The directors of North Heigham Sawmills Ltd, a specialist timber supplier to the furniture industry and a home-grown timber merchant, have decided to retire and are looking to sell the business as a going concern.
Julie and David Champeney’s decision to sell up has already attracted interest from BBC Norfolk, due to the company’s historical connections – it was once thought to be UK’s biggest Furniture Manufacturer ouside London.
Mrs Champeney, whose great-great-grandfather started the original furniture-making business in 1860, said: “We want to pass the business on and keep it going otherwise it would be quite difficult for our customers because they would have travel for miles [to source their wood].
“We hope it will remain in more or less the same form. We need to find someone who is passionate about wood and energetic.”
The business, which has an annual turnover of about £330,000 and has two mill employees, supplies bespoke furniture manufacturers and the public from its North Heigham site, near Norwich. Timber stocks include British, European, North American and exotic hardwoods and veneers.
Mrs Champeney’s brother Bob Brett started the milling operation when the furniture-making business closed in 1960.
