A COUPLE who became frustrated trying to find mobility assistance for their elderly parents launched their own business to fill the gap in the market.

Based in Harrogate, Rise Furniture and Mobility opened its flagship showroom in Leeds Road in autumn last year.

The business, run by husband and wife duo Carl and Angel Drake, with the help of their children, has already attracted acclaim reaching the last four in the 2018 Best New Retail Business at the prestigious National Best Business Awards and also runners up Best Website category Harrogate Business awards.

Now the team are vying for success in the Press Business Awards after entering both the New Business of the Year and Family Business of the Year categories.

The business was set up with aim of redefining the shopping experience for the elderly and anyone struggling with their mobility.

With more than 35 years industry experience, Carl and Angel Drake decided to start their own business after becoming frustrated by their experiences shopping for Carl’s elderly parents.

Between them, the couple were confident they possessed the right knowledge and shared the same vision, to offer the target audience a service that would not only meet their customers’ needs but exceed their expectations.

Mr Drake said: “We didn’t like the way my parents were treated by some companies, whom lacked understanding, employed high pressure sales techniques and offered little customer service.

“We treat every customer the same way we would treat my parents, which we think makes a huge a difference.

“When choosing our products, we put ourselves in the position of our customers, whom maybe buying for the first time. Our rationale, if a product is good enough to consider for Mum and Dad, then it would be good enough to sell to our customers too.”

The firm’s busy Harrogate showroom offers a range of mobility equipment including; award-winning British rise recline chairs and beds, stairlifts, scooters and daily living products, that enable customers to maintain their independence at home, safer and for longer.

The business has noted the trend of more consumers turning to online, with the number of over 65’s shopping online increasing by almost 70 per cent since 2011, and as such has put emphasis on making its website functional and easy to use for customers.