Happy to be helpful for fifty years

Celebrating five decades of family ownership, expertise and dependable local service.

For half a century, HBH Woolacotts has occupied a distinctive place in the commercial life of Cornwall and Devon. In an industry defined by constant technological change and intense competition, the company has grown from a modest regional electrical retailer into one of the South West’s most established names in consumer electronics and domestic appliances. Its story is one of adaptation, careful expansion and an enduring commitment to customer service.

The business was founded in July 1976 following a management buyout of the multi-brand retailer Woolacotts, whose stores once stretched from Cornwall to Haywards Heath. Led by Ted Hemmerle, the new company took on the initials HBH alongside the Woolacotts name, creating the identity that remains familiar across the region today. The family connection has never been lost. Ted’s son and grandson, Martin and Chris Hemmerle, now serve as Managing Director and Director, continuing a lineage that spans
three generations.

Those early years looked somewhat different from the business customers know today. Alongside retail sales, HBH Woolacotts was heavily involved in electrical site work, having more electricians than sales staff at that time. Over the years, the company refined its focus, responding to changing customer needs and advances in technology. Today, it supplies everything from premium kitchen appliances and televisions to home audio systems and boiling-water taps, supported by a comprehensive range of delivery, installation and aftercare services.

Expansion came steadily, beginning with stores in Bude and Launceston; the company widened its reach through acquisitions and strategic investment. Holsworthy joined the network through the purchase of Pengellys, while Plymouth became home to the United Kingdom’s first Panasonic Technics Centre in 1990. Wadebridge followed in 1994, and the acquisition of Robin Wottons in 2003 brought stores in Liskeard and Bodmin into the fold. The opening of a Sony Centre in Plymouth further strengthened the company’s presence in Devon.

A significant milestone arrived in 2006 with the move to a new warehouse and logistics facility. The investment increased stock capacity, strengthened buying power and enhanced delivery operations. Yet it was the opening of the St Austell Electrical Superstore in 2012 that arguably shaped the next chapter. With generous parking, extensive stockholding and integrated warehousing, the format proved enormously popular. The concept became a model for future development, leading to the Plymouth Superstore in 2017 and, most recently, the opening of a new Barnstaple Superstore in 2025.

Managing product ranges across a rapidly changing industry demands constant attention. A dedicated buying team tracks developments across domestic appliances, entertainment technology and smart home products, ensuring that customers can choose from respected brands at a range of price points. Serving largely rural communities requires breadth as well as depth. Customers expect choice, availability and expert guidance, whether purchasing a washing machine, upgrading a television or planning a new kitchen. Service remains central to the company’s identity. Free delivery throughout Cornwall and Devon is a substantial undertaking, supported by logistics hubs in Bude, Barnstaple, Plymouth and St Austell. The aim is straightforward: to place products in customers’ homes as quickly as possible and minimise disruption when essential appliances fail. Professional installation services extend that support, helping customers get the most from their purchases without unnecessary complication.

Perhaps the clearest expression of the company’s philosophy is its in-house service department. At a time when many retailers hand customer support to distant call centres, HBH Woolacotts manages much of the process itself. Customers dealing with appliance faults or television repairs often speak directly to people based within the business.

Such an approach helps explain why customer satisfaction scores consistently sit at impressive levels, reaching 99 per cent during a recent month. The figures are not treated as a target in themselves but as evidence of a culture that places service at the centre of every interaction.

The company’s local roots remain equally important. Cornwall and Devon continue to provide a customer base that values businesses with a visible presence in their communities. As HBH Woolacotts has grown, maintaining that connection has become a priority.

Fresh from opening its Barnstaple Superstore and launching Haven Kitchens by HBH Woolacotts in 2024, the company enters its fiftieth year with plenty to occupy its attention. There are no grand announcements on the horizon, yet HBH Woolacotts continues to evolve while holding fast to the principles that have carried it through five decades: family ownership, practical expertise and service that extends well beyond the shop floor.

HBH Woolacotts
01288 352269
www.hbh-woolacotts.co.uk