IT is about to be a yr of celebration at locally-based Bents Backyard & Residence because the family-owned and run enterprise marks its eighty fifth anniversary by welcoming a brand new arrival, with the favored kitchenware and residential model, Lakeland set to hitch the broader Bents household.
It’s 85 years since Alfred and Margaret Bent began to promote roses from the entrance backyard of their small terrace home, marking the beginning of what could be a really particular journey.
Over the previous 85 years and while by no means forgetting its gardening heritage, Bents has labored arduous to create someplace that’s not simply targeted on the backyard but additionally encompasses house, way of life and leisure. The arrival of fellow household enterprise Lakeland additional enhances Bents’ enchantment as a whole day-out vacation spot centre.
Matthew Bent, Bents Backyard & Residence Managing Director, mentioned: “As a household enterprise we’ve by no means been ones to relaxation on our laurels. We’ve at all times adopted our passions and brought probabilities, and we’re dedicated to high quality, excellent customer support and innovation, all of that are in keeping with Lakeland’s personal philosophies and method to their very own household enterprise.
“With their unrivalled assortment of artistic kitchenware and sensible, effort and time saving concepts for the house we imagine that they’re going to match completely into our household enterprise, and we’re all trying ahead to welcoming them in retailer.”
Emma Kay, Head of Property at Lakeland added: “We’re delighted to be opening a brand new Lakeland retailer at Bents Backyard & Residence. It’s a incredible centre for our prospects to go to, and is run on the identical robust household values which can be so essential to us. Lakeland prospects take pleasure in exploring our revolutionary, high-quality kitchen and homeware merchandise, which we imagine will complement the present providing at Bents very well. We all know that we’ve many loyal prospects on this space who will welcome the opening of our new retailer and we’re trying ahead to asserting our opening date and welcoming into retailer later this yr.”
Over the previous 85 years Bents has undergone various key milestones lots of which have been launched by Matthew’s mother and father, Ron and Wendy Bent and went on to ascertain various key tendencies throughout the backyard centre trade.
2017 noticed the launch of the UK’s first Open Skies Glass Home, an all-weather vacation spot the place prospects can store for vegetation come rain or shine and newer years have seen the opening of a £10m extension, housing various new house and leisure departments, together with an intensive Meals Corridor and Pet Place with its personal Pet Cafe. The arrival of Lakeland is one other incredible addition to the household and the newest step on the broader Bents’ journey.
Established in 1937 Bents is now in its third technology, with 4 of Alfred and Margaret’s grandchildren concerned within the enterprise: Matthew Bent, Managing Director; Rachel Bent Head of Visible Merchandising; Helen Bent, Head of Advertising and Katherine Bent, Head of HR. Underneath the steerage of three generations of the Bent household it’s now a £25m turnover operation, using over 400 colleagues.
Now, with various completely different eating locations, out of doors play space, landscaped lake, Jurassic Cove Journey Golf Course and on-site nursery, the place it grows and nurtures over 60% of its vegetation, Bents is a really completely different entity to when it started life 85 years in the past, however says Matthew: “regardless of rising in dimension we’ve labored arduous to maintain the nice household feeling and ambiance we’ve established a repute for; one thing I believe my grandparents could be very pleased with if they might see us now.”