D&G Hardware, Chandler’s Ford

The warm welcome at D&G Hardware, which has remained open throughout the pandemic as an essential retailer, is appreciated by its customers including Jon T, who has nominated it as a Gem: “It's an amazing and very useful shop that sells almost any household product you could possibly imagine and manned by very friendly staff!”

Owner Toby and his team have been delighted to continue to support their community, many of whom they know by name and sight. The shop, one of a small award-winning Hampshire chain, has been in Fryern Arcade since 2008 and relocated from the corner unit to welcome Costa to the Arcade.

Toby said: “Our stores are old-fashioned but we offer a quality personal service and branded items. Our customers trust us with the products and recommendations and we have continuity with our fantastic staff – we’re very lucky with our team.

“It has definitely been tough but we were shut for just one day at the start of lockdown when we worked out what to do; a plastic screen was very difficult to get hold of in March last year! Our delivery service helped those people in the community who were self-isolating, especially older residents, and the relationships that we have built were so crucial.

“I’d say we’re not for everyone but we’re for most of the people all of the time - we need our customers and they need us. The shop is definitely an Aladdin’s Cave and we can offer, for example, individual batteries of any size, which isn’t something offered by other retailers.”