If I had a hammer

About a month ago I set out to decorate my flat and while I admit I ordered my main wall paint from Tesco (boo - but it was £15.99 a tin cheaper than anywhere else) I did decide to buy all my other bits of equipment, brushes, white spirit, masking tape, dust sheets etc from the local shops.

I think that a decent local hardware store is a must have for an area. Its one of those shops that every area needs to make it feel complete - the other main ones being a butchers, a green grocers, a chemists and a news agents with a large old school sweetie selection.

Unfortunately with the increase in giant DIY stores around Glasgow a lot of the smaller independent stores have struggled as it is harder for them to match the cheap prices of the massive bulk buying superstores. With even Tesco now getting in on the DIY act, how do the smaller stores compete?
Well the main thing that the smaller stores have to their advantage is their staff. While in the big stores the staff are decently trained - they don't often have the same in depth knowledge and experience that the owners of these independent stores have. The staff in the larger stores also don't have the same time or inclination to have a good chat about what you are doing or advise about the best way to approach it.

The staff in the great wee DIY store Pearson Brothers on Minard Road support my claims. When I went into the store there were two customers ahead of me - both were older ladies who I suspect were partly in for some tools, partly in for some advice and partly in just for a bit of a chat.

Each customer was given a complete service, talked to about what they wanted to do and given help to choose the products that they needed - though one lady seemed to be only after a single nail - which sadly Pearson's is no longer able to provide, their nails now come in sealed mini packs.

Pearson's throughout most of its long life has been a decorators shop - specialising in paints, papers and pastes. Check out the photos above, they have dozens and dozens of different wallpapers. It feels a bit funny walking into the shop and seeing such a big choice in such a small area.

When I first moved back to the Southside a few years ago they were still predominately a decorators but slowly over the last few years they have started to widen their range as more customers came in looking for things and now the place is jammed to the gunnels with every DIY tool and apparatus that you can think of.

Within a minute of asking for the things I needed the extremely helpful shop assistant had buzzed all around the shop picking up different bits and bobs and I was able to get everything I needed. They really do sell tons, from yacht varnish to chalkboard paint, from drain cleaner to spirit levels.

I also had a nice chat about the history of the shop and about the old ironmongers that had been on the site before it.

Sadly due to my camera memory card going missing (pinched I think) it took me quite a few weeks to get round to writing up this post. Despite the delay, I've still only managed to finish two rooms - it always takes longer than you plan.


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