Fellside Carpets and Flooring is run by a Mother and Daughter who opened their own flooring business after working in the trade for many years.
Christine Sowerby, of North Dykes, and her daughter Michelle Crompton, of Kirkoswald, opened Fellside Carpets and Flooring at Sandgate House, Penrith on 9th May 2015
Working at another flooring shop in the town for a combined time of 20 years, Christine and Michelle wanted to take on their own challenge. "We were looking for years when the premises came up, it was like fate," said Christine, who lives with her husband Stephen.
Christine was born at Unthank and, after finishing school, did a variety of jobs, which included working on her family farm, driving wagons for family business, Sowerby's Transport, and working at Newton Rigg College.
When Christine began working at the previous flooring shop, she never worked in sales before and said what she enjoyed about it was building up a friendship and rapport. "I'm looking forward to working with customers who have become like friends," said Christine.
Michelle, who lives with her husband Jonny and three children, worked at the North Lakes Hotel and the Crown Hotel, Wetheral as a receptionist before moving to Preston and running a pub for five years. When she returned to Cumbria, she worked at CFM in the advertising department before starting work with her mother at the other flooring shop.
3 Years on and the business is going from strength to strength and expanding its range of extensive quality carpets, vinyls and rugs to compete with the ever changing styles and budgets of people today.
