BELFAST-based global flooring importer, The Wooden Floor Company, has opened its sixth store in Scotland.
Based in Falkirk, the new premises feature a 5,000 ft showroom and warehouse and has resulted in the creation of extra positions in sales and warehousing for the Boucher Road firm.
Specialising in all types of wood flooring, from solid to engineered and laminates, the company - which also imports natural stone and ceramics - hopes the latest expansion will position it as Northern Ireland's and Scotland's leading flooring retailer.
"The new showroom and warehouse will link up with the existing Glasgow and Edinburgh stores, meaning we have covered the central belt while also providing a good hub to send goods south to England and Wales," Richard Snape, managing director, said.
"We have enrolled new sales staff already and hope to employ a further three people across warehousing and sales."
Mr Snape said he hoped the move would show that with "passion and hard work", SMEs could still "thrive in difficult circumstances".
"In difficult times, with job losses never far from the news, it is important to remain focused, both on local markets and opportunities beyond our own shores," he said.
"With passion and hard work we hopefully demonstrate how an SME can thrive in difficult circumstances. The limelight is often on the large corporations but SMEs are the back-bone of the economy and, although often overlooked, are vital to future growth."
The Wooden Floor Company has, over recent years, opened the Unreal Grass Company, The Tile Company and The Carpet Company within its recently acquired premises at Boucher Road.
"These, along with developments online, demonstrate that we remain focused on growing and developing from our base in Belfast," Mr Snape added.
