Trader of the Week: Old Tom’s Workshop

Current owner of Old Tom’s Workshop Gyles Charnock is following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great grandfather carving out a career in the bespoke woodworking business.

The 37-year-old has been putting his inherited skills to good use and won the 2022 Business Startup of the Year Award at the St Helens Borough Business Awards in September.

Just over two years ago, father-of-two Gyles was unexpectedly made redundant from his key account manager role at New Balance during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having spent nine years with the company and worked in the sports trade sales industry since he was a teenager, Gyles decided to further his passion for high end woodworking and cabinet making, pursuing a craft that has been in his family for more than a century.

Gyles’ great grandfather Edward Wainwright was a cabinet maker in Rainford and passed his skills and knowledge onto his son, Gyles’ grandfather Tom Wainwright, who as well as woodworking had a passion for electronics.

In 1941 at the age of 14, Tom became a trainee service engineer at Rothery Radio in St Helens and by 1958 he had opened his own electrical retail and repair business in Rainford, relocating to Church Road in the early 1960s.

The premises remained in the family and is now used by Gyles, where he can work in the purpose-built workshop designed by his grandfather.

Book exchange box for Rainford Girl Guides

Gyles said: “When I started the business in 2020, the building was under tenant occupancy so I spent the first 13 months manufacturing my goods in my garden shed.

“Space was a big challenge and I focused by sales around small items that made ideal gifts such as candle holders and chopping boards, selling them on Facebook and Etsy.

“I built and launched my website in January 2021 with no previous experience in that area and moved into the current workshop in October last year.

“I’m now able to produce larger furniture for people as well as companies and organisations.”

A reading shed at Little Explorers Nursery in Rainford

Gyles uses many of the same tools and equipment as his grandfather and great grandfather to bring customers’ ideas to life including book exchange boxes, mud kitchens and reading sheds.

Old Tom’s Workshop has been shortlisted for the business start-up of the year award at the St Helens Business Awards, due to be held at The Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday, September 30.

Gyles will also be at Rainford Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 3.

Wainwright's electrical shop in Rainford in the 1970s. The building is now occupied by David Davies Estate Agents and the workshop is at the rear of the premises

For more information visit oldtomsworkshop.com

If you want to appear in our Trader of the Week feature, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk