Historic local business becomes Macclesfield Nub News sponsor
Meet the Macclesfield company that are the latest to sign up as a Macclesfield Nub News sponsor, pledging to support local independent journalism.
Macclesfield business Illingworth Ingham boast what they believe is the biggest stock range of timber products in Macclesfield.
They sell a wide range of timber products for your DIY or home renovation projects. From doors, flooring, stair parts, decking, decorative mouldings, and skylight windows.
But the service is anything but wooden. There's 12 friendly staff in Macc, and 120 across all of their sites.
This friendliness stems from them hiring local people, but also as Illingworth Ingham is a family business.
Illingworth Ingham (M/cr) Ltd was founded as a family business in 1929. They are a fifth generation family-owned and led company. With over 90 years' experience, they strive to provide first class timber products and timber services.
The company dates back to 1929. In that time, the company has outlasted 21 Prime Ministers and nine recessions, as well as having three sites across Macclesfield.
Macclesfield Nub News went to meet Adrian Thornley and more staff at their flagship Macclesfield site on 15 Windmill Street. (They also have a premises on Queen's Avenue in Hurdsfield for collection.)
Adrian is Branch Development for all sites, and has worked for the company for 18 years.
"We pride ourselves on offering an extensive timber range and try to cater for everything and everyone", said Adrian.
"We are trusted by local developers and tradespeople. We offer cash and credit trade accounts, as well as competitive prices to all our customers."
"Whatever the enquiry, we always aim to help the customer and deliver what they are looking for.
"For example, a customer has just asked if we can supply 100 tonnes of stone to them. We don't usually deal with stone being a timber merchant, but as the customer asked we were able to source and promptly get this to them.
Timber mouldings, architrave and skirting are top-sellers, they stock a wide range finished by their timber mill in Trafford Park.
They have a saw mill on site at Macclesfield Timber, where Level 2 Wood Manufacturer machinist Matt Turner and the team offer a bespoke cutting service for the clients desired profile.
As a business, they have some of the largest machining facilities in the UK.
"We specialise in timber, so we make sure it is perfect," revealed Adrian.
"We invested heavily into those facilities to provide that service."
This bespoke precision and expertise is an advantage they have over national shareholder-driven competitors, along with their friendly customer service and discounts.
Vertical rails and particularly picture rails also do well, given the amount of Victorian and period homes in Macclesfield. Standard timber carcassing is another type of cut which tops the best-sellers list.
They are part of a buying group, so they can be very competitive on price.
40% of what they sell is Illingworth products, barring the bespoke products, which are made at their saw mill at Trafford Park.
As a trusted industry name for almost a century, Illingworth are proud to put their name to many of their items for sale.
"We have experienced staff in every branch, and are constantly training our staff with the latest product knowledge," Adrian added.
"We welcome customers to come in and ask us about their DIY projects, we are always happy to advise," said Lucinda.
40% of what they sell is Illingworth products, barring the bespoke products, which are made at their saw mill at Trafford Park.
As a trusted industry name for almost a century, Illingworth are proud to put their name to many of their items for sale.
"We have experienced staff in every branch, and are constantly training our staff with the latest product knowledge," Adrian added.
"We welcome customers to come in and ask us about their DIY projects, we are always happy to advise," said Lucinda.
"Our staff will offer recommendations on products to use with the desired finish and economical pricing being the priority. We offer this service to help the customers as best we can."
And Illingworth have been working on a little bit of in-store DIY themselves of late.
A new upstairs showroom is undergoing finishing touches to help make customers visualise what things can look like in a project.
The showroom has been an idea since before the pandemic, but it was only after they helped supply materials for the whole of Macclesfield's-own DIY 'lockdown projects', that they finally got to converting the second floor of their east Macclesfield site.
Recent stock acquisitions includes a wider range of cladding called 'iiclad', which is a new own-brand composite cladding made out of recycled plastic.
This eco-twinged ethos translates to the main side of the business, being timber.
Illingworth is striving to stock a wide variety of FSC timber products, and they will soon bring in a new range of sustainable New Zealand wood called Abodo. This is highly durable, with a 15-year warranty. It is very stable, good for Joinery internal or external, windows and doors, cladding.
Throughout the past 90 years, the business has remained strong and independent within the trade.
They have been on Windmill Street for four years, where Travis Perkins once was located. Older Maxonians will remember Illingworth Ingham used to have a site on Crompton Road for many years.
Lucinda Wright works as a Sales Consultant for Illingworth Ingham.
"I'm new to the timber industry. So it has been really insightful coming into a traditional business," said Lucinda.
"And we hope the local community will support us by bringing their custom, either as an existing, valued customer or coming to meet us for the first time."
"That's whether you are a tradesperson or someone else."
Lucinda also points out that Illingworth has a great door range for the customer. But it is not just caring for the clientele that the company would like to shout about.
"We like the local aspect of Nub News, we can see it has a great community-feel," said Lucinda.
"We are a part of Macclesfield, and want to be known as a part of Macclesfield for a long time."
They've held contests giving away things like takeaway gift vouchers, as another way of giving back to the community and their loyal clientele.
"I like working for them as we are an independent, family company," concluded Adrian.
"We've slowly added bits to the shop we didn't used to sell, like insulation, to make us more of a one-stop shop.
"The timber industry changed massively through COVID. There was not a lot of timber around, and the prices were extortionate but [despite the cost of living crisis] that has fallen dramatically now".
"The availability is amazing at the moment as well. It is quick to get stock. We had a timber delivery from Scotland that came the next day this week..
"We're proud to offer free delivery for orders in Macclesfield over £100.
"We'd like to say a big thank you to the Macclesfield community over the years for their support, and here's to many more."
Macclesfield: Click the red link in this sentence to head to their website, where they also have an online shop.
They currently have a winter sale on, with 25% off treated timber. Customers just need to quote 'WINTER25' in-store or at checkout.
They are also currently hiring in Macclesfield, please click HERE for more information.
You also can follow them on Facebook.
See Also: Meet the new publican in at The Silk Trader
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llingworth Ingham MCR Macclesfield are sponsors of our Macclesfield Nub News.
Thank you to Illingworth Ingham for their support, please show them some support in return.
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