About us
Pocklington Carpets started trading in September 1984 from a rented warehouse in New Street, Pocklington, East Yorkshire.
In 1985 the decision was taken to purchase a permanent site at 8-10 Union Street, Pocklington. The purchase of our own property reduced overheads and created a stable base, this became the pattern for our expansion. As turnover increased so did buying power and with low overheads we could operate very tight on margins. Our policy of supplying top end, quality named branded products at competitive prices quickly paid off.
After 39 years the formula remains the same, only now many new products are available. Wood, Clic laminate flooring and natural textures are now all part of the standard product range with new innovative ranges being added all the time, including recycled carpets and underlays. Low prices, top quality products and high standards of service should ensure Pocklington Carpets will be in front of the competition for the next 30 years.
Our steady growth has been through hard work from all of our staff over the years and to the loyal customer base that we still see today.
With 6 stores there should be one near you. Pocklington, Driffield, Beverley, Pickering, Haxby-York and Tadcaster Road-York.
Our story so far...
1984
Pocklington Carpets started trading in September 1984 from a rented warehouse in New Street, Pocklington. This was and old building nearly opposite the end of Burnby Lane. Now demolished and housing.
1985
Our first Showroom was purchased Oddfellows Hall at 8-10 Union Street, Pocklington. This building had been used as a printers, a joiners shop and various other uses and we believe it was originally built by the Oddfellows of Manchester although we have no paperwork to substantiate this. Also 5a Union Street, Pocklington was acquired for additional storage and a “bed barn” created on the first floor for retailing branded beds for delivery from stock. This used to be Clancy’s builders yard.
1987
A 12,000 sq ft property was purchased in George Street, Driffield. The large retail showroom was refurbished, a central distribution warehouse created and the administration and head office moved to the Driffield site. This was an old chapel at one stage. When we purchased it the previous owners were selling gardening equipment and lawn mowers. Not sure what it was exactly. Any help here would be appreciated.
1988
A fully equipped curtain and soft furnishing workshop was added at Driffield, all soft furnishing making was now done in house.
1989
Third branch added as a 8,000 sq ft property was purchased at Commercial Street, Norton, Malton. This property used to be a car garage and was a great size for displaying carpets and beds.
1990
A full reorganisation of the systems and administration undertaken. Our first computer was acquired to run the expanding accounts. The restructure was needed as further branches were to be added. This was a DOS based computer that looked like something off Apollo 13. Now we have virtual desktops at each store and all accounting and invoicing is in real time.
1992
Fourth branch added as Beverley retail showroom was purchased. A really nice old style building just outside North Bar. This was a Garage before we purchased it.
1995
Fifth branch opened at Selby on the 1st March 1995. Again this was a garage before we purchased. A Ford dealership Mackays of Selby. Right on the main junction of the A19 and A63 at the end of Selby Town centre.
1998
Laminate flooring added to our portfolio of products. Central warehouse created for the storing and distribution from pallet held stock.
1999
Pocklington Carpets incorporated, becomes Pocklington Carpets Limited. A panic for everyone at the end of 1999 when no one really knew how computers would cope with the new millennium. Cost us all a fortune getting them all pre checked.
2000
Sixth branch opened with the purchase of an existing showroom in Haxby, York. This was the Denis York Rug and flooring shop before we purchased it.
2002
Branch seven opened at Pickering, North Yorkshire. This used to be the old bus station in Pickering. A very large building that has a mezzanine level for all our beds. Previously it was a fireplace shop.
2006
With no government based training locally we saw the need to train local staff customer service skills internally. We started an training program for trainee carpet fitters so we can maintain our standards for the future.
2007
April
A new computer system linking all the stores and head office so our customer database and inter branch communication is vastly improved for better efficiency and service. It was obvious to us that communication and integration of real time systems was the way forward for us. Now we order online and can share information so much quicker with staff and customers.
2007
August
New branch in Tadcaster Road York purchased. Planning and building works will be completed by the end of the year with proposed opening in January 2008. This building was the Co Op before we purchased it.
2009
Website updated to an easier cleaner format showing all the products we sell and a new contact form for customers wanting to contact individual branches by e-mail.
2010
December
Demolished entire building at Norton, Malton and started from Ground level to re-build a purpose built carpet showroom with five residential self contained flats above. Worked with the local council and residents to create a building in keeping with the area and showed a commitment to our customers in that area.
2011
September
Re-opened Norton/Malton Branch as our newest showroom with all new ranges of Carpets, Vinyls, Beds and Curtains on offer. Local residents all commented on how much nicer it made that part of Norton look.
2012
January
Pickering store closed for one month to re roof the entire shop area. We took the opportunity to put new displays and flooring to freshen the look. It looks great and feels lots warmer with the insulated roof.
2012
October/November
A five week period of re-furbishment at Driffield store included re-roofing the full front showroom, inserting new energy saving windows and a new door at the front that allows easier access with automatic doors.
2014
September
September saw the beginning of demolition at 5a Union Street. This was our carpet stores, remnants and bed barn retail area. It will eventually be converted into a new showroom with purpose built stores and two 2 bedroom flats above the shop.
2015
5 Union Street Re-opened 11 months from the start date in August 2015. A very modern showroom.
2016
A total re-brand of our marketing collateral including a brand new responsive website designed by Andrew Jones was launched to bring Pocklington Carpets to a new audience.
2018
With a lot of retirements coming up we started a management re structure including promoting junior staff and managers. New ideas could now be implemented easily within the new team structure. A recruitment drive started to carry on with our in house training of new staff. We have had great success doing this over the years and feel that our staff are very knowledgeable and offer honest advice.
2019
The year of Brexit. The UK to leave the group of European countries and become independent has been a political trauma. Good or bad? We won’t know the effects for a long time. It has been a treading water year to see what will happen and how it will affect everything we all do.
2020 March 24th
The Covid Virus has us and every non essential retailer close down to avoid contact with people and reduce the spread of the virus. All staff except the directors are on furlough until the government allows us to open again. A necessary major disruption for us and our customers. Thankfully the majority of customers were very patient and understanding and waited for us to re-open. The Government agreed to pay furloughed staff 80% of their normal wage and Pocklington Carpets topped up the 20% difference so our furloughed staff were on full pay. It was a great thing for the government to do to save businesses and jobs. It will be something we all have to pay for in the long term but it was a great relief and help to us.
2020 June 1st
We re-opened to the public on the 1st June and immediately prioritised the patient customers that had waited for their flooring since March. We became extremely busy from opening with new orders and everyone was sensible with social distancing and using masks and hand sanitiser in store.The corona virus certainly brought out the best in most people. Thank you to all our customers that waited for us and the new customers also coming in.
2020 August 14th
During Lockdown this year we worked on revising our web site so that it was better optimised for mobile devices including phones and tablets. This is where most people browse on line. The web site launches straight into products and contact/find store details. We do not sell on line at the moment as we believe customers need to come in store for the best advice on products and to physically see the colour and feel the textures.
2020 December to April 2021
We had to go through a 2nd lock down during December with the Government plans to re open in January. We re opened for 1 day in January before businesses were told to close again with no re opening date. We re-opened on the 12th April and so lost 4 months business from December to April 12th 2021. During January and February the Malton Store and the Selby store properties were sold and closed permanently. This was a part of a restructure planned in 2018. We also got to re vamp and change displays in some of our stores during this time.
May 2021 to April 2022
Probably the busiest we have ever been once we re-opened as everyone was ready to move forward and get jobs done. Masks in store and visits to customers stayed for a long time. Jan 27th 2022 was when they were not mandatory. 2022 continued to be busy, but hopefully a full year of normal opening and trading. Lots of price increases throughout this first three months with Russia invading the Ukraine bringing instability to the world again. Repair and improvement works done within the stores. New LED lighting in the showrooms and general maintenance. New staff to train and all going well.
August 2024
Telephone systems are being changed from copper wire to internet based lines. No choice for any of us in this, so we have had to make the arrangements to switch over. A disaster of communication between talk talk, Bt and the digital phone company. Anyone thinking of changing, need to get prepared for chaos and a lack of service with no responsibilty. Phones due to change 29th August. 12th August half of our phone lines are “ported” to go to the new service so we lose these phone lines at our store. 8 days of contact with no one ringing back or coming up with a solution. Each company blames the other. Tj and Karen from our Accounts office came up with a solution in the end as the phone companies were just useless, with no sense of urgency. (What they would be like if it was a medical emergency number?) We have now changed over to the new phones early, as we did have the new internet company set up ready. One day of telephone and computer people moving between all our branches seems to have things sorted to a workable degree and all phone lines are back. A stressful time for all of us that were told it would be a very simple switch over. Never Again.
September 2024 - 40 Year Anniversary of Pocklington Carpets
Our 40 Year Anniversary
Between the 23rd and 28th September we are doing lots of promotions and discounts to help celebrate our 40th year in business.
Come in store as there will be 40% off all underlays and many more offers limited to that week only.
Thank you to all our customers over the years. It makes me feel very old when we are now working for some of our original customers children that now have children of their own. So nice to to see them all grow up and us help them with their first properties.
Need help or want to know more?
Customer Service tadcaster@pocklington-carpets.com