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Gary Miller, managing director of Millers Interiors, has been in business for more than 20 years.

He had begun a carpet and upholstery cleaning venture in 1999 before expanding into selling carpets to his cleaning customers in 2006.

“This gained traction quickly – within three months I opened my first carpet shop in Carnoustie,” he said.

“Because I had been cleaning carpets for a number of years I had a good client base who knew and trusted me, so we did well from the off.

“We currently have 12 staff and have just taken on a new apprentice floor fitter.  We are keen to get the young ones trained and involved as there are not enough skilled fitters available.”

So how is Millers Interiors performing currently in today’s uncertain business environment?

Gary replied: “It’s tough this year, but it’s nothing we’re not used to.

“We sell a wide range of products, so we have more chance of selling to the wider audience.  We are also not too big that we can’t change tack quickly to deal with market conditions.

“We are also part of a buying group.

“This gives us some really good preferential pricing that we can then pass on to our customers.

“We compete against some big players in Tayside and Angus, but honestly I don’t look to see what they are doing, I focus on what we can do better for our customer base.

“I feel that we are the perfect size that we can compete with the bigger guys but small enough to give that personal service that our customers love – especially repeat customers.

“I’m quite sure they love that when they walk in the store we know how they are and always know something about the last job we did.”

The managing director feels that honesty with customers is always the best policy.

“If you’ve made a mistake with an order, tell the truth, own up, offer a solution and make sure the customer gets full satisfaction upon completion.

“This doesn’t happen often, but we are all human and things happen, it’s how you deal with it that counts.  Sometimes you shine more when a mistake has occurred than everything going to plan.”

Looking to the future, Gary wants to keep growing the residential side of the firm.

He added that the commercial side is steadily growing and a wholesale operation is also starting to roll out.

“Five years on from now I would hope to have 20-plus employees, with a good few fitting teams along with sub-contractors all working flat out week in week out – and to have more of a presence throughout Tayside, Angus and beyond.”

Gary said he loves running a business but pointed out that there can be drawbacks too.

“It takes up a huge part of your life and you never switch off from it fully, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I have a fantastic core customer group who have supported me over the years and I am truly thankful.

“I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who has supported Millers over the years and continues to do so.”

He is also fearful about what awaits for small businesses in the UK budget.

Among the speculation is an increase in national business contributions by businesses.

The Angus business owner said: “A huge part of our economy is via SMEs, and they are doing nothing to help.  Labour’s policies will be so detrimental – it’s hard to see why people would look to set up businesses within the UK.”

This article appeared in The Courier Business Supplement on 29 October 2024.