Caithness-based autoparts business on the market as couple look to retire at 55

A couple looking forward to retirement have put their successful Caithness-based autoparts business on the market, saying there is plenty of scope for it be developed further.

Thurso Autoparts, the only firm of its kind within a 100-mile radius, was established more than 40 years ago and was taken over by Graham and Angela Gunn six years ago when the previous owner retired.

The couple have developed it to include a key-cutting service, specialist car paint mixing and a registration look-up system to get the exact coolants and lubricants for particular cars.

Graham, an electrician by trade, said: “My wife and I are partners in the business. She uses her skills as a former PA to keep the books in order, while I handle the mechanical side. Between the two of us, we have managed it really well.”

The business has had a lot of custom from tourists doing the North Coast 500 route.

“Anybody and everybody in the area uses the business, from people whose cars have broken down or need a service to businesses looking for number plates," Graham said.

“This year we’ve had a lot of business from people doing the North Coast 500 because they know we’re the only autoparts business for miles. It’s a lovely part of the job because you get to meet people who are discovering and falling in love with the local area for the first time."

He added: “We are also able to mix paint to each specific car for customers who want to fix a little dent or scratch themselves. We are the only business in the north of Scotland that does that.

“There is so much scope to develop the business further, but we are getting ready to retire now.”

The couple are in the fortunate position of taking early retirement as they approach 55, having previously lived apart for long periods when Graham worked away as a pilot on remotely operated underwater vehicles for businesses such as Subsea 7, Fugro, Oceaneering and DeepOcean.

Graham said: “We would like to go travelling. I used to work away a lot for between four and eight weeks, then come back for maybe a month before going away again.

“We used to have an old campervan and when I was at home we would spend a lot of time just travelling around and enjoying ourselves, so we would like to do that again.”

Originally, Graham and Angela bought the firm to put something back into the community. Angela was going to run it while Graham continued working away, but the business proved so successful that the couple decided to run it together full time.

Graham explained: “It’s a good local business and, when the previous owner was retiring, I wanted to keep it going to help out the community. The fact we could be our own bosses also appealed and I’ve also got a strong interest in anything mechanical.

“I’ve spent a lot of my life working away and feel I have missed a lot, so I set out to retire at 55 and we are coming up to that age now.

“We are ready to take a break and look forward to seeing the business grow and develop under new ownership.”

The couple have put the business on the market with Hilton Smythe, one of the UK’s leading business sales advisers and finance brokers.

Gareth Smyth, CEO of Hilton Smythe Group, said: “Graham and Angela have clearly put their heart and soul into Thurso Autoparts and developed a business that is unique to the local area. We’re very pleased to help them find new owners for the business.

“We’re confident that whoever takes over the business will enjoy a loyal and varied customer base and will have plenty of opportunity to grow the business further.”

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