Three years after starting a one man (and his van) home improvements firm Luke Pearce is creating a state-of-the-art showroom in a formerly rundown historic building that he knew from his childhood.
The 27-year-old left school and worked for family firm Clifton Glass in Llandudno for eight years - learning all areas of the trade.
Then in 2018 he bought a van and started to work for himself - setting up L Pearce Home Improvements Ltd.
It has been a remarkably successful three years, with the pandemic also helping the business to thrive as people invested in their homes.
He now employs seven staff and has taken on part of the newly renovated Grade II listed Pump House in Rhos-on-Sea.
It’s a building he knew well having been brought up in the estate opposite and previously seen it fall into a poor condition.
Luke said: “I’m a Rhos boy so this really is a homecoming for me.
“I knew the site from growing up, it was where young people messed around and it was not in a good condition.
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“But now it is so impressive, it was a no-brainer when we saw it.
“We will create a state-of-the-art showroom here that will give people a proper feel for a room and for the products we supply.
“As soon as you drive to the building there is that ‘wow factor’ amd this opens the business up to different customers.”
Luke has always been ambitious but admits he is surprised at the speed in which the business has grown.
He said: “I started with just me and a van, doing windows and doors but quickly expanded.
“We now have seven people here and lads with a lot of building experience so it has extended what we can do - with things like extensions and attic conversions.
“The whole trade has gone mad in the last couple of years and while I was ambitious I did not expect to be at this stage so quickly.
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“We turned over £200,000 in the first and second year and are looking at around £350K to £400K this year - the longer term aim is to build that to over £1m a year.
“This building will help us to keep expanding and I already know we need extra people for the showroom.
“It is stressful but I can’t complain about how things have gone.”
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