Business owner in Thornbury having to push back retirement to find successor

Melvyn Green, who runs the Vac Centre in Thornbury, a businesses that specialises in repairing home appliances such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines, had hoped to find someone in the community to take the reins of the business and keep it going after he retires.

But despite a number of parties initially expressing interest, Melvyn, 70, said nothing materialised.

Despite his plans to retire, following a bout of bad health, that it appears he may have to continue the business on for another five years until his wife also retires.

Rather than closing the business, Melvyn said he felt there was a lot the business could still offer its clients, who come from as far as Bristol, Yate and Gloucester.

“Getting the message out is a problem when I am stuck in the shop all the time,” he said.

“The trade in appliances is busy but tough as a lot of what is on the market nowadays is non-repairable.

“Lots of places will guarantee the product for 12 months and simply replace it if there is damage. This means that a lot of repair businesses have gone out of business.

“As a result, I am one of the few left in the area operating such a niche business, which is why I would hate to give it up.

 “I enjoy the job because I enjoy the contact with the customers, and as long as I can open I will.”

The Vac Centre originally started in 1974 under the name Green and Burton after Melvyn went self-employed, and alongside the repair service also sells spare parts for people to fix themselves.

Melvyn had previously said that if someone were interested in taking over, he would be happy to stay on and help with the transition.

He said: “It needs someone who would be able to put the time and effort into the business.

“There are lots of opportunities to diversify,” he said. “So if someone were to take over, they could definitely take the business into some new and exciting directions.”