Expanding Christchurch firm opens new centre

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 21

Expanding Christchurch firm opens new centre

The home-decorating firm of Hurst and Drake, Ltd. is a family business and a city establishment of long standing. In its 58 years of existence, the firm has gone from a modest store on Ferry Road to nine branches and a staff of 80.

In 1920, Mr H. C. Hurst, known to his friends as “Herbie,” and Mr Vic Drake, used their war gratuities to get $3OO together and buy out Mr L. Rose, a maker of leadlight windows at 22 Ferry Road. On these premises the first trading was established and the basis of the firm’s reputation laid. (This original site was only recently sold by the firm, and the building levelled by bulldozers.)

Before this joint venture both men had worked for Smith and Smith, Ltd, Mr Hurst as warehouse manager and Mr Drake as sales representative, so both had had considerable experience in the type of work they were undertaking.

The two men were joined as original directors of the firm by Mr A. H. Forbes, a Christchurch landowner, and Mr Rose the previous owner of the property became one of the first shareholders. The business was firmly established with painting, decorating and building trading lines before the Depression of the 19305. Hurst and Drake has always been a strongly paternalistic firm, and during these difficult times, great economies were achieved by staff and management co-oper-ation. Early staff The original staff of about 12 was headed by Mr Claude Dixey, now living in retirement in New Brighton, who was to stay with the firm for 42 years. Another long-term staff member was Mr Ernie Francis, truck driver. Mr

A. H. Bishop, the present wallpaper manager for the firm, joined the staff in 1939. (One very real indication of the warm relationship existing within the firm has always been the large number of longstanding staff members.) Both the founders of the firm had sons with an interest in the business, and in 1937 Mr W. J. Drake joined his father at Hurst and Drake, and in 1948 the present manag-ing-director Mr John Hurst joined 'the company. Mr Hurst senior died in 1951, and Mr Drake in

1955. Hust and Drake’s first branch shop was opened in Victoria Street in 1961, on the site where the Mer-

ritt Beazley building nowstands. It was a drive-in shop, and the first of its kind to offer this facility in Christchurch. Three years later the glass department at Ferry Road was extended, and a shop stocking glass and general retail lines was opened at 39 Riccarton Road. Nine branches In 1967 the Victoria Street property was sold and the branch transferred to Northlands Shopping Centre. In 1970 Hurst and Drake purchased the longestablished business of T

H. Davies from Mr R. Bain. The firm went into Saturday trading with their purchase of Milners at New Brighton in 1971.

shops followed rapidly — Riccarton Mall (1973), Barrington Mall (1975), and Hornby Mall (1977). And in 1977 a big step was taken to acquire the large High Street premises of Drages Ltd as a distribution warehouse and retail centre. The most recent branch to be established was at the Shirley Shopping Centre earlier this year. Landmark The familiar Christchurch landmark on the corner of High and Madras Streets had been occupied by Drages for 20 years, and for a long time before that by Armstrongs

Ltd. For Hurst and Drake it meant a majorexpansion, but their expectations have been fully realised. Since the move to Drages building there has been a big upsurge in sales, and the concept of the premises as a supply base for their satellite branch shops, as well as a retail outlet, has proved to be a sound one.

There is a daily distribution service from the High Street base to branch shops, which requires exact calculations in bulk ordering for the shops as well as for customers’ needs. Plentiful stocks of paint and wallpaper must be on hand to show customers at all times.