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Here at Sainsbury & Sons, our family-run business has been turning houses into homes for almost a century. We’ve been through quite a bit in our 90 years of business, including a world war, a new millennium, a pandemic and three generations.

We are one of the last remaining independent family-owned and run businesses in Aberdeen, we are incredibly proud of our history. With so many years spent serving the local community and beyond, we have helped generations of families transform their homes.

Our 90th diamond anniversary is here, and we’re celebrating in style. We’ve always believed in evolving with the times, which is why we’re marking this special occasion with a completely new look, including a brand-new e-commerce site and even more contemporary interiors available.

As we look forward to the future, we thought it would be the perfect time to take a stroll down memory lane and look back on our journey. With such a storied history, there’s plenty to reminisce about.

1932 - Our Beginnings

It was 1932, and the great depression was in full swing. Many industries were feeling the strain, in particular, many skilled tradesmen were finding themselves without work. One local craftsman decided to go a different route and start his own venture.

Noel Sainsbury took £72 and 10 shillings and invested it in his own furniture shop, using his experience in cabinet making to offer a specialised service. After a few years in business, Noel gained a reputation for high-quality furnishings and a friendly customer experience.

This popularity among the local community helped create trusted ties, ones that have been passed on from generation to generation. We were just getting started but had already established ourselves as a family business that put customers first.

1944 - Moving On To Bigger Things

The time flew by, and with each passing year, our business grew bigger and bigger. In 1944 the second world war was drawing to a close and Sainsbury & Sons continued to serve Aberdonians through it all.

As we began to expand our business, we found that our original location simply wasn’t big enough for our growing team and product selection. We made the move to brand new premises on Fonthill Road. Our new shopfront sat on the corner of the street and was conveniently located in the heart of the city centre, allowing us to serve more customers than ever.

1955 - Mid-Century Upgrade

Following the end of the second world war, the city began to pick up the pieces. Aberdeen saw some of the worst bombings in Scotland, and the post-war building boom meant that the city began to expand. Sainsbury & Sons were no exception to this growth, and after 16 years on Fonthill Road, it was time for a change.

In 1955 we moved our location for a second time, with a new shopfront on Holburn Street. The new premises gave us plenty of extra space, meaning we could include a new carpet showroom.

1968 - The Swinging Sixties

The 1960s ushered in a new era of modernisation, and as the space race was underway and The Beatles topped the charts, we saw some changes of our own. We’re a family business at heart and are proud to remain one of the last independent family retailers in Aberdeen.

By 1968, the business had been left to Cyril and Alan Sainsbury, after their father Noel passed the torch. The brothers continued what Noel had started, continuing his passion for excellent customer service and impeccable quality.

1975 - A New Look For Holburn Street

By the 70s our original shopfront on Holburn Street began to feel a tad too small for our ever-expanding business. Moving our location for the third time was a possibility, however, we opted to go down a different path.

We decided to embark on a financial outlay to improve our existing premises, creating four floors of chic interiors for our customers - as well as an additional 12,000 extra square feet of showroom space.

1985 - The Third Generation Of Sainsbury & Sons

Alan’s eldest son Richard had spent much of his childhood and early teenage years lending a hand around various departments within the store, and in the 1980s he officially joined the family business. After spending so many years learning from the very best, the third generation of Sainsbury & Sons was established.

2002 - The New Millennium

At the turn of the century, even more changes were made to Sainsbury & Sons. From the great depression to the new millennium, the brand had seen its fair share of transformations - and in 2002 we switched up our logo for a fresher feel.

Another addition to the team was Philip, Alan’s second eldest son who began working alongside his father and older brother - bringing even more family expertise to the table in the process.

2015 - A Modern Makeover

2015 saw our business take on another big investment, with a 6 figure sum going towards a brand new look for our shopfront. We have always strived to keep up with the times and provide our customers with the best possible experience, which is why we redesigned our shop to feel more up-to-date.

2022 - Our Diamond Anniversary

Now that we have reached our 90th diamond anniversary, we felt there was no better time to introduce another new era for Sainsbury & Sons. With a brand new e-commerce site, stunning new selections of interiors and flooring, and another makeover for our brick-and-mortar shop, we are marking the occasion with a whole new look.

A Word From The Sainsbury Family

           “Here at Sainsbury & Sons we are very proud and delighted for our family to be celebrating our 90th year in business.

This is a testament to the hard work put in by everyone over the years, and our success is very much down to our loyal staff as well as customers old and new, who have helped us along through our journey.

We look forward to continuing this journey, and meeting new customers along the way.”