A flooring retailer has claimed its future could be in doubt if it is not allowed to resume using and advertising blimp. The Big Carpet Depot in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire had been using the blimp help customers find the store, off Junction 10 of the M53, but has been told its needs council permission.

‘We opened The Big Carpet Depot back in April and sales were very slow for the first few months, possibly not helped by poor site waymarking. Investing in our balloon made it easier for customers to find us. As a result sales improved, meaning we could take on extra staff, says Mark Durant, store manager.

‘Unfortunately, having got permission from the Civil Aviation Authority with no problem, we weren’t aware that we needed to get a council licence for the balloon until early September, when the council told us we would have to take it down. ‘
This is disastrous news for us, as it has a huge impact on sales when the balloon’s not flying – it could potentially put the future of the store in doubt.’ The store, part of the Al-Murad Carpets chain, employs five people and has launched a ‘Save our blimp’ petition.

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