Michael dreams of being quilts in!

20 jobs now, 50 later as sound of sewing returns to mill

MANUFACTURING is returning to the Ram Mill in Chadderton, creating 20 jobs in the short term and, ultimately, up to 50 posts.

Entrepreneur Michael Belcher, who ran Slumbalux for many years, building up a multi-million pound turnover business, has started again in the pillows and quilts trade.

With business partner Arron Baxter, from Chorley, he is confident of creating a new brand, Better Dreams, which he will roll out across a string of high street names and chains.

Slumbalux Home Furnishings, which already trades from plants in Hong Kong and China, has taken ownership of part of the Ram Mill, off Broadway, from the administrators of Mr Belcher’s previous bedding products business, Slumbalux, alongside a current tenant which imports bedding.

Mr Belcher, from Diggle, and his father Reginald created a £16million turnover operation, which they sold to Newton Heath firm Sleepdown. This business failed and Mr Belcher is now looking to invest once again, starting from scratch and hoping to secure some big contracts with large outlets.

He has already interviewed many of his former staff with a view to taking them on again once the mill is equipped for production.

A team is working towards making the premises ready for new machinery and staff.

Some sewing of cases is already taking place but the factory remains around a month away from being in full production.

Mr Belcher said: “I have been in touch with many of my old customers and clients and they have been really supportive.

“They know we can produce quality products . . . it is excellent news for Oldham that manufacturing is returning.”

Mr Baxter added: “Our Better Dreams brand will carry our ethos ‘Quality and value without compromise’ and this is our promise to the retail market place.”

A new packaging and branding is in production and the partners are confident that the mill will soon be humming to the sound of sewing and fibre production machinery producing bedding products they will roll out across the length and breadth of the country.