A Liverpool business that has stood the test of time is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
Since opening its doors back in 1962, Woolton Carpets has furnished thousands of homes across the city and served four generations of families. Owner Tony Griffin, 63, who runs the company with his son Anthony, 31, said it's "the service" that has kept the business going for so long.
The company was awarded "best flooring retailer" in the country by Interiors Monthly last week, which Tony described as a "great achievement."
READ MORE: Man went from working two jobs to owning coffee shop rivalling Starbucks
Tony told the ECHO: "We've built the business literally on service. We are very efficient in what we do i.e. if we say we're going to be there on Monday at 9'oclock, we'll be there on Monday at 9'oclock.
"The amount of people who come in and say 'you've done my parents and grandparents [flooring]', it's unbelievable - we're now into fourth generations. Everyone is treated the same. Whether you spend £100 or £10,000 you're going to be treated exactly the same."
Tony first started working at Woolton Carpets as a trainee sales assistant after leaving school in 1975, and became a director seven years later. As a big employer in the area, Tony said the company puts a lot back into the community by making donations to local schools and organising a Christmas party for pensioners in the Garston area.
But it's the location of the business that causes a lot of confusion with passersby, who question why it is called Woolton Carpets despite being based in Garston. Tony said company's name comes from the days when it was based in Woolton, but it later moved to Garston as it began to expand.
He said: "We moved across to where we are now, which is in Garston, but we maintained the name because obviously people from Woolton knew where we were. The reason behind it was we couldn't find a building big enough in Woolton village."
Today, the company supplies carpets and flooring for customers across the country, from homeowners to commercial clients including hotels and businesses. Tony said the team is made up of a number of longstanding employees, many of whom have worked there for over 25 years.
Speaking of their success in winning a national award, he said: "I was a little bit dumbfounded to say the least. To be recognised nationally I thought was a great achievement. "
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.
READ NEXT:
Liverpool's oldest businesses that sit at the heart of the city
Caravan transformed into Liverpool FC fan's room with unearthed photos
The £122m Liverpool shopping empire started in front room of terrace house
