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John Read
Stuart Read
With the discovery of gold in the Karaka and
the opening of the Thames gold field on 1
August 1867, dramatic changes unfolded
for the area. Within four years the population
would grow to over 15,000.
With huge demands for the construction
of wooden buildings, the timber industry
emerged as a big component of the economy.
At the centre of this frenetic expansion
were astute business and commercial men,
including John Read, timber merchant and
iron monger.
Handily placed on Brown Street at the centre
of Grahamstown, John Read was assured of
success, so long as he was flexible enough to
respond to the changing needs of the town.
And he did. The store has changed locations,
but has remained a Thames institution.
Today, five successive generations and 150
years later, Stuart and Jocelyn Read, along
with son, John Read, are the proud owners
of Read Bros Hardware – still a traditional
hardware store which bases its business
on good old fashioned, first name service,
delivered with character and integrity.
THE EARLY YEARS
Back in September of 1867, John Read
opened his timber yard, iron foundry and
store that supplied whatever was needed.
Businesses and individual miners depended
happy anniveRSaRy ReaD BROS! as the oldest
recognised family-owned business in new Zealand, this
renown pioneering Thames icon will soon celebrate serving
the Coromandel community for 150 years. Watch for
promotions and events beginning in September this year.
on John for mining and building supplies.
And soon the area would be flooded with
hotel operators, speculators, support stores,
mariners, and traders of all kinds.
As the mining around Grahamstown declined,
John shifted the location of his business south
to Shortland, in line with a general move of
businesses to the new centre of the town.
With John’s passing in 1922, his sons, Arthur
and Charles took over, with Arthur Read
stepping up and charting through the difficult
years between 1931 and 1947. The store
relocated in 1935 to a billiard room owned
by Arthur at 308 Pollen Street, their current
location (see photo below).
His son, Alan Read, the third generation,
returned from duty in World War II, back into
the family’s business. The tough times after
the war gave way to the prosperous years of
the 1950s and ’60s.
READ GENERATIONS 4 & 5!
In the 70s fourth generation Stuart aligned
the business with the ‘Lucerne Wholesale
Society’, later known as the Hammer
Hardware Group.
In 2013, fifth generation John Read assumed
operational control. It was then that Read Bros
Hammer Hardware reverted to independent
status, dropping the Hammer branding. John
is now driving the store into the digital
age while managing the ever-expanding
product range.
Read Bros, truly a ‘family owned and operated
business’ again, has family values at its
core, and through five generations continues
to provide great customer service while
responding to the demands of the market.
THE SECRET TO SUCCESS
It’s not much of a secret; just ask their
customers – some of who visit daily and
others that drive hours to find exactly what
they need.
One such customer was Margaret Chick’s
father. Although Marg has lived in Tairua over
30 years, she grew up in Kerepehi and has
fond memories of shopping trips to Read Bros
in Thames with her dad in the 60’s. “I much
preferred that to Farmer’s with my mum.”
“My dad was a tinkerer and we spent a lot of
time in his shed where he taught me to use
tools and we would make things together,”
Marg recalls. “He also liked to chat, so while
he talked to the Read Bros staff, I would sit on
the floor by the nails, nuts and bolts and play
with them all.”
Marg has recently purchased a home in
Thames and says, “One thing I look forward to
most is being close to Read Bros once again
for my one-stop hardware – and advice!”
As one would expect, many changes have
occurred over the 150 years – people, places
products – but one thing hasn’t changed... you
can still buy a gold pan, just like in 1867.
John Read
arthur Read
alan Read
Present Day
1860s
1930s
1950s
1970s
FIvE GENERATIONS ~ ONE STORE ~
150
YEARS!
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COROMANDEL LIFE 2017 LATE AUTUMN / WINTER