Hampshire’s longest-standing independent builders merchant has cemented its ambitious growth plans with the acquisition of Lymington-based kitchen and bathroom showroom, Hardleys.
Elliotts, which has stood firm in the county for more than 170 years, bought the business on Monday (September 29) and says the takeover will immediately add £2.5m to its turnover, as well as progress its ambition to become the county’s leading independent kitchen and bathroom retailer.
Elliotts currently has nine builders merchant branches in Hampshire and two tool centres. Over the last 40 years it has added kitchen and bathroom sales to its offering and this week’s acquisition of Hardleys brings its number of kitchen and bathroom showrooms, which are open to the public as well as trade, to four.
All 15 staff at Hardleys will be retained as Elliotts has pledged the long-term future of the showroom. Former Hardley’s owner, Tony Jenvey, will remain involved in the store for a period in a consultancy role.
Tony Jenvey said: “I am very happy to be selling Hardleys to Elliotts. I have known them for over 25 years and they are a very strong and well-respected regional supplier to the building trade. It was very important to me to pass Hardleys on to a upstanding company to ensure our customers and staff will be well looked after and the business will grow and prosper under their ownership. I’m very excited for the future of the business.”
Tom Elliott, managing director of Elliotts, said: “We have always had such respect for Hardleys as a fellow family business that looks after its staff and puts customers first. There are so many synergies between the two companies and we are delighted to bring it under our umbrella. Its expert staff and unrivalled product range, including many items not available elsewhere, will give our customers in the New Forest even more choice.”
As with Elliotts’ existing kitchen and bathroom showrooms in Ringwood, Fareham and Romsey, the public will be able to see a wide range of kitchen brands at the Hardleys site, as well as get expert advice and take advantage of Elliotts’ planning and design service.
The showroom is one of only a handful of stockists in Hampshire to sell prestigious Villeroy and Boch and Laura Ashley Bathrooms products.
Tom Elliott, who is the sixth generation of Elliotts to take the helm of the business, concluded: “For existing Hardleys customers it’ll be business as usual, with the added strength of the Elliotts brand powering the showroom. For existing Elliotts customers in the south of the New Forest it’ll mean even more choice and expertise, even closer by.”
Founded in 1842, Elliotts is almost the oldest family business in Southampton. As well as its kitchen and bathroom showrooms in Ringwood, Romsey and Lymington it has builders merchant branches in Bishops Waltham, Chandler’s Ford, Fareham, Fordingbridge, Ringwood, Romsey, Southampton, Tadley and Totton, meaning an Elliotts branch is never more than 20 minutes away from any building site in Hampshire. In addition, it has two specialist tool centres open to the trade and public in Portsmouth and Winchester and its own roofing company, Elliotts Premier Roofing.
