KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
profile
Life with the lions is just right for Rob!
GORILLAS, elephants and zebra aren’t the kind of wildlife you normally expect to find in Holmfirth. But that’s all changed since Rob Hart roared into town and set up shop in Victoria Street with his venture, Lionhart Boutique. Life-size sculptures of jungle animals, sheep, cows and dogs are just part of his quirky collection of home accessories. There’s also unusual furniture, candles, mirrors, statues, clocks and ornaments of all kinds for sale as well as wallpaper and lighting. It’s the animals “parked” outside his shop, though, that get heads turning with the locals and coach parties sampling a drop of Summer Wine. Boutique occupies what in Hemel Hemsptead, “We had seven was once the Holmfirth Leeds and Bradford and I coachloads of visitors one branch of the Halifax. The covered the country. I sold day from as far away as shop boasts three floors to a lot of government Dorset,” says Rob. “One of contracts and went through packed with an Aladdin’s them was a farmer, who Cave-worth of wonders. saw my sheep and decided all the tender processes. “When I started out, they Rob sources many of the to buy one. This man has hundreds of real sheep, but gave me 12 staff and within unusual objects from India, China and the Middle East, 18 months I had 104 staff he wanted another to put but is also supporting local and I became sales outside his front door!” artists by selling their director,” says Rob. “But I Since the shop opened left when Sir Philip sold the works. less than two months ago, “I have employed three business. Sometimes, it’s business has been more part-time staff and once than brisk. “We open seven not the business, but who they are into the swing of you work for that’s days a week and I work all things I will be able to have important.” seven days,” says Rob. a few weeks off,” he says. “I The experience left him “And from five-past-nine on have done a lot of with a talent for selling, a the day we opened, it has advertising and marketing. can-do attitude and a been phenomenal. We had 15,000 people in willingness to work hard. “I stock the shop with the town for the Holmfirth In fact, hard work was everything I like – it’s an Food Festival and I had extension of my personality nothing new to Rob. “I was born in a children’s home in people out there leafleting. – and hoped that other “A lot of marketing has people might like it. Luckily, Derbyshire,” he says, quickly adding: “Only been directed at everyone else does! I because my parents ran it! Lancashire and North wanted to set up a Later, they moved to Yorkshire and advertising in business and give real Lightcliffe and I went to the up-market magazines. old-fashioned customer Crossley Porter Grammar Holmfirth attracts people service. Because I’m School – now Crossley from Manchester and enthusiastic and love the Heath. Saddleworth and I intend to products, people come in ■ HART TO HART: Rob Hart, owner of Holmfirth “My parents became go a little further afield to and ask to see me – and go self-employed bakers, Cheshire and Derbyshire.” busniess Lionhart Boutique, with his wife Kara out having bought running Harts of Halifax, so Rob’s business is already something that’s a little bit Wednesdays – but my simply slumped back in I was always around a keen participant in local exclusive.” Wednesdays are as good the chair. I was too tired business. I’m one of four life. He is main sponsor for Rob hails from as a Saturday.” to get up – even though boys and when we each Brass Factor, the brass Derbyshire, but made Says Rob: “I have had work is only half a mile turned 13 we had to work to band competition, and is Holmfirth his home after a really positive welcome. from home! earn our pocket money. We working on joint marketing marrying Kara Woodhead, Everyone has been “But I like doing family daughter of the late Hervey worked in the bakeries or initiatives with other complimentary.” stuff with the children, the bakery shops or took a Woodhead. Hervey was retailers. His success may seem Grace and Xavier. We live something of a local legend paper round. It’s still a The demise of Last of the at odds with the general at Upperthong in a house family business.” who built the Old Bridge Summer Wine has left economic climate – built by my father-in-law Rob also worked for the Hotel and Hervey’s Wine some wondering how particularly the gloom with a coach house Halifax Building Society for Bar as well as hundreds of Holmfirth can continue to surrounding retailing. But annexe. We have a nice some time, so it’s only Holme Valley houses. attract the tourist trade, but Rob says people will big field to ride our quad Sadly, Hervey died some fitting – but entirely Rob says: “Holmfirth always seek out bikes in and we love coincidental – that Lionhart doesn’t need to reinvent years ago and Rob says: “I something different to walking with our dogs. wish he had been itself. It needs give their home a We have two border here to see what we people to take a distinctive touch – be it a colllies as well as a rabbit have achieved. I chance, like I have. chrome horse’s head on and six chickens. We hope he would have When I took this the living room wall, a also have a holiday home been proud of me. I shop five months lion’s head for the front on the Yorkshire coast. certainly want to ago, there were five door or a zebra-striped That’s our bolt hole by carry on in his empty shop units in sofa for the bedroom.. the sea.” tradition.” Holmfirth. Now they “Most people are proud But you know Rob will Rob worked for 15 have all been taken of their homes and like remain committed to his years selling IT up, which is great.” living in houses with nice business – and keeping consumables, such He says: “The surroundings,” he says. Holmfirth firmly on the as printer ink and shop took eight “You spend a lot of time map – because of the cartridges, for a weeks to refurbish. at home and when you buzz business gives him. business owned by It had been empty are tired after a hard “We have had people tycoon Sir Philip for quite a while. At day’s work it is nice to sit from Australia, Canada, Green, the man the open night, we back in a comfortable Scotland and Cornwall,” best-known for had 200 people. I environment.” he says. “We have sold heading the Arcadia opened on Friday, Rob is working long lamps to Canada and, of Group of retail September 14, and hours at present, so he course, sheep to Dorset. chains, including since then I haven’t could be forgiven for It’s all about supply lines Bhs, Dorothy Perkins stopped. I am mistaking home for the and customer service.” and Top Man. re-stocking three office in the basement of And he adds: “It’s When Sir Philip times a week and his shop! “I’m working people and the sold the IT concern, on Saturdays and from 8am to well after ‘busy-ness’ of business Rob decided to Sundays there are midnight sometimes,” he that keeps me going.” leave. “He was great three of us working. says. “I even found to work for,” he says. ■ LION’S DEN: Part of the shop’s Some traders still myself firing off e-mails to HENRYK ZIENTEK “The firm had offices unusual collection of home accessories close early on my suppliers at 1am and
Page 3
Rob Hart Role: Proprietor Age: 42 Family: Married to Kara with children Grace, eight, and Xavier, 22 months Holidays: A holiday home on the Yorkshire coast Car: Land Rover Discovery First job: Working in my parents’ bakery shops Best thing about job: Meeting new people Worst thing about job: Nothing! I am loving it. It is the perfect job for me. I’m my own boss with my own business. I even like working until one in the morning! Business tip: Put the effort in if you want to make a success of it – and provide exceptional customer service
Lionhart Boutique Work: Unique home accessories retailer Site: Victoria Street, Holmfirth Employees: Four Phone: 01484 817520 Email: info@lionhart boutique.com Web: lionhartboutique.com
call us today for a free consultation
or visit www.ascensor.co.uk