About Us

“What would Nailsea do without John Brown!”

Hello and welcome,

The above is something we so often hear, either in our shop or in the chatter of the High Street, and whilst it’s not so much a question but an exclamation, it does rather beg the question of what is so special about John Brown?

We believe it is our respect for people, our belief that people deserve a quality of service as well as quality of products. Our aim now is to take all that we are in the High Street, and to duplicate this in a web-shop where people matter as much as the products they come to buy!

As Nailsea’s longest running business we have a wealth of experience in our product range and in serving our customer. We offer quality at extremely competitive prices and we offer a straight forward guarantee of money back if you are not 100% satisfied. Our ethos is honesty with and respect for each other.

Having had over 50 years of experience in retail we are confident in our products, our knowledge base and our service. But we don’t sit back on our laurels - we are continually researching the market for new lines, new ranges, innovative ideas, and in finding them we seek to test them out to ensure that we can offer them to you with full confidence that they will “do what they claim to do!”

So we look forward to welcoming you as a valued customer, either here in our on-line shop or if you are in Nailsea, in our warm bricks and mortar shop.

So how have we managed for over more than 50 years to successfully thrive and to become an established and respected name in Nailsea and the surrounding areas?

It was way back in September 1957 that John Brown, together with his late wife Alice, bravely ventured forth into the world of retailing. With very little capital, and despite the prejudice against new businesses which was around at that time, they opened up their shop in what was then the small embryo of Nailsea. A very firm family foundation underpins this shop as John and his father Charles, a local builder based in Tickenham actually built the premises themselves. So built and run by a family!

During the 1960’s Nailsea found itself rapidly developing and expanding and as Nailsea’s popularity grew so did John’s business and the range of goods soon expanded from ironmongery into DIY, general householdware, garden equipment and cookware.

Being a family business, with a strong emphasis on civility and service they soon built up a reputation not only for a wide range of goods and fair prices, but also for an outstanding service to customers, something which continues today.

It is indeed a remarkable and truly unique business which will find its place in Nailsea’s Heritage as a true and inspiring Legend!

... so on to today!

We remain as committed to our customers and our reputation as ever; we are enthusiastic and passionate about our service as well as about the goods we sell; and now we aim to bring the wealth of our experience and our ethos that holds fast to the solid values and principles on which our success and reputation rest, to you our on-line customer.

We welcome you as a unique and valuable visitor to our on-line store and hope that your shopping experience with us will turn you into a regular customer.