24/10/2026
End of an era, or the start of a new chapter?
Next week marks our final week in the Ulverston showroom.
Earlier this year, we made the decision to close the showroom, not because it couldn't be a viable business, but because of the increasing difficulty of finding the calibre of staff our products and customers deserve.
Interestingly, my outlook on the business changed quite considerably this year. What had initially been a source of frustration became something I viewed with much greater optimism.
After spending a couple of months working in the Ulverston showroom myself, I came to realise that, despite the lack of full-time staff, it was still a very viable business with the potential to be as successful as our Penrith showroom, even if it hadn't yet reached those levels.
Ultimately, I had to recognise that the missing ingredient was my own commitment of time.
Splitting my time between two showrooms proved difficult to justify. Giving more time to Ulverston simply meant taking time away from Penrith, with turnover there dropping accordingly. Add in the travelling and the extra administration involved in running two locations, and it became increasingly difficult to make the arrangement work efficiently.
The reality was that something had to give.
One factor that helped make the decision was the break clause in our lease, which gave us the opportunity to walk away without being tied into the ongoing rental commitments. Having that option available, we decided it was the right time to take it.
It's a sad decision, really. The Ulverston showroom was a lovely space, and the potential was undoubtedly there. It feels somewhat counterintuitive to walk away from a substantial upfront investment and the sales that investment could generate in the right hands.
But sometimes, potential alone isn't enough. The business has to work in a way that makes sense operationally, commercially and personally.
And that's where we're heading now.
We're moving into an exciting new phase for the business, with plans to expand our Penrith showroom and introduce a new bathroom gallery. The concept will take a genuinely alternative approach to bathroom displays, and we're aiming to have it up and running in early 2027.
Later in the year, we'll also be introducing a new product offering that will complement our existing kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, giving us another opportunity to develop the business in a direction we're genuinely excited about.
A thank you to our Ulverston customers
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all our past and present customers who have supported us through our time in Ulverston. Whether you've purchased from us, entrusted us with a project or simply taken the time to visit the showroom, your support has been genuinely appreciated.
Although the Ulverston showroom is closing, our business is very much continuing, and we're still here in Penrith to help with any future projects, questions or requirements you may have.
I'd particularly like to reassure existing customers that this change does not affect the ongoing support we provide. Any warranties and existing commitments will continue as normal, and we'll remain available to assist with your kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and any aftercare needs.
Closing a showroom doesn't mean walking away from the people who have supported us, and we want all our customers to feel confident that we're still here for them.
Looking back, Ulverston has taught me a great deal.
It's probably cost us a fair amount of money along the way, and there have certainly been ups and downs, but every business decision brings lessons with it.
There's a saying that has always resonated with me:
“Intelligence is the ability to solve problems; wisdom is knowing which problems to solve.”
I think there's a lot of truth in that, particularly in business. We can spend an enormous amount of time, energy and money trying to make something work simply because we've invested so much in it. Sometimes, though, the real skill isn't in finding another way to overcome the challenges in front of us, but in recognising which challenges are worth taking on in the first place.
Ulverston could have worked. With the right commitment, people and structure, I genuinely believe it had the potential to succeed. But recognising potential and deciding where best to invest your time and energy are two very different things.
Sometimes the hardest decisions aren't about recognising that something won't work. They're about recognising that something could work, but that it isn't necessarily the right thing for you to pursue.
So, while it's the end of an era for Ulverston, it also feels like the beginning of a new chapter for us.
We're taking what we've learned, focusing our time and energy where we believe it will have the greatest impact, and moving forward in a direction that makes sense for the business and for us personally.
To everyone who has supported us along the way, thank you. We look forward to continuing to look after you from Penrith and to sharing what comes next.
Onwards and upwards.
