IT'S a month of celebration for staff at Knees Home and Electrical as the firm marks its 140th anniversary.

Celebrations will be he,d in the Trowbridge and Malmesbury stores next week where there will be special offers, give-aways, prize draws, free cooking demonstrations and birthday cake.

Knees has also announced that they have installed a new range of kitchens upstairs in their Trowbridge store.

Many people Trowbridge and Malmesbury, recognise Knees as a family business with a long history as an independent retailer.

Andy Pickford who began life at Knees as the finance director, and is now the managing director said: "Through five generations and 140 years we have operated in quite a mix of differing business sectors, but during that time the one constant has been retail.

"We now find ourselves 140 years old and proud to look back at our heritage but even more excited to look to the future.

"In our beautiful Spitfire showroom we aim to create a setting that inspires our customers, with our wonderful team providing the highest levels of customer service.

"Our showroom is also complimented and supported by our website.

"It sounds romantic, but we are different from the large national businesses because for us it’s personal. It’s a way of life.

"Our ethos is “it’s about family”: a family business whose team goes the extra mile to help our customers. Providing them with inspirational products, creating family spaces to enjoy and make memories.”

Knees started life in 1879 when Henry John Knee opened his first shop in Trowbridge called Knee’s Ironmongers and Manufacturers and sold a wide selection of things for the house including paints, varnishes, mantel pieces, tile hearths, fenders, fire irons, kitchen ranges, stoves and lamps.

Towards the end of the 1980s, Knees settled on the three sides of the business which remain today, retail; property, from land and buildings acquisitions over the years; and engineering.

HJ Knee Ltd continue to operate a range of businesses; on the retail side the focus is on our busy Malmesbury store, a family favourite on Malmesbury High Street since the 1950s and the modern flagship store at Spitfire Retail Park in Trowbridge.