Sterling Furniture
Encyclopedia
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's largest furniture retail development based in Tillicoultry
Tillicoultry
Tillicoultry...
, Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'....
. It was founded in 1974 by Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
-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
Garden centre
A garden centre is a retail firm that sells plants and products related to gardens as its primary business. It is open to the public, with facilities to care for and display plants.- UK :...
, and was involved in the development of the "Sterling Mills outlet centre" on land opposite the original furniture warehouse.
Their television advertisements, starring football commentator Dougie Donnelly
Dougie Donnelly
Douglas "Dougie" Donnelly is a Scottish television broadcaster best known for presenting sports coverage for BBC Scotland....
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
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and Uddingston
Uddingston
Uddingston is a small town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the north side of the River Clyde, about seven miles south-east of Glasgow...
but the Tillicoultry
Tillicoultry
Tillicoultry...
HQ is by far the largest with a Homestore as well as two restaurants and a garden centre.
The two restaurants are highly regarded among the villagers.
After the death of George Knowles' son, Gordon Mearns took over the running of the company. He has expanded the company's stores and profits.