Local online retailers open off-line outlets at Spotland Bridge Mill

Jacqui Lowe-Jackson, Terry Johnson and Chris Gabbott all have one thing in common. They all started selling online working from home and within the last twelve months have now established businesses based on the second floor of the east wing of Spotland Bridge Mill on Mellor Street in Rochdale - the three businesses: Just Bras, NW Retail Solutions and Alpha Batteries are now diversifying into new markets.

Ms Lowe-Jackson of Just Bras was the first of the trio to make the move from working at home to taking the plunge of setting up her new business at Spotland Bridge Mill, building on the success of her online business she established the firm of Just Bras and launched a lingerie website selling high quality branded bras and specialist bras such as post mastectomy bras, front fastening bras and maternity/nursing bras. The website is quickly becoming established as a leading brand name supported by adverts placed in national womens magazines. A spin off to this success was requests from local customers to visit the mill, so they could buy direct.

Ms Lowe-Jackson said: "Nobody was more surprised than me, when we started getting people coming into the mill looking for us, so much so that I had to tell them that we were not set up for customers and that it was a warehouse, not a normal shop. We,ve put that right now, with the unit being made more customer friendly, with a showroom area, a small changing room and we offer a full fitting service, with our staff being sent on fitting courses in London."

Terry Johnson of NW Retail Solutions was the second entrepreneur to make the move. He said: "I,ve been selling office supplies online for the last couple of years and got to the stage where every room in the house was filled with stock. I decided it was time to make the move into business premises. Moving into Spotland Bridge Mill was the start of a roller coaster ride, with growing sales and developing links with new suppliers. Now with a staff of four and set for further expansion I have diversified the business with the emphasis now being on corporate sales, selling to both local businesses and through our website to customers nationally."

The latest business to make the move is Alpha Batteries, selling car batteries online and now direct to the public at their Spotland Bridge Unit. Mr Gabbot said: "Working from home gave me the opportunity to grow the business online with the minimum of risk, until I was selling so many batteries that I needed to make the move into business premises. I have now set up a shop in the unit, stocking fully charged, ready to fit batteries for cars, vans, commercials and leisure use, selling directly to the public with my son Peter joining me in the business, helping to deal with the increased workload."