LIKE every other business during the coronavirus pandemic, Purewell Electrical in Christchurch was forced to adapt.
With a reduced workforce and the “jewel in the crown” showroom closed, the appliance and electrical superstore acclimatised and met the crisis head-on.
Purewell Electrical traded through its website and telephone lines. Online orders boomed and the phone rang off the hook.
Safety measures were implemented. Staff, kitted in PPE, carried out kerbside deliveries and installed essential items for vulnerable and shielding customers. And following the easing of lockdown restrictions, Purewell Electricals has re-opened and complying with government guidelines on track and trace, with a sign-in sheet at the door. The team have their temperatures recorded on arrival and all customers must handsanitise and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Indeed, Purewell Electrical have risen to the challenge of the pandemic, reflecting the dedication and commitment Arthur Griffiths and his wife, Doreen, implemented when they founded the store in 1955.
Since then their son, Ian and grandson Ed, have taken the reins, overseeing the move from its home of 46 years in Purewell, to the 15,000 sq ft Christchurch superstore scooping Best Independent Showroom and crowned Independent Electrical Retailer of the Year.
Ed said: “Washing machines and refrigeration sales were the most prevalent during the coronavirus pandemic. We understand these are essential items and prioritised. It was hard to get stock into the country, so we worked closely with our suppliers to ensure we were not letting our customers down.
"We provide the technology that makes people happy"
“At Purewell Electrical we know the importance of family. From the beginning when Arthur founded Purewell Electrical with the help of Doreen, who sold her car to buy the first stock, we have been striving to improve the lives of the residents of Purewell and Christchurch, by providing the technology which makes people happy.
"In the 1950’s we sold some of the earliest automatic vacuum cleaners and radios, before the television became popular! We have now re-opened and it’s clear that people have missed shopping!
"I love working with technology to help people improve their lives. When you are spending money for the family home, it is so important to spend your money wisely.”
W: purewell.co.uk
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