Burry Post businessman Gareth Isaac is a prime example of how hard work can help you beat the recession.

Mr Isaac set up his GI Carpets and Rugs business exactly three years ago just as the economy started to nosedive.

People looked at me as if I was daft trying to set up a new business, said Mr Isaac.

But Im now celebrating the third birthday of the business. Im still here and proof that you can make a go of things in even the toughest economic climate.

You just have to make sure that you are providing a quality service and giving the customer what they want.

Mr Isaac, 43, had been working for another carpet retailer before deciding to go it alone.

I spotted something of a gap in the market. There wasnt a carpet shop in Burry Port and I recognised the fact that it is one of the biggest towns in Carmarthenshire, he said.

We run a very different operation to the big supermarket-style carpet warehouses.

I have a great small team of three part-time carpet fitters and we pride ourselves on providing a friendly and professional service.

Providing a quality service is key to us and we like to think we know the carpet and flooring business from top to bottom.

For example, Ive been away on training courses to many of the big carpet manufacturing factories so I know exactly how they are made.

Mr Isaac added that the business was now expanding.

We are in the process of doubling the size of our storage space in a warehouse on the Trostre Industrial Estate and that will allow us to carry more stock and continue to provide a speedy and efficient service to our clients.

Carmarthenshire Council has been particularly supportive with negotiations for more storage space and it is good to see the local authority supporting and encouraging smaller independent businesses.

It is also hugely encouraging to see the support of the people of Burry Port. They have been great and have played a huge part in the success of the last three years.

Mr Isaacs GI Carpets and Rugs business is based in Station Road, Burry Port, opposite the railway station.

Weblink -

www.gicarpetsandflooring.co.uk

Photos of Gareth Isaac at GI Carpets and Rugs in Burry Port.

More photos available at

https://picasaweb.google.com/114054103325052180233/GarethIsaacGICarpetsAndRugs?authkey=Gv1sRgCP6pj5n0lY2ckQE

Forthcoming events at The Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey include the following
Race Night on Friday, November 11, first race at 7.30pm. Tickets (3) available at the bar. Proceeds to the Ladies Centenary Fund.
The series of Themed dining evenings continues, following the success of the Mediterranean and Asian/Oriental evenings. On Friday November 18, British Isles Menu; Friday December 9, French menu.

The prestigious links championship course at The Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey has just been awarded another key tournament.
The 2013 Mens Welsh Amateur Championships has been awarded to The Ashburnham by the Welsh Golfing Union.
The Ashburnham stepped into the breach when another club couldnt fulfil the requirements to stage the championship.
We were asked if we could help by stepping into the gap and staging the championship and we were delighted to accept, said Ashburnham club manager Huw Morgan.
The Ashburnham has a huge reputation as a championship course and there are only a handful of courses of our standard in Wales who could possibly stage such a championship.
We are absolutely delighted to host the 2013 Mens Welsh Amateur as it now gives us four great years of championship events at The Ashburnham, proving that we are widely recognised as a quality tournament venue.
Our calendar for the next few years reads -
2012 Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championships
2013 Mens Welsh Amateur Championships
2014 Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships
2015 Mens Welsh Stroke Play Championships
Thats quite a portfolio of events for us at The Ashburnham and we are delighted to be staging them. We can promise a true championship test for each event and the warmest of Welsh welcomes.
The Ashburnham is the course where the great Welshman and winning Ryder Cup Captain Dai Rees won the PGA title in 1959. It has long been regarded as one of the best links courses in Britain.
The Ashburnham takes its name from the 5th Earl of Ashburnham, who once owned the land and became the clubs inaugural President in 1894.
Two other Ryder Cup Captains have been successful in their playing careers at The Ashburnham in the shape of Bernard Gallacher, who won the Schweppes PGA Championship in 1969, and Sam Torrance, who won the Martini Tournament in 1976.
The Ashburnham has a proud history of hosting many of the major amateur tournaments, having first held a Welsh Amateur Championship in 1904.
Last year, The Ashburnham was the venue for the Mens Home Internationals.

