Jerry Glasswell began the history of Glasswells with his new venture in 1946 at 34 Brentgovel Street in Bury St Edmunds. A grocer by trade, Jerry had been through the International Stores Training system, working in Stowmarket and Ilford. Jerry made it to the heights of manager before a policy dispute led to the premature closure of his grocery chapter. Various other jobs, such as window cleaner and auctioneer’s porter, came and went before Jerry launched the family furnishing business.
In 1946, furniture was a scarce commodity, and much of the stock was second-hand, obtained from auctions. The history of Glasswells was created and the business boomed to such an extent that the second-hand goods were insufficient to meet demand and the company moved into the supply of utility furniture.
Leslie Glasswell joined his father shortly after the opening of the first shop and it proved to be a successful partnership of 30 years. Glasswells has always been very much a family business, with Jerry and his wife Ethel, Leslie, Peggy (Jerry’s daughter) and her husband Tim, together with Jerry’s brother Frank all playing a vital role. Since the history of Glasswells, the family has continued to re-invest in the business, enabling it to grow and retain a strong and loyal workforce and reputable brand.
timeless journey through
Glasswells in the 1940s
1946
First Shop opened at 35 Brentgovel Street, Bury St Edmunds.
1947
Second shop opened at 36 Brentgovel Street.
1948
First furniture van built.
1949
Glasswells first furniture exhibition at the Town Hall, Haverhill in 1949.
Glasswells in the 1950s
1950
First furniture exhibition at the Old Town hall, Bury St Edmunds.
1951
Opened first shop at Haverhill. Exhibition in marquee at the Suffolk Show Rougham. First exhibition in Bury St Edmunds’ Corn Exchange.
1952
Exhibitions at Saffron Walden and Bury St Edmunds’ Corn Exchange.
1953
Saffron Walden branch opened in King Street.
1954
Built and opened St Andrew’s Street South shop.
1955
Building started on Tollgate warehouse, Bury St Edmunds.
1957
Corn Exchange showroom opened in Bury St Edmunds.
1959
Tollgate warehouse extended to 15,000 sq ft.
Glasswells in the 1960s
1960
New store opened at Queen’s Square, Haverhill.
1961
Number of removals vans reaches seven, including three at Stowmarket.
1962
Glasswells opens store in Stowmarket.
1963
Glasswells’ staff totals 84.
1964
Brentgovel Street, Bury St Edmunds premises refurbished and opened at Bury Bedding Centre. Added mezzanine floor to Corn Exchange shop. Additional shop opened at Haverhill.
1965
Carpet shop opened in Queen’s Square, Haverhill.
1966
Tollgate warehouse extended to 20,000 sq ft.
1967
Started work on new £68,000 store extension in St Andrew’s Street South, Bury St Edmunds.
1968
St Andrew’s Street South, Bury St Edmunds shop extended and opened.
Glasswells in the 1970s
1970
Extended Tollgate warehouse to 30,000 sq ft.
1971
First Kingsbury warehouse opened in Bury St Edmunds.
1972
Kingsbury warehouse now total seven branches. Glasswells buy St Andrew’s and Brentgoval Street properties.
1976
Kingsbury warehouse sold to Combined English Stores.
1978
New Haverhill branch opened.
1979
Acquired Alstons of Sudbury.
Glasswells in the 1980s
1981
Taskers bought at Norwich.
1982
Glasswells joins Associated Independent Stores Group.
1983
Acquired Slaters at Braintree.
1984
New 11,000 sq ft store opened in Norwich, with two other shops to let.
1985
Complete re-build of the Brentgovel Street premises was opened in September, with three other shops to let.
1986
Leslie Glasswell elected to the board of Associated Independent Stores.
1987
Terry Glasswell appointed to the Board of Directors.
1989
Leslie Glasswell steps down as Managing Director. Paul Glasswell becomes Managing Director with Leslie as Chairman.
1989
Refurbishment schemes at Saffron Walden, Haverhill and Braintree.
Glasswells in the 1990s
1992
Four and a half acre flat site acquired in Newmarket Road in Bury St Edmunds, where the World of Furniture store was opened the same year.
1995
Opening of the World of Furniture at Martlesham Heath, Ipswich.
1994
World of Furniture extended to 60,000 sq. ft.
1996
50th anniversary of Glasswells.
1999
New warehouse at Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds opens.
Glasswells in the 2000s
2002
Extension to the World of Furniture creates an extra 40,000 sq ft. of space. All departments expanded to increase ranges. Robert Hawkins appointed as Sales Director.
2003
The interior of the Bury store is refurbished and the restaurant is extended.
The Design Centre in Bury is opened, offering a professional and bespoke Interior design service.
2005
Refurbishment of Haverhill store.
2006
Diamond anniversary celebrations by giving away a diamond ring and a 1940’s revival weekend. For the staff, there was a evening meal with music and comedy from Jasper Carrott.
2008
New destinantion store opened in Ipswich. 10,000 sq.ft. extension to Kempson Way Warehouse warehouse completed.
2009
Kevin Robertson appointed Sales Director as Robert Hawkins semi-retires, taking on a new role as Operations Director. Martlesham Heath store in Ipswich is closed.
Glasswells in the 2010s
2010
Flooring estimating system, Masterpiece, was introduced to offer estimates in the home and improve efficiencies.
2012
Glasswells stepped into the digital age when we launched our e-commerce website allowing us to take online orders and be able to reach our customers nationally.
2013
Glasswells of Ipswich scoops department of the Year Award, Staff and Store Manager Andrea Johnston celebrate and look to continue on strongly.
2014
We invested in nearly one thousand solar panels which have been installed on the south facing slopes of the roof on our Newmarket Road store. The panels cover over 20,000 square feet and are part of our wider initiative to go ‘green’.
2016
Our Bury St Edmunds restaurant was extended to accommodate an extra 30 seats cutting down on queue times & we gave the entire restaurant a revamp as well.
2016
Glasswells celebrated its 70th Anniversary. A year of celebrations culminated with a weekend of special events & a staff party featuring comedian Sean Locke in the Bury St Edmunds store.
2017
2017 was a year of refurbishment for our Bury St Edmunds store, starting with the Furniture department. More than 100,000sq ft of bespoke flooring was laid, and brand new room partitions were constructed as part of plans to enhance shoppers’ experience.
2017
In late 2017 we took the decision to reopen a store in Sudbury after 13 years. Peter and Rosemary Woodward who both worked at the original shop came back to run the store.
2018
Summer 2018 we were sad to see long serving employee Richard Ball leave after an astonishing 50 years. After starting as a Saturday boy in 1968, Richard worked up to Director in 2012 & worked 14 roles during his time with us.
2019
The Design Centre at Bury was fully refurbished..The new and improved Centre now exhibits full length wallpaper designs and thousands of fabric swatches to inspire customers and spark their imaginations.
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