April/May 2025
housewareslive.net
RETAILER SPOTLIGHT
Q:What have been some of the biggest challenges and proudest moments over the years? GH calls with our accountants to making decisions based on limited information from the government about what we were permitted to do and what was necessary to keep everyone safe. I was extremely proud of the entire team. We adjusted our working patterns, and shop employees joined the warehouse team to ensure the company continued operating while allowing everyone the time to support their families who were at home, with many engaged in home-schooling.
shop in the town. As the business grew, Walter’s sons, Bill and Eddie, joined him in the 1940s. By 1949, they moved to new premises at Butts Pond, the agricultural ironmongery and manufacturing farm implements. “Eddie’s son, Philip, joined in 1979 and transformed the retail shop into a modern country department store. Today, Harts of Stur is one of the UK’s largest in-store and online retailers of cookware, kitchenware, and kitchen electrics, offering a comprehensive range of products at competitive prices. As well as the popular Coffee Loft cafe, the store also features departments a blacksmith shop to a diverse retail establishment.”
Q&A
Question (Q): How are things? How has business been? Graham Hart (GH): Throughout COVID, the online side of the company supported the closed shop. It provided the opportunity for us to continue developing our physical store, including the completion of a pre-planned extension, creating additional car parking, a café and the opportunity to have seen a slight reduction in online sales partly due to increased competition and rebalancing of the new norm. On the plus side, our physical retail store has gone from strength to strength, posting above 10% YOY growth every year. Black Friday in 2024 was later in the month than usual, and we found ourselves responding to major competition earlier than ever. Peak was constant, and the January sale was one of the strongest we have seen in a long time. February was even and March a little up, which we are happy about, especially as Easter falls much later this year.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was the loss of my father, Philip. Although he had just started his retirement, we lost him much too soon, grown up alongside Dad as the business developed. They experienced both the good times and the bad times together, and they welcomed my brother, Johnathan, and me into the team. The loss of Dad was particularly hard for Johnathan and me. He was the person we called when we had a bad day and needed advice, as well as the one we reached out to when things were going well, and we wanted to celebrate. Without the support of everyone, especially Kirsty and David, we wouldn’t be in our current position. The love and support from everyone at Harts makes me incredibly proud.
Q:Are you members of any Associations? And why? GH: No, we are truly independent to the core and believe it is one of our strengths.
Q:How do you stay up to date with the latest products? Do you attend any trade shows? GH: Yes, while some of the shows are not quite what they used to be, there are still favourites. One of our favourites in the UK is “Exclusively value our relationships with existing suppliers and engage with potential suppliers we do not currently trade with. Input from the entire team at Harts is essential. We regularly seek feedback from all employees to gather ideas, including suggestions about what they have seen elsewhere that we might be missing.
Q:Who are your main suppliers? Which item lines sell well? Why do you think that is? GH: I’ll hand over to David for this one: Our main suppliers include Horwoods, KitchenAid, Le Creuset, RKW, Sage, Captivate, Dexam, Dualit, Melitta, Rayware, Portmeirion, Denby, Arthur Price, Joules, White Stuff, Regatta, Bedeck and Toolbank, although in truth the list goes on, and all our suppliers are regarded and treated as key suppliers. After all, it is the combination of all our brands and departments that makes the Harts of Stur experience what it is. Currently we are seeing strong sales across kitchen tools and gadgets,
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