Sterling Furniture is Scotland's largest

furniture Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (tables), storing items, eating and/or working with an item, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Fu ...

retail development based in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. It was founded in 1974 by Stirling-based furniture retailer George Knowles, who based its concept on the out-of-town retail developments which had been successful in the United States. He bought and converted a disused mill in Tillicoultry, making it the largest furniture showroom in Scotland. Knowles later expanded the complex to include a 'Homestore Outlet' and garden centre, and was involved in the development of the "Sterling Mills outlet centre" on land opposite the original furniture warehouse, which was formerly the base of Marshall Construction. Their television advertisements, starring football commentator

Dougie Donnelly Douglas Donnelly (born 7 June 1953) is a Scottish television personality best known for presenting sports coverage. Career Donnelly was born in Glasgow, where he began his career with Radio Clyde in the 1970s, presenting the top-rated Mid Morn ...

have become part of popular culture, together with the phrase "Tillicoultry, near Stirling" (even though Tillicoultry is 10 miles east of Stirling). Sterling have stores throughout Scotland in Aberdeen,

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

, Edinburgh (this store was branded as ‘Martin & Frost’ from 2015-2021, but was reverted to a Sterling Home store),

Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...

Inverness Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...

and Uddingston but the Tillicoultry HQ is by far the largest with a Homestore as well as two restaurants and a garden centre. After the death of George Knowles' son in 2003, Gordon Mearns took over the running of the company. He has expanded the company's stores and profits. BoConcept store opened in Sterling Furniture in November 2021.

References

External links

Sterling Furniture website

Sterling Mills website
Retail companies established in 1974 Companies based in Clackmannanshire Organisations based in Clackmannanshire Buildings and structures in Clackmannanshire Service companies of Scotland Shopping centres in Scotland 1974 establishments in Scotland Economy of Clackmannanshire {{UK-retail-company-stub