The owner of a Derby home interiors firm which has been in his family for more than 60 years has sold the business.
Duncan Parker, boss of Maurice Parker Ltd, in Alfreton Road, has sold his business to Alan Jones of AJ Floorcraft.
Maurice Parker was founded by Duncan’s father in 1954 as a tile fitting company.
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Over the years it has evolved to become one of the biggest regional names in bathroom, kitchen and bedroom designs.
Duncan, aged 62, said that he had originally planned to retire at 65. But he decided he wanted to exit the business early and turned to an organisation called The Alternative Board (TAB) Derby, of which he is a member, for advice.
TAB Derby provides a confidential environment where business leaders can improve their performance through business coaching.
It has developed peer group boards made up of members from a broad cross-section of industries including retail, marketing, manufacturing, and accountancy and training companies.
These boards meet once a month and its members, who are all business owners, challenge each other to complete real-life targets that they set each other.
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Duncan said: “A little while ago I was starting to feel the pressure and I thought about ways of exiting the business.
“I spoke at length to fellow TAB peer board members whose ideas have helped make it possible to leave sooner than later.
“They helped me process decisions before the sale and during it. They are an Intelligent, eclectic bunch of people who got to the nitty gritty of a complex scenario.
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“The support in group meetings has been absolutely invaluable. Running a business on your own is very very difficult with lots of problems on a daily basis, so getting these problems into the open on a confidential basis relieves much of the pressure. Like-minded people give help and advice which helps you through.
“Anyone ought to give themselves a morning out of their hectic schedules to try TAB. It won back three years of my life and I know it would help many others.”
As for the sale of his business to AJ Floorcraft, Duncan said: “I believe that the deal with Alan Jones will be a really good one for the business.
“AJ Floorcraft has established complementary expertise in painting and high-quality flooring. Meanwhile, my wife has stayed on and manages the bathroom and kitchen side.”