West Berkshire & North Hampshire

“I have a strong belief in Newbury’s attractiveness as somewhere interesting and different to shop” says Jonathan Hopson, Camp Hopson’s Chief Executive.

Jonathan has lived in and around Newbury most of his life and is the fifth generation of the Hopson family to work at Camp Hopson, having joined the business when he was 26 years old.

Before joining Camp Hopson he was fortunate to work for Richard Branson during a brief period at Virgin Records, describing Richard as “somebody who really knows what he wants to achieve.”

After becoming Camp Hopson’s Chief Executive in 2004, Jonathan says being a family business with a relatively large number of shareholders means it’s important to ensure that shareholders feel a continued sense of belonging and know how the business is faring.

History of Camp Hopson

Jonathan’s great-great grandfather, Joseph Hopson, set up the furniture business Joseph Hopson and Sons in 1854 in West Street, Newbury. Alfred Camp’s Drapery Bazaar was based on Northbrook Street where Camp Hopson is now. In 1920, his grandfather Paul Hopson married Alfred Camp’s daughter Norah and the following year the two businesses merged to form Camp Hopson.

Camp Hopson won the 2009 Drapers award for the Best Independent Department Store and Jonathan says other achievements include building the furniture centre in 1998 and the new department store in 2005/6.

Camp Hopson hosts many charity events, last year raising over £12,000 for their affiliated charity, the Newbury and District Cancer Care Trust. A Camp Hopson team has twice participated in the London to Brighton bike ride for the British Heart Foundation and there are plans to form a Newbury team and include other Newbury businesses for the 2012 London to Brighton charity bike ride.

Parkway

With Parkway opening Jonathan says, “I think Parkway is going to be very positive for Newbury generally and Camp Hopson specifically. There will, of course, be increased competition for us, but that’s good for our customers and we will benefit from the significant additional footfall into Newbury, particularly following the launch of John Lewis at Home in Spring 2012”.