Indie greetings retailer Stephen McHale celebrates 70-year milestone
Card and gift indie retailer Bentleys has been celebrating its 70th milestone year at the Stourport-on-Severn store alongside a fabulous Retas Awards win too.
Here owner Stephen McHale, who took over the shop in 2006 and also has Bentleys stores in Birmingham Longbridge and Solihull along with Maddison in Harborne, reflects on its seven decades.
Can you tell us a bit about the background to Bentleys please?
“Tom and his sister Jean Bentley opened Bentleys in Stourport back in 1953, with the family still shopping with us today. Over the last 70 years, alongside a large range of greeting cards and wrap, Bentleys has sold everything from occasional furniture and paintings to cigarettes, fireworks, pocket money toys and sculptures.
“Jean Bentley got married and ran the business with her husband Paul for many years, establishing the Stourport shop as a high-class china and glass store, selling all the best brands of their day such as Royal Doulton, Aynsley and Moorcroft, to name just a few.
“Jean also introduced a lovely range of handbags, selling Bridge and Radley and other Italian luxury brands. She successfully ran Bentleys for over 50 years, and enjoyed her time there, securing a regular and supportive customer base.”
What made you want to take over Bentleys?
“Back in 1990, when I was a young sales rep, I’d call on Bentleys to sell Italian ceramic ranges and Christmas products. I quickly struck up a friendship with Jean, and casually said one day that I’d be interested in buying the business when retirement was looming.
“I was attracted to how Bentleys was presented, and the feeling of quality that was always evident. I thought Bentleys had the air of Grace Brothers about it, being an old-fashioned retail shop with staff you could talk to, and that community belonging that’s lacking today – 16 years later, Jean took me up on the offer and I bought the business along with the building in 2006.”
How did you put your mark on Bentleys?
“Within two years, the handbag section had grown to a good size. In 2008, I subsequently opened a second Bentleys store in the same High Street, concentrating on handbags. At this stage, as my youngest children were of school age, together with my wife Julie, we joined the team and also worked in the Stourport branch.”
How has Bentleys moved forward in recent years?
“The shop has constantly evolved, but very much still holds onto the same values of quality product ranges sold within a nice shopping environment. Cards and wrap are a very important part of the business and, along with the vast array of gifts and interiors, as well as Belgium chocolates, scented candles and more.
“While Bentleys is still trading strongly in Stourport-on-Severn, we later took over a long-established card and gift shop back in 2014 called Maddison in Harborne. A few years later, we opened Bentleys in Birmingham city centre, along with a store in Longbridge in 2015. Solihull opened in 2019.”
Are you still a family business?
“Very much so. As with Jean Bentley back in the day, who worked with her husband Paul, brother Tom, sister-in-law Jane, and niece Emma, Bentleys is still run as a family business by myself and my wife Julie, along with our son Daniel, with our daughter Chloe and son Ben having worked in the shops along the way.”
What do you see as the secret of Bentleys’ – and your other stores – ongoing success?
“We put a key part of the success down to the staff, most of whom have worked in the stores for a very long time – some of whom have been there longer than me! I believe it’s important to employ local people that care about the shop, its customers and the community at large.
“With the High Street currently going through a difficult time, we’re pleased to still be standing strong in Stourport as possibly the oldest business in town, certainly the oldest in the High Street.”
What’s in the pipeline to celebrate Bentleys 70th anniversary?
“We will be celebrating throughout the year with different promotions and a window display to show the customers.”
