Firm marks 150 years with £750,000 shop
ONE of Rossendale’s largest employers is celebrating 150 years in business by investing in a £750,000 new one stop trade shop.
J and J Ormerod ( JJO), which has bases across the Valley, has bought the former Jacobson Group works off Bacup Road, Cloughfold, Rawtenstall.
The steel structure of the semi-derelict office building will be retained, but the premises will be completely remodelled from its concrete base upwards, once asbestos cladding has been properly disposed of.
Marshall House, named after long-term director of JJO Kenneth Marshall who has been diagnosed with cancer, is scheduled to open in the autumn.
Joint managing director Stephen Greenhalgh said: “This development will put JJO on the map and it will give us a very visible street presence on one of the main roads through Rossendale.
“Our trade department has been based at our showrooms at Rossendale Interiors on Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, but that has not been ideal. Parking is difficult in that area and customers have to travel the length of the Valley to access the facility on main roads that are regularly subject to delays.”
Staff will also be relocated into more suitable offices with better facilities for meeting clients.
In 2015 the company bought Victoria Works, in the same vicinity as the new trade showroom, which is home to the company’s bathroom department.
Stephen added: “Had we not already bought Victoria Works, I don’t think we would have looked at this building, but having that site so close by means that we already have the transport and management in place for this development.
“The new premises will also provide a base for our own collection and dispatch service.”
Sales and contracts manager Patrick Wilkinson said: “It is a massive investment for JJO and it will give us a street presence. At the moment some people don’t realise that we are also a trade outlet.”
Additional car parking for employees of Victoria Works will be created on site along with customer parking.