SE Waite and Son honing fifth-generation family business
After 104 years in business, SE Waite is still going strong.
Shane Waite is more than simply the owner of SE Waite and Son. He’s the custodian of a family tradition that stretches back more than a century.
His great-grandfather Sydney bought the store at 186 The Parade, Norwood, in 1921, and his son Hayden is now the fifth generation to work in the family business.
“In the early days, it was really a secondhand furniture business,” said Shane, who spent his school holidays going to auctions and watching the staff bid on furniture before loading it onto the truck and bringing it to the store.
“Originally they delivered by horse and cart, and there were two horses my grandfather and father would take home to their house in Kensington Park every night.”
The inevitable move to automobiles was just one of many changes over the past century, and the business has continued to evolve since Shane joined full-time in 1990.
“Each generation has altered things slightly to suit the current times,” he said. “I got rid of secondhand furniture because platforms like Gumtree changed the business, and now we stock predominantly kitchenware, giftware and homewares.”
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Products in store are sourced from local, national and internationally acclaimed brands including Avanti, Cuisinart, Italex Rugs, Pyrolux, Thermos, Sunbeam, Wilkie Brothers, Marcato and more.
A stunning furniture range includes bedroom, dining and occasional furniture to suit most budgets and needs, whether furnishing family home or downsizing to smaller dwellings. The comprehensive selection of kitchenware are perfect for home cooks, while a diverse range of giftware offers unique items for all ages and tastes.
Adding a knife sharpening service for customers nine years ago has proven a huge success, with Shane now spending several hours a day honing blades.
This year Shane will celebrate 35 years at SE Waite and Son. And though his father and grandfather both clocked up 55 years, he likes to point out that they weren’t trading seven days a week.
“So I tell my dad that when you factor in the extra days, I’m equal to his 55 years,” he said. “That razzes him up!”
Still an integral part of the family business, both of Shane’s parents still pop in several days a week to see what’s new and help customers out.
“And when someone isn’t available to work, I still ring my mum up and she will come in and help out if there’s an emergency,” he said.
It’s not just the owners of SE Waite and son who span generations, either. With a regular and repeat customer base, the Waites have seen generations of shoppers come through their doors, too.
“We see people who were kids when I started working here,” Shane said. “Now they’re having babies and buying houses, so we sometimes see three generations coming through.
“You never know who will walk through the door next, which is part of the excitement.”
After 105 years in business, that excitement shows no sign of waning. “We still notice the appreciation and support we get from customers,” Shane said.
“Everyone who comes in is greeted with a hello and we try to make sure they always walk out with a smile knowing they’ve purchased something from a local business.”
Turning 100 in the middle of the pandemic meant that the store’s big birthday celebrations were sadly muted, but Shane is confident there are many more anniversaries to come.
“With the loyal support we get from customers, we’re confident the business will continue running for many years, and hopefully the next two generations can throw a much bigger party for the 150th anniversary,” he said.
