How it began

Atlantic Hardware began in the most unexpected way. Back in the 1980s, Andy (a civil engineer) and his friend Guy (then a doctor) gave up their careers at just 22 and 25 to pursue craftsmanship. They started out attempting to sell metal house signs and house numbers, which didn’t exactly take off. After adding other sellers slate and brass signs to their stand, they soon spotted an opportunity in the market.

Determined to learn, Andy built his first furnace out of a bin and taught himself to cast brass and aluminium, engrave slate, and even create ceramics. What began at local car boot sales was about to take a dramatic leap forward (leaving the furnace bin behind)

The B&Q Breakthrough

At an open day in Wigan, Andy and Guy stood all day at their small stand, hoping to catch the eye of someone from B&Q. By the time the event ended, it seemed like nothing would come of it.

Then, as the B&Q director Alan Jones was walking out the door, he shouted back: “I need to speak to these after.” Andy told him he was born in Wrexham and Alan replied that he was born just across the racecourse. That one connection turned into their first major client, getting Atlantic Hardware products into B&Q stores nationwide.

It was a turning point that transformed a two-man workshop into a trusted business with a national footprint, and one that still calls Wrexham home.

So where are we now?

Well we’re still in Wrexham, just a little bit more football obsessed. Andy, still married to Bethan, now has 5 kids and 6 grandchildren. He’s still got a factory on the Wrexham industrial estate, sourcing the best quality slate, which Mike still engraves and paints by hand.

Atlantic Hardware is very much a family effort these days. The youngest Amy (me) is trying to modernise things with this website, Peter the eldest is learning the ropes and putting his photography skills to the test so we can have updated product shots, and Harri got us onto Etsy back in 2008 – a huge step for us at the time.

What hasn’t changed is the way we make our products. Every plaque is still cut from natural slate or granite, engraved with care, and finished by hand. That’s what makes our workshop special – each sign is built to last and made with the kind of pride you only find in a family business.

We’re proud to still be working out of Wrexham, a town that’s a little more famous now than when we first started. From our workshop on the industrial estate, we’ve watched the community grow, and it means a lot to be part of something bigger here.

At the end of the day, everything we do is about you – our customers. Whether it’s a number for your first home, a thoughtful gift, or a way to add character to a family cottage, we want to make something you’ll be proud of every time you walk through your front door. So please, help support a small business, and be rewarded with a beautifully crafted house sign that’s designed to last.