Day trippers to Furness were due to be shown the delights of Barrow’s new furniture superstore in 1995.

Under the headline ‘Furniture shop is part of tour’, The Mail reported that it was all part of a new Farm, Fun and Furniture Tour, which was designed to attract visitors and business to the region.

The visits were the brainchild of Furness and Cartmel tourism boss Tim Rogers.

The coach trip took in:

  • Parkhouse Animal Farm, which in January 1995 got the go-ahead from Barrow’s development committee.
  • Stollers Furniture World
  • The Laurel and Hardy Museum in Ulverston.

Stollers general manager Neil Berry said he planned to show visitors around the store, offer them a complimentary drink in the café and perhaps sell them some furniture.

He added: “We want to work to try to involve people coming into the area to see what Barrow’s all about.

Marks and Spencer in Barrow had already offered popular and successful trips to the store, giving shoppers an opportunity to look backstage. The trips ended with a fashion show.

The Mail stated that coach groups formed an important part of the tourist industry in Furness with more than 200 groups from Yorkshire, Lancashire and Liverpool visiting the area during 1994.

Mr Rogers was due to meet three major Manchester coach operators to encourage them to book trips to the area from an updated list of tours.

On December 27, 1995, keen buyers braved icy weather and began queuing at Stollers Furniture World, in Barrow, from 5am as the store slashed prices in its post-Christmas Sale.

Under the headline 'Early birds out to catch the bargains ', The Mail reported that Doug Porteous was first to arrive at 5.10am after a family bet was laid for him to buy a bed selling for 99p when doors opened at 10am.