Prince Charles

Colin Rafferty

In the late 1980’s a young upholsterer, Colin Rafferty, approached his employer to enquire about the possibility of a pay rise. He was refused, and told to seek his fortune elsewhere. An unrepentant Colin decided to do just that and with the help of
Prince’s Youth Business Trust set up his own business manufacturing headboards for all makes of beds.

Colin, assisted by his wife Glenda, worked around the clock in a rented factory on the Longhill Industrial Estate in his home town of Hartlepool, attempting to turn his dream of becoming his own boss into a reality.

The business took off and expanded rapidly. Within 6 months Colin had won a national award for entrepreneurs, being presented with the Livewire Of The Year Award 1989 by Richard Branson at a ceremony in London.


He was soon employing 20 staff and acquired a larger factory on the same estate from which the firm operates today. Further accolades followed as the business developed, such was his success that Colin was chosen from over 13,000 entrants to exhibit his work before Prince Charles at the success in Business Awards 1992.


In 1995 Colin extended and developed the business premises, creating The Sofa Bed Factory Shop incorporating The Cane Studio. Such was the success of this venture that within three years Colin was able to open a second retail outlet in Hartlepool. The Bed And Pine Furniture store, situated in the town’s York Road, opened in 1998 offering a selection of beautiful hand made furniture and unusual home accessories.


Having travelled around the world Colin had often marvelled at the different styles and ranges of furniture on offer in other countries. He liked what he had seen so much he decided to sell such products at the new Hartlepool store. The idea was a great success, the store has gone from strength to strength and has now extended to showcase 4 floors of high quality furniture and accessories.

On November 1st 2008 following ten successful years and the completion of a major refit, Colin renamed the store as Rafferty's to reflect the store's enhanced size and product range.

A visit to either of Colin’s stores in Hartlepool is a must, and if so desired customers may actually watch their furniture being made in the busy Sofa Bed Shop workshop itself.

 

The Sofa Bed Shop (inc. The Cane Studio) & Rafferty's furniture store, Hartlepool, making houses into homes.