In rural Gujarat, India, during the dynamic 1920s, a young Ranmal Devraj, empowered by his late father’s legacy, envisioned a bright future. At 13, he embarked on a month-long voyage across the Indian Ocean aboard a Steam Ship, arriving in Mombasa, Kenya. With hope in his heart, he set his sights on Nairobi, where endless opportunities awaited, marking the beginning of S&S Home Supplies Ltd’s remarkable journey.

In Nairobi, Ranmal and his wife Lilavanti founded the esteemed Arrow General Store, offering hardware, ironmongery, medicines, and household products. It marked the start of a promising era for their family. Their children brought joy, and when Surya pursued studies in the UK, it opened new doors. Inspired by opportunity, the family followed, embarking on an exciting journey to the UK, a land of potential.

In the UK, Ranmal and his son Jay opened their first hardware store in Kingsbury in 1974. The next year, their youngest son, Arun, joined them in Kingsbury Road, marking the start of S&S Home Supplies Ltd. Initially focused on furniture, they discovered a passion for paints. As their wives joined, they expanded to three stores, adding wallpaper and color coordination, creating a hub for home improvement.

In the 1990s, the retail store expanded to three locations, earning a strong reputation in North West London among painters and decorators for quality. During this time, Jay actively sought opportunities to sell unique products sourced from America and the Far East, ensuring the stores offered distinctive items. This commitment to quality and variety set them apart, further solidifying their position in the competitive home improvement market.

In the 2000s, Jay, along with his son Rishul and nephew Minul, sought to import a range of cornice and mouldings, as well as crystal ironmongery called Artline Decor. With an entrepreneurial mindset, Jay aimed to diversify the shop’s offerings and even explored Manufacturing opportunities for the wider UK market. This strategic expansion reflected their commitment to meeting customer needs while enhancing their product range.

After nearly a decade of wholesaling Artline decor across the UK and building a team of RSMs nationwide, we were approached by OLFA, a globally renowned Japanese utility knife manufacturer. They sought to enter the UK market and gave us the opportunity to wholesale a product of unrivalled quality, marking a significant milestone in our business growth.

Following the successful wholesale of Artline and Olfa in the UK market, we launched a range of brushes, rollers, and filling knives under the Artline Essentials brand. This initial step led to the development of Axus Decor. The goal behind the new brand was to rejuvenate the outdated decorating sundries industry and modernise it for the 21st century, offering fresh, innovative products.

Axus Decor continued to grow steadily, gaining traction in most independent decorating stores and building strong relationships with regional chains. As the brand’s following increased, it expanded into Ireland, where its growth became exponential. During this time, we began inventing new products, creating an all-encompassing range that catered to all the needs of professional decorators, solidifying our reputation in the decorating industry.

During this period of massive growth, we were still operating out of the back of our retail store warehouse and quickly running out of space as the product range expanded. It became clear that we needed to move our wholesale operations to a purpose-built distribution facility. Construction for this new facility began in 2020, marking a significant step in accommodating our growing business.

The new distribution unit opened in May 2021, and we received our first container after the COVID pandemic. During the grand opening, shareholders Surya, Chhaya, Jay, Manju, Arun, and Meena gathered to celebrate the milestone with a glass of bubbly. It was a proud moment for the team, marking a new chapter in our growth and success.

2024 marks a major milestone for S&S Home Supplies Ltd, as we celebrate 50 years of successful trading since our establishment in 1974. Over the past five decades, we’ve grown significantly, particularly with our wholesale brands like Axus and Olfa, building a reputation for quality and reliability. We’re proud of this achievement and excited for continued success in the years ahead.