Household goods retailer poised to open new superstore

A family businesses enters a new era next month with the launch of a Crampton & Moore superstore at its Waverley warehouse and distribution centre.

The TV, appliance and kitchen company, which was founded in Sheffield 1966, is now established across the North, with stores in Sheffield, Leeds and Harrogate as well as its online presence.

In November, the business will open its 45,000 sq ft showroom and distribution hub at Poplar Way, Waverley, relocating from its surviving Ecclesfield shop.

Crampton & Moore was started by partners John Moore and Roy Crampton in 1966 to meet increasing demand for more affordable and rentable televisions.

Initially the partners purchased faulty TVs, repaired them and then sold or rented at a more competitive rate than larger operators.

The company was first based in an old Methodist church in Sheffield’s Wincobank but when the decision was taken to move into retail, shops were opened in Rotherham and then Sheffield’s Ecclesfield and Firth Park districts.

As its success grew, the company became one of the first in South Yorkshire to work with Japanese brands like Panasonic, Hitachi, Sony, Sanyo and Mitsubishi.

The firm now has well-established branches in Vicar Lane, Leeds and Commercial Street, Harrogate.

It reached an annual turnover of £16m by the time it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016 and has since doubled its turnover to £32m today.

Managing director Robert Moore, son of founder John Moore, said: “Even though so much of our business is now conducted online through our website, we do appreciate many people still prefer to look before they buy and also talk to experienced salespeople.

“We are still a 100% family-run independent business but our track record has made us a national retail leader and now we have the premises to match that reputation.

“The size of our new showroom and large warehouse with thousands of products in stock means customers can usually take away the product they want with no delay.

“Family and customer service remains at the heart of everything we do but after more than half a century we feel we have finally got the store that represents the successful national company we truly are.”