IMPORTING goods from France is paying off for a new home furnishings company in Guernsey. Quality Imports has just opened a shop in Victoria Road in St Peter Port.

It specialises in selling aluminium, wood and PVC gates and associated products such as tiles, laminated solid wood flooring and swimming pools.

‘We couldn’t understand why it hadn’t been done before,’ said managing director Neill Brown.

People told us they wanted more choice in Guernsey, he said.

A former kitchen and bedroom designer, Mr Brown started making contacts in France 18 months ago.

The company has its own storage facilities in the country that it uses to keep costs to a minimum.

‘The response to the shop has been very good so far,’ he said.

‘Obviously Victoria Road is difficult for parking but lots of traffic comes past so everybody sees us.’

One problem that the company has overcome is the issue facing the compatibility of electrical goods with Guernsey.

French plugs are two-pronged and therefore need to be adapted for use here.

‘We have found a way around this by entering into an arrangement with Sarnia Electrical Services,’ said Mr Brown.

‘They convert the items into triple prongs for us without affecting the guarantee.’