Company History

1956

Eric Alcock began his career in January 1956 when he rented the upstairs workshop above 39 Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove, where he and one apprentice started a radio and TV repair business.

1956

In August of this year, Eric bought the old GPO Telephone Exchange at the current Kidsgrove shop address, 9 The Avenue, for the sum of £250!  The derelict building was transformed with a shop front window and Eric began selling radio and TV sets taking on 2 more staff.  At this time the only televisions were 9” and 12” screen models with the only channel being the BBC.  By the end of the year ITV had launched their first channel so Eric saw the opportunity to grow his business.  He converted existing sets to pick up the new channel or sold external boxes that were connected to the TV to pick it up.  He soon built up a large customer base by renting 12” television sets at 10s (50p) per week.

1958

The demand for this new technology became so great that more space was soon needed.  Eric bought a large shop at 59 Liverpool Road,  Kidsgrove and operated out of both the premises as well as a much enlarged service department behind no. 59 with a staff number of 18.

1960

The first Alsager branch was opened at 26 Lawton Road to increase sales in that area.

1963

Eric then sold the shop on Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove and bought 7 The Avenue, Kidsgrove, to extend the original shop and built extensions at the rear.  The staff increased to 22.

1967

Eric bought land in Meadows Road, Kidsgrove and built the current Head Office and warehousing facility.

1973

Eric sold no 26 Lawton Road, Alsager and bought a bigger premises no. 28 Lawton Road, Alsager.

1979

The current shop in Alsager was bought on Bank Corner and the Lawton Road premise was sold- (Now the Post Office.)

1986

Opened shop in Tunstall.

1994

Opened shop in Clayton Road, Newcastle.  The site was previously a Coop supermarket that closed down and included a car park.  This became the largest Eric Alcock store in his expanding chain.  Staff numbers at this time had increased to 38.

1999

Store in Sandbach opened.

2003

In May of this year, a new store was opened in Middlewich

2008

Shop in Crewe opened in May. The Eric Alcock chain expanded further by taking over the already established business of "Charlesworths" and due to its longevity in the town this store now trades as Eric Alcock & Charlesworths Ltd.