6 Clitheroe Advertiser and Times.'January Sth. 19S1


r Well equipped to tackle ______ THE spacious workshop at the factory. >«


ONLY the finest quality wood is used in the production of doors.


Quality equals best in world


WHILE 1 9 8 0 'was generally something of a depressing time on the British. industrial front, for Bowker Brothers, of Moor Lane, Clitheroe, it was one of the most significant years in the company’s 45-year history. It marked an about-


in the future. Bowker B ro th e r s ,


Existing management


turn in fortunes from the miseries of making a loss for three successive years as demand for kitchen fur­ niture — which reached its peak in the early 1970s — dropped to an unpre­ cedented low level to the happy position of being on the brink of becoming one of this country’s leading manufacturers of doors for kitchen units. Additional equipment


founded as Bowker and Lord, joiners and cabinet makers, in 1935, employ­ ed 10 people before the Second World War. The workforce increased to about 50 as demand for items such as kitchen cabinets, gate-leg tables bed-heads and even cof­ fins, many made from solid oak and mahogany, increased.


however, as a result of fresh, younger, but ex­ perienced people being appointed to the com­ pany’s board, Bowkers progressed rapidly from being “craft” directed to “production” orientated — and sales increased con­ siderably. In 1968, with the


Between 1963 and 1968,


worth about £40,000 was recently installed at the factory and will bring the standard of Bowkers’ top- quality doors into line with the best in the world, and increase the chances of new workers being taken on some time


saw that something dras­ tic had to be done if Bow­ kers was not to fold all together and in April, 1979, the Clitheroe com­ pany started to make cabinet doors on a very small but consistent basis. From the single cus­


tomer that took those doors, orders started to increase as word spread of their quality.


sion was finally taken to drop the sales and dis­ tribution side of Bowkers’ business and gradually phase out furniture man­ ufacturing in favour of specialising in doors.


Last January, the deci­


Bowker family engaged in the business advancing in age, there occurred the first of five “takeovers.”


company is Consolidated Home In d u s tr ie s , of Hemel Hempstead, who took over in 1977.


The present parent


tion side of the business was costing us £300,000 a year, which is excessive in anybody’s language, so we decided to disband the sales force in favour of direct selling," said man­ aging director Mr Chris Bolton. “That meant the total


“The sales and distribu­ SKILLED craftsmen at work on a batch of doors.


same number of factory workers throughout the changeover, which has been gradual but has really taken the whole of 1980. “Now, with the installa­


ing. director of Evans Bellhouse, of Manchester, then a sister company of Bowkers, but he returned to head the Clitheroe company in July 1978. Bowkers are currently


tion of the new equipment and a big vote of confi­ dence by our parent com­ pany, we are on the verge of exciting times and if we are as successful in 1981 as we were last year, we will be very happy. “There may even be a


producing around 2,500 doors a week, with the maximum possible. capaci­ ty as high as 4,000. “Competition is fierce


chance of the workforce increasing if demand in­ creases as we expect it to.” . Mr Bolton first joined


workforce dropping from, around 98 to 71. How­ ever, we maintained the


Bowkers in 1968, when Mr Peter Ireland, who led the company through the heady days of the early 1970s, was managing di­ rector. Mr Bolton left Bowkers in 1976 to become manag­


and for that reason we are unable to increase our prices. But our customers — who number around seven at the moment — come back to us for four reasons, says Mr Bolton. These are: . “Easy access — all cus­


A GOOD team spirit . and the ability to me e t c o n s ta n t ly changing demands- of the carpet industry are reasons why one Clitheroe firm is confi­ dent of beating the economic gloom. A f te r su rv iv in g a


“traumatic” 12 months, commission carpet man­ u f a c tu re r s S ta lw a r t Dyeing looks well equip­ ped to tackle the tough road that undoubtedly lies ahead in 1981. Determined managing


E m


AMUSEMENT will provide er] pubs, clubs and England this Clitneroe. Ribble Valley


c


TURj HO\


recently moved i: first of four advai tory units to be oi at’ the Upbrooks the town’s Salthill rial Estate. The fi have been built being leased by ish Industrial Corporation, in tiori with the Dep: of Industry. Ribble Valley


which originated i: burn, is headed


THE tufting department — one of three main areas of production at Stahvart.


