Hardy Carpets – trading since 1972
Hardy Carpets started trading in 1972 being opened by Mr Richard Hardy himself. Mr Hardy brought a whole new dimension of carpet buying to the West country. He filled the original property in St Clement Street to the gunnels with rolls of carpet all geared to serve the domestic client. At that time the company policy was aimed at benefiting the DIY enthusiast and nowhere else could you buy quality carpets from the roll on the day you wanted it and at a fraction of the cost of other retail outlets. There were no frills and no waiting. You saw the actual piece of carpet you were going to buy rather than some ‘plumped up pattern sample’, paid for it and within minutes it was cut, folded and carried out to your car. There are some staff still in the company today that can remember those Cash and Carry days! Business was brisk and carpet fitting was 24 hours, including weekends. Hardy Carpets soon outgrew its first premises and moved next door to the slightly larger side of the building where the headquarters still reside today.
On Mr Hardy’s retirement in 1991 the company was taken over by a staff buy out thus retaining years of experience within the business and this combined experience and a wealth of knowledge means that you will get exactly the right product and service to suit your needs. Often people are just looking for advice on stain resistant fibres, types of carpet suitable for different locations, carpet cleaning and other related issues, which we are pleased to provide with no obligations.
The new directors of the company have kept many of the trading methods that they inherited from Mr Hardy such as the refusal to inflate prices just to show large discounts or to say that customers will get a product or service for free when the cost is hidden in the product or the price of the accessories. This remains part of our trading doctrine. We believe that customers should be able to see what they are paying for and so the true value of the product is apparent.
In 2001 a new larger store was added at St Austell. The ranges of discount carpets have been increased and have now become Hardy’s value ranges all priced at under £10 per sq metre. By carrying large amounts of stock there are always good discounts available on the roll ends and remnants both in carpets and vinyl. Many of these are in full room sizes.
Whilst the domestic customer still accounts for over 70% of the company’s trade, over the last decade the commercial business has developed and Hardys now supplies pubs, clubs, shops, offices, restaurants, hotels, holiday complexes and national building contractors. Whilst still specialising in carpets, all types of hard flooring have been added to Hardy’s varied range of stock and a wide choice of products in laminates, vinyl, wood and tiles.
By offering a comprehensive selection of flooring, with the technical knowledge in planning and fitting, Hardy Carpets offers a complete service for all its customers. The company understands that customers are working on a budget but are not prepared to compromise on quality or service.
