Gloucester Carpet Outlet has made a giant leap forward with the opening of a new showroom at Mill Place, Bristol Road, Gloucester.
The family-run business leased their new 14,000 sq ft home from property developer Robert Hitchins Ltd, then rolled up their sleeves and spent six months carrying out a £76,000 refurbishment.
Gloucester MP Richard Graham cut the ribbon at the official opening and congratulated co-owners and best mates Dan Leach and Ben Bryon.
“This is a story of ‘Gloucester-preneurs’,” he said. “They met at school, went into business, and now they have expanded into this fantastic place. It’s an inspiring story for every young person in Gloucester.”
Dan, 32, is proud of the growing enterprise which he launched in 2009 with brother-in-law and best friend Ben, 32.
The pair were schoolfriends at St Peter’s High School in Gloucester, left at 16, both became carpet fitters, and went into business together in 2009.
They took on their first premises at the old Morelands Match Factory in Gloucester in 2012 and built their carpet empire with clients such as Barnwood Builders, Gloucester City Council and Peter Ball.
The new premises less than half a mile away offer more showroom space and plenty of parking.
“It was a great feeling when we opened the doors and people came pouring in,” said Dan. “We’re just friendly, down-to-earth people who want to do the best for our customers, and we’re happy. It’s onwards and upwards from now on.”
Asset and Development Manager at Robert Hitchins Ltd, John Jones, wished the team well.
“We’re delighted that they’ve moved to Mill Place and are sure they’ll go from strength to strength,” he said.
Ben and Dan are proud that there are 168 products on show, with prices ranging from £1.99 to £399 per square metre.
“It doesn’t matter if a client wants to carpet their living room, or an entire office block – we cater for everyone,” said Dan.
Dan is part of a carpet dynasty: his dad Richard was a carpet fitter whose five sons all followed in his footsteps.
Dan’s younger brother Ben Leach works for Gloucester Carpet Outlet. And – keeping things in the family – so does his wife (Ben Byron’s sister) Nicola, along with his cousins Marco and Ricardo Roselli.
Robert Hitchins Ltd deals with the full process from site acquisition and planning through to development and investment. Formed in 1958, it has developed or owned more than 3,000,000 sq ft of commercial property all over the South West and South Wales.
