HIGH-flying salesman Ashraf Desai has struck out on his own selling a unique brand of contemporary furniture and works of art.

Mr Desai has launched Boutiq7 in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, realising a long-held dream to run his own business.

The 43-year-old father-of-two was the top salesman at the Harveys Furniture Store chain, rising through the ranks in Blackburn and Blackpool before shining at Bolton’s Middlebrook outlet.

He said: “I have always wanted to run my own place, and I did a lot of research before deciding to set my first shop up in Bolton.

“Looking at the mixture of properties in the town I thought I could be successful here.”

Mr Desai’s offering is certainly different from the traditional style wooden furniture found in other stores.

“My friends joked with me, asking ‘does anywhere in the UK really need another furniture store’,” he said.

“But the furniture I sell is very contemporary — you can’t get it anywhere else around here.

“I’ve launched my own Facebook and Twitter accounts.”

Mr Desai also prides himself in supporting local creative industries. He has original oil paintings and etchings by local artists, including ones of the late stars Marilyn Munroe and Amy Winehouse.

“I wanted to include them in what I’m doing,” he said. “Their work is of very high quality and it adds to the uniqueness of what I am doing.

“This is my dream and my passion.”

Mr Desai says he is also grateful for the support of his 18-year-old daughter Sanaa, who is currently completing a course at Blackburn College, but has aspirations to join the business.

“She has told me she wants to do everything she can to help me succeed, which is good to know,” he said.