ONE of Rossendale’s most popular salesmen has bid farewell to his trade after developing a rare heart condition.

Bed specialist Clive Nuttall, owner of Domus furniture store in Rawtenstall, is set to retire after more than 30 years in the business.

Clive, who was born and raised in Haslingden, has overseen major expansions to the Domus store, which was originally launched within an old Kwik Save shop, in Bacup Road.

The 51-year-old said: “I knew I liked to work for myself from the age of 10 and had 60 hens on an allotment where I sold eggs and oven-ready free range chickens.

“After working for Cavendish Woodhouse selling furniture and carpets until the age of 21, I set up the carpet retail business Discount Carpet Centre, in Rawtenstall, within the old Kwik Save store.

“In the 1980s we moved into the current 9,000sqft premises, before changing the name of the business to Domus, which means ‘home’ in Latin.”

The store’s name change injected a new lease of life into the company in the 1990s, and it hosted in-store charity events, including a sponsored sleep.

In his successful career, the former Haslingden Grammar School student sold bespoke furniture to a Jamaican pub on Bodmin Moor, fitted carpets for use in top-of-the-range boats, and furnished homes worth more than £1million.

Clive has also sent containers of furniture abroad to Spain, Sierra Leone, and the Canary Islands.

He said: “I once took a large colourful chaise longue out to Spain on a charter flight as excess luggage for one of our clients, as it arrived too late to get it on a container.

“I got some great comments off the other passengers and had some good laughs.

“I have enjoyed making lots of friends in the industry and among my customers.”

Clive has called it a day after being diagnosed with the heart disorder Marfan Syndrome two years ago.

Clive said he is looking for a young dynamic businessman to take over the business.