Glanvilles of Wadebridge has been celebrating its centenary this month by “giving back to customers.” The independent cookware, housewares and lighting store is reportedly the oldest shop in the Cornish market town. Proprietor Rosemarie (Rosie) Hamm – who took over the family business from her parents, Charles and Brigitte Glanville – told HousewaresNews.net: “We wanted to give something back to our customers and thought the best way to do this was with a free-to-enter raffle with one hundred prizes.”
Raffle prizes included an especially commissioned wooden chopping board created by T&G depicting the Wadebridge Bridge. The image is from an historic photography by license from Cornwall Museum and “shows stunning detail,” notes Rosie. T&G’s managing director Patrick Gardner joined the store for its celebrations and presented Rosie and her team with another commemorative T&G board marking the centenary.
Brabantia – also celebrating its centenary this year – provided prizes including its celebratory Patrice retro bin and breadbin. Meanwhile, KitchenCraft supported the centenary by donating £1000 worth of gift vouchers, recognising that it is on of Glanville’s oldest suppliers. In fact, Frederick Hill – one of KitchenCraft’s historic trading names – is the first name on Glanville’s fist sales ledger book.
Claire Budgen, KitchenCraft’s marketing director acknowledges how the retailer has embraced change – from its introduction of cookware to its current use of technology (for example, it uses the new KitchenCraft App for easy and efficient ordering). “Given today’s retail climate, Glanville’s ability to adapt to new ways of working has stood the shop in good stead and to have remained in business for over 100 years is quite a considerable feat,” Claire observes.
Ernest Glanville Senior founded the business when he returned home from the First World War. Ernest was a saddler by trade but started to sell ironmongery and household goods on his visits to local farms. In the 1930s, three cottages were purchased in the town as the premises for Glanville & Sons. Today, the ground floor of the store is dedicated to cookware, tableware and other housewares, while the upstairs houses the lighting department.
Rosie says she has experienced “a really special vibe” this month as she has reminisced and celebrated with customers. “You have to see customers as partners,” she notes. Reflecting on her role at the heart of the family business, Rosie says: “I was bought up on the shopfloor!”
Glanvilles chose September to celebrate the centenary as it coincides with the birthday of Rosie’s father, Charles – known widely as Mr Glanville. Celebratory activities have included a Wüsthof knives in-store demonstration hosted by Haus’ chef Christian Derbyshire. Meanwhile, Glanville’s window features an array of historic treasures, including a sewing machine used in the old saddler business, a wooden till and the first ledger book.
Rosie recognises that many customers are thinking more about the environment. Glanvilles is therefore proud to stock “long-lasting products and ones made from natural and recycled material” as well as sourcing from companies that are “making positive environmental contributions such as tree-planting and ocean clean-up schemes.”
The store continues to play an important role for its local community. It has supported the Wadebridge Youth Project for over a decade and also supports Fishes and Loaves, a community café. The shop is also a much-loved port of call for holidaymakers, many of which return year on year.
Top: As a much-loved destination for baking and cake making products it was only fitting that Glanvilles celebrated with a special cake.
