Every village or town needs a proper hardware store, somewhere that can give you the washer without having to buy the whole kitchen sink, as supplied by the big multinational companies.
Photo: Mark Wilkinson – Communities in Focus 📸
For the past 44 years, Jed Peaden has been exactly that for the community, running Lanchester Home & Garden Hardware and supplying customers with everything they need… and quite a few things they didn’t realise they needed too. Jed took over the business in 1981 when the previous owner retired. Having already worked there on a Youth Training Scheme, he stepped naturally into the role. With a dry sense of humour and sharp business sense, he grew the shop and later expanded to a second premises in Langley Park. All businesses face stiff competition from supermarkets and online sales but Jed has a simple philosophy, have the goods at the right price, keep a good stock and offer good advice. It does work and during my visit to the shop every customer knew him by name and listened to any advice he could give.
Every business needs good support and Jed is assisted by brother Barry and other family members who keep the shelves filled and the customers coming back.
