STEVE Heslop’s 50-year career with Choices Flooring by Swintons is ending as he and Jack Swinton sell their shared enterprise to local Jason Iannucci.
After starting out in deliveries and hanging curtains for Choices straight out of school, Mr Heslop took on the carpet department at age 20 and was Mr Swinton’s business partner from age 25.
“After, say, five years of doing the carpets, he told me he was going to retire soon and he’d either sell me the business or go partnerships and help me get the loan to buy it, which I took him up on – and we’ve been partners ever since,” Mr Heslop said.
In his 50 years operating a business in Swan Hill, Mr Heslop said he had learnt that customer service was the priority.
“Over the years I’ve sold carpet to people and we’ve been more expensive but they like the way we do things.
“I would suggest that service is the most important thing for customers.”
Mr Heslop has no grand retirement plans beyond spending time with his grandchildren but said he expected he wouldn’t be idle for long.
“I’ll just have a break and see what happens after the break – I might even enjoy sitting on my bum doing nothing, but I can’t see that because I love working,” he said.
Mr Iannucci and his wife have bought Choices Flooring by Swintons outright, but the Swinton name will remain.
