Celebrating our 20th Business Anniversary: Here’s how we made it

In February 2024 we celebrate our 20th business anniversary, time sure does fly when you’re having fun. When we first started in business 20 years ago, we could never have imagined where we would be today. Our business has rapidly grown, thanks to the excellent reputation that we have built up over the years!

Our directors Colin Major and Coral Affleck-Major, started 1st Choice Stairlifts after working for a combined 25 years’ in the stairlift industry for businesses including Stannah, ThyssenKrupp and Bison Bede.

We started the business as a work from home enterprise before moving into our first space at Calne’s Porte Marsh Industrial Estate just 9 months later. We won the Calne Start-Up Business award in our first year before going on to win the same award for the whole of North Wiltshire.

The business continued to grow, and in 2011 we outgrew those premises so we moved to a new unit on the same estate in Harris Road, to triple our size. The much larger space that allowed us to consolidate all our activities into one space rather than renting 3 separate units.

This was the same year that we redesigned our logo, giving it fresh new look that reflected our business. We chose a butterfly to symbolise transformation that a stairlift can bring to our users, giving them a new lease of life. Our customers assisted us in choosing the colour! 

As the business continued to grow, in 2021, we expanded our premises even further by purchasing a unit opposite our existing one. We expanded our space and bought a new unit right next to ours. This allowed us to store a wide range of models as well as new stock ready for a quick installation without any delays, due to Brexit, Covid, and component shortages. With this space we have increased our efficiency even further and have been able to help more customers faster than ever. Our operations are all in one location and cover workshop and product preparation, offices, and a showroom.

From just two employees (our Directors Coral & Colin), now 20 years later in 2024, we have a strong team of 17 members of staff who look after all of the company’s functions including sales, installation, maintenance, marketing, and accounts.

So, when less than 5% of businesses make it to their 20th business anniversary, why are we so successful?

Here are our thoughts:

• We love what we do. We’re passionate and enthusiastic about helping people to maintain their independence and stay in the home they love.
• We genuinely care about our customers and making a positive difference to their lives, giving them the independence to live life their way, with the help of a stairlift or homelift.
• We do a great job, as a 5 star rated Which Trusted Trader, our reviews speak for themselves. 
• We have the best team ever (no we genuinely do)! Our team is committed to working hard to offer the best solution to clients with high standards of workmanship, whilst taking pride in their jobs.
• We owe everything to our wonderful customers! We’re truly thankful and honored that they pick us to buy from and trust us to take care of them or their loved ones when they need assistance with a lift.

Even though we have become one of the biggest stairlift retailers in the UK, we are still true to the family values that the company was built on and continue to offer that personalised service that cannot be beaten.

We offer a full range of stairlifts, home lifts, and wheelchair lifts to suit most homes and clients needs from various top lift manufacturers. We will also take on any maintenance of products that have already been installed even if we were not the original installer.

If you’d love our team to help you or a loved one to become independent and stay in the home they love with the help of a lift, then please don’t hesitate to give us a call for a friendly chat on 01249 814528 or 08000 19 22 10, or via [email protected]