A local family business, shortlisted by the judges of the prestigious national DIY Week Awards, were at the awards luncheon in London last Friday when it was announced that they were in the top three in the country for their marketing initiative.

Baileys DIY, with its well-known branch in Ross-on-Wye, was chosen from numerous national DIY chains and other independent local DIY stores.

“We were absolutely delighted with the news.” Said Ian Bailey, managing director of the Bailey’s family business. “Although my family have been in business in the area for many years we’ve only been involved in DIY for the last seven, so we’re relative newcomers to the industry.

“To achieve such recognition for a local family business up against big national names is something that we’re very proud of. ”

Norman and Carole Bailey started the Bailey family business in 1972 doing car repair and sales from a small shed in Brecon Road, Abergavenny with their young son Ian, helping out after school and at weekends and Ian’s wife Julie, joining them when the couple married.

In 2013 the Bailey family were given the opportunity to purchase and rebrand an existing DIY business located directly behind the petrol garage and when a unit became available in Ross-on-Wye and the Bailey family snapped it up and moved into what was an old Focus DIY building just outside the town.

Now providing employment for over 90 local people, it’s Ian and Julie’s son and daughter, Matthew and Katie Bailey, who run the businesses on a day-to-day basis.

“The DIY market has changed dramatically over the seven years that we’ve been involved,” said Matthew Bailey. “We’ll never forget our DIY roots, it still makes up over 50% of our business, but we’re constantly having to think on our feet to introduce new departments like toys, drinks, sweets and food lines, to keep our customers coming back.”

The DIY Week Awards presentation took place place on Friday 10th May at the Tower Hotel, London hosted by Iranian comedian and writer, Shappi Khorsandi.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.