Golden anniversary for Horsham family business

Horsham’s Hermans Interiors is celebrating 50 years of servicing the Wimmera community.

Family owned and operated, Hermans offers the most extensive range of gifts, homewares, cookware and kitchen essentials in western Victoria.

Ray Hermans said the store’s longevity could be attributed to staff offering customers honest advice and taking the time to genuinely care about their purchasing decisions.

“Our team has always prided itself on a reputation for quality and value products, delivered with service excellence,” he said.

“This is why many of our customers have been customers for most of their life.”

Hermans’ eight staff members boast more than 160 years’ combined experience: Ann Hermans, 50 years; Ray Hermans, 34; Helen Hunter, 34; Lisa Hermans, 14; Tracey Jorgensen, 12; Kathryn Nuske, 11; Meg Hepburn-thamm, 5 and Vicky Rethus, 3.

Mr Hermans said the family business had evolved throughout the past half century.

“Hermans Interiors opened 50 years ago in 1967 and was originally situated at 30 Pynsent Street,” he said.

“Two years later, the business moved to 49 Firebrace Street, then in 1972 moved over the road to 54 Firebrace Street.

“It has been in its current location, 48 Firebrace Street, since 1994.”

Mr Hermans said home décor had also changed significantly through the past 50 years.

“So has our product range, which has evolved to keep up with customer demand,” he said.

“When the business opened, the emphasis was on 1960s’ décor and the store carried an extensive array of wallpaper, curtains and soft furnishings, together with a range of teak Parker Furniture, as well as décor pieces and tableware.

“In some cases, pieces that were bought back in the ’60s have become designer collectables and are now being restored by retro and vintage furniture artisans.

“When it comes to tableware the style of the day is ever evolving.

“We are currently seeing a resurgence in mixed glazed ceramics and black dinnerware, harking back to looks we featured back in the ’70s and ’80s.”

Mr Hermans said the rise of celebrity chefs had also affected the business.

“Jamie Oliver and television shows such as Masterchef have influenced the way many people cook today and this has certainly influenced the store’s array of kitchenware,” he said.

“When we started selling cookware the variety of kitchen products available was quite limited, however, these days the array of cookware and implements is inspiring to say the least.”

Hermans Interiors stocks more than 100 brands of quality gifts, homewares and kitchen essentials, including Maxwell and Williams, Magimix, Salt and Pepper, Glasshouse, Scanpan, Essteele, Kitchenaid, Bamix, Circulon, Woll, Chasser, Stanley Rodgers, Bodum, Robert Gordon, Stanley, Thermos, Selangor, Circa Home, Royal Doulton, Cecil and Co, Peugot, Fowlers, Lecreuset, Shun, Habitat, Furi, Solidteknics and many more.

Mr Hermans said he was pleased to see his family business become a household name across the Wimmera, Mallee and beyond.

“Our commitment to providing customers with superior product lines based on style, design, brand and uniqueness keeps us at the forefront of destination shopping in the Wimmera,” he said.