director Mr Trevor Balm- forth gave an indication of his “beat the odds in spite of recession attitude” when he recently in­ vested thousands of pounds in a carpet-back­ ing unit. This will enable the company'to expand its commission production facilities — good news for the workforce at its Prim­ rose Works. But Mr Balmforth is under no illu­ sions that the future will become automatically brighter. “The rules of industry


hours and accept lower living standards,” he says. In common with many


local firms the past 12 months have been very difficult for Stahvart, which has had to fight a depression in the carpet trade, as wrell as the over­ all recession. Six months ago a dras­


specialised, we have to re­ spond quickly to trends. Shops cannot sell a carpet which is overpriced or that has gone out of fashion.” . “Within weeks, we have


tic fall-off in demand for carpets resulted in 15 workers being made re­ dundant, although the re­ cently-installed backing unit has recreated half of those jobs. . Now, at the start of


tomers are within three hours travelling distance; flexibility — we can turn our hands to a particular customer’s specific needs at vei-y short notice; av­ ailability and, of course, quality.”


FU RN ITU R E


MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS FOR KITCHEN AND BEDROOM FURNITURE MANUFACTURE


WE’L L OPEN NEW DOORS FOR YOU ! ( ^ j


OAK OAKSTAINED HARDWOOD OAK ITS WELL WORTH A VISIT TO OUR— FACTORY CARPET SHOP


All qualities of roll ends and room size carpets. Many bargains with a good selection of plain and pattern styles. Open Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.


FORTRESS Storage Cabinets and Sideboards


’•Dining Suites : Bench Sets .Occasional Furniture Solid Timber Doors


BOWKER BROS (Clitheroe) Ltd, Sun St., Clitheroe, Lancs BB7 1AL. Tel. (0200) 22316/7/8


DYEING COMPANY LIMITED


STALWART


PRIMROSE WORKS CLITHEROE Tel. 23721


have changed. To compete effectively in today’s envi­ ronment everyone is going to have to increase output at less cost. This will not only be achieved by innovation, greater ef­ ficiency and new invest­ ment. “If not, we had better


we can maintain our pro­ duction during this time then we should be allright for the rest of the year,” he says. Above all, Mr Balm­


to respond to retail re­ quirements. People are spending less money and . if you do not cater for their demands you lose their business,” says Mr Balmforth. Stalwart has three main


areas of production: tuft­ ing, pattern dyeing' and secondary backing. Although demand for


1981, Stalwart Dyeing can offer a fully comprehen­ sive commission service to the tufting industry. The company does not


get used to the idea of two million people being on the dole, or be pre­ pared to work, fewer.


make and sell carpets under the Stahvart name, but takes orders from branded manufacturers supplying individual stores or chains for what are sometimes exclusive lines. “Because we are very


tufting and dyeing fluctu­ ates, both facilities need final backing, so the firm- is hopeful that at least half of its production side will be working flat out. This theory will be put to the test in- the next three months, according to Mr , Balmforth. “The early part of the


year is traditionally slack in this industry with the effect of January sales. If


to have been here a long time” adds Mr Balmforth. To illustrate the under­


forth sees the coming 12 months as being a vital period of adjustment. Everyone has had to face the stark facts, most in­ dustrial profitability has virtually disappeared and automatic pay rises are a thing of the past. “Only general economic recovery will bolster pay packets in the future.”


economic climate, co-oper­ ation from the firm’s workers is essential and Mr Balmforth enjoys good relations with his employ­ ees. Over the years, there had been very little staff turnover, leading the boss to draw only one conclu­ sion. “They must like working here. We certain­ ly are not able to pay the highest wages in town and most employees seem


In such a precarious . .


standing attitude of his workers, he recalls a letter he recently received from a former employee. The man had opted for early retirement to save the job of a young collea­ gue and was prompted to write to Mr Balmforth after reading in the Ad­ vertiser and Times about the installation of the backing unit. Rather than demanding


thl


Douglas Brownrig Mr Kenneth YourJ both live in the area. They are gral


switching a large I the firm’s operatl Clitheroe — a mol will hopefully creatl


to know why the firm was expanding only four months after making men redundant, the letter con­ veyed ' warm wishes for th e fu tu re of-, the company. Says Mr Balmforth:


“That’s typical of the kind of attitude I find among my workers. “There’s little aggreva-


tion, just a general wil­ lingness to knuckle down and help the firm make progress."


Stalwart Dyeing Co. Ltd. CARPET DYERS and PRINTERS


i V i :’ ft. * T A !


FRI MAI


t


' being applied Speading, of


LIGHTWEIG11 away. Mr Bro |


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