A Truly Family Business
When you walk into Glasswells home furnishings stores you immediately know it’s not one of those multi-nationals that offer the same experience in every town. Glasswells is very special: the choice is the widest in Suffolk, the staff and atmosphere welcoming and friendly.
Paul Glasswell is the third generation of this well-established family business. He believes that it is service and a close relationship with customers that keeps people coming back, year on year.
"I believe we're very much in tune with our customers. That influences what stock we carry – and we source the best from across the world – and the kind of shopping environment we create. People often spend hours just looking around, then they’ll have a nice lunch in our restaurant and then shop some more,” he explained.
“But also, we aim to be honest and to give quality and value for money. At Glasswells it’s all about treating people as we’d like to be treated ourselves,” he said.
Training and product knowledge are particularly important at Glasswells. If customers are buying curtains, for instance, they may want to talk about window sizes and shapes. Glasswells staff have the knowledge that means they can properly advise them.
“Nothing makes me happier than to see people find something that they want and love – and can afford – in our stores. That’s very special to me,” he said.
It was 1958, three weeks before their wedding, and a young couple faced a tough problem.
Young Gordon Southgate worked on a farm in Bradfield St Clare. His bride to be, Frances, worked at Hepworths, the tailors, in the centre of Bury St Edmunds.
They were moving into a house in Flowton, outside Ipswich, where Gordon had a new job. Glasswells store in Bury’s Brentgovel Street had just what they needed, but their long working hours meant no time to visit.
When Leslie Glasswell heard, he was quick to act. He kept the shop open on two Saturday evenings so they could come in and browse. The Southgates never forgot that very special service.
Fifty years later, the Southgates, who still live close to Flowton, are finally parting with their valued three piece suite. Not that there’s anything wrong with it – in fact it’s finding a new home with the younger generation. But time marches on, and nowadays they find they need more upright chairs.
As fate would have it, they recently discovered the original receipts, all hand written by Leslie Glasswell, listing three piece lounge suite, dining suite, bedroom suite, carpets, fireside chairs, kitchen table, mirror and much more.
Whilst in the last 50 years much of the furniture has been replaced – more often than not at Glasswells in Martlesham Heath – they’re still the very proud owners of several original pieces.
These days, of course, it’s much easier, with 7 days a week shopping and a far wider choice of furniture. But of course, as before, they found exactly what they were looking for at Glasswells.
July 2009
