Industry stalwart, Ray Spencer, passed away on Tuesday 6 June, 2023.
Ray’s family has issued the following obituary for his father.
Ray Spencer, one of the very last of the post war traders, has passed away on Tuesday, aged 95. Ray started Jeray’s with his mother in 1947 and then formed Original Products in 1952, remaining at the helm for an extraordinary 70 years. He saw huge changes in that period, starting out in the souvenir business and buying from the London wholesalers, before specialising in barware and visiting Hong Kong and even China in the late 60s and 70s when few others dared.
Via his German roots he imported from Germany for decades and, thanks to his Italian wife, was also among the first importers of Italian barware for the home, sourcing from one factory continuously for around 40 years.
Aside from selling millions of corkscrews Ray created the iconic pineapple ice bucket and pink elephant drink cooler of which almost 60 million pieces have been sold across the world in various designs. He even had time to dabble in skateboards, plastic flowers and a heap load of wing mirrors for the luxury car market in typical trader fashion back in the day.
After 40 years apprenticeship, Paul Spencer continues the family business on a strong footing using his father’s remarkable work ethic, meticulous detail and business acumen or ‘tuning your pen and sniffing a good deal’ as Mr Spencer would say.
The Progressive Housewares team extends its deepest condolences to Ray’s family and friends.