Picture: Ashburnham officials celebrate the award of the 2013 Mens Welsh Amateur Championships at their annual dinner staged at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Pictured left to right Ashburnham club manager Huw Morgan, Captain Tony Washer, President Brian Williams, Vice-captain Mel Williams and last years Club Captain Huw Dixon.

For further information about The Ashburnham Golf Club, contact -
The Clubhouse, Cliffe Terrace, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0HN
Tel:01554 832269
Fax:01554 836974
Email:admin@ashgolf.co.uk
Website - http://www.ashburnhamgolfclub.co.uk

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC football club column from the Carmarthen Journal -
Carmarthen Town AFC is calling a public meeting to discuss how the club can stay competitive in the Welsh Premier League.
Club chairman Gareth Jones said a public meeting would be held at the Carmarthen Town AFC Community Centre at Richmond Park at 7pm on Monday 7th November.
Mr Jones said: We are an ambitious football club. In fact, we are also proud to declare, We are more than just a football club because of our strong community links.
The ground and community centre developments are a testimony to this. The club has been in the Welsh Premier League for 15 years winning the Welsh Cup in 2007. As members of the Welsh Premier League, the club has represented our town and community in European competition in Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Norway.
It also runs Academy teams at under 12, 14, 16 and 19 level and last year we raised hundreds of pounds for local charities as part of our community programme.
However, to continue this ambition and compete in the Welsh Premier League there is a need to change the way the club is run. As supporters we have become complacent and, unless there is a resurrection of the passion of previous eras, Carmarthen Town AFC will struggle to survive on and off the field in the current challenging environment.
The club is grateful to the large number of individuals and businesses that have invested a great deal of time and money in Carmarthen Town AFC over the years but we have now reached a critical time in the clubs development.
The club is now run by a committed but small number of volunteers. After numerous attempts to attract more similarly dedicated individuals, with limited success, the general feeling is that the only way ahead is to hold an open meeting to discuss the future of the club.
This meeting is open to anyone who cares about Carmarthen Town AFC and has its best interests at heart. During the meeting there will be an opportunity to address the direction that the Club will take in the short and long term. This is far too important a decision to be made by the Executive Committee and needs to be discussed openly.
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Tote draw October 11 draw, winning numbers 11 and 39. The winner was Hefina Brown. The draw for a prize of 200 was being made on Tuesday night.

Nice spotlight in the Western Mail business section today on six West Wales building firms launching a new sustainable community venture.
Spotlight on latest results from The Ashburnham Championship Links Golf Club in the Carmarthen Journal today.
Lovely picture story in the South Wales Evening Post about a surprise farewell party at The Ashburnham for veteran golfer 'Peggy' Jones.
South Wales Evening Post story today about Cor Meibion Llanelli heading off to s'Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands for Liberation Day events.
Llanelli Star puts the spotlight on the next Men's Dinner at The Ashburnham Championship Links Golf Club in Pembrey.
Nice piece in Llanelli Star today about Cor Meibion Llanelli heading off to s'Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands for Liberation Day events.
Latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC football club column is in the Carmarthen Journal today.
Today's phrase of the day (from the BBC Breakfast financial lady) is - "And the CAC index is down again'. (Oh really!)
Can chill for the rest of the week now - made it back into the Llanelli Star's Tweets of the Week column today. Phew!
Welsh Icons spotlight on Cor Meibion Llanelli's tour to The Netherlands - http://www.welshicons.org.uk/news/music/cor-meibion-off-to-netherlands/

In an event held at the Carmarthen Town Football Club Community Centre in Richmond Park, the club launched its charity events for the 2011/12 season.
In an evening superbly arranged by hard-working Club President Jeff Thomas, the audience was entertained by harpist Elan Ward from Ysgol Bro Myrddin, while the Rev Towyn Jones told some extraordianry tales.
The evening was compered by Peter Hughes Griffiths.
This seasons charity is Ty Cymorth, the local hospice.
Supporters of this charity were present at the evening and were impressed with the facilities and welcome at the Community Centre.
This was the first in a series of events the club intends to hold during the coming months to raise funds for the hospice.
Club president Mr Thomas said: "I believe we have a role within the community not only as a football club. It is our duty to support charities within the Carmarthen area and I will lead this campaign for the coming season."