Jim Chadwick of The Range joins Home Hardware as head of buying

Jim Chadwick joined Home Hardware South West on Monday (November 2) in the new role of head of buying.

He has considerable retail experience in the housewares and hardware industry, having worked for the past 17 years for The Range. His role there encompassed buying for paint, wallcoverings, decorating accessories, sundries, window fashions (poles and blinds), bathroom accessories and furnishings, automotive, flooring, electrical products including heating and large appliances, hardware and tools. Jim managed a team of eight, sourcing from all over the world. With over 100 stores nationwide, The Range carries more than 65,000 products across 16 departments including DIY, housewares, furniture, lighting, arts & crafts and garden.

Prior to this, Jim worked as a buyer within the wholesale and merchant industry.

Martin Elliott, chief executive of Home Hardware, said: “We’re delighted to add someone of Jim’s calibre to our buying team. His experience will be invaluable in developing our own label ranges, our direct shipment business and helping us with our continued expansion.”

Home Hardware is dealer-owned and describes itself as the largest organisation of its kind in the UK for independently-owned hardware stores. The company has over 400 members including independent hardware retailers, housewares shops, cookshops, ironmongers and garden centres.

Its mission is to supply independent retailers with ‘quality products and services, provide them with programmes to operate efficient and profitable stores, and assist them in serving the customer with competitive prices and superior service’. Owned by the retailers it serves, Home Hardware enables its members to compete against high street multiples and DIY superstores by combining buying power.

Home Hardware provides national distribution from its two distribution centres at Barnstaple and Bedford.