Page 17 - BOSS Today Issue 11

Anniversary

My

Harts

will

go on

The owner of Harts Business Solutions, a Saffron Walden-based company,
has seen many changes in the four decades he has been there – but not nearly

as many as the company itself must have seen in 175 years

ou might think there same name and location, and current managing director into administration. Would he
are many businesses with only one change of family Martin Turnbull, “although the consider buying it, the father-
yout there which are as ownership? One in a million. works itself isn’t there any more. in-law wondered. Turnbull’s
old as the hills. But you would Harts, the company in The company’s original printing grandfather got on a train and
be wrong. A business school question, is located in the Essex machine is now in the Saffron decided he would.
study once worked out that market town of Saffron Walden. Walden museum. We stopped Harts had in fact expanded
the average lifespan of even The only company in the town using it in the 1960s.” well beyond its origins as a
a successful business is just that is anything like as old as it Turnbull’s grandfather ran a printing company by the time
40 years. You don’t have to go is a gentlemen’s outfitters – yes, stationery shop in Paternoster Turnbull senior was contacted.
too many years beyond that, they do still exist. Row, London – just around “It had started out as a printing
the theory goes, before most Last year Harts celebrated the corner from Stationers’ company, then become a
of them are taken over with all 175 years in business, and was Hall - when in 1934 he was stationers, then a bookshop, and
trace of their original name and rewarded for its achievements approached by his father-in-law, even sold musical instruments
function gone. with a special award at the BOSS who was a solicitor in Saffron and records,” says Martin
Centenarian businesses, Eastern Region Annual Dinner. Walden. He was advising Harts, Turnbull.
then, are rare. But what about a “We still own the original which was two years short But as so often happens in
business that has been around archway that framed the original of its centenary at the time family owned companies with
for 175 years, always with the entrance into the works,” says but was in danger of going strong local connections, it

March 2012 | BOSS TODAY 17

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