50-year-old store is part of city furniture
Popular shop celebrates five decades in Perth
A popular Perth furniture store is celebrating 50 years of bringing comfort to the people of the Fair City.
James Barclay Furnishings, located on Glasgow Road, is owned and run by James Barclay (74) who started life as an apprentice upholsterer with local Perthshire company Thomas Love and Sons.
And after decades of business success, James is celebrating five decades of the store’s opening in Perth.
He said: “I have been in the carpet and furniture business since I left school. While I wasn’t a natural from the beginning, my ambition from a young age was to start my own business.
“I think it has been the personal service that we offer as well as having knowledgeable staff and quality products at good prices.
“I am exceptionally proud to have been in business for 50 years through all the uncertainties and adversities in the market, and proud that we can continue offering our customers the quality service that we always strive to provide.
“I want to thank my loyal sales staff, my fitting staff and my office staff.”
James left school in 1959 when he was 15 and started a five-year apprenticeship. After completing his apprenticeship he left to train with Allied Hotel Company in upholstery and carpet refurbishing where he was to gain valuable experience.
In July 1968 he decided to start his own business, so working from his parents’ home in North Methven Street Perth, he embarked on his lifetime ambition.
It was not long before business started to grow and just after one year he opened his first shop in Canal Street, Perth.
In the days when rent was a £1 per week plus rates, business was quickly growing and within three years James found himself moving into new premises at 36 Leonard Street Perth.
Business continued to grow
James Barclay celebrating 50 years in business and once again he found himself outgrowing his premises.
When the opportunity arose to purchase 2 Glasgow Road Perth, and 18,000 sq ft of retail area, to build a shop containing all furnishings for the home, he quickly decided that this was the way forward.