Barrow Plastic Man Ltd to close up after 21 years of business

The Plastic Man Limited company, located on Andrews Way, Barrow, will be shutting up shop as the owner’s plan to retire.

Joyce and Steve Walker, 68 and 73, will be retiring from the business world after two decades of work.

PARTNERS: Joyce and Steve have been in business for over two decades

After a recent illness, the couple will be closing down the business once it has been sold.

Joyce, the Financial Director of the Plastic Man, said: “It’s been a good 21 years of business and it’s a little sad to leave it behind.

“But I want to put all of my time into looking after my husband who has been very poorly recently.

“After he fell ill, I thought I just can’t go on, I want to be at home with him.

“We’ve had a lot of people who are upset to see us go.

“We put it on Facebook, and we had people thinking it was because of Covid. Thankfully, that’s not it but these things happen I’m afraid.

“His health must come first.

“When we were open on half days when he had doctors’ appointments people were very understanding.

“We have not sold the business yet, but we are looking to.”

Joyce and Steve met in Warton near Carnforth before coming over to Barrow.

TRADERS: Joyce and Steve owners of Plastic Man Ltd, are retiring after 21 years

She added: “We bought a house that needed doing up, and as the prices were high, we thought we’d do it ourselves.

“After we’d finished, we thought of the idea of making it into a little business.

“We got supplies from people we knew. We started small but we soon managed to triple in size, and then we tripled again.

“I felt we did very well, and my husband was used to buying and selling so that aspect of things came quiet naturally for him.

“We got some really good deals and we made sure it was never about greed. It was about people coming to us and we would make sure we got them the best price for the things they needed.

“A few years ago, we actually managed to get on the television.

“We had a big poster put up on the roundabout and it caused a bit of a ‘hoo ha’ ha in the town.

“It was of Steve’s head Photoshopped onto a beach body which caused a bit of a ruckus.

“We had ladies coming in and asking to speak to Steve after it went up which made us laugh.

“We didn’t expect that, and we ended up getting a mention on Granada TV. It certainly raised a few chuckles.

“To our customers we say thank you for everything, and to other businesses we’d say always make it about the customer.”