Katy Meets...Middlewich Carpets and Flooring

By Katy O'Regan

Upon entering Middlewich Carpets and Flooring located on Hightown, in the bustling heart of Middlewich, I was immediately struck by the stunning array of flooring options and couldn’t resist exclaiming, “Wow!” all before even greeting Matthew, the shop’s owner. The interior of the shop is a vivid mosaic of choices, filled to the brim with a diverse range of colours, textures, and materials. Yet, despite the extensive selection, the shopping experience is far from overwhelming, thanks to Matthew’s seasoned expertise. He skillfully navigates customers through the myriad of options, ensuring each finds the ideal flooring solution for their needs.

Matthew’s venture into the flooring business traces back to his early days at Northwich Market. There, as a young lad, he helped set up carpet stalls in the wee hours before school, returning at day’s end to wrap up. Post education, he delved into the industry full time, progressively mastering the installation of carpets, vinyl tiles, wood, and laminate flooring. His years of independent work honed his skills until a fortuitous opportunity in 2008 led him to rejuvenate a historic carpet shop on Hightown, a site with decades of history in the trade, as evidenced by an aged photo depicting the storefront, once labelled ‘Rugs, Fleeces, and Mattings.’

Initially, Matthew outsourced the fitting jobs to contractors but quickly realised he missed the practical side of his work. It wasn’t long before he returned to the tools, engaging with customers throughout the entire process, from selecting their flooring to the final fitting, ensuring a thorough and personal service.

Now, sixteen years after its establishment, Middlewich Carpets and Flooring is still a treasured local business, consistently attracting a loyal customer base. The depth of their customer loyalty is such that many clients, having been satisfied years ago, now bring their children who are setting up their first homes, to seek the same quality and service they enjoyed.

A significant factor in the shop’s prolonged success is Matthew’s hands-on approach, from the initial measurements to the final installation. This personalised service is complemented by an efficient supply chain strategy that sources directly from manufacturers. This direct buying eliminates middlemen, allowing the shop to offer highly competitive prices directly to its clientele.

Key suppliers include Cormar, an award-winning, family run British company that has been producing carpets in Lancashire since 1956. Another major supplier Abingdon Flooring, is a prominent British firm with operations across South Wales, the West Midlands, and northern and southern England. This company employs over 300 people and manufactures more than 15 million square meters of carpet annually. Furthermore, Furlong Flooring, a family-owned, UK-based business with over 40 years in the industry, offers a broad array of products including carpets, vinyl, LVT, SPC, laminate, and wood flooring.

Middlewich Carpets and Flooring, under Matthew’s dedicated ownership, remains a vital fixture in the community. The combination of high-quality products, Matthew’s personal touch, and strong supplier relationships ensures that customers return year after year. Indeed, with its vibrant selection and Matthew’s ability to make every customer feel like part of the family, Middlewich Carpets and Flooring keeps laying down a welcoming mat of trust and satisfaction, drawing the community back through its doors time and time again.

All information accurate as of July 2024.