He started a family business and opened a shop in the city producing linen cloth on a handloom. On a business trip to Glasgow in 1829, he became aware of a demand for linen breasted shirts in mainland cities like Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester and London. On his return to Derry, he engaged his family into making a batch of linen breasted shirt, these were made of cotton but had embroidered linen on the front. He took them back to Glasgow and they sold out, he received further orders for more shirts and so began the industry. However, demand outstrips supply and to meet the demand he established what we would know today as home workers.