Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Ian Follett and Nick Pedlar received special recognition awards at Home Hardware’s Convention held at The Woolacombe Bay Hotel in Devon earlier this month.
Ian was honoured for his exceptional help and support given to Home Hardware. He joined Home Hardware’s board of directors in 1991, and has continually served on the promotions and marketing committee, providing not only product knowledge but, in more recent years, valuable consumer feedback. Ian is well known in the industry for his very enthusiastic, straightforward approach to business.
In 1997, Ian was recognized by his peers as national president of the British Hardware Federation. In 2001, Malletts Home Hardware won Retailer of the Year, thanks to the tremendous support and dedication from Robert Mallett and Ian Follett.
Martin Elliott, CEO of Home Hardware, said: “During my career at Home Hardware I have been very fortunate to work with three excellent chairmen and an experienced board of directors. Their advice and support has been particularly helpful when trading conditions are tough. Ian epitomises this; he regularly offers words of encouragement and is always willing to lend a hand.Sixty years in the industry is a remarkable achievement for anyone, particularly for Ian given the amount of energy and enthusiasm he has shown over the years, across all sectors of the industry”.
Meanwhile, Nick Pedlar of Chas N Pedlar & Son of Ilfracombe was commemorated for being a Home Hardware member for 50 years.
Nick started working in Chas N Pedlar in 1953 and can remember helping to unpack Coronation Mugs in large crates filled with damp straw. Chas – Nick’s dad – joined Home Hardware in 1963 just after it was founded.
After leaving school in 1964, Nick joined Dingles in Plymouth and then travelled to London in 1966 to work for Daks Simpson Menswear, before returning to Ilfracombe nine months later to work in the family business.
Nick met the late Peter Slee (Slees Home Hardware, Braunton) after he picked him up in an ambulance after a car accident and soon met other members of the hardware trade in the North Devon branch of the NFI. Nick was branch chairman from 1973-1975.
When not at work, Nick has been involved with Round Table and Rotary clubs, been chairman of Ilfracombe Traders for 10 years, director of the North Devon Chamber of Commerce, a director of music at Ilfracombe Parish Church, chairman of the Exeter Cathedral Old Choristers Association and still chairs a foundation in Exeter that offers bursaries to enable choristers to go to the Cathedral who would not normally be able to.
