the b g interview the bigi


Harts of Stur celebrates centenary Harts of Stur in Dorset is commemorating 100 years as a family business


generations of the Hart their own individualma transforming it into the


2


019 is amomentous year for Harts of Stur,


r, as the company celebrates 100 years as a family


company it is today. rk on the business, family havemade business. Four


y.


Philip Hart joined in 1979 and took the helm asmanaging director in themid-1990s when his father Eddie retired. He has been largely responsible for transforming Harts of Stur into a both a country department store and a thriving ecommerce site.


ftware, Storage, Clothing and Bathroom. fter being with the business for 40 years - and with Harts of Stur now celebrating its centenary - Philip has stepped back fromthe day-to-day running of the business, leaving it in the hands of the next generation: his sons GrahamHart (managing director) and


Y, Gift Aft


Based at Sturminster Newton - amarket town in the heart of Dorset's Blackmore Vale - Harts of Stur bills itself as one of the one of the UK's largest in-store and online retailers of cookware, kitchenware and kitchen electrics. Other departments include Garden, Tools, Camping, DIY,


Johnathan Hart (commercial director).


Philip’s official last day was July 10. However, he will still be involved in the project


management of a new development of the shop premises. In a phased programme of work, amulti-million pound project will involve creating an additional 20,000sq ft of retail space. The garden shop will be amalgamated into themain store allowing the old levelled, creating additional parking


exterior of the store will also get a facelift and extra office space will be created.


Philip commented: “For any business to reach its centenary year is amajor achievement. I’m immensely proud that our family company has joined the 100 club. I wonder ifmy grandfather Walter Hart would have ever imagined that his company would still be going strong 100 years fromwhen he set up as a blacksmith in 1919 [see ’How it all began…’].”


He added: “Family is extremely important to us and this is why are celebrating thismilestone with a selection of family-themed events ughout the year.”


In thro


itiatives to date include an exclusive early L-R: Johnathan Hart, Philip Hart, Graham Hart


“I have the housewares bug” Philip Hart looks back over four decades of housewares retailing


What’s’s been the biggest change since you became involved in the housewares industry? Forty years is a long time, and there have been many changes in the housewares industry over the decades. Besides the obvious one of online retailing, the range of products for every task in the kitchen has increased immensely.


Customers’ expectations and demands have also grown exponentially.


What’s’s been the biggest achievement of your career?


Takingmy dad’s very successful agricultural manufacturing business and transforming and developing it into one of the largest andmost respected in-store and o retailers. As there was a manufacturing, our fami


set to expand into a new, retail direction. High point of your career?


My sons, Johnathan and Graham, joining the family business - thus continuing to develop under th fe ourth generation of Harts. Also, winningmany awards has been very special.


And the low point?


My dad and staff taking the heat fromlocal residents when I arranged for amobile phone mast to be installed on one of our properties


money 20 years ago… th while I was on holiday. £


emoral of the story is 3,000 was a lot of


to always consider your neighbours.


ly business was already natural decline in nline housewares


During your time in the housewares industry what products have impressed youmost and why?


Coffeemachines have come a very long way. Who needs to be a professional barista with these bean-to-cup, touch-of-a-button machines?


Which housewares retailers do youmost admire and why?


In the early years it was Lakeland Plastics [now Lakeland]. But to be honest, whilst there are several independent retailers doing interesting things, I don’t think any one company has got complete package and, as such, none stand And that’s really a shame.


out. the


Name one change you wouldmake to the housewares industry.


y.


Retailers need to focus on range, product knowledge and exceptional customer service. Margins in housewares are being destroyed by some of the very large online retailers. The housewares n ustry needs to encourage consumers away fromthe ‘price is king’model, and encourage suppliers away from


i d


dependence on the onlinemonsters that offer nothing in return.


What advice would you give to someone starting out in housewares retailing? Do something different to other retailers; stand out.


y,, What will youmiss?


Allmy staff,my in-store customers andmany suppliers that I’ve become great friends with.


What won’t youmiss?


Profit alerts onmy phone, sales targets, budgets etc.


What’s’s next?


As we are a family company, I will be keeping in touch. Although I will not be playing an active role in the day-to day-running, I will be


Is it goodbye o overseeing our


industry?


to see what’s g I will pop into s


Neither. I have the housewares bug, so I’msure ome of the national trade shows oing on.


exciting new building project. r au revo


voir to the housewares


evening shopping event in June and a free ‘Burgers & BoogieWoogie’ event in July.


space. The site to be


Barbecues were fired up to cook locally-sourced burgers, with livemusic provided by The Frenc BoogieWoogie Boys who were part of Sturminster Newton’s annual UK Boogie Woogie Festival (of which Harts of Stur was th main sponsor). summer drinks


e h


were offered to customers and In August free salads and free


on September 14 and September 15, the store hosted an open weekend with product demonstrations and special offers.


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