{"id":2891,"date":"2026-07-07T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hbh-woolacotts.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2891"},"modified":"2026-06-24T17:25:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:25:24","slug":"50-years-of-hbh-woolacotts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hbh-woolacotts.co.uk\/blog\/2026\/50-years-of-hbh-woolacotts\/","title":{"rendered":"HBH Woolacotts Celebrates 50 Years of Being Happy to Be Helpful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HBH Woolacotts from Bude 1976 to Barnstaple superstore in 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1976, HBH Woolacotts opened its very first store in Bude, Cornwall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifty years later, we are proud to be celebrating half a century of serving customers across Cornwall and Devon. What began as a small, family-run electrical retailer has grown into nine branches across the South West, but one thing has never changed: we are still and always will be, H<\/strong>appy to B<\/strong>e H<\/strong>elpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where It All Began \u2013 Bude, 1976<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HBH Woolacotts was founded in July 1976 by Ted Hemmerle. The first stores in Bude and Launceston focused on televisions<\/a>, hi-fi systems<\/a> and white goods, serving the local community with honest advice and dependable service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As demand grew, so did the business, with a third high street store opening in Holsworthy, Devon in 1979. From those early days, the foundations were built on more than just products. They were built on relationships, trust and a genuine commitment to helping customers make the right choice for their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HBH Woolacotts, Bude, 1970s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Growing Across Cornwall and Devon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the decades, HBH Woolacotts has expanded thoughtfully across the region, always with the aim of better serving local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following our early growth in Bude<\/a>, Launceston<\/a> and Holsworthy<\/a>, the Plymouth Panasonic Centre opened in 1990 – the UK’s first Panasonic Centre! – with Wadebridge<\/a> joining the business in 1994. Liskeard<\/a> and Bodmin<\/a> followed in 2003 as we continued strengthening our presence across Cornwall in order to be accessible to more customers in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Panasonic Centre, Plymouth, 1990<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bodmin store opening, 2003<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In 2012, we reached a major milestone with the opening of our first superstore in St Austell<\/a>, marking an important new era for the company. The opening of a superstore allowed us to offer customers an even wider range of home appliances and home entertainment under one roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St Austell Superstore opening weekend, 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Barnstaple High Street joined the family in 2015, before our second superstore opened in Plymouth<\/a> in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bernard Smith handover in Barnstaple, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ground floor, Plymouth Superstore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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As retail habits and customer needs have evolved, so have we. In October 2025, we closed our Barnstaple High Street branch and relocated to a brand new superstore in Roundswell, Barnstaple<\/a>, designed to better serve customers across North Devon with improved access, more space and an expanded product range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Barnstaple Electrical Superstore in Roundswell, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ground floor, Barnstaple Superstore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Today, HBH Woolacotts operates nine branches across Cornwall and Devon, including dedicated Sony Centres within our St Austell, Plymouth and Barnstaple superstores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Cornwall and Devon have grown and changed over the past 50 years, we have continued to adapt while remaining rooted in the communities we are proud to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sony Centre, Plymouth Superstore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Three Generations, One Ethos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now spanning three generations of the Hemmerle family, HBH Woolacotts remains a family-run business at heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From founder Ted Hemmerle to Managing Director Martin Hemmerle and Director Chris Hemmerle, the focus has always been on people first. Our motto, \u201cH<\/strong>appy to B<\/strong>e H<\/strong>elpful,\u201d is not just a phrase. It reflects how we train our teams, how we support our customers and how we approach every interaction in store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Three generations of the Hemmerle family leading HBH Woolacotts in 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We understand that buying electrical appliances and home technology can sometimes feel overwhelming. That is why we place such importance on expert advice, up-to-date product knowledge and friendly service. Whether it is choosing a new washing machine, planning a kitchen with Haven Kitchens by HBH Woolacotts<\/a> or investing in a home cinema system, our aim is always to help customers feel confident in their decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Haven Kitchens sample room in Barnstaple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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50 Years of Change in the Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The way we live at home has transformed dramatically since 1976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Televisions have evolved from bulky CRT sets to ultra-slim 4K and OLED<\/a> smart TVs. Kitchens have become more integrated, more efficient and more design-led. Appliances are smarter, quieter and more energy efficient than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In home audio, we have seen entire formats rise, fall and return again. We lived through the golden age of vinyl, watched CDs become the must-have format of the 1990s and early 2000s and saw streaming reshape how people discover and enjoy music. Today, vinyl is enjoying a remarkable resurgence, with a new generation rediscovering the experience of playing records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bude showroom in 2011 vs Barnstaple Superstore showroom in 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Having witnessed these shifts first-hand, we understand that great sound never goes out of style. That is why we continue to invest in bespoke hi-fi and home cinema demo rooms in select branches, giving customers the opportunity to experience systems properly before making a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hi-fi demo room, Wadebridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While technology has changed, the importance of good advice and hands-on demonstration has not. If anything, it matters more than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thank You for 50 Years<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reaching our 50th anniversary is a proud moment for everyone at HBH Woolacotts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would not be here without the loyalty of our customers, the dedication of our staff past and present and the support of the communities we are privileged to serve. Many families across Cornwall and Devon have shopped with us for generations and that trust is something we never take for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being part of local communities for five decades is an honour. From first homes, to family kitchens, to retirement moves – we are grateful to have played a small part in so many homes across the South West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Barnstaple Superstore opening in October 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While we are proud of the past 50 years, we are just as excited about the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology will continue to evolve and homes will continue to change, but our commitment remains the same. To offer expert advice, trusted brands and service you can rely on, to support our local communities and to stay true to the ethos that has guided us since 1976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 50 years, we have been H<\/strong>appy to B<\/strong>e H<\/strong>elpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We look forward to continuing to serve Cornwall and Devon for many more years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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