Lawsons

Lawsons, a West Country kitchenware and homeware shop since 1904

Lawsons is a family-run retailer of kitchenware, homeware and linens that traces its origins to 1904, when FTB (Tom) Lawson opened a tool merchant's shop at 13 Frankfort Street in Plymouth to supply the dockyard and apprentice craftsmen. The business describes itself as a household name in the West Country and now operates from Totnes, selling both online and in store.

The range is built around everyday essentials for baking, cooking, cleaning, home décor and school uniforms, with each item presented as selected for quality and value for money. The company states that customers who cannot find a product online or in store can ask staff for help.

Kitchen electricals, knives and storage

The site organises its kitchen offer into three headline areas: kitchen electrical, kitchen knives and storage. Around these sit broader departments covering baking, cooking, dining, food preparation, tea and coffee making, and preserving.

• Kitchen electrical: air fryers, blenders, bread makers, juicers, soup makers, food mixers, food processors, kettles, slow cookers, toasters and stand mixer accessories.
• Kitchen knives and cookware: knives and knife sharpening, casserole dishes, grill pans, frying pans, saucepans, roasting tins, pressure cookers, steamers, woks and speciality cookware such as egg poachers, fondue sets and pasta-making equipment.
• Storage and preserving: bread bins and baskets, cereal dispensers, food containers, organisers, storage jars and racks, lunch boxes, freezer and glass bottles, jam-making covers and labels, preserving jars and jar spares.
• Food preparation and utensils: chopping boards, colanders and sieves, kitchen scales, measuring and mixing bowls, thermometers, graters, peelers, slicers, whisks, tongs, spatulas and timers.

Baking and cake decorating

Baking is one of the most detailed parts of the catalogue. It covers baking essentials, cookie and pastry cutters, piping bags and nozzles, rolling pins, tin liners, biscuit cutters, flavouring and colouring, cake boards, boxes and cases, and a wide choice of tins and trays, including bread tins, cake moulds, muffin and bun tins, quiche, flan and tart tins, and round, square, sandwich and shaped cake tins.

A separate cake-decorating section lists sugarcraft supplies, edible decorations, fondant cutters, ribbons and decorating tools, alongside cake stands and separators, afternoon tea stands, pedestal and tiered stands, wedding cake stands, cake carriers, cake storage tins, cupcake stands, cake candles, disposable tableware, party supplies, cake toppers and napkins.

Dining, glassware and tabletop

The dining range includes cutlery, dinnerware, bowls and plates, with named collections such as Le Creuset Coupe, Jamie Oliver Big Love, Rose & Tulipani Concerto, Royal Worcester Serendipity, Denby Imperial Blue, Portmeirion The Holly & The Ivy, Portmeirion Botanic Garden, Artisan Street and a King Charles III line. Glassware spans beer, gin, prosecco and cocktail, sherry and brandy, tall, whisky tumbler and wine glasses, complemented by mugs and cups, salt and pepper mills, tablemats, butter dishes, trivets, egg cups, condiment bottles and pots, jugs and trays.

Home, laundry and household departments

Beyond the kitchen, Lawsons lists cleaning products for bathrooms, showers, carpets and upholstery, bins and waste collection, compostable bin liners, cloths and scourers, moisture absorbers, eco-friendly cleaning, hand hygiene, floor care, brooms, mops and buckets, draining racks, oven and cookware cleaners, outdoor cleaning, stain removal, steam and vacuum cleaners, and window and glass care.

There are also decorating and DIY lines (fillers, masking tape, chalky paint, metal paint, primer and undercoat, specialist paint, varnish, rollers, brushes, sanding, sealants, wallpapering and white spirit), hardware and everyday tools, adhesives, batteries, clothes dye, extension leads, hooks, stepladders, shoe care, torches and wood care. Homeware covers candles, cooling fans, curtain fittings, hot water bottles, clocks, doormats, fabric protector, fireplace and heating items, electric blankets, heaters and radiators, microwavable toys, storage, vases and pest control for insects, rodents and garden pests.

Bed, bathroom and soft furnishings

The bed and bathroom section includes bathroom accessories, scales, mats and towels, plus bed linen, bedspreads, curtains, duvet covers, pillowcases, sheets, fitted and flat sheets, duvets (natural and synthetic), pillows and protectors, bedding protectors, mattress toppers, cushions, throws and blankets. Ironing and laundry items include clothes airers, ironing boards, irons, laundry essentials and lint rollers.

Brands, EasiYo and school uniform

The product description names Le Creuset, KitchenAid, Bodum, Stellar, Dualit, Joseph Joseph, Kilner, Global, Brabantia, Christy, Quilts of Denmark and Helena Springfield among the brands stocked. The site also devotes sections to EasiYo yogurt makers and mixes (Everyday, Dessert Style and Greek Style) and to school uniform for Totnes, listing Kevicc school shirts, skirts and trousers.

Delivery, returns and customer service

According to the site, UK mainland delivery is free on orders over £70, tracked delivery starts from £2.99, customer service is UK-based, and faulty items or damaged deliveries can be returned within 30 days under a no-quibble policy. The shop also promotes a members card and PayPal Credit, and publishes a coronavirus information page alongside its delivery, returns, privacy and green policies.

Company history

The company's own account traces the business from Tom Lawson's Plymouth tool shop through the Blitz, when the Frankfort Street premises were destroyed on 21 and 22 March 1941 and trading resumed within two days. In May 1941 Lawsons rented 7 Compton Street and expanded into cutlery and toys, including Hornby and Meccano; the Compton store received a visit from Mr Hornby himself. In 1952, as Plymouth was rebuilt, the business moved to 71 New George Street, close to the original site. A large fire damaged the New George Street store in 1968 without injuries. John Lawson, Francis's son, joined in 1971 with his wife Jennifer and their four children, while the market garden business passed to John's sister and her husband. In the late 1970s the family noted the growing popularity of kitchenware.