Tag: Entrepreneurs

Stringers First Opens its Doors in Lytham

Posted by

Stringers is a family-run independent department store at the heart of Lytham, offering a carefully curated selection of fashion, home, and lifestyle products. Dedicated to providing an exceptional shopping experience, it has become a well-loved retail destination for customers across the Fylde coast and beyond. The business dates back to 1852, originally opening as a drapery store, and has been owned and operated by three generations of the Clarke family since 1957. Over the years, Stringers has built a reputation for quality, style, and excellent service, with every product carefully selected to reflect on-trend design, craftsmanship, and originality. At the… Read more »

Blackpool Greyhound Stadium Closes

Posted by

Blackpool Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound track that closed down on 30 October 1964 with the site being sold for housing. It was called Stadium Avenue after being sold to builders for £80,000 and should not be confused with the Clifton Park Racecourse at Squires Gate, a short-lived track that was nearby to the south. The stadium opened on the Saturday afternoon of 30 July 1927 in front of the 5,000 spectators. The six race card included one hurdle race with all races over the 500 yards distance, the first race was won by Carrow Boy at 3-1 odds in… Read more »

David Hyland Hands Over the ARC Reins

Posted by

David Hyland, the company’s founder, went to Palatine High School in Blackpool and studied Industrial Engineering from 1971 – 1987. He launched ARC in 1982, with just 1 apprentice in a small unit but soon grew out of it, and in 1988 he moved the business into the Palmer Avenue site. Since then the company has grown to 48 employees and has moved to their current location on Amy Johnson Way, servicing some of the largest insurance companies in the UK. Back in 2007, they were the first bodyshop in Lancashire to achieve the then PAS125, which became BS10125, an accreditation they… Read more »

Fulwood’s SMD Group Made its Start in Blackpool

Posted by

Currently based in Fullwood, Preston, SMD Textiles Ltd was originally founded and registered by Salvador Monllor Domenech in 1987. The company has grown from its family-owned roots into a leader in the interior textiles market. They have made their mark as one of the UK’s leading premium interior fabric brands. Now referred to as SMD Group, it launched the iLiv brand in 2013, which specialises in coordinating fabric to make it easier than ever for customers to create beautiful interiors. Various collections have been launched under the iLiv brand, including Fjord, Palladio, Piazza, Adara, Charlton, Elements, In Bloom, Shabby Chic,…

Steve Williams Sets up Force Technology

Posted by

Force Technology was founded in 2015 to drive development and innovation in the precision, high-duty spring markets. The company chose to establish its operations within the Enterprise Zone, which met several key requirements, with many of the team members hailing from the local area. The location offers access to a strong, potential workforce, supported by Blackpool and the surrounding region’s thriving engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors. Alongside advanced processing facilities, Force Technology boasts a metallurgical laboratory and a component testing facility, including an engine dyno, further solidifying its commitment to innovation within the industry. The business management systems are fully… Read more »

Derek Woodman Rides in His First TT Race

Posted by

Derek Woodman, born in Blackpool on April 26, 1959, is a former world-class motorcycle racer and the longtime owner of one of the UK’s top BMW dealerships. Raised in a working-class family, he wasn’t expected to go far academically, but his love for motorcycles and mechanical work led him to become a skilled toolmaker. Despite his mother’s objections—due to a past family tragedy involving motorcycles—Derek’s passion for racing grew, and at 14, he visited the Isle of Man to watch the famous TT races, which left a lasting impression. After leaving school at 15, he worked at a motorcycle shop… Read more »

Leonard Dews, One of the Oldest North West Jewellers

Posted by

Leonard Dews has been a cherished part of Blackpool town centre since it first opened its doors in 1877, making it a long-standing fixture of the town’s rich heritage. Established during the reign of Queen Victoria and when Benjamin Disraeli was Prime Minister, the store predates even the iconic Blackpool Tower, which was constructed 10 years later in 1894. For 146 years, Leonard Dews has been renowned for its jewellery and watchmaking expertise, earning a reputation as one of Blackpool’s most respected establishments. The Blackpool store was purchased by the Hyman family in 1959, who had previously operated another jewellery… Read more »

Anthony Cocker Becomes CEO of E.ON UK

Posted by

Anthony David Cocker, born on 26 April 1959 in the Borough of Fylde, is a prominent figure in the energy sector. He served as the chief executive of E.ON UK, one of the UK’s “Big Six” energy providers, and is also the chairman of Infinis Energy Management Limited. Cocker attended Kirkham Grammar School and has a younger brother. He married Madeleine Parker in September 1991 in Oxford, and the couple has two children: a son, born in November 2000, and a daughter, born in August 1998. They currently reside in Warwickshire. Cocker studied mathematics at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he… Read more »

The Rapid Growth of Ties R Us

Posted by

Ties R Us offers a huge collection of designs, patterns and materials for ties, bow-ties and accessories. For over a decade they have been delivering quality men’s apparel, turning their hand to ties and accessories in the process. In 2012 they were established at Clifford House on Clifton Road in Blackpool, where they still are, and have quickly become one of the most popular, trusted sources for ties in the UK. They offer exceptional quality and numerous styles of ties, bow ties and accessories in a range of durable and comfortable materials such as silk, satin and polyester. They also cater for an… Read more »

First Leisure’s Reign in Blackpool

Posted by

First Leisure Corporation Plc was a leisure operator in the UK between 1981 and 2004. Originally based in Soho Square, London, and with other offices in Blackpool and Leicester, its operations included Blackpool Tower, the town’s Winter Gardens and all three Blackpool piers, as well as five other piers, health and fitness clubs, nightclubs and bars, tenpin bowling centres and other mainstream UK high street entertainment venues. Behind the company was Lord Bernard Delfont. By the 1960s, he and his brothers – Lew and Leslie Grade, as well as his nephew Michael Grade – were all very successful and were said to have a… Read more »