Mike Goldrick – Businessman of the Year

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Mike Goldrick (left) accepting his Businessman of the year award from Vice Principal of Hopwood Hall College John Spindler

Mike Goldrick of Mike Goldrick Window Blinds and Curtains was named Businessman of the Year at the inaugural Rochdale Business Awards on Friday. Reporter Laura Wild caught up with Mr Goldrick to find out more about him and his business… 

Sat in his spacious office, with a smile from ear to ear - that has probably been there since his name was announced at the awards - it is hard to believe that Mr Goldrick left school with no qualifications and never in his wildest dreams thought he would run his own business.

Mr Goldrick, 54, originally from Manchester, moved to Darnhill, Heywood, in 1962, he attended Sutherland High School and left with no results. In 1979 he wed his high school sweetheart, Debbie, and in the forthcoming years they had three children, Melanie, Michael and Lesley.

It was 1984 when Mr Goldrick started selling blinds on a part time basis alongside his full time job, to make ends meet.

In 1994 Mr Goldrick decided to set up on his own, so he began to manufacture blinds, with the help and hard work of his father. He made roller blinds in his attic and vertical blinds in the garage, whilst holding down a full time job.

In 1998 Mr Goldrick took redundancy from his full time job and went into the blinds business full time.

“The rest, as they say, is history,” he laughed.

As the business expanded Mr Goldrick moved to bigger premises across Heywood.

He also opened several other shops, in Eccles in 1999, Ashton in 2000, Stockport in 2001 and Preston in 2003. He put a man and van in Huddersfield in 2004 and subsequently Leeds and Bradford in 2006.

In 2008 Mr Goldrick bought the old United Services Club on Dawson Street Heywood and renovated the building turning it into a state of the art factory and showroom – the building has been nominated for this year’s Rochdale Borough Design Awards.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/competitions/special-features?ID=12

In October 2009 Tilly’s Tearoom opened within the showroom – a popular meeting place for the people of Heywood.

Since 2008 the Heywood shop has extended and transformed from a blind company to interiors, with the introduction of furniture, bedding and curtains.

Today Mr Goldrick employs over 40 people and is proud to have never lost any staff through redundancies, as the business has grown, the staff have instead been retrained.

He still owns all the shops, except the one in Ashton which was devastated by a fire.

His children, Melanie, 31, Michael, 28 and Lesley, 22, are all involved in the business, as well as Mrs Goldrick.

“You have to remember, I had no qualifications, I left school with nothing but I am a hard worker.

“I have been lucky – but I have worked hard as well and now I have the rewards of a successful company.”

“I have enjoyed what I have achieved,” he added.

Speaking about winning the Businessman of the Year award, he said: “I felt elated!”

Adding, “It means a lot to the people of Heywood.”

Mr Goldrick admits he is looking forward to a rest after years of hard graft.

“I would love nothing less now for the children to take more of a managerial role in the company.”

Mr Goldrick is a keen fundraiser and feels it is important to “give something back.”

Away from the business Mr Goldrick is involved with the Rotary Club of Heywood.