About us

About us

The electrical experts

We’re your friendly team of electrical experts offering a range of services from deliveries and installations to appliance rentals. Browse through the latest tech from your favourite brands and know that we are ready to lend a helping hand whenever you need us.

Did you celebrate with us in 2021? Reaching our 100th birthday was a massive achievement for us and we wanted to spread the celebrations throughout the year to include the whole family – our customers and staff alike. Our company motto of “creating sustainable growth by keeping people at the heart of our business and constantly improving our customer experience” has never been more relevant and we can’t wait to see what the next 100 years hold for us!

So where did it all begin?

Named after our namesake, Frank Hughes founded the business in 1921 after serving in the Great War. A true family business from the start, the Lowestoft store was the first to open in 1928 with the family living over the shop. Now run by its third generation with Robert and Jeremy Hughes at the helm, we’ve expanded to 22 stores and 5 service centres throughout East Anglia and we couldn’t be prouder!

Anyone who lives near one of our stores knows how local community is at the heart of what we do. We always encourage our staff to get involved in local events and they do not disappoint! Make sure to say hello when you see our staff at fundraisers, beach clean ups and more. Over the years, we’ve certainly collected a lot of great memories that we’ll never forget. 

Our personal highlights include the 100th birthday tour of our store locations in ‘Hughie’ (our old-style delivery van) and winning both the Innovative Electrical Retailing (IER) and Sirius Retailer of the Year Awards in 2022. We also can’t forget when our commercial division, Hughes Trade, supplied kitchen appliances to both the London 2012 Olympics and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. It was great to receive such glowing recognition on a national scale.

Our Hughes Trade team offer their support to local businesses and budding entrepreneurs with exclusive prices on commercial and domestic appliances. Enjoy the best rates on specialist equipment and get extra help in getting your business to reach its full potential. With their extensive experience, they know what kit you need to make both your staff and customers happy. 

If you’re feeling the pinch, don’t forget to check out our finance options with rental also available as an affordable option. Hughes Rental offer many electrical items at low monthly prices so that you can enjoy the latest features – no matter your budget. This includes the offer of refurbished appliances with a smaller price tag to provide the same flawless performance but with an extended lifespan. This saves them from landfill and is a sustainable, cost friendly alternative for the eco warriors among us.

This is just one way that we are trying to become a greener company with an even brighter future. We are making it our mission to prove that electrical retail can be kinder to the planet and are currently investing in our recycling efforts and eco schemes. This includes everything from planning electric van fleets to using solar energy to power our warehouses, find out more here.

Why we love Hughes

Check out our YouTube video to find out more about the business and get a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the inner-workings of Hughes!

Take a look at our variety of locations from the warehouses where our extensive stock is stored to the local stores who are the face of the company for many of our loyal customers. Not to mention that you can meet some of the valued team who keep the business running smoothly around the clock, providing a premium service at a fraction of the cost.