Trading Gossip: September 24

Sep 24 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THERE will no doubt be rejoicing in Wales this week as Merseyside-based dry cleaning group Johnson opens its latest outlet in Wrexham.

Punters in the principality can now take advantage of dry cleaner Johnson’s environmentally-friendly GreenEarth technology when they take in their best suits for a spruce-up.

It is also striking fear into the heart of local shoe repair shops by offering a key cutting service.

Johnson also seems to be attempting to claim the title for the most elaborate job title. The store’s new manager is one Sarah Wynne, a veteran of the dry cleaning industry. She is described by the company as a “qualified cleanologist”.

As actress Maureen Lipman once quipped in a TV ad for BT: “If you have an ology, you’re a scientist.”

IN LAST week’s Trading Gossip, we revealed how Ian James, auctioneer for the recently launched Whitegates Property Auctions, was looking for a starring role in the BBC’s forthcoming Homes Under the Hammer series about auctions.

“He’s a good looking lad,” revealed a source close to the clearly modest chap.

However, his other half Victoria James, above, a director of the firm, is now trying to get in on the act.

In the latest edition of a local property magazine, the lovely Victoria, described by the same source as a “yummy mummy”, can be seen posing in her favourite scuba-diva outfit and revealing more details about one of her favourite pastimes.

LIVERPOOL was once a town of hardy old sea dogs, and it’s good to see some of our suited, booted and manicured local professionals are doing their best to carry on the tradition.

Staff from the Liverpool office of civil engineering firm Curtins Consulting joined the crew that braved the high seas for the annual Little Britain Challenge Cup.

The mainly inexperienced crew spent three days sailing round the Isle of Wight onboard the Swann 38 Cimaroon, racing against almost 250 other yachts.

And, while they were last in their class, they were delighted not to be last overall, coming in at 235 out of 247.