About us
The 1920s to 1940's the early days
Hughes Electrical was founded in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in 1921 by Frank Hughes, a young electrical engineer. Originally the company rewound industrial electrical motors for the fishing industry, as well as merchant and marine services. In 1928, Frank bought his first shop and the family literally lived over it for some years. Although still continuing the rewinding service, the company branched out into the production and sale of radios and the recharging of accumulators. By the mid-30s Hughes held main agencies for Philips, Bush, KB, RGD, Ekco, Cossor, Ultra and others. Frank retired in 1946 and his sons Peter and Jim took over the management of the business supported by their sister Phyllis. The company was, and remains to this day, a true family business.
The 1950s Television arrives 
Always an entrepreneurial company, Hughes was determined to get into the Television Age at the ground floor. When TV first came, East Anglia was several years behind London. Peter Hughes remembers that their first television set was a converted pre-war model with a 5-inch green ex-military radar tube. The conversion to a 9-inch black and white display was done by a Pye engineer in Cambridge. The first picture received took the form of a few white specks. These turned out to be car ignition interference! Back in Cambridge where the signal strength was much stronger the set worked well. Around 1953, before the local Tacolneston transmitter opened, Hughes had installed many televisions in Suffolk. Experience was gained by the design of the Hughes Patented Antenna, which had a dual element configuration, to receive either Holme Moss in Yorkshire or Crystal Palace, London.
The 1960s and 1970s Expansion
The Company began its expansion in earnest in 1962 with the purchase of Norfolk Radio, based in Great Yarmouth. The Hughes company then had 5 shops all trading within 10 miles of Lowestoft and all selling or renting televisions, audio products and home appliances. "You would still recognise these old shops today. Granted they are now more lavish and the products more reliable but the prices remain the same something that could not be said of any other industry" recalls Peter Hughes. Indeed with many of the current staff recruited in this early expansion, some of the faces remain the same. There was further expansion into the Norwich area in 1972, Ipswich in 1976 and Bury St Edmunds in 1979.
The 1980s and 1990s Technological revolution
The Hughes Electrical product range has expanded enormously during the last 2 decades of the 20th century as video recording and digital technology opened up whole new consumer markets. It began with the Betamax versus VHS video recorder format war that saw Hughes selling and renting both the recorders and the pre-recorded tapes. Audio had its own format battle with the introduction of CDs in the early 80s. Video cameras were introduced and with increasing miniaturisation became camcorders. Satellite was also introduced at the end of the 80s with a format battle between Sky and BSB. Throughout all this Hughes has provided the latest equipment, expert advice and quality service support that has given its customers the confidence to enjoy each technological advance.
The 21st century – Renewed expansion
The new millennium continued the evolution of electrical products with digital compression giving us all a far wider choice of television, music and games that can be enjoyed on a far wider range of equipment. The new millennium also brought with it new opportunities to expand with the opening of the Hughes Direct web site in 2004 and the Hughes Trade centres in 2006 offering product and services direct to businesses. Then in 2009 the opportunity was taken to open our first shops outside
The 2010’s – Digital Switchover
The next 3 years sees the advent of digital switchover when analogue television transmission is replaced by a digital multi-channel and high-definition alternative. With more shops, service engineers and aerial installers in East Anglia than any other company, Hughes is the true digital expert to lead the consumer through this exciting period of change.
After all these years, Hughes is still a family run company now in its 3rd generation under Robert and Jeremy Hughes. With 44 shops, 2 web sites, 3 trade centres, 5 service departments and 1 central distribution facility Hughes is now one of the countries largest rental and electrical retail companies and one that its founder Frank Hughes may find hard to recognize. However the company motto of "inspiring customer loyalty through quality service" is as relevant and true today as when Frank first founded the business nearly 90 years ago.
Hughes TV & Audio Ltd. Registered in England No. 695682
Registered Office: Mobbs Way, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 3AL
