Community focus for revamped Making Life Easier store in Taunton

Making Life Easier, in The Mount, was established by the Ross family in 1985 and established itself as a leading mobility outlet in the County Town.

In October 2020, Somerset businessperson Lizzie Biggs bought the firm and has now relaunched it, determined to build on its 'excellent reputation'.

She has since invested in the firm, making the showroom brighter, more welcoming and appealing to all ages.

Previously sited in Chip Lane, Making Life Easier relocated when the link road was built.

And Lizzie said the new showroom is perfect for the business, which has an emphasis on 'try before you buy', with the new site offering plenty of space to display wheelchairs, powerchairs, mobility scooters, rise and recline chairs together with the huge amount of other mobility aids.

There is even a brand new, fully functioning stairlift for customers to try.

“I am hugely proud of Making Life Easier and although the last few months have been hard, lockdown has at least afforded us the time to have a complete rebrand and update the showroom," said Lizzie.

"I am very excited for April 12 because I want to welcome as many people as possible to the showroom so they can see for themselves how their lives can be made easier.

"We are very Covid conscious, following all the necessary protocols. The showroom is a large and well-ventilated space, with a very handy, wheelchair-friendly automatic door.

"We even give you a brand-new Making Life Easier pen to keep, should you need to sign anything."

And Lizzie said mobility issues were a personal issue for her, as she aims to increase awareness of the help on offer.

"When I bought the business, I knew we needed to send a big message. We needed to start a conversation about mobility, as well as fly the flag for independent retailers," she said.

"When it comes to mobility issues, I know from personal experience, that we often start talking about needing help, well past the point when help was first needed.

"When we need assistance with day-to-day activities, due to a physical impairment, we find there are so many “workarounds”.

"Take my much loved, late father as an example. His legs would swell at night. He really needed a profiling bed.

"What he used was a few old pillows (which would fall off the bed when he turned over). My aunt would sleep in her chair downstairs, but what she needed was a stairlift.

OWNER: Lizzie Biggs, who has revamped Making Life Easier, in Taunton

“It breaks my heart now. I wish I had known about mobility scooters when my darling mother-in-law found walking any distance too difficult. I wish I had bought my dad a profiling bed and a bath lift. I wish I had researched stairlifts for my aunt instead of accepting she could just sleep downstairs. I wish I had known about pressure cushions and grab rails and rollators and more.

"I know about them now and I want you to know about them too.”

And Making Life Easier is also determined to be involved in the Somerset community, working with a host of county firms and would be keen to hear from anyone who thinks they could help the business.

For more on Making Life Easier, call 01823 335505, or visit www.mlesomerset.co.uk.