leaving Neil in control. In September 1989 the business vacated the premises it had occupied for 54 years and moved to it’s
new home, 22, Chapel Walk. This site had the advantages of it’s own customer car park, a single floor making it far
easier to manage and an adjacent warehouse. This proved to be a good combination and business grew while town centre retailers
struggled.
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After a
few years the site attracted interest from developers and in March 2001 the company moved once again, this time to the old
TC Harrison Ford showroom on Sheffield Rd. The building was entirely renovated and again offered a customer car park. It has
proved to be very positive being larger and more accessible, customers that had lost contact returned and within 2 years turnover
had doubled. The future looks promising and secure and with the addition of our new bedroom showroom we hope to attract new
loyalties.
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Since the above text was written, as many of you are aware, we flooded, adding yet another chapter to
our colourful history. Along with many people in South Yorkshire we were completly devasted, having had 18inches of
water right through the shop, touching every piece of furniture, and as many you have experienced, flood water isn't really
'Evian'!
Now we're refurbished and much improved, and ready, not just to write the next chaptrm bu
the next volume!
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