‘Times are a changing’ and that’s exactly what’s happening for a famous Plymouth family store which after 100 years of traditional shopping is moving into worldwide internet trading 24 hours a day.
Lawsons based in Plymouth, is one of the most trusted names in the retail world. They have teamed up with leading South Devon website design company Createanet to unveil four new impressive websites that will help the company move its business forward trading nationwide 24 hours a day.
“As a business we are never afraid of change and we embrace the Internet as part of retailing in the 21st Century”, explained Liz Lawson, managing director. “For Lawsons it is adding to the high level of customer service we strive to maintain, shows our depth of product and widens our audience appeal”.
“Lawsons have been trading online since 2000 but this is the first time we have used a website design company to help us with our site and I am delighted with the results. Our new sites will have many new features including a forum for cake decorators to discuss ideas and solve problems as well as a frequently asked questions page where we can help customers.”
The newly designed websites also feature another initiative – a new Buyers Club in which regular customers can register on line to gain advance notice of special deals. In time they’ll also be able to earn bonus points to exchange for items at the company’s shops in Plymouth, Ivybridge, Tavistock and Totnes.
Liz added: “We’ve come a long way since my great-grandfather launched the business back in 1904 and we are still moving forward and looking to acquire new outlets in the right location, should the opportunities arise. The Createanet designed websites with their on line shopping facilities will help keep our name in the forefront and ensure we continue to prosper.”
It was Tom Lawson who founded Lawsons ironmongers in Frankfort Street Plymouth back in 1904 and since then it has been a success story which has seen the family business open up four shops.
During the last World War, the Frankfort Street shop was bombed and completely destroyed and Tom was forced to move into a rented shop in Compton Street where he expanded the business to include cutlery and toys including Hornby and Meccano.
In 1952 when Plymouth was completely rebuilt, Lawsons relocated to New George Street which coincidentally was almost exactly on the same site as their original shop in Frankfort Street. By this time, Tom had retired and Francis, his son, took over the business.
Over the next two decades, the business grew its toy department to sell Airfix kits, Aero engines and model steam engines but in 1968 the New George Street store suffered a huge fire causing damage throughout.
In 1971 John Lawson, (Francis’s son) came into the business with his wife Jennifer and their four children, including Liz. It was in the 80s that the family noticed the rise in popularity in kitchenware and started to promote this within the store and Jennifer who was a keen amateur cake decorator helped to set up the first British Sugar Craft Guild in Plymouth. In 1998 Liz took over as managing director from John and continues to steer the company forward.