Hello and welcome to TLC Stairlifts. The name started out as ‘The Lift Company’ but quickly got shortened to TLC. Its still a good talking point whenever I find myself chatting with new customers. You will see my picture to the right, I thought it a good idea to put a face to the name.

Having spent a considerable time designing and maintaining our web site I thought it only fair that I have a page to myself! So here it is, my opportunity to tell everyone about TLC and how it started.

I had considered my ability to run a business for quite some time. Having spent close to 15 years in the industry, my experience with stair lifts was quite well advanced. I had been working for one of the stairlift manufacturers, but left in 2000 to start TLC stairlifts.

At first the majority of work was based on servicing and repairs for many other companies. With careful advertising and the design of our first web site TLC quickly became established within the stairlift industry.

The next two years saw the recruitment of several staff to help with the development of the business, some of which are still with us today and are equally responsible for the good progress the company has made.

During our third and fourth year, the decision was made to offer our services to the Local Authorities. This proved to be a good move for us as over 55% of our work is now done in this sector.

It must be said that its not always easy to work with authorities as a high level of professionalism is expected at all times with rapid response to call outs and occasionally having to achieve what at first may seem impossible!.

In 2005 we became British standards ISO9001 accredited through BSI. This was a big achievement for me personally as it is not something that can easily be done without a lot of effort ensuring that the company runs in the correct way. Its actually a quality management system that provides traceability for everything that the company does, every process and decision is a result of careful consideration with projections and plans for the future discussed amongst key members of staff. Regular checks to ensure that procedures are being followed are carried out by BSI.

Our head office/warehouse is in Kent, easily covering all the Home Counties, we have additional depots in Oxfordshire and Lancashire with privately owned demonstration centres dotted throughout the UK allowing our customers, where necessary, the ability to try out a stair lift before making the final decision to purchase.

My aim has been to provide the right equipment for each client, with a full money back guarantee should we fall short of our promise. Our home surveyors ensure that the lift is safe to use, and does not dramatically impede the use of the stairs for other family members.

Over the years I have felt a great sense of achievement with many of our customers writing in to comment on our performance and kind attitude to their requirements. I know that this is not something that can be achieved overnight or simply bought. It takes a long time to reach and requires constant attention to maintain.

Now I’ve got all sentimental its time to sign off and leave you to your surfing, I wish you well with your quest to find a stairlift but would like you to consider this short story before you go;

JOHN RUSKIN (1819-1900)

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little.

When you pay too much, you lose a little money...that is all.

When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the things it was bought to do.

The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot...it cannot be done.

If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.

And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.

There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse

and sell for a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only, are this

man's lawful prey"