A BUSINESS which was almost ruined by a major fire in Port Glasgow is rising from the ashes with a new £450,000 unit — and extra employees.

John Mulholland, who runs Carpetrite in Greenock, is bouncing back from the devastating blaze in March which ripped through his stock warehouse at the Port’s Kingston Industrial Estate.

Plans have been submitted to build a brand new unit after the original one was completely destroyed along with hundreds of pallets of laminate flooring, underlay and solid hard wood flooring inside it.

An application has been lodged with Inverclyde Council seeking permission for 486 square metre warehouse at a cost of £300k.

But John, pictured, who lives in the Port, says that figure is likely to rise to £450k such was the damage caused by the fire.

All that remains standing at the site is the steel frame but even that will have to be pulled down, while the concrete flooring will have to be ripped up due to the effects of the heat, which firefighters say topped 400C.

Yet six months on business is booming at their temporary base thanks to the support of loyal customers and suppliers.

John admits that at the time he thought his company, which he started 22 years ago, was finished.

He told the Tele: “The biggest worry was saving the business because we lost a lot of stock and have 16 employees.

“I thought we were in trouble — it devastated our business, it really did.

“Thankfully many of my manufacturers backed me within days and got stock to me, which was really superb.

“My lead-in times usually take 10-12 weeks but I had full stock in two to three.

“They were great with us and I couldn’t have asked for anymore from them.

“Customers were great as well and they were happy to wait for their stuff — every single person was unbelievable.

“These things are sent to test you.”

The ferocious fire started in the Hardie’s bus depot next door and engulfed John’s warehouse, which he owns, as well as another neighbouring unit.
Police said it was not suspicious.

Despite losing around 400 pallets of laminate flooring, roughly 700 or 800 of carpet underlay and about 70 pallets of solid wood, John says things are back on track and trade has never been better.

He said: “Business has been absolutely superb.

“Since the fire we have taken on two new employees — business is booming. The public have backed us, which I’m very grateful for.”