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Visit by Brian Hall, Editor
Often companies featured in these pages have demonstrated the importance of two factors in creating a successful tool business. The first is adaptability and the second is having a name recognized for experience and knowledge. With over a hundred years of business, that has taken it from a small company that largely specialised in funeral directors supplies to a big and busy company dealing with everything from power tools to architectural ironmongery and supplies Timothy Wood shown both qualities in spades.
Mick McFadden has been owner of the business for just over year, having previously been a senior member of the Timothy Wood staff and immediately set about using his experience of the company to improve and expand it even further.
The company was set up by the man whose name it bears in around 1900, he had already been working for another ironmonger in Huddersfield and when that business closed he decided to set up his own.
Like many people raised in the Victorian era he was an industrious man, and the service he offered meant the name Timothy Wood was soon associated with quality and service.
During the First World War Timothy Wood’s son was killed in the trenches, so perhaps it was this tragedy that led him to give up his company in 1919. It was taken over by William Bell Fox and William Hodson, who had the good sense to keep the company’s name, thus ensuring they benefited from Timothy Wood’s hard earned reputation, and that the company’s name survives today.
Fox was acted as managing director of the company, and it remained in his family until 1997.
In 1997 the company was still run in a very traditional way that Mick McFadden describes as like Open All Hours - fork handle; brown overalls and a pencil card index.
Mick joined the company over11 years ago, when it was run by the Maurice and Phillip Kay, who had bought the company in 1997. Together with Phillip Mick was able to develop the tool side of the business, so the company started to grow to become the one its customer depend on today, a substantial power tool business is an essential part of the set up.
Sadly Maurice and Phillip, who was Mick brother-in-law both died, Phillip died 10 years ago in a car accident and Maurice died two years ago from alzheimers Mick bought the families shares in the business last April.
Although the company is now relocated to larger premises in Huddersfield it still retains some of the feel of a family business, Mick’s sons Jay and Dean both work for the business. Jay is especially involved in the power tools side of the business, as well as developing its internet presence. Whilst Dean works closely helping customers with the architectural ironmongery side, looking at blueprints, helping with specifications. This part of the business has attracted a number of national accounts.
As with any well established business an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and loyal staff are a key element of Timothy Wood’s success.
For example Anne Hollingsworth has worked at Timothy Wood for 30 years, and has a massive store of knowledge, that is of enormous help to customers such as the Chester Grosvenor Hotel, which the company helped supply, she is also looking into a new build for local developers.
Another key staff member is Julie Hill who overseas the engineers merchant side - welding compressors, cutting tools and oils.
Another employee with 30 years experience is Graham Stanley who totally oversees the company’s finances.
The company has 12 people working in total, all of who share the positive attitude and enthusiasm for customer service of Mick and his sons.
Of course membership of THS has been an enormous help in the company’s growth. It joined 11 years ago and has grown almost every year since.
With a business that covers such a wide spectrum of supplies and services it is unsurprising that Timothy Wood is now located in much bigger premises than the small high street shop it started out in over a century ago. Its modern home is two large units in Bradley Mills Industrial Estate in Huddersfield, a central location that allows the company to serve a large and varied customer base from across its area.
An innovative approach to customer service, and to attracting new customers also reflects the positive attitude of the company. Every year the Timothy Wood stages a three-day trade show where local builders, trades-people, members of the public and DIY enthusiasts can come and see displays and demonstrations from the many brands the company stocks, including Makita, Trend, SIP, Sealy, Fein, Teng, Harrison and Clough, Everbuild, Youngman, ITW Construction, Stabila, and Milwaukee. They will also be able to see a massive choice of door handles and furniture, coloured stains, wood fillers, curtain poles, rails and hooks, as well as hundred of other items. They can also visit the key cutting room, see demonstrations of wood working machinery and a vast selection of other items.
Regular visitors to the outlet will have noticed in the last year that the company has been continually adding new lines and services. There is free delivery around Huddersfield, customer service has been speeded up with a new system, and the whole shop display area has been completely refurbished making it easier and clearer for customers to find the item they are looking for.
Every generation that has run Timothy Wood seems to have added more and more, improving the company continuously over the last century. It is a real credit to Mick and his sons and excellent workforce that they have been able to take this process of improvement and accelerate it even further, turning the business into one that leads the way and demonstrates just how well things can be run.
It will be interesting to see what new developments this innovative company will introduce in years to come.
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Airstream Communications