Harts of Stur Kitchen issue 09, spring 2019 | Page 65

The History of Harts Every generation makes a mark Philip has always had his eye on the next big thing and, with that in mind, in the early ’90s, Harts took its first tentative steps into mail order. Some early success gave us the encouragement we needed, and our first trading website was launched in 1995, one of the first operational and trading sites anywhere in the country. We even featured in the Daily Telegraph. This proved successful, but it was driving forward without a proper direction for a year or two, until Philip’s two sons left university, and joined the family firm. Johnathan and Graham were able to bring a much greater understanding of the modern, technological world. The internet business has grown very rapidly, becoming a well respected, national award-winning enterprise. A purpose-built 60,000 square-foot dispatch centre was completed in 2010, and a new suite of sales offices shortly after in 2013, both designed to give our mail order customers the same level of service and efficiency that our store customers have enjoyed for so many years. Graham has three daughters, while Johnathan has a son, so the next generation is all lined up! The rest of the family Harts exhibited at all the major country and agricultural shows in the UK. This pictures shows their stand at the Royal Bath & West Show sometime during the 1970s. Slightly closer to home, this picture is of their stand at the Shaftesbury & Gillingham Show, again sometime in the 1970s. We now employ over 40 staff, all of whom are dedicated to our ‘family business’ ethos that has always garnered both customer and staff loyalty. We call them our extended family – some have worked here for over 25 years, and all are friends as well as colleagues. Our family business is built on our lovely staff, and they all play an important part in our past, and our future. A Hart & Sons lorry loaded up and ready for another delivery. Kitchen Magazine isn’t Harts first foray into publishing. This brochure advertised the range of farm equipment they manufactured. 65 www.hartsofstur.com