Sewing firm marks 30 years in town
A FAMILY firm which sells and repairs sewing machines has celebrated 30 years in business.
Phil Morton Sewing Machines opened in August 1986 when Phil Morton launched the business with his wife Janes from their home on St George’s Street.
A year later they opened their first shop on Cross Street and later moved to their current home on Mill Street.
Initially the business dealt primarily in industrial machines supporting the factories all over the town, while also selling domestic appliances.
But as the town’s industrial landscape changed and clothing manufacturers moving their businesses abroad, the shop began selling more domestic machines.
Today, Phil, 66, and Jane are looking to retire and children Vicky, 27, and Richard, 23, have both joined the business.
Phil’s first job after leaving school was as a sewing machine mechanic at WK Lowe’s.
He said: “The day after I left school, mum said to me there’s a job in the Macclesfield Express at Lowe’s, don’t come home unless you get it.
“Needless to say I got it and it started the only career I have known.”
When he was 21, Phil decided to go it alone and started his own repair business. But Lowe’s missed him and he was swiftly brought back in on better wages and terms.
He remained there until 1986 when he gave his own business a go.
Phil said: “A good illustration of how manufacturing has changed is that at one time I rented out 200 industrial machines, now it is more like 50.
“So much business has gone abroad, and while I have been affected, business has always been steady. I have people coming from all over the region, Sheffield, Chester, Manchester.”
Phil, a season ticket holder at Macclesfield Town FC, said he has been meaning to retire for the last 10 years, adding: “Business has been going so well and I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I keep going.”