Pauline May Heralds Expansion
Press Release from Pauline May With pic Release Date: 01.01.07
PAULINE MAY SUCCESS HERALDS MAJOR EXPANSION
Keighley-based Pauline May, the UK’s only firm providing clothing wholly to the mature fashions sector, is to move lock, stock and barrel to purpose-built new premises in the town.
The relocation is in response to an urgent requirement for additional space as the company continues its meteoric rise.
Pauline May has long outgrown its current 1,700 sq ft premises in Worth Way, Keighley, and will be moving at the end of January into a new-build 8,500 sq ft unit in the town’s Valley Road.
The new headquarters incorporates extensive reception and warehousing facilities. Visitors will be able to purchase clothing items direct through the company’s catalogue, while people will also be encouraged to bring in their elderly relatives and actively help them with their requirements. Specialist easy access and other facilities catering for the elderly and infirm are being provided in the premises.
Pauline May is the success story of businesswoman Pauline Sargeant, 55, who started her company in the garage of her Keighley home in 1991 with just £1,000 savings – and a vision for the future.
Pauline explained: “For many years, I had realised that clothes for older people were far more difficult to source than readily available younger fashions, coupled with the fact that elderly or infirm people often have difficulty in getting to the shops to buy them
“They were the forgotten generations and I soon recognised that there was a whole new market place out there for purpose-designed, ready-made clothing ranges for mature men and women.
“The whole aim was to provide a service that would make a real difference to people’s lives and the quality of their lives in particular.”
Fifteen years down the line, Pauline May has progressed from garage to world market. Its clothing ranges are now sold to thousands of nursing and residential home residents through a growing UK-wide franchisee network, direct to the housebound, via an international mail order catalogue business and through an online shop at www.paulinemay.com
The business has developed extensively as a one-stop-shop for mature ladies and gents. The design and manufacturing process - all manufacturing is UK-based - remains unique to Pauline May, as does the company’s non-conventional 8 to 30 sizing system, suitable for people weighing from six stones up to 36 stones.
The ranges also include outfits for people with special needs, wheelchair-users and stroke patients among them. For example, the introduction new of codes of practice in care homes has led to the need for clothing specially designed for frailer ladies.
With this in mind, Pauline May has produced an easy-access “Dignity Dress,” featuring a back yoke and wrap-over panel at the rear to help with dressing.
Pauline added: “Because of the quality of our products, which also include footwear and accessories, we are confident enough to offer a 100% money-back guarantee across all our ranges.
“We have never been busier and the move to new, much larger premises will allow us to fulfil current and future expansion plans.”