South West Life

Like many men I have an aversion to shopping … except when it comes to hardware. I could spend all day and most of my credit-card limit in a hardware store with un-nerving ease. So when I heard reports of a new hardware and garden centre being launched in the neighbourhood my interest was piqued and I just had to check it out. That’s how I ended up speaking with Hugh Thomson from Eaton Home Timber and Hardware.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Hugh and his wife Renee (pictured right) moved to Australia twenty seven years ago. In 1998 they opened the Daradanup General Store and in 2003 they sold up and moved into their Eaton hardware business, which they set up from scratch. After successfully operating the business for seven years under the Thrifty Link brand the Thomson’s have recently transitioned their business to the Home Timber and Hardware trade name.

I asked Hugh why they made the change. “That’s simple, Home Hardware offers our customers a better deal,” he said. “Home Hardware and Thrifty Link belong to the same group, but Home Hardware provides better buying power and our catalogues are available all year ‘round in addition to a very prominent TV advertising campaign.”

Located opposite Eaton Fair at 1 Cassowary Bend the recently extended 600sq metre store features a wide range of heavy hardware products for the trades person and DIY enthusiast plus paint, painting accessories, power tools, hand tools, pool chemicals, outdoor and BBQ needs.

A brand new addition is the garden centre and according to Hugh, Autumn is a good time for Green Thumbs to complete the following tasks:

• Prune perennial herbs to encourage fresh growth
• Prune Citrus to remove dead and diseased growth
• Spray Summer weeds and
• Fertilize winter vegies with Dynamic Lifter

For the DIY’ers out there Hugh has this advice, “Autumn is the best time for your painting projects. The temperature is ideal and there is very little rain.” Sounds like it’s time to get busy!

Of course Eaton Home Timber and Hardware can help you with all of your gardening and painting needs and if you’re one of the nine-hundred satisfied members of their Customer Club you will also receive regular discounts on your purchases.

A family business, Eaton Home Timber and Hardware employs seven local people in addition to owners Hugh and Renee. They are staunch supporters of the Make A Wish Foundation and they also assist local not-for-profit community groups. An example is their recent donation of a BBQ valued at one thousand dollars for the Eaton Football Club raffle.

Eaton Home Timber and Hardware is open Mon-Fri 7am-5.30pm; Saturdays 8am-5pm; and Sundays 9am-5pm. Or call Hugh or Renee or one of their friendly staff on (08) 9725 1202.

In related news Margaret River Home Timber and Hardware recently received a Trade Retailer of the Year award from parent company The Danks Group. Congratulations to local owner Lloyd Shepparton, manager Paul Brown and their staff